Haven: Returning Evidence 1

The Cape's almost entirely dried out below decks and things are coming together. The sheet metal is nearly trimmed to the right size when I get the sinking feeling that something else is going wrong. I stop the torch. Someone is walking up the dock but it's not anyone who should be.

Haven't seen her in years, and she shouldn't be here in Haven. She looks so very pleased with herself when she stops and looks down at me.

"She looks in good shape!" she calls as I pull the goggles up and survey her. What are the odds some sort of Trouble is summoning ghosts of girlfriends past? Because that would be extensive, brutal and very damaging for me.

"What are you doing here?" I walk to the edge of the boat and put my hands on the rail after putting down all the tools.

"Wow!" she puts a hand to her chest and rocks back on her heels a little, "Most people return a compliment with a compliment, you know? What happened to your manners?"

I tip an imaginary hat, "My apologies. What are you doing here, Evi? And how soon will you be gone?"

"After all this time that's all I get?"

"You think you deserve more?"

"Anyone would think you were mad at me."

I just level her a look.

She says nothing for a moment but surveys me too, "I didn't expect to track you down here. What kind of game are you playing?"

"One that doesn't involve you." I climb back to land. She looks solid enough from here, but there's no one around paying enough attention to see if it's only me who can see her or not.

"It's got to be something for you to not only come to a small town, but your home town. You lead me to believe you wanted nothing to do with this place."

"What business is it of yours to be in my life?" I ask her, once I'm on the dock, "I have things to do. Go pester someone in Derry." This is the perfect time for her to show up, really, if this is really her. All this bullshit with the box.

"I owe you. That's why you're pissed isn't it? Still. Even now."

I snort and shake my head, "As much as I'm sure you'd like me to give you the satisfaction that you matter in my life..." I tell her climbing back on to the dock. I do link arms with her though to turn her away from the boat, and make sure she's physically there, which she is but with Troubles that doesn't always mean anything. She leans her head on my shoulder, trying to sucker up.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Not even for a score better than Macau."

I'm about to say something when my phone rings, and I check it. Of course it's business. I put a finger towards her and answer the phone, "Yes?"

"They're not going for it," he tells me.

"Uh-huh," I answer.

"For some reason they don't believe your story."

"Uh-huh," I repeat, "For some reason I don't believe you tried your hardest. I'm going to text you a location. You're going to meet me there."

"It's not--it's not convenient."

"Convenient? Oh, come on. Like you've got other things to do."

"Duke--" I hang up and look towards The Gull.

I can see in the windows from here, so they can see out.

 

Contact: Julia

Can u see n describe chick standing w/me?

>>Black chick in dark jeans, jacket and white shirt? Looking like she wants to mount you?

Damn it Ok In in a few

 

Evi follows me towards The Gull as I text the address to both, Karl, the contact and Julia. There's buzz throughout the bar that a boat's been pulled up and I feel a slight chill when I hear the name Fisherman's Honor.

"Is Tracy on today?" I ask Julia as soon as I see her.

"Not 'til later," she says.

"Her husband was on The Honor. Call and see if she's okay. If she still wants to come in. I have a meeting to go to. I sent you the address. You know who's allowed to know where I'll be at."

She nods, "Sure thing, Boss," she winks.

"I need you to guard the Cape too."

"No problem," she flashes me one of those brilliant smiles and I salute her before heading out the back door so I can slip back on to the Cape stash tools and supplies and retrieve Business money before heading off. I'm sure Julia can deal with Evi. More than deal with.

 

$$$$

 

The way Karl's acting you'd think there were snipers in the area somewhere ready to knock us off just for being there, but the place is clear I checked before pulling up.

“I don't know what you expect me to do,” he says, “I've already told you...”

“I expect you to take the money and arrange the meeting.”

“You do understand who you stole from, right? How pissed Stoney is?”

“I didn't take anything. That is why I need this meeting sorted out. To get to the bottom of this whole mess...”

Vehicle tires. It's a distraction which is good because it means I can grab him because he was trying to run away. It's Nathan's truck. Nathan who cannot open his mouth and screw this up. He opens the truck door.

“Hey!” I yell towards Nathan, “When I tell you to be somewhere—you need to be there on time!”

“Sorry!” Nathan answers.

“Who's that?” Karl asks as he cranes to try and see Nathan I'm able to hook him more tightly, around the neck and draw him close.

“Don't worry about him. Worry about doing what I've asked you!” I slip the money into his shirt, “Make it happen and there'll be more for you. Go!” I release him and he scrambles off.

“What was that about?” Nathan asks.

“Asks me no questions. I'll tell you no lies,” I answer, walking towards him.

He cocks his head on the side for a moment, “I doubt that somehow.”

“Well, then, let's call it charitable work and leave it at that.”

Nathan's scowl is returning.

“What did you need that you sought me out down here?” I ask.

“You know The Honor was found?”

“I am aware of this, yes.” I answer, leaning against my own truck and waiting for the accusation.

“And you sold her parts.”

“Non-essential parts.”

Nathan levels the cop gaze that would probably be intimidating if I wasn't me and he wasn't him, “Non-essential parts?”

“Yes. You know things that if they break people aren't going to die.”

There's that the scowl, “I know what non-essential parts means.”

“Then why did you ask it with a question mark?”

“Do you know who might have sold them essential parts?”

“I do.”

“And?” he raises his eyebrows and nods a few times, expecting me to fill in the blank.

“And I will tell if you do something for me first.”

"You're going to hold the information hostage?" Nathan demands.

"Yes," I tell him, seriously, "Why are you looking so surprised? I thought I was an untrustworthy...fill in whatever adjective you want I'm not in the mood."

Nathan gives me an angry look.

"Besides if I'm dead you can't call on me to help whenever it's convenient for you so I'd think it's in your best interest to help out. Plus you get a fancy arrest. Added bonus for you. Look how charitable I'm being."

"Oh, yes. You're a charity now."

"I don't bill you every time you and Audrey call on me at a moment's notice, but then I like Audrey. I'll give you a stack of paper's to sign come tax time."

"Do you even do taxes?" Nathan asks.

"Are you developing a sense of humor?"

He doesn't say anything.

"Seriously, Nathan. This is some deep shit. I happen to like living."

He sighs, "What exactly...?" he waves a hand.

"The guys who took over the Cape you will recall, I presume?"

He rolls his eyes, "The small-time poker crooks? I assume you're now going to explain to me what they actually were doing."

"They were after a box I was...transporting."

"Smuggling?"

"Conveying."

"Smuggling."

"Whatever you want to call it."

"We arrested them, so, obviously they didn't get it. I'm not understanding how this is a problem?"

"I'm illustrating the apparent interest in said box."

"What's in it?"

"Hell if I know. Apparently nothing."

"And they think you stole it."

"He gets it."

"Did you steal it?"

"Nathan!" I do my best affronted.

"Did you?"

"No. That's why I'm trying to get a meeting with Stoney. I think their crew stole it before it was even handed off to me for transportation."

"Smuggling."

"Are we on this again?"

"Fine. Transportation." He looks away.

"Plus, as I was saying, fancy arrest." I pull the bag out from the back of the truck, "because this is what I was paid with."

He looks through the bag, "Everything under the top layer here is counterfeit."

"Bingo."

"Hm," Nathan says.

"So? Do you want to catch a counterfeiter? It's a good plan. Trust me."

"Do you remember 3rd Grade?" he asks me.

"What?" That's left field. What could he? "What are we talking about? You really liking the Pet Shop Boys?"

He shakes his head, "When you and a bunch of your friends were waiting for me after gym class..."

Oh. Shit. I know when he looks back at me he knows that I know what he's talking about.

"You're all smiling and congratulating me," he carries on.

"Do we have to get into this right now?"

"I think we do," he says.

"Alright."

"Okay."

"I--I told you Carla Rose had a crush on you."

"I felt like I'd won the lottery," he says.

Really? It was third grade, "Nathan it was 25 years ago..."

"You guys were all smiling and slapping me on the back. You slapped me on the back, remember? 'Go on, man. Go talk to her.' I went down the hall, heart beating out of my chest, and when I opened my mouth to say something."

"She screamed..."

He nods, "She screamed, because there was blood dripping down my back," he looks at me with a piercing stare, "From?"

I sigh, but I manage to meet his gaze, "The tacks we stuck in it."

"When you were 'congratulating' me. You had a pool going about how many you could stick in my back before I noticed!"

"Sixteen."

"Sixteen? Wow."

"Yeah. It was sh--"

"I didn't talk to another girl for two years after that."

Do not point out the Troubles were well over by then, "Nathan..."

"I was eight years old, Duke!"

"So, was I--and I was a shithead. You're going to hold that against me? I'm sure there are tons of other..." I shake my head, "I am sorry I did that, Nathan, and that I roiled up a bunch of other asshole eight year olds to participate in it."

He doesn't say anything, just stares out over the water.

"Are you going to seriously leave me hanging out to die over something that happened in 3rd Grade?" With everything I've done to bail you guys out since then...

"When's the meet?"

"As soon as I hear from Karl I'll let you know."

 

 

Haven: Returning Evidence 2

 

 

"That is an interesting...woman," Julia says, as I climb back aboard. She takes the bag from me and I pop my back.

"Oh?" I say, "and no one else has shown up looking for me? Of the female persuasion?"

"Should they?" she asks, with an inquiring eyebrow raised.

"No. God no! I just...I half keep hoping she's some Trouble manifestation...I guess not though. I guess she's the real thing."

"Your real wife?" Julia looks amused, walking ahead of me to stash the money.

I almost fall over, "My...wife?" the word catches and I choke-laugh, "Oh, wow. No, I just meant really here in person making things difficult."

Julia has a bemused look, "No, I mean, she actually tried to tell me she was your wife and so I should let her aboard."

"Maybe a couple of times to pull jobs as cover. I don't think we ever, that I was ever drunk enough to sign anything..." I genuinely have to think, "besides if something like that had ever come up in anything. Nathan would have been blasting my ass with it long before now." I scratch both sides of my head, "If she has something to do with this box bullshit."

"She does know some things about the Cape." Julia teases.

"Well, she would," I admit, "We were together for a few years, Evi and I. You know how long the old girl and I have been together."

"You shouldn't call her old," Julia says, "She's just seasoned, well-traveled."

"And soon to be good as new." I check over the sheeting that I was cutting earlier. There's probably not going to be enough daylight to finish up with everything else that's gone on today, "Though this is going to have to wait until tomorrow to finish up."

"I'll check the patch," Julia offers, "But I should say it's got a good four days left in it," she disappears further below.

I'm startled by my phone ringing.

Karl agitated on the other line, "You're a slimy one."

"That's not very creative of you. I'm disappointed."

( Make it so )

Haven: Porn Wife (Duke)

It's too damn early for this, but the staff don't exactly know what happened last night.

I didn't realize exactly how hot it would be Julia helping me get rid of Evi.

Drugging her last night to stop her seduction attempts in their tracks, because the last thing I need is to fall back into that old habit. Of course then I had to get her back to her place in the dead of night, make sure she was alive and okay, and then sneak back home, all without looking like a creepy rapist.

So that was another evening of me drinking so as not to ruin things with Julia and to forget about things with Evi, which...is probably why it is too damn early for this—this being some angry lady who was haranguing the staff about something stupid.

“If you want to speak to the owner so badly he's out there!” I'm leaning against the railing on the dock and half glance over my shoulder trying not to wince in the brightness of the sun.

An older woman stalks across the wooden patio towards me, all buttoned up in her Sunday best looking as though hellfire and brimstone might spark out of her eyes. Oh, this is going to be just what I need today.

“Something I can help you with, Ma'am?” I offer, with a half wave.

“You're the owner of this—this,” she waves a hand behind her, “place?”

“So, they tell me,” I answer.

“There's no need to be so flippant.”

Oh, yes, just what I need, “Alright,” I shift to face her slightly more. I feel slightly uncomfortable as she moves closer to me like I got caught by...if I'd had a normal mother maybe? But that's her vibe, the stiff upper lipped British school marm with the ruler and the imperious attitude. If she has a spouse or children they must really hate her, “Like I said, something I can help you with?”

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Wouldn't be the first time I'd been told that—but, for what?”

( Read on...later there is NSFW content )

I cross the room and wrap my arms around her from behind, nuzzling into her neck, “Brilliant,” I tell her, “Just brilliant.”