|
Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2009 0:03:50 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I can't argue with you on that point -- we're juggling enough plates on this thing. Kind of a rough break for them, but it's probably a lot better than whatever their bosses at the clinic would do if they thought they were some kind of a threat."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2009 0:16:08 GMT -5
"Amen to that," Vance murmured.
A few minutes later, they were in Mutietown, and Vance pulled into the driveway of a quaintly shabby little house. "This is it. Nate should still be here--probably stashed my car down the block as a precaution."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2009 0:24:20 GMT -5
"Better safe than sorry, right?" Daws climbed out of the car and surveyed the house and yard with a quick but attentive glance. "I don't know that I've ever been inside Langston's place, come to think of it."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2009 23:08:58 GMT -5
With a laconic shrug, Vance ambled up to the front door and knocked. There was a pause--presumably as someone looked cautiously through the peephole--and then Nate opened the door.
"Everything okay?" Vance asked, clapping his son on the shoulder.
Nate half-grinned. "Given the circumstances, anyway. C'mon in."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2009 23:14:55 GMT -5
Daws stepped inside after Vance and Handy, removing her fedora as she did so. "Hiya, Nate. How are our fugitives holding up?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2009 23:38:11 GMT -5
"Oh, okay I guess. Glad enough to see each other." Nate grinned. "I think it took Miss Steph a little bit to convince herself Beaudry wasn't Proteus in disguise again."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 22, 2009 23:46:06 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "I can't exactly blame her. After the first conversation we had with him, it took a while before I got out of the habit of wondering if your dad was really Proteus in disguise every time we'd meet up."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 22, 2009 23:54:11 GMT -5
Vance gave Daws a look that was only half-mockingly aghast. "Thanks a lot, kid. I thought your nose at least would know better than that, even if you didn't."
Nate chuckled. "C'mon. Mister Langston's been--uh, well, keeping the two of 'em entertained, I guess."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 23, 2009 0:05:56 GMT -5
Daws grinned crookedly and nudged Vance's elbow. "Well, we can help in that department, right?"
The followed Nate through a side doorway into a neat and clean if somewhat old-fashioned living room, where Beaudry and Steph were engaged in small talk with a dark-skinned, rather tweedy-looking middle-aged man.
He looked up with a thin smile as the trio followed Nate into the room. "Oh, hello, Major Vance. Mister McCartney. Miss Dawson."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 23, 2009 0:11:02 GMT -5
"Hi." Vance put his hands on his hips, surveying the two human guests and their host. "How are we getting along here?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 23, 2009 0:16:00 GMT -5
Steph and Beaudry exchanged a quick glance, and Beaudry grinned nervously. "Oh, you know . . . can't complain."
"Mister Langston's been awfully nice to us." Steph added quietly, fidgeting a bit.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 23, 2009 0:19:23 GMT -5
The Major turned his glance to Langston. "Thanks for doing it. This is a lot more hospitality than my people can offer."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 23, 2009 0:28:48 GMT -5
Langston smiled and spread his hands. "Glad to do it, Major. I don't get much company, you know, and it's for a good cause."
He gestured to a few empty seats around the room. "The rest of you can feel free to take a seat, if you like." He smiled at Nate. "The Lieutenant's been too busy keeping watch to sit down much."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 23, 2009 23:13:48 GMT -5
"I haven't mastered Dad's art of relaxed vigilance." Nate grinned self-deprecatingly, then turned to his father as they sat down. "So how'd things go--or is it not a subject for mixed company?"
Vance shrugged, glancing at Steph and Beaudry. "Since we got 'em involved, I think our guests here have a right to know the score. We gave Proteus' intel to our contacts, and they're gonna try to run down some leads from it. No immediate clues--except one thing. It looks like a deputy police commissioner is getting paid off by the powers behind the clinic."
Nate let out a low whistle.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 23, 2009 23:25:54 GMT -5
Steph's eyes widened. "Oh . . . Isn't there . . . well, anyone you could report him to, or something?"
Beaudry smiled humorlessly. "I think deputy commissioner is a little far up the ladder for them to just ask to talk to his manager, Steph."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 23, 2009 23:29:21 GMT -5
"Actually, it might be a break for us," Vance replied. "If we can keep him from figuring out anyone's onto him for a while, he might lead us to the creeps he's getting his kickbacks from. If it doesn't lead straight to the top, it'd at least be another link higher in the chain."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 23, 2009 23:36:49 GMT -5
Beaudry smiled. "Well . . . that'd be a good thing, right?"
Steph looked hesitant. "And . . . well, what do you do once you find them?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 23, 2009 23:46:41 GMT -5
"Yeah... that's where it gets tricky." Vance frowned. "Let's just say our political contact is a fairly important guy. If we can give him some hard evidence, he might be able to expose what's going on. There's probably plenty of people in high places who won't want that dirt showing up on their hands."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Feb 23, 2009 23:55:31 GMT -5
"That's what we're banking on, anyway." Daws smiled at Steph. "If not, well -- we've got other ways of dealing with problems. Don't let it worry you; we'll figure something out."
Steph nodded, scratching her palm absently. "What about . . ." she hesitated a moment. "What about the other people in the clinic? Did you find out . . . anything more about them?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Feb 24, 2009 0:09:37 GMT -5
Vance frowned. "I'm sorry to say... one person is dead. There are others in the hospital. Another one of our friends is trying to get the names."
He turned to Nate. "That also gives us another option. If one of the real mad scientists is in the hospital, and not just more actors or Health Department lackeys..."
Nate grinned crookedly. "Yeah. I see where you're going with that."
"It's what we do best, ain't it?" Handy remarked with a shrug.
|
|