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Post by skybright on Jun 10, 2006 22:58:00 GMT -5
Cole frowned as the teenager edged his way sheepishly into the living room. He turned to Daws. "You always bring teenaged kids along with you on your breaking and entering jobs?"
Daws holstered her pistol and crossed her arms, shooting Joey an apologetic look. "First off, this isn't a B&E -- someone let us in. Second off, you got a problem with the boy bein' here, then let him scram and I'll take the rap alone. I don't want him caught up in any trouble."
Cole tipped his head to one side and regarded the detective. "Do you know, I think you really mean that."
He turned back to Joey. "What is it you want, here, anyway?" He frowned, "Who sent you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 10, 2006 23:10:09 GMT -5
Joey squirmed. At this point, it seemed quite reasonable to assume that this telepath was going to know the truth whether they told him willingly or not, but he wasn't sure how much Daws would want him to say anyway.
He shot an apologetic look at Daws, then began, "Nobody sent us--not really, I mean. Not for what we really came here for, anyway. Um." He swallowed hard and fidgeted. "Y'see, we... we thought you might be in trouble, kinda."
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Post by skybright on Jun 10, 2006 23:25:52 GMT -5
Cole rubbed his temples and sighed. "All right, look." He sank onto the nearest chair, "I haven't the slightest idea how you found out about me, or what you mean by 'trouble', precisely."
He shook his head, "I could read your minds if I really felt like it -- but aside from it being unscrupulous, I've already been inside one particularly nasty mind this week. That's more than enough."
Daws regarded Cole keenly. "That mind wouldn't happen to belong to a guy named Tiernan, would it?"
Cole started. "How'd you . . ." He narrowed his eyes and peered at Daws, then at Joey. "I don't get it." He threw up his hands, "You're working for him and you're not working for him. He sent you, but you're not here for his benefit."
The politician frowned. "The both of you are thinking in circles -- and you," he shot a look at Daws, "Think very loudly. Could one of you please just come out and tell me what's going on?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 10, 2006 23:37:56 GMT -5
Joey frowned and sighed. "We're..." he began, then faltered and paused for a brief moment. After the last few years spent in silent obedience, in willful ignorance, it was very hard to admit to the position he was in now.
"We're part of a group that's trying to stop Tiernan from hurting people," he said at last, forcing himself to drop the Mister he had habitually applied to Tiernan's name. "We're spies in his organization."
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Post by skybright on Jun 10, 2006 23:51:37 GMT -5
Cole looked relieved. "Well, that explains some things."
He stood and paced the area in front of his chair for a moment. "So someone else knows . . ." He muttered, glancing at Daws. "Thank God."
He sank back into his chair, motioning for Daws and Joey to do the same. "I've spent the past twenty-four hours trying to figure out what to do. Who to tell." He shook his head. "Do you have any concept -- even an idea -- of what that man has bottled up inside him?"
"A pretty good idea, yeah." Daws removed her fedora and perched on the arm of Cole's couch. "Like the kid said -- we're doin' our best to bring the guy down."
Cole nodded and closed his eyes wearily. "I can only assume, since you're here, that Tiernan became suspicious after our meeting." His eyes snapped open. "He doesn't know I 'read' him, does he?"
"No." Daws shook her head. "Right now, so far's we know, he doesn't even know you're a mutant." She gestured at Joey, "The kid and I only found out this morning."
"I see." Cole looked tired; Daws wondered if he was still suffering from the headache he'd gotten from Tiernan yesterday.
"And what else have you found out about me?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 0:01:49 GMT -5
Joey shrugged. "Not much. We know you saw a specialist about your, uh... 'headaches'. We managed to track down his name, and that's how we found out... what you are. We realized nobody ever sees your sister, and we were... kinda wondering about that. But that's all."
He grinned faintly. "Except that there are mutants working on your campaign who've got a lotta faith in you."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 0:18:57 GMT -5
Cole smiled faintly in return. "I hope so, or the whole thing doesn't mean anything, anyway."
He rose and crossed to the desk, opened the drawer Daws had been about to examine, and removed a framed photograph. He crossed back to his chair, and handed Daws the photograph as he sat down.
Daws studied the portrait. The woman looked to be in her mid-thirties, small-boned and pretty. She also had robin's-egg-blue skin, and a long curtain of white hair that partially obscured her face.
"My sister, Marla." Cole explained.
Daws passed the photograph to Joey. "Guess she doesn't get out much."
"No." Cole shook his head, "If you'd heard some of the things people thought at her, you wouldn't, either." He sighed.
"I was interested in politics before I even became a mutant," He said, "But after Marla turned, I realized how desperately people like us needed someone they could count on -- someone to work for them." He shook his head and laughed bitterly. "I thought I could be that someone."
He closed his eyes and leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. "But if it means going along with a man like Tiernan . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 0:29:33 GMT -5
Joey smiled somewhat bitterly. "I'll admit it, Mister Cole--I went along with him for three years. I'm not doing it now."
He shrugged. "But I'm also not throwing away the chance I have to watch him, and to do something about the things he does. It's..." He closed his eyes for a moment and shivered slightly, his stomach knotting up as memories of the assault on the bridge washed over him. "It's scary, and I guess it's dangerous--but it's the right thing."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 0:47:12 GMT -5
Cole glanced up at the teenager, then at Daws. "You people were responsible for the Murfeeston bridge?"
In response to Joey's somewhat startled look, Cole shrugged apologetically. "Some thoughts are easier to read than others."
"To answer the question, Mister Cole," Daws said quickly, "Yeah, we were part of the assault on the bridge. That isn't usually how we do things, though -- like Joey said, a big part of it is just keepin' an eye on Tiernan." She raised an eyebrow at him. "You could definitely help on that front."
Cole squeezed his eyes shut and looked faintly nauseated. "You don't know what you're asking. I saw him kill people . . ."
"Yeah, well, I can do you one better." Daws scowled, "I had to clean up after 'im. I've seen what he leaves behind." She stood agitatedly.
"You say you wanna help people like us, Mister Cole? Well, guys like Tiernan are the best place you could start."
Cole frowned. "What are you suggesting, exactly? That I play along with Tiernan, tell him I'll do his bidding? Lie to him, and then spy on him?"
"Yeah, why not? If the kid and I can do it, you can." Daws gave him a challenging look. "Heck, you're a politician. Talkin' out both sides of your mouth is how guys like you work."
"It's not how I work," Cole retorted. He studied his hands. "And yet I can't just do nothing . . ." He shrugged rather helplessly.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 0:57:26 GMT -5
Joey glanced toward the incomplete Cole family photograph on the desk.
"You love your parents, don't you, Mister Cole?"
When the politician looked up at him in sharp suspicion, Joey sighed and shook his head. "The truth is... Tiernan'd like them to be dead. He'd like my mom to be dead. He'd like every normal person in the world to be dead, if he could make it happen."
The boy shrugged sadly. "We're trying to make sure he never can... but we need help."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 1:10:20 GMT -5
Cole regarded the teen gravely for a long moment . . . and then gave a humorless chuckle. "I've been in this business too long -- I've gotten scared of doing anything dangerous." He turned to Daws with a look of resolution.
"I'm in. What can I do to help?"
Daws shrugged and retook her seat. "Like you said, Mister Cole -- tell Tiernan you'll go along with him. Tell 'im you want to help him with his plans -- and then do what the rest of us do, and make sure they go badly."
"Sell my soul to the devil, in other words." Cole remarked with subdued humor.
Daws shrugged and grinned crookedly. "I prefer to think of it as sub-letting, actually. Besides, like you said -- you're a politician. You oughtta be used to it."
"You've got a very low opinion of politicians, Miss . . ." Cole trailed off and chuckled, glancing at Joey. "I don't even know your names."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 1:16:05 GMT -5
Joey grinned slightly. "Some people call me Ricochet--but my name's Joey Falco."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 1:37:05 GMT -5
"Regina Dawson," Daws said, "I'm a private eye, when I'm not doing Tiernan's dirty work.
"As to my opinion of politicians," She shrugged, "The last three guys that got voted into the mayor's office in this city had polite suggestions about me registering myself like a stray dog. I'm allowed my poor impressions."
"I'd like to change them," Cole said, smiling, "If you'd give me the chance."
Daws smiled in return. "Keep it up. You might get it."
Cole grinned. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you -- a bizarre experience," He added, chuckling, "But a pleasure."
He stood, rubbing his hands together briskly. "Tiernan's going to call my office and arrange for another meeting with me, sometime next week. I'll be . . ." He winced, "As ready as I can be.
"In the meantime," He glanced at Daws, "There must be more of you -- an organization of some kind?"
Daws nodded slowly. "There is," She said, "But we're still recoverin' from the whole bridge thing -- it'll be a while before we meet again. And I'm not sure what a great idea it is for you to meet with us anyway -- nothin' personal, but you're pretty high-profile."
Cole sobered. "That's true. I did learn quite a bit about avoiding being followed -- I grew up in Hollywood, after all." He shrugged. "But for the time being . . ."
"You can contact me if anythin' comes up." Daws fished a business card out of her pocket and held it out. "And we'll contact you once the resistance is ready to meet again."
Cole took the card and nodded. "All right." He chuckled. "I've got to admit, this whole thing seems . . . slightly incredible."
He glanced at Joey. "Are your afternoons always this eventful?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 1:40:49 GMT -5
"The afternoons are nothing," Joey murmured wryly. "Since I met Daws here, it's the nights that are crazy."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 1:52:06 GMT -5
"Watch it, kid," Daws replied -- but the fact that she was laughing took the threat out of the words.
Cole shook his head, chuckling. "What have I gotten myself into?"
"Call me if ya ever figure it out," Daws said, rising. "We'd better get out of your hair -- it'll make me look bad if it comes out we got caught in here."
Cole stood as well, "For future reference," he said, "I promise the cleaning staff double whatever anyone slips them if they'll call me right away."
"Double-crossed by the maid," Daws lamented. She slipped her fedora on and nodded at Joey. "Coming, kid?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 1:56:07 GMT -5
"Yup." Joey smiled at Cole and gave him a small salute, then started to follow Daws out of the apartment.
At the door, he paused. "Wait a minute. You told the guy at the desk we were picking up Mister Cole's bottled water. Maybe we'd better take some down with us, so nobody starts wondering."
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 2:01:02 GMT -5
Daws slapped a palm to her forehead. "Jeeze, you're right."
Cole held out a hand. "Say no more." He vanished into the kitchen and reappeared a moment later with a case of bottled water. He handed it to Daws with a melodramatic sigh. "My first sacrifice for the Cause." He remarked.
Daws chuckled. "Pray it's the worst one you gotta make." She nodded at Cole. "We'll be in touch."
Cole nodded and shut the door on them; Daws gave an exasperated shake of her head. "Good catch, kid. It's the little stuff that'll come back to bite ya."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 2:04:17 GMT -5
Joey grinned wanly. Maybe he wasn't going to be so bad at this detective business after all.
On the other hand, he wasn't entirely sure that was a good thing.
"So what do we do next?" he queried, as they made their way to the elevator.
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Post by skybright on Jun 11, 2006 2:14:38 GMT -5
Daws shrugged one shoulder. "Well, for starters, I gotta figure out how much of what we just learned I'm gonna tell to Tiernan -- probably not even close to half of it. And I gotta call the Padre and have him contact Henry Casselton . . ."
She leaned against the elevator wall and added "And at some point come the part of the proceedings where I throttle Jerod Vance."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 11, 2006 2:20:52 GMT -5
Joey frowned, unaware of the mysterious letter Nocturne had received.
"Why, what did Major Vance do?" He grimaced. "Other than get us into a war, that is."
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