[CM]: Francis sleeps deeply, but his dreams are tormented by images of witches and trials, of demons and desperate pacts. Funny thing is, the desperation is on both sides of the pact, and the demons seem scared...

[CM]: The morning light is pale and washed out, much like you feel.

[Riker]: "I'm not up to this shit."

[CM]: Your mood isn't improved by Mulcahy's robust good humour as he sticks his beaming face into the room. "Good morning! And how're you this fine day?!"

[Riker]: "I'm never gonna get used to this shit."

Francis looks awful, drawn and white, with huge dark circles below his eyes. "I'm breathing and I have my soul, so I have little to complain about."

Mulcahy grins. "Excellent! There's breakfast in the kitchen when you're ready."

Riker follows Mulcahy into the kitchen, and finds himself a chair to slide into.

Benny eyes the food hungrily and tucks in, scanning Mulcahy's newspaper while he eats.

[CM whispers to Benny]: There's a photo of William Gordon at the bottom of page two, along with a small article.[Benny whispers to CM]: I'll read it.
[CM whispers to Benny]: The article is about the candlelight vigil held by the members of the Evangelical Crusade as they prey for the return of the body of William Gordon, which went missing from the temporary morgue where it was being held yesterday. As yet, there are no clues to the identity of the thieves, nor do the police have any idea of the motive. Next to the article and the picture of Gordon is a photo of a group of mournful looking people holding lit candles. They're standing in front of a nice looking suburban home with a heap of flowers and wreaths next to the front door. The caption reads, "mourners and parishioners gather outside Mr Gordon's Somerville home."
[CM whispered to Benny]: PCN roll, please.
(To CM) DICE for Benny: (1d100) = [ 15 ]
[CM whispers to Benny]: On the same page, there's a continuation of a story from page one, detailing a break-in and the murder of a security guard at the Boston Museum of Art and History. Something about it feels wrong...
[Benny whispers to CM]: Any idea what?
[CM whispers to Benny]: There's mention of the speed of the raid, and the fact that as far as the initial survey can tell, nothing of value was stolen. There's also the fact that the guard was decapitated...

Francis sits down at the desk with Father Mulcahy's PC, and sets to work connecting the salvaged disk drive.

[CM whispered to Francis]: The power connector is torn. You'll have to rig a new one. Electronics roll, please.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 34 ]
[CM whispered to Francis]: You set to work, though it'll take a few minutes.

[Riker whispered to CM]: I'm getting in touch with my contacts in the publishing business, and a friend at the credit bureau, trying to dig up a little more info on friend Gordon.
[CM whispered to Riker]: Which one first?
[Riker whispered to CM]: Credit bureau.
[CM whispered to Riker]: PER roll...
(To CM) DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 19 ]
[CM whispered to Riker]: Chauncy at the credit bureau grumbles, but he says he'll run a quick computer check for you and see what he can come up with. He'll call you back in a few minutes.
[Riker whispered to CM]: OK. While he's doing that, I'll call my publisher.
[CM whispered to Riker]: They're pleased to hear from you, and immediately launch into asking if there's a sequel to "Razor-edged Smile" in the offing...
[Riker whispered to CM]: Stall 'em for a minute or two, then ask 'em if they know William Gordon?
[CM whispered to Riker]: PER roll...
(To CM) DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 13 ]
[Riker whispered to CM]: Riker turns on the charm...
[CM whispered to Riker]: Turns out they do. The publishing house that handles him is actually an imprint of your publisher, and they share an office building. Most of the people who met him thought that he was very genuine, warm and decent. It helped that his books were a solid gold hit for the imprint. They're all genuinely cut up about his death.
[Riker whispered to CM]: Hmmm. I'll make my excuses and hang up.

[CM whispered to Francis]: You've finally got power to it, but the operating system won't recognise it. Computers Roll, please...
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 55 ]
[Francis whispered to CM]: I set about reconfiguring the system to accept the new drive.

[CM whispered to Riker]: It's Chauncy. He's done the check for you, and it seems like Mr Gordon was about as up and up as you can get. Regular spending habits, never particularly large amounts. He was regular in his payments and was regarded as a very good risk.
[Riker whispered to CM]: I'll thank Chauncy and let him know I owe him one. Then I hang up.

[Francis]: "Because you're a total cynic?"

[Riker]: "Everyone's a fuggin' comedian. How're you doing with the tech?"

[Francis]: "Patience, Mr Riker. The drive was severely damaged. It's taken me this long to get power to it and to get the operating system to recognise it."

[CM whispered to Francis]: Bingo. The reboot completes and the system indicates that it now has a new drive. Hardly plug'n'play, but it seems to be working. Only it seems like some of the data is encrypted. The non-encrypted stuff looks like financial data only...

[Riker]: "Problem?"

[Francis]: "A delay only. I've recovered some financial data, but there's more files that someone's encrypted. I know what encryption software we had on the system, and I know the keys. It shouldn't take me too long to crack this."

Riker pats Francis on the shoulder. "Go to it man."

Francis sets about the data with renewed vigour.

[CM whispered to Francis]: Computers Roll, please...
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 43 ]
[CM whispered to Francis]: You set the decryption program running. PCN roll.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 38 ]
[CM whispered to Francis]: As you watch the decryption program at work, you realise there's something wrong. Computer roll.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 65 ]
[CM whispered to Francis]: After puzzling over it for a moment, you realise there's a discrepancy between the amount of data going through the decryption program, and the amount of data the drive thinks is on the disk. It's almost as if the decrypt program can't see a chunk of data, as if its address has been deleted from the file allocation table.

[Riker]: "What is?"

[Francis]: "There's data hidden on the disk. Give me a moment."

[Francis whispered to CM]: Francis puts the decrypt program in the background and runs a diagnostic to recover the hidden data.
[CM whispered to Francis]: Computer roll.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 48 ]
[CM whispered to Francis]: After a moment, the recovered data begins to roll up the screen. Big chunks of it are too badly damaged to recover, but it seems to be a series of observations of a local figure, made by different people over a very long period of time. They look like periodic reports, until a name rolls on to the screen. A name you recognise...
[Francis whispered to CM]: And that is?
[CM whispered to Francis]: Ezra Cabot.

[Francis]: "Oh God."

[Riker]: "What? What've you found?"

[Francis]: "Oh...dear...God."

[Riker]: "What is it Francis? Spill it, you're creepin' me out here."

[Francis]: "Oh my Lord." He wipes his glasses nervously, his hands shaking.

Riker gets an irritated expression and moves to look at the screen.

[Francis]: "Ezra Cabot." He gestures at the screen. "Someone went to a lot of effort to hide all our data on him."

[Riker]: "So, this is our guy?"

[Francis]: "Probably. It can't be a coincidence that the data was hidden like this."

[Benny]: "So what do we know about him?"

[Francis]: "Cabot is...evil. A vampire, very powerful, very old."

[Riker]: "And?"

[Francis]: "And that's almost all we know. He's supposed to live near old Salem - now known as Danvers - and has done for the last few hundred years."

[Riker]: "And that's it?"

[Francis]: "He's clever. SAVE only began to suspect him about a hundred years ago, mainly because he's never left the town as far as anyone knows. He may even still be in the same house. There are records of an Ezra Cabot all the way as far back as the original settlers."

[Riker]: "So how come he's still alive?"

[Francis]: "As I said, he's clever. And powerful. Very powerful."

[Benny]: "Lovely. Just fucking lovely.

Having possibly uncovered the name of the architect of their woes, the team decide to check out the site of last night's unusual break-in; the Boston Museum of Art and History...

[CM]: Boston Museum of art is a mix of architectural styles. The grand Victorian center is surrounded by later wings of red stone, detailed with baroque carvings. Between stone lions that mirror New York Central Library, steps lead uo through doric olumns to the large double doors. This morning the site is wrapped in yellow crimescene tape, and a bored looking cop sits forlornly on a bench.

[Francis]: "Well Mr Riker, I believe this is more your area than mine."

Riker approaches the cop.

[Riker]: "Hey, how's it going?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Sorry sir. Museum's closed."

[Riker]: "Damn. I was looking to get a tour...what unit you with?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Right here sir," he point to his precinct patch. The 14th.

[Riker]: "Hm, that's Cowan's patch, right? How is he? Don't recall seeing you around the precinct house."

[Officer Wildman]: "He's fine sir. I'm new. You with the job?"

[Riker]: "Nah, just a friend of some of the guys. How long you been on shift?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Just a couple hours."

[Riker]: "You look like hell for just a couple hours kid. C'mon, lets grab a coffee."

[Officer Wildman]: "Sorry sir, but I can't leave."

[Riker]: "Why not? You got others inside, right?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Actually, right now it's just me. Forensics guys did their bit last night. I'm just here to keep the press out while the museum staff finish cataloging to see if anything else was taken."

[Riker]: "Press already got their pictures. C'mon, the doors are locked aren't they?"

[Officer Wildman]: "I really can't sir. The Captain would skin me alive. You know how he gets."

[Riker]: "Yeah, I know. But he'd only get like that with me. Still, I know what you mean. So, where was the break in?"

[Officer Wildman]: "East wing. Middle Eastern stuff."

[Riker]: "Hmm. How'd they get in?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Ripped a window right out of the wall. Set every alarm in the place off. Must've used a truck or something, only we can't find any marks."

[Riker]: "What about the guard?"

[Officer Wildman]: "The one that was killed? He was on patrol in the wing at the time. Poor bastard. Talk about bad timing. they were in and out so fast if he'd been anywhere else in the building he'd have missed them."

[Riker]: "They were fast?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Apparently. Knew exactly what they were going for. Weird thing is, what they took was crap."

[Riker]: "Egyptian stuff?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Syrian or Iranian or something. Middle eastern anyway. Tableware."

[Riker]: "Like knives and shit?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Nah. Cup and bowls." He quotes in a faux-educated accent, "prime examples of wooden tableware from the banks of the Jordan." He grins. "That's according to the guy that was yappin' to the press this morning. Sad thing is, he says they were pretty common. The sort of thing any carpenter could make."

Francis starts. "Oh... Lord."

[Officer Wildman]: "And to think they pulled some poor slobs head off just for that."

Riker shakes his head sadly.

[Riker]: "Hey kid, I'm going to get a cuppa joe. Want anything?"

The cop smiles. "Wouldn't say no to a coffee and somethin' to dunk. Thanks."

[Riker]: "No problem."

Riker heads across to one of the local vendor and gets a couple cups of coffe, some doughboys, even a couple of glazed donuts. then he heads back to the kid, bags in hand, and hands him a coffee.

[Riker]: "Here you go. Hey, your watch workin' kid?"

[Officer Wildman]: "Yes sir."

[Riker]: "Don't think mine is. What time you got?"

[Officer Wildman]: "12:10 sir."

[Riker]: "Shit on me! Shit on me! Gotta jet kid. Lawyer's were wanting a meeting with me - twenty minutes ago. Say hi to Mike for me."

[Officer Wildman]: "Will do sir, and good luck with the lawyers!"

Riker hustles the others away from the museum.

Francis is almost frantic. "They're after the Grail."

[Mulcahy]: "The Grail? The Cup of Christ? You're serious?"

Francis nods. "Think about it. A wooden cup from the banks of the Jordan. A cup like any carpenter would have made. Why else would he steal it?"

[Riker]: "So what happens if a vampire drinks from the Holy Grail."

[Francis]: "I wouldn't like to speculate."

[Riker]: "Think you can find out?"

[Francis]: "You put a lot of trust in my abilities Mr Riker."

[Riker]: "They haven't let us down yet."

[CM whispered to Francis]: PCN roll.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 17 ]
[CM whispered to Francis]: There's a small stone cross embedded in a strip of grass before you reach the sidewalk. There's a plaque on it.
[Francis whispered to CM]:Francis reads the plaque.
[CM whispered to Francis]: The plaque states that the Boston Museum of Art is the only consecrated ground in the city that is not a church or cemetary. It was consecrated in 1927, when a city father (Thomas Bishop) who was a major patron of the Museum, declared that he wished to be buried there.

[Riker]: "What you got Francis?"

[Francis]: "Interesting. It appears the museum is holy ground. It was consecrated in 1927."

[Riker]: "He snagged the Grail from holy ground?"

[Francis]: "Or had something do it for him. I think Cabot is affected by holy symbols, but I can't be sure. Our reports on him are pretty vague."

[Riker]: "Why?"

[Francis]: "The envoys we sent to check him out didn't always come back."

[Riker]: "What kind of creature could enter holy ground?"

[Francis]: "Well, the strength exhibited is characteristic of the vampire, but really it could have been anything."

[Riker]: "We need to find out more about that cup."

[Mulcahy]: "I could ask my bishop. He's on the board of trustees." He suddenly looks embarrassed. "I should have mentioned that earlier, right?"

Riker grins. "That'd be good padre. While you're doing that, we'd better get some research done."

[CM]: Where are you doing this? Are you heading back to Riker's office?

[Riker]: Makes sense. We've got just about everything we need there.

[CM]: Okay. You head off to the office, while Mulcahy makes his call to his bishop. You've barely had time to settle in when

Mulcahy arrives, puffing slightly from the climb up the stairs. He's carrying pizza and a tray of coffees.

[Mulcahy]: "Turn on the TV! Quickly!"

Riker switches the box on.

[Mulcahy]: "Channel 5."

Riker changes the channel.

[CM]: The scene is familiar, until you realise that you saw it in the papers this morning. The vigil holders are gone, replaced instead by black and whites with strobing rooflights and an ambulance, the rear doors flung wide. A pretty blonde reporter is talking to the camera. "Once again, we're here live at the scene, where caretakers at the home of noted local author and preacher William Gordon have made a grisly discovery."

[Riker]: "Aww no. Not another one."

[Francis]: "The body count rises."

[CM]: Behind her, the large door of the luxurious home opens, and two men in coroner's office jackets heave a dolly laden with a plastic wrapped form over the front step. "At approximately 9:00AM this morning, Jose Cuevera, a gardener, reported what appeared to be a grave in the grounds of this Somerville home, which has been unattended since the reported death of its owner in last weeks terrible air tragedy."

[Riker]: "Think Gordon made a sacrifice?"

[CM]: Awkwardly, the two men struggle to guide the dolly down the short flight of steps to the gravel driveway.

[Francis]: "You think he summoned something?"

[Riker]: "Don't know. He might not be the instigator in all this."

[CM]: "Police have yet to release a statement about the remains that were discovered in the grave, and as yet no speculation has been made as to who those remains might be." The lead coroner's assistant totters on a step, clearly off-balance. The dolly begins to tip. "As you can see, the coroner's office is only now removing the body after a careful examination of the surrounding...oh my God!"

[CM]: Unable to let go of the dolly, unable to correct his balance, the coroner's assistant goes sprawling. The dolly tips over on top of him, dumping the body bag onto the gravel. The bag splits open, spilling its blackened skeletal contents out for all to see.

Francis cranes forward.

[Riker]: "Aw, man!"

[CM]: It's got wings.

[Francis]: "Oh my God. He sacrificed an angel..."

Session ends.