Doing it right...

[Just Old Al]

OK, so on one side we have a vicious, merciless drug gang, augmented by every dimwitted wannabe gunman in the Twin Cities.

On the other, we have various:
Immortals,
High-level paranormals,
Paranormal mortals,
Mortal gunsels,
Non-para mortals,
various and sundry demons,
and gods alone knows what else.

I am almost sorry for the drug jackasses....

{Digs out a bucket of popcorn, and plants himself firmly in his office lounger}

I can't wait for this set-piece battle to begin.

Al

[jwhouk]

"This is probably the longest, most complete version of the list we've seen so far," Brandi said as she looked it over. "You say it came from Oak Park Heights?"

I nodded. "Got routed here accidentally, it looks like."

The security director nervously looked out the window at the front gate of the institution. "This really does not sound good, Miss Oduya."

"Pete, what do you think it sounds like to me?" I interjected. "Being targeted by thungs for bounty - and that damn nickname."

"Yes, I've seen the report about it, thank you, Joe," he said.

The superintendent came into the room, closing the door behind him. "I just talked to Secretary Wall. You're on administrative leave, with pay, until Miss Oduya's people can find who's behind all this. We'll get the details worked out, but I'll tell Chet to take you off the schedule."

"I'm sure Suzie's going to be relieved that she doesn't have to keep coming to work with me," I said to Brandi.

"I'm thinking she still might be better off sticking around here, though," Brandi replied. "And I think I can pull some strings to arrange it."

"Uh, I don't have any room in my apartment, if that's what you're thinking," I protested.

"Nope... but you're close. I'll tell you on the way."

Both the security director and superintendent shook my hand. "Good luck, Joe. Never seen anything like this before in my career."

"Same here, no doubt."

[jwhouk]

Brandi, it turns out, had managed to wrangle the lease for the apartment behind ours. The older gentleman who'd been living there agreed to the buyout of his lease, and had even managed to get another unit in the same complex, further back.

"I'm somewhat surprised that you came up with this so relatively quickly," I commented as I pulled my car into the driveway for my apartment. The moving vans had already converged on the building.

"It's something that's been in the planning for a while now," Brandi said. "After things started happening toward the Calendar Machine and everything, Bud and I started drawing up contingency plans."

I navigated my car into the garage. "In case something happened with Monica and company?"

"Especially that," she said. "We actually ran through a whole bunch of different scenarios. As various parts of the puzzle fell into place, we adapted." We both got out of the car to head in. Suzie had already pulled the LTD up to a parking spot by the entrance to my apartment. "The 'assassination attempt' angle was one of them, but the bounty part is new."

The movers were already clearing out the other apartment, even as I escorted to the two ladies in. Sarah had seen us pull up, and she was trying to make sure our cat didn't go running out the door.

After a long hug, I introduced Sarah to Brandi and Suzie. "You already know Suzie from my stuff with Cavin. She works with Brandi in the 'special investigations' part of the FBI."

"Hasn't been called 'Special Investigations' for quite some time, Joe," Suzie corrected me with a chuckle.

"You know what I mean. They're going to be helping us by setting up surveillance."

"Is that why they're moving stuff out of Al's place?" She thumbed toward the wall separating our apartment from his.

"Basically," Brandi said. "Agent McBride is going to be setting up shop with Agent Billens in that apartment. They'll be keeping an eye on the two of you until probably the wedding."

"Do they really think that this is because someone wants Justin dead?" she asked.

"No," Brandi said with a sigh. "It's because we know someone wants Justin dead."

[Sgt. Howard]

"OH SWEETPEA!!!" Katherine wailed as Castela poited in with Bud. She scooped up her daughter and cried in relief, hugging and rocking the poor confused child.
"Mama! What's- what's wrong? Mama! What- what happened?" rattled the little one.
"Nothing's wrong, Sweetpea...(sob)... nothing's wrong... you're (sob) home now... but you can't (sob) go into the big town anymore... there's... there's bad things going on and you (sob) ... you don't need to be there until we (sob) sort things out, OK?"
"If- if nothing's wrong, why - why are you crying, Momma?"
Katherine held her daughter where she could look in her eyes-
"Oh Sweetpea- Momma (sob) .. Momma was scared... that something...(SOB)," and she hugged her child again.
"Where did you find her?" Buck asked.
"She has a little friend she visits near Lake and tenth- she stopped to use the bathroom at the Chevron station- the owner saw two teenagers follow her in there (Katherine gasped)- when he broke down the door, one punk had a bad skull fracture and both of them had been choked by what looked like ... barbed wire... judging from the marks left on the flesh," all parties looked at Castela.
"They- they didn't BELONG there! That- that was the GIRL'S bathroom! They- they wouldn't GO AWAY!" Castela erupted defensively.
Her Mother looked at her in awe and wonder- "Oh dearheart- you did nothing wrong... (sup) ... you did exactly what you should have done...(sup)... Momma's soooo proud....(sup),"
"Way to go Sis! Bet they don't try THAT again anytime soon," Atsali commented.
"'Sali? You- you don't smell right... Did- did something happen to you too?"
"Somebody tried to hurt me as well, Pickle- it didn't go too well for him... "
"Under the circumstances, I think it went extremely well for him- I would have..."
"BUCK!" Katherine intoned with a cross glare, "Both girls did extremely well- we do NOT need to push them any further,"
"But Mama... Why- why would somebody want to hurt us?"
Katherine composed herself and addressed the little one-
"Do you remember when Daddy stopped that robbery at the hospital?"
Enthusiastically, Castela brightened up- "OH! OH! YES! That- that stupid bozo pulled a gun on Daddy an'- an' shot Daddy an' an' Daddy beat the livin' dogsnot outta him! An- an' THAT was after he smacko'd that OTHER bozo so bad he's- he's living on OATMEAL now... 'cept he wasn't Daddy then... Mommy, what- what's a 'bozo'?"

[Sgt. Howard]

"Well, my lands... we hain't had this much company since Cinnamon was foaled... and at that, I doubt we had this much. Jin, Alan- you got yourselves settled in there? I can have Edward help you with whatever... Jin, it's a right good thing May never made those lists, I love your Mother dearly but my wine cellar would never recuperate, I think... Justin, you an' Shelly got the tower, right?... yea, it's quiet up there, you'll love it... oh! And just look at you, you little tumbleweed! Think you're going to ride my hoof all day, do you? Well, I suppose... 'Sali, you need to do something about the mopes you got, it really don't fit you... KEVIN! Well now, I'm sure that there's a little towhead here that'll be happy to see you made it!... Monica! Georgette!- oh YOU brought him along? Well, much obliged- gas prices are just obscene these days and the fleet of 'Burbans are just rancid on gas mileage... now, wait a minute here... there's those two older characters you told me about... and Tina and ... Stan? Stanley? THAT's his name, right? And Kat- where's your Momma? And her friend Suzi-Q? Oh, never mind- you DID tell me, they're watching over that Joe Houk fellow, aren't they? Yes, THAT's right... Phix, be a dear and give Rosalita a hand in the kitchen- I suspect this many at dinner might be a bit much for her... Neil, yes, those crates go back to the pantry... it's pickled carrots, Lord knows we NEVER have enough in this house... Shelly, would you help me move this table over here?... MY LANDS!!!... child, you make it look like it's made of balsawood!... right... ROWDY!!! AN' ABOUT TIME YOU SHOWED UP!!! As you can see, we got company- WASH THOSE HANDS!! I DIDN'T RAISE NO HEATHENS!!! ...."
"Your Mother is in her element, isn't she?" Katherine asked Buck.
"She's the 'Alpha Dam'- always has been... you should see her at Christmas,"
"But now- we ARE missing that Tina person... and her Beau... who's on that?" Daisy finally forfeited the floor.
"Uh, Greg and Al are on that," Atsali offered, "They have to track them down first... Stan likes to drive Tina around the rivers and lakes there in Minneapolis,"
"Do they know somebody wants to kill them?" Daisy asked, quite seriously.
Nobody answered.

[TazManiac]

Slow drip, drip, drip of Anticipation...

I'm going to have to step up my game, narrative wise...

[jwhouk]

"So they're moving in next door, all because of that police officer in Minneapolis that's all over the news?"

"Yeah, sadly. And you shouldn't believe any of the crap that's being spewed on any of the news channels about it."

"I don't get how you're involved, though?"

"My nickname on that list suggests it may be an inside job. Suze and Lily are going to talk to Tempelhoffer at the max prison across the river in Minnesota. Right now, Billens is next door getting things set up for them."

"Billens... isn't he the one you told me..."

"Yeah, him. Call him Billens, though. He never cared for that other name."

"What about that Neil gentleman?"

"Oh, he goes by Neil, yes."

There was a pause.

"What about that coffee lady with the silver eyes?"

"Uh... I don't know, actually. I don't think I saw her name on that list..."

[jwhouk]

Slow drip, drip, drip of Anticipation...

I'm going to have to step up my game, narrative wise...

That's okay, we're all hunkering down for the time being.

[Sgt. Howard]

"Well, there's no hope of finding them on the road... I can only believe that our worthy opponents are of similar mind," Al offered at last.
"Agreed," Greg replied, "He never takes the same road twice if he can help it... seems the rush and thrill of each road has a rather... exciting... effect on our little Tina..."
"I would really rather you NOT sexualize my Barista, thank you very much," Al scolded.
"She's a healthy young lady- he's a fine upstanding young man- they LOVE each other- and you are NOT her Father!"
"And I suppose you're taking that all just fine and dandy, are you?"
"Broke my heart... THERE! If THAT's not a Sunbeam's headlights..."
"Yes, I believe you're right- say now, THAT fellow wasn't there before, was he?"
From inside the old military ambulance, Greg squinted in the indicated direction-
"I'm not too trusting of somebody who hides behind trash cans... especially at her doorstep... Showtime, my friend,"
"Indeed- enter stage left, singing, dancing... "
"wha...?... one two three KICK- that sort of thing?"
"Pure improvisation... do not rule out the 'kick',"
Stepping out, both men ambled towards the trashcans... in full view of the man behind them. They seemed to be in discussion between themselves as the 1967 Sunbeam Tiger purred up to the driveway. Stan and Tina had just turned to each other and started to kiss when the wretch in the shadows jumped out and tried to ensnare Tina's neck with a garrote- Greg jumped forward and side-kicked him in the left kidney. Buckled over with a grunt, the assailant pulled a .38 'J' frame Smith and fired-

Greg went berserk.

The first kick sent the gun flying. The second kick broke his right arm. The third kick destroyed his right knee. Grabbing the front of the man's shirt before he had a chance to fall, Greg proceeded to trip-hammer on his face as fast and as hard as he could... then he started to slow down...
"DAMMITAL!!! HE'S BEEN HIT!!! SGT. HOWARD, STAND DOWN DAMMIT!!!" Al bellowed.
Greg froze in place... then let go of the now dead punk and started his own fight with gravity. Stan jumped out of the driver's seat and helped Al hold Greg upright-
"Help me put him in the back," he pleaded.
"No- let me get my Crackerbox over here, there's more room- what's more, BOTH of you need to come with me- no argument. You both have a price on your heads- I'll explain later. Stan, drive your machine to Abbot medical- we can arrange from there... and I believe we can recover your things, just not now, not here... here's the idiot's pistol, stay vigilant, there may be more..." and with that Al trotted over to his rig and fired it up.
"Please... please don't let him die...." he pleaded.

The arrival at Abbot ED caused quite the consternation- the bullet had struck Greg in the lower right chest- his breathing was becoming wet. On Al's instructions, Tina had kept him with that side down to prevent the healthy lung from filling with blood... but the hemorrhage had time to do damage. One chest tube and an emergency thoracic team later, he was stabilized... and paralyzed as well. A heavy-set, fair-skinned, auburn haired woman with green eyes showed up right about this time- she and Al hugged as she was informed of what happened. Tears running down her face, she looked at the unresponsive form laid out in the hospital bed.
"He really is an idiot at times," she said at length, " his country is not in peril,"
"His friends were- would you expect any less of him?" Al countered.
"...no... did he kill the guy who did this?"
"Bare handed- it made me proud to watch... Anna, he'll pull through just fine, you heard the Doctor's assessment,"
"... I don't like to see him get hurt... do you have any idea how much scar tissue he already has? He ignores pain, he ignores injury,"
"Not at all- it builds his fury. I saw that just a bit ago- there's Viking blood in him, unless I miss my guess,"
Tina stepped forward- "So... you are this 'Annie' he speaks of?"
Annie smiled- "Guilty as charged- I am the 'Old Sergeant's' Lady. And now I'm to understand YOU are on this 'hit list' as well?"
"Stan and I both- all because some unfortunate type wants revenge over a drug bust... stupid, if you ask me,"
"...?... is that a wire mark on your neck?"
"Yea- he had this wire thing with a handle on each end,"
"A garrote?" Anna asked.
"That what they call it?"

"Mother, there will be four more, with a fifth on hold- Greg took a slug, but he's on the mend... Annie, Tina ("YAY!"), Stanley and Al are on their way... Greg will be here in about two weeks- he's stable and there's another slimedog facing his maker right now ("YAY"), and Stan is bringing his cool English car!("YAAAAY!!!").

[lake_wrangler]

I usually don't think on such things, but when you stop to think about it, it is rather unnerving to realize that you can lead your whole life happily, minding your own business, on good terms with all your neighbours, well-liked by your entourage, and suddenly, just because someone you know happens to be someone with whom some criminal element or other happens to have a grudge, your life is marked, and could very well be snuffed in a moment, with no warning whatsoever! And depending on how it happens, it may very well be untraceable, too. Scary stuff, if you ask me.

In this case, the reader gets to enjoy a nice "take that!" when we see that the criminal elements in question had no idea that the "listees" are either (powerful) paranormals, or at the very least quite able to defend themselves...

By the way... The three of you are "worth" more than many of the regular comic's cast? How very Marty Stu of you...
(Yes, I find that tidbit of information amusing, no I don't really think of you guys as Marty Stus... I just enjoy teasing you about it. )

[lake_wrangler]

I was wondering if, or when, one of the criminals would manage to hurt one of the protagonists. Had me on the edge of my seat, you did... Glad to see "you" are not dead. Don't mind in the least that the antagonist is...

[DinkyInky]

I usually don't think on such things, but when you stop to think about it, it is rather unnerving to realize that you can lead your whole life happily, minding your own business, on good terms with all your neighbours, well-liked by your entourage, and suddenly, just because someone you know happens to be someone with whom some criminal element or other happens to have a grudge, your life is marked, and could very well be snuffed in a moment, with no warning whatsoever! And depending on how it happens, it may very well be untraceable, too. Scary stuff, if you ask me.

Or if people decide you're too different(KKK dislike me[they apparently upgraded to equal opportunity bigots]and learned real quick to steer clear of me and mine.), or if you ex has idiot friends...or for whatever reason you acquire stalkers.
I'm rather vague on purpose now that I've moved because I'm trying to show my son the right way to avoid a fight...by not letting them be there. He's seen me get righteously violent before, and I'd much prefer he never see that again.

[Sgt. Howard]

I usually don't think on such things, but when you stop to think about it, it is rather unnerving to realize that you can lead your whole life happily, minding your own business, on good terms with all your neighbours, well-liked by your entourage, and suddenly, just because someone you know happens to be someone with whom some criminal element or other happens to have a grudge, your life is marked, and could very well be snuffed in a moment, with no warning whatsoever! And depending on how it happens, it may very well be untraceable, too. Scary stuff, if you ask me.

In this case, the reader gets to enjoy a nice "take that!" when we see that the criminal elements in question had no idea that the "listees" are either (powerful) paranormals, or at the very least quite able to defend themselves...

By the way... The three of you are "worth" more than many of the regular comic's cast? How very Marty Stu of you...
(Yes, I find that tidbit of information amusing, no I don't really think of you guys as Marty Stus... I just enjoy teasing you about it. )

Price tag is based on perceived emotional proximity to primary subjects (Justin, Buck) with a nod towards difficulty factor... in the case of Atsali, Castela, Greg, Al and Justin himself, the latter issue has (obviously) been miscalculated... and since so far, perps are either slammered or slabbed... there's not yet feedback to the street that some of these subjects can be challenging.

Regarding Drug Lord vengeance- seen it- not pretty. Untraceable? Seldom- those with proper skills in the trade are not cheap, and direct hiring leaves a trail often enough. Just put out word to the street, let the lesser punks take their chances- at the very least, you can make somebody's life miserable that way.
Usually the perp is caught... but the mark is still dead

[FreeFlier]

One is not amused. /noselick/

. . . Not good . . . she's gone negative. Including her tongue.

Two is not amused either . . . though the notion of ignorant scavengers trying to hunt apex predators has a certain grim amusement value . . .

--FreeFlier

[DinkyInky]

Curled up in a tiny nook in the Library in shadows sat a dark figure reading, a filled satchel on a table close by.

"One would think in a library this immense, finding a secluded area overlooking all possible places one would come up and be seen would be easy", Safyr thought to herself.

That brat somehow always manages to sneak up.

Case in point. The new gardening books came in for her half sister(as well as the new Richard Castle book-her one guilty pleasure), and she was just settled in and getting to a good part when out of nowhere a whiny obnoxious voice starts reading the next line.

"An Alien falling from the sky and crashing into the planetarium? Best. Death. Ever."

Seconds later, a dagger quivered where just moments previous, a face had been peering over her shoulder.

"One of these days I'll forget to miss, Tsill."

"Eme's gardening books ar--I see you got them already...heheh. Oops?"

"Must you do that?"

"Noooo...but sis says it's good to practice slipping in and out of the shadows seamlessly for work."

"You need more practice then. I saw movement in the corner, and just decided to wait and see if it was indeed you, and what you were going to do. I figured there was an eighty-eight percent likelihood you'd end up behind me."

"Awwwww..."

With a heavy sigh, mood spoiled, she glides in and out of the shadows toward the great desk to have a "chat" with one of the librarians. As she nears, she stops and cloaks herself in shadow and listens as Nudge and another converse in excited tones about current events.
"I suppose I should show her how it's done...provided she swears in blood to not use it on me as a prank," she thinks with amusement...until she hears the details, and reigns in her swiftly rising anger lest she be discovered eavesdropping.

[Sgt. Howard]

Two weeks later, the Alexander estate welcomed another to the wild zoo that occupied most of the house. Greg was set up with a room with his beloved, and the arguments between him and Al provided endless gossip and entertainment. Perhaps the greatest moment was when the official autopsy report came in on the last perp... both men scanned it intensely, until Greg pointed at one paragraph and said- "READ IT!!! READ IT OUT LOUD!!!"
With a rather disgruntled look, Al proceeded to read;
"The left kidney has signs of massive macerated hemorrhage, consistent with deep blunt trauma. Would have been fatal, but subject expired to cerebral hemorrhage before complications set in,"

With that, Greg made a big show of flipping out his right hand, palm up. With a foul temper, Al pulled out his wallet, fished out a five dollar bill, and placed it in Greg's hand...
"And I HOPE you CHOKE on it!" he growled...

[Sgt. Howard]

Curled up in a tiny nook in the Library in shadows sat a dark figure reading, a filled satchel on a table close by.

"One would think in a library this immense, finding a secluded area overlooking all possible places one would come up and be seen would be easy", Safyr thought to herself.

That brat somehow always manages to sneak up.

Case in point. The new gardening books came in for her half sister(as well as the new Richard Castle book-her one guilty pleasure), and she was just settled in and getting to a good part when out of nowhere a whiny obnoxious voice starts reading the next line.

"An Alien falling from the sky and crashing into the planetarium? Best. Death. Ever."

Seconds later, a dagger quivered where just moments previous, a face had been peering over her shoulder.

"One of these days I'll forget to miss, Tsill."

"Eme's gardening books ar--I see you got them already...heheh. Oops?"

"Must you do that?"

"Noooo...but sis says it's good to practice slipping in and out of the shadows seamlessly for work."

"You need more practice then. I saw movement in the corner, and just decided to wait and see if it was indeed you, and what you were going to do. I figured there was an eighty-eight percent likelihood you'd end up behind me."

"Awwwww..."

With a heavy sigh, mood spoiled, she glides in and out of the shadows toward the great desk to have a "chat" with one of the librarians. As she nears, she stops and cloaks herself in shadow and listens as Nudge and another converse in excited tones about current events.
"I suppose I should show her how it's done...provided she swears in blood to not use it on me as a prank," she thinks with amusement...until she hears the details, and reigns in her swiftly rising anger lest she be discovered eavesdropping.

Ladies and Gents- the latest addition to our merry madcaps- the incomparable DINKYINKY!!!

[Julie]

Woohoo!!! Dinky's gonna be my new favorite character...I just know it!

[lake_wrangler]

One is not amused. /noselick/

. . . Not good . . . she's gone negative. Including her tongue.

Two is not amused either . . . though the notion of ignorant scavengers trying to hunt apex predators has a certain grim amusement value . . .

--FreeFlier

Hey hey! It's FreeFlier! Welcome, welcome! And you too, Wolf-who-watches!

*Bends down and scritches behind Wolf-who-watches' ears*

[Just Old Al]

Re: Brit Military ambulance:

Good choice on a few levels.

1. If you're searching for someone in a car and you want them to be able to find you, drive something distinctive.
2. If said item has 4-inch-thick walls (insulation) so much the better as it will slow down small-arms fire. One can protect folks better if they're under a little cover.
3. Nothing stops a 110 ambulance...trust me on this one. It will pass anything but a speed limit....

Alan