The best thing about William's truck was that it was big and everyone knew he was coming, yet sleek and normal enough in its coloring that he could still go unnoticed when necessary. The Chevy Tahoe, shiny and black, was one of his most prized possessions. Sure, it was a material item, but so what? It was beautiful and one of the things he could actually rely on. He put it into park and stepped down, hitting the remote key and setting the alarm to chirping.

The building he walked toward was not impressive. Your standard grey stone build with a flat roof and about as much personality as a paper bag. The only identifiable thing to set it apart from its surroundings was the electric red sign that dubbed the building as Booker and Associates Bail Bonds. Of course, nowhere did it say that their services ran beyond run-of- the-mill bail bonds. But that was because you had to know how to ask. Will opened the door and stepped through, dark eyes moving to the front counter. There was no one there but as the bells attached to the door gave a heralding chime, a man stepped from the back. Unlike his workplace, Gabriel Booker was hard to miss. Standing at an imposing six foot, six inches and possessed of God's good graces in the form of musculature, he was definitely not someone who blended into the background. Spotting Will, he gave him an up nod. "Just in time." "Always," he replied, moving around the counter when he was waved in. The back room was surprisingly spacious, outfitted with a long table, sturdy chairs and the normal accompaniments like a fridge, microwave and a long fought for espresso machine.

"So what?s this job?" Will asked, pulling out a chair to sit, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles, resting his clasped hands on his stomach.

Booker moved to another chair but instead of sitting he gripped the back of it. The chairs weren't intended for someone his size. "It's out of town," he started, cautiously.

"So?" William gave a small shrug. "I've done that before. More than once. You know that."

"Yeah, I do. But this is a little further than you're used to. Then any of us are used to, actually."

William looked at him for a moment. It didn't normally take Booker that long to come to his points. He wasn't really a beating around the bush sort of guy. "Listen, just tell me. What's the worst I could do, say no' So lay it out for me."

"This isn't a bail bond situation," he continued after realizing Will was right. Wasting time wasn't going to change the nature of the job. "Three young women were murdered in the last three months. The police know who they're looking for already." Will's brows creased slightly. "I haven't heard anything about this."

"You wouldn't have. They're keeping it quiet, even between departments."

He wasn't surprised by that. Trust the good ol" boys to hold out on the people that were supposed to be helping them. "How'd you find out, then?" "Layla," was Booker's reply, which left Will grinning and shaking his head slightly. He shouldn't have been surprised by that, either. She wasn't a cop, but she worked with the Vancouver police department and could always be counted on to slip them information. Will was firmly convinced it was because she had a thing for Booker, and vice versa, more than out of goodwill for her fellow mankind.

"Alright, so' If they know who it is, why don't they just go get him' I can't imagine they'd be calling up a bounty hunter to ask for them to go track him down. Can't tarnish their reputation now, can they?"

Booker eyed Will but said nothing at the hint of steel he heard in his voice. He knew there'd been a reason that Will, once a detective on the force, had switched professions but he hadn't ever asked why. He was only thankful he kept his mouth shut about Layla. "That's the thing. They don't know where he went."

"Then they'll just do some more fancy detective work and figure it out." He didn't mean to sound flippant about it- murdered women were no laughing matter. But this didn't seem like anything he needed to worry about. "Why would Layla bring it to our attention if that's all that's holding it up" There'll be a manhunt and that's that."

"This is where it gets different," the other man said, shifting to stand straight again completely, folding his arms. "He's not in Canada. Or the States. Or any other country in the world. He's disappeared." He gave a pause then, almost loathe to say the next words, since they sounded so ridiculous. "He's off world."

He'd really only had two choices. One, drive himself and leave his car parked God knew where. Or two, give up some of his enjoyed independence and allow someone to take him to the drop site. Naturally anyone else driving his vehicle was out of the question, so he had no choice but to let someone chauffer him.

It wasn't going to be Booker, he already had known that. He had said he'd meet Will at the site. Will assumed it was so Booker could see Layla without getting sh*t for it, but no one was asking him.

The truck that pulled up was a banged up flatbed pick up with band stickers partially obscuring the back window. He heard it before he could see it. It came to a solid stop in front of his house and the driver leaned out the window to watch him come down the walkway, bag in hand.

It was a young woman with black hair cut short that left a pretty face clear. Her arm, incased in the ever-present leather jacket, was resting out the window. "Hey, Savage," she said with a grin as he drew close.

"Hey, Effie," he replied, moving around to the passenger side. As he tossed his bag onto the bench seat and climbed in, he wrinkled his nose. "I wasn't sure this thing could get any filthier."

"Ha, haaaaa, very funny," she said with the narrowing of her eyes, although she hadn't dropped her smile. "Just get in and be thankful I wasn't busy."

He chuckled but made a big show of brushing off the seat before he settled himself onto it. She rolled her eyes and pulled away from the curb. "I'm sorry it doesn't meet your expectations, Your Highness." Euphemia "Effie" Frei was the result of a Greek mother and German father and thusly had an excellent yelling voice. However she didn't find it necessary to bring it out very often and was typically even-keeled and pleasant. At twenty-two, she was also the youngest member of Booker and Associates, and the only woman.

"I'm hard to please, don't worry about it, kid. I'm sure there are plenty of people who appreciate its" charm."

"So, Savage," she said after a laugh from his comment, her tone curious. "Today's the day they're finally sending you to some alternate dimension, eh' After that killer?"

"Thomas Lansing," he said. "And, yes. He's off running because he knew his jig was up here."

"Layla set up this way to get there, I heard. Seems odd she'd know about it before the cops did."

"Do I detect a hint of suspicion?" he queried, grinning over at her.

"No, I like Layla. I just think it's weird how much she knows."

"Benefit of being a social butterfly and having your hands in everything."

"I wonder how it works," she mused as she turned a corner, heading into downtown Vancouver. They were traveling toward the water so he could only assume that was where this portal was located.

"I don't care as long as it works."

"Then you better hope it does.?

They started walking that direction and saw a group of people, most outfitted in coats like those a doctor or scientist might wear. Standing with one lab-coated man was a woman that stood out against all the white in her teal and black dress and heels. She was darker-skinned, Middle Eastern descent, with long, thick hair and dark eyes. She evidently had just finished her conversation with the man, because she was turning and smiled as the two approached.

"I see you found Will," she spoke to Booker as they reached her. "Only because I chose to let you find me, Layla," he said, trying to look mysterious and failing.

"Is it ready?" Booker asked, down to business already, eyes turned to the attractive brunette who had joined them.

"Just about," she replied, and gestured them to follow her. Will noticed she lingered and then walked near to Booker, who appeared to be trying it ignore it nonchalantly. Will so wanted to call him out but he kept the peace. Ten points for Savage.

"I know you aren't very interested in the mechanics behind this, so I won't bore you and go further into it. I've been told it's easy to get woozy so mind that when you go in. It should take you to their port of sorts, located in an area known as Stars End. From there you can follow the instructions we've put in your files for you. An apartment is waiting for you, furnished. You'll have a guide that will meet you after you're outside of Stars End and will take you to where you'll be staying. I took the liberty of having some money changed over into their currency for you."

"What a doll," Will replied as he followed behind them languidly. "When I get back, we should go out on a date, Layla."

Booker's shoulders immediately tensed up but Layla kept her poise and looked over her shoulder to him, grinning sweetly. "No chance in hell. I've seen your file and propensity for finding trouble."

"It finds me. I can't help it. I'm magnetic."

"Well try and keep that under control while you're abroad, yes" We want you to bring Lansing back, not end up another victim."

"I'm not blonde enough. Also my hips" too wide. Definitely not his type."

"Savage, come on," Booker finally spoke up as they came to a stop before what appeared to be a wall tastefully decorated with long azure drapes. "Be serious here. You're going into a dangerous situation with a sociopath killer who only wants his names in lights. You need to be on your game."

"Don't worry about my game," he said with a meaningful look toward Layla. "Worry about your own, boss."

Booker glowered and began to maybe reply, but Effie happened to pop up again, holding out another file for him. "Here you go. These are more directions and a few maps and stuff. Thought it might help since you've never been there. Also a list of recommended restaurants and bars so you don't end up like" eating something weird without knowing what it is."

"Thanks, kid," he replied and she smiled and backed up a step or two.

Layla called for two of the men to come over and take their positions in front of the drapes. They each took a fistful of fabric and pulled them backward, revealing the portal. Will wasn't sure if he had been expecting something spectacular, like a multi-colored rainbow spectrum black hole. But this wasn't it. It was an open space about the size of a door and seemed to swirl with a sort of dense fog. It didn't look particularly frightening, but it wasn't necessarily inviting, either. "Any last questions?" she asked.

"Like....last ever" If so, I'd like to know why they put the warning on the little packs of silica that come in new shoe boxes. Do people actually try to eat that' It came from a shoe."

Layla smirked. "You're never going to be serious, are you?"

He shrugged. The jury was still out. "I'm good. I know what I'm supposed to do. Now if you're all done wishing me excellent luck, I'll be on my way."

She nodded. "Good luck indeed."

Booker's arms were crossed and Will assumed that meant he wasn't going to get a hug. "Remember not to lose the instructions on how to come back," he said in his deep baritone. "I expect updates, like we discussed."

He saluted him and then was suddenly getting his hug from Effie. "Be careful!" she said, giving him a squeeze. "I'll be rooting for you. Don't get stabbed!"

"Thanks," he said dryly, then winked and ruffled her hair. "Try and hold down the fort without me. It'll be hard, but you guys are strong." With a final grin, he hefted his bag up higher on his shoulder and walked into the void.