Friday, 11/12/1999 6:00 am to Saturday, 11/13/1999 before dawn

The phone call came in about an hour before dawn.  Dr. Thomas called Mallory to offer Vaclav's services to survail the woman they had been watching all night.  He agrees.  Samantha also hurriedly tells him that Isolde will meet him at the Palmer House later in the morning.  She'll bring a credit card and instructions to establish a new base of operations at the Swiss Hotel.  The kindred of the group disburse, returning to their havens.

Vito's man Antonio has kept watch on the victim of last night's extortion, Dr. Wohuski, through the night.  The Giovanni asks them to continue their surveillance during the day then retires to his haven.

After Vaclav's man, Robert arrives, Mallory and Jacob stay on, each catching a bit of sleep.  When Isolde arrives, Mallory leaves with her.  Jacob waits until just about noon, then leaves for his lunch with Emmett Emory.

Once in her car Isolde explains to Mallory that she is at his disposal.  She will help him however she can, but she does not explain why.  Together, they check into the penthouse suite at the Swiss Hotel and prepare it for use as a base.  Mallory then returns to the Palmer House.

Jacob meets Mr. Emory right on time.  Emmett asks him about his relationships with Floyd Hemlock and the Raccoon Sept, and what part he played in the death of Susan Upshaw.  Jacob does not deny his involvement in the kinfolk's passing, but clearly expresses remorse.  Emmett questions him further about his relationship with Dr. Thomas, and other kindred of the city.  He asks about Jacob's relationship with Aoife, but the younger werewolf politely refuses to answer.  Emmett seems particularly interested in the fact that Jacob often passes the days at Dr. Thomas' haven, and may come and go as he pleases.

The two exchange more polite conversation.  Emmett offers Jacob help in securing an apartment, and even offers name of his therapist, Dr. Elsa Goodwinson, and help in covering the cost of sessions.  After letting Emmett program his cell phone with a contact number, Jacob leaves Rivers Cafe.

That night, Casmir, Isaac,  Svetlana, and  Victor meet at Dr. Thomas' to discuss the day's events.  Vito dials in on the speaker phone.  The woman has not once left her Palmer House hotel room, opening the door once for room service.  She also signed on to a local ISP at one time during the day.  As they discuss, Mallory and Robert contacts Casmir, telling him the woman is leaving the hotel and getting on the Blue Line El.  Mallory and Robert follow her onto the train.

Casmir contacts Aoife and Jacob and directs them to get on the Blue Line in pursuit.  On their way to the Palmer House from Aoife's haven, the two comply.  Vito gets in his car and begins heading into the city.  The others prepare to depart.  Vaclav calls Casmir and reports the woman has erased her hard drive on the computer she left in the room, and he believes he is heading to the airport to escape.  As they begin driving to the airport, Casmir redirects Vito and calls Mallory to discuss a plan.

Knowing that once the train reaches the airport in falls under the Primogen Tyler's domain, Casmir hopes to stop the El before then.  Mallory will stop the train before the Harlem platform.  If Dr. Himmelman can get there in time, Svetlana, Victor, Sir Reginald, Casmir, and he will attempt to capture the woman.  Casmir calls Jacob and tells him to get off the following train as to not get trapped when Mallory cuts power.  Worried that this might be a faint to draw attention away from Dr. Wohuski, Casmir asks Jacob and Aoife to take a cab to the gynecologist's office and watch him.

As the train nears the stop, Mallory gently cuts power to the tracks.  The train slows and stops.  Informed that Casmir and the others are in position.  He opens a car door and begins leading others off the train and onto a wooden walkway near the tracks.  He helps the woman down, and begins chatting her up.  At a fair distance from the other passenger, Casmir leaps from the shadows, grabs her, covers her mouth, and cloaks them both in invisibility.  She struggles, but Casmir gets them to the car.  Once there, a blast from Mallory's Binaca makes her groggy enough to restrain.  First thinking to head to Dr. Thomas', Mallory gets them to head towards the Swiss Hotel.   On the way, Casmir re-directs Vito, and Jacob and Aoife to meet them there.

With Isolde's help, the group brings the mortal woman to the penthouse suite.  Using his powers of Domination, Vito questions her.  She confesses to the "Vampire Murders," but does not even believe in the existence of kindred.  She was brought her from Russia at the behest of vladmir@shreck.net, and was comfortably paid for her exertions.  She received instructions via e-mail, and payment through a bellboy at the hotel.  The distinctive marks on the victims were inflicted with the sharpened arms of her eyeglasses.  She left the hotel after receiving a code to leave the city at her earliest convenience.

Satisfied with her answers, the group hands the woman over to Casmir's uncle Staneslav, a Nosferatu elder.  Free of her, the gathered kindred, werewolf, and mage discuss the implications of information they just garnered.  Vito dismisses himself after receiving a call from his servant, Antonio.  The others avail themselves of the suite, or go hunting.

Vito arrives at his office to find one of his last trusted men dead and the feet of Dr. Genet.  The good doctor thanks his clan mate for the snack and gets up from behind his desk.  Genet asks for sanctuary in the domain Vito's carved out for himself.  He needs some time to lay low after events at the hospital.  He's even already found a family to accommodate him.  At first Vito refuses, telling Genet that his actions put his mission to establish a Giovanni presence in Chicago and at least cordial ties with the Camarilla.  Genet, questions his loyalty to the clan, reminding Vito of the true goals of the Giovanni.  Vito reluctantly agrees, but as he escorts Genet out of his office, he rips free a portion of door frame to stake his clansman in the back.

Vito drives the stake into the body of Genet with all his vampire might.  An unseen force moves the tip of the stake away from Genet's heart, however.  Still, Vito causes devastating damage to the other Giovanni who falls to the ground, apparently in torpor.  As he bends to examine his work, Vito falls victim as an unseen presence drives a stake through his heart from behind.  He collapses to the ground, forced to watch as the unseen presence lifts Dr. Genet out of his office.  By the time Antonio arrives and removes the stake, Vito can find no trace of his clansman and quietly curses the night.

Back at the Swiss Hotel, Mallory receives a disturbing phone call from Samantha.  She asks him to bring Jacob and meet her at her haven before the dawn.  They have "similar problems" to discuss.  Mallory agrees and hangs up the phone, and feeling of disquiet settling over him.

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