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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2006 0:31:36 GMT -5
The weekend away from the City had left Regina Dawson in an excellent mood; even a telephone call from Nicholas Tiernan's receptionist hadn't been enough to dampen her spirits, and she knocked on the door of Tiernan's office with a much more cheerful attitude than she generally did when facing her erstwhile "employer".
Hearing the familiar "Come" from within the office, Daws opened the door and stepped in, removing her fedora.
"What can I do for ya, Mister Tiernan?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2006 0:42:07 GMT -5
"Ah, Miss Dawson. You seem to be in good spirits today." Tiernan was himself more relaxed than usual, his earlier meeting with James Cole having gone well--and for once, he ventured to make a token effort at casual conversation. Knowing Daws had informed his office of an out-of-town trip, he added, "Your excursion over the weekend must have been refreshing. A successful case for another client, or merely recreation?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2006 0:48:17 GMT -5
Daws allowed herself a moment of smug amusement -- oh, buddy, if you just knew who I'd been outta town with . . . "Recreation, for a change," She replied lightly. "I only leave the City every couple of years -- nice to get a change of pace."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2006 1:07:40 GMT -5
"It's been quite some time since I traveled," Tiernan mused.
Before Daws could reply, he spread his hands and turned to business. "Since your last inquiry went so well, I've decided to delay your return to the Van Linden matter once more, in favor of another project. I'm afraid it's a very prosaic bit of research."
He produced the morning's newspaper from somewhere beneath his desk, leafing through the pages of newsprint and finally extracting the science section. This he folded and held out to her.
"A group of scientists are meeting in the city this week," he explained. "A number of them have decidedly negative views of our kind, but I'm particularly concerned with one man. His name is Franz Huber. We believe he has some sort of personal vendetta againt mutants--and I have reliable information that he's secretly working on an anti-mutant toxin."
Tiernan scowled. "Obviously, I intend to do something about that. So I need security information about the Millennium Hotel, where the scientists are staying as well as meeting."
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2006 1:13:28 GMT -5
Daws took the paper and examined the article. "The Millenium, huh?" She mused, scratching absently behind her ear, "Ritzy place. I used to know one of their house detectives, years ago -- I'll call down and see if he's still with 'em."
She scowled. "Never heard of this Huber guy -- but I read enough National Geographic t'know the type. Thinks we're a disease that needs treated with extreme prejudice, right?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2006 1:30:35 GMT -5
"Precisely," Tiernan murmured. "I've always been wary of taking direct action against scientists; they're a vengeful breed, and they often have political influence. But there's grave reason for us to act in this case. If Huber's research advances much further, it's conceivable that he might find a way to single-handedly kill us all--and he has the mentality to do it."
He drummed his fingers on the desk. "I won't concern you with the details of how I intend to deal with him. I will tell you that I intend to take him alive--at first. If he's had partners in his research, we need to know who they are."
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2006 1:35:43 GMT -5
Daws clenched her jaw; as distasteful as men like Huber were to her, what Tiernan was suggesting was still worse.
She nodded. "I'll get you the information, Mister Tiernan -- security guards' shifts, room numbers, that sort of thing, right?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2006 1:49:56 GMT -5
"Yes. I'd also welcome any information you may gather about his colleagues at the conference. It's possible that some of them are helping him, or else working on weapons of their own."
Tiernan shook his head. "At best, the so-called government is ignoring the threat to us from people like Huber--if not quietly encouraging them. In this more than anything, our only defense is self-defense. Only I and a few others have taken on the unenviable task of contending with these murderers." He gave Daws a grim look. "Fear the day we let one of them fall through the cracks."
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2006 1:56:17 GMT -5
Daws nodded slowly, replacing her fedora. "It's never far from my mind, I assure ya." She turned for the door. "I'll contact you as soon as I've got anything to report."
And as soon as I figure out how to handle this whole mess . . .
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