((OOC: N-BEN, was that a Girl Genius reference?  If so, you totally roxxers ;) Also, apologies to all for the delay in response - RL sucks sometimes!))<br/><br/>Dante waited until the entire party had gathered in his office.  Outside, Mungo and the rest of the clubs security went about securing the facility, and when all was settled, he set both Mungo and Tango to guarding the doors, as before.  He say at his elevated seat behind his elaborately decorated desk, he fingers steepled, his brow furrowed.  He gave a sigh, then gestured to the cloth covered body that Tango had brought into the office, and set on a side table.<br/><br/>“I wish I could say she was a one-off,” the Halfling crime boss started, “that she was the victim of a random crime.  Wouldn’t make it any less regrettable, but it’d sure make life for the rest of us easier.”<br/><br/>He spread his fingers, placed his hands flat on his desk, and looked up at the party.<br/><br/>“The truth, though, is that she’s just the first to wander into my domain.  Rumor has it that there have been a number of incidents like this, from both prostitutes and their clientele.  Random mutilations, missing organs, strange ramblings in ancient languages,” he paused, reaching for a drink, then continued, “Thus far, though, most have taken place in the lowest levels of the city – the few that reached Firelight only hit the outer rims of the district, in the less reputable places.”<br/><br/>“Now, I’m not the grakkin’ city watch – I got other things to worry about besides dead hookers, ‘specially if they aren’t mine,”  he growled, adding in a halfling curse, “but now they’re comin’ into my turf, and messin’ with my business, even if indirectly.  And that I won’t stand for.”<br/><br/>Dante sat back, returning his fingers to a steepled position, and regarded the party.<br/><br/>“I’ve already got someone workin’ on getting inside this mess, and have a few suspicions of my own, but seein’ as how you lot have already jumped to on this mess, I think maybe it’s time to step things up a notch.  I’m willing to offer you all a considerable reward for your assistance in this matter – 300 gold a piece, plus a bonus.  For some of you, that bonus will be having your debts with me cleared.  For others,” he eyed Merelus pointedly, “I’ve some choice shiny trinkets that may be to your liking.”<br/><br/>“So, what say you? “ he asked, “You in?  And if so…got anything you’d like to share before I get into the details of this mess?”<br/>