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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2008 18:44:46 GMT -5
“Pretty good, I guess.” Daws replied. “I haven’t been around there much, but from what Sid tells me they’ve adjusted to running the place.”
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 16, 2008 22:31:08 GMT -5
Proteus chuckled. "Just as long as Sid doesn't let 'em run it into the ground. The Spooks we picked are good workers when they've got a reason--just no sense for business."
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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2008 22:38:28 GMT -5
Daws grinned wryly. "Well, I'm sure if anyone can keep 'em from doing that, it's Sid." Her grin faded slightly. "Of course, he's got other things on his mind right now."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 16, 2008 22:50:57 GMT -5
Proteus nodded solemnly. "Yeah. With everything that's going on, I haven't been able to stop by and see Doctor Van Linden yet... but I've been thinking about her."
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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2008 22:56:10 GMT -5
"Yeah. Yeah, so have I." Daws sighed and shook her head, gesturing to the photos and newspaper. "Hopefully once we take care of this we'll all have some time to just breathe for a change."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 16, 2008 23:00:32 GMT -5
"I hope so." Proteus sighed. "To be honest with you... this secret research worries me more than Tiernan does."
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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2008 23:04:28 GMT -5
"I know what you mean." Daws sighed and gazed thoughtfully around the office.
"Part of the reason I've been doing this all these years is because I've seen firsthand that the cops and the government really aren't all that interested in protecting people like us. But this . . ." She waved vaguely at the crowded desktop. "This goes beyond just not being all that interested -- way beyond. And it's frightening."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 17, 2008 23:30:10 GMT -5
"That's why I'm putting my principles a little more on the line than I'd like to," Proteus sighed. "Much as I want to, I don't know how to handle this without somebody getting hurt... and there are a lot more of our kind who could get hurt than there are of these people."
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Post by skybright on Sept 18, 2008 19:59:00 GMT -5
"Yeah." Daws shrugged slightly and shot a sympathetic glance at Proteus. "I know that can't be an easy call for you to make -- but I appreciate it."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 18, 2008 20:41:42 GMT -5
The shapeshifter nodded demurely, and pushed himself to his feet.
"I guess I'd better be moving along. I'll do some more checking with the Spooks, then get back to the Batcave and see what's cooking there." He shrugged. "Call me as soon as you get anything on those patsies from the trial clinic."
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Post by skybright on Sept 18, 2008 22:15:21 GMT -5
"Sure thing." Daws replied. "Take care of yourself."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 18, 2008 22:39:54 GMT -5
"Same to you." Proteus inclined his head, then went out of Daws' inner office--and by the time he had reached the front door, he had taken his goth guise again. He stepped out, and with one last glance back toward the detective, he went on his way.
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Post by skybright on Sept 18, 2008 22:48:11 GMT -5
Daws sank into her office chair, gave the scattered photographs one more cursory glance, and then reached for the phone and dialed Vance's number.
She left a brief message on his voicemail asking him to come to the office, then hung up and reached for the rest of the newspaper -- it would take Vance a while to get back to her or show up, and it couldn't hurt to know what else might be brewing in the City.
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 18, 2008 22:56:33 GMT -5
A little more than an hour after Daws left her message, Major Vance approached the office by the back door, with Handy tagging along faithfully beside him. Vance knocked on the door, then folded his arms and waited.
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Post by skybright on Sept 18, 2008 23:00:39 GMT -5
After a moment the door cracked open and Daws peered out through the crack. Then the door abruptly shut again, and there was the scraping sound of the security chain being unlatched before she opened the door enough to allow them entry.
"Morning, you two." She gestured them into the office with a crooked smile. "Sorry -- can't be too careful, y'know."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 18, 2008 23:07:52 GMT -5
Vance grinned humorlessly, and gave Daws the slightest peck on the forehead. "If you hadn't had that door locked up tight, I'd be chewing you out over it right now."
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Post by skybright on Sept 18, 2008 23:16:20 GMT -5
"So I figured." Daws replied.
She turned to make sure the deadbolt and chain were once again locked, then turned around with a shrug. "Well, like I said on the phone -- I think Jai's turned up something that Proteus might be able to use, but it'll take some doing on our part."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 18, 2008 23:22:32 GMT -5
"We'll be glad to have some doing to start on," Vance replied. "My people haven't turned up anything useful, and it's getting frustrating. What's Jai got for us?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 19, 2008 21:47:23 GMT -5
Daws led the two of them over to the desk, gesturing at the spread of photographs. "Employees of the 'clinic'." She pointed at the blurry snapshots. "Those guys plus two others are government -- CDC, former military, plus one very spooky guy who doesn't seem to technically exist.
"The rest," she gestured at the slick headshots, "Are actors -- window dressing to make the whole thing look good."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 19, 2008 22:30:15 GMT -5
Vance's lower lip twisted in something between amusement and disgust. "That's just charming. It figures whoever's at the top of the food chain would try to keep the bottom layer as clueless as possible... Well, maybe Proteus can do something with these pictures."
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