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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 23:02:17 GMT -5
After an evening spent on the telephone (a conversation made much longer than necessary by Caddy's habitual talkativeness), Daws arrived bright and early at the Tiernan Enterprises building bearing a folder full of information on both the Millenium Hotel and on the scientists who were attending the scientific conference there.
She'd also called Father Rick this morning, asking him to contact Jerod Vance and the rest of the Resistance. They'd need to act quickly if they wanted to beat Tiernan to Huber. Padre hadn't seemed overly enthusiastic -- and Daws wasn't looking forward to the sermon she'd eventually get over the entire affair -- but he'd agreed.
All she needed to do now was give Tiernan the information she'd gathered -- and see what she could pick up about his plans for the coming days.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 23:16:20 GMT -5
"I see you've been busy," Tiernan remarked, eyeing the folder in Daws' hand as she entered his office. "What have you learned about Doctor Huber and his little working holiday?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 23:25:19 GMT -5
Daws frowned slightly as she handed over the folder.
"Well, for starters, Huber's your classic mad scientist type. Got his lab squirreled away from civilization, has everything brought in under cover of darkness -- the guy deserves his own Universal horror flick." She scratched behind one ear.
"This eccentricity has carried right over to his presence at the conference. He's the only one out of the twelve major attendees who hasn't had his notes and presentations locked away under hotel security. He keeps them with him -- I wouldn't be surprised if they're in a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist. And to help keep them safe, he rotates between two hotel suites every night -- neither of which, naturally, has a connecting door to another room."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 23:36:08 GMT -5
"The man has good reason to be afraid," Tiernan murmured. "But no amount of paranoia or eccentricity will prevent my people from removing him as a threat to us. What are the hotel's security arrangements?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 23:40:26 GMT -5
"No more than twenty-five in-house security personnel," Daws answered, "Six of whom are on permanent duty guarding the hotel safe -- and the papers in it. The rest are posted at the main conference venue -- the hotel's main ballroom. There's a floor plan in the folder."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 23:51:02 GMT -5
"Yes. With any luck, we'll be able to simply remove Huber from his room without attracting any attention at all."
As he flipped open the folder and started to scan through it, he asked, "And did you uncover anything interesting about Huber's playmates?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 25, 2006 0:08:12 GMT -5
Daws nodded and gestured to the folder. "Got in touch with a friend of mine who keeps abreast of this sorta conference. Of the other eleven delegates, seven of 'em are presenting on subjects unrelated to the X-Gene -- though I dunno what personal opinions they might have on mutants in general.
"David Schiller is working on a serum that'd help ease the transition of mutational manifestations -- he's aiming to decrease the number of people who suffer from overly painful or incomplete changeovers." She grinned. "The buzz is that he and Huber are gonna get into some very colorful arguments before the conference is over.
"Doctor Emma Longsrud and Doctor Mel Tweedy are presenting together -- something about a more complete mapping of the various sub-categories of X-Genes. They claim that eventually they'll be able to predict exactly how a person's X-Gene is gonna manifest, not just if it will or not." Daws shrugged. "According to my buddy, though, they're years away from anything that detailed.
"And that leaves Ivan Markovich. He's representing a lab in the former Soviet Union that's working on a so-called 'cure' for mutation." Daws scowled. "It'd be ugly stuff if it worked -- but so far as my friend knows, their lab's so underfunded that he'd be surprised if they had anything more than a theory."
She leaned back in her chair. "And that's the rogues' gallery of conference presenters with a vested interest in mutation."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 25, 2006 0:25:54 GMT -5
"Interesting," Tiernan muttered. "This Markovich bears watching, but I suppose he's no immediate threat. My concern for the moment is with Huber--and with the reaction of the scientific community when he disappears. His colleagues know his sentiment toward mutants, and the fact that he's made quite a few enemies because of it. I fully expect our kind to receive the blame. Those who are friends of him will have to be watched even more closely for the threat of reprisals."
In his now-familiar custom, he removed an envelope from his desk drawer and pushed it toward Daws. "Your part in the affair is done. As I said, I won't bore you with details about Huber's capture. Since there are no other new matters to be seen to, I suggest turning your attention back to Van Linden; perhaps now you'll have a fresh perspective."
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Post by skybright on Jun 25, 2006 0:32:17 GMT -5
Daws nodded and took the envelope; then she hesitated and said "By the way . . . one of those security guys is a friend of mine. If there's any chance of him gettin' hurt . . ." she shrugged one shoulder. "I thought I might drop him a casual hint to be off work that night. I owe him a good turn."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 25, 2006 0:42:58 GMT -5
"As I said, it's extremely unlikely that my people will attract attention," Tiernan replied, and gave a small, dangerous smile. "Having an associate who can walk through walls is very useful. Huber probably won't even have a chance to wake up before he's drugged into unconsciousness and removed from the hotel."
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Post by skybright on Jun 25, 2006 0:52:16 GMT -5
You didn't think it's be that easy, didja, Ace? Daws nodded. "Good enough for me."
She gestured at the folder in Tiernan's hands. "Huber's got rooms 1101 and 1115. He was in 1115 yesterday, and supposedly changes over every night -- so tonight he'll be in 1101, and so forth. Assuming he doesn't change rotation."
Maybe she hadn't been able to casually weasel Tiernan into telling her what night he'd hit the Millenium -- but at least (having just given him the exact opposite to the rotation Huber was really using) she might be able to send his goons to the wrong room first.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 25, 2006 1:02:17 GMT -5
"Very well. I assume you noted that in the report." Tiernan picked up a pen and opened the folder to make a notation of his own. For a moment it seemed as if that would be Daws' dismissal--but then he glanced up at her again.
"By the way, how is your new assistant working out?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 25, 2006 1:05:46 GMT -5
Daws couldn't help but grin. "The kid's been an enormous help. He's got a good head on his shoulders -- and he knows how to follow instructions. I've got no complaints."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 25, 2006 1:17:15 GMT -5
"Excellent. I'm pleased to know he hasn't been going to waste under your charge. He is a very useful boy."
He leaned back in his chair--at least as far as the ruined wings folded beneath his cape would allow--and spread his hands. "Very well, then. I'll send for you the next time I have a particular project for you. In the meantime, as I said, you might turn your energies to the search for Van Linden. You seem to have had a run of success in these other matters recently, and I sincerely hope it will continue."
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Post by skybright on Jun 25, 2006 1:23:54 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "You and me both, Mister Tiernan." She replaced her fedora and turned for the door.
"You know where to find me."
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