From: Jason Self Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2022 19:05:39 +0000 (-0700) Subject: Publish new installment X-Git-Url: https://jxself.org/git/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=3555b14a4a90c59af9bf0262347c91ef6e983df7;p=universe.git Publish new installment --- diff --git a/agalder.txt b/agalder.txt index af2806b..597e031 100644 --- a/agalder.txt +++ b/agalder.txt @@ -1288,4 +1288,132 @@ Cassidy's hand. Cassidy jumped back, holding his hand. Harlan checked the wall and saw the tiny switch in the three dimensional art. "So why did you send Alfie to kill me?" he asked softly, his eyes as -cold as space. \ No newline at end of file +cold as space. + +==== Harlan: Thief ==== + +Cassidy met his gaze. "We figured you'd come after us if we killed +your father. So we decided to eliminate a threat. ‘Cept Alfie screwed +up." + +Harlan leaned back abruptly. "You knew that the Chief was my father? +How?" + +"Strictly accidental. One of the boys was passing by and saw you jump +onto the balcony. He said it took him a couple of minutes to recover +from the shock of seeing that jump. He said he didn't think a human +being could twist in the air like that and land wherever he wanted." +He shook his head. "Boy. I wish I'd seen it." Then he shrugged. "Then +he consulted the window diagram of the building and realized it was +the Chief's balcony. So we kept an eye on it. You pulled your stunt a +few more times. Meanwhile we were digging into the Chief's past and +guess who we found?" + +Shaking his head, Harlan started to chuckle, surprising Cassidy. "You +have a window chart of the building? That's impressive work." + +Cassidy smiled. "Yeah. It was my idea. Lots of important people in +that building." + +He dropped the smile. "So you're not one of us. You're a traitor, a +snitch. Just like the dopers hooked on slam. The cops use you. You +have no loyalty to anyone, you worthless piece of..." + +He saw the change in Harlan's face and he shut up but continued to +glare at Harlan. "Getting rid of you was a bit more than good sense. +It was eliminating a threat to the organization." + +Harlan continued to stare at the crime boss for a full minute or two. +Then he shrugged and smiled. "Who killed Sam Tavis? And who ordered +it?" + +Cassidy shook his head. "You know I can't tell you that. I'd be +signing their death warrants." He stood up. "Do what you have to do to +me. But I'm not going to tell you." + +The green haired woman spoke up. "It was the Bastard and Jonny Tool." + +Harlan looked at her Cassidy cursed. "How do you know?" + +"What are you a male chauvinist? I'm a vital part of this +organization, too. Don't jump to conclusions just because I'm female." + +She had gotten out of the bed trap and had gotten dressed while Harlan +was intimidating Cassidy. + +Grinning, Harlan said "I won't underestimate you a second time." Then +his face went stony. "Who ordered the hit?" + +The woman shook her head. "Can't help you with that. I don't know. We +operate on a need to know basis and that's outside my purview." + +Harlan's eyebrows rose as he realized that her education was probably +far better than the average person in Crater City, which meant that +she came from a wealthy family. He didn't think she had used the word +to show off. It was just part of a large vocabulary. + +She continued. "And please don't kill Cassidy. I like him." She smiled +a tiger's smile at Harlan. + +He was glad she hadn't done that at the beginning. He could feel the +draw of her charisma. + +"Thank you." he said to her. Turning to Cassidy, he growled "I will +find out. Meanwhile, don't cut paychecks for the Bastard and Jonny +Tool. They won't need them." He went out the door quietly. Cassidy was +in mid-jump to reach the tiny switch when the gun poked back into the +room and blew the switch away. + +==== John Behan: Detective ==== + +Behan had to talk to Harlan. Nothing made sense unless Harlan and Sam +Tavis were very close somehow. And Mellie would know what their +connection was. + +He arrived at Mellie's condo just as she was getting home. She jumped +when he spoke her name from behind. + +"Jumpy tonight?" he asked. + +"You did that deliberately just to see me jump, didn't you?" she said +as she opened the door. She didn't sound angry. + +"Guilty as charged, Boss." Behan smiled at her. + +"I am not now and never will be the boss, John." Mellie disappeared +into the kitchen. Her voice floated back. "I haven't seen Harlan since +the Chief..." Her voice broke. + +He followed her. She had the fridger open and was just staring at it. + +He sighed. "Mellie. You're lying again. Please don't do that. We're +partners. You've got to let me in on this or both you and Harlan are +going to get hurt. Or worse." + +Mellie turned and gazed into his eyes. After a minute, she said "He's +already been hurt. He was shot with an old fashioned bullet by a +sniper 2 weeks ago. And he disappeared today." + +Her face crumpled. "I don't know where he is and I'm so scared for +him. I'm sure he was going after Cassidy." Tears coursed down her +face. + +Behan pulled her close and hugged her. "Harlan is... resourceful. He's +smart and he'll get through." + +"Damn straight." Came a voice behind them. Harlan entered the kitchen +with a grin. "You're hugging someone I love, Johnny. It's a good thing +I heard what you two were saying or I might have misconstrued this +scene." + +Mellie came and put her arms around him but carefully, mindful of the +recent injury and surgery. + +He pulled her close and kissed her, but Behan could see the flash of +pain that crossed his face. He smiled at the thief "I don't think +we've ever been introduced." And stuck his hand out. "John Behan." + +Harlan took the hand and shook it warmly. "Harlan Tavis." he said. + +Behan's eyebrows rose as he realized the true relationship between the +Chief he had admired so much and the cocky young thief. \ No newline at end of file