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Post by skybright on Mar 29, 2006 23:38:55 GMT -5
There were probably places in the world where a felinoid woman in a trenchcoat would look more out-of-place.
Daws, off the top of her head, couldn't think of any of them.
She dodged yet another strange look from the lounging patrons in the Hilton lobby and ducked quickly past the front desk; one of the clerks seemed on the verge of following her and inquiring about her business, but a short, round woman in a fur coat sharply demanded his attention and Daws was able to evade him.
And here I always thought the rich weren't good for anythin'. She grinned sardonically as she slipped into an elevator. The elderly black operator merely raised one silver eyebrow at her and inquired politely "What floor, ma'am?"
"Two." Daws replied, leaning against the back of the otherwise empty elevator. "Looks like we'll have rain tonight."
"Yez, ma'am." Beneath the brushed cap, the operator's eyes were bright and very intelligent. "Looks like all kinds of a storm brewin'."
Daws eyed the dial above the door as it edged its way closer to '2'; halfway between floors the elevator operator suddenly spoke up again.
"Fifty-three years I been able to see the trouble on people." He said, almost conversationally, "Looks like a kind of a halo, like they painted on the old saints. Fifty-three years -- and ma'am," He fixed those bright black eyes on her, "I never have seen trouble like your kind."
Daws blinked, startled -- and then chuckled. "I'm inclined to think that there isn't any quite like mine."
The operator nodded solemnly as the doors slid open to the third floor. "You be careful." He intoned.
Daws nodded in reply, slipping a tip into his hand; then she strode down the hallway to room 237. She listened at the door for a moment; two voices, a man and a woman, were speaking in low tones within.
Well here we go, Daws thought wryly. She removed her fedora, made a halfhearted gesture at straightening her hair, and knocked on the door.
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 29, 2006 23:56:59 GMT -5
It had been a long day, and a long many days, for Thomas and Irene Van Linden.
The news that their daughter was suspected of being not only a mutant, but a murderer, had been a shock to them. They had no particular prejudice against mutants, but it hurt to think that Miriam had never confided in them--if it was true. They had tried to communicate with the police from their home in Kansas, but that had been frustrating at best. At last they had pulled together the money to go to New York themselves, in search of the truth.
"I don't know how Miriam could even cope with living in a huge city like this," Irene murmured as they half-unpacked their bags. "I've never been anyplace more confusing."
"She's a smart girl." Tom put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Do you want me to go downstairs and get us something to eat?"
"I don't think so. I'm not very hungry."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Tom exchanged a glance with Irene, then strode over to the door and looked out through the peephole. He looked back at his wife with a bemused expression.
"It's... a mutant. I can't tell for sure, but I think it's a she."
"Maybe she knows something about Miriam!" Irene said, giving a start.
With a shrug, Tom opened the door partway and looked out. "Yes?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 30, 2006 0:03:24 GMT -5
The calm response wasn't exactly what Daws had been expecting -- not that she wasn't grateful for it. She recognized the man from the photograph she'd taken from Doctor Van Linden's apartment; the middle-aged woman peering past her husband's shoulder was also familiar.
Daws cleared her throat and nodded cordially. "Mister Van Linden, my name is Regina Dawson. I'm a private detective here in New York, and I have . . ." A harebrained scheme that's going to turn your world upside down and information that'll put you in severe and permanent danger.
"I have some news for you. About your daughter." She gestured faintly with her hat. "May I come in?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 30, 2006 0:09:54 GMT -5
Standing behind her husband, Irene clutched at her husband's arm anxiously. Tom stepped back and let the detective into the room.
"Are you working with the police?" he asked warily. The local constabularies' belief that his daughter was a murderess had not cast them favorably in his view.
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Post by skybright on Mar 30, 2006 0:18:08 GMT -5
"Nossir." Daws shook her head with a faint chuckle, "The police don't care much for me -- or for mutants in general."
She grew serious. "Which is why I've been helping your daughter stay out of their way." In response to the couple's shocked looks, Daws said quickly, "Listen, I don't have very much time, so I'm going to come straight to the point.
"Mr and Mrs. Van Linden, your daughter's gotten embroiled in some pretty complicated stuff, out here -- stuff that goes back to before Gordie Spakes' death. There are people after Miriam -- not just the police, either; I'm talking about other, much more dangerous people. They're pretty desperate to get to her; and they're gonna try to use you two to do it.
"I've done what I can so far to keep Miriam safe, sir. I'm going to do my best to keep you two safe, as well -- but if that's going to happen," She regarded the older man gravely, "You'll need to follow my instructions, no matter what goes on tonight."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 30, 2006 0:24:08 GMT -5
Irene shook her head, increasingly upset. "I don't understand. What's happened to Miriam? Who's after her? What did she do?"
Tom put his hands on Irene's shoulders to calm her, then looked over at Daws. "If you know where Miriam is, we want to see her. That's all the matters."
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Post by skybright on Mar 30, 2006 0:30:08 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "You'll see her later tonight. But the thing is, first we have to make sure you two are clear of her . . . more dangerous pursuers. And ironically enough," Daws chuckled, "That means we're more or less going to have to hand ourselves over to the less dangerous ones."
She outlined the escape plan she and the others had formulated, finishing with "The police should be here before the hour's out. It's best if the two of you go quietly -- they only want to question you, after all. You should only be in the police station for an hour, maybe two at the most. Miriam's among the group that's going to come pick you up."
Daws did her best to grin reassuringly. "You two raised a brave, tough daughter. I've got faith in her ability to pull this thing off." She nodded at Mrs. Van Linden and added, "As to what she did, ma'am -- it's too long a story, and frankly it might be better if you hear it from her. But believe me when I say that your daughter's put everything she has on the line for a good cause."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 30, 2006 0:39:35 GMT -5
"I... I believe that," Irene said softly. "Justice has always been so important to her--I never could have believed she'd do anything wrong."
Tom frowned. He still wasn't sure how much of this entire wild scenario to trust--but before he could speak, there was another knock at the door.
He looked at Daws sharply. "The police already?" he asked in a low voice, but before she could answer, he stepped over to the door and looked out through the peephole.
"There's a strange-looking little guy out there," he muttered, then opened the door a crack and said to the unseen guest, "What is it?"
George Stubbs' voice replied, "Evenin'. I'm a sort of a colleague of Regina Dawson. She here?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 30, 2006 0:44:14 GMT -5
Oh, Mary, Joseph and Michael . . . Daws moved quickly to the door and gently but firmly sidestepped around Mr. Van Linden. "Hello, George love." Daws put a dangerous purr in her voice. "Didn't expect to see you this evening."
She touched Van Linden's shoulder. " 'Scuse me for a moment, willya?" Without waiting for an answer, she slipped out into the hallway and eyed the Ferret.
"What d'you want, George?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 30, 2006 22:02:01 GMT -5
George narrowed his small eyes at Daws. "Well, Regina love," he retorted, imitating her acidly, "I 'eard the Boss 'ad sent you off on this lit'l errand, and I thought I'd just pop round and help you." He grinned viciously. "I can be very persuasive, you know."
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Post by skybright on Mar 30, 2006 23:52:17 GMT -5
"I've seen that for myself." Daws thought rapidly. The way George was talking made it seem that Tiernan hadn't actually sent him -- the little sneak was trying to weasel in on her job.
She thought momentarily about telling him to buzz off; but, on the other hand, she didn't much want him calling Tiernan tonight -- that could prove disastrous. And she rather relished the thought of the Police collaring the Ferret right along with her; it might teach him to keep his nose where it belonged.
Daws shook her head nonchalantly and leaned up against the wall. "Well, I'll admit I'm surprised, Ferret. Here I thought you were mad at me; why d'ya think I've been steering clear of Lusus lately?"
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2006 0:02:05 GMT -5
George smiled, flatly and menacingly. "O' course not. People who work together ought ta get along, don't you think?"
He glanced toward the door Daws had closed. "So 'ow're you doing at the job?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2006 0:10:20 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. " 'Bout as well as can be expected -- I just got here. Only just managed to convince them I'm not with the cops." She did her best to mimic the Ferret's feral grin. "I told 'em I know where their daughter's at, and if they'll just follow me I'll take them to her. I think they've about bought it."
She straightened and added "Gimme one sec to tell 'em you're on our side, and we can take the two of 'em down to the Boss together."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2006 0:21:21 GMT -5
George squinted suspiciously at Daws. "Why not just take me in an' interduce me? I might get me feelings 'urt otherwise. We are on the same side, after all..." The last sentence was delivered with the slightest hint of an ominous question.
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2006 0:26:06 GMT -5
"Now, George, you weren't here when I got here." Daws lowered her voice conspiratorially and jerked her thumb at the closed door. "The woman fell for it easy, but the guy was all over me. I've had cops give me a less thorough third degree than he did. He's not the trusting sort.
" 'Course," She shrugged, "If you wanna explain to the Boss why we got security called on us, feel free to just pop right in there."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2006 0:33:13 GMT -5
George scowled. "Alright... 'ave it your own way. But 'urry and get 'em ready to go down to 'eadquarters. This is no place for the likes of us to be 'anging around. I'll see they don't give you no trouble, once we're on our way."
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Post by skybright on Mar 31, 2006 0:50:00 GMT -5
Daws nodded in agreement. " 'Preciate the helping hand, George."
She ducked quickly into the hotel room and -- mindful of the Ferret's superior hearing -- guided Tom Van Linden to the far side of the room before leaning over to murmur in his ear. "Those more dangerous pursuers I was talking about? This fella is one of them. Whatever you do, don't mention the plan."
She repeated the warning to Mrs. Van Linden, then leaned back against the wardrobe. "Of course you can trust him, Mr. Van Linden." She said in her normal tone. Mentally, she added About as far as you could spit him.
She waited until Mr. Van Linden -- still looking somewhat lost -- muttered a sort of confused agreement before she crossed back to the door and swung it open.
"Mr. and Mrs. Van Linden, meet George Stubbs." She waved the little sneak into the room.
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 31, 2006 23:34:48 GMT -5
George squinted at Tom, who glowered right back at him. Irene shivered slightly and dropped her gaze.
"If you wanna get your daughter out of trouble," George remarked, "the best thing you can do is see our boss. 'E wants to 'elp her, an' he's got the money and the lawyers to do it. But we need your 'elp to find the girl first. Mr. Tiernan can 'ave you put on the news and in the papers. When she sees the grief she's causin' you, your daughter's sure to turn 'erself in."
Tom looked as if he was about to argue for a moment, but then his shoulders slumped a little and he simply scowled. Dawson said this man was an enemy, yet he acted as if he was partnered with her. He didn't trust either of them, and made up his mind that he and Irene weren't going anywhere with either of them.
"I'm sure that's very kind of Mr. Tiernan, and we might take him up on that soon. But we haven't even seen the police yet, and the first thing we want is to get the full story from them on what Miriam's charged with. If Mr. Tiernan could call us in a couple of days..."
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Post by skybright on Apr 1, 2006 17:03:30 GMT -5
"Now, Mister Van Linden," Daws admonished, "I want to assure you that our employer can get things done a lot quicker than the police are capable of. I really think it'd be better if you'd come down and talk to him now."
Daws winced inwardly and prayed that Van Linden wouldn't decide to do anything stupid -- like agreeing with her. If the Van Lindens left this hotel room in company with George Stubbs, she didn't have the slightest idea of how she'd keep them from getting killed. And the Ferret, meanwhile, was starting to look impatient . . .
Before she could let that worry her, however, there was a vigorous pounding on the door and a belligerent voice shouted "NYPD! Open up!"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 1, 2006 20:21:29 GMT -5
At the sound of the pounding on the door, Irene started up from her chair with a small gasp, but Tom put a hand on her shoulder. He himself felt cautiously relieved. If it was the police, then whatever these two strange people were up to, they could sort it out.
With a suspicious frown at the two mutants, he went to the door and looked through the peephole. Sure enough, the men standing outside were in uniform--and looking very impatient.
He opened the door to let them in.
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