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Post by skybright on Feb 26, 2007 0:57:56 GMT -5
Tracking down Vance's ex-wife actually proved to be remarkably easy, as detecting jobs went; using the facts Vance had written down as a starting point, it took Daws only a few afternoons of legwork to track her down. Doris had gone back to her maiden name, and was living in Webster -- a suburb of Rochester on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Daws had called Roger Latimore and asked him to accompany her; the news they were bringing to Doris Smith probably wasn't going to be easy for her to accept, but hopefully a (somewhat) familiar face would help persuade her that they were telling her the truth.
It was still very early in the morning when Daws showed up on the doorstep of the Latimore Apartments -- Webster was nearly five hours away, and the earlier they set out, the better off they'd be.
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2007 22:26:06 GMT -5
"Mornin', Miz Dawson," Roger drawled as Daws came into his office, where he had been waiting for her. "Nice day to throw somebody's whole life for a loop, huh?"
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2007 22:51:36 GMT -5
Daws gave a faint, wry smile. "Oh, yeah, it's a swell day for it -- if you like that kind of thing." She shrugged. "Still . . . I guess it's better than letting Nocturne do it."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2007 23:15:32 GMT -5
"Oh yeah." Roger locked up his office, and led Daws to his slightly beat-up old Chevy.
"Got a bag of snacks in the back seat," he said with a grin. "It's gonna be a long drive. We can turn on the radio if it works--I've never even tried it. Don't need it, ya know."
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2007 23:19:44 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "No, I guess you wouldn't. So long as it won't create some sort of weird feedback loop between your ears . . ."
She climbed into the passenger seat and removed her fedora, setting it on the empty backseat. "All right. Let's hit the road, I guess."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2007 23:38:16 GMT -5
With a genial shrug, Roger settled in behind the wheel, and the two mutants took off on their road trip, with an uncertain reception awaiting them.
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2007 23:48:37 GMT -5
The trip to Webster was (as anticipated) a long and uneventful one; Daws and Roger passed it mostly in small talk.
It was early afternoon when they approached the outskirts the city. Roger guided the Chevy according to the directions Daws had tracked down, and soon they were driving along quiet, well-groomed streets lined by uniform suburban houses.
"Nice neighborhood." Daws remarked quietly, as Roger pulled the car up in front of the address she'd found for Doris Smith. She took a deep breath and reached for her fedora.
"Thanks for coming along, Roger." She said, as they climbed out of the car. "It'll be . . . easier with a familiar face involved." Easier for both of us.
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 28, 2007 0:00:56 GMT -5
"No problem," Roger said agreeably. "Doris is an okay lady. She and the Major just--couldn't keep it together, after what happened to him."
With a rueful shrug, he reached out and jabbed the doorbell.
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Post by skybright on Feb 28, 2007 0:07:35 GMT -5
The woman who answered the door was petite and attractive, with silver just beginning to show in her blonde hair. She held the door open only halfway, gave Roger a brief glance, and then fixed a cursory, examining look on Daws.
"Miz Smith?" Daws pushed her fedora back. "Doris Smith?"
"Yes -- but I'm not interested, thank you." She ducked her head politely and began to close the door.
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 28, 2007 22:04:21 GMT -5
Roger reached out, deftly catching the edge of the door in a way that was arresting without being threatening.
"You will be interested, ma'am--and if you aren't, you'll just have to get interested." He paused. "It has to do with the Major."
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Post by skybright on Feb 28, 2007 23:04:58 GMT -5
The woman's mouth hardened into a thin line as she gave Roger a more thorough examination. Daws thought she caught the flicker of recognition in the other woman's eyes, but she merely shook her head. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
"Major Jerod Vance." Daws offered in a level voice, "Your ex-husband. We have some news concerning him."
Doris wavered for a long moment, and looked as if she might shut the door anyway -- but then she stepped back with a rigidly polite expression, pulling the door open. "I suppose you'd better come in."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 28, 2007 23:26:44 GMT -5
Roger stepped in politely after Daws.
"I guess maybe you don't remember me as much as I thought you would," he admitted self-effacingly to Doris. "Roger Latimore? I served under your husband. You even had me over for dinner a few times."
He nodded to Daws. "This is Miz Dawson. She's a detective from New York."
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Post by skybright on Feb 28, 2007 23:37:08 GMT -5
Doris nodded politely as she gestured them into the front room and motioned for them to sit down on the couch. She seated herself in an armchair facing them with a faint smile.
"Yes, I remember you. It just took me a moment." She crossed her legs and clasped her hands on her knees. "Forgive me. It's been . . . quite a long time. A lot has happened." She hesitated for a moment, and added "You did . . . hear about . . . my ex-husband, didn't you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 28, 2007 23:45:30 GMT -5
Roger chuckled grimly. "I know the story--as everybody else knows it. Now... well, brace yourself, ma'am. It's time for you to hear the real story."
He paused, took a deep breath, and shrugged slightly. "Jerod Vance is alive."
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Post by skybright on Feb 28, 2007 23:56:05 GMT -5
Doris Smith's expression hardened. "That's not funny, Mister Latimore."
"It isn't a joke, ma'am." Daws interjected, leaning forward. "I think you know that it wasn't meant to be one, either. Jerod wasn't in that car. He's still alive."
The other woman's rigid posture held for another long moment; then something gave way, and her shoulders slumped. She unclasped her hands and rested her forehead on them, staring at the carpet in silence.
Daws cleared her throat gently. "Look, Miz Smith . . . I know what a shock this news is to you . . ."
Doris gave the faint ghost of a chuckle. "No. Somehow I doubt very much that you do."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 1, 2007 0:02:42 GMT -5
"The Major knew who put the bomb in that car," Roger went on quietly. "That's why he let everyone think he was dead--so he could go after that guy without putting you or your son in danger." He shrugged slightly. "But he's been outed, ma'am... and hurt. Nearly killed."
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Post by skybright on Mar 1, 2007 0:31:39 GMT -5
After another moment Doris looked up, her calm exterior somewhat restored. "Jerod Vance was out of my life for a long time before he got our daughter killed," she said quietly. "So why are you telling me this?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 1, 2007 22:35:21 GMT -5
Roger's expression hardened slightly.
"Because now that the man who killed your daughter knows the Major's alive, he might come after you--and however you feel about him, the Major doesn't want to see you hurt."
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Post by skybright on Mar 1, 2007 22:44:29 GMT -5
"I see." Doris glanced at Daws. "And so he sent you two to . . . what, bodyguard me?"
Daws shook her head. "Not exactly." She hesitated for a moment, debating how much to tell the older woman, before finally saying simply, "He sent us to bring you back to New York. He wants to talk to you -- about what happens now."
Doris Smith pressed her lips together and clasped her hands so tightly that the knuckles showed white. "I don't think that's a very good idea. I don't think that's a good idea at all."
Daws gave a faint, helpless shrug. "I'm sorry, ma'am -- but there really isn't a whole lot of choice."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 1, 2007 22:57:14 GMT -5
"Let's put it this way," Roger said levelly. "Either you can come back with us, and let us do what we can to keep you safe... or the guy who killed your daughter is liable to find you sooner or later, and do something worse to you. And we can't help you then, because the Major's got a lot of lives depending on him--and frankly, I wouldn't let him take any more risks over you."
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