The incident with Claus, his mysterious package and accoutrements, and his even more mysterious friends, remained a source of intrigue for the Ventrue Josef von Lowenstein. Accordingly, the Lord dedicated some considerable time in the following weeks to understand just what he had lifted from the scene of that crash.
With no allies and few contacts, the Lord had to do the legwork himself, the old fashioned way. Fortunately, a Lord whose curiosity is roused is a tireless hunter...
SOCIALISE
Over the next month the Ventrue pursued any lead that could provide him with information - heck, even context! - for the pile of bills, documents and the contents of Claus' notebook. It was the festive season, a time when the Kine let their guard down in the rush to prepare for the time of family and gift giving. Like a spider or trained operative, Josef took the time to gently prod and nudge conversations, teasing information free of the various people he sought out (in small gobbets, glimpses from snatched conversations, carelessly dropped in the heat of the moment).
No one knew what the well dressed foreigner was doing. Even fewer would be able to recall him at their side at all.
POLITICS and MEDICINE
Seems Claus had notoriously poor health. Conflicting drugs and mental strain and maybe alcohol had not been a good combination. He was still in hospital though the recovery was not good. In fact, Josef was informed sadly, this might be the end of the road for the old Art Dealer. Those who knew seemed to believe he had been enticed out of retirement - and this time his poor mind and body had not been up to the task...
POLITICS and ACADEMICS
The Bank of Ptah and Cole - a merchant bank, headquartered in the leafy suburbs north of Downtown Sacramento. A Bank that enjoys a profitable sideline in art and artefacts. One of Claus' dossier's focused on the bank's current CEO Elizabeth Cole.
The Society of Penelope - a philanthropic organisation, headquartered in Folsom not far from Sacramento. An organisation whose respectable facade holds dark secrets, again the art and artefact trade. While the organisation is headquartered in the area, there is little evidence that its agents are doing anything local.
Hopkins and Ponting, Hold Company - a national holding company with some strange business practices (pushing new investments to destruction; going above and beyond to maintain old and flagging investments elsewhere; a large portfolio of derelict property that could be sold off for good profit). A company that has suddenly become actively interested in Sacramento and neighbouring cities; so much speculation as to 'why': why buy up new properties when the company's oldest holding was torched by arsonists in the previous year?
Claus's notebook - The mother lode. Claus' list of contacts, allies, and favoured clients. All of them wealthy. With no connection other than their interest in preserving their privacy and in obtaining rare art and artefacts. Included in the list is Elizabeth Cole from the Bank of Ptah and Cole; various members of the Society of Penelope; and one Aidan Morimoto, a respected agent for Hopkins and Ponting. Curiously, none of the names appear to match Claus' 'friends' who turned up at the crash site.
Ronnie G - a wild card. Little more than a petty hoodlum a few years ago. Now a curious figure, part fence, part art dealer, part importer of oddities from afar. All round blackguard who should have wound up in an alley somewhere... But hasn't, despite a habit of choosing the wrong friends.
Not bad for a month's work. A month of talking, stalking, picking the right moment to appear and fashion just the right conversation for best effect.
CMS Josef
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