Cassandra Salvatore stares up at the clock. She's been sitting in Augustus Caesar's waiting area for 15 minutes. She glances back at his secretary. Where did Auggie find this woman - Cassandra wonders to herself. The woman looks like she belongs in a World War II German training film, Cassie thinks. At any second Cassie expects her to jump and order her to sit straight.
Cassie giggles. The secretary looks up, drilling her with a disapproving stare.
Cassie sinks lower in her chair and goes back to studiously reading a month-old copy of Archaeology Today.
Normally, Auggie doesn't keep her waiting like this. She thinks back fondly on how they met. Auggie was hopelessly lost looking for the Heisberg lecture hall at U.C. Berkeley. Cassie was headed there to hear a presentation on dealing with political officials, cultural ministries and foreign museums and agreed to show him the way. Little did she know, Cassie was escorting the guest speaker. Augustus Caesar is a well-known art dealer with a knack for getting some rather unusual pieces out of hostile countries. Yet somehow, he manages to do this without incurring the overwhelming wrath of the art world and maintaining a good working relationship with all the world's major museums. After the speech Cassie got a chance to talk with Augustus Caesar and they just hit it off. She's maintained the friendship for several years.
Usually when Cassie showed up at his office, she is shown into his dusty work area above the warehouse in a matter of minutes. Today was different. Cassie wonders if her new-found publicity as a paranormal is sparking some hesitancy.
Suddenly Cassie's brooding is interrupted by the buzzing of the secretary's intercom. 'Brunhilda' says a few words and then turns to Cassie.
"You may go in now Ms. Salvatore," she says in a rather annoying, officious tone.
"Thank you," Cassie says, adding "for nothing" under her breath as the door shuts behind her.
Turning she sees Auggie. A 5' 7' tall man with short salt n' pepper gray hair - Augustus Caesar cuts a distinguishing figure even at 55.
"My dear how are you," Auggie says, approaching Cassie. "I'm sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I had some business clients who just couldn't wait to see their merchandise."
"Oh," Cassie says somewhat perplexed. Auggie never was this closed about his business dealings before. "I thought, perhaps, you might be worried about - you know - about me and what happened at the museum."
It takes a few moments for Augustus to realize what Cassie is talking about.
"Ah, you mean your status as a - what do the press call it - a paranormal crusader," Auggie says. "Nonsense my dear. I'm just sorry I didn't learn about this sooner. I could have used your help when I was fleeing for my life from a gang of Serbian thugs. See I had just located a priceless relic thought lost from a 5th century Christian church when they stumbled across me and accused me of spying for the United Nations," Auggie explains leading her over to a pair of chairs drawn up in front of his desk.
Seeing Cassandra's somewhat strained expression, Augustus decides to leave the story for another time.
"Oh I wouldn't bore you with the tale - suffice to say that you and your paranormal powers would have been well appreciated in that case," he says. "But what brings you here. Certainly not to look over my latest finds from Egypt and Crete. I didn't think the de Young was interested in ancient sculptural work?"
"I was wondering if you could help," Cassie says, her finger idly tracing over an ancient Cretan frieze lying on Augustus' desk. "See when the de Young was attacked last Friday certain valuable works of art were stolen, including a rather select group of marble friezes from the Great Altar of Pergamon."
"Ah yes, I remember those pieces," Augustus says. "I saw them while they were at the Staatlihe Museum in Berlin. Amazing really."
"Yes, well I was wondering if maybe in all of your wanderings, you might have heard who really admired those pieces. Admired them enough to pay VIPER millions to steal them? See, I was hoping....."
"Stop right there Cassandra Salvatore," Augustus says, raising his voice. "Do you know what you are asking? You want me to find out who might be vicious enough to pay a terrorist organization to steal these things so then you can go and try and arrest them. Have you lost your mind? Don't you know how dangerous that is?!"
"Look Auggie, I know how bad that sounds, but I've got to do something. My only way at figuring out this attack and possibly bringing the people involved to justice is to find out who paid them and work it from there. I can't let them get away with this. Look at all the people they injured and those they killed."
"Cassie, look, I'm just concerned about you," Augustus says. "You're trying to play in a game that you have no experience in. The worst you've ever had to deal with is a purse-snatcher. The people who would do something like this - who would hire VIPER - you've never seen that type of evil before. You're out of your league."
"I think I know what league I'm in Auggie and I can handle it. I'm not the same Cassandra Salvatore you met at U.C. Berkeley. I'm grown up, I've got responsibilities and powers and..."
"And a stubborn streak,"Augustus chimes in.
"Look, I'll do it with or without your help, Auggie."
"Cassie - oh hell - I give up. Look, I'll do some checking." Seeing Cassie smile he adds, "I don't guarantee anything. Just swear to me that you'll be careful. And stop calling me Auggie - I always hated that nickname."
"When am I not careful?"
Auggie rolls his eyes.
"Ok, I promise to be careful. So who do you think it might be? I figure it's got to be someone who knows a tremendous amount about Greek art and is rich. I mean, those friezes - they're not well-known. You know, the interesting thing is they all survived and can be fitted together to form the altar. Oh yes, it's chipped, but still all the main pieces are there. They are supposed to tell a story....."
30 minutes later Cassie leaves Auggie's office, having secured a promise from Augustus that he will call her even if he is unable to find out anymore information. Cassie skips out under the disapproving glare of Herr Greta and heads home.
As she pulls onto the freeway, praying that the bug doesn't die, Cassie mentally reviews her day. She talked to Hiro Sansung about possible Asian buyers for the stolen art. While none of the missing pieces were Asian Art, the Japanese and more recently members of the Hong Kong business world having been snapping up Western art. Sony recently purchased 300 historic Amish quilts - something you wouldn't expect a Japanese firm to want. It seems that Western art is in vogue and Cassie thought it was best to cover all bases. The Japanese could certainly afford the $25 million plus that VIPER probably charged for the marble friezes. Hiro wasn't hopeful, but said he would make some discreet inquiries.
I even called Ralph, Cassie thinks. Not that it did any good. It seems like all I get anymore is his answering machine, she realizes. Well, I left a message. How did it go... 'Ralph if you're there pick up the phone. Ralph! Guess not. Look call me - Cassie - at home. I want to know if you know anything about why someone might want the pieces of a marble Greek altar. Take care. Bye.' I hope that didn't sound too dorky, Cassie thinks.
Pulling of the freeway, Cassie turns down the radio. A muted Liz Phair song is playing. What is that sound? Something sounds like it is rattling in the bug's engine. Moments later there is a popping noise and the bug comes to a grinding halt.
Great, Cassie mutters. Here I am a superheroine and I still have a car that breaks down every third week.
"I think it's the timing belts," Tony says to Michael. "But I can't be sure until I get them replace tomorrow."
"I don't know, that popping noise Cassandra described sounds more like the distributor," Michael says. "Why don't I come over?"
"Are they still talking about the car," Alex says looking over at Cassie, who is currently peaking through the kitchen door at her husband and Michael.
"Yes and if you don't get some food in them, I think they'll keep going until we're both bored to death," she says.
"Well, you know Michael, he loves cars. He's kept my running when I would have declared it flatlined a long time ago," Alex says. "But he likes to work on it and it keeps him out of my kitchen."
"Really Uncle, don't you think you are a little territorial about that?"
"I don't come into your museum and tell you how to run things so you and everyone else can stay out of my kitchen."
"Yes, but I don't live in the museum."
"True, but after next week you may not even work there."
"Don't remind me," Cassie says, sighing. "It's on of the reasons why I'm not nagging Tony to buy a new car for me. If I lose my job, we won't be able to afford it."
"Cassie, Alex come in here - the television news is on," Michael says, interrupting the two.
As they hurry out into the living room, Cassie tells her Uncle, "It was the only way we could get them off the lawn. Once I made an official 'statement' most of the media went home. The Enquirer, Hard Copy, 48 Hours and Dateline are still around, but I hope they get tired after a while and leave too."
"Dragon Fist and Ms. Windrifter seemed to think it would be a good idea to say something. I hope I sound OK."
"Look here it is, turn it up," Michael says as they all pile onto the couch in front of Alex's old RCA.
"Shhh," Tony says.
....... And here is Brenda with the latest on the paranormal scene, Brenda -
Thank you Tom. Today, for the first time since she revealed her secret identity, Odyssey - now known as Cassandra Salvatore - spoke with the media about the tragic events at the de Young Museum.
"Look there you are," Alex says, squeezing Cassie's shoulder. "And there's Tony looking menacing behind you."
"I do not look menacing," Tony shouts.
"You look like you could eat the reporter," Alex says. "Don't you agree, Cassie, Michael?"
"Shhhhhh....I'm trying to hear," Cassie says, turning up the volume.
I and the other paranormals were shocked and saddened by VIPER's vicious attack. Our hearts go out to the victims of the violence.....
"They're cutting most of the good stuff," Cassie says, outrage tinging her voice. "Everything I said about how paranormals tried to stop VIPER and the stuff I said about aiding the public afterwards and all the local heroes who weren't paranormals. And the thanks to PRIMUS."
"Shh...here's some more," Alex says.
Mrs. Salvatore also expressed her sorrow that she could not heal those killed in VIPER's attack. "There are certain things even paranormals can't do....." There has been no word as to whether the President will support new paranormal legislation being pushed in Congress, but a loose coalition of GOP senators is asking the president to take action before Congress reconvenes. "I think the disaster in San Francisco illustrates the danger paranormals present to the public," Sen. Strom Thurmond said. "It is necessary that the President declare this an emergency and take immediate action to limit paranormals interaction with the public." Tom, back to you. Thank you Brenda. In Florida today.....
"I don't know why I bother," Cassie says.
"Because you care, Cassie," Tony says. "Don't give up yet. At least it got some of those reporters off the lawn."