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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3192873" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-ten, “The New Jake”, Saturday June 10th, 1882, 9:00 A.M. Minerva spends most of the night tossing and turning, alternately dreaming about her father, Nanuet and vampires. Her eyes are puffy and her olive complexion is slightly ashen when she enters the kitchen. She says very little as she picks at her breakfast. She and Nakomo make their way to the hotel where Harbrace is staying.Father Harbrace invites Minerva and Nakomo to join him for breakfast over at the Silver Dollar Restaurant. They get a corner table and are served chef Walter O'Reilly's famous breakfast platters, featuring fried eggs, bacon, hash brown potatoes and a freshly baked muffin.Minerva states, "We need to find out when Thomlinson and Harkin are coming back into town. I would also like to fill in Deputy Martin, Sr. Cook and Senora Kale so that we are prepared when Thomlinson and Harkin return. They all have had experience with these abominations. Have you, any experience or knowledge in this area, Padre?"Harbrace says, "Yes and no, Hilldi said it was vampires we are dealing with here. I've dealt with more pedestrian types of undead, those that evil clerics can create. Things like skeletons, zombies and ghouls. The most dangerous type I've ever fought was a creature known as a weight. Vampires are in a whole different league. I wouldn't even consider this except for the arrows the Goddess gave us."  "Si, It is an entirely different league. These arrows must be very powerful. I still think that we need more help though." she stands "We must find the Deputy and Sr. Cook. Perhaps they have heard from the hunters. We will look at the 'lady' first." For Jake Saturday morning breakfast is late and uneventful. After a belly full of Dorita's cooking and coffee he is on his way. Jake has a leather belt cut that will fit the buckle he found in the cave and pays Fry with last coin from his weekly stipend generated from the Lucky Lady. Since the second round of construction began, the partners had agreed to put most of the operating profits back into the business to cover construction costs. They each received $25 a week during this time. What for most common folks in Promise City would have been a generous allowance to live well with, Jake burned through it easily every week. Food, tips, little gifts of appreciation to his girl or others, payments for information sought, care of his horse, laundry, tailored clothing, practice ammunition and drink were among the items that consumed his money day in and day out. It was even more surprising to some since he paid nothing for rent, owning his own home. Besides large amounts of money for his drinking tab he hardly knew where it all went nor did he worry much about it. Conversely, large purchases or investments came out of his mine earnings or poker winnings which he tended to keep separate. It was more of a habit than a system. That habit had amassed a fair amount of cash that Jake would undoubtedly use for some sudden investment opportunity. .... or just as likely in a high stakes poker game and there was one going to happen very soon.  On the way he sees Chester Martin and waves him down. "He pal, can you come with me to the Lucky Lady? I want to talk to you about something, and show you something too."Chester puts down the saddle he is carrying. "OK, Jake. I'm going to put this away, then I'll meet you there." Chester walks to the stables and sets the saddle on its rail. He brushes his hands and enters the Lucky Lady. Chester joins Jake at the table. "Hey Jake. I didn't know that Van Horne character was back in town.”  Jake replies, "Apparently he got in yesterday. Seemed to have been quite busy too. Not a bad sort, just a bit too uppity. You know the type. Come up stairs, we need some privacy." Once behind a closed door Jake says, "I found a few things in the cave. I think they came off the thing that looked like Dooley Wilson. I say it that way because of what Katherine learned about these items."  He goes on to describe them. Then he removes the small mirror from his pocket and places it on a chair. "I am going to try out the belt buckle." As Jake removes his own belt and begins to put the enchanted one on he asks, "Any guesses who it will look like?"Chester states, "Perhaps the President himself. More likely you'll look like Dooley. Are you sure you want to be fooling with that kind of sorcery without Kate or Ruby around?"  He states, "No, I am sure I should NOT be." With that he cinches the buckle.  Chester takes an involuntary step back. On Saturday morning Kate went to the ranch for her riding lessons with Mrs. Fly and helped Sonoma and Flint with the chores. She returned to town a bit before noon and managed to get a bath before heading over to the Lady to let Jake in on what she'd learned about Mr. Wilson the night before.   Not seeing Jake or any of her other friends downstairs at the Lady, Kate went up the stairs to the second floor and knocked on the only closed door.  The two men inside hear the knock on the door and asks who it is. Kate answers back and Chester opens the door.   Jake asks, "Who do I look like? I do not feel any different."  Kate stepped inside and Chester shut the door behind her. She looked from the deputy to Jake and raised an eyebrow. "You look like Jake. Nothing will happen without the command word. It's quite a fashion statement though.  You have to say "Hot Damn," if you want anything to happen."Jake laughs quite heartily at that. "That is exactly what I was told outside the private men’s club in St. Louis. That was the password to get inside." Jake laughs again, "That was quite a night, at least what I remember of it. What was her name?" He looks up at Katherine and then, "Err, right. Hot Damn."   The command word is spoken but nothing appears to happen, the man still before them being Silver Jake Cook.   However Kate is good at attention to detail and notices that there are subtle differences in the length of his goatee and hair, recognizing Jake to now look exactly like he did the previous week rather than just a moment before."My, isn't that interesting. Someone knows you're a threat, Jake. And they took you seriously enough to want to masquerade as you." She took a small mirror out of her pocket and handed it to him. "It's very well done. And you're almost due for a haircut."  Chester agrees with Kate's initial opinion. "You haven't changed."  Jake exclaims, "Mierde."Kate says, "I can tell you as well that Dooley Wilson hasn't shown up for work in the last two nights. That's why I was at the Long Branch so long yesterday. Kate Higgins asked me to play for a while since he wasn't that. Apparently it's quite out of character for him not to show up. It's a good thing that item is now in our hands, someone could cause some real chaos with that." Chester states, "Wait a minute. The buckle disguises the wearer as Jake? I couldn't tell the difference, so it can't have been made too long ago. Kate, have you ever seen 'Jake' doing something odd recently?"   She shook her head no. "Drinking, gambling, loafing. All pretty standard. But I imagine if someone was using this they'd try to keep away from anyone who knows Jake well."  Chester says, Chester scratches his chin. "Make you wonder who else is being copied." Jake only seems to be half listening to Chester and Katherine talk. He stands there rubbing at his bearded chin and looking at himself in the mirror. His concentration is not on the image in the mirror though.  Finally he blurts out, "Messier."  Chester turns to Jake. "Who's Messier?"  Jake exclaims, "Blasted French wizard who Ginnie caught cheating here. I took his cheating cufflinks off him and sent him packing. I should have done more than that apparently." Jake unbuckles the belt. "Blast, I do not know for sure it is him but I have a bad feeling."Kate says, "What would this Messier person have to do with the Vampires? There's always the chance they hired him to make them a disguise and he thought it was funny, but it seems unlikely to me. But I didn't meet the man, I don't know."  "I do not know. If not him, then someone. Dooley is missing, huh. Well since this," Jake holds up the buckle, "is me. Then that was Dooley. That is our lead deputy, what wizard was working with Dooley or his friends. Maybe you could learn something when you start looking into his disappearance."Chester states, "Well I'll look into it. Luckily I don't need to explain all this to the Marshall. With all the murders this won't be easy. Do you know if Tomlinson and Harker have any news?"   Jake states, "I have not heard from them."  Kate says, "I'm meeting Conrad for dinner later, I can see what he might know. Perhaps when the last time he saw Mr. Wilson in daylight was, or if his behavior has been different lately. I learned a few other things last night that you won't like. Apparently the monsters in Wilcox had arrangements with the ones here. Their coffins has been destroyed. They'll flee here, to a place Wilson would have prepared for them."  Jake states, "Mierde. Even more important to find out all we can about him. That and someone could check out the other old Cowboy gang caves."  Chester says, "Then we'll hunt them down as well. I don't care if I have to dig up every mine in the county."Jake snaps his fingers, "I have been meaning to give you this, Chet." Jake removes a ring from his left hand and gives it to him. "It makes a soft landing if you fall from any height. I have not really needed it. Figured you might, climbing around after vampires and all."   "Thanks." Chester puts the ring on carefully. He notes, "It fits perfectly. I hope I'll never have to use it."   Kate says, "We should check out all the hiding places we've found so far. I'm sure there are many more, but these Vampires were once human, they're unlikely to know the area the way a native elf would.  And we should talk to Minerva. It seems to me the visiting Priests who helped yesterday would be helpful again."Jake says, "Any suggestions for what we do with this belt and buckle? I can think of a number of ways it might come in handy. Should I just lock it up for now or do one of you wish to have it handy?"  Chester replies, "If they're like people, then they'll stay in places they know well. If we know where they liked to go when they were alive, then the vampire is likely to go there too.""I couldn't do justice to a Silver Jake Cook disguise. Unless you think someone else should have it, I'd say keep it locked up so we can be sure you're the only Jake in town.  What devious ways can you think of to use it?" Nakomo and Harbrace follow Minerva to the Lucky Lady. They enter but do not see anyone about. Minerva recalls the room that Jake took her to the last time she needed to speak privately. She climbs the stairs and knocks on the door.   Kate replies to Jake’s question with a chuckle.  "Well Senor Gonzalez told me that these items -" Jake is interrupted by a knock on the door.   Jake says, "I have figured how to get the whole town to want rooms at the Lucky Lady. Close the door." In a louder voice, "Who is there?"  "It is Minerva Garcia Florencia and I have Nakomo and one other with me. We must speak with you. Por Favor, open the door."  Jake opens the door, "Welcome, welcome, come on it. The more the merrier." As they enter Jake asks Katherine, "What else did Tomlinson and Harkins tell you last night."  Kate says, "I, ah... I didn't see them, although I expect they'll return here very soon. Probably today. I don't know much else right now. Except the Vampires travel in pairs, and there is only one pair left unless they have a chance to make more of their kind before they're killed."Chester states, "Afternoon Minerva, Nakomo. What do you need to talk about?"  Minerva introduces Father Harbrace and explains what Diana told them, including the gifts that she bestowed upon them, but leaving out the part about Elizabeth Eaton being commanded to tend to Katherine. "Have you heard from the hunters?  Diana told us that they would be able to track the bloodsuckers."Minerva states, "By the gods, what a horrible thought. We do not have any time to lose. Diana told us that the hunters would arrive today. Do any of you know where they stayed the last time they were here? We should leave them a message to seek us out as soon as they arrive."  Jake says, “Not sure. Harkins I do not know, but Tomlinson usually can be found with Judge Isby. He is the judges assistant."Harbrace says, "Diana gave me three arrows to use against them, and three more for the boy," he gestures towards Nakomo.   Kate listened to Minerva and let out a long breath. "I saw Diana last night as well, in the Long Branch. That's how I know the Vampires are coming here."   Minerva says, “You, saw Diana last night?"Kate replies, "It's not the first time. I've met her once before when I went home to Boston. I went to the Old North Church after I'd told my father about my condition and she came to me there. Everyone else just stops, frozen and it's as if we are the only ones there... She is leaving the area now, but she wanted me to know there is someone here she wants to serve as midwife for me. She didn't say who. I asked about the vampires and she told me what she could. She said she didn't know names, unfortunately."Minerva does not reveal that she knows who the midwife is, thinking that now was not the time, since it would probably just upset Katherine and distract them from their current crisis. "You are fortunate that she favors you so. Your son does not know how lucky he is.”Chester interjects, "Arrows? pardon me, but what are they going to do against vampires?"   Minerva states, "Diana assured us that the arrows would destroy them."  Harbrace says, "These arrows are essentially a silver tip fixed to a wooden stake, both of which could be fatal to a vampire even if they were normal arrows. These however are far more than that, they came from the quiver of Diana herself."  Chester arches an eyebrow. "Blessed by the goddess herself? Very impressive. If they don't do the trick, then nothing will."Jake just starts shaking his head. "Seems like you have your work cut out for you."  Minerva looks at Jake. "I was hoping that you would assist in this task."   He replies, "Uh, ya, sure. Silver Jake Cook, saloon rat and vampire exterminator extraordinaire." He does not look pleased and finishes with, "Yes, yes, I will assist how I can. You should keep the gun and ammo that belonged to Edwards that I gave you yesterday too. More fitting that you have it than me anyway."A slight smirk plays across her lips "It is, after all, to your advantage to dispose of these vermin before they take over too many of your customers, Senor Cook. For although vampires are creatures of the night, I do not believe that they drink beer or whiskey."  "Very droll, Senorita." Jake manages a smile anyway. While everyone is still talking he slips a ring into the hand of the priestess. "Later," he says quietly.  Minerva palms the ring and puts it in the pocket of her gown."All of us along with Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Harker should be able to handle two of the creatures if we just knew where to find them. Does anyone know when the stage gets in from Wilcox?"  At her request Jake gives Minerva an envelope and paper. She scribbles a message letting Tomlinson know where they are and that they must meet with him and Harkins immediately upon his arrival. She folds the paper, places it in the envelope and seals it. She writes Tomlinson's name on it before handing it to Nakomo. "Por Favor, Hurry and deliver this message to the Judges house. On your way back stop and find out the train schedule."  Eager to please, Nakomo says "I will be right back." and runs down the stairs with the message. Nakomo returns fifteen minutes later to say that the message was delivered and that the Morand Cartage Stagecoach from Wilcox is expected to arrive between 2:30 and 3:00 PM    Kate says, "That gives us some time to wait. Did Mr. Wilson say anything to you the other day that would indicate their plans or who they might be working with?"Jake says, "As soon as I realized he was one of those foul beings I blew him to Hades.  We need more clues. Specifically how Dooley Wilson and Phil Grove are connected and who else is connected to them. Obviously it has something to do with the Thayer Ranch. Chet, you and Berg got a bunch of leads from Wagner, if you need help with any of them you will need to speak up.”Chester states, Chester says, "Wagner told me and the Marshall that they went out there often. He said that Thayer was meeting with Vaughn Palmer. He was the guy who placed second in the shooting match at the festival. He was going by Stephen Murdock then and Chris... Goudge now." Jake says, “Then there is Messier. If I remember correctly he owns the Beatrice Mine with Dudley Jobin and the Hoover Mining Trust. We need to figure out how he might be connected. It could be time for some of the Hoover Trust to make a visit to their assets." Jake sighs. "Then there is Mortimer Turner. Even if the great lady Artemis cannot reveal his name, we know it.  Just another day in Promise City. How about we go down stairs for some lunch before you all go off to save the world?" With that they do. While they are settling in to a large table, the post master walks into the room. "Got another one for you Mr. Cook. You are a popular fellow this week." He hands Jake the envelope.  "Thanks Eddie," Jake says but quickly gets distracted when he reads the return address: Virginia Claire Maguire of San Francisco, California. Although he has not seem that handwriting since he left Philadelphia, there is no question in his mind that it is authentic. He quickly stuffs the letter in his trouser pocket and joins the others at the table.During the meal Father John Harbrace says, "I want to thank you folks for opening up to a stranger like me.”   Chester says, "That's right nice of you, father. The way these vampires keep spreading like wildfire, we need all the help we can get."  Harbrace continues, “You know, when I walked away from the Church six years back I never planned on returning to the faith, let alone going off and killing monsters at the personal calling of a Goddess."Kate says, "There are few whose heads wouldn't be turned a bit by having a task to perform at behest of a goddess. She must think very highly of your skills to ask you to take it up. It is nice to open up for an ally. As for what you say Chester, is there a money trail to connect all the people meeting out there that we could follow?""Money trail?" Jake interrupts. "We were told that Fisk was working with Thayer. If the cowboy gang has allied themselves with vampires...." Jake doesn't finish the thought and shudders involuntarily. "That could tie Dooley Wilson with Fisk at his favorite hangout. Could be also that they have allied themselves involuntarily. I wonder if their rivals the Circle8 ranch knows anything that would be useful? What do you think, Chet, is Katherine's idea a good one?"Chester says, "Yeah, follow the money. That's a good idea, but how do we go about it? We can't just ask Fisk, 'So, can we see your books?'"   Kate says, "I wasn't thinking so much of Fisk as men from Thayer's ranch. Find out where they tended to spend their money, what they spent it on. If they seemed to have more than usual lately.   Of course you're not able to look at people's financial records, but you are a deputy Chester. It's perfectly normal for you to ask questions about victims of crimes and their associates."Chester says, "Thayer's men don't like me very much. If I can get a couple drinks in them, they'll warm up to me. I can work on what they know about Murdock and that cave. If I were Wyatt, I'd be far away from here. He's putting Josie and himself at great risk by staying around. But, knowing him, he'll stick around to finish what he started. Thayer's men may not know that he's still around. If I let that drop, who knows?"   That question is soon answered as Thom knocks on the door to tell Chester that he is wanted in the Saloon's main room.</blockquote>

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