Ann said:
"... my new good buddy Sergei Peterson ..."
Dino's chin jerks around when he hears a familiar name. Huh? Sergei Peterson?
Shit.
The Phoenix Bar and Grill
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 dinooleary |
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Posts: 326 (01/11/09 12:24:21) Red Haired Devil |
Dino's chin jerks around when he hears a familiar name. Huh? Sergei Peterson? Shit.  |
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ProfNash |
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Posts: 512 (01/11/09 14:31:51) The Beautiful Mind |
Orange Tabby Cat 2 wrote: "Come now, Princess. Don't let the noise in here bother you." John talks low and calmly, trying to get Spooky to tuck herself under the table. If she doesn't quit doing all that barking and whining, someone's going to complain and they'll probably make him take her out of here. John Nash looks around, his eyes narrowed at the possible challenge. Make him take Princess from here? As if! He looks over at the table next to him. There's a businessman sitting there, his newspaper spread before him, and he's giving John Nash an irritated look then he pointedly glares down at where Spooky continues to bark in an increasingly shrill tone. "It has been incontrovertibly proven that a man's inability to focus on his task at hand is proportionate to his lack of both intelligence and leadership abilities," John says to the man, his voice clipped and loud enough to be heard over Spooky. "No wonder you're such a failure -- can't even keep your mind to your little tabloid there when an errant anomaly is added to your boring lunch routine, I see." For emphasis, John gives an exaggerated sniff before turning from the man, who mouths, "Well, I never!" Just then Kathy rushes back to the table. John gives her an innocent smile. "Shall we order? Princess was just telling me what she wished for lunch. I think I'll have the tuna melt. Princess wants some hamburger, medium, with crumbled bleu cheese and just a touch of roasted garlic. What would you like, Miss Ginger?"
Last Edited By: ProfNash
01/11/09 15:47:22.
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Franki G |
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Posts: 310 (01/11/09 21:13:02) Trouble on Wheels |
She's right that Franki's scared. Not of her, but of what Wade might have left her holding. If he'd skipped town leaving the russian thinking he
was owed something by Wade then the smartest thing she could do was shoot herself before Sergei even got to her. What he did to people who he thought tried to
cheat him ... that was ugly beyond description. Things even Wade wouldn't stoop to.
But she didn't roll over on her partners. No matter what. Even when they deserved it. "I got no fuckin' idea what Wade wanted here. Except that he was happy to steal my crew for it." And that still just chapped her nads, that those idiot boys had been happy to go along with it. "And I didn't want to just leave them to get hung out to dry." Even if they deserved it, the assholes. "If I wanted the easy way, I'd have told Wade to fuck himself right from the start and let him screw over the moron brothers. But no, he sends me to deliver flowers. Flowers! Do I look like a fucking delivery girl? Gets me to introduce him to the Russian, I should have known he was running a scam." And don't call him any more names The thought that this woman is still defending Wade almost brings forth an hysterical giggle. And Franki's almost at the snapping point too, not shouting at the woman but hissing right back at her. "And just in case you never figured it out, I push every guy right back because if you don't push back they take everything you got an whatever else they want to take. Wade's no different from any other guy that way. But the Russian, he's worse than most. And you can have him with my compliments 'cause fuck knows I'd never go there." |
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Spooky |
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Posts: 231 (01/11/09 22:14:00) Bad Dog |
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip bark bark bark bark bark bark bark ....
There's my monkey!! I can smell her!! I want my monkey! Now now now now nownownownownow!!!! Spooky lunges against her leash until the yummy food smells distract her ... 
Last Edited By: Spooky
01/11/09 22:21:28.
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paulogallagher |
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Posts: 59 (01/12/09 02:02:15) |
[Paul decides that this is a problem beyond him so runs to the bottom of the stairs and shouts:]
Uma!! Catfight... |
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uma252 |
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Posts: 943 (01/12/09 02:07:31) The Mistress of the poison pen |
[Uma dashes down the stairs]
Why didn't you say? [she takes a look at the imminent bust-up..] Ann and Franki? What the hell's that about? Bloody hell...I'm going to get Maxie...I'll get snuffed out by those two. I need some muscle... There is a place you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart...
Last Edited By: uma252
01/12/09 02:10:09.
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cullenmurphy |
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Posts: 12 (01/12/09 02:22:15) |
Muscle? Did someone say muscle required?
Ladies, ladies...let's not be too hasty. Is there anything I can do to help? Rather than hit each other, why not take it out on me? I've got a very thick skull and don't mark easily...See how pretty I still am after five years with my ex-wife and all the harsh treatment? ...That was a joke, by the way...I'm only having a laugh...you know me...I say what other people think...I've got a sort of Gaelic Tourette's...Me and the ex are on grand terms these days, just fine and dandy, you know? Well, maybe not quite that perfect but we're speaking to each other without violence...which is something for us two, I can tell you... 
Here we go then, girls... I'll take my shirt off and tuck this bottle of whiskey here, so you know where not to aim...okay ladies...take a swing...or give me a kiss...it's your choice.... For one night and one night only...
Last Edited By: cullenmurphy
01/12/09 02:30:45.
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Orange Tabby Cat 2 |
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Posts: 1810 (01/12/09 16:05:20) Lady Marmalade |
"No! You can not feed her half raw hamburger meat! Blue cheese and roasted garlic? John Nash you are making fun of me, right? Well if you aren't then let me tell you that all of this is not proper dog food. Much too spicy. She'll get a bowl of water and maybe a few pieces of cooked chicken, if Andy will do that. She ate enough today as it is." "But she...." Kathy pretends to be upset, "what? Is she yet another girl I have to be jealous of?" Then she smiles warmly, "you really like her, don't
you? And it's mutual, everyone who watches you with her can tell she likes you too. But we have to take care of her and not spoil her rotten. What will Bud
say if she won't eat regular dogfood anymore? Oh alright, I'll ask Andy if he has a treat for her, but from tomorrow on we need to cut that down.
I'll take a big BLT with a side salad, I'm really hungry now."
"...and leaves me still in love with you. (My hand, my heart)"
Last Edited By: Orange Tabby Cat 2
01/13/09 03:33:23.
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annsmac |
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Posts: 2622 (01/12/09 20:20:11) Lady Godiva |
cullenmurphy wrote: Cullen Murphy! Of all the lowdown miscreants ... he dares come around here spouting all that Irish-tinged charm? I round on him and have a finger in his face too fast to take it back. He gives me a distinct look of surprise. "You can help by getting your sorry self a long way away from me, Cullen. That's what you can do. I have this well in control." I spit the words out at him. When he doesn't move quickly enough, I point toward Paul who's standing behind the beer taps just watching us with a wary eye. "Paul, get Cullen a beer on me and, Cullen, go put your mouth to the only good use you ever found for it. Go drink beer. Go away." I take a slow look around the bar. For the most part, people turn away as I stare at them. They get back to their lunches and their drinks. All except Dino and Biebe, who both regard me with cool return stares. And then I notice Max and Uma standing over by the hall that separates the bar area from the restaurant. I turn my back to them just in time to see Franki's looking intently toward the table where John Nash and Kathy are sitting. But I stop her by grabbing hold of her arm. I say, "The only sense you've made so far is about men being takers if you let them. Not all of them. But enough of them to ruin things for women who learn tough lessons. I have the feeling we both have the same kind of viewpoint on that. Look, Franki, if you really don't know what he was up to ... Well ... I believe you. But there's still the matter of Bud ..." Suddenly I can't take the noise in here any longer. I don't mean to sound so shrill when I yell out, "Can somebody puh-leaze shut that damn dog's barking? It's enough to drive me insane!" 
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SheriffBiebe |
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Posts: 850 (01/12/09 20:22:51) Big John |
John moves quickly when Ann grabs Franki's arm. Time to defuse this before one of them decides to slug the other. "Ladies. I think it's time to go to opposite corners …" He is very firm, stepping in between them even when Ann tries not to let him pry her fingers from Franki's arm.
"Not the important ones.."
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annsmac |
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Posts: 2623 (01/12/09 20:28:29) Lady Godiva |
John has a hand on my elbow; he's standing in front of me now. It's obvious he's trying to shield Franki from
me.
"Now just a minute, Sheriff. I'm only trying to get to the bottom of what this woman's been doing behind our backs!" Out of the corner of my eye, I see Franki trying to get away! "Stop her! John, she was in Ben's gang … and I think she's got something to do with Bud being in the hospital … For such a cuddly bear of a man, John Biebe has always moved efficiently when he's out to avert trouble. But he doesn't move fast enough to get Franki before she makes it to Nash and Kathy's table. The moment she's there, she falls to her knees! I race over to see what the hell she's pulling now. I'm there just in time to see Franki rock back on her knees, cradling a small dog she's pulled from beneath Nash and Kathy's table. Is that … Is that … Is that Franki crying? "What the hell is going on?" I ask to no one in particular.
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dinooleary |
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Posts: 327 (01/12/09 20:35:24) Red Haired Devil |
"Exactly what I'd like to know," Dino says.
He uses the pandemonium to steal up behind Ann. The crowd's attention is focused on Franki crying over a dog she keeps calling 'Spooky' while John Nash and Kathy are busy trying to retrieve the same dog, whom they're calling 'Princess.' Dino figures Sheriff Biebe can handle that; he's got bigger fish to fry. Dino puts his mouth to Ann's ear even as he puts an arm around her waist to drag her away. "We have to talk ... don't make a fuss because I'm strong enough to toss you over my shoulder and cart you out of here if you make me." Ann sputters and tries to stand her ground but there's little she can do. Not only is Dino proving his point about being strong enough to pull her where he wants her to go but he's proving impervious to her glare. |
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annsmac |
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Posts: 2624 (01/12/09 20:36:44) Lady Godiva |
"Get your hands off me! What is it with Irishmen in this bar today?" I say just as Dino shoves me into a booth and then shoves himself in next to me.
"Jesus, Dino! She's going to get away!"
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dinooleary |
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Posts: 328 (01/12/09 20:39:33) Red Haired Devil |
"She can run but she won't get far. And she's not my main concern right now. You are."
Dino's icy stare and aura of menace has the desired affect on Ann. Just like that, he has suddenly got her total attention. "About Sergei Peterson..." he growls. "I need to know how much you know about him ... and how much he knows about you -- and us." |
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annsmac |
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Posts: 2625 (01/12/09 20:45:31) Lady Godiva |
I tell Dino what I know. What else can I do? He's so frigging serious it's scary. So I end up telling him about
Sergei being a fence for Ben, about Ben being scared enough of Sergei to always have Colin along when he dealt with him, about Franki apparently being the one
to introduce them. In truth, it doesn't take me long to tell him what I know. I skip the stuff about me tracking him down, about me spending the day with
him. But Dino's too smart for that.
He sits there, looking at me, waiting. Finally, he raises one eyebrow. "Okay, okay. But Dino, I'm the one left to protect the books. That's all the old man ever asked of me when he left me the Library. Keep the books safe. I just did what I had to do to make sure Sergei didn't know about them. Now that I know, I am not going to have anything else to do with him. I was only bluffing when I told Franki I'd drop the dime on her and call him. Honest."
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dinooleary |
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Posts: 329 (01/12/09 20:58:17) Red Haired Devil |
Ann tells me about going up to San Francisco to meet Sergei. He spent a lot of time with her. And I know him well enough by
reputation to know he wouldn't have done that if it wasn't really important to him to make sure he knew her angle in all this. So he's got a hard
on for Ben Wade because Wade took off and left Sergei in the lurch with 'customers' who are no doubt pretty much the kind of people you don't want
to piss off. And now he's probably looking for Franki, figuring she's maybe the last lead on Wade he may have.
I glance over at where John Biebe has got Franki sitting at a table while he tries to talk to her. The body language is pretty clear; Franki's not gonna give up anything without real pressure. Somehow I figure Biebe's form of pressure may not exactly be what's called for here. But the real thing is this: my gut tells me that Franki's in danger and Sergei's not someone she can handle on her own. I pull out my cell and give Thorne a jingle. He doesn't answer so I leave him a message to call me. When I put the phone down, I look at Ann for a long minute before finally feeling I can talk to her. "You ever, and I mean ever, do anything that stupid again, and I'll ... Well, I don't what I'll do but you can be damned sure it'll involve yelling and telling you what a fool you are to think you can mess with men like that. I want you to stay close to home for a while, Ann. No trips. Not until we figure out if Sergei's realized this little place of ours may be worth his interest. You may have just invited one of the most dangerous criminals right into our midst. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a word with Franki and offer her a safe place to stay until Bud's out of the hospital." |
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annsmac |
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Posts: 2626 (01/12/09 21:11:05) Lady Godiva |
What have I done? Oh, no. I watch Dino slide into a seat at Franki's table. I watch him lean in toward her, talking softly but I bet there's real steel in his voice. What have I done? And then I feel myself straighten up and my jaw clench. What have I done? Well, dammit, I did what I had to do to protect the books. That's what I did. And I did the best I could. Maybe I should have done it differently but I did the best I could. If I'd asked Dino or Terry to help me, they wouldn't have ever let me near enough to Sergei to get to the only truth that matters to me. The old man picked me not because he thought I was a nice person but because he knew I could be tough when I had to be. I stand, putting on my best face, and walk out of the pub. I don't look left or right, I just walk out. But I'm not even part way to the Library before I'm feeling my knees shaking. I know I did what I did not just to protect the books -- but also because my pride needed to know just how badly I'd been used by Ben. I keep thinking I'll stop feeling anything for him but the truth is, I still cannot take it when anyone else says anything bad about him. And maybe I shouldn't take it as some kind of good sign that it's become very obvious to me that Ben might have abused the books but he did go to great lengths to keep their secrets safe from people outside our little circle.
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clarity34 |
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Posts: 4260 (01/13/09 00:27:00) Burning Ice |
She has been watching proudly John's every move when he's interfered between the two women. The minute the argument got their attention, she knew he'd have to do something to try and stop it, because it's his job, a job he's very involved in and good at, and because Ann is one of his best friends.
She's been scared when that girl Franki rushed to Kathy and John Nash's table before anyone could react. But she obviously didn't mean them any harm, giving all her attention to the little dog that seemed very happy to see her.
She smiles, still full of pride, while looking at John trying to calm everyone, among all that noise and confusion. She doesn't think she can do anything useful, but starts to join them, even if only to support John, and her friend Kathy, be by their side.
But she stops and notices that Ann, who was talking with Dino just a short while ago, has now disappeared. Dino has now joined the agitated group and is talking calmly, in that smooth Dino style, to Franki. But Ann is nowhere around.
Maybe she needs to be alone? Or maybe she needs a friendly shoulder? Well, if still around the Phoenix, she will have the choice to answer her or not. She opens the door and calls softly:
"Ann?" What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
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MaxSkinner1 |
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Posts: 240 (01/13/09 00:54:12) Rogue Trader |
[He calls Clarity away from the door to where he is sitting]
Clarity! They need you behind the bar...let her go....best way of defusing the situation... 
[he lowers his voice] Keep an eye on Murphy...if he wants a drink, make sure you get if for him - and make him damn well pay. I don't want Uma waiting on him... maybe you could get the good sheriff to arrest him for loitering with intent to get on my nerves? Winning isn't everything - it's the only thing...
Last Edited By: MaxSkinner1
01/13/09 00:58:00.
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Franki G |
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Posts: 314 (01/13/09 01:24:20) Trouble on Wheels |
In the middle of what's shaping up to be a spectacular brawl, Franki hears the one sound she'd been praying for in the one place she never would have
thought of looking. Spooky, barking. Ann and Sergei immediately take second place in her mind and she aims right for the noise. There, under the table ... with
the dogsitter! How the fuck .... "Spooky! Baby, sweety! I was so worried!" She clings to her lifeline, cuddles her best friend, swats away any
helping hands while Spooky wiggles and licks her face and barks even louder. "Baby, Bud's gonna be so glad ... " forgetting that Bud didn't
even know she was missing.
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