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Post by Jordanna on Apr 24, 2006 20:40:24 GMT -5
His jaw clenched and fists clenched, Nicholas Tiernan paced his office in agitation, occasionally sending a burning glance toward the newspaper that lay on the desk.
In the predawn hours, he had arrived just in time to watch the smouldering shell of his largest warehouse collapse.
He still didn't know the precise extent of his financial loss. He was awaiting a report from his warehouse manager--who, in point of fact, posed publicly as the owner of the several warehouses Tiernan Enterprises had scattered around the region. That man was currently being kept busy by investigating police and fire officials, not to mention insurance agents. The particular inventory Tiernan kept may not have been insurable, but the building certainly was.
All Tiernan wanted at the moment was to speak to Regina Dawson, whom he had sent for.
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Post by skybright on Apr 24, 2006 20:50:25 GMT -5
Regina Dawson nodded at the receptionist of Tiernan Enterprises, expecting to go through the usual motions of waiting to be admitted to Tiernan's presence.
Instead the blonde woman gave her a worried glance and said briskly "Go right up." She gestured at the opened elevator at the end of the lobby, "He's expecting you."
Daws nodded and sauntered to the elevator, tail twitching as she watched the lighted numbers above the door climb. She didn't know exactly why Tiernan had summoned her -- but she dearly hoped that he hadn't somehow found out about her role in getting the Van Lindens out of the country.
The elevator reached Tiernan's floor and Daws made her way down the hall to his office, listening for voices before knocking cautiously on the door.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 24, 2006 20:56:49 GMT -5
"Come in," Tiernan said briskly the instant he heard the knock, striding swiftly toward his desk to pick up the newspaper. By the time Daws had opened the door and stepped in, he was already walking toward her with it.
"That warehouse belonged to me," he said without preamble, shoving at her the headline of the overnight arson fire.
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Post by skybright on Apr 24, 2006 21:06:11 GMT -5
Daws scanned the article and let out a low whistle of amazement. "That ain't good." She raised an eyebrow at Tiernan.
"You got any suspects?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 24, 2006 21:11:13 GMT -5
Tiernan scowled, and circled around the desk to throw himself into his chair with an exasperated sigh. Resting his chin on his hand, he glanced up darkly at Daws.
"There are a few possibilities. But... somehow, I can't help but wonder if our 'friend' Van Linden had something to do with this. I had no great troubles before she came to my attention."
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Post by skybright on Apr 24, 2006 21:19:57 GMT -5
Daws frowned, personally considering the idea. Miriam was out of the question, of course -- but the way Sid had acted after they'd freed the Van Lindens. . .
She shrugged and shook her head. "It's possible, I guess, but from what I've gathered this doesn't seem quite like Van Linden's style. The folks I talked to at the ME's office said she seemed like the nonviolent sort.
She tapped the newspaper. "I suppose you want me to scout around, see if I can turn up who's responsible?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 24, 2006 21:41:56 GMT -5
Tiernan nodded. "This is the reason I went to no small expense to silence your connection to me after that... incident with the police. You have access to people my other agents couldn't get close to. Find out who did this before they have a chance to do it again."
He sighed. "It's only fortunate that it didn't happen a few days earlier. I take the precaution of reshuffling the contents of my warehouses every so often. As it is, I've lost a very valuable supply of 'pharmaceuticals', so to speak... but two days ago, the place contained a store of weapons."
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Post by skybright on Apr 25, 2006 20:43:35 GMT -5
Daws winced -- partially at the image of an exploding munitions warehouse, and partly at the knowledge of what Tiernan and his boys would do with a warehouse full of weapons. "That would've spoiled the neighborhood, some." She acknowledge carefully.
She scratched thoughtfully behind one ear. "All right, Mister Tiernan, I'll see what I can find for ya." She gestured with the newspaper and added "This is probably a ridiculous question -- you being you -- but have you got any enemies, besides Van Linden, who might pull somethin' like this?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 25, 2006 20:50:09 GMT -5
"None who I believe are foolish enough... or alive enough." Tiernan narrowed his eyes. "I don't leave loose ends lying around to unravel, as you know."
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Post by skybright on Apr 25, 2006 20:55:22 GMT -5
"All right then." Daws nodded and pushed her fedora back. "I'll see what I can do -- I've got a contact with the arson investigator's office. Half the time when people pull stunts like this," she waved the newspaper, "They leave behind all sorts of traces 'cause they assume the fire'll take care of it. Might just get a lucky break this time."
She steeled herself, took a deep breath, and kept her voice carefully neutral as she added "By the way . . . about the Van Lindens . . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 25, 2006 20:58:56 GMT -5
Tiernan looked up, arching an eyebrow. "What is it?"
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Post by skybright on Apr 25, 2006 21:05:41 GMT -5
Daws sighed and feigned frustration, "Whoever took 'em out of the fifty-fourth knew what they were doin'. Their bank account in Kansas has been cleared, all their credit cards cancelled, their mortgage paid off.
"You want my opinion," She said, shaking her head, "I think they're good and disappeared. Gone to the Carribbean, maybe -- but it might as well be the moon. If my contacts can't find 'em," She gave a frustrated growl, "They ain't there to be found."
Daws held her breath and offered a brief, desperate prayer that Tiernan would buy it -- and that his detonated warehouse would have him frustrated enough to overlook the Van Linden's disappearance for the time being . . .
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 25, 2006 21:16:07 GMT -5
Tiernan huffed an irritated sigh.
"A prosaic little pair of middle-American retirees certainly couldn't do that on their own. They aren't important, but the person who helped them is--and probably has connections to Doctor Van Linden as well. I want you to keep that investigation open. But for the time being, our neighborhood terrorist is the larger problem. Another incident like this could be more than financially costly."
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Post by skybright on Apr 25, 2006 21:19:39 GMT -5
Daws let out a relieved breath and nodded. "I'll let you know what I find out." She nodded and headed for the door. "Good afternoon, Mister Tiernan."
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