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Post by Jordanna on Jun 14, 2007 23:38:29 GMT -5
Sid was silent for several minutes, going over the contracts and deeds of sale. He was clearly conscious of Tiernan's steady, Cheshire-cat gaze upon him, and fidgeted a few times.
At length, Tiernan remarked, "Yes, indeed, a worthy cause. It's gratifying to see someone so charitable--especially when others have not been as charitable to him."
Sid faltered and glanced up. "Hum?"
Tiernan looked solicitously sober. "What I mean is, I understand that your family was... victimized by a very unfortunate crime."
Sid's face started to turn slightly florid, and he drew in a deep breath, appearing to hold it for a moment. "Yeah... well..."
"Did they ever apprehend the culprit?"
The nightclub owner swallowed hard. "No."
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Post by skybright on Jun 14, 2007 23:41:52 GMT -5
"There's too much of that in this city." Daws remarked quietly. Although outwardly she showed no sign of it, she felt a flash of hot anger at Tiernan and the manipulative pleasure he was obviously taking in her friend's pain.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 14, 2007 23:53:16 GMT -5
"And the police would like to blame mutants for it," said Tiernan, with a disapproving shake of his head. "I'm quite glad to see you don't have such prejudices, Mister Rosenstein."
"Rmm..." Sid ruminated uncomfortably, and did his best to concentrate on the paperwork in front of him.
Tiernan's lips twitched faintly as he glanced at Daws. "Perhaps you should look into his case, Miss Dawson," he said lightly, with a wicked amusement in his eyes.
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Post by skybright on Jun 14, 2007 23:59:06 GMT -5
Daws bit back on the all-too-familiar urge to claw that glint out of Tiernan's eyes, and merely cleared her throat. "Officially speaking, a private detective hasn't got the legal authority to investigate a murder case, Mister Tiernan. Besides, from what little I've heard of the details in the case . . . I wouldn't be any help."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 0:02:13 GMT -5
Tiernan smiled. "And unofficially speaking, you're a very proficient detective... but then, I suppose being retained by my organization doesn't leave you as much time for private cases these days."
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 0:06:53 GMT -5
"No." Daws replied, glancing briefly at Sid and then looking away, "I've certainly been kept busy the past few months, that's for sure."
She managed a cool smile of her own. "Besides -- the last thing I need is any more run-ins with the police over my upstart investigation techniques."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 20:10:05 GMT -5
Tiernan smiled crookedly. "We'll see about that when Cole is in office. Perhaps we'll make you the chief of police, Miss Dawson."
He spoke with a chilling certainty of his own power and influence that made Sid fidget again, in spite of how hard he was trying to concentrate on the papers.
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 20:48:50 GMT -5
Daws chuckled dryly. "Not even you could pay me enough for that. I'm just fine being an independent contractor."
She resisted the urge to lay any extra emphasis on the "independent"; she somehow doubted that purposely antagonizing Tiernan would end well for either her or Sid, particularly considering how nervous Sid already was.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 21:45:34 GMT -5
"And you, Mister Rosenstein?" Tiernan asked smoothly. "I've heard your nightclub is hosting a party for Mister Cole's team on election night. Are you also a supporter of his?"
Sid shrugged his tense shoulders slightly, without looking up from the documents in front of him. "I hear he's a right guy."
"I'm one of his backers myself." Tiernan smiled indulgently. "Perhaps I'll drop in on the festivities."
The nightclub owner's hands twitched slightly, and he became very still for a moment. Tiernan rambled on with exaggerated thoughtfulness.
"I've only been to your club once before. As a matter of fact... well, I remember it so clearly because it happened to have been on the very night of your misfortune. Had I known, I would have been more generous with my tips."
Sid was near the breaking point, his grip on the pen in his hand white-knuckled.
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 21:57:58 GMT -5
Sid's tension didn't escape Daws' notice. This is definitely not good, Ace.
She coughed slightly. "I've heard good things about the Paragon Club," she put in. "You must be pretty good under pressure -- to run a place like that."
It was as close as she could come to warning Sid -- and she had the sinking feeling it wouldn't be much help.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 22:16:04 GMT -5
Sid took a deep, somewhat raspy breath. Then he quickly scrawled several signatures on the papers, pushed them across the desk toward Tiernan, and stood up.
"I think we're done here."
Tiernan smiled lightly, drawing the papers closer to glance over them. "Yes. I believe that does it."
"Yeah." Sid squared his shoulders and breathed deeply again. "So long, Mister Tiernan."
With that, he retreated.
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 22:25:31 GMT -5
Daws breathed a sigh of inward relief and shrugged slightly, glancing at Tiernan. "That went well enough."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 22:33:35 GMT -5
"I suppose so." Tiernan shrugged and leafed through the sales documents. "I'll be interested to hear how he manages with those unruly Spooks he intends to hire."
He glanced up at Daws. "Just because I no longer own the place doesn't mean it won't still be useful. I trust you'll help to keep me informed of what goes on."
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 22:35:30 GMT -5
"Of course." Over my cold, dead body.
She settled her fedora on her head. "You need anything else from me today, Mister Tiernan?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 22:49:41 GMT -5
Tiernan shook his head. "No, I believe that's all. I'll be meeting with my attorneys over the last details of this sale." He inclined his head to Daws. "Good day, Miss Dawson."
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 22:57:13 GMT -5
"Good afternoon." Daws nodded and headed for the door.
Her instinct was to track down Sid and see what kind of emotional state he was in -- but she wasn't entirely sure if he'd intended to head home, to the Paragon, or somewhere else entirely.
With a shrug, she turned her steps for her office. She'd phone around from there and see if she could get in touch with Sid.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 23:04:52 GMT -5
At that early hour of the day, the Paragon Club was empty; even the earliest employees had not arrived, although they would appear before long. Sid passed through the empty hallways and made straight for his office, where he slouched into the chair behind his desk and rested his head on his hand.
He was a little sick. The fury and helpless frustration inside him felt tangible, a black, cancerous weight on his soul.
At last he swallowed hard, and looked up at the picture of his late wife that still resided on the desk.
"I woulda torn him apart, Carrie... if it wasn't fer the kids. I know you know that."
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 23:16:45 GMT -5
Daws' first call from her office was to the Rosenstein home. Upon learning from Consuela that Sid wasn't there, Daws hung up and leaned back in her chair thoughtfully for a moment. If he wasn't home, it seemed most likely that Sid had headed for the Club; at that time of day, there probably wouldn't be anyone there to recognize her -- or even to notice her appearance.
And somehow, discussing what had just happened over the phone seemed painfully inadequate.
Daws pushed herself back from the desk and stood up. A taxi to the Paragon should be easy enough to come by at this time of day.
***
A few minutes later, the taxi dropped Daws off around the block from the Paragon, and she gave her surroundings a careful inspection before heading for the back door of the club. Tiernan's knowledge of her presence at Caroline Rosenstein's funeral had rattled her -- and reminded her once again how vital it was that she not be followed.
She paused at the service entrance to the Paragon Club and -- after giving the alley another cautious glance -- rang the service bell.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 23:23:53 GMT -5
Sid had a buzzer in his office connected to the back doorbell, for the very rare occasions when he did find himself working completely alone. He knew it wasn't an employee; they would let themselves in. He had rather expected Daws would come around, so he had no reservations about going out to answer the door. Sluggishly he emptied himself from his chair, and made his way down the hall.
He didn't speak when he opened the door. He didn't have to.
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Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 23:31:07 GMT -5
Daws sighed as she caught sight of the look on Sid's face. "Yeah. I know. I know." She gestured faintly to the hallway behind him. "Can I . . . d'ya mind if I come in?"
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