Speaker 1: Atomicon twenty twenty five is coming May third and fourth
at Thetrient Technical College Convention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina.
This fan driven celebration of all thanks Geeki celebrates its
eleventh year with guest of Honor to Elilah Dawson's Charleston
Absent Friends, the annual film festival, panels, podcasts, costume contests,
and so much more. Go to atomicon dot org for
tickets and more information, and we'll see you there.
Speaker 2: When a group of high school seniors accidentally awakened the
spirits of murdered British soldiers, Georgetown becomes a battleground once
again as they fight for their lives. Check out Redcoats,
the thrilling horror novel from Jonathan Phoenix, available on Amazon
and Kendle Unlimited. Valmont The Black Raven Chronicles, written by
Jonathan Miller, produced at FBL Studios in Charleston, South Carolina.
Series composer Paul Flowers, sound director Nick Hayne.
Speaker 3: Chapter two, men, I would both hear me to pick
you up and take it to your hotel, So you're good, Dele?
Speaker 4: Is there a reason mister Simon couldn't come and greet me?
Speaker 5: Himself.
Speaker 6: Uh yes, he uh.
Speaker 3: The both was handling some other business, but he said
he'd have a guide for you, who hears complete failure
and didn't use to night at the Harbor Globe. He's
maid no expense on your accommodations. He figured you want
to shower and rest before getting started.
Speaker 4: I don't need any rest, and I was born in
the city. I hardly need a guide. Does he understand
why I'm here?
Speaker 3: They both spoke to your family earlier. Man, he knows
just how serious this is, and so do I. The
rest to think you're an architect.
Speaker 4: An architect now that is an interesting cover. And mister
Simon trusts you enough to let to know the details
of my visit, but not enough to be my guide.
Speaker 3: Both Eddie wanted to give you some one who could
go anywhere. I think you'll lack the guy he did
Gord gear people.
Speaker 7: Hmm.
Speaker 4: Interesting. What is your name?
Speaker 8: Oh?
Speaker 6: I'm Frank, ma'am.
Speaker 4: Very well, Frank, take my bags to the hotel and
leave them in my room. Have the front desk hold
my key until I get there, but first take me
to my father. We have much to discuss before dawn.
Speaker 9: I just can't believe you're actually telling me you think
I'm a vampire. You know, they're make believe right like
it's like a fairy tale. They don't exist.
Speaker 5: Mister Vauman, I can assure you they do exist. For
argument's sake, What other explanation explains your miraculous recovery? If
hardly a scratched now, y, you died not more than
six hours ago on that table right there.
Speaker 9: Maybe maybe I wasn't dead, and maybe it was all
just minor wounds. Maybe all I have is a concussion.
Your equipment is just faulty.
Speaker 5: I was hoping not to show you this, but here
tell me what you see?
Speaker 3: Here?
Speaker 9: That's my shirt and that's a lot of blood. Was
that my blood?
Speaker 5: Every drop? When they marching to me? It was severely injured.
Here look at the back of the shirt.
Speaker 9: What the hell? Those holes are huge and really jigged.
Speaker 5: How did mister Vellman? I was doing everything I could
to stop the bleeding. This wound hair went through you
all right lung and exited in a two inch cash
on your chest. Your throat was practically ripped out, and
you were partially eviscerated. You died, sir, right there. And
then I watched your body just stitch itself back together
and drain the blood bags we'd hung. So what do
you call that?
Speaker 9: I mean a miracle? I guess. I don't know, but
I wouldn't jump straight to vampire.
Speaker 5: I didn't jump straight to vampire. I tested your blood. Come,
i'll show you. Look at the screen. Here on the left,
ear is a sample of ordinary human blood. Oh positive
that the bottle I gave you before that electrolyte. Drink.
Now on the right, here is your blood. See the difference?
Speaker 9: No, what's the difference. They look the same to me?
Speaker 5: How can you not see that right?
Speaker 9: Wait?
Speaker 5: Wait a minute, that's not right.
Speaker 9: What's not right?
Speaker 5: Your blood looks completely normal? How must have mixed the
samples up? Quickly, get me a finger.
Speaker 9: Oh what the fuck?
Speaker 5: I needed a fresh sample to see. Fascinating Now the
trace of the cell you breakdown that was there before.
It says, if once you healed, your blood return the normal.
It's possible he has a natural immunity. When he was dying,
his system was too weak, but once he healed, the
natural antibody is kicked in. Could this be used to
quit a semium perhaps? Or is it uniquely linked to
its genetic code. Perhaps he's a distant descendant.
Speaker 9: Doc, what the hell is going on? What are you
babbling about?
Speaker 5: Hum mah, yes, terribly sorry. Whatever it was that caught
your miraculous healing was most likely foreign I believe it
seems that when you healed, your immune system took over
and removed the infection. I would have to run some
tests to be sure, but for now I see no
reason to keep you here for further treatment. However, before
you leave, I don't need to draw some blood.
Speaker 9: Yeah, sure, sounds like a plan, I guess. By the
time I got done with the dock, the sun was
coming up the dock, arranged for a ride to get
me back to my truck. Getting through morning traffic slowed
me down, and I pulled into my garage just before
seven point thirty, just enough time to get a shower.
I ran upstairs to my apartment, stripped, and climbed into
the shower. When I got out, I noticed I had
forgotten my gun and my knife. If I had even
wanted to consider not going back there, I couldn't do
it now. I got dressed and was pulling my hair
into a ponytail when I heard a noise coming from
my office. I rushed to the hall and pressed on
a panel that revealed my gun cabinet, and since I
didn't have my forty four, I grabbed the next best thing,
my three point fifty seven magnum. I checked the pistol,
loaded it, rested it on my hip, and made my
way to the end of the hall to the door
that led to my office. I flung the door open
and found Chuckles and his henchman Frank, sitting in my lobby.
Speaker 6: Theou want what I mean? I hope you don't mind,
but we'll let ourselves in. You live in a most
unsavory neighborhood and we didn't feel safe waiting outside, right, Frank,
that's right, both didn't feel faf well.
Speaker 9: I guess having you grease on my doorstep would be
bad for business. Nothing's broken, right, Ah?
Speaker 6: He is a mercenary, Fred soul refreshing, isn't it, Frank?
The only man in the city that can't be balls
but is always available for riends. He does good work
to both, that, it does, Frank, Yet I hugged you
were going straight after your fail romance with that young
officer what.
Speaker 10: Was her name?
Speaker 11: There?
Speaker 9: Started gliding.
Speaker 6: Daughter tell than when love falls apart. I hear she
ripped your heart right out and stumped on it. Now,
a friend, I am a businessman and your friend. There's
no bad love between us. If you would prefer to
avoid my less than honest work, I will hire somebody
else for it. Let us maintain our long stand in friendship.
Speaker 9: So this isn't a job to rough up the competition
or guard some warehouse.
Speaker 6: Let's discuss it. It's hells in your office, my friend,
like true businessman should. Besides, I know you have that
fine whisky. Ooh, and those Cubans who Now I know
I do not visit your often, but I'm gonna say
every time I'm here, it looks more and more like
something from I'm a Bolguard movie.
Speaker 9: Yeah, I was going more for the Eddie Valiant look,
hence the Roger Rabbit photo.
Speaker 6: Yo, I can't believe I'm miss that. It must be
the charm in your noir style decorations. Now I'm gonna
tell you a secret of our ma because I like
you and I know you can't be a vault.
Speaker 9: All right, leslie, let me have it feed.
Speaker 6: That that right there. You use my name with respect,
not out of fear or because you're trying to score points. No, no, no,
you look at me and you see a man just
like you, and treat me like I treat you. It's
how you are with everybody from afraid of Olmon. You
hear exactly what you give, sometimes double. This is why
you and our friends.
Speaker 9: I don't fear anyone, and I'm no better than anyone.
I'm just me. I hope that's not the secret exactly now.
Speaker 6: When I was on the inside, it's no secret. I
had some friends who, let's just say, they gave me
that support. Now, for years, people thought I was a
main man on the payroll to some bit cartel. Some
people even think I got a guy up in DC
who gives me orders. But the truth is it's none
of the above.
Speaker 9: I started the DC rumor a few months ago said
a senator was bankrolling you to keep him in office.
Speaker 6: Honestly, I should be man. But I like the idea
that they think I'm in politics. But the truth is
is not anything like that. I've been supporting a group
of refugees who have ties to old money, and I
mean really old money. I get them what they can't
get lead and they're for my enterprises here.
Speaker 9: Now, So what are you're working with some kind of
terrorist or something. I mean, if they have that munch
of money, why do they need you.
Speaker 6: Oh, it's not like that. These people have been hiding
here for a while, you know, trying to keep themselves secret.
They've experienced persecution and just want to be left alone.
The It's really not important. What matters is that I
owe them everything and they have some issues lately.
Speaker 9: So these folks are your private cash cow? Why tell me?
I get the trust thing? But what's the real.
Speaker 6: Reason my friends are having a problem. Wasn't that could
very much ruin everything they have here? Of course I
offered to send them some heavy hitters to fix it,
but they call it in their own fixer.
Speaker 9: So they solved the problem. Are you worried you're getting
pushed out or something?
Speaker 6: Oh not at all. I'm quite good and what I do. No,
The issue is this fixer needs a guid while in
town who want to be smarter and with more access
than Frank.
Speaker 9: You could just hand them a rock and it'd be
smarter than Frank. No offense to him, but you know
he's Frank. Plus everybody knows Frank rarely leaves your side.
Speaker 6: Frank has his moments. All I'm saying is I need
someone I can trust watching over the situation.
Speaker 9: Are you two an item?
Speaker 6: I'm not his type. He prefers bears.
Speaker 9: Really, who would have guessed Frank likes the bears? Go figure?
Speaker 6: Yes, Now do you understand a jall?
Speaker 9: What's the pay?
Speaker 6: Two thousand a day plus suspenses and I'll give you
two days up front. Now I just need your word.
You'll be at the haul of club tonight. Well, I oh,
while let's go Frank, we can get ice cream. Oh
and afraid the ye please leave the for door. Here.
You look a solser thing.
Speaker 9: He doesn't know what he's talking about. I look awesome
in this hat.
Speaker 12: Oh, I'm sorry. I Fred got to beat the run
into you.
Speaker 9: No problem, gave probably my fault. Let me help you up.
Speaker 12: Thank you a frek. I appreciate it. Say you wouldn't
be able to lend me a couple of dollars so
I could get a bite to eat?
Speaker 8: Could you?
Speaker 9: Of course?
Speaker 10: Man?
Speaker 9: It's twenty bucks.
Speaker 12: I Fred, you are an angel, sir, always taking care
of if you can, Good's going to come to you?
What tells you Good's gonna come.
Speaker 9: Good afternoon, sir, How ma'am if it helps, the rest
of the giants are much taller. I'm the runt.
Speaker 5: Sorry, I'm Aaron.
Speaker 10: What can I get you today?
Speaker 9: Let me get a large Philly with fries and a
large sweet tea.
Speaker 7: That will be eleven seventy five.
Speaker 9: Here's a twenty, miss, keep the change, miss morning Star,
to what do I owe the displeasure this time?
Speaker 7: Oh? Come now, mister Vauma. You and I both know
Chauncey's his sacred ground. Rest assured, my happening upon you
is completely by chance.
Speaker 9: Geez, Sam, I'm sorry, I guess since every time I
see your family, I'm used to someone losing their home
or job.
Speaker 7: My father and brother handle the real estate, afraid I
deal in divorce. And since you're here in front of me,
there's this nasty little case I'm handling, and I need
someone I can trust to be discreet. Senator Kinsey's wife
is leaving him. Think you could find some dirt for me?
Not pay rather handsomely.
Speaker 9: So you thought you'd just casually ask me to create
dirt on an innocent woman so you can protect the
sleeze bag. Senator, I'm not interested and I'm not stupid. Hey,
why don't you ask Satan? You guys are family, right,
miss morning Star?
Speaker 7: Why I recall a time when you would pummel the
boys who picked on my last night. Have we really
grown that far apart? Besads, I'm well aware of how
your moral compass works. I represent the life in this matter.
She has decided to leave the sleeze bag. Senator.
Speaker 9: Yeah, well, back then, you weren't covered in slime and
willing to sell out your own mother for a win.
Speaker 7: And can't help it. If I'm good at my job,
do what I must so my clients are happy. Don't
you do the same.
Speaker 9: My clients aren't greedy, soulless and cruel.
Speaker 7: Oh, so you're not working for.
Speaker 9: Chuckles chuckles, isn't soulless or cruel?
Speaker 7: Nah, there's miss Kinzie. She's simply married a soulless, greedy,
cruel scumbag, and I intend to ensure he can't hurt
her anymore than he already has.
Speaker 5: Here's your order, sir, Oh, Miss morning Star, your order
is ready as well.
Speaker 7: Oh, I thank you, darling. Mm hmm, Well, old friend.
Speaker 9: Well, even if I wanted to, I'm booked up for
the next few days. I've got a dog to find
and a client that needs me to handle some things.
Speaker 7: Some things HM always busy you, but that won't be
a problem. There's no rush. Divorces take time often years.
Speaker 5: Here.
Speaker 7: I'll just leave this file and trust you've still got
the detective skills I remember so well. Oh well, well,
seems that girl left her number. You should give her
a ring. Being single. He's given you an awful demeanor.
Oh and Frank, do try not to be such a stranger.
Speaker 9: After Samantha left, I was able to eat my lunch
in peace. The past twenty four hours have been weird
enough without a visit from the ghost of bad decisions
past showing her face. I honestly thought my day couldn't
get any weirder when I noticed a pair of police
cars parked right in front of my warehouse, and the
cop were both out pointing weapons at Holy shit, that's gate, sir.
Speaker 8: I'm gonna need you to put your hands up and
get out of the street.
Speaker 10: I really can't do this right now.
Speaker 12: Can't you see you're disturbing them. Sorry, my brother is a.
Speaker 10: Little rude, sir.
Speaker 11: Please listen to my partner and exit the street.
Speaker 12: Now see what you've done. They're upset or because you
can't accept that hot Rod was just trying to help.
He did not kill Optimus. You understand what I'm saying.
Speaker 9: Whoa, whoa, whoa, he's up Turner and hooge. He's just
a harmless old man, for fuck's sake. Hey, buddy, you okay, yeah.
Speaker 12: Freak man, you get what I'm saying. Right, Megatron was
gonna shoot either way. Hot Rod was just trying to help.
Speaker 9: Yeah, of course, Bud, have a seat. Let's just talk
to these guys. They're obviously Voltron fans and don't get it. Guys,
can we lower the weapons please. He's harmless and he's
out of the street. No need to go all training
day on him.
Speaker 8: All right, maybe he's not a threat. Can I see
your idea, sir?
Speaker 9: Yeah?
Speaker 10: Sure.
Speaker 9: Here, I'm afraid Valmont. This is my warehouse. I live upstairs, Valmont.
Speaker 11: Just the guy we were looking for. I'm gonna need
you step over here.
Speaker 10: What is going on here?
Speaker 13: I ordered you to do a ride by and let
me know if he was here, not make it look
like I seen from cops.
Speaker 8: When we got here. The guy was in the street
and wouldn't follow commands.
Speaker 11: So we prepared to deploy tasers when mister Valmont inserted
himself into the situation.
Speaker 10: I'm sorry, you're gonna do what now?
Speaker 9: Turner and whoge here? We're about to taze Gabe, the
super old, harmless gentleman who lives on this block, and
I calm the situation.
Speaker 11: Valmont, not right now, that's how he approached us, sir,
So we were about to detain him.
Speaker 13: Yeah, he has that way about him, even if he
probably saved you two from daysing a homless old man.
Speaker 10: I mean, really was he that threatening?
Speaker 14: I didn't make any threats, Sergeant. I was just talking
to my older brother, right, Mike, Mike?
Speaker 9: Now where did he go?
Speaker 13: He's probably waiting for you inside game. You go on
in and maybe get you some rest.
Speaker 9: Okay, Oh yeah, that's a good idea.
Speaker 14: How do you know Mike had a key to my place?
Speaker 10: All right?
Speaker 13: Turning hooch, get back in your cars and get back
on patrol, and remind me to never send you to
check on something for me again.
Speaker 9: Which one of us is he calling the dog?
Speaker 8: I don't know, and I'm not waiting to find out.
Speaker 9: You know, you could call if you want to have
a chat or is Sarah checking your phone?
Speaker 10: Shut a kid.
Speaker 13: I didn't call because I wanted to talk face to face. Well,
my daughter has to say about it. It doesn't matter
to me none.
Speaker 9: All right, So we're here face to face. What's on
your mind?
Speaker 10: Her Chuckles came by to see it's a day That true.
Speaker 9: He has a client who wanted him to make an introduction.
Simple tour guide job. Nothing illegal there. I don't see
where that concerns the police.
Speaker 13: Probably doesn't, but you know how things are and how
they look on always the same. Something's going on in
this city, and I bet my batch Chuckles is involved
in one way or another.
Speaker 9: What you think he's planning a fifth bank job? Didn't
he pull his last one over a decade ago? Seems
kind of late for an Encore.
Speaker 10: No, damn it, This isn't about a damn robbery.
Speaker 13: People have been going missing round twenty seven so far,
and quite a few had recent dealings with your delinquent frame.
Speaker 10: Maybe it's him, or maybe somebody's trying to take him down.
Either way, kid, you're working with him again and you
need to watch your ass.
Speaker 13: Though I can't say I understand why you work with
someone like him a.
Speaker 9: Hell of a cop. Oh, come on, not this speech again.
Speaker 10: No speech, but just state in e fact.
Speaker 13: You're smart, You've got good instincts, and you're a good detective.
Speaker 10: You really would make a good cop.
Speaker 9: Thanks coming from you. That's a compliment. But you know
that life isn't for me.
Speaker 13: This life isn't for you either, Bub you're a good kid.
I don't know what happened between you and Sarah, and
I don't want to know. Fact's all what matters to me.
And the fact is there's a lot more you could
be doing. It'd be a wasteful something to happen to
you walking in the shadows the way you do.
Speaker 9: I'll keep my head on a swivel, Sergeant, But believe me,
I'm not the saint you think I am.
Speaker 13: Funny thing about saints, afraid they want saints either till
they would keep your head up, Marine.
Speaker 9: Urrah, serge.
Speaker 14: So as you can see, the carrier's bite spreads the
infection of the twenty eight victims. So far, eight did
not survive, and the status of last night's victim is
still unknown.
Speaker 4: You set twenty eight, but they're only nineteen. In the
facility and eight fatalities. Where's the last victim?
Speaker 14: Doctor Johnson was treating him? He must still have him
in his ward.
Speaker 4: Then take me to doctor Johnson. I need to see
the state of the latest victim.
Speaker 2: Valmont the Black Raven Chronicles was written by Jonathan Miller,
voice direction by Jacqueline Burns, sound designed by Mark Shawn Fry.
Our sound director is Nick Haney, serious composer of Paul Flowers.
Theme song Rang the Night and Get written and performed
by the band Midguard, featuring the voices of E. C. Hart,
Abigail Holmes, Corey Bishop, Adam Rose, Sam Saunders, Jaqueline Burns,
El Valentine, Josh Slavnik, Marshaun Fry, and David Whitney. Please
support the podcast by going to patreon dot com Forward
Slash the Carolina Storyteller. Hey folks, it's John. Thanks for
listening to the second episode of Valmont. I hope that
you enjoyed it. While the podcast is always going to
be free for you to listen to, it's not free
to make, which is why we have sponsors and why
we have Patreon. You can support the podcast by going
to patreon dot com Forward Slash the Carolina Storyteller and
joining foresleew as a dollar. I'd like to take a
moment to thank our Patreon members and they are Connor John,
Jeremy Rickinson, The Josh and Poll Show, David Gloria, Alexa,
Fireex Gaming, Anna, Lenie S. Wallace, a Taku Bunny, Corey Bishop,
Dragon Queen, Jacqueline Killing fifteen Minutes, Truther Demon Podcast, Apple Sauce,
Adrian Michael, Nina and Natasha Kline. Thank you all for
your support, and again you can support this show by
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We'd really appreciate it. Thank you,