#thirteens_haunt

(He takes it, and flicks it on, swinging the dim beam in, and over the paintings) "Huh. Like Earl does."

Red. Lots of it as mentioned before. But it seems older paintings are about too. A soft pink phase, one would think it better than the red paintings, but its not.

(He flicks it off, and offers the flashlight back, before following Zara through the narrow opening)

After they go through Thirteen follows. Once in, she carefully looks about. Then points to a narrow set of wooden stairs, at the top is a door, perhaps leading into the rest of the house.

Zara sniffs - she expects chemicals, the smells of paint and mildew - but is there anything else? The coppery tang of blood? The musk of fluids?

"If you got gloves, put them on."

Chemicals of course, oils and paint thinners. You can get more layers, more textures with oils. There is the faint scent of blood, a faint scent of other fluids, but who's? One can't really tell or know. Could be his own.

Thirteens gloves are on, and have been. They seem to be made well. Made for this type of work. She digs in her pockets and offers the tow of them something else. Hospital shoe covers.

She waggles her gloved fingers at him, and nods. "Wonder how much glamour you could get from burning that..."

"Can't fit it through the gap, so don't much matter."

"Easier out than in. But yes." She covers her soft shoes with the paper covers.

"If you tighten them, they do not make as much sound as you think. And people always forget the feet." Whispered softly. She offers wide bands to keep the hospital covers in place.

(He takes and dons the foot coverings, following instructions)

Then she starts for the stairs, though she pauses at the bottom, perhaps waiting for Zara to take the lead. After all who is to know if the door at the top is unlocked.

Zara does take the lead, making her silent way to the top of the stairs.

The door at the top is indeed locked. It seems it takes a key, to open it both ways. Perhaps his little hobby is a secret he desires to keep? Its a nice door, thick and made of oak. The lock new, recently installed, even newer than the house. A key lock, of course.

She shakes her head, judging. Her lockpicks are retrieved, and she gets up close and personal with the keyhole

(Ice waits in the dark, unable to see well, and listening carefully)

One slender tool is inserted and held at an upward angle, as a second, a hook-ended thing, is gently tapped at the dies. Her ear is held close, listening intently. It takes a minute or two before there is a distinct Click.

When the door opens, they are at the end of a large kitchen. The dim moonlight coming in the window, softly illuminates a counter, fridge and large stove top. A island is in the center of the room with pans hanging over it. The whole room painted and done in an inviting yellow. All is still.

Zara looks for signs of an animal - food bowls or the like.

A cat bowl, but no sign of a dog. The soft fluttering of wings can be heard too, but not in the kitchen.

"...Bird. Hear it? Birds are loud."

Thirteen nods. "Not at night. Not if they are covered." Whispered softly. "They are not all that bright, well not most."

"Yes. Stay alert? You think he has an office? Has... ah... mementos on his computer?"

"Perhaps. But I am mostly concerned with what we came here to do." She keeps her rasping soft. "His wife and children are to be visiting Grandma this week it is a good time." Then a pause. "Should we still something? To make the illusion complete?" Thinking of what Ice did outside.

"I... s-sorry. Yes. But we could... maybe we could steal that hard drive?"

She nods. "Lets find his office then." Said softly. "Then him."

"He.. with children as targets... with this showy house, with his money... to be vulnerable, to be blackmailed... to not be in power, I think that would hurt him more than spiders..."

"Don't want people knowing we came in, do we?"

"He won't remember anything?"

"With his computer, could make him miserable later..."

"This is true Miss Zara." A pause. "He will not remember, he is to be enchanted. I do have all the information on him that one might need. Ice got it for me." Said softly. I have it on a flash drive?" Using the word carefully, eyeing Ice.

"Sorry."

"Would you like that information?" Asked softly of Zara?

"I just... I thought...."

"Nevermind. It matters not..."

(He nods and shrugs, flash drive works)

"But, he might have stuff offline, I couldn't get."

She pauses a moment. The temptation of secrets. "Office." Softly. "But perhaps we can remove information a different way?" Looking to Ice.

"Use his secrets - make sure he understands that he has none, from us?"

"If it's offline, got to get the physical drive. If there's papers, Ghost might have to get into the drawers, bet he has locks on those, too."

"Yeah." (A quick grin, at Zara) "Damn, I would have brought a pen-camera, if I'd thought of it."

She gestures them forward, moving through the rooms of the lower floor. Each one more rich than the next. But at least the plush carpet keeps their steps silent. Finally before them is another locked door, much like the basement one. Thirteen has her head tilted. Listening.

Zara, meanwhile, examines the lock... ears pricked, certainly....

But so far only animals shifting in their sleep can be heard. Even the large one snoring upstairs.

(If there is a bathroom, he will go there, to check the medicine cabinets)

There is a bathroom. One and half bathrooms on the first floor! But both of them seem to be more set up for guests, and visitors to the house. Stocked with all the needed items but nothing personal.

Zara is back at work, meticulous, patient, steady hands....

When the door opens Zara can see a den. Done up in brown and a few warm orange colors. A throw rug on the wooden floor. A large desk, a wall filled with bookshelves. A pool table off to one side. Of course a computer sits on his desk and a big screen TV hangs on the wall next to the door.