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Post by Jordanna on Feb 6, 2006 23:48:21 GMT -5
Alex set down the half-denuded orange he was working on peeling.
"I don't know where to start," he began uncertainly. "I just... want to know more about who did this. I know you said you don't know why they did it--but if you were already investigating them, you must know something more."
As an afterthought, he added, "And I guess you can't talk about your other clients, but I'd sure like to know the other person you're working for. Maybe it would help if... if everybody was on the same page."
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Post by skybright on Feb 7, 2006 0:05:29 GMT -5
Daws nodded slowly and studied her coffee cup. "You're mostly right about talking about my other client -- I can't break confidence with them without talking to them first. But," She added, "I'm hoping to contact my other client soon -- and I'll see how they feel about the idea.
"As to the man who did this." Daws took a deep drink of coffee and sighed. "Nicholas Tiernan is his name. He's an industrialist; Tiernan Enterprises has a hand in a lot of different industries, and Tiernan is richer than a lot of small countries.
"Tiernan's a mutant activist; he works through various charities to try and assist mutants financially. To most of the people like us in New York, Nicholas Tiernan is just below God himself in the help department."
Daws sighed. "But when I say Tiernan's into a lot of things, I mean that not all of 'em are legal. He's dabbled in illegal imports, drug dealing -- and extortion." She fixed Malone with a significant look. "I've had suspicions about that for a long time, so I've stayed out of Tiernan's way. But a few weeks ago I was hired to look into the possibility that Tiernan's into even worse things."
She rubbed unconsciously at her shoulder. "The mutant mafia that threatened Sid -- Tiernan runs it, I'm convinced of it. And . . . ." She hesitated, but then plunged forward with "And I'm also convinced that he killed Caroline. Not just that he had her killed, either. That he did so himself. The only problem is," She concluded with a sigh, "I'm not sure yet how I'm going to prove that."
She downed another swallow of coffee and glanced at Malone, who was standing nearly motionless at the stove. She cleared her throat and said quietly "That's gonna catch fire if you don't flip it." She gestured at the neglected omlette on the stove.
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 7, 2006 19:24:27 GMT -5
See new post in Other Locations first...
Alex quickly flipped the omelette--and slightly singed his finger in the process. He wrung his hand, then thrust his fingertip under the faucet to run cold water over it.
"It's unbelievable," he breathed, looking back at Daws. "Now I know why Sid was afraid of a mob war. Al Capone ran soup kitchens during the Depression to get people on his side--I guess that's what this Tiernan is doing with mutants. If all this did unravel... how many would side with him?"
He shook his head and turned off the water, drying his hands with a dishtowel. With his back to Daws, he murmured, "You don't have to tell me we don't have much chance of busting Tiernan. That's one thing I did learn from Sid's old pals." He turned to her then, his blue eyes bright with determination, and concluded, "But as long as there's any hope at all, I'll do anything."
Before Daws could answer him, the telephone rang.
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Post by skybright on Feb 7, 2006 19:30:57 GMT -5
Daws leapt up before Malone could move, holding up one hand. "This could be my other client," She explained, crossing to the phone.
And even if it isn't, I wanna keep an eye on who might be calling. Daws snatched up the handset and, in her best housewife-voice, she said "Rosenstein residence. Who are you calling for, please?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 7, 2006 19:50:50 GMT -5
Miriam Van Linden frowned, not quite recognizing the voice on the other end of the line.
"Um... I was asked to call this number. My name is Doctor Van Linden."
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Post by skybright on Feb 7, 2006 19:56:00 GMT -5
Something's gone right today, and it ain't even noon yet. Must be my lucky day. Daws leaned against the counter and settled the phone against her shoulder.
"Doctor Van Linden, this is Regina Dawson. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly." She cleared her throat. "Listen, Doctor, I need to talk to you about a decedent that the Long Island ME's office sent over there this morning. It's connected with your case. The victim's name is Carolyn Rosenstein."
There was a silence on the other end. Daws frowned concernedly. "Doctor Van Linden?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 7, 2006 20:08:32 GMT -5
"I've already... looked into the case," Miriam said at last, almost a whisper. "I was going to call you if you hadn't called. It was Tiernan."
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Post by skybright on Feb 7, 2006 20:24:09 GMT -5
Daws winced. "Yeah, that was kinda what I figured," She said, sighing. "Doc, I've run into another case that's connected with yours -- more closely than ever now." She hesitated, glanced at Malone (who was obviously listening closely, despite his turned back), and then plunged ahead. "He's wondering if it might not be wise for all of us to meet up -- pool what we know, as it were. I agree that it'd be helpful to have everyone on the same page -- but you're the client. If confidentiality is an issue, it's completely understandable."
But if not, Daws thought to herself, It'd make my job at least marginally easier.
"Either way," She continued, "I'll need to meet with you as soon as you can manage it."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 7, 2006 20:48:04 GMT -5
"I'd be glad to meet with anyone who's up against Tiernan," Miriam replied, without hesitation. "There's nothing I want more than to share what I know. I can come today, if you want me to."
She said that having already planned to take another sick day. Perhaps she'd catch flak for it, but she really didn't care right now. She couldn't bear the thought of exposing herself to any more corpses today.
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Post by skybright on Feb 7, 2006 20:58:15 GMT -5
Daws hesitated. The idea of Doctor Van Linden showing up on the Rosenstein's doorstep didn't seem like a good one for a variety of reasons -- the most pressing being the possibility of Tiernan spotting the arrival (if he had someone watching the house), or following the Doctor there.
Daws knew she was kidding herself if she expected to keep her two cases completely out of Tiernan's view; but she was going to do her uttermost to give him as little as possible to go on. Daws covered the telephone receiver with her hand and addressed Malone. "My other client is up for a meeting. D'you feel all right about leaving here? I think it's best if we meet somewhere in the City." She bit her lip and added, "It'd probably be safer for Sid and his kids."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 7, 2006 21:07:33 GMT -5
Alex frowned. He expected Sid would sleep for a while longer, but he wasn't so sure about Tara, and he wanted to be there for her when she woke up. On the other hand, he was anxious to meet the other person who was trying to take Tiernan down.
"Lemme tell Consuela she'll have to watch Tara," he said, and exited the kitchen.
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Post by skybright on Feb 7, 2006 21:20:26 GMT -5
Daws nodded and returned to the telephone.
"Doctor, I think it's possible that one or more of us may be being shadowed," She said as calmly as she could. She didn't want the assistant ME any more shaken than she already sounded -- not that Daws blamed her, if she'd already 'experienced' Caroline Rosenstein's death. "Meet us at 1 o'clock, Marco's diner off of Norton Avenue -- we can talk there, without anyone listening in."
She thought briefly about Caroline Rosenstein's lifeless eyes -- and Nicholas Tiernan's terrifyingly dark ones.
"And Doc," Daws' voice was grave, "Be careful."
She hung up the phone and turned to survey the kitchen, pushing her hand through her dark hair.
"Well," She sighed to nobody-in-particular, "At least life never gets boring."
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