Log:Investigating the Railroad

Grimm Family Matters 2020/07/06 	 Radical Grimm

2

A shadow gate swirls into existence around the block from their destination so they can check it out carefully. Gabrielle steps through and looks around, feeling odd to be back in her hometown.

Radical steps through the gate as well. "Never been here. Seems nice."

"Really? Well, under better circumstances, I could show you around a few haunts," Gabrielle offers. "It's nice this time of year. Wet most of the rest. But it's wonderful for getting cozy with a book and some coffee at a cafe and losing yourself."

It's a lovely place, really, especially the docks. Gray concrete. Gray precast tip-up warehouses. Gray sky with the sun diffused through the cloud cover/smog emulsion. The water of Puget Sound is mostly gray in the light (or lack thereof), with a little bit of chop from the breeze off the coast.

Grimm flashes a faint smile at Radical. "Plenty of rock venues with vampire girls to date, too," she winks, then looks towards Ship-EZE and starts perusing with her shadow sight.

Radical chuckles. "Mmm. I want to avoid vampires, if possible." He looks at the building as well, using his two special senses."

"Things went that bad, huh?" Gabrielle comments distractedly.

Radical chuckles. "With Mari? No, it went fine. She just...realized that I was more boring that she originally thought."

Radical says, "Of course, she didn't know about the extra-curriculars."

Ship-EZE, who, according to their fairly lackluster sign 'makes shipping E-ZE!' isn't especially exciting to look at. Not visually, magically, or even dimensionally. The building feels like the concrete it appears, save for the two metal roll-up doors, and the metal-clad entrance door that has a keypad ajacent.

Grimm smiles faintly at that while her attention is split. "Hah. She might've found you more interesting for sure then. Or maybe try to drain you," she shrugs. She tilts her head slightly in the direction of the shipping company. "This place seems really...mundane. Maybe it really is just a normal storefront now."

Radical chuckles. "she wasn't an actual vampire. I just want to avoid the real ones if possible." He shakes his head as he looks at the building. "Looks mundane to me. It's possible that the former organization moved on. I migth be able to tell when we check inside.

Grimm shakes her head slowly. "You didn't know? Oh man. Um. Yes. She was a real vampire. So were some of her friends. I thought you knew," she says apologetically as she rubs the back of her head. She looks back to the case at hand. "Okay, let's check it out. I don't sense anyone inside."

Radical stops and stares at Grimm. "Seriously?" He shakes his head, "I'll be lucky if she didn't figure out my double identity, then."

Grimm looks to Radical and nods solemnly, not teasing or fooling around. "Yeah. They have a good sense of smell, so just...wear different colognes maybe?" she offers as she starts walking towards the metal rollup doors she sensed. "Should we just gate inside? There may be cameras, though."

Radical nods. "There might be cameras, yes. But if there are no guards, then we can be in and out in 5 minutes. Max."

"Nobody inside that I can sense. Might be alarms, so let's be quick." Gabrielle puts a hand on Radical's shoulder and teleports them inside.

QLIPHAMF!

The pair appear... facing the rollup door. The outside of it, still. It's also a bit more uncomfortable of a re-appearance than either might be used to, but not injurious.

Grimm winces a bit and staggers back like she hit a wall. With her mind. "Oww..."

Radical blinks. "Did you miss?"

Radical tilts his head, "If not, we might have found the right place."

Radical looks around, to see what security systems are set up. "I don't know how to pick locks, but I can disable the security, potentially."

Grimm frowns and narrows her eyes at the rollup door. "No, there's something warded here against doing that. But that won't stop me now." She keeps her grip on Radical and narrows her eyes in focus.

All it takes is some concentration and ...

QLIPHAMP!!!!

Yep. Grimm is able to turn her headache closer to migraine... and they really haven't moved.

There is brief static and a moment of pitched feedback as a speaker announces in a nasal voice. "Will Call is by appointment only. If you don't have an appointment, you'll need to contact the Will Call desk during normal business hours, 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays."

Grimm staggers again and clutches her head. "< Bleep!>" she says in a pained groan between clenched teeth.

Radical shakes his head, "Ow. Okay...so do you think it would block movement from another dimension? We could try that. Head to another dimension...and come back inside the place.

"It might...?" Grimm says uncertainly with a shrug. "Worth a try." She looks towards the static speaker as it makes its announcement.

Radical nods. "Let's try it. Worst thing that happens is we get shunted outside it again."

Grimm nods. "Can...ow...can you do the honors? My head is pounding."

It might work! The speaker on the building is quiet, now, and neither confirms nor denies the postulating.

Radical tries to shift them both to his sanctum's pocket dimension...and then after a moment, he looks back to Earth, and attempts to shift them back to their world, but inside the building.

Getting to the pocket dimension is easy. Getting back to the building isn't difficult. Getting -inside- may be the trick, as the two appear outside the building once more. This time, the headache will be Radical's. As well, they are immediately in front of the personnel door.

Now the nasal voice is coming from the intercom on the keypad. "Will Call is by appointment only. If you don't have an appointment-" there's a break in the statement with a chuckle before a clearing of throat- "you'll need to contact the Will Call desk during normal business hours, 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Radical furrows his brow, "That's not a recording."

Grimm lets Radical handle the dimensional jump, thinking this will work. She blinks when they appear outside the place again. Her nose wrinkles as the voice laughs. "Yeah," she mutters, then looks to Radical. "How is -your- head not hurting after that?" she asks in amazement.

Radical winces. "It is hurting. But I didn't try twice. Just the once."

Grimm nods and gently pats his shoulder consolingly. Then looks to the speaker. "So...we ...have to get an appointment?" she sighs. "Maybe their number's on the site. Or maybe the Cartesian had one," she grumbles as she gets her phone out.

Radical shakes his head. "No. Let's be more up front about this." He looks for a security camera that's watching them. "We're here to talk about The Railroad. Once we speak to...a manager...we'll be on our way."

Grimm shrugs as Radical takes the direct route. "Bold. I like it," she says quietly to him before looking expectantly at the security camera.

"Do you have an appointment? Pick up or delivery?" the intercom asks.

Radical shake shis head. "No. This is about...a delivery from nearly a decade ago."

Grimm tries not to bristle at the thought. But at least she realizes she needs to let cooler heads prevail and lets Radical do the talking for now.

 Radical says, "I'm feeling like I want to blast my way in. But we don't know that these people...are the same people that were here before. It's likely, but not guaranteed. If they aren't, then we'd be in some trouble."

"If you wish to file a claim for damage or delivery error, you'll need to contact Shipping Operations during normal business hours. Do you have a Bill of Lading? Are you the consignee?"

 Grimm says, "You're not alone there. I want to split this place open and get answers, but you're right. And if they can keep us out, who knows what's really inside those walls?"

Radical sighs. "The delivery was a person. Who was smuggled. If you don't want us blasting our way in...you'll talk with us." His patience is nearing its end.

Radical points at the camera, "Otherwise, we're going to bring you lot in for kidnapping."

 Radical says, "I'm going to assume it's the right group. We'll see if that button pushign does the trick. I really DO just want to talk."

 Grimm says, "Maybe if they just gave us a damn number to call or wouldn't stonewall us, we really could just talk."

Grimm looks up SHIP-EZE again on her phone, looking for a phone number.

A sigh comes through the intercom. "If you're the consignee, but don't have your bill of lading, please place your hand on the keypad."

Grimm looks to Radical at that and shrugs. She also shows him she found a number for this place.

Radical sighs. "No. We're not the 'cosignee'. The person kidnapped was a relative."

 Radical says, "You can call the number if you like. I'm about ten seconds from blasting that open."

 Grimm says, "Can you imagine Randal going through this? Maybe your past vision spell can sense how that went down. Before we blast down the door. Which trust me, I so want to. That was my first instinct."

Grimm taps the number to dial it.

Radical nods to Grimm slowly.

 Radical says, "I'll be blind while I try. So keep an eye out."

 Grimm says, "I've got your back. And I can warn you if you need to snap out of your spell."

"I'm sorry, without a Bill of Lading or the consignee, I-" A phone rings. "One moment." The intercom cuts off.

Grimm's call is answered in a familiar nasal voice. "Thank you for calling Ship-EZE, how may we meet your shipping needs today?"

Radical snaps his fingers and he looks back into the past...specifically the past of the keypad, being sure to stand to the side. He just heads back in time to see...what numbers were punched into the keypad and in what order.

Grimm purses her lips tight. She's so angry that she forgets herself.

 Grimm says, "< Bleep>in' < BleepBleepity > < Bleeeep!>"

Radical is able to view back, only needing to go a couple hours in reverse to a gangly young man in overalls with the company logo typing in a code. The same code as Porter's luggage. 12345.

Grimm takes a deep breath and puts on a sweet, forced voice. "Hello, I'd like to schedule an appointment."

Radical blinks as he sees the number, and he shakes his head. While Grimm is still on the phone, he tries punching the code in. '12345'. Is it really that simple?

"Of course. Will this be for pick up or delivery? If it is for pickup, can you please supply your tracking number?

The little light on the keypad turns green and the door buzzes.

"Pickup. The tracking number is Gwenneth Grimm," Gabrielle says as she tries very hard to control her tone and emotion. Her eyes wden as Radical's code works.

 Grimm says, "Sweet! Great job!"

Radical opens the door up, and steps inside. He shrugs at Grimm.

 Radical says, "I looked back in time to see what code was used."

Grimm follows in after him.

 Grimm says, "Smart move."

Radical had just opened the back door using the actual code used by the worker. "Given how lame a code it was, I'm wondering if this IS the place or not."

"Great at warding magic, terrible IT manager?" Grimm shrugs in response.

The door opens to a short hallway, with several office doors further down. Immediately to their left is a small office with a large window and counter, like a closed receptionist or teller booth. Here is where a young, gangly man, bearer of the nasal voice, sits. Stammering. "Hey! You can't be in here!" He is wearing blue coveralls with the company insignia on them, as well as an embroidered name patch. Allegedly, his name is Jimmy.

Radical tilts his head, "But we punched in the code...Jimmy." He looks around slowly. "It's just you here today, I take it?"

Grimm tests to see if her shadow sight can work on the place now that they're inside the walls. She looks about to see if there's any visible warding.

"No-no! The warehouse crew'll be in here any minute for paperwork!" Jimmy assures Radical, straightening up more confidently in his chair.

Radical nods. "Good. I hope so. Because as I said, we need answers to questions. And if you don't know the answers, we'll need to speak to someone else. Like...your manager. I hate to be that person....well, no, I don't hate to be that person." He chuckles. "First question: How long has your company been here at this location?"

 Radical says, "Can you sense anything now that you're inside?"

 Grimm says, "Yeah. The warding on the walls is concealed to hide how powerful they are, I think. No one else is here. It's just him. There's also nothing else really here. No pallets, forklifts, shipping goods, containers. The place is pretty empty of shipping items."

<LINK> Grimm says, "The warding is one way. I can sense outside. I'll keep my senses alert for his crew. Not sure if we can teleport out of here, though."

<LINK> Grimm says, "It's pretty crafty. This might be something useful for Randal's place. Or your own. Can't sense in, but you can sense out."

<LINK> Radical says, "Good to know."

Gabrielle says as she looks to Jimmy and smiles. "Seems like a pretty sweet gig here, Jimmy. So maybe you can help us so we can get out of your hair and let you keep browsing online in private."

Jimmy glances towards the warehouse, though that section isn't directly visible from her, then back to Radical. He finally deflates and shrugs. "I don't know, man. I just work nights here..." Then he looks down at something on the desk. A commemorative coffee mug, and back up. "...since 1908! That good enough?"

He looks to Grimm, then back to Radical. "Look. You two -really- shouldn't be here." Back to Grimm. "What do you want?"

Radical nods. "Good enough. There was a girl brought here for The Railroad. About a decade ago. For protection, in theory. We need to know where she ended up."

The old Grimm would've been ready to tear this place apart and terrorize the guy. But she has a glimmer of hope, and her emotions are a little more under control thanks to Radical's help. She's waited ten years. She can be a little more patient. And try some honey to get what they need before trying vinegar.

"Like he said, we have the passcode. So will you help us find this girl...Jimmy?" she says as she looks down at his tag again, saying his name with an intimate tone, then up to his eyes as she steps a bit closer. Good cop, bad cop?

<LINK> Grimm says, "It's a shame they haven't got much here worth messing with. That new spell of yours could turn this place upside down if this guy doesn't cooperate."

<LINK> Radical says, "True. It'd be best with lots of actual paperwork."

<LINK> Grimm says, "Yeah. I would love to see this jerk clean all that up after laughing at us."

"Uh... right," Jimmy nods. Not snarky, or necessarily uncooperative, just... "That's way before my time. Do you have a tracking nu-" he starts to ask, then eyes Grimm again, remember she gave him one earlier... or something like it.

He turns back to the computer on the desk, taps on a few keys, then shakes his head. "Sorry. I've got nothing on a Gwendolyn Gimp."

<LINK> Radical says, "Is there actual paperwork anywhere? Or just electronic records?"

<LINK> Radical says, "'Gimp' is your last name?"

"Gwenneth Grimm," Gabrielle says patiently, then spells it out.

<LINK> Grimm says, "Hah, no. It really is Grimm. And yes, like the fairy tale brothers."

Jimmy tap-taps again. "Got it!" He turns to them with a smile. "So, we're going to just.. forget all of this, right?"

<LINK> Grimm says, "It's meant to be pronounced with more of a german inflection. My Oma hates how I use the American pronunciation."

Grimm smiles sweetly at Jimmy, then looks to the screen and leans down so close that her hair brushes against his ear. "I think we can," as she starts to read.

Radical nods. "Of course. No reason that anyone needs to know we were here."

Jimmy makes a swipe and the partition window between him and them pulls double-duty as a holo-screen. There are a number of locations listed, across the US and even into Europe. Mostly major cities, transportation hubs. Salt Lake. Denver. Omaha. Chicago. Lexington. New York. London. Paris. Berlin.

"Wow. Must've been a long haul... but I don't see a destination, just routing. Not sure where the delivery was supposed to be... Oh."

It's one of those surprised and yet flat "Ohs." Looks like we had a lost package, somewhere near... Hamburger."

"-WHAT-!?" Gabrielle loses her cool and straightens up. So much for honey.

Radical shakes his head, "Hamburger? You mean...Hamburg, Germany?"

"So...you lost her. And you're -sure- there was no destination?" Gabrielle adds incredulously. "Why would you ship her without knowing where she was supposed to go?"

Jimmy holds up his hands in a mix of shrug and helplessness. "Look, -I- didn't do the paperwork on this. I was like...ten when she was dropped off for shipment. All I have is the file."

Which is on the screen. Stops. Dates. Even a few photos of 'the package' en route in different cities. Not tourist or casual photos, but they all have a recognizable sign or landmark in the background. Gwen isn't smiling, but she doesn't look harmed, or malnourished, and her clothes are changed and clean.

Radical nods. "Can you give us everything you have on the delivery? Everything?"

Grimm stops moving or breathing when she sees photos of Gwen. Awake. Not smiling. Taken. She must've been so scared. She blinks several times to keep the tears at bay.

Radical furrows his brow as he notices the dates of the pictures.

<LINK> Radical says, "At least a year between a couple of those. They were moving slowly. Not sure what that means."

Grimm's eyes go over the dates as well. She notices Gwen looking a little older in later pictures. Her hands curl into fists. "So. You're going to give us copies of all of this," Gabrielle says very carefully as she forces herself to keep her temper. "And the closest address to the last place she was and where she was lost. And any carriers who were responsible for her on that route." Talking about her like a package is difficult and painful.

<LINK> Grimm says, "I don't either. They kept her moving with no destination. Was it to keep her ahead of this event the Lords foresaw?"

<LINK> Radical says, "Maybe. I would say that this gives evidence to the event NOT being related to you in particular."

<LINK> Radical says, "Otherwise, they'd move as quick as possible."

<LINK> Grimm is silent a moment as she wrestles with what that truly means. She's carried personal guilt over this for so long. "That makes me feel a bit better. Knowing that maybe all of this maybe wasn't because of me not taking responsibility."

"Fine, fine. Just ... you'll forget everything, right?" Jimmy hits a key or two and dumps the data to a ubiquitous, throw-away data drive, then sets it on the little counter for Grimm. "So, we're good?" Just in case, he taps a couple more buttons. To clear his browsing history.

Radical nods. "Good enough for me."

Grimm reaches over to take the data drive. "Forget what?" she replies, playing along. "We're good. We'll even forget that you laughed at us."

Jimmy nods, breathing a sigh of relief. Then, either not sure of what else to say, or suffering from muscle memory reflex, says, "Thank you for shipping with Ship-EZE...." It trails off awkwardly as he realizes what he did. Rather than try and say something more, he just suggestively points at the door.

Radical chuckles quietly. "Mmm. Have a good day, Jimmy." He heads back toward the door.

<LINK> Radical says, "Let's get outside before trying to port anywhere."

Grimm gives Jimmy a parting look and turns to follow Radical. She keeps her shadow sight on Jimmy, though, watching him.

<LINK> Grimm says, "Sounds good. I'm with you."

Jimmy is back to browsing again. Mostly making sure things were deleted, and then just watching mundane things on MyTube. Video game walkthrough. Maybe a cute kitten video. Oh, and updating his door entry code.

<LINK> Grimm says, "Looks like Jimmy updated his doorcode. Now it's 54321."

Log:The Gewurzt Case Scenario