Fic: A Paying Client (Firefly AU, PG)
Title: A Paying Client
Author: sheryden
Fandoms: Firefly
Rating: PG
Pairing: None
Spoilers: None
Word Count: 749
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. I'm just having fun with them.
Summary: Detective AU. Mal Reynolds gets a visit from a man with a missing sister.
Author's Notes: This was written for au_bingo for the prompt "Other: Detectives."
I was leaning back in my chair doing nothing in particular when Kaylee popped her head in. “Hey, Boss,” she said in that rose-colored voice of hers. “We have a client!” And a little quieter, she added, “And he’s dressed like he might actually be able to pay.”
That’s all I needed to hear. I sat up in my chair and rearranged the papers on my desk. Nodding, I said to Kaylee, “Why don’t you show the fine gentleman in?”
Kaylee grinned, disappeared for a moment, then returned with an harried-looking man who was younger than me but older than Kaylee. He was well-put together-expensive clothes, smooth skin, and hands that looked like they hadn’t done real work in a while. But most importantly, he looked like a man with a problem. And if there’s one thing that a financially deficient detective like myself loves to see walk into his office, it’s a rich guy with a problem.
With a bright smile, Kaylee gestured to the newcomer. “Boss, this is Doctor Simon Tam. Doctor, this is Mal Reynolds, the finest private detective in the whole city.”
I stood up and plastered what I thought to be a charming smile on my face. “Young Kaylee here says you have a problem that might be needing our services.”
Doctor Tam nodded. “I’m certainly hoping you can be of assistance to me. You see, my sister has gone missing.”
I motioned for him to sit. “Missing persons are our specialty,” I said. “Why don’t you start at the beginning, Doctor?”
“Please call me Simon,” he said, as he lowered himself into a chair. “My sister-her name is River-”
Kaylee, who was still standing by the doorway perked up. “Were your parents performers? ‘Cause I’ve never heard tell of anyone named River.”
I glared in Kaylee’s direction. “Don’t you have paperwork that needs doing?”
She shoved her hands into her pockets and backed out of the room. “I expect I can find some.”
“Sorry about that,” I said to Simon. “Now your sister is River?”
Simon nodded. “Yeah, and she was attending a private school upstate, but last month, she stopped calling or writing. I became worried, so I drove up there only to find that she was gone. The school claims that she came home to see us for the weekend, but of course, she never turned up.”
“Do you suspect someone at the school?”
“I don’t know what to think.. My family has money, but no one has contacted us about ransom. I just don’t know.”
“What did the police say?”
“They said they’re doing everything they can. But they have no leads. Mister Reynolds, she’s only seventeen.”
I leaned back in my chair and looked him in the eye. “Now, I have to ask. Is it possible she’s run off with a young man?”
Simon shook his head. “I highly doubt it. She’s not the most social person. I don’t think she has any friends.”
“Well, I can certainly help you,” I said. “Do you happen to have a picture of River?”
“I do.” He stuck his hand into his vest pocket and fished out a small photo of a smiling teenage girl. Handing it to me, he said, “I can’t imagine anything happening to her.”
Gazing down at the picture, I said to him, “Here’s what we’re gonna do. I have a good friend at the police station. Here name’s Zoe, and I’m gonna get in touch with her to see what the police know. If any ransom demands are made, or if you hear anything, call me. Kaylee gave you a card?”
“Yeah.”
“If you can’t get a hold of me or Kaylee, call the bar downstairs. It’s called Serenity, it’s kind of my second office. The owner’s name is Wash, and you can leave a message with him. Kaylee can give you that number.”
Simon and I both stood up and shook hands. “Mister Reynolds,” he said. “Thank you for taking on my case.”
“We’ll try to get your sister home soon,” I said.
As I watched Simon leave, I glanced down again at the picture in my hand. She certainly was a beauty. Missing persons cases could go either way. I’ve worked cases over the years where I took good news to the family, and I’ve delivered my fair share of bad news. Either way, I was determined to find answers for Simon.
Pulling out my phone, I started to dial Zoe’s number.
Author: sheryden
Fandoms: Firefly
Rating: PG
Pairing: None
Spoilers: None
Word Count: 749
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. I'm just having fun with them.
Summary: Detective AU. Mal Reynolds gets a visit from a man with a missing sister.
Author's Notes: This was written for au_bingo for the prompt "Other: Detectives."
I was leaning back in my chair doing nothing in particular when Kaylee popped her head in. “Hey, Boss,” she said in that rose-colored voice of hers. “We have a client!” And a little quieter, she added, “And he’s dressed like he might actually be able to pay.”
That’s all I needed to hear. I sat up in my chair and rearranged the papers on my desk. Nodding, I said to Kaylee, “Why don’t you show the fine gentleman in?”
Kaylee grinned, disappeared for a moment, then returned with an harried-looking man who was younger than me but older than Kaylee. He was well-put together-expensive clothes, smooth skin, and hands that looked like they hadn’t done real work in a while. But most importantly, he looked like a man with a problem. And if there’s one thing that a financially deficient detective like myself loves to see walk into his office, it’s a rich guy with a problem.
With a bright smile, Kaylee gestured to the newcomer. “Boss, this is Doctor Simon Tam. Doctor, this is Mal Reynolds, the finest private detective in the whole city.”
I stood up and plastered what I thought to be a charming smile on my face. “Young Kaylee here says you have a problem that might be needing our services.”
Doctor Tam nodded. “I’m certainly hoping you can be of assistance to me. You see, my sister has gone missing.”
I motioned for him to sit. “Missing persons are our specialty,” I said. “Why don’t you start at the beginning, Doctor?”
“Please call me Simon,” he said, as he lowered himself into a chair. “My sister-her name is River-”
Kaylee, who was still standing by the doorway perked up. “Were your parents performers? ‘Cause I’ve never heard tell of anyone named River.”
I glared in Kaylee’s direction. “Don’t you have paperwork that needs doing?”
She shoved her hands into her pockets and backed out of the room. “I expect I can find some.”
“Sorry about that,” I said to Simon. “Now your sister is River?”
Simon nodded. “Yeah, and she was attending a private school upstate, but last month, she stopped calling or writing. I became worried, so I drove up there only to find that she was gone. The school claims that she came home to see us for the weekend, but of course, she never turned up.”
“Do you suspect someone at the school?”
“I don’t know what to think.. My family has money, but no one has contacted us about ransom. I just don’t know.”
“What did the police say?”
“They said they’re doing everything they can. But they have no leads. Mister Reynolds, she’s only seventeen.”
I leaned back in my chair and looked him in the eye. “Now, I have to ask. Is it possible she’s run off with a young man?”
Simon shook his head. “I highly doubt it. She’s not the most social person. I don’t think she has any friends.”
“Well, I can certainly help you,” I said. “Do you happen to have a picture of River?”
“I do.” He stuck his hand into his vest pocket and fished out a small photo of a smiling teenage girl. Handing it to me, he said, “I can’t imagine anything happening to her.”
Gazing down at the picture, I said to him, “Here’s what we’re gonna do. I have a good friend at the police station. Here name’s Zoe, and I’m gonna get in touch with her to see what the police know. If any ransom demands are made, or if you hear anything, call me. Kaylee gave you a card?”
“Yeah.”
“If you can’t get a hold of me or Kaylee, call the bar downstairs. It’s called Serenity, it’s kind of my second office. The owner’s name is Wash, and you can leave a message with him. Kaylee can give you that number.”
Simon and I both stood up and shook hands. “Mister Reynolds,” he said. “Thank you for taking on my case.”
“We’ll try to get your sister home soon,” I said.
As I watched Simon leave, I glanced down again at the picture in my hand. She certainly was a beauty. Missing persons cases could go either way. I’ve worked cases over the years where I took good news to the family, and I’ve delivered my fair share of bad news. Either way, I was determined to find answers for Simon.
Pulling out my phone, I started to dial Zoe’s number.