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Post by skybright on Mar 19, 2007 16:39:12 GMT -5
The day after her visit from Proteus, Daws caught the subway to Long Island and made her way to Sid's house, intending to talk with him about the information Proteus had brought her.
She bounded up the front steps of the house, slipped off her fedora and reached for the doorbell, wondering idly if Sid's children were home from school yet.
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 19, 2007 21:05:03 GMT -5
Daws' question was answered when Tara Rosenstein answered the door. She smiled brightly at the detective, stepping back to let her in.
"Hi, Miss Dawson! How are you?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 19, 2007 23:22:19 GMT -5
"Can't complain." Daws replied with a grin. "How've you been, Tara?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 20:36:02 GMT -5
"Oh, I've been okay." Tara made a face. "We were out of school today--but only to go to the dentist. Caleb had a baby tooth that wasn't coming out right, so Dad decided we all oughta get a cleaning while that was getting fixed." She brightened. "But it meant we get ice cream tonight. You like chocolate mint?"
Sid sauntered out of the den at that moment, but he hung back by the doorway, grinning at Daws over his daughter's shoulder.
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 21:50:15 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "Of course I do. Pretty much any ice cream is okay in my book -- except maple nut." She pulled a brief disgusted face and then nodded to Sid.
"Afternoon, Sid. I hear you've been subjecting your poor kids to the dentist."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 22:21:55 GMT -5
Sid grinned and shambled forward, putting his arm over Tara's shoulders. "Whadaya expect? These kids spend so much time smilin', I gotta make sure they look good doin' it." He grinned at Tara and patted her shoulder, then looked up again at Daws. "How you doin'?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 22:25:32 GMT -5
"Not too bad. Things have been going pretty well, all things considering."
She shrugged out of her trenchcoat and made a wry face. "I finally got around to replacing my coat -- still tryin' to break it in. The pockets are a little different from the old one, and it's taking some getting used to."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 22:36:25 GMT -5
Sid appraised the coat interestedly. "Pretty sharp." He glanced at Daws suspiciously. "Ya didn't pick that up from the thrift store, did ya?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 22:43:53 GMT -5
"Nah," Daws shrugged good-naturedly. "Considering how my old one got wrecked, I figured that Tie --"
She broke off abruptly, remembering that Tara was present, and cleared her throat. "That I'd use some of the cash from my last big job." She finished placidly. Then she shrugged. "T'be honest, I'm kind of surprised I found a new one. They're not exactly making clothes for the discerning Bogart imitator these days."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 22:49:35 GMT -5
"That's what the internet is for," Tara suggested earnestly.
Sid smiled and gave her shoulder a nudge. "You better go see if Foxy an' the Doc want any help in the kitchen," he said. As Tara retreated, he turned back to Daws and explained, "They're fixin' dinner. Plenty ta go around, if ya wanna stay."
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 22:54:17 GMT -5
Daws smiled and nodded. "You know me -- I'm always up for a free meal. Especially if it's those two doing the cooking."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 23:00:28 GMT -5
"It won't be ready fer a few minutes yet." Sid paused, and his expression darkened slightly. "But ya didn't just come around fer chow, did ya? Somethin' come up?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 23:05:25 GMT -5
"You could say that." Daws shot a significant glance in the direction Tara had gone and added, "Probably not a conversation the kids should catch wind of."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 23:09:30 GMT -5
Sid shrugged. "C'mon inta the library," he said, and led Daws into the cozy room opposite the den, where the children were watching television. He shut the door and turned to Daws quizzically.
"Okay, what's up?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 23:16:47 GMT -5
"Nothin' major," Daws shrugged and took a seat, "But I had a visit from Proteus yesterday. He's been keeping an ear open at Tiernan's lately, and heard something kind of interesting.
"Tiernan's looking to sell of Lusus Nature -- it's a mutie bar not too far from the parish. Been a front for Tiernan's organization for just about as long as I can remember."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 23:29:10 GMT -5
"I've heard about it," Sid mused, slouching back on the loveseat and pulling a face as he scratched his chin. "I know about as much about 'mutie bars' as anybody in my business. It's a shame mutants can't dare ta fix themselves up a place with some real class, 'steada these crummy hole-in-the-wall joints hidden on back alleys."
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 23:35:32 GMT -5
Daws gave a wry half-smile and shrugged. "Not without drawing the wrong kind of attention, which'd kind of defeat the purpose."
She leaned forward. "Anyway, Proteus was thinking . . . now that the Spooks are gonna be out and on their own, they're going to have to start looking for jobs. A place like Lusus might be a good source of work for quite a few of 'em."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 20, 2007 23:48:05 GMT -5
"That could be." Sid nodded. "I don't guess a mutie bar could pay its people as much as I do, but it'd be a livin'. Plenty a' mutants with good jobs who go places like that ta drink with others like 'em, I hear."
He frowned abruptly. "So what's Proteus think--somebody's just s'posed ta meet the new owner, an' talk 'em inta hirin' a buncha Spook refugees who never had an honest job?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 20, 2007 23:52:54 GMT -5
"Ah . . . something like that." Daws spread her hands and shrugged slightly. "Actually . . . Proteus was thinking it might make sense for someone in our bunch to take the place over. That'd give us the added benefit of being able to keep an eye and ear on any of Tiernan's people who keep on frequenting the place."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 21, 2007 0:04:18 GMT -5
Daws' progression of ideas was finally beginning to dawn on Sid. His face abruptly twitched, and he blinked at the detective with a creeping incredulity.
"I get it... Who else in this group knows anythin' about runnin' a saloon?"
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