(Untitled)

[simon_doctor]

"The question is," he says, gesturing at the two files side by side, "whether it's worth gambling on this man's sense of obligation. Or his family's."

He's sitting at one end of the couch in Jordie's living room, studying the tiled display on his datareader screen.

Comments

[leftistbeanpole]

Jordie is lying on his back in the middle of the floor, tossing a small rubber ball in the air over and over.

Just like old times.

"It's not likely that the place is going to get firebombed." He doesn't sound like he's kidding. "Extra scrutiny on whoever builds on the property afterward. So what's there to lose, from the clinic's perspective?"

[leftistbeanpole]

"You don't exactly have a good reason to get involved," he points out. "And several compelling reasons not to get involved."

[simon_doctor]

"I only don't have a good reason to get involved," he says, "if you can tell me honestly that you've got as good a chance of success without my help as with it."

[leftistbeanpole]

Silence.

"I hate you," Jordie says, and he tosses the ball in the air again. "If you get me hunted down by your sister or your wife over the fact that you're dead, we will probably mutually haunt each other until the end of existence."

[simon_doctor]

Calm: "That gives us both excellent incentive not to get killed, wouldn't you say?"

He considers reaching to grab the ball, and decides against it.

[leftistbeanpole]

"Yeah, whatever."

The ball goes on the coffee table. Jordie tucks his arms behind his head and stares at the ceiling. "I can see what I can do about getting you a scrambled channel. They'll probably still be able to figure out it's coming from Capital City, but not the exact location."

[simon_doctor]

"And I'm only in town for another week," he says, a little lower than he means to. "So it'll need to be soon."

Beat.

"Now all I have to do is work out what to say to them."

[leftistbeanpole]

"Assuming you can even get them." Jordie closes his eyes. "Which isn't guaranteed."

[simon_doctor]

"Assuming I can get them," he agrees. "Which ... hmm."

Simon rubs his chin.

"I wonder."

[leftistbeanpole]

Without stirring: "I wonder why you're being so cryptic."

[simon_doctor]

He shakes his head. "Sorry. Wondering if it would be worth asking the captain. How one reliably gets in touch with a criminal element."

His tone's slightly self-mocking, but not facetious.

[leftistbeanpole]

"I think looking more disreputable than you usually do is a start."

[simon_doctor]

"I'll see what I can do."

Beat.

Half to himself: "Though 'stop shaving' isn't really going to be feasible."

[leftistbeanpole]

Jordie snorts.

[simon_doctor]

"I could wear an eyepatch."

[leftistbeanpole]

"Right, because looking like a third-class villain will really help your cause."