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Post by skybright on Nov 20, 2006 0:15:45 GMT -5
"Which means we're back to stopping them without calling the cops." Daws sighed and fidgeted with her fedora. "Of course, it'd help if we knew which night Tiernan was planning on hitting the place. Otherwise I guess the best we can do is stake the place out all week."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 20, 2006 0:23:14 GMT -5
"An' do what when his creeps show up?" Sid grumbled. "Step out an' say, ''Scuse me, boys, but ya can't go in there'?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 20, 2006 0:28:05 GMT -5
Daws shrugged and glanced at Vance. "What about that stuff Caddy and Hubert came up with -- the dampening agent? Might be at least a little helpful in keeping the thing from turning deadly on us."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 20, 2006 0:42:14 GMT -5
"Maybe. Except the creeps will probably notice when they've got drugged darts sticking out of their hides--and I assume that'll make 'em a little mad, powers or no powers." Vance shrugged.
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Post by skybright on Nov 20, 2006 0:46:06 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "Something tells me they're gonna be awfully cranky regardless of what we do."
She rested her forehead on the palm of her hand. "There's gotta be a good way for us to approach this thing. And I think it's pretty obvious that getting the drop on Tiernan's boys is the only way we're gonna have even a slim chance of doing it without getting people hurt."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 20, 2006 23:25:27 GMT -5
"I'm still thinking about Handy's idea." Alex blinked and sat up a little straighter. "Supposing something had already happened at the gallery--or in the street right in front of it--when Tiernan's thugs showed up. If there were a lot of cops around for some reason that had nothing to do with them, what would they do?"
"They'd probably creep back into the shadows," Vance allowed. "Even a law-abiding mutant can barely risk getting within a block of a bunch of cops--much less a criminal one."
"Thinkin' of goin' back to street performing, eh?" Sid murmured to Alex with a faint smile.
Henry scowled. "That would still depend on your knowing when the theft will take place--which, as we've already established quite clearly, you don't."
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Post by skybright on Nov 21, 2006 16:30:38 GMT -5
"We've got Proteus working on figuring that out, though." Daws interjected. "If he can get us that information . . ."
She scratched thoughtfully behind her left ear. "If we could find out the night of the hit, then a diversion like that might be enough to scare Tiernan's boys off for the night. Of course, they still might come back later in the week -- and I dunno that we could pull the same stunt twice."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 21, 2006 22:37:41 GMT -5
"It depends on what night they try to make the hit," Vance mused. "Still, that kind of a little red herring might be a nice option for Plan A--if we can find out when to do it."
He glanced at Daws. "And we might not need to rely on Proteus for that intel, either. What's up with His Honor the mind reader?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 21, 2006 22:50:04 GMT -5
Daws grinned slowly. "Now you mention it, he could come in awfully useful here. So far as I know, he's doing a lot of last-minute glad-handing -- the election's not far off. Don't see why he couldn't arrange to do a little of that glad-handing with his number one supporter -- and pick his brain while he's at it."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 21, 2006 23:02:36 GMT -5
"That's what I figured." Vance smiled flatly. "Okay, so if he can get the schedule for the heist out of the bat's head, we'll try Malone's plan. Have some passers disguised as cops and EMTs checking out a bum that had a stroke, or something." Another thought occurred to him. "It'd help a lot if we could set the stage with a cop car or two. Think your cop friend can finagle that?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 21, 2006 23:12:23 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "Yeah, it's been a while since I talked Bell into any help. He should've calmed down from the last time by now -- I'll see if he can get us the keys to a couple black-and-whites."
She thought for a moment, then added "I guess he oughtta be able to keep the real cops from showing up at our little ruckus, too -- I could have him forge some paperwork for a film shoot or something."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 21, 2006 23:26:48 GMT -5
Vance chuckled. "Smart idea. Okay, I'll sort out some of my people who can act like lawmen. I'll also see if I can come up with some sort of Plan B, in case the creeps do try a second time."
Alex shifted on his chair. "Since it was my idea, I'll do the cop act again."
"Same here," Sid added. Miriam opened her mouth to speak up, but then scowled and closed it at a stern look from both of them.
The Major laughed huskily. "Sorry, Doc. As bad as the bat wants you, it's a cinch he's burned your picture into his people's heads. We can't risk having you along, even in disguise."
"I know," Miriam sighed, looking frustrated.
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Post by skybright on Nov 21, 2006 23:38:45 GMT -5
Daws sighed and said "Come down to it, it's probably not that great of an idea for me to be along, unless it's well out of everybody's sight. I don't think this is exactly going to be a ski-masked affair, and most of Tiernan's people know what I look like by now."
She shrugged and glanced sympathetically at Miriam. "I guess you and I could keep lookout somewhere out of sight, Doc."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 21, 2006 23:49:25 GMT -5
Miriam brightened somewhat at that idea. "Well, at least we'll be able to see what happens. As long as that 'out of sight' place is a spot Tiernan's people don't happen to traipse through."
"If you insist on being spectators, I'll assign you a coupla bodyguards," Vance retorted, half-facetiously. "For that matter, I've got an empath who can sense people for a couple hundred yards and track their location. Better have 'em along to tell us when and where our company shows up, and how they're reacting to us."
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Post by skybright on Nov 21, 2006 23:58:31 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Sounds like we've got a plan that just might work. I'll have Cole get to work arranging a meeting with Tiernan -- some sort of last-minute consultation or somethin'."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 22, 2006 0:08:30 GMT -5
"Fine." Vance nodded. "I'll check out the area around the gallery, find out what sort of bolt-holes and vantage points we might be able to use."
He stood up. "With any luck, we might be able to handle this one Proteus' way, after all."
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Post by skybright on Nov 22, 2006 0:15:36 GMT -5
"Here's hoping." Father Rick interjected. He glanced around. "All right then -- meeting adjourned for the night, I suppose. Be careful out there, all of you."
As the rank and file of the resistance began to filter out of the room, Padre turned to Major Vance. "If you're needin' a few extra pairs of eyes, Boyo -- I got pretty good at finding bolt-holes in 'Nam."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 22, 2006 0:34:35 GMT -5
Vance smiled grimly at the Padre and nodded. "Fine by me. I've got a few things to line up tonight, so I'll send Handy around for you in the morning. I want to see the place by daylight before I check it out in the dark."
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Post by skybright on Nov 22, 2006 0:39:49 GMT -5
"I'll be ready." He chuckled. "Nothin' like a nice morning stroll while plotting guerilla warfare."
Daws rolled her eyes and reached for her fedora. "I'll contact Cole tomorrow morning and let you know if there's any problems," she told Vance. "Keep in touch."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 22, 2006 0:45:17 GMT -5
Vance nodded. "Keep your head down out there. And don't forget about that little favor from Bell, too."
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