the mansion and the blood moon: the debt

returning to Dutchess and Buttler is currently walking down the street. while it's not clear where she and he are off to, there appears to be much going on. for starters, it has become quite crowded. also, tons of stores were open all of which have a crescent moon somewhere on the entrance. looking through the crowd you can spot a thug Breck recruited. a lot of them wore red armbands while some had yellow. this was to help better organize them. though the building in the city were all still in rather pore shape. the streets and sidewalk could also do with repairs. Dutchess looked around making as many mental notes as she could. she felt there was still lots to do, which begs the question of why did she stop working now.

Buttler: Do you mind divulging where we are off to please?

Buttler paces behind him guarding his pockets against thieves. Dutchess keeps moving overlooking her below-average height, she could maintain a good pace for him by pushing people out of the way. those who would fight back after being used would back down, or stop by intervention. She has become notorious as a local hazard. She looks over her shoulders to make sure Buttler is still near.

Dutchess: where we are going is a surprise, but please keep up this matter is time sensitive.

she waves at him to keep up. but the crowd was too dense to keep up speed. it was getting harder for him to spot her in the grouping.

Butler: could you at least clue me on those?

he struggles to get his hand within view. he points at the document she was clutching. it was the same two she brought from her office. Dutchess gets frustrated the crowd was wasting time. she grabs his hand and yanks him through the blockade of people. those that got knocked over by the process glared at her. She glared back her eyes saying. "keep moving or die." butter stands up straight dusted himself off then checks his pockets.

dutchess pulled him 3 inches closer. the area around her gets heavy. Buttler begins losing his balance. then the area went back to normal.

Dutchess: they should do it.

A man walking towards her not looking where he's going, falls on his butt. before he could bump into her. she seems she's using her powers as a buffer. with that, they keep walking to make up time.

Dutchess: I hate this but this is important. oh yeah, what did you say....right the documents. As I said the one with the red seal is a document from my family's business. my mom and I run a lending service for small businesses, but it was mostly a front. this other one is a death certificate from the population check report.

buttler gives it thought as to what she just said. he looks at the people colliding into the invisible buffer. then it hits him what they are doing.

Buttler: are you telling me, we stopped working to collect on a debt?

she stops walking and he comes to a halt as well.

Dutchess: if you sum it up yes. but it is a bit more complicated than that. look were here instead of explain. ill let you figure it out as we go.

they stood at the corner of the street on an inner section. across on the right was a large park. the sign read moon lake park, the trees were still recovering from winter, and the grass could barely be called green. The whole park looked like it's seen a better day. dutchess turns around handing him items. Buttler takes what appears to be a monocle-shaped half of a pair of glasses. the other item was a brass bell with a black handle. he places the monocle on his face and, the bell in the inner pocket of his jacket.

Buttler: what are these for?

Dutchess: an insurance policy.

she leads him into the park. going in at first it looks bad, but going deeper one could tell it's being cared for. around the entrance, you could see dead plants and litter. but inside main trained not perfectly but noticeably so. butter starts noticing that they had gotten on a path and wonders when that happen. they stopped moving in front of the house found in the woods.

Dutchess looks at the death certificate. then nods her head she looks over at Butter. then cleans up her own outfit and hair. She eyes the building its a bit rough but maintained for living in. She walks to the door at the door. for several minutes nothing happens. She ready herself to knock again. A bernet woman dressed in modest clothing answers. dutchess smiles at her. the Bernet gives them both a once-over.

Bernet: how can I help you?

Dutchess holds out the death certificate.

Dutchess: how familiar are you how familiar are you with Thomas Windigo?

Bernent: so you're also a debt collector.

Dutchess: it's a bit more complicated than that. you see I'm the dearest ruby here to polish the jewel I Kindly lent him.

Buttler and the Bernet looked at her crazy.

Dutchess: sigh*. you haven't found his will yet?

Bernet: no I have all the debt collectors waiting inside. everyone is looking all over for it. your welcome to wait with the others.

dutchess chuckles with a nostalgic smile. she breaks the wax seal on the document she had been carrying. scan around the word printed on the page.

Dutchess: according to his certificate her died two months back, but not how you mind telling me.

the Bernet movers around feeling discomfort.

Bernet: it's unclear what did him. he was just found in an alley bleeding out one night.

Dutchess: same old wobble neck never sorted always messy.

she closes the paper tightening it into a roll with her hands. She hands Buttler the death certificate. looking at her face it would appear she had gotten wet, but at no time was she near water. Buttler didn't ask fearing how she may lash out.

Dutchess: look I took time off to be here today. I want to get my affairs in order quickly so I can morn, then get back to work.

Burnet: sorry I don't think I can trust your words. no offense it's just I don't know you.

Dutchess gave up on reasoning. She grabbed the woman by the waist and move her to the left. she walks in Buttler follows nervously. looking around she takes in the area. a hall on the left and right in front of them are stairs. peeking from the top of the stairs appears to be children.

Burnett: hey I did not consent to your entry.

her shouting drew in more people. they were an assortment of six men, there was a variety of sketchy types each accompanied by a guy and a bodyguard per person. they were probably the debt collectors. in an attempt to gain favor with the Bernet. the six of them sent their six bodyguards to obstruct Dutchess. but she reached into her shadow and pulled out an iron-spiked club. she proceeds to go to the town of the first to make eye contact. The poor fool was barely breathing when she was done. the remaining five backed off. Dutchess abandons the gathering heading towards the left hall. everybody follows her. The hall continued to the gathering area. the hall itself had five doors two on the left and 3 on the right. She goes to the door reading office. Dutchess tries the door.

Burnet: you can't it's locked nobody knows where the key is.

Dutchess gives her a look that states shut up. she looks at the light fixture on the right side of the door mounted to the wall. the base was shaped like an oval. she turns the top section revealing a hole in the wall. putting her hand in she retrieves a key. unlocking the door she lets herself in. The woman Bernet was shocked not to know that was there. everyone else was Gathered at the door of the office. it was small in size. but big enough to hold furniture. at the center was an oak desk, behind it was a fireplace, and above there was a painting of a lake. She takes a seat at the desk there were tones of open letter. all with the same wax seal as the Dutchess document. on the right corner of the desk, a photo was placed she picked it up. it was a picture of a middle-aged man and a post-teen girl being chased out of a casino. her eyes were getting read one of the men stood forward into the office.

collector: look you how dare you cause a scene. on top of that, you have the nerve to sit here a waste everyone's time. state your business already and leave.

Dutchess reaches into her jacket. She pulls out her magnum and shoots at the man's feet making a hole in the floor. She turns the frame of the photo around. collecting a folded bundle of paper, she hands it to the burnet lady. before the burnet could that it she tells her.

Dutchess: before you read this I'm going to say this one more time. I'm the dearest Rubly here to polish the jewels I kindly lent him.

everyone in the doorway was confused and giving distance because of the gun. the burnet woman takes the letter and reads it.

to be continued...