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Post by skybright on Mar 21, 2007 0:08:26 GMT -5
Daws half-smiled. "Well, unless the Padre's got something he hasn't been telling us . . ."
She shrugged. "I told Proteus I'd bring it up with you, see what you thought. No harm if you're not interested."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 21, 2007 0:14:47 GMT -5
Sid let out a windy breath. "I can see where it'd be a smart move fer the resistance--helpin' out the Spooks an' keepin' an eye on Tiernan's thugs besides. I can imagine trouble, too, if they mix a lot with the Spooks. They know an awful lot about us."
He sighed and scratched his thinning thatch of hair, then glanced at Daws and asked an imminently practical question.
"It means givin' Tiernan money. Who's s'posed ta front the cash?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 21, 2007 0:22:28 GMT -5
Daws frowned. "Proteus didn't mention that. I suppose we might persuade Cole to pay it outta that fund he's building up -- particularly since he just deposited a huge chunk of Tiernan's own money in it."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 21, 2007 20:08:09 GMT -5
"That's somethin'." Sid frowned and rubbed his face thoughtfully. "So you're just needin' somebody ta be the front man, an' maybe sorta organize things? That'd be no burden on me. Once things got set up, if ya give me a coupla Spooks who're halfway decent workers, we could pretty much leave it ta them."
His frown deepened, and he raised his eyes to Daws.
"But puttin' through the deal... Would it mean signin' articles with Tiernan--face ta face?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 21, 2007 21:55:03 GMT -5
Daws sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know for sure. Tiernan's got a lot of lawyers and flunkies who handle things for him -- but he's not exactly the sort to leave anything unattended. Considering how long Lusus has been one of his little playthings . . ." She shrugged and regarded him gravely, "I think it probably would mean that, yeah."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 21, 2007 22:17:22 GMT -5
Sid made a hard face and looked away. He was silent for a long moment, then sighed almost inaudibly and glanced back at Daws.
"If it's gotta be..." he said quietly.
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Post by skybright on Mar 21, 2007 22:27:15 GMT -5
Daws frowned in concern. "I don't see that it has to be. Maybe it'd be better if we had someone else do it . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 21, 2007 22:31:22 GMT -5
The ex-enforcer frowned, and slowly shook his head. "Ya need somebody with the right kinda background ta do a business deal like that. Just anybody outta the parish'd look pretty funny if they showed up with a wad a' cash ta buy the place. Nuh... I'm the guy ya need for it." He smiled ruefully. "Ya knew that before, or ya wouldn'ta even brought it to me."
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Post by skybright on Mar 21, 2007 22:39:07 GMT -5
Daws smiled faintly in return. "Yeah, I suppose I did." She shrugged apologetically. "I just don't much relish the thought of you having to go face-to-face with Tiernan. I don't relish the thought of me having to do that, and I supposedly work for the guy."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 21, 2007 22:47:49 GMT -5
"I can handle it, Daws." Sid looked at her steadily. "I know what you're worried about, but... really, I can. I don't like the idea of givin' him money, but if it came from him anyway..." He shrugged. "I'll get by, long as there's no telepath around--ta hear what I'm thinkin' when I see the bat."
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Post by skybright on Mar 21, 2007 22:53:24 GMT -5
Daws' mouth quirked in a wry smile. "Especially since you an' me are some of those loud thinkers Cole's always complaining about, huh?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 22, 2007 20:13:59 GMT -5
"Yeah." Sid smiled, a little sadly. "Tomorrow I'll find out who ta talk to about the sale, an' we'll get things started. Maybe you better have Padre start findin' out which ones of the Spooks we can trust ta do the work."
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Post by skybright on Mar 22, 2007 21:08:48 GMT -5
"Sure, I can do that." Daws nodded. "Padre's a good judge of character -- he'll have some good ideas."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 22, 2007 21:28:40 GMT -5
"Yeah. Well..." Sid shrugged and stood up, his smile warming slightly. "C'mon, we'll see if dinner's ready yet. The kids'll be glad ta have ya."
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Post by skybright on Mar 22, 2007 21:35:22 GMT -5
Daws smiled crookedly. "Sure -- always nice to feel wanted." She stood and followed Sid out of the library.
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 22, 2007 21:45:58 GMT -5
They found Alex and Miriam busy in the kitchen, making homemade tacos--under the slightly superfluous supervision of Consuela. Alex was shaking his head as he took a bottle of jalepeno sauce from the maid.
"Yah, I know you like that flamethrower stuff, but some of us still have tastebuds... Oh, hi, Daws!"
At the detective's name, Miriam looked up warmly. Consuela turned to give Daws a polite but slightly distant smile.
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Post by skybright on Mar 22, 2007 21:53:52 GMT -5
"Hey, everybody." Daws smiled brightly at the three of them and peered over Alex's shoulder at the food. "Something sure smells good. Is this one of your recipes, Consuela?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 22, 2007 21:59:09 GMT -5
"Si," Consuela assented, shooting Alex a slight look. "Only Senor Malone does not make it strong enough."
"Anybody who eats it as hot as she makes it would be in danger of getting charged with arson," Alex retorted, with a quirky grin.
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Post by skybright on Mar 22, 2007 22:05:01 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "And we've got enough would-be arson charges on our hands without that happening, right?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 22, 2007 22:14:00 GMT -5
"Speaking of which, how is the Major?" Miriam asked. "I haven't heard from him since I left Henry's house. Is he still there?"
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