"Damn mobsters..." Eva muttered, nursing the bruise on her shoulder. She and Lux had been "persuaded" to leave every one of the half-dozen businesses they had visited so far. Hours of searching and talking in back rooms, and they were still no closer to Dawson. "I guess we can't blame them for being opaque, eh? I could be a Fed, for all they know..." Lux just shook her head, and went back to staring out of the taxicab's window.<br/><br/>The stressed woman rubbed her eyes several times, fighting off the urge to sleep. There were only a few places left, and one of them was<span style="font-style: italic">The Sleeping Houndoom</span>. An image of Lucy's wild hair popped up in her head, saying "this woman is big, Doc. She wasn't even Roger's boss. She was his<span style="font-style: italic">boss'</span>boss. Somewhere just below Dawson himself, might even be his daughter... Get to her, and you'll get to the man at the top. Let me think... She's shorter than you, brown hair, high-class clothes... She'll probably stick out. Oh! And she's got this vicious little Growlithe. Watch out for that thing..."<br/><br/>This was the best lead Lucy had given them, and if it fell through, Eva would be devastated. She<span style="font-style: italic">needed</span>Dawson's protection. The eggs and Lux needed it. They wouldn't last much longer on their own. Suddenly, Lux shook her shoulder, and pointed out the window at a woman walking confidently in the opposite direction. Eyes widening, Eva yelled at the cabbie, "Pull over! Let us out here!" Looking at her in the rearview, he said "You sure, lady? That bar is still a bloc-"<br/><br/>"Of course I'm sure!" she snapped, and he shrugged, muttering "Yeesh, alright." Eva tossed a few bills in his direction, and bolted out of the cab, Lux on her heels. The woman might not have been the one they were looking for, but if Lucy was right, she probably was. There was something about her, the way she held herself, the way she moved... "Miss!" Eva cried out. "Miss, I need to talk to you! It's a matter of life or death!" Pumping her legs, she managed to catch up to her well-dressed quarry, but was breathing too hard to talk. Finally, the taller woman managed to catch her breath, and introduced herself.<br/><br/>"Madam, my name is Eva San Luca. I'm a scientist, of sorts, and I have an... opportunity for you. You are a, um,<span style="font-style: italic">businesswoman</span>of some repute in this city. You have connections. Connections that I need to make use of." Eva glanced around nervously, but the streets were mostly deserted. Just a few stray Pokemon wandering around. She lowered her voice considerably all the same. "I'm being hunted, Madam, by dangerous and relentless men. I need protection. And I know that Rudolf Dawson can grant it. Can you...<span style="font-style: italic">Will</span>you take me to him? I promise, you'll be amazed by what I can offer in return... Power, madam. Power like you've never seen. I... I just need to speak with Dawson. Please..."