When In Italy

[Elizabeth]

Somehow, due to weather, or a jet stream assistance, the flight had landed twelve minutes earlier than expected. Which was a good thing for Doc and Elizabeth, as time was working against them. Since neither had any real luggage to collect, they would not have to wait at a baggage claim for a bag. Another positive; perhaps a prethought about by Doc himself, given the challenge he asserted in regards to packing light. “Thank you, Charles." Elizabeth acknowledged with a small smile as Doc handed her his tablet, her left hand moving to collect it from him.

When they were off the plane, Elizabeth no longer 'led,' eager to get off the plane, but walked alongside Doc. “I do not, but I believe we can manage to find a ta-” Elizabeth trailed off as her eyes landed on a store that had copious amounts of novels and magazines on various shelves. There was a smaller section of books for maps and city travel books, which had Elizabeth raising a finger, and offering Doc a patient smile. “Three minutes.” Elizabeth moved away to where the maps were located within the small literature store, but paused at a section of new release titles. One or two stuck out as a potential read, but the map first...

“Do you speak English?” Elizabeth inquired to the male behind the counter, who nodded his head. She suspected that most people who owned or operated a store to some degree did. Just as she spoke French, even if the woman did not like speaking it. It was a necessity almost for living in Canada. “Can you tell me where to get to the taxi depot?” Elizabeth asked as she picked up both books near the counter that had caught her eye previously, skimmed the back of them and then went with 'Monsters of Munich,' as a potential reading source at some stage on their trip while Doc ventured off and did some things on his own. Elizabeth anticipated at some point there would be things he would want to do on his own, just as she might, and so the woman would need things to keep herself busy.

“Thank you.” Elizabeth said as she slid her debit card through the reader, glanced at Doc and then collected her items from off the counter. Elizabeth weaved through a small crowd of people going one way, and then another crowd going the other way, before she managed to be within Doc's bubble of space again. “The man at the counter said we need to keep heading in this direction, then we shall see taxi's waiting and driving by to the left at some stage.” Elizabeth explained to Doc as the woman pressed both purchased items close to her persons; the map visible to Doc, while the book...not so much. “And while we arrived twelve minutes early and I took up...four minutes, we are still ahead of schedule. The sun is not set to rise for about thirty minutes.” Elizabeth stated as she started heading in the direction the man behind the counter told her to head in.

[Doc]

Lizzie and Doc made it to the hotel with two minutes to spare before sun rise. Not that it would have been that bad for him, because he could take small amounts of sun, but he wasn’t sure about Lizzie; therefore he told the taxi driver he would double the fare if he could get them there by sunrise. Doc played as though it was a challenge, or dare for their amusement. The taxi driver was happy to oblige, since the hotel was close by, and ended up driving off with a hefty tip.

Check in had gone well, and in less than half an hour, both he and Lizzie were in their respective rooms. Doc lost no time in dismantling his case, pulling a cylinder and spring out of the telescopic handle as well as a various clips and brackets. After a few minutes there was a small pile of metal pieces and plastic components. It took him less than five minutes to assemble the Glock. Tucking the gun in the back waistband of his slacks, adjusting his jacket over it, he headed to the front desk.

----

An hour later Doc had been dropped off at the University center, and he had made entry into the high security physics building. Using shadows, he made his way to the office of Marcus Kasner. He waited patiently in shadows in the corner of the room where the CCTV did not fully capture. The timeline that had been outlined for him had very little margin for error. His mark was due to show up at 10 am. He needed to have his alibi subdued before then. He waited.

----

Minutes stretched into hours, and just as Doc was about call this a miss, Marcus Kasner entered the office. Marcus shrugged off his jacket and moved to hang it on the coat stand when He was hit suddenly in a blitz attack. Marcus was subdued and knocked out in less than two minutes. Doc quickly traded jackets, leaving his on the coat rack and wearing Marcus’. He studied Marcus face then used the power to make his face look like Marcus. Mindful of the CCTV, Marcus-Doc moved to the desk, opened the drawer, and through slight hand, made it appear as though Marcus was withdrawing a gun. Marcus-Doc then left the office.

Five minutes later across the campus, Marcus is picked up on CCTV entering the Political Sciences building. Various cameras follow Marcus as he moves through the hallways and corridors of the building. Marcus entered the office Dr. Hostfeffer. The door closes, but only a moment later, Marcus Kasner exits and calmly makes his way, back the way he came.

Once Marcus-Doc was back in the Kasner’s office, he swapped jackets, and placed the gun in hand of the unconscious Marcus who was slumped in a pile on the floor in the corner of the office. Doc took a photo with his cellphone. Melting back into shadows, Doc teleported back to his hotel room.

His shoes were kicked off, as he reclined on the bed, and sent the text with the two attached photos.

*text* Task complete. Footnote verified. Payment verification code required. *send*

After setting the cell on the bed side table, Doc slept.

----

Several hours later Doc woke, and switched on the television. There was breaking news. “Gunter Nooke ermordet! Bruder von Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel, Marcus Kasner beschuldigt mit Mord!”

Though Doc didn’t understand German, he saw and recognized the faces on the screen. He smirked.

[Elizabeth]

To say the cab driver was 'motivated,' would be an understatement. the driver weaved up and down main and side streets alike, all for the promise of more money. Elizabeth could hardly blame the driver; after her immediate escape from the realms, Elizabeth found the importance and value or money to today's people alluring and necessary. But, once the amount of her personal funds surpassed that in which Noble ever had as a collective before her longest death, money had lost most, if not all its appeal to the woman. the woman was wealthy-far wealthier than she ever anticipated, and that wealth kept accruing even though Elizabeth seldom spent it.

While the woman had no immediate need to sleep, simply because the sun was rising, Elizabeth had decided on the drive to the hotel that she would retire under such pretenses. Doc, she believed, needed the break from entertainment obligations, in her mind. Plus, it was best Elizabeth had a break from Charles, all things, and words considered. When both went their own way, Elizabeth was easily able to entertain herself with her latest purchase from the airport.

From just the first few chapters, Elizabeth was able to ascertain that the 'monsters' were not monsters in the sense of those found in Harper Rock, but people who suffered from one, or multiple mental disorders. Individuals who had done crimes that were still spoken about, or known about by people who lived in Munich the last five hundred or so years. After a short stop at the courtesy desk to attain an iron, Elizabeth finally retired for the day, none the wiser to Doc's own ongoings, or the events that would eventually transpire in Germany, due to those events.

---

It was a good thing Elizabeth had acquired the iron hours before hand. Somehow, in the midst of either ascending, or descending, the only dress that the woman had packed in her carry-on had become disheveled and left the bottom portion of her skirt far more wrinkled that what was acceptable to her, personally. After fifteen minutes of pressing the lower half of the orange and black sleeveless dress with the iron, Elizabeth nodded, satisfied with the results, before she turned off the iron, unplugged it and went to shower. Sunset would be in just around two hours, give or take a few minutes.

Once she was in the sleeveless dress, the iron was finally returned to the front desk. Blue orbs fell on the complimentary newspapers for the day, nothing sticking out to Elizabeth as it was in German. Her eyes swept back up to the male behind the desk who had taken a phone call, indicating that he would be right with her as soon as he could. The blonde haired telepath waited patiently with an appreciative smile, and when he was free from the phone, Elizabeth interjected before another phone call could come through. "Pardon me, but could one tell me how long it would take to get from here to Munich by cab? I was reading a book and apparently it was inspired by an ongoing tour..." Elizabeth leaned forward, offering the gentleman behind it an appreciative smile.

"Maybe...I think about four, four and a half hours." He leaned forward too, ignoring the phone that had lit up while it rang. "Oh, I see." Elizabeth replied, somewhat disappointed. "Perhaps another time, but thank you very much." No tour this time, but perhaps on the way back? That was, if the tour ran during evening hours. It was unlikely, but something Elizabeth would find out before they returned back here. "And thank you for the iron. You, are a lifesaver." Elizabeth informed him, before the woman stepped back from the counter and found her way to the complimentary computer to begin her search of places to potentially visit while in Italy as she waited for Doc to make an appearance.

[Doc]

Having had a restorative nap of a sort, Doc now watched a few minutes of the news report, before being satisfied with the fact that Marcus would be held. Marcus Kasner’s downfall was not the main goal that day. No, it was an added dare, if you will. Gunter Nooke was the mark. But if Doc could make it look like the Kasner was the culprit, he would pick up another 250k. Even though Doc appeared skeptical at the offer, inwardly it was a challenge he knew he had to accept. Now being 750k richer, he decided to treat himself. He had a couple of hours before the appointed time to meet Lizzie, he was going shopping.

Doc reassembled his travel case, and left hotel his room and headed to concierge desk. He dropped off his case, and took the claim ticket so he could retrieve it later. It was easier to store it here, than having to go all the way back up the to room to get it. There wasn’t really anything of any worth in it anymore. It had been storage for the glock. Now that the job was done, he didn’t need it anymore, except that it would look odd checking in at the airport without luggage.

With his tablet in hand, Doc pulled up the address he intended to visit, along with the directions. It was supposedly only a few minutes away from the hotel. He headed toward the exit when he noticed Lizzie at a computer. She seemed engrossed. Should he interrupt? Or leave her to her solitude. He decided on the latter, due to the fact she would probably get tired of him soon rather than later, so might as well extend that as long as possible. He exited and got into the waiting cab.

----

Barely over an hour later, the cab deposited Doc back at his hotel. He was quite pleased. It took longer to write up the bill, than it did to get measured. Once Doc made it clear he was willing to pay, and pay well, for their undivided attention, Leder’s staff bent over backwards to take his measurements, his color, fabric swatch preference and to photograph him. He made clear what he was looking for and expected. He was assured the wardrobe would meet his deadline requirements.

Upon re-entering the hotel, his gaze went toward the computer area, to see if Lizzie was still absorbed in her computer. He was disappointed. She was no longer there. Probably just as well he did not interrupt her earlier. She more than likely had plans that did not include him. Since Lizzie wasn’t about, and he still had time kill before they needed to leave for the airport, Doc headed to the bar. He decided he needed to taste test the German whiskey they had to offer.

[Elizabeth]

When Doc hadn't shown after about half an hour into the blonde haired telepath jotted down the information she gathered on a hotel notepad, with a hotel pen. She exited the search engine program, ripped the paper and a couple pieces under it with that paper, then placed it within her purse. After a quick glance around, Elizabeth decided to go to her room, repack the things she brought out that night, then 'check-out.' The bag would be held for Elizabeth until she picked it up, which the woman promised would be in less than two hours.

When they had arrived, Elizabeth had noticed a few small shops near the hotel. One had been easily identified as a cosmetic shop. Another a book shop and the others, Elizabeth hadn't been able to make out in her haste to get inside. While she knew she could withstand some sun, Elizabeth had not attempted to push her fate in the matter since her minor mishap with Diederik in the woods a few months ago.

To avoid the setting sun's potential effects, Elizabeth ducked into the first shop closest to the hotel, to find it was nothing more than a shop that sold things like candy bars, cigarettes, soda's and crisps. Elizabeth wandered up and down the four aisles, before heading the the counter out of...interest. Or perhaps, more so for experimental reasons. “Does one speak English?” There was a blank stare given to her, then a shake of his head, before the guy behind the counter called out a name and a brunette woman appeared. “Hullo?” She asked with a smile, letting Elizabeth know that the woman spoke English to some degree. “Good evening. I was wondering if one sold anything...unique? Perhaps something not on the shelves for any and all patrons to see?” She inquired with a tip of her head, testing a theory of hers. Dangerous? Perhaps, but what was the worse that could happen?

The woman laughed, then spoke in perfect German to the male, too quickly for Elizabeth to try and even pretend to keep up. He stood, offered a key to the brunette woman, who ducked around the counter and motioned for Elizabeth to come with her. Both amusement and mild curiosity had the telepath following the woman, wondering what it was the woman thought Elizabeth was asking for.

They walked all the way to the back of the store, where the woman put a small key into a lock, and then gave Elizabeth an apologetic look. “We normally don't open until the night time. You're foreigner. I can tell.” Both her brows started to press together, wondering what difference it made when the small convenient store sold anything, but when the door was opened and the red light flipped on, Elizabeth was certain that whatever was in here, was not what she was asking about.

There were small wire shelves that lined the walls, four rows high, and in the middle a small table with various magazines of scantily clad women, barely dressed men and anything else in that fell in between those two. Elizabeth looked at the woman and started shaking her head 'no,' but then had her doubts. If she told them this wasn't what she was looking for, then the woman would want to know just what Elizabeth was looking for. “Thank you.” Elizabeth said quietly, picking up the first magazine closest to her, and then hastily left the room.

On the way to the counter, Elizabeth grabbed a few more items that she would also never need, stacked them on the counter and then paid for the useless items. The bag was grabbed with another “thank you” from Elizabeth, before she left and crossed the street to a trash bin where she threw the entire bag in it. Both hands were wiped on the bottom of her dress, before Elizabeth glanced around and ducked into another business. A more predictable one; a bookstore. No surprises to be had there.

The woman was doing nothing more than killing time, she had a book to keep her preoccupied during the times Doc ventured out to do things by himself during the next two weeks. Fingers danced over the spines of books that were in the new history section, before a woman asked if Elizabeth needed help finding anything. Elizabeth shook her head and offered the woman a small smile, before moving to the next section of books, mostly to escape the routine service questions from the woman. After a few moments, Elizabeth moved around the aisle to see a taxi arriving at the hotel and who other than Doc himself stepping out of it? She gave him a few minutes to arrive without Elizabeth bombarding him, then made a move to the front door of the shop.

“Wait!” The saleswoman asked, causing Elizabeth to pause, turn and look around the store. She was the only one within the small bookstore, so the 'wait' had to be for her, Elizabeth deducted. She turned to look at the woman behind the counter, who was flipping through a book. She waved Elizabeth over to the counter while one hand flipped through the dark covered book. As Elizabeth approached the counter, she gave a wayward glance to the hotel, where she no longer saw Doc outside. “Yes?” Elizabeth asked, her tone pleasant enough, but slightly stressed.

“You look like this woman. I got this book for free. I'm doing a review for the author who will be here in a couple weeks to sign the book...aha!” The woman flipped the book towards Elizabeth once she found the page, and pointed to a drawing of a dark haired woman with a slightly rounder face, and different shaped nose. “I mean, you're hair isn't dark like hers, but...it's pretty close. Right?” The book was pressed closer to Elizabeth, who only frowned.

“Perhaps, but I really do not see it.” Elizabeth replied politely, as she turned the book over to see the cover-which was a cover she had seen before. The book she had picked up in the airport. “Her nose is slightly skewed.” Elizabeth set the book down on the counter and then headed towards the door. “It can't really be you, I know. It's impossible as the story is over...four hundred or so years old. But you could be a relative.” Elizabeth just laughed and shook her head, before leaving the bookstore and moving across the street to the hotel.

Once inside, Elizabeth exhaled, glanced around and then saw an all too familiar back sitting at the bar. It didn't take long for Elizabeth to recognize Doc was wearing the same clothing as the night before, which implied Elizabeth had lost the dare. She moved to the bar, took a seat besides him and then parted her lips to acknowledge her defeat. “So, what exactly, am I in store for?” She asked, as her legs crossed at her ankles, Elizabeth pointing to the drink Doc had in front of him.

[Doc]

At the sound of her voice, Doc swiveled on the stool toward her,. “Why Lizzzie..” He eyed her up and down, “You look very.. crisp and well put together.” He glanced down at himself and then back at her, “Not at all like someone who has been traveling the last twenty-four hours.” He lifted a single eyebrow. He wasn’t being facetious. He was serious. She could have at least had the grace to look a bit tired. He realized how different the two of them would look side by side. He with his worn clothing and unshaven face, and she with her perfectly coiffed hair and perfect clothes. “You put me to shame.”

Taking her question to mean the drink, Doc turned back to the bartender, he held up two fingers, and pointed to Lizzie and himself. While the bartender fixed the drinks, Doc turned back to Lizzie, “I do not speak German.. But I am a ******* pro at sign language. And I, can actually pronounce this brand.. Hohler Whesskey.” No. He could not pronounce it. What he actually said was Hollar Whiskey; a very sad and cringe worthy attempt at best. Nevertheless, Doc looked at the bartender for confirmation of his attempt, and received a half-hearted shrug from the bartender. “Alright maybe my accent needs work, but I think I will pick up Italian easier.” He said, as the bartender set two glasses on the bar in front of them.

“Hanz.. this is Lizzie.. Lizzie this Hanz.” He lowered his voice and said, “Hanz and his wife manage the bar. She wears the pants in that relationship.” He picked up glass and sipped the whiskey, while watching her expectantly for her to try the drink. His sipped his again, while glancing at his watch, “I have my bag stowed at the concierge, what about yours?” Doc knew they had time, but he also knew more females would say ‘I only need five minutes’, and then an hour later.. They only ‘need two more minutes.’ The last time he traveled with the Ball and Chain, they missed one of their coordinating flights as she dallied over airport souvenirs. Lizzie didn’t strike him as the dawdling type, but his need for order made him unconsciously voice it.

[Elizabeth]

A wide smile fell upon her features as Doc complimented her and then compared the two of them. She allowed Doc to say what he had to say, before a retort was given in response. “Is there someone you wish to impress, Charles? Otherwise, relax and enjoy yourself.” While Doc may look a little disheveled, the blonde telepath would hardly claim he was not appealing on the eyes. Even hers at times.

The name of the whiskey had Elizabeth's eyes scanning behind the bar for what the label might look like. Somehow, what Elizabeth imagined and what Doc said were two different things once Elizabeth saw the label, but she did not speak German and she knew nothing about Whiskey, unlike Doc. And so, she believed it was something similar to 'Hollar Whiskey.”

At the introduction of 'Hanz,' Elizabeth dipped her head ever so slightly as her eyes wandered, attempting to find the wife. Not finding her, or perhaps finding her and not knowing it is her, Elizabeth's gaze returned to find Doc looking at her, then the drink. She gave him a cautionary tip of her head, indicating her silent protest, before Elizabeth picked up the drink and placed on a force smile. It seemed this was Doc's revenge for her looking as well as she did.

“I have already checked out of my room and placed my bag at the desk before I checked out some of the local businesses.” Elizabeth informed Charles, before she took a sip of the whiskey and then made a face.”It's terrible.” Elizabeth admitted with a laugh, finding it much stronger and perhaps even...earthier than the whiskey back home. “I know our flight is not bound to take off for a couple of hours...but, I would like to get there earlier than later.” Elizabeth stated as her eyes wandered over to the direction of the bookstore, where an outline of a woman could be seen, hunched over the counter, flipping through pages could be seen by Elizabeth, through the large bay window. “The language barrier is quite...taxing.” She smiled, eyes shifting back to Doc as Elizabeth cringed at the sight of the whiskey before she pinched her nose and allowed it to be 'tipped down the hatch' so to speak.

[Doc]

As Lizzie indicated that her luggage was also being held at the concierge desk, and she hated being late, Doc grinned. “I have to admit, you are a joy to be around.” He was about to elaborate on his usual experiences with females, when he paused. There was no need for him to elaborate. He left it like that. There was nothing more to be said, especially when held her nose and swallowed the rest of the alcohol. “That’s my girl. Show that whiskey who is boss.” He followed suit and swallowed the remains of his own drink. Setting the glass down, he stood up and left several bills on the counter.

Doc had noticed Lizzie’s glance at the bookstore and thought perhaps she wanted to check it out before heading to the airport. He wondered if she was loath to suggest a quick visit after she had said she liked to be prompt. He glanced at his watch, they had twenty minutes. “We have a few minutes before we need to leave. Let’s head across the street.. There is a book store I would like to check out.” He paused, and then added, “I would like to see if they have an atlas of Italy. Maps on the tablet are fine, but I like to make notes. And notes on the map, will be handy for the future.“

There was another reason Doc wanted an atlas. He had another job offer that he might be willing to take on, while they were in Italy. However should he decide to take it on, he needed more information that what he could get from google maps. He needed a detailed map, and one with elevations preferably, and couple of tourist guide books wouldn’t go amiss either. Better that he have them going into the country, than buying them in Italy. The process of the job would be more difficult. He left the Glock at the last job, so he would have to have devise a different means to do the job, if he accepted it.

Doc slid a look at Lizzie, “Might be handy to see if they have any tourist guides as well. Shall we?”

[Elizabeth]

Doc ignored the inquiry Elizabeth had made in jest, which was fine. She hadn't actually expected an answer back, but the question hadn't even phased him in the slightest. Instead, he took another route with yet another compliment. “Most evenings.” Elizabeth interjected with a bemused look. This was only early day two of their trip, so it was easy to not be tired of her presence yet. Time would tell as the trip's duration progressed.

“I hope one is aware that I do know what it is one is trying to do. With the alcohol.” She stated as Doc stood and paid for both their drinks. Slowly, she stood, assuming Doc had taken her suggestion, only to realize that he had not, and instead wished to go to the very bookstore she had just left from. A tight formed smile was placed upon her lips, the smile falling far from her eyes as Elizabeth nodded her head slowly. “An...atlas?” Elizabeth glanced to the bookstore, then back at Doc. “I am almost positive that they do not have such an item in the store.”

She didn't know of course, as Elizabeth hadn't been looking for maps, or an atlas while she was in there. She had only ventured to a few areas within the bookstore; areas that interested her based on the genre. “I suppose that may be essential to our trip.” Elizabeth concluded slowly, before she moved around the bar stool, the tight smile upon her face relaxing a little. “Though, I suppose we could also acquire those items in Italy.” The blonde haired telepath pointed out before following Doc out of the hotel and across the street.

“Oh! I remembered something...I need to go...” Elizabeth glanced at the stores in the immediate area, then pointed to an electronic store.” Elizabeth started making her way to the store that was three doors down. “Shall I meet thee out here?” It had more or less been a rhetorical question, as Elizabeth was already half way to the store.

[Doc]

Doc nodded, as Lizzie suggested he go his way and she goes hers, for their last minute purchases and then meet up later. It made sense, they would both be able to get what they needed and not waste time doing it. As he was about to voice his affirmation, she had already turned and was slipping out the door that was being held by the doorman. Shrugging, he put her haste down to her not wanting to be late for the flight, a sentiment that he could sympathize with. He followed her out the door, but headed to the bookstore, versus the electronic store that Lizzie was headed to.

Upon entering the bookstore, Doc had google pulled up and the German word for map. Giving the woman behind counter and smile, he said “Karte?”

The woman smiled in return and hit him with a series of German phrases that he had no hope of even remotely understanding. Doc frowned in consternation, as he tried to explain “A book of maps.. Of Italy..?” Knowing he was wasting time he tapped on his cell for Google again.

“Ah.. you are English.. I know much English. You want an Atlas, yes?”

Doc smiled a closed lipped crooked smile, “Yes. Please. Of Italy. And do you have any tour guides of Italy?”

The sales clerk led him to the Atlas’ she had, and as he picked out the one he wanted, she asked him, “This guide you want, you want cathedrals? Arts? Or landmarks?”

Pausing Doc asked, “They are that specific?”

“Oh ja, ja!” She nods “Very detailed books. With me come.” She waved him forward.

Collecting the atlas, he followed her to another stack of books which held various european tour guide books. The woman pointed to the shelf that held the books pertaining to Italy. While looking at the books, Doc frowned, “Any in English?”

“Hmmm.” The woman, scanned quickly and pulled one book from the shelf, “This only.”

Reading the title, Doc lifted an eyebrow. He wouldn't have normally even thought along that line of thinking. “Yes.. Thank you. I will take both of these.”

Doc paid for his books, and returned to the hotel concierge desk to wait for Lizzie. While waiting he started to read The Occultist Tour Guide to Turin. Doc gave the occasional snort, as he read. He dealt in facts, not supposition. Thus far this guide book was nothing but the authors’ opinion on what they hoped they could sell to the reader as fact. He was to chuck the book completely, when he decided to skip a few chapters. The next chapter had a completely different feel to it.

Pausing in his reading, Doc closed the book briefly, while holding his place with his finger. It was then that he noted the guide book was a compilation of various authors. Flipping back to the previous chapter, he continued to read about the occult significance to the Freemasons and the city of Turin. As he read, the author expounded on their researched belief that the Freemasons were warriors against the Dark Arts. And only after the Freemasons had been successful in ridding the world of the Evil, did they lay their weapons to the side. As he read, it was explained that Turin had significance which was attributed to its geographic positioning, along the 45th parallel where the Po and Dora Rivers meet.

Closing the book, Doc looked at his watch, time was getting short. Where was Lizzie?