The Triad Corporation offices were all beginning to wind down for the Christmas holiday. Hiram Lodge was sitting at his desk looking at the screen of his laptop. He was reading the reports from agents in Greendale and Riverdale looking for the witches that were long entrenched there as well as this Church of Satan…or whatever it was called. His ex-wife's family was involved with the roots of Witchcraft there and he needed to know the answers. He may not have been up for father of the year, but he still loved Veronica. If something was threatening her, he was going to stop it come hell or high-water. It didn't matter if Christmas was coming. Veronica and Hermosa had taken him off their Christmas card lists a long time ago.

His secretary knocked at his door. "Mr. Lodge? Excuse me, Sir. Did you need anything before I go?" She was a friendly woman that was just as human as Hiram was. "I thought I could get going early before the roads were bad."

Hiram smiled gently. While it wasn't a terrible snow storm or anything here, a lot of people would often hit the road early to go out of town for any given holiday. He could often look innocent and caring. It was part of his charm. "Go on! I'll be fine! Drink some eggnog for me." He told her with as much a cheery voice as he could muster.

The woman was so relieved when he granted her leave. She'd been working for Triad for a long time and didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it. "Bless You, Mr. Lodge! Merry Christmas!" With that she scurried away from the door to his office.

Hiram gave a fake laugh and muttered back to her with a grin so full of cheese he could almost hear a mouse squeak. A finger wave given, he returned to his research. On his screen was a news report of a family that had been slaughtered in Washington State named Parker. The date was in the 1990s. He decided to access these records in Triad's master files especially since the Parkers were known Gemini witches.

Hiram was deep into his study when he heard what sounded like a deadbolt at his office door. He stood to his feet to try the door. Nothing. His muscles tensed. He didn't like being threatened like this. "Is this some idea of a sick JOKE?" He shouted. He tried the door again. Still Nothing .

Hiram pressed against the door. The security glass was thick. He tried to see if anyone was in the outer office. He saw some dark outlines but no one for certain. "HEY! HEY!! LET ME OUT OF HERE!" He shouted again. He was too busy shouting to notice the anesthesia gas being pumped into his office.

He was clinging to the door as he felt consciousness elude him. The harder he struggled the more he lost the battle. Hiram loosened his tie. "Whomever you are… you messed with the … wrong.. " Before Hiram could finish that sentence, he was unconscious on the floor.

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Hiram's eyes opened. His head was throbbing. Where the hell was he? How long had he been unconscious? Veronica would give two sh*ts where he was and neither would Hermosa. "HEY!! HEYYY!!! I WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEBODY IN CHARGE HERE! HEYYY!!! HEYYY!!!"

Hiram was still experiencing a headache from whatever he was drugged with back in his office. He was not at full capacity but he was no slouch. For an older man, he was in excellent physical condition. He was known as "The Ram" on Riverdale High's wrestling squad. He was still proud of that title over 30 years later. "LET ME OUT OF HERE!!"