<TIAMAT> *It's dusk when we find one Viktor Tratz making his way up to the top floor of the Arena, silently cursing Pacheco for having his office on the top floor. He reminds himself with a sly smile, however, of why he's visiting the Cardinal; Baron Teal hasn't been seen since the day before, so it would appear Pacheco's plan was successful. He permits himself a dark chuckle as he starts up the steps to the sixth floor.

<JETMODE> *An extremely irritable voice sounds off from a connecting hallway. "And it went ALL THE WAY BACK to his room! It took me HOURS!"

<JETMODE> *Another responds with a sympathetic tongue click. "Poor Rumi! I tell you, there's no consideration in this world --"

<JETMODE> *A third voice. "Yeah, really! They ought to bleed to death in one place so it's not so much trouble for us!"

<JETMODE> <first voice> YOU TWO WERE DOWN IN THE LOUNGE DRINKING COFFEE!

<JETMODE> <second voice> How can you say that?! We weren't drinking coffee at all!

<JETMODE> <third voice> It was rum.

<TIAMAT> *Tratz pauses, smile broadening slightly as he peers down the hallway.

<JETMODE> *That would be Rumiko, Diana, and Garret, standing around talking instead of working. One wonders if they ever sleep. Rumiko sighs moodily. "Wonder if the poor bastard made it, anyway. It was a lot of blood."

<JETMODE> <Diana> I'm sure he had plenty to spare. *pats Rumiko on the shoulder, earning her a glare*

<TIAMAT> *Tratz is positively beaming as he calls down the hall. "Blood, you say, friends? From where?

<JETMODE> *Garret yips, jumping slightly, and Diana looks at Tratz and giggles, murmuring. "Look, Mummy, it's the lizard man --" Rumiko elbows her in the ribs. "Led back to Baron Teal's room, sir," she answers him shortly.

<JETMODE> <Garret> Left the door standing open, he did. Had to shut it for him. Abominably rude.

<JETMODE> *Diana giggles again.

<TIAMAT> *Tratz: Is that so! *he puts on his best concerned face. "But pray tell, where did the other end of the trail lead to?

<JETMODE> <Diana> Oh, up to the roof, Sir Lizard -- he went dancing. It was a lovely affair --

<JETMODE> *Rumiko steps on her foot this time.

<JETMODE> *Diana gives a melodramatic wail as Rumi does so, flinging herself at her fellow janitor. "You're so cruel, Rumiko -- and all because he didn't invite YOU --" Rumi screeches something, attempting to disentangle herself, because Diana is clinging tenaciously to her waist and pretending to sob. Garret is pretending to play the violin.

<JETMODE> <Rumiko> Let me GO --

<JETMODE> <Diana> *big, fake sob* And here I thought you loved me --

<JETMODE> <Garret> *loudly, over all of it* A friendship tested -- a bond broken -- what will they do?!

<TIAMAT> *Tratz watches all this in bemusement for a moment, then mutters something and stalks off toward the nearest staircase, that evil grin creeping back on his face.

<TIAMAT> *He makes his way up to Pacheco's temple, whistling a bit to himself. He pauses outside the Cardinal's office. "Hope the old codger's still here ... *and, clearing his throat a bit, he knocks.

<JETMODE> *The response is a rather testy "What is it?!"

<TIAMAT> *Tratz ignores the tone and pushes the door open, sauntering in rather smugly. "Evenin', Pacheco," *he quips, closing the door behind him.

<JETMODE> *Pacheco gives him a hard look, shuffling through some papers on his desk. It's actually rather a mess, and there's shattered glass on the floor by one of the bookshelves, though some poor acolyte did attempt to clean it up.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> What do you want?

<TIAMAT> *Tratz glances around, smile flickering just a little. He looks back at Pacheco, raising his eyebrow slightly. "Jus' seein' what the status of our current operation is--

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *irritably* That's lovely, Tratz. Perhaps you can tell me, because at the moment, I have no idea whatsoever.

<TIAMAT> *The smile flickers again, this time fading a little as Tratz's eyes go a little wide. "Is that ... so? *he pauses, clearing his throat, smile returning again. "Well, it should come as good news, then, that no one's seen him since last night. And I just overheard the janitors talking about a bunch of blood they had to clean up outside his room.

<JETMODE> *Pacheco looks up at him sharply. "Just blood? A trail or a pool? Did they find a body?"

<TIAMAT> *Tratz takes a step back. "Trail, it sounded like, though they wouldn't tell me where it ended. Never said nothin' 'bout a body.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> BLAST it. *smashes his fist on his desk* Why is it I can only find bungling FOOLS?!

<TIAMAT> *Tratz quails a little. "What about your girl?

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *snaps* Gone. I haven't heard a word.

<TIAMAT> *Tratz hesitates. "Sounded like there was a lotta blood in the hall, though--

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> If she finished the job properly, she'd have reported and requested her pay. Something went wrong, and I suspect she's far out of my reach by now.

<TIAMAT> *Tratz frowns. "So now what? I could have another look around, press the janitors for more info--

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> Leave them alone, they're useless. Keep a close watch on the guards. If he turns up, they'll know first.

<TIAMAT> *Tratz nods. "You got it. *pause* Anything else?

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *shortly* Not right now. I'll let you know if something comes up.

<TIAMAT> *Tratz, a little nervously: Right. *he pauses, then slinks out the door silently.

<JETMODE> *Pacheco glares around his office for something else to throw.