NatsuMatthias looked over the map of the museum on his laptop as his father drove them through the busy downtown streets, crosschecking with the blueprints. He was confused, why now? Ghostess never came out during the rain, was there something here he was missing? A different exit that they might not know about? She would always escape from the roof tops though... Maybe she had a new trick she was going to try? Was that why she had contacted all of those reporters? He knew she loved an audience but this was huge. Was her modus operandi changing? Or was this a one time only change? Was there perhaps a copycat? No, the card matched the previous ones they had received, it had to be legitimate. So then what, what was it that made him feel such unease?
He had been so immersed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed his father had been speaking, and quickly tuned in to catch the last parts of the conversation, so that he could at least pretend to be listening.
"...And when we arrive, you're to stay with officer Carson." Matthias suddenly sat up, looking at his father reproachfully.
"What? Officer who now? Why aren't I going with you?" he asked, offended.
"It's too dangerous. I want you partnered with officer Carson for your own protection."
"Protection?! What the hell, I don't need protection, you've never made me partner with an officer before on these cases!" he argued. His father gave him a sharp but stern glare.
"That was before Ghostess shot someone. You're not an officer, Matty, you're a private detective we consult with. You don't even have a gun. I will feel much better knowing that you're with one of my people than out on your own." he said firmly, showing that he was not budging on the issue.
Huffing, Matthias slumped back in his seat, crossing his arms in a pout.
"Fine. I'll consent to being babysat."
"Good. I'd also feel better knowing Carson is with you. This is her first major case, I'd be better at ease knowing she's with someone with more experience." he said, reverting to his more cheery attitude.
"I thought you said I wasn't a cop." Matthias pointed out dryly.
"You're not, but you have been poking your nose in police business since 15. Your mother says had you started a little younger, she would have written a book about it."
"She did write a book about it, dad. The Boys of Bronx, it was a children's best seller."
"Oh yes, she did! It beat out the teleporting treehouse novelas by a landslide! Speaking of your mother, you will be attending dinner on Sunday, won't you?"
"Yes, Yes, I will."
They spent the remainder of the car ride in idle chitchat, until they arrived at the JP Morgan museum. It was 5:00 now, the skies were still grey and cloudy, though the rain had slowed some. Met by two other officers, the father and son were escorted into the building, out of the weather. In his suit and tie, Matthias stood out among the boys in blue, looking more like a misplaced businessman. Looking up, Matthias recognized one of the officers, an older, somewhat pudgy mustachioned man.
"Officer Ramirez? What are you doing here, I thought you were homicide." he asked, surprised to see him. Ramirez grinned, rubbing his head sheepishly.
"Hey, Matty. I was, but I got transferred onto the Ghostess case. They wanted a homicide detective on the case in case the girl who was shot dies." he explained. Matthias waved to his father, following Ramirez through the exhibits, down to the basement.
"So, how've you been, Matty? I haven't seen you since serial murder case with the vampire wannabe. Did you pass the exam?" he asked. Matthias frowned, holding in a glare.
"No, I didn't. Right now, I'm a private detective. I've decided to wait a little while before taking the exam again." he replied calmly.
"Ah, I see! Gotta work hard to put some meat on you, boy! Kick the physical before it kicks you, huh?" the older man roared with laughter, slapping him on the back.
He led him down into the basement, where the Punic artifacts were being stored. A nervous looking museum curator and a few other female officers he didn't recognize were already there. Ignoring them, he went to look at the artifacts, curious about them. He stared for a few moments, before turning to the curator.
"Is this the Italian collection? From the first Punic war?" he asked. The curator nodded, walking over to his side.
"Yes, they are. They are very old and valuable, we are very grateful to the Italian government for allowing us to showcase them here." she replied.
"Hmm... I'm confused, however. If they are to be showcased, why are they down here? Guests aren't allowed below the first floor, are they?" he asked, suspicious. The curator stiffened, before giving him a polite, if somewhat strained smile.
"They are being studied, at the moment. They are of great historical importance."
"I see. But then, wouldn't it be better to have them over at the Cloisters? They do specialize in the study of ancient and medieval European history. Aren't their facilities much better equipped to handle their study?" he asked, before spotting the putty casts.
"And those casts, what are they doing here? Has the Italian government given you permission to replicate them?" he inquired. Beginning to sweat now, the Curator gave a nervous laugh.
"Of course! We are preparing an interactive exhibit for the winter, where guests can experience the history of the Punic wars themselves! Now, if you will excuse me, I have to take a call." she excused herself, hurrying out to the room and upstairs.
Ramirez chuckled, putting a hand on Matthias's shoulder.
"A real lady killer, aren't you, chico? You really had her swooning there!" he said in friendly mockery.
"Perhaps. Although I find it more interesting how she managed to get reception when we're 40 feet underground." he remarked, allowing himself to be led away from the artifacts and over to the female officers.
"Ey, Melissa, Carson, here's Matty- Oops, I mean Detective Charlot. I'll be upstairs, my kid wants a snapshot of Ghostess, and I want her to clean her room. Gotta work hard for that compromise, right?" he said, heartily excusing himself. Matthias was much more reserved, keeping his hands behind his back and nodding to the two women.
"Pleasure." he said, somewhat curtly, not interested in conversation. Just because he had agreed to have someone watch over him, didn't mean he intending on befriending them.
He had been so immersed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed his father had been speaking, and quickly tuned in to catch the last parts of the conversation, so that he could at least pretend to be listening.
"...And when we arrive, you're to stay with officer Carson." Matthias suddenly sat up, looking at his father reproachfully.
"What? Officer who now? Why aren't I going with you?" he asked, offended.
"It's too dangerous. I want you partnered with officer Carson for your own protection."
"Protection?! What the hell, I don't need protection, you've never made me partner with an officer before on these cases!" he argued. His father gave him a sharp but stern glare.
"That was before Ghostess shot someone. You're not an officer, Matty, you're a private detective we consult with. You don't even have a gun. I will feel much better knowing that you're with one of my people than out on your own." he said firmly, showing that he was not budging on the issue.
Huffing, Matthias slumped back in his seat, crossing his arms in a pout.
"Fine. I'll consent to being babysat."
"Good. I'd also feel better knowing Carson is with you. This is her first major case, I'd be better at ease knowing she's with someone with more experience." he said, reverting to his more cheery attitude.
"I thought you said I wasn't a cop." Matthias pointed out dryly.
"You're not, but you have been poking your nose in police business since 15. Your mother says had you started a little younger, she would have written a book about it."
"She did write a book about it, dad. The Boys of Bronx, it was a children's best seller."
"Oh yes, she did! It beat out the teleporting treehouse novelas by a landslide! Speaking of your mother, you will be attending dinner on Sunday, won't you?"
"Yes, Yes, I will."
They spent the remainder of the car ride in idle chitchat, until they arrived at the JP Morgan museum. It was 5:00 now, the skies were still grey and cloudy, though the rain had slowed some. Met by two other officers, the father and son were escorted into the building, out of the weather. In his suit and tie, Matthias stood out among the boys in blue, looking more like a misplaced businessman. Looking up, Matthias recognized one of the officers, an older, somewhat pudgy mustachioned man.
"Officer Ramirez? What are you doing here, I thought you were homicide." he asked, surprised to see him. Ramirez grinned, rubbing his head sheepishly.
"Hey, Matty. I was, but I got transferred onto the Ghostess case. They wanted a homicide detective on the case in case the girl who was shot dies." he explained. Matthias waved to his father, following Ramirez through the exhibits, down to the basement.
"So, how've you been, Matty? I haven't seen you since serial murder case with the vampire wannabe. Did you pass the exam?" he asked. Matthias frowned, holding in a glare.
"No, I didn't. Right now, I'm a private detective. I've decided to wait a little while before taking the exam again." he replied calmly.
"Ah, I see! Gotta work hard to put some meat on you, boy! Kick the physical before it kicks you, huh?" the older man roared with laughter, slapping him on the back.
He led him down into the basement, where the Punic artifacts were being stored. A nervous looking museum curator and a few other female officers he didn't recognize were already there. Ignoring them, he went to look at the artifacts, curious about them. He stared for a few moments, before turning to the curator.
"Is this the Italian collection? From the first Punic war?" he asked. The curator nodded, walking over to his side.
"Yes, they are. They are very old and valuable, we are very grateful to the Italian government for allowing us to showcase them here." she replied.
"Hmm... I'm confused, however. If they are to be showcased, why are they down here? Guests aren't allowed below the first floor, are they?" he asked, suspicious. The curator stiffened, before giving him a polite, if somewhat strained smile.
"They are being studied, at the moment. They are of great historical importance."
"I see. But then, wouldn't it be better to have them over at the Cloisters? They do specialize in the study of ancient and medieval European history. Aren't their facilities much better equipped to handle their study?" he asked, before spotting the putty casts.
"And those casts, what are they doing here? Has the Italian government given you permission to replicate them?" he inquired. Beginning to sweat now, the Curator gave a nervous laugh.
"Of course! We are preparing an interactive exhibit for the winter, where guests can experience the history of the Punic wars themselves! Now, if you will excuse me, I have to take a call." she excused herself, hurrying out to the room and upstairs.
Ramirez chuckled, putting a hand on Matthias's shoulder.
"A real lady killer, aren't you, chico? You really had her swooning there!" he said in friendly mockery.
"Perhaps. Although I find it more interesting how she managed to get reception when we're 40 feet underground." he remarked, allowing himself to be led away from the artifacts and over to the female officers.
"Ey, Melissa, Carson, here's Matty- Oops, I mean Detective Charlot. I'll be upstairs, my kid wants a snapshot of Ghostess, and I want her to clean her room. Gotta work hard for that compromise, right?" he said, heartily excusing himself. Matthias was much more reserved, keeping his hands behind his back and nodding to the two women.
"Pleasure." he said, somewhat curtly, not interested in conversation. Just because he had agreed to have someone watch over him, didn't mean he intending on befriending them.