A Night at the Blue Whale

Collinsport, for years has been more than happy to put the past behind it . . . only now there is talk and speculation . . . concern that “The History” may once again be repeating itself as once again there have been attacks on two local girls . . . news reports now confirm that several attacks have occurred along the Northern Coast . . . for Nikki Collins, a cousin recently arrived from England, there is concern of a growing scrutiny.

The Blue Whale, one of Collinport’s most popular restaurants and local bar, with an outstanding reputation for some of the very best seafood in the area, which, during the tourist season, does a delicate balancing act between catering to the out of town visitors while maintaining it’s local clientele. For the most part, the locals gather at the bar, leaving the dining room available for the visiting sightseers. Tonight the patrons seem an odd mix.

Esther Freidman sits at one of the tables, not at her usual confortable spot at the bar as she is in a discussion with a gentleman who definitely appears to be from out of town. Esther looks up to see Nikki Collins as she enters The Blue Whale, “Shay, there’s Collins now.” Esther waves at Nikki, “Hey Collins, this folk’s been askin’ bout ye and our meetin’ last night.” The gentlemen seated at the table with Esther is Dr. Artemis from the Miskatonic University, who looking up recognizes now the almost predatory saunter of the svelte young woman entering the Whale: “Miss Collins. How nice to see you again.” He says.

At another table, a middle-aged man in a tee-shirt, jacket, worn jeans, and a cap looks over at the Doctor. He is an associate of the Doctor by the name of Bob Cleaver. From the fact that they sit at different tables, Nikki surmises that the man in fact works for the Doctor in some capacity.

Esther looks over at Doctor Artemis and then back at the approaching Nikki Collins: “Ya know each other? well whoda thunkit.” The Doctor smiles at Esther and informs her he “knows many people.” Although well practiced now in the art of deception, Nikki aptly conceals that she is surprised to see the Doctor in Collinsport. She smiles, “Oh, Dr. Artemis, it is good to see you.”

Nikki has met Dr. Artemis on several occasions in Arkham, especially at the university library where they had first met when she had arrived late one night seeking a rare volume of The Journal of Judah Zachery. Nikki takes note that a the table next to the Doctor and Esther a young red-haired woman sits quietly drinking, what looks to be a glass of iced tea as seems relaxed, although apparently attempting to conceal a tattoo that is visible. On her arm.

Nikki asks the Doctor how he is doing, when if fact she would much rather know what has brought him all the way up to Collinsport, and the Doctor is polite but is not forthcoming with any details of his trip, rather replying simply that he is well and asks how Miss Collins is doing. The other man at the table calls out to the Doctor, who seems to ignore him for the moment, as he continues his conversation with Nikki: “May I recommend the fillet of sole?”

The other man calls out again, and the Doctor finally turns, “Hello, Bob. I’ll be a little longer.” Bob nods and indicates not a problem and decides that he is going to “git me a drink.”

Nikki having taken a seat at the table looks at Esther, “And so, it seems you have met Miss Friedman.”

The young woman at the opposite table remains seated, hoping no one is aware that she is attempting to maintain a low profile.

Dr. Artemis tells Nikki that he has indeed just met Miss Friedman and that they have been getting acquainted. Nikki looks at the Doctor with interest and then informs the him that she too had met Esther only last night. Esther growing tired of the small talk replies, “An now wesh all chummys eh?”

Nikki asks the Doctor if he’s arrived in Collinsport on business or pleasure, to which the Doctor response is “business,” while Bob mutters “pleasure”. The Doctor then proceeds to explain: “Miss Lawliet — who stepped out — and I were looking for some information concerning the recent tragedies.” Nikki not appearing to be at all concerned replies, “I see.” Well aware that while she had not been responsible for various attacks that had so recently occurred along the Northeastern coast, she was responsible for the two attacks that had taken place in Collinsport, which have brought with them so much legal and now apparently academic scrutiny.

Esther looks over at the Doctor, sipping from her bottle of beer: “Hey Doc Art, you ain’t from Mass, are ye?” Dr. Artemis replies that he is, just as the young woman at the table nearby receives her dessert and seeing that she is lacking a sugar container on her table interrupts and reaches across the Doctor’s table. “Excuse me Sir — Could I borrow your sugar my table does not seem to have any?” she says as she reaches over revealing her tattooed arm.

Nikki now leans forward to speak to the Doctor more privately, “I understand that a detective is coming up from Arkham to look into those same tragic cases.” Dr. Artemis, more interested in the conversation with Miss Collins, pays very little attention to the woman, or her tattoos, as he offers the sugar container on his table, “Here you go Miss.” Whereas Bob, who had been watching the young woman suddenly interjects: “Ya look sweet enuff ta me doll.”

The only one who seems to notice Bob’s remark is Esther, who looks over at the possible troublemaker.

Dr. Artemis nods in agreement in regards to the query about the possible Arkham Police involvement: “A detective? Yes, I think so. From what I hear.”

A tall brunette, wiping her hands on a small white towel approaches the tables now from the back of The Blue Whale. She is dressed in a plaid work shirt and faded jeans. As she approaches the tables, her hazel eyes find themselves diverted to Nikki Collins, who she watches with some interest. Dr. Artemis looks up at the brunette as she stops at their table, and says: “I am so sorry I was out in the kitchen, you people need anything?”

Unaware that her tattoo has been revealed, the young woman taking the sugar container from the Doctor thanks him; Esther asks for “another” beer, to which Dr. Artemis looking up that the waitress/bartender suggests that Esther perhaps needs more black coffee. Even as Samantha Evans takes note of the orders, her eyes are all on Nikki. “Oh, hey.” She says touching at stray strands of her hair falling from the messy bun she’s pulled it up into, “Miss Collins, nice to see you. Are these friends of yours?”

Nikki smiles up at Samantha, “Yes, Sam, this is Doctor Artemis, he’s come up to visit from Arkham, he’s the head of the Miskatonic University’s Library.” Even as Esther is overheard to say to herself, “F**k yer coffee, I’ll have another beer.” Nikki looks to Esther, “And this is Miss Friedman.” “Oh, I know Esther,” The bartender says and looks back to Nikki. Dr. Artemis seems intrigued by the bartender’s name, and comments on the fact. “That’s an unusual name.” Nikki smiles and looks up at the raven haired beauty, “Oh, I am so sorry, this is Samantha Evans, she tends the bar and lives upstairs in a loft above the Whale.”

Artemis’s attention is drawn to Samantha Evans, and even more so when she explains that her mother said she had been named her after her grandfather, Sam Evans. The Doctor, who is aware of some aspects of the town of Collinsport sits and reflects on the name, Sam Evans: “Sam Evans. I kind of remember him…” Sam nods, “Oh, really, well, honestly, I never got to meet the man, he died before I was born. “I’m sorry to hear that,” the Doctor tells her.

Esther, with very little need for more talk, looks at Sam, “Great Sam. Now can I has m’ beer please?”

The Doctor still looking at Samantha continues, “I recall your mother a little better, Miss Evans.” Samantha smiles “Oh, really, you knew my Mother?” “I do recall having met her.” The Doctor says. Sam nods politely, not sure she wants to ask if that was before or after her stay in the sanitarium, not in front of Miss Collins, and so, she finds herself diverting her eyes back at Nikki Collins, “Can I get you anything Miss Collins?” Nikki tells her “no” that she is fine, but, watches the dark-haired woman more closely as she has become more than aware that Samantha Evans has spent the better part of her time at the table looking almost exclusively at her, while from the other table, Bob yells he needs another “brew,” and the young woman with the revealing tattoos asks for a virgin margarita

At the table beside them, Bob who has joined the young woman, sits down to say: “Heh heh that stop sign makes me wanna go.” Esther sitting closest to them finds herself staring at the old man at the table, “Hey buddy! Why dun you leave tha’ kid alone eh?”

Seemingly from nowhere, Dr. Artemis suddenly asks “So, Miss Collins, have you known Tiana Swift very long?” Nikki shakes her head, “Actually, I only just met her last night.”

DrArtemis nods, “I see. Interesting since she has been away for so long . . . And her friend?” In way of explanation, Nikki starts begins by stating that she “sometimes finds herself taking a walk through the cut in the forest and over to the cemetery, where she finds it is so very peaceful.” The Doctor nods, listening. “And that’s where I met both Miss Swift, and Miss Friedman, last night.” Nikki looks evenly at the Doctor, “Miss Swift, I found to be very delightful, very charming. I think she said she was doing some research for the Miskatonic, perhaps possibly for you?” Nikki trying to draw information from the Doctor, who does not answer the question, but rather explains that he was really, more interested in talking about “the other lady.”

Meanwhile, the young woman at the opposite table, looks over to Dr. Artemis and interrupts once again: “Excuse me Sir i was wondering if you knew where I could get this book.” She offers him a picture of a book that seems to indicate a theory of the History of Races, and appears to be written in a language Nikki does not recognize as she glances at the photographic representation of the cover.

Meanwhile, the man who has seated himself at the young woman’s table looks at Esther with a glare: “ya jealous r sumthin'” This is at the same moment the young lady is attempting to get the Doctor’s attention, only Esther says to Bob, “Youse not from here eh? another Mass bastard eh?” “Miss Friedman,” The Doctor says shocked at Esther’s outburst. Esther paying no attention at all to the Doctor looks at the young woman and asks: “this man makin’ any trouble ye can’t handle kid?” The young woman clearly trying to get away from the man named Bob looks back at him, “May i ask why you joined me Sir?” Bob’s answer is “hey, we could have a sandwich job. I got enuff meat fer both of ya.” This of course is not an answer that Esther is going to tolerate and so she takes her beer bottle and raises it threateningly at Bob, “Get th’ F**k outta this bar.”

The young woman now asks Bob to please leave the table, even as Esther standing up now wobbles for balance, but steadies herself, as she says rather drunkenly, “Dun make me say it twice.”

Dr. Artemis aware that a fight is about to begin suddenly says in a cold, hard tone, “Mr. Cleaver.” To which, Bob Cleaver replies innocently, “What? I didn’t do nuthin.”

Artemis looking at him, “I know. But please do it elsewhere.” So, Bob gets up, mutters something about “hell” and “dykes” and moves to another table.

Esther walks back to her table saying to no one in particular, “Good.” Then looks back toward the bar. “hey Sam!? Where’s that Lager?”

Dr. Artemis returns to his line of questioning, “I believe, Miss Collins, there was an incident last night…” But before he can finish his statement, the young woman from the table where the loud occurrence had only moments ago concluded, once again attempts to get his attention: “um excuse me Sir,” and once again hands him the picture of the book she has been asking about which is about the History of Races, “Have you seen this book?”

But before he can answer, Samantha returns with the drinks and places them on the table, even as Bob Cleaver asks from his exiled table if he has been forgotten. Sam looks at the young woman with the picture of the history book and asks her if “that gentleman’s bothering you at all?” Bob, continues to call out, “hey doll ya fergit about me? a guy could die of thirst over here.”

The young woman now clearly upset in having been disturbed in her attempts to discuss the book with the Doctor, turns and walks over to Bob’s table: “Hey why don’t you learn some respect?”

As the young woman leaves, Dr. Artemis now looks at the pictorial representation of the book in question: “History of the Races. Why yes, of course. It’s outdated and hardly politically correct, but I have a copy.” He remarks in order to move on beyond the subject.

The young woman turns her attention from Bob, back to the Doctor’s table: “Where might I find it . . . and sorry for interrupting.”

Bob of course continues: “Doll ya know ya want it . . . . yer just teasin me. The young woman suddenly slaps Bob, hard. “Bastard! I am 16 you sick pervert!” Bob smiles, “ya like it rough huh?”

Samantha steps over and quietly informs them: “Let’s please keep it quiet, Sheriff Patterson comes through here about this time of night for a cup of coffee, okay.”

All this time during the rude interruptions, Nikki Collins has been looking intently at the Doctor. She watches now as he quietly sips his coffee. “An Incident? Last night?” She now asks in response to his earlier line of questioning. Dr. Artemis nods, “It concerned a cat.” Esther nods at Nikki, “th’ cat woman.” Artemis looks over the rim of his coffee cup, eyes questioning, “And there was something about tea . . . Did Miss Swift make the tea or have the opportunity to handle the tea set?”

Nikki Collins looks at the Doctor, her eyes cold and bright blue, she is well aware of the situation. A friend of Miss Swift had arrived at the Old House, and during the conversation the woman suddenly had begun to discuss the fact that she had recently discovered the ability to shape-shift into a vampire cat, this of course owing to the fact Miss Swift’s friend had been a vampire. But, Nikki was certainly too reticent to discuss that bit of information here, not only because of the public location, but owing to the fact she knew very little about Miss Swift or the Vampire in question and so she studied her measured reply: Oh, yes, you are quite right, a friend of Miss Swift did arrived at the Old House, and I must admit I know every little about her, but she must either be, or is studying to become, a magician as she did this impressive trick in which she seemed to turn herself into a cat.” Knowing well aware that this event had happened in front of Esther and that Esther must have told the Doctor.

The red haired young woman returning to her table offers, “Sorry for the interruption.” Dr. Artemis looks up at her, but his sole attention is now on Nikki. “Really?” He asks. “An’ ye said it was drugs…” Esther complains. Nikki, aware that the Doctor knows of her own condition, decides it is best to only allude to the situation in question, so that the Doctor would understand, especially since she was infinitely aware that the young woman with the questions about a book on the History of Races was sitting, listening, awaiting a break in the conversation, so as to once again try to get the Doctor’s attention: “Of course she said something about it being “a vampire cat”” Her voice low. Then Doctor for a moment coughs and spits his drink. “Oh my. Terribly sorry,” and he takes his time to gain composure as he wipes it from the table.

Nikki now turns to Esther to confront the whole question of drugs, a subject she had only raised the night before jokingly so as to try and make light of the whole incident to Esther, hoping she would not have to, at the time, get into the whole question of this friend of Miss Swift’s who had decided to turn herself into a vampire cat, in her sitting room of all places. And Esther had been drinking. And so, Nikki shakes her head: “I am so sorry, Esther, that whole LSD in the tea, at the time, it was just a rather a lame attempt at humour.” Esther stares at her drink,”Pff. vampiresh. more like goths I tell yas . . . bah, dun worry ’bout it.” To the Doctor, with a knowing look she adds: “It was to say most unusual. It took me rather by surprise also.” “I should think so.” The Doctor agrees.

Once again, the red-haired young woman at the opposite table tries to interrupt the conversation: “Sorry to interrupt again but doc I was wondering may I get the book I really need it.” But once again her attempt at interruption is interrupted as Sam returns to the table asking if anyone needs another drink. At this point the Doctor now looks at the red-haired young woman becoming very annoyed at her attempts to interrupt the conversation. Samantha standing with her hands on her hips continues to look at Nikki Collins. “Are you sure, there is nothing I can do for you, Miss Collins?” “Oh, no, Sam thanks.” Nikki, now, more than well aware of what Sam’s look is all about.

Dr. Artemis turns to the woman at the opposite table: “The book is rare, but we have a copy at the Miskatonic University library. In Massachusetts.” He tells her curtly. And the woman is well aware he is not at all happy by her series of interruptions, and replies softly, “Ok thank you . . . um sorry never mind.”

Nikki lowers her voice and leans across the table toward the Doctor as Sam once more returns to the bar, “Now there were a couple of things I would say that were of some interest last night Doctor.”

While Esther speaking to herself says: “tha’ Yahrzeit candle shtill lit? hope it ‘asn’t burnt th’ house down…”

While at the table opposite, dejected in that she did not get what she wanted from the Doctor, the young woman looks at Bob Cleaver, “so what you want a beer or sumthing?” “heh how bout sumthin?” “like what?” “like what ya got?”

Nikki explains to the Doctor: “Just before I spoke to Miss Friedman there was another woman in the cemetery.”

Esther looks over her shoulder now at the two at the table opposite them, “you two guna shtart again?!”

Dr. Artemis asks, “Was this Miss Swift’s friend?” Nikki shakes her head, “no, this woman was very deft at staying within the shadows as well as the fact she was able to move, let’s say very quickly in the darkness.” Knowing that the Doctor understood what she was conveying. “She was the reason I stepped over and started a conversation with Miss Friedman, actually. What will the recent attacks.” The Doctor nodded, “And what was the nature of this conversation, if I may ask? Nikki looked at Esther who was now clearly preoccupied with another growing conversation between the young woman and Bob Cleaver, replied, “Miss Friedman said she was there paying her respects to her departed grandmother.” “Of course, she said as much. To me earlier, The Doctor nodded. “Which, according the Esther was officially listed as death by natural causes, only, from my conversation with her, it is apparent Esther seems to think there was perhaps more to it that just a simple case of natural causes.” Dr. Artemis seems concerned, “She didn’t tell me about that.” Only now both of them turn their attention to the other table.

At this moment, Samantha walked up to tell the table next to them to quiet down as their banter had gotten to the point of once again becoming a fight. “One more round, but it you two don’t settle down I will have to call Sheriff Patterson. Understand?”

Nikki, watching the bartender, tells the Doctor, “I suggested that perhaps Esther should discuss it with the Arkham police officer that is expected here soon.” Artemis nodded, “Is she?” Nikki shook her head: “No, she says it wouldn’t do any good — no one believes her . . . no one believed that something happened to her Grandmother. “I dun gots no proof tha’ it wash. Jus a feelin'” Esther suddenly says, apparently more aware of their conversation than they thought.

At the opposite table, Samantha is checking the young woman’s id, as she has just ordered a drink. Samantha looks at the woman, “Honey, no offense, but maybe we just get you a Coke and you put this away,” as she gives her back the ID, “The Sheriff might not be too happy with it if should he come in and check, you know.” Bob interjects, “ah jet her have a real drink.”

The young woman loudly complains that it is a legit ID.

Nikki looking at Esther, tells Dr. Artemis, “I did offer to look into the matter myself.” The Doctor replies, “Perhaps, the next time I am up here, I can be of assistance.” But, looking to Esther he informs her, “We need something more to go on than a hunch, Miss Friedman.” Nikki sits back, “Perhaps, in the interim I will be able to gather some more information. I have found, in just the short time that I have been here in Collinsport, there does seem to be more than a pervasive hint of the element of the unusual around here, there is a rather decided air about the place.” Dr. Artemis humorous asks, “Dead fish?” To which Esther nods, “thas an understatement.”

“The locals as they are called refer to it as “The History.” Nikki tells the Doctor. Esther sighs, “th’ 12 years I lived here, an I still get th’ feelin’ tha I’s no, welcome.” Dr. Artemis asks if it is anti-Semitism? Esther’s answer is not quite a yes, but indicates she believes it might very well be: “‘course, th’ only ot’er jews is th’ Roths . . . tha’s wh’ I thin’ So. I keep t’ myself, mos’ly.”

Nikki turns her head rather languidly to watch Esther sipping the last of her beer, “Really, Esther, if you truly think something may have happened to your Grandmother, then I would like to help.” Artemis nods in agreement, “So would I, if I can. How old was she?”

Esther sits up, “I an’ refusin’.” She says. “But ish been a yearah.” In answer to Artemis question about her age she informs him, she was “shevitny-eight. An in th’ finist o’ health.” Nikki adds: “But Esther indicated she thinks something happened to her, because it seems as if one day she was full of life and then the next, it was as if something just suddenly drained all that life out of her. And so, last night, I told her I would check with the local paper to see if there were any other sudden deaths that may have occurred around that time.” Artemis interest arose: “And?” “I didn’t find anything at the Collinsport Star,” Nikki shook her head, “But, I went over to the Collinsport Hall of Records, but to be kind, their record keeping is not very modern. They informed me they would run a search, but I wouldn’t get a response for a day or two.”

Nikki sat reflectively, “Seems it’s still like 1970 around here in some regards. To which Dr. Artemis replied: “Yes, except for the netting.”

Nikki continued: “Also, last night, for a moment, it seems as if I sense there was someone else in the graveyard.” Dr. Artemis frowned, “Really?” “Yes, I could have sworn that for a moment I saw a small girl wandering about the tombstones.” “A small girl? Was she wearing a white gown?” The Doctor asks. Yes, *Nikki whispers* I sensed her rather than actually saw her, she was more like an apparition.” Dr. Artemis nods slowly. Nikki seems to stretch her shoulders, almost feline as she says, “Yes, as a matter of fact she was in white.”

Dr. Artemis seems reflective; “I heard stories… as a boy. I never believed them, then.” Nikki places her chin on her hand, her blue eyes now imploring, “Oh, please tell me I would be so interested.”

In the background, at the bar of The Blue Whale, Bob and the young woman have been engaged in a rather long argument regarding the ID of the young woman, and to whether Samantha should accept it. Esther, who has been listening to not only the conversation between the Doctor and Nikki, has also been eavesdropping on the heated dispute at the bar. Suddenly, Esther yells from the table, “I din start m’ drinkin till las year. Course, I turns legal age las year. . . ” And even louder, directed at the young woman, who had so earnestly tried to engaged the Doctor earlier, “Yer a digrass to th youth of today!” Bob yells back. “shaddap ya big dyke. She wants a real man.”

Samantha frowns.

“F**K ye yar ol fart!” Esther retorts.

Nikki looks at the Doctor: “In the short time I have been in America, I have found it to be filled with a very colourful language.”

Esther says into the mouth of her beer bottle, “Bah. Thas another sob story fer th’ headlines. Red haired kid found dead in alleyway.” Bob protests: “I aint hardly touched her.” Esther sits precariously, “But ye wanna dun ye.” Bob looks at her oddly, “Talk English.” “scuseme fur bein’drunk.” Esther says to no one in particular.

Esther dramatically rises, “‘Scuse me for a moment.” She stumbles to the restroom.

Nikki now uses this moment to say to the Doctor: “I am still concerned about the other woman in the cemetery last night.”

Dr. Artemis nods in agreement, “As am I.”

Nikki’s blue eyes seem to shift to a lighter shape of blue as she whispers to the Doctor: “For a moment we both knew, knew what the other was — do you understand?” Dr. Artemis nods indicating that was precisely what he was worried about.

Esther returns, having lit up a cigarette and sits down, the smoke drifting toward the Doctor, who checks his watch as he coughs from the smoke. “Umm, I may have to leave for the evening.” He says, and arises from the table, “Bob, come along.”

Dr. Artemis tells Nikki good bye, leaves some money on the table for his meal and walks out with Bob, “Come along, Bob. , He says as they head to the door of The Blue Whale, “Are you sure you can drive?”

Nikki is concerned about Esther, well aware of her remorse from the night before about her grandmother, and now, her drinking, no doubt as some form of solace from the pain of her loss, “Are you all right Esther?” Esther turns her attention away from the door that the gentlemen have just departed, “Sorr’ ’bout tha’. We gets all kinds in here.” Nikki smiles, her blue eyes trying to comfort: “Oh, I have seen worse. But, are you okay? You seem very agitated tonight.” To which Esther shrugs her shoulders, “Well, I dun care if he was wit’ that doctor fellow, he’s still an old bastard.” “I know you were upset about your grandmother last night.” Nikki tells her. Esther nods and looks at her empty beer bottle, “I still am. why d’ya think I came here?” She turns her glare back at the door through which the Doctor and Bob Cleaver have just departed saying aloud to it, “One can’t stand smoke, th’ other’ll prolly light up after a rape-murder.”

Nikki reaches out and puts a hand atop Esther’s in an effort to comfort her, “I do want you to understand, I am going to really look into this for you. Esther turns her glare from the door and looks at Nikki, her eyes losing the hardness that had filled them a moment ago, “Than’ you. Gevalt, yer freezing. That hand warmer wear out on ya? They dun last long do they…” Nikki lips form a very wry smile, “Oh, I am just so cold natured.” She pretends to rub her hands together as if the friction would cause warmth, “I can never seem to stay warm. Oh, and Esther, you can light up around me anytime you wish, it doesn’t bother me in the least.”

Esther thankfully flips out a cigarette and longingly lights up. “Oh, an Collins, I knows a store tha’ sells those hand warmers by th’…well, handful.”

At the bar, the young red-haired girl, who unable to get any information from the doctor seems to have gone from a polite by-stander to belligerent in a matter of moments now tries to reach over the bar and grab a beer from the open cooler. Samantha spotting her points at her, “Miss, you and I are going to have some problems if you do not stop. And stop right now. I know that Id is fake, but, look I’m not going to report it, if you just behave — okay.” The young woman continues to maintain that the ID is not fake, even though Sam as seen hundreds of them and knows that it is. “Honey, I’m just not going to take the chance, with his economy and the hurricane and the end of tourist season, I don’t need to be shut down for any length of time. So how about another coke — coffee?”

Arising from the table, which for Esther is very unconformable, as she longs for a seat at the bar, she watches Nikki’s slow, languid walk among the tables as they make their way through the main dining room toward the bar. Esther who has spent much of her life hunting can not shake the thought that Nikki’s walk is more like some lithe feline, it’s so graceful but there is a hit she is ever ready to pounce if the need arises, “So what do ya do fur a living Collins?” She asks as they sit at the bar.

Nikki glances down to watch Samantha,”Oh, well — I hate to have to admit this. Nothing.” Esther nods, “Economy got ya that bad?” Nikki turns slowly from looking at Samantha to smile at Esther, “Oh no. I live off a trust of my father’s.” Esther tries to tap her nose nut misses, “I see”. Nikki’s accent now seeming to mesmerizer her Esther listens as she tells her, “So, you see, like your Nancy Drew, I tend to like to look into things. Like my father did, or so I have been told.”

“It is a legit ID, so just give me a beer!” The young woman snaps at Samantha at the end of the bar.

Esther nods, “Well, ya could always try fer a private investigator? Set up an office an so on.” Suddenly Nikki brightens up, and looks at Esther with a large grin, “Oh, Esther, that does sound exciting doesn’t it. So, what? Do you have to attend any school or such in order to become one?” Lighting up another cigarette, making up for the nicotine withdrawal she had been forced to endure with the Doctor, Esther shrugs, “I dun know. I thin’ most of em is ex police detectives, but It’s more of a self employment bit. Kind o’like huntin’.”

Nikki sits thinking about the idea, a Private Detective, a consulting detective, yes, and she smiles, the first real smile she has actually had in quite sometime. Esther looking over at Collins notes the look on Nikki’s face , “Well there ya go then. By yerself an office. Yer first case can be ’bout bubby.”

The young woman now tries to get behind bar to get a beer. Esther sees her and yells down the bar: “Hey kid! Scram before she calls the fuzz on your ass!” The red-haired girl looks at Esther and says, “I’m just getting one.”

Samantha coming back from cleaning up the Doctor’s table sees the woman behind the bar: “Hey you — get your ass out from behind the bar. I have tried to be nice with you, but you keep this up and I AM calling the police.” Instead of stopping short at the cooler, the young girl grabs a few beers.”

Esther has had enough tonight, what with all the talk and the gentlemen for Mass asking all the damn fool questions, “Excuse me please,” she says to Nikki and gets up and walks down the bar toward the young girl. “Hey kid. Drop the beers.”

“No, it’s just a few.” She protests, and continues with the ID, “And it is a legit ID!”

Esther looks at her for a moment, drops her cigarette and stomps on it, drawing a knife from her boot, “I sais…drop, the beers, ya punk.”

“It’s just a few beers,”The girl argues, “Whats the harm?” Samantha arrives and puts away the dirty dishes, “Sweetheart, you look like a nice girl, so why don’t you just chill a bit. I don’t want to have to bring in the Sheriff.”

Esther slams the knife on to the bar, discarding it, “Hey Sam, why don’t you put this knife in the back room?” Samantha looks at the knife and the girl, and takes out her iphone, “Want me to make that call, honey?”

Suddenly the young girl becomes even more agitated, “Then do it.” In response to that, Esther reaches across the bar and grabs the kid by the shirt and pulls on over the top of the bar to the other side.

Samantha is tired, “Look dear I am just trying to make ends meet — I don’t need this shit tonight, alright.” Esther pulling the girl to her feet looks at her, trying to figure out why this young girl has suddenly become so belligerent when only a few minutes ago she was defending her from that pervert Bob, “Damn it kid. I saved you from that ol’ bastard, cause I hate bastards. But I hate punks even more.”

The girl struggles a bit, “hey bitch let go of my shirt its brand new.” Holding her up so they are face to face, Esther says to Samantha. “Sam, I thought I asked you to put that knife in the back room.” As she tries to pull free the kid tells Esther, “Just let me go.”

Samantha looks back across the room at Nikki Collins, “Sorry about all the language and such Miss Collins.” Esther now points to her knife on the bar, “Sam, take my goddamn hunting knife, and take it some were else for a few minutes. Maybe you should take it, and yourself, I should say… me an the kid are gonna have a heart to heart talk.

Sam reaches over and pulls it out of the surface of the bar, and holds it behind her back

“I don’t need a heart to heart,” The girl says. Esther responds, “then how about a fist to face” and she raises her fist.

Samatha moves down the bar toward Nikki. Esther and the young red-haired girl proceed to get into a fight. Rather than positioning herself behind the bar, Samantha takes a seat on the bar stool next to Nikki, and she notices that Nikki’s eyes seem to have shifted to a much light shade of blue. “You don’t mind If I sit with you a moment?” Sam asks. “No, not at all,” Nikki replies, aware that once she would have been far more concerned about the fight going on at the end of the bar, except now, owing to fact she’s been turned to one of the un-dead, proximity to violence seems all but trite to her now. The young woman of course is losing badly to Esther.

Sam sighs, “It’s just been one of those night’s” Nikki looks past the raven-haired beauty sitting beside her as Esther’s fist punches the red-head one, twice, thrice to the stomach: “You don’t mind,” She asks indicating the fight. Sam shakes her head, “Esther is good about keeping the bad elements out, and she knows not to go to far.”

Even with the loud disturbance at the end of the bar, Nikki finds herself now watching Sam’s lips as she talks. “So, do you own the Whale or you just work here? I don’t think I have gotten the correct story on.”

Suddenly, at the end of the Bar, Esther, now standing over the red-haired girl on the floor, suddenly begins to count, “3”, and there is something in the tone of her voice, “2”, almost as if it is not Esther’s voice at all, that disturbs Nikki. She rises from the stool and in one swift blur she is beside Esther and gripping her wrist very tightly, almost painfully so. “Esther STOP!”

Esther seems to be uncertain as to why Nikki is holding her back. “Esther, are you alright?” Nikki asks concerned. Esther looks at her, and at her hand holding her wrist, aware that Nikki grip is far too strong for a woman her size, “I’m fine. Just givin’ this punk a lesson that they don’t teach in High School.”

“You were — counting down, what does that mean to you?”

“Means when I reached one, I was going to throw her out of here. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to finish that.”

Nikki releases her grip, “Are you sure, there was a sound in your voice that was — not quite like your voice. Your voice Esther, it sounded different. Has that ever happened to you before?”

Esther picks up the youth and carries her, like a person would carry a dead deer, and is planning on taking her out of the building, and so she ignores Collins for now. Only the young woman suddenly indicates she will sit quietly now. She seems to be back to the young girl, Esther had defended earlier and so Esther puts her down. Esther looks as Sam who has a worried expression on her face, “Sorry ’bout that Sam.”

Samantha standing now says to Esther, “Well that almost got out of — you okay Miss Collins. Damned you move fast. One second you was sitting right there beside me and the next you were like —wow.:

Esther looks at Samantha, “Thanks for watching the knife Sam.” Sam removes the knife from her back jean pocket. She hands it back to Esther. “You be okay with that for tonight? If not, I can hold it a bit longer, honey.”

Esther sheathes the knife back in her boot and picks up the fallen beer bottles and places them back on the bar, “Nah. I’m fine. Thanks though. I think she learnt her lesson.”

The young woman straightens her hair, while she sits quietly. Picking up her fallen purse, she takes out her phone and starts texting.

Esther returns to her seat at the bar, Nikki follows and sits beside her. “Anyway, what were you saying earlier collins?” Esther asks.

“I think we were discussing the possibility of me going into the Private Investigation business.”

“Oh really, like maybe some Nancy Drew, huh?” Sam asks as she keeps watch on the young woman now sitting alone at a table with her phone.

Esther nods, “Ah yes. Well, I don’t think there are any real qualifications really. Not sure. Somthin’ to look into. Might need a license or somthin. We’ll go on down to the town hall tomorrow, see if we can’t find out ’bout it.”

As they talk about it, Nikki is aware she will not be able to meet Esther during the day. “Of course — I do have a trip to Rockport tomorrow, so how late do they stay open?” A statement to which Sam replies, “Yeah, I can’t say I see too much of you during the day, Miss Collins.” Nikki nods, “Oh, some business matters, Rockport, Bangor, Arkham — I travel a bit.”

Returning to her beer Esther thinks aloud, “Town hall? Donno…I always get my huntin’ licence paperwork done in the morning. I think they close around 6:00.”

Behind them, suddenly the young woman is quickly downing a beer that seems to have just appeared.

Sam, having once more returned to her usual spot behind the bar, leans forward, “If you don’t mind me saying Miss Collins, you’re a bit different that the others.” Nikki looks at the beautiful bartender combing her fingers through her hair, “And how is that, Sam?”

At the table the young woman is now drinking from a large bottle of Vodka that seems to have just suddenly appeared.

Esther nods in agreement with Sam, “Can’t say I know the rest of the family, but then, we’ve all heard the rumors…, Sam pushes back a few stray hairs falling from her hair pulled up in the messy bun, “Well, you know, the Collins Family just about owns every damn thing around here, or maybe, you don’t see it like that seeing as how you’re from England and all. But, for the most part they just stay away from those of us in the town. Whereas, you, you’re almost like normal compared to them.”

At that statement Nikki brightly smiles, “Oh, now Sam I am sure once you get to know me, you’ll find I have my own little…problems.”

Esther puts down her beer and nods, “Eh, don’t we all.” Looking over at the girl drinking from the bottle of vodka that no one suddenly seems to know how she has came to have, “Thad better be a f***in’ water bottle!”

Esther turns back to Sam, “Don’t you think it’s ’bout closing time, why don’t we take this conversation outside?” And points her thumb over her shoulder at the woman and the bottle of vodka, “I think we should let the curfew deal with her.”

Sam agrees seeing as how they are the only ones in the Whale and looking at the clock, “I say we let Patterson pick her up and let her spend the night in one of Collinsport’s finer cells.” Esther leans forward and looks at Sam, “Well then. What’er we waiting for?” Esther then glares at the girl, “That’s right! let The fuzz pick you up for being past curfew and drunk!”

By this time the young woman gets up from the table, chugging down the rest of the vodka and then begins to stumble as she walks. The young girl (her age is hard to determine) throws the bottle behind the bar with a loud smash of glass. Esther rises and draws her knife, and Samantha seeing it says loudly, “Esther! The knife dear.” Esther looks at Sam. “On the bar.” Only Esther let’s the knife fly and it sticks into one of the wooden pillars of the restaurant, close enough to get the girls attention. Sam pulls her ipone from her back pocket, flips thought the numbers to find the one for the Sheriff’s office. “Just leave it alone Esther . . . Hello — oh hi Andy. The sheriff in?”

Esther has gone to restrain the young woman,.

Sam tell the sheriff she has a small situation here “– yes, it’s me Sam — right. Well I have tried to get them to calm down but — they — okay. Five minutes. Great.” She hangs up, “Esther, be careful and for god sake hide that knife, Sheriff Patterson’s on his way.”

Esther, “In the meantime, I’m making a citizens arrest. Please stop resisting.”

Sam tells Esther just hold on to her as she struggles to free herself from Esther’s .

Nikki seems to watch now with idle curiosity, as Sam goes through the girl’s purse to find money to pay for the damages to the bar. In what seems like only a few minutes, outside the large windows of The Blue Whale the strobe of flashing lights reflect now into the main dining room casting everything in an eerie light.

Sam, thankfully glad to see the patrol car says, “Looks like Patterson’s here, fairly quick.” Meanwhile Esther continues hold on to the struggling woman as years of hauling bears after long hunting trips has made her strong. Sam hurries over remembering Esther’s knife and tugs it free of the pillar just as the door of the Blue Whale opens and a man in a khaki uniform with a green jacket enters. He is in his mid-thirties. Has the look of a college football player who took up law enforcement. Esther smiles at Sheriff Patterson, “Good day officer. I present you with one citizens arrest.” The woman of course says, “get the f**k off me” and tries to hit Esther.

Patterson walking up to the women smiles, “”Well — a citizens arrest — and what are the charges?” To which Esther beings to tick them off: “Consumption of alcohol as a minor, attempted theft, Damage of property, attempting to use a fake ID, disturbing the peace, and being a pissant little punk, Sir.” Patterson laughs, “Looks like you got arrested by an English major.” Esther shakes her head, “although I recommend you don’t file the last one.”

Patterson looks at Esther with a bad boy smile. “Oh, that’s okay, here in Collinsport I still have pissant little punk on the books.” He walks over to take charge of the prisoner, “Well little lady, time for a ride. And please don’t go trying to resist me — right now you’re mostly looking at Public Drunkenness, but you hit me and things will take a turn for the worse.” Only the woman now wants to fight both Esther and Patterson. “Okay, Okay — O-KAY! Settle down now.”

Removing his handcuffs, he slips them about the slender wrists, “She’s a handful isn’t she?” The woman struggles against him, “let me go f**ker.” Patterson seemingly very calm with the defiant prisoner, “You want to fill out a formal complaint Sam, or just the Public Drunk”

“Just the Public, Lamar, let’s give her a chance to sober out.” Sam says. Patterson nods, and turns, “Still too damn nice Sam.” To the woman in handcuffs he he casually remarks, “God I hate drunks.” Patterson asks if they have the woman’s personal effects and Sam hands over the purse. Esther hands over the phone. Patterson then notices Nikki Collins sitting at the bar. He nods to her and apologizes for not seeing her when he came in, “Evening Miss Collins. Sorry for the disturbance, and you know, and the language.” Nikki nods, “Quite alright Sheriff.”

The struggling young woman says to the Sheriff and Nikki, “I don’t give a f**k. F**k the police!” So Sheriff Patterson one handing the purse and phone grabs the handcuffs and jerks hard on them, “Let’s go.”

As he makes his way through the Whale, the woman pulls free and tires to escape, but trips over a chair and falls. Patterson sighs, and Esther comes over to give him a hand, “Thanks.” He tells her as they make their way out the front door.

At the bar, alone now, Sam looks at Nikki, “Can I ask you something?” Nikki, who had been watching the whole amusing spectacle of the arrest turns to look at her, “Well, yes, certainly.” Sam lowers her voice, and looks to the front windows of the Whale to be certain Esther and Patterson are still busy with the young woman, who Esther seems now to be carrying over her shoulder like a dead dear to the patrol car, “I have seen you at The Girl Spot, am I right?”

Nikki leans forward her eyes very amused, “Yes,” as she is well aware of what Sam is thinking, even as the raven-haired beauty seems uncharacteristically awkward. “I’m just a bartender, helping to run the place here, you know, I’m just an artist, don’t have a well to do family and all and so I’m not like, you know anyone that a Collins might.” Nikki’s blue eyes try to calm her, “What is it Sam?” Sam now so lost in her eyes finds the words she has been struggling to find, “Would you go out with me?” Nikki leans forward, and nearly whispers, “Are you asking me for a date?” “Yes!” “I wondered when you were going to ask, of course I will go on a date with you Sam Evans.”

Cue Music End Of Episode