Wanting to comfort her, I asked, "Where did she go?"
My thoughts halted for a second at her answer.
"Some famous party in the Hamptons, she called it the Frost White Party or something..."
"The Frost White party...?" I repeated, feeling my stomach drop. The name Frost was familiar... very familiar
Emma Frost.
Depending on the version, that woman was either a morally gray anti-hero playing with her own agenda or one of the most vicious and dangerous mutants, manipulating and killing people, using anything at her disposal to get what she wanted.
Not to mention her powerset. I grimaced internally, trying to be positive. It could be a party by someone else in her family, but I doubted it would be that easy.
"That's what she said yesterday evening..." Gloria said uneasily, looking down at our feet and hugging herself tighter.
I wanted to tell her that everything would be fine, that Ruby was just at a friend's place and would be back, but something, an old instinct, told me that this situation was foul.
I stood there quietly, unsure of what I could realistically do. If it was a party, it was probably nothing overtly illegal, and it wasn't like I could go in there guns blazing, ignoring the fact I had no gear. The place was probably owned by a powerful mutant, and, most importantly:
I didn't know if Ruby was in actual trouble... I continued looking at the distraught woman in front of me.
"Do you have any more information on the party? I have a friend in the NYPD who could try asking around."
She let out a shuddering breath and looked at me gratefully before hurriedly blurting out, "Yes... yes, she had this card... wait here, Eli," and rushed past me quickly.
I stood there, I leaned against the brick wall of the building, breathing slow, feeling a little out of it. What am I doing...? I thought. I was poking my nose where it didn't belong. I sighed and looked up at the clouds drifting past. My hand slipped into my pocket, fingers brushing the phone. At least I could do as promised and call Tendo,
Tendo Nakamura, a close friend of Eli's from high school, who was a patrol officer in the NYPD. Tendo and Eli had been close and had kept in touch but had drifted apart as Eli had joined the military and Tendo had joined John Jay to pursue his dream of joining the police force.
Just as I was about to thumb the button on the phone, Gloria came out of the apartment building holding something in her hand. She reached me quickly and thrust it into my hands. I reflexively received it and saw it was an envelope, pitch black with a white gold trim. It read:
The Frosts gladly welcomes you with Pleasure.
834 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10021
I opened it and noticed it was empty. She must have taken whatever was inside to the party.
I glanced at Gloria, who was still looking at me quietly, and said, "I'll make some calls and try and see if we can figure out something, ill call you when i find something alright...and you..." I nodded at her, "Go back upstairs in case Ruby comes back home, and try to get some rest."
She said quietly, "Alright... and thank you, Eli... I mean it."
"Anytime, Gloria," I said quietly as she patted my arm and slowly went back into the apartment, glancing at me again.
I sighed, firming up my mind. I went through my contacts, found Tendo's contact, and hit call.
It rang twice.
"Yo, Eli?" His voice came through warm, surprised, happy. "Holy shit, man—is this really you? I thought you were still overseas or something."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Hey, Ten. Yeah. I'm back."
"Back-back? Like, stateside-back?"
"Astoria-back."
He laughed "No way. Dude, that's awesome. You good? You sound... I dunno, tired."
"I'm okay. Just... settling in."
We talked for a minute, It was familiar He told me he'd been on patrol in the 114th for three years now, still single, still living in the same neighborhood. It felt good. I had worried for a moment, I might have most of this bodies memories but i wanst entirelet ELias either.
I let a lenght of silence strtch
"Tendo... I need a favor."
The laughter faded from his voice. "What's up?"
"My neighbor's daughter Ruby. Shes nineteen. She went to some party last night after a fight with her mom. some fancy thing in Manhattan or the Hamptons.its called the Frost White Party. She hasn't come home, her Phone's off. Gloria called 911 last night—they basically told her to wait." I said quietly
A long pause on his end.
"The Frost White Party..." he repeated slowly.
"You've heard of it?"
Another beat pased. When he spoke again, I could hear a stildtedness inhis voice. "Yeah. Not officially. But yeah."
"Look," he said, quieter now, "I've heard things just street level stuff you know,these are Rich people with a lot of money and tight security, there are werid man People go in... some come out different. Some don't come all. There's rumors... sex parties, devil-worship and shit, missing people that get buried fast. Anyone who start digging get transferred quietly. a lot of place like this has a tag that says 'leave it alone.'"
My stomach droped, this was getting complecated
"And the NYPD does Nothing?" I asked incrudoulsy
"Doesn't do much when the realy wealthy are involvedt," he said flatly. "to much money and donations."
Fuck...
"If your girl gotten ivolved with this mess..." he trailed off
I looked up at the building, picturing Gloria inside, pacing, checking her phone every thirty seconds.
"Shes not my girl dude.. She's a kid I've known since she was ten, Ten. and regarless of the situation She's not the type to just vanish." I stated thinking on my next actions
I heard him exhale hard.
"Alright, man I hear you" he said finally. "I'm off today. Meet me at the park same spot by the track field. Noon. Bring coffee. And Eli... We're just two guys trying to find a girl. Nothing official and no gaurntees of finding anything. You good with that?"
"I coudnt ask fo rmore buddy, thanks..." I said feeling glad i wasnt in this alone
"No probs, See you at noon."
He hung up.
I stood there a moment longer, the black envelope still in my hand.
Noon then...
A few hours later, I sat on the edge of my couch, lacing up a sturdy pair of black combat boots. I pulled the laces tight, double-knotted them. I hadn't met Gloria again; I didn't want to give her any false hope.
I stood up, feeling the small combat knife strapped to my belt. I had thought to take the Glock with me... I shook my head. I didn't have a license for it, and it would be a damn shame to get arrested for an illegal carry. Besides, I doubted I'd need the gun today. We were just scouting and gathering information.
At least that's what I told myself...
I threw on a black jacket, grabbed my keys and wallet, and made my way out. The sun shone brightly as I walked the familiar three blocks toward Astoria Park. On the way, I stopped at the little corner café. It had a faded green awning and the handwritten "Fresh Coffee" sign in the window. I got two large blacks, with cream and sugar, and smirked while buying some snacks in a large brown bag.
I paid, left a good tip, and walked out with the tray and the bag. The coffees were hot enough to sting through the cardboard sleeves.
The park entrance came into view a minute later. The parking lot near the track field was half-full: families loading kids into minivans, a couple of joggers stretching, an ice-cream truck idling with its cheerful jingle.
I paused for a second, looking around for the familiar blue 2004 Tacoma, and finally found it. I made my way to it, walked up to the driver's side, and saw a half-Asian man on the phone. I smirked and knocked on the window. He jerked, his hand going down to his hip. The movement was minute, but my enhanced perception caught it all the same.
Huh... not bad, good awareness.
He looked at me, grinned, hung up the phone, and got out of the truck. I stepped forward as we bumped fists.
"Dude! Good to see you, man," he said, smiling, looking at the coffee and then the bag.
"You too, Ten... and I come bearing gifts..." I held out the bag, smirking.
He raised an eyebrow inquisitively, took the bag, and opened it. He took one look at my smug smile,and his face went from curious to deadpan in half a second when he pulled out a chocolate-frosted donut.
"Very funny, Jarhead."
"Ha. It's a little funny," I barked out a laugh as we got into the truck.
He shook his head, but he was smiling as he climbed back behind the wheel. I circled to the passenger side, got in, and handed him his coffee. We sat for a minute in comfortable silence, both of us taking long sips of coffee. The engine idled low. Outside, kids played, yelling at one another, a dog barked somewhere down the path.
It was peaceful...
I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the black envelope Gloria had given me. Held it out to him.
Tendo glanced down at it, eyebrows lifting. "What the hell is that? Looks like a funeral invite from a vampire."
"Close enough," I said quietly. "It's the invitation Ruby got. Gloria her mother said she took whatever was inside with her."
He took the envelope carefully, turned it over in his hands. The silver script caught the light.
He opened it. Empty.
"Spooky-looking thing," he muttered, then looked at me. "What now?"
What indeed...