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Post by skybright on Oct 4, 2009 23:05:20 GMT -5
"We're hoping there's some information in here we can use against Voegel and the people he's working for." Daws shrugged one shoulder and returned to her lockpicks. "Unfortunately, most of it is pretty much over our heads, so we're not sure about that yet."
The lock on the case snapped open with a solid metallic click, and she cocked an ear at it to listen for anything unusual before easing it open. She peered at the contents for a moment, then let out a relieved sigh.
"Well, we know we came out of there with at least one thing we went in after," She said, holding the lockbox out to Vance. "Here's Voegel's extra keycard -- and it looks like there's copies of his employee files, too."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 4, 2009 23:13:51 GMT -5
Vance all but caught his breath. "If anything's our in, it's right here. Later we'll have to see what Proteus can make of the guys in those personnel files." His expression darkened. "Right now, I want to know if there's any clue whether G's creeps are willingly on board with him or not."
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Post by skybright on Oct 4, 2009 23:17:57 GMT -5
Daws shook her head slightly. "So far I haven't --"
She broke off abruptly as her sensitive hearing caught the sound of footsteps on the basement stairs; a moment later Hubert swept past the open door of the living room, making a determined beeline for the examining room in back.
Daws shot at glance at Vance as she clambered to her feet. "Looks like he found something out with the chemistry set."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 5, 2009 20:11:13 GMT -5
Motioning for Nate and the other men to stay put, Vance followed Daws to the examining room. He stopped at the threshold behind her, in the interest of keeping out of the doctors' way.
"What's up?" he asked intently.
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Post by skybright on Oct 5, 2009 22:48:44 GMT -5
Caddy glanced up from his conversation with Hubert. "He's going through withdrawals." He answered grimly. "I was starting to suspect as much -- but I couldn't risk anything until we ran the samples."
Daws frowned and glanced at Timothy, who was lying curled on his side on the examining table. "You're saying that stuff Doctor G. excretes is addictive?"
"Extremely." Caddy turned back to looking over the handful of scribbled notes Hubert had carried upstairs. "As it breaks down in the bloodstream, it causes the effects we're seeing now -- pain, muscle cramping, low fever. Another dose of the toxin would probably ease the symptoms." He shrugged one shoulder. "Of course, it would also cause the symptoms we saw earlier -- hypersensitivity and so on. Which, ironically, is probably the better of the two options."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 6, 2009 21:39:44 GMT -5
Vance scowled. "What happens if he doesn't get more of it?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 6, 2009 22:40:32 GMT -5
Caddy shot a quick glance in Timothy's direction, then sighed. "I can't be sure." He admitted quietly.
"I've got him on some medication, finally -- muscle relaxers and as much pain relief as I dare, with the head injury. That should be enough to help him ride this out -- Doctor G. only gave him a quick jolt of the stuff, and it's breaking down quickly."
Caddy shook his head. "But it isn't going to be pretty . . . and I can't promise that this stuff won't do something nasty and surprising before it's over. I just don't know enough to predict that."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2009 20:19:10 GMT -5
Vance folded his arms and glared hard at the floor, in thought for a long moment. At last he looked up, and spoke in a voice low enough for Timothy not to hear.
"It's a chance we've gotta take, Doc. Even if we could get our hands on more of this poison of G's, or even if you could recreate it--we can't have anybody hooked on it. That's obvious. Just... do what you can for him."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2009 22:07:17 GMT -5
Caddy nodded -- Vance's decision was the same one that both he and Hubert had already come to. "You know I'll do everything possible to take care of him."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2009 22:18:36 GMT -5
Vance smiled wanly. "If it'd help, I'd go hunt down G right now, and cut off his hands for you to study."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2009 22:24:22 GMT -5
Caddy smiled thinly in return. "Usually the whole Hippocratic oath thing would keep me from taking you up on that -- but in this case I'd be willing to make an exception."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2009 22:35:51 GMT -5
Nate had come up behind Vance in time to hear his father's words, and gave a slight wince as he leaned into the doorway. "Dad, leaving aside the whole jumping-into-trouble-without-a-plan thing, we don't even know where we might find G yet. We're not even gonna get that far until we go through the stuff we just stole."
Vance scowled slightly at Nate, but then his expression softened and he sighed. "Yeah--and we'll be lucky if we get a lead even then. We've still gotta put Jai and Cole on it."
He turned to Caddy. "I can send a few guys to watch the clinic. But after tonight, and with a dozen kinds of investigators still hanging around after the bombing, I'm not so sure G's gonna show up there for a little while."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2009 22:44:31 GMT -5
"I understand." Caddy nodded at Timothy's turned back. "We're going to have our hands full here for a while, anyway." He added quietly.
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 7, 2009 22:56:59 GMT -5
"I don't guess there's any way the rest of us can help here." Vance gave a frustrated shrug. "The most useful thing we can probably do is get to Jai and Cole, with their share of the files to follow up on. If there's nothing else you need... we'll do that. Provided you keep us updated on Timothy."
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Post by skybright on Oct 7, 2009 23:04:55 GMT -5
"Of course I will." Caddy replied. "The minute anything changes, you'll get a call."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 9, 2009 21:54:23 GMT -5
"Okay." Vance smiled wanly. "I'll be sending home those freeloaders in the other room. If I don't hear anything else from you tonight, I'll assume things are okay and let you get some sleep--but I'll be around in the morning to check up on the kid."
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Post by skybright on Oct 10, 2009 20:14:38 GMT -5
Caddy nodded. "Yeah, alright, sounds good. Just be careful out there, will you? I've patched up enough people for tonight."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 10, 2009 23:27:09 GMT -5
"We'll be fine. Just going to visit some friends." Vance snorted humorlessly. "Before we try to talk Proteus into another little charade in front of Voegel."
He turned to Daws and Nate. "Let's get going."
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Post by skybright on Oct 12, 2009 13:10:15 GMT -5
Daws nodded, shooting one last glance at Timothy. "Hang in there, kid." She said quietly, not expecting -- and not receiving -- any response. She nodded at Hubert and Caddy, then turned to follow Vance and Nate back into the living room to retrieve the files destined for Jai and Cole.
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 12, 2009 22:42:19 GMT -5
When they reached the living room, Alex stood up anxiously. "How's Timothy?"
"Eh." Vance scowled. "Caddy says it's some kinda withdrawal shock. We can't do anything for that--only hope it clears up fast. The kid's a lot tougher than he looks... I'd bet on him to get through it okay."
He paused. "Listen, Foxy... if you're okay with leaving Miriam alone for a little bit, you could do me a favor. You can take Rog and the boys here back to his place, over in the Padre's parish. Regina and I are going out to share some of this new intel with our brains-in-reserve, and we're in kind of a hurry."
Alex nodded. "Yeah, I... I guess I can do that. Lemme just let Hubert know I'm going." He quietly ducked out of the room.
"Okay." Vance turned to Handy and Nate. "You two might as well come along with us. After the night we've had, I think there's safety in numbers--and besides, I know you'd both pout if I left you out."
Nate grinned. "You know we can't leave you alone for a minute, Dad."
"Yeah, sure." Vance gestured to the front door. "Get a move on, soldier."
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