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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2009 0:08:16 GMT -5
The next morning Daws caught the subway to the outskirts of Queens, disembarking at the nearest stop to the Valiant and walking the few remaining blocks to the motel (keeping a wary eye out for any sign that she might have been followed -- old habits died hard).
There was no sign of life in the motel parking lot or in any of the surrounding vacant lots; not even a curtain was pulled aside as Daws made her way to room fifteen and rapped quietly on the door.
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2009 0:18:48 GMT -5
After a moment came the sound of locks and bolts being undone, and Vance leaned his head out, looking weary in general but at least rested from the previous night's action. He wasn't wearing one of the ski masks they were forced to use around Voegel, but there was one clutched in his hand.
"Morning," he said warmly, giving Daws a slight smile as he stepped outside. "No trouble here. Voegel's asleep, and I don't wanna rile him up any sooner than we have to."
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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2009 0:25:24 GMT -5
Daws grinned crookedly. "I can't blame you there. Have you talked to Proteus?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2009 0:31:33 GMT -5
"Yeah. Like I thought, he's okay with pretending to be Doctor G--if Caddy comes over to give Voegel's heart another check." Vance shrugged. "While we go out to get the Doc, Proteus is gonna let Voegel hear some of the news on the radio, when he wakes up. He'll probably be hungry soon anyway."
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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2009 0:37:50 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Sounds like we've got a plan, then." She smiled crookedly. "Is it just us heading over there, or are your sidekicks around here someplace?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2009 0:46:37 GMT -5
Vance grinned slightly. "Right now Handy's out picking up breakfast for the prisoner--which means he'll get twice as much food as we need. I'm leaving him and Nate here to keep an eye on things. Not that I don't trust Proteus, but I'd worry about him being ready to handle any real trouble."
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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2009 0:52:19 GMT -5
"Either way, it can't hurt for him to have some backup." Daws agreed. "Nobody's done enough to deserve time alone with Voegel, even if he is asleep."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2009 1:00:30 GMT -5
"You're not kidding--you should hear him snore." Vance shook his head, and led the way to his car in the parking lot.
A short drive brought them to once again to Caddy's doorstep, and the Major knocked, his expression growing more anxious than it had been earlier that morning. Let it be good news about Timothy...
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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2009 1:08:11 GMT -5
After a moment the door opened to reveal Caddy, coffee mug in hand, still dressed in the clothes he'd been wearing the previous night. He gave the pair a subdued smile and stepped back from the doorway, gesturing them in.
"Morning, you two." He knocked back a slug of coffee as Daws and Vance stepped into the front hall.
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 8, 2009 23:33:22 GMT -5
With an expression of subdued but anxious grimness, Vance followed Caddy into the house.
"You don't look like you got much sleep. How's Timothy?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 8, 2009 23:43:20 GMT -5
Caddy shrugged one shoulder. "He's worn out, to put it in layman's terms. Purging that stuff took a lot out of him. He spiked a wicked fever during the night -- had me pretty worried -- but it broke around three and he's been improving since then."
He smiled wearily. "The kid's made of a lot tougher stuff than he looks. I think we're out of the woods."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 8, 2009 23:54:32 GMT -5
"Good to hear, Doc." There was an audible sigh of relief in the Major's voice.
He hesitated a moment, then added, "I'm afraid we didn't just come to check up on the kid, though. Sorry to keep you from a nap for a little longer, but we need to take you back to the motel for a quick housecall--just to check on Voegel again. Proteus is willing to help us trick some more answers out of him, but only if the creep is in okay shape for a surprise."
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Post by skybright on Nov 9, 2009 0:03:19 GMT -5
Caddy nodded and drained his coffee mug. "I'd been expecting that, actually. I suppose he's technically my patient for the time being, and there's that pesky Hippocratic Oath to think about."
He shrugged and turned for the rear of the house. "Just let me grab my kit. You can come back and see Timothy for yourselves, if you like -- he's pretty out of it, but he was awake and talking a little earlier."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 9, 2009 0:07:35 GMT -5
"Good. We'll try not to disturb him any." Vance followed Caddy, and continued to talk about their impending plan.
"Right about now, Proteus is letting Voegel hear about last night's shindig on the news. Later--after you've seen him--we're gonna see if we can't make him think we caught Doctor G himself. We'll see how he reacts to us dumping somebody who looks like his boss in the same room with him."
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Post by skybright on Nov 9, 2009 0:14:29 GMT -5
Caddy grinned crookedly as he shouldered open the door of the examining room. "I gotcha -- you think maybe he'll fall for it and tell Proteus something you guys can use. Smart thinking."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 9, 2009 23:14:59 GMT -5
"In case Voegel knows about G's mutation, though, we'll have to make it look like we've got that covered." Vance shrugged. "Literally, I guess--I was thinking we might have to wrap up Proteus' hands in plastic or something. Any ideas, Doc?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 10, 2009 0:48:05 GMT -5
Caddy grimaced thoughtfully. "It's not a bad idea. You could probably get away with handcuffing him and making a point of avoiding his hands. I haven't studied the stuff in its pure form, so I couldn't tell you for sure how G.'s neurotoxin would be expected to react with surfaces besides skin."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 10, 2009 23:01:49 GMT -5
Vance nodded and stepped into the examining room, looking around for Timothy. "Hey, kid--how're you holding up?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 10, 2009 23:26:31 GMT -5
Timothy was lying on the examination table, looking tired and drawn, but he raised his head slightly at Vance's greeting. "Not so bad, Major. Lots better than I was last night, anyway."
He let his head fall back -- even that small exertion seemed to have been taxing for him -- and grinned weakly. "I'm not gonna be much use for a while, though."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 10, 2009 23:31:28 GMT -5
"Don't you worry about that," Vance replied. "You went above and beyond the call last night. The next work is ours--all we want you to do is rest."
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