Francois is already in the study along with Valmont when Chris and his daughter walk in. Francois who is normally weak generally has an hour right after a good rest where some of his energy seems to have returned. Right now that is the case. Francois glares at Valmont, “What are they doing here?”
“I invited them to the meeting.” Valmont says calmly.
Francois slams his fist on the table, “Why would you do a thing like that? They should not be put into unneeded danger! They should not know of the situation at hand.”
Chris who was dragged out of bed fifteen minutes ago looks at Charlotte who seems equally as lost, “Situation?”
Francois is about to tell them to leave and that they don't need to know when Valmont cuts in, “I believe it is better they learn about what is happening now. I would rather they figure this out now then when it's too late. Like when the police come knocking at my door.”
Chris and Charlotte are even more lost then before, “What is this about dad?”
“I will explain everything when the rest of us arrive. All you need to know now is we are in trouble, big trouble and we must prepare for the worst.” Valmont has been thinking about the situation since Randal came to him. He needs to come up with ways to stop Vargas with as few deaths in Albern as possible. Also despite what he told Randal he is thinking of how to turn this into one of his shows. He will keep Albern New Mexico out of danger if he can.
Chris and Charlotte take a seat at a smaller table close to the center table, as there seem to be just enough seats for Valmont's main players. “Do you have any idea what's going on?” Chris asks Charlotte
“Not really. My dad woke up a half hour ago and came rushing in here, he muttered something about Vargas, the werewolf.”
“My dad woke up at around five thirty I'm not sure why I heard his walking and talking to himself but I was not paying attention. “
Alfred and his son Cole are the next ones to enter the study, Alfred has a distressed look on his face, “I heard it on the news on my way in. What a gruesome slaying. They didn't go into detail but it sounds like Vargas alright.”
“Silence.” Francois says to Alfred and points over at Chris and Charlotte. “They may be here right now but don't say too much just yet. I will want to change Valmont's mind about this lapse of judgment.”
Valmont refuses to let Francois's bad mood get to him, his own mood is sour enough, “I'm firm on the matter Frank and you won't change my mind. They need to know and they need to know from us.”
“The married couple are at it again.” Alfred says to his son who nods and laughs with his father. “Valmont will win this one.”
“You think?” Cole asks.
Alfred moves in closer to his son so Valmont and Francois don't over hear “Valmont can be an unmovable mountain when he sets his mind to something. I'm sure of it, Chris and Charlotte are staying. Besides I actually agree with Valmont on this.”
Cole walks over to Chris and Charlotte and takes a seat by them, “How much do you two know so far?”
Chris shakes his head, “Not much, we were dragged out of bed and brought here. Something about Vargas from what I can gather. Given the way the dads are acting it must be something bad.”
“Really bad.” Cole sits down, “Now maybe I should wait for the meeting to start but here is what I know, Vargas is here in Albern, killed someone and left a message for your dad.” He looks at Chris when he said those last words.
“Wait what?” Chris looks shocked.
“That's all I know, I figure your father knows more and who knows what Wayte knows.”
Francois looks over at the table, “Cole you better not be telling them anything they shouldn't know. I still don't want them here.”
”Don’t worry Mr. Luminare I'm not.” he winks to Chris and Charlotte, “I will keep you in the loop even if Francois makes your father fold.”
Francois who feels that everyone is against him just can't take it, “I can't win this huh?”
“Not this time my friend.” Valmont answers.
“No harm better come to my daughter, none at all Sharp or I will end this partnership and expose you for the fraud you are.”
“How would that work?” Valmont can't help but smile broadly and laugh, “I mean yes I'm a fraud, but I'm a fraud at being a fraud. I make people believe my shows are fake when in reality they are real. How would relieving the truth even hurt me? Really Francois think.”
Francois holds his head, yeah he was feeling a little weak and the senseless comment came out of that. He sits down and takes a couple pills and washes them down with a glass of water. Francois suffers from headaches as part of his curse. “I can't deal with this crap.”
About ten minutes later both Nashton Wayte and Yosif Jocasta shown up and sat down, Nash has a huge folder on the information he has since picked up about Vargas and as always is prepared to do what he does best. Yosif seems calm and collective, not letting the idea of a killer werewolf bother him in the slightest. Finally with everyone seated Valmont stands and walks over to the study's podium, he brings down the slide projector and the screen as he will be needing them. “I am sorry that we all had to gather for this reason. For today one of the Sharp Experience’s greatest fears has been realized. We are personally being targeted and as a result Albern is being targeted.” Valmont the actor, the performer has a serous somber look on his face, he is not acting right now. “Every life lost in Albern by the hand of Vargas Thanatos is our fault for it is our presence that brought him there. So I say we end this as soon as possible. Now I should explain the situation at hand but I believe that Nashton Wayte can do a far better job.”
Valmont then walks off of the podium and Wayte stands. They shake each others hand and Wayte nods slightly. When he reaches the podium he wastes no time. Unlike Valmont he's no actor, he's not dramatic and does not play things out. “Vargas Thanatos has killed a man in Albern New Mexico.” He waits a second for the photo of the crime to appear on screen Chris notices that Charlotte covers her eyes until it is gone.
“He killed a street person by the name of Dan Gallugan, which means absolutely nothing to Vargas or to us. This man was killed to send a message to Valmont here, to issue a challenge.” Nash shakes his head in disapproval.
“This is Vargas Thanatos.” A picture of Vargas before he was outed as a murderer, he was an unsuspecting guy in his mid thirties, slightly fat, balding, average. The image switches to a muscular man with wild eyes and a scared face, some features of the two men are similar enough as they are the same man. He killed twelve people in 2004 in Glacier Falls Alaska. He was eventually caught by the police with the help of the FBI and TV celebrity Valmont Sharp.” Nash is presenting the case as if he would present it to his superiors in the FBI or to his own security team.
“Vargas is a werewolf, or more correctly a Lycanthrop, he suffers from an ancient and magical illness which transforms him into the beast, it is called Lycanthropy. Thanatos is one of the most advanced cases of the illness, so bad that that affects his intelligence and makes him nothing more then a mindless beast with a single goal. And that goal is to kill Valmont Sharp.” This is all stuff that anyone who has seen the Glacier Falls show knows already
“Now officially he is a insane serial killer who thinks he's a werewolf. We played up this false cover to the point where he made an authentic wolf skin costume to play up his fantasies. As such he was sent to a mental institution and no one there knew he was truly a werewolf. No one that was not suppose to know anyway. Now I was keeping a close eye on Vargas and I screwed up, my contacts were compromised and Vargas slipped though my fingers. And now he is in Albern.” Nash Shakes his head thinking he failed, failed Valmont, himself, the whole operation. “He must be stopped.”
Nashton walks down from the podium and sits back down. Valmont shaking his head, stands, and walks back up there. “Now lets take a break before I go into our plan of action and yes I have thought of one.”
Chris looks ove
r at Charlotte, “I almost wish we were left out of this. I think I have an idea where my father is going with this.”
“Really?” Charlotte asks.
“If I know my dad as well as I think I do.” He turns and looks at Cole. “My dad will probably try to lead Vargas to the manor.”
Cole shakes his head, “Knowing your dad I wouldn't count something like that out.”
Fifteen minutes later after everyone has gotten something to eat, drink, gone to the bath room and done everything else they wanted or needed to do they all settle back in their seats. Valmont is standing up at the podium and shakes his head, “Okay now that Nash has got the hard stuff out of the way it is my turn to explain the plan of action.”
“I want to lead Vargas to the manor.” Chris shakes his head knowing it was going to happen. “Now I have already talked to Chief Victor Randal of the Albern Police and he is not exactly my biggest fan. He does not want the help of the Sharp show, he is dead set against it. He wants to deal with everything his way. Frankly that will result in too many unneeded deaths. The chief believes he is dealing with a human serial killer who thinks of himself as a while animal, he does not know that Vargas actually IS a werewolf. A man like Victor Randal will not believe a truth like that and because of that too many lives will be lost if Randal handles things his way.” Now Valmont stops and takes a deep breath, he then smiles his famous smile.
“Now I have told Randal that I would not turn his city into my latest show. That I would not interfere with the police work in his town and I plan to honor what I said. The way I see it Vargas is after me and the killing won't stop until he finds me and one of us is dead. So we lead Vargas to the manor and stop him here. That way we can also have a very special Sharp Monster Hunting Experience show. Officially the Monster Manor is not part of Albern New Mexico and what I do on my property is my business. So there won't be a show in Albern New Mexico.”
At the same time Chris, Francois and Alfred all face palm. They thought for a few minutes that Valmont might show a bit of integrity and honor and then he goes and pulls something like this. Valmont looks at them and laughs, “What like I would throw away an opportunity like this? This could be my greatest show ever I won't pass up something like that.” Valmont then realizing that everyone in the room is moaning in disappointment he changes his tone “Okay so we know that Vargas will kill again in three days. I believe that we should send him our own message to get him to come with us, and maybe even stop those killings. Any ideas.”
Before anyone answers Francois speaks up, “Now Valmont I have a question you need to answer now. When all hell breaks loose where will our children be?”
Valmont smiles, “Come on Frances even a pack of werewolves could not break into the museum basement. Chris and Charlotte will be down there when the worst begins.”
Francois nods, that is the safest place on the grounds, “Well then this next part looks like it's just for the creative team wouldn't you say Valmont?”
Valmont gets the hint, “I agree, Chris, Charlotte you guys are excused.” Valmont then waits for his son and Francois's daughter to leave the room before he continues.
Chapter Twenty
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 21