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Post by Jordanna on Feb 20, 2007 23:06:15 GMT -5
Hardly more than a day had passed since the disaster at Spooktown. Under the guidance of Father Steele, Handy, and Roger Latimore, the process of finding and aiding the refugee Spooks had slowly taken on a semblance of organization.
Major Vance had recovered from his wounds to the point of getting out of bed and gingerly moving around Henry's house himself. The undertaker looked at him with slight surprise when he limped into the kitchen.
"Are you sure you should be up?"
Vance shrugged slightly. "Doesn't make much difference where I sit and think. I was doing it most of the night anyway." He slouched into a chair at Henry's dining-room table, propping his chin on one hand. "I've got an idea I want to talk about with Regina when she gets here. It's not a great time to bring up another problem--but there's something kinda personal I want to see taken care of before it does become a problem."
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Post by skybright on Feb 20, 2007 23:14:37 GMT -5
It was not long thereafter that Daws arrived at Henry's. She removed her fedora as she entered the kitchen, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Vance up and about.
"Well, you're lookin' better." She remarked brightly, pulling out a chair for herself. She withdrew a pair of cigars from within her coat and slid them across the table with a faint grin. "Here -- don't let Miriam know I'm the source."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 20, 2007 23:30:45 GMT -5
Vance cracked a smile, picking up one of the cigars. "The good doctor is in the sitting room, sewing up holes in a few of my shirts. She didn't approve of my tailor--or lack thereof."
He moved to put the cigar in his mouth, then paused and glanced at his host. "You mind, Henry?"
Henry shook his head. "No. But I haven't any matches on hand."
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Post by skybright on Feb 20, 2007 23:34:21 GMT -5
Daws smiled and fished out a wooden match from her coat pocket, holding it out to Vance. "Have I ever let you down?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 20, 2007 23:44:40 GMT -5
Smiling, Vance took the match. "Not yet."
His smile faded as he took a drag on the cigar. "But I'll understand if you feel you have to when you hear what I'm about to say. I've gotta ask you to juggle one more thing into this mess. I've got personal reasons--but a life might depend on it, all the same."
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Post by skybright on Feb 20, 2007 23:54:56 GMT -5
Daws gave Vance a quizzical look. "Sounds like you've had this on your mind, Major." She shrugged. "All right, so what's the story?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 21, 2007 0:05:19 GMT -5
Vance shrugged, poking at his coffee with the spoon he had used to put sugar in it.
"After that performance of Proteus', I guess Tiernan's forgotten about me for the moment. But sooner or later--maybe sooner--he'll remember. I turned on him, and his pride can't handle that. The itch to get rid of me will come back, and he'll try anything to do it... including getting to anyone he thinks I care about."
He glanced up at Daws, gravely.
"You did a sweet job of getting Doc Van Linden's folks out of the country. Now I wonder if you'd be up to making a repeat performance--with my ex-wife."
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Post by skybright on Feb 21, 2007 0:13:39 GMT -5
Daws' eyebrows shot up, and she fell silent for a long moment, thinking. Then she nodded.
"Of course I can do that. I'll get Jai to work on rounding up tickets, visas, things like that." She leaned forward. "I know you haven't exactly exchanged frequent note or anythin' -- but do you know where she's at?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 21, 2007 0:27:42 GMT -5
Vance spread his hands slightly. "Last I heard, she was somewhere Upstate. Rochester, Buffalo... something like that."
He was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke again.
"There's one more thing about it, Regina. I want to talk to her before she goes. Not because I'm eager for that kind of conversation--Lord knows. But I think Doris deserves to know what her life's getting ruined for. And since I'm responsible for it, I'm the one who oughta tell her."
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Post by skybright on Feb 21, 2007 0:34:13 GMT -5
Daws raised an eyebrow. "That oughtta be an interesting conversation, what with her thinkin' you're dead and all."
She shrugged and spread her hands. "Okay -- I'll track her down for you, Jerod. You can come along when I go after her, or I could take a couple of your boys and bring her back to the City. Whatever you think would be best."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 21, 2007 22:18:15 GMT -5
Vance shook his head slightly. "I've still gotta keep on top of what's going on here. I think it'd be best if you picked her up. When you track her down, Rog can go with you--he's met Doris."
He paused. "But I don't want you to think I'm having second thoughts about--other things, Regina."
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Post by skybright on Feb 21, 2007 23:48:16 GMT -5
Daws smiled faintly and covered Vance's hand with her own. "I know. Looking out for her is the right thing to do regardless of how you feel about her -- I know that." Her smile turned teasing. "Besides, even if you wanted to -- you can't get rid of me, remember?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2007 22:28:44 GMT -5
Vance gave her a slow, lazy smile. "I'm glad of that."
Miriam stepped into the dining room then, with a flannel shirt over her arm and a needle between her fingers. "Oh, good--" She paused abruptly as she saw the smoke curling from Vance's cigar, and her expression turned flat. "Good morning, Daws."
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Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2007 22:35:48 GMT -5
Daws stifled a grin and pulled an elaborately innocent face. "Good morning, Doc. What's new?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2007 22:53:35 GMT -5
"Not a single piece of clothing the Major wears, that's for sure." Miriam sat down at the table, turning over the sleeve of the shirt she was holding. "See that? He denies it, but I'd swear that's a bullet hole--and this is one of his good shirts."
Vance grinned crookedly. "I've kinda been busy making sure other people have got clothes, Doc."
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Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2007 23:06:12 GMT -5
Daws shook her head and grinned fondly at him. "You sure you're not just tryin' to avoid going shopping?"
She shot a sly glance at Miriam. "Just don't let the Padre get word of it -- or he'll drag Vance down to the community clothes closet and let Mrs. Abramoff take over. Although it might be worth it for the look on his face . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2007 23:10:20 GMT -5
"I've seen those thrift-store things," Vance murmured. "It's fine for people who aren't supposed to be in an authority position, but I can't afford to walk around dressed like a figure skater."
Miriam burst out laughing.
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Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2007 23:20:38 GMT -5
Daws, too, burst out in peals of laughter. "Oh, now there is a mental image I never, never expected." She said, resting her forehead briefly on her hand, "Not entirely sure it was one I ever wanted, either."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2007 23:36:47 GMT -5
"Unwelcome mental images can be a useful weapon," Vance replied blithely. "Shock and awe. Unfortunately, I don't think it'd work that well on Nocturne."
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Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2007 23:50:39 GMT -5
"I'm not sure anything can shock that monster," Daws replied, "But the idea of you in a figure skating getup just might be enough to do the trick, if anything can." She grinned wickedly. "Maybe I oughtta try talking Cole into implanting that in Tiernan's head -- purely as an experiment, y'understand . . ."
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