Dawn stood up from her desk and looked outside showing her back to her guest, Mortis did not mind, he understood the woman had to keep an eye on her home camp, The Detective had been briefed in her 'challenging relationship with her son' as more affluent people tend to put it.
"When I decided to begin this alliance with you, I was not expecting for you to leave for such extended period of time" said Dawn as she used a pair of elegant binoculars to follow her son's secretary, Blu was talking to people and she just stood there, took notes and subtlety spoke to him, guiding him. Dawn could see her son focusing less on celebrities or attractive women and more on quieter people with more power and money.
Mortis paced around looking at the room in question: "It is the nature of my business. I do not like to abandon the city for such prolonged periods of time, but alliances and prevention are better than to wait for the enemies to come home" stated Mortis.
"Where is that you go Detective?" asked Dawn before adding a "trying to charm investment bankers I see…"
"No I was not" said Mortis.
"Pardon me" Dawn elegantly turned around confused at the answer.
"I did not try to charm investor bankers, I was helping Arizona Rangers with a criminal investigation, an investigation that lead me to a major human and narcotics trafficking ring operating between the United States and Mexico border" explained Mortis.
"I see" Dawn switched positions, ignoring the small act of defiance by the Detective, after all she was the one stating the importance of things and then ignoring him. "I presume it must have been extremely important for you to leave the City for a month and cut all communications."
"Funny you presume, because it was. I have caught a member of a very dangerous organization, not to mention I managed to exterminate various members of a particular 'Family' of criminals" further explained Mortis as he touched part of the large bookshelf installed in the room, something in the library structure called him.
"And I can accurately assume that this criminal belong to the darker side of our world, right?" Dawn asked, less question, more seeking affirmation, despite her age and experience some things still seemed too incredulous.
"You assume right. It was a difficult case, extended beyond my original plans, but successful in the end" Mortis put his coffee mug down, much to Willsworth displeasure, who saw the mug put directly on pristine wood, but Mortis could not care less, he was engrossed in inspecting the shelf, which dawn found fascinating.
"Are you looking for something there Detective?"
Mortis was caught by surprise when he understood what he was looking at, what he was feeling "This shelf, it is covered in runic patterns."
"Yes, my late husband told me so" said Dawn.
Mortis further examined the shelf like a curious child "It has not been just runed, it was built, BUILT, around its running system. It's amazing!" Mortis sounded like a professor encountering an entirely new species unknown to man for the first time.
"You like it?" asked Dawn.
"Who made it?"
"The craftsman, dear child, was your grandfather" stated Dawn.
The answer left Mortis in a state of utter confusion. Short of words Mortis went for confirmation: "My Grandfather? You mean Grampa Joseph? He built this for you?"
"For my late husband, yes" Dawn walked to the bookshelf and looked at it with nostalgia, reliving in her mind memories of times long gone. "My husband commission it from your grandfather, he said we needed it to protect from the dangers we could not see. I did not understand him at the time, he was a wild man and I was newly-wed, yet to be pregnant with my first son. But he told me that this bookshelf would do far more than keep books, it would protect me."
"It is a magnificent piece of work" said Mortis.
"It is what lead me to you Detective. My late husband introduced me to the world of shadows, told me of the role his family had in it: outsiders looking in. After your grandfather untimely demise and his work shunned by your family we had no contact in. But when I heard from my sources that you had come back into your grandfather's house and kicked your father out of town I knew I had to reach you" explained Dawn.
"Why?" was the only question Mortis could ask.
Dawn looked at the library and gave it a gentle touch as she spoke: "During his later years your grandfather talked plenty about you, how you were proving to want to be more than what his daughter and her husband wanted you to be. My husband and I did not understand much of what sort of things went on the other side, but every time your grandfather talked about you his face illuminated; I could say you were the glimmer in his eyes."
Mortis cracked a smile, warm and wholesome, he looked at Dawn who gently smiled in return. The moment was interrupted when the door to the office was opened and Aurora stepped in, refreshed and calmer after the little incident.
"I apologize, I forgot to knock" said the young woman in slight embarrassment.
"Perfect timing dear, the Detective was about to update me on the situation in the city" explained Dawn.
"You mean the murders? Is he looking into it?" asked Aurora.
"Define murders?" asked Mortis.
Dawn paced back to her desk as she explained the situation with Aurora in toe: "My granddaughter is asking about the homeless people being brutally murdered around the City. I have heard reports on the unusual circumstances, the missing blood, and then there is the tragic slaughter of the teenagers last night."
"I am looking into it all right, although, if you pardon my rudeness, I am slightly surprised that a woman of your stature cares so much for a few homeless and prostitutes dead in the streets of the city" said Mortis.
Dawn took back her seat and leaned back with authority. "I do care for it is the duty of the powerful to veil upon the weaken and the downtrodden and help were prudent and necessary. No one should be above the law, nor below it; if a woman of my stature does not care then the whole world may go to hell."
Mortis tipped his hat "Mighty noble madam, but I am quite sure is not the whole story."
Dawn did not smile back, she leaned forwards with a powerful stare: "My husband's family survived and thrived by having eyes and ears in the world hidden, able to foresee disaster and react when needed to get ahead; when the wind spirits grew restless my father in law prepared his farmland for strong weather, and it prevented him for loosing his crops during the 1963 New Year Storms; it is our deals with your maternal family that kept our family safe from losing resources to events and things most people would be forced to swoop under the rug as acts of God or bad luck. With those eyes we prepare and thrive, and as long as we give back we will keep thriving for is how things must be balance. Fortune is fickle mistress, that is why is better to pass it than to tame it, that way it always comes back happy, is what my father-in-law used to say."
Mortis looked the elderly woman right in her eye, he could see that she was telling the whole true, she was as selfish as she was selfless, but it was her role, she was a place holder to this power, it was her's by marriage, but blood was stronger, she was just being diligent and Mortis respected that.
"Rest assure madam that I am looking into it and I intend to catch the culprit" said Mortis.
"Very good. I also hope you will make me aware of your little escapades next time. Trying to summon my business partner when he is unavailable is inconvenient" explained Dawn.
"I understand" said Mortis.
"Although, I would like to learn more as well. Our family is abundant in connections, and the charity reaches far and wide, I can help you in more ways than you imagine" explained Dawn.
Mortis nodded: "I will take it into consideration madam. On my end, I would suggest we work around secondary forms of communication, middlemen to whom you relay information to and vice-e-versa."
"Funny you mention that, I have been looking into a few people I can work with for that."
Aurora made a gesture that Dawn immediately noticed asking "Yes Dear?"
"More than half an hour has passed grandmother, people may start worry" said the young woman.
"True indeed, I am afraid this may be the end of our meeting" said Dawn as she stood up.
"It is a shame, there is more that needs to be discussed, for starters we need to look into those trying to buy their way into the police department and threatening our assets in there" said Mortis.
"That is true indeed" Dawn nodded "but we need more time for that, this meeting was more of a quick update on your return to town, we could use our other venues for a formal meeting. Or this one, if you think is safe enough."
"I will leave that to you madam. You are the one that risks plenty by engaging with a man of my nature and repute. I know from good sources that many vested interests are trying to kick you off your position, and working with me may be the reason they would do so" pointed Mortis.
"I know, and they can go to hell for all I care. If they try to take me down I will make sure to sink them to whole new depths of hell" pointed Dawn with a confident smile in her face.
"Then I shall be on my Merry way" stated Mortis.
"Now Willsworth will show you the way back Detective" offered Dawn.
"Mrs Frigg, Miss Frigg, have a nice day" said Mortis, tipping his hat and disappearing into the darkness of the secret passage with the butler in toe.
With the meeting over Dawn prepared herself to get back in character while Aurora stared into the fireplace.
"I am sorry grandmother, I acted foolishly" apologized the young woman.
"It is okay dear, we all do every now and then, it helps us learn" said the elder woman as she made herself look frailer.
"I wish I was stronger" said Aurora, full of doubts.
The gentle hand of her grandmother reached for her arm, the elder woman gave her granddaughter the love of the strong: pure and beautiful.
"You are like your father child, impatient and full of moxie, you are strong, never doubt that" Dawn caressed her granddaughter cheeks gently.
"Thank you grandma" said Aurora in a slip of character that the grandmother oversaw, it had been more than a decade since she had been called that.
"Now Aurora, be a dear and take me downstairs, there is a party we must continue" requested Dawn, and both women went back to work.