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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 22:31:29 GMT -5
Tiernan's secretary -- Tanith, Daws had heard her called -- was her usual disinterested and efficient self today. Daws leaned against the desk and waited for the go-ahead to see Tiernan about the information she'd gathered on James Marcus Cole.
This time, Daws had waited a few days before she returned to Tiernan Enterprises -- it wouldn't do to look too prompt, after all.
Especially since that might get Tiernan wondering why it's only the Van Linden case I'm havin' any trouble on.
Tanith cleared her throat and gestured to the elevator. "Mister Tiernan is waiting for you."
Daws tipped her fedora and headed for the elevator.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 22:40:00 GMT -5
Tiernan was at his piano when Daws knocked on his door. It had been a frustrating few days, delicately tugging the necessary political strings to keep certain truths about the Murfeeston Bridge incident in the dark. This morning, with that work done and nothing else of any urgency on his schedule, he had sought a brief interlude to relax.
Now Regina Dawson had come along, and he fully expected his relaxation was about to come to an abrupt end. It always did these days when she brought him news--or a lack thereof.
"Come in, Miss Dawson," he sighed, as he lowered the cover of the piano keys and stood up.
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 22:46:09 GMT -5
Daws removed her fedora and ran a hand through her hair as she entered the office.
"Mister Tiernan." She nodded cordially and held up the same manila folder she'd carried away from Tiernan's office a few days earlier -- with a few additions. "I did that snooping into James Marcus Cole -- thought you'd want to see the results."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 22:49:09 GMT -5
"Yes, quite." Tiernan stretched out his hand and took the folder, giving the contents a brief glance as he removed them, but then his gaze returned to Daws. "I take it, then, that there are results, Miss Dawson?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 22:56:35 GMT -5
Daws shrugged and gave a wry half-smile. "I must not've lost my touch completely, after all."
She cleared her throat and gestured at the folder. "Interviewed several people on the campaign -- including Cole's campaign manager. Most of 'em said about the same thing -- Cole can't do much of anything once one of those headaches hits.
"There's MRIs in there, and a diagnosis from the specialist he saw in Europe." Which, strictly speaking, was true -- even if she'd had Jai edit out any references to mutation in the copies he'd printed. "Cole's migraines are hereditary, but they're probably not related to any . . . well, neurological unpleasantness. He's not gonna drop dead or have a seizure, anyway."
She scratched behind one ear. "I did some . . . polite asking . . . about Cole's willingness to work with 'special interests'. From what I dug up, Cole's willing to do a lot to help the mutant interest."
Daws hesitated, then added "The reason why is in there, too."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 23:14:38 GMT -5
"He didn't seem to be in a particularly willing mood when I met with him," Tiernan murmured, leafing through the documents. "What, may I ask, is the reason you refer to?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 23:18:54 GMT -5
Daws steeled herself; in a rapidly-growing list of unpleasant things she'd done in Tiernan's employ, she was about to do the most unpleasant yet.
"There's photographs in there of Cole's sister, Marla." She said. "If they all seem a little dated, well -- it's because they were taken before her mutation manifested."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 23:26:08 GMT -5
Tiernan raised an eyebrow, lowering the handful of papers.
"His sister is one of us?" He turned to the window and gazed out thoughtfully through the heavily tinted glass. "That might prove to be very useful information. Although it doesn't explain why he became evasive about working with me; on the contrary, I find it even more puzzling now."
Another thought occurred to him, and he looked back at Daws. "Is there any possibility that mutation might... run in the family, so to speak?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 23:32:40 GMT -5
Uh oh . . . Daws shrugged. "Well, not everyone's quite as easy to spot as I am, y'know -- but honestly, I'd kinda doubt it." She gestured at the folder.
"Cole grew up under pretty close scrutiny. When his sister manifested -- and from what I could find out, she's got a very visible mutation -- her folks put her pretty much completely under wraps." She shrugged. "Most families who react that way do so no matter if the mutation's visible or not, y'know? But they kept right on doting on little Marcus -- which leads me to believe he's probably not one of us."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 23:39:32 GMT -5
"I see." Tiernan slowly circled his desk and sat down, still turning over the files Daws had brought him.
"Still, the fact that his sister is a mutant may be... quite helpful in inspiring him. I believe I'll get in touch with Mister Cole and arrange to meet with him again--migraines or no."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 23:44:43 GMT -5
Daws nodded -- feeling like an absolute rat -- and slipped her hat back on. "Like I said, everyone I could talk to said Cole was interested in workin' for mutant welfare. I dunno why that wouldn't include going along with you -- especially if that'd mean him getting into the mayor's office, to boot."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 23:53:09 GMT -5
"That it would." Tiernan set aside the folder, then reached into his desk drawer and took out an envelope well-padded with cash. This he casually pushed across the desk toward Daws.
"I may have another little errand to assign you in the near future. For now, I suppose it's time to send you back to the search for Doctor Van Linden." He gave an irritated sigh. "It goes without saying that my people have had no more success than you."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 23:56:54 GMT -5
There's some good news, anyway. Daws took the envelope and slipped it into her trenchcoat pocket.
"All right. I'll be in touch if I find anything."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 12, 2006 0:03:05 GMT -5
"Thank you, Miss Dawson," Tiernan replied, and drew the folder toward him again, to study its contents more thoroughly.
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Post by skybright on Jun 12, 2006 0:10:27 GMT -5
Daws nodded, and left the Tiernan Enterprises building as quickly as possible.
She was on her way to Our Lady, next -- she wanted to see what Padre had found out from talking to Henry Casselton and the families of those they'd lost in Tuesday's raid.
Here's luck to ya, Cole, she thought wryly, passing a poster with the politician's face and motto on it, And here's hopin' you understand why I told Tiernan as much as I did . . .
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