I've been a pretty busy guy recently. There were times where I literally felt like I was in two places at once. While that situation has been resolved, I am still quite busy. The height of this activity seemed to occur just before the holidays and reached something of a climax during the winter solstice.
I'm still quite busy so I wasn't sure if I would be recording this account for posterity. After some consideration however, I realized that by posting here I might gain some assistance in relating the story as well as a couple new perspectives of events gone by.
Before I begin, I should mention that I am currently associated with an independent investigation organization. While much of our work has to due with relatively routine and mundane matters, we get our fair share of unusual assignments as well.
This particular case might seem like your run of the mill missing persons case at first. We were hired by the parents of a little girl. To protect both the girl and her parents, I will refer to her as Cindy. The parents hired us because they felt that the police were not pursuing all possible leads.
The lead they weren't following was a woman in the neighborhood the parents described as being a witch. She was known to be interested in the occult, you see. We're not talking a casual interest either. More of insane obsession. The thing was, everything she alleged to be interested in was... well not exactly the real deal. For example, she subscribes to the services of a psychic with as much extrasensory perception as your average brick.
Our cursory investigations showed that her quackery was a smokescreen for much more... I want to say legitimate practices but that would undermine the sinister connotation I would like to relay. She was in actual fact something of a neophyte practitioner of obscene arts.
This information was obtained by means I would rather not relate here. Suffice it to say that the fact that she was absent from her home made things significantly easier for us. The fact was that she was 'visiting family' in New York. She had been before the abduction, in fact. Another reason the police had dismissed her as a suspect in the case.
The fact is, she had assistance in her less savoury interests and activities.
Part of what gave it all away for us is that by all accounts, the little girl had just up and wandered off on her own. Her parents provided us with additional clues.
She had been depressed for some time prior to her disappearance.
She had been complaining of the cold, even when wrapped in blankets and right beside the rooms heater.
She had an 'invisible friend' who she described as a shadowy person that only she could see.
Of course the police wouldn't be interested in clues such as these. At least they wouldn't weigh them with quite the same value as some of us might.
It seems needless to relate all the sordid details of our investigation. Suffice it to say we had narrowed Rose's location to four spots. As there was four of us on the case and given that we were on the cusp of the solstice, we decided to split up. You may well have guessed by now that I would be the one who would close in on young Cindy.
As it happened, my search took me to a fantasy themed costume party. It was taking place in a five story town house in the Morningside Heights area. The party was taking place across all four of the bottom levels of the building. The large and burly man at the front door indicated that the basement, fifth floor and ceiling were all off limits.
Yeah right. Because I was going to listen to him. I was already crashing the party as it was. I suppose I should mention that I was dressed as a knight. Complete with gleaming armor and red cape. I even had a sword on my hip, but I had it peace bonded as is often the custom at such gatherings.
As for how I managed to crash the party despite the goon at the door. He may have been strict about where guests were permitted, he wasn't above greasing his palms.
I don't like crowds and I've never really gotten good at 'mingling'. I'm not socially awkward per se, but I do prefer smaller gatherings of people. And less noise. I will admit that my fellow party goers were dressed fancifully and some of the young women present did make me wish I was ten or fifteen years younger.
Youth is wasted on the young, truly.
I digress. At any rate I had expected to have to wade through a throng of complete strangers before exploring what I was really interested. Which is to say the top floor and roof. The basement had been ruled out much earlier that day. It was far too crowded with storage to be used for the sorts of things we expected to see.
The upper floor had shown a great deal of promise but no trace of little Rose when we had looked earlier. It was my hypothesis that they had stowed her some place else until it was time to bring her here. Having seen our suspect enter and leaving the building, it seemed like a good hypothesis. In fact, I knew her to be in the building right at that moment.
As I made my way through the crowd, I saw a couple of familiar faces. I knew them both from that other reality... the one that seems like such a distant dream... or nightmare, now. One of them, I remember having met a couple of times in this world. And yet I haven't met her and she certainly hadn't met me... it's complicated and a matter of confused perspective.
Yes, I know it sounds crazy and it certainly doesn't help my credibility. Then again, looking at all my past posts on this site with this persona, I doubt any would think I was sane at all.
Nevertheless, I will continue the narration.
As I was saying, the one of the pair I knew quite well. And she was wearing the dress she wore when first we met... in another time and place. Mask or no, I would know her anywhere. It brought back a flood of unwelcome memories. They felt... invasive somehow yet I know them to be mine.
During my moment of discomfort, her companion was able to restore a half venetian mask to her face. Apparently she had merely been rubbing her eyes. She was wearing a crimson long coat over a vest and black slacks. I rather liked the high boots and pointed black hat (with buckled red strap). The staff with an orb on top of it completed her look as an arcane caster.
I knew that her costume belied her true ability.
I realized that it probably wasn't a coincidence that this particular pair just happened to be at this particular party on this exact night. It seemed only logical to make contact with them and pool our resources and work together.
The problem was, my old friend had looked at me twice now without recognition in her gaze. I suppose that should be of no surprise despite how disappointing it may have been. I am not the man I once was.
I waited patiently until her gaze once more passed my way. I flashed her a very handy hand signal.
That got her attention.
Her face betrayed surprise followed immediately by excitement. She grabbed her older friend's hand and dragged her in my direction. She did remember to return the sign, of course.
“Save me from this wicked witch!” The older girl demanded. The statement seemed rather ironic, all things considered.
She objected in an exasperated tone, “Mel!” before smiling magnanimously at me. "Don't mind her, she gets a little strange around men wearing metal. I think she was traumatized by the Tinman as a child. I'm Hannah, what would your name be, Sir Knight?"
Her companion was muttering something about illogical tinmen.
For some reason I can't understand, I was feeling coy. Perhaps I have been spending too much time in the company of negative influences.
“Your friend, Darcy refers to me as 'Leo, as in Da Vinci', on the Lazlo site.” I know, somewhat less than honest. Again, I blame negative influences in my life of late.I'm looking at you, Nemesis.
P.S. If it is any consolation, ladies, I do feel quite guilty about my little deception and I apologize.
