InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "the cub caught the lion's prey"

liar_for_hire (liar_for_hire) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-04-30 08:23:00

Entry tags:

tavin, veronica

Week Six: Sunday
When: Night
Where: Old Tavern
Who: Tavin and Veronica

The place was a tavern like a hundred other taverns in the city. A bar was to the left, tables were to the right and people shooting pool or playing darts hung out towards the back. The air held the scent of drying green beer and the music playing was a few years behind the times mixed with Irish tunes. Sports scores flashed in bright colors to muted TV screens, waitresses wore jeans and called everyone hunny. The place had a family sort of feel, enough of one that most dealers wouldn't come around these parts. The close knit sort of communities were bad business. Piss off one and you pissed them all of.

But Tavin knew the guy that ran the place. A guy that was called the son of the owners but really he owned the place. His half demon blood just made him age a bit too slow for humans to be comfortable with. He was one Tavin might call friend, even if he only half believed it. More then anything he was a long time buyer and refused to work with anyone else. Business ties like that kept Tavin going well in this field. A business man above and beyond the rest, not just a sleaze looking to fuck everyone over.

He'd already done his dealing for the night. The sort of stuff that they got out of the way first thing so that business wasn't hanging over head. But the guy didn't mind Tavin loitering around a bit. Others at the bar sometimes picked up a bit. Plus the guy could make a mean steak. That, at least, was his favorite. Jerzy liked the onion rings. Tavin planned to bring him back some grub from this place. Another hour or two...he'd already texted the kid to let him know.

Tavin, for the time being, was seated to the back of the tavern. A group of guys not that far from him were arguing over who was next to shoot at pool and a group of rather sweet and innocent looking girls were playing darts to the left of him while getting drunk for the Saint Patties Holiday. From where he was he had a clear line of sight of almost the entire place...and a side window to the left where he could just slightly see his car. Tavin always picked spots like these. When you were in the field he was you constantly had to watch out for your own ass. Being aware of those coming and going around you was part of the game.

Part of why he was lingering, he'd thought he'd seen someone following him earlier that night. Not something Tavin liked. Hanging out here gave a time lapse. If he had that feel still when he left...then something was going on. If he didn't...then he was just being a paranoid fuck like he wouldn't deny being.

“Hey Joe, going deaf over there? What part of keep them coming did you not get?” Tavin joked, flashing a too toothy smile at the guy, he knew what Tavin was and so he just snickered and grabbed up a fresh glass. No ice, straight whiskey for tonight. “Alright alright, keep your pants on, I'll remind the girls to keep an eye on your glass.” the girls that weren't related to the man at all, even if for the feel of the place they tended to go by sister and the guy by Brother Joe.

Once the fresh drink was brought over Tavin raised it up, giving a bit of a salute to Joe before nearly downing the contents.

Tonight was becoming one of those long nights that just didn’t seem to want to end.

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secreteyes
2008-05-01 03:14 am UTC (link)

It had been a rather long week for Veronica.

She was a detective and her life couldn't survive on just one case. She kept normal business hours at her office. Though really she didn't get much foot traffic if at all. But her phone volume had picked up. She advertised in the yellow papers...classy. And she relied on word of mouth and the fact that she worked on retainer for few companies. Background checks. Internet investigations. A little surveillance work. Though she had to fire the insurance company that wanted her to find dirt on a 65 year old woman who had recently been in an accident. It wasn't her fault. They owed her. And Veronica wasn't about to let them get away with it.

Call it her sense of justice. But money wasn't everything.

As evidenced by the fact that she really should have moved to a better office where the paint wasn't peeling and the roof didn't leak along the back wall in a heavy rain. Stuff happens. And she couldn't afford it anyway. But it was there in that office that she followed up on a new case she had received. One dealing with Eliie Louis and the case of her long lost brothers.

Correction. Eliina Luvic. Funny, you think you know a person. She must've done a good job covering her tracks getting on at the law firm. Or else they knew. It was immaterial to her case so she hadn't asked too many questions. She asks enough as it is and she's perfectly aware of that fact. So, there was she helping out a woman trying to find her family.

Which actually reminded her. When was the last time she'd spoken to her mother? Not to self. Call mom this weekend before the search party was sent out. She sat at the computer for what seemed like endless hours before she hit the streets for what seemed like more endless hours. Detective work wasn't glamorous. A lot of people thought so. But not everyone was exactly forthcoming with information. Other people couldn't stop talking, even though they had nothing to say.

Thus how her week went. Second note to self, get some more applejacks. She was running low. As the weekend rolled around, she came to find herself staking out the Old Tavern. It seemed someone matching the description of one of the brothers had been seen there. Nice. She'd been waiting outside for most of the night Saturday and then posted herself most of the afternoon Sunday. One never knew. Regulars would come at any time, even that unlikely day to be out and about. When you're alone, you'll do strange things. And Veronica had no reason to believe Eliina's brother was with anyone else. Yet.

As night fell he rewarded her when he showed up. She'd spotted him several blocks away and earlier and had followed him a little before she decided to circle back around to the Tavern. He looked cautious, and she didn't want to spook. That was the other part of detective work. Patience. Which was amazing because at times she had so little of it.

After watching him go in, she waited a little while and then after some time had passed, she made her way inside the Old Tavern. She scanned the area and it wasn't hard to spot her charge. Now, hopefully he wouldn't get spooked or otherwise freak out. She'd already been punched in the face once this month.

Another story.

She pointedly did not go to Tavin's table first. Instead, she walked up to the bar. "I'll have two of what that guy just ordered." She covertly indicates the man in the back with a slight toss of her head.

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liar_for_hire
2008-05-02 04:48 pm UTC (link)

Tavin wasn’t a man easy to get information on. In fact at times it was damned near impossible. What little there was in databases or background was from a life long gone to Tavin. Years as a kid. Where he was born. Who his mother was. Shit like that. Shit that meant nothing really to who he was today. Beyond that his past pretty much stopped. Same with Jerzy. It wasn’t easy to make sure there was nothing on yourself out there. But when you used false names and were hired by those that excelled in covering tracks…things tended to be worked out. Part of Tavins stipulation in working with the person he did was that they make sure that there were no trails. Considering that the drug supplier didn’t really like trails themselves…it was an easy deal to strike.

Jerzy was a little different, being that he’d picked up a job or two. But most of those were under another name too. They had a crappy past to ensure they didn’t fall back into and part of that was constantly wiping slates clean and making sure you couldn’t be followed. Neither man wanted to be found. Not by the past at least.

But when it came to following someone around the city, well that was a little more difficult to prevent someone from doing now wasn’t it? Tavin wasn’t exactly the sort to looked spooked though. Cautious maybe but many in the city were. The second you looked easily spooked was the second a cop was on your ass. You don’t make yourself stand out too much in the field he was in. No it was all about blending in, keeping that low profile. Without it he was fucked and if he was, Jerzy was. And that shit Tavin did not let happen.

Most would agree that Tavin had an eerie calm about him. Like he didn’t worry about a damn thing. Not someone following him, not someone catching him, not any of it. Of course that wasn’t the case but it was the front put up. Tavin cared, that’s why he watched his ass. He didn’t deal to just anyone that came over. He didn’t walk around the city flashing his shit. He would spend an hour circling a place to ensure no one was following before he’d go in. He’d been doing all of this a long time. Longer then his looks would dictate that’s for sure.

To the back he sat, seemingly unaware of the new girl or her place at the bar. But Tavin was aware, he even heard her words over the hum of the bar and the drunken shouts from the guys near by as one of the players missed their shot. Heightened hearing, it did come in handy sometimes. Catching the sound of hidden radios, whispered words of yeah that’s the guy. Hearing his name from lips he wasn’t familiar with. At times it gave Tavin a second or two head start and that was all he needed. Outrunning people was not a problem; he was damn good when it came to escape. What cat wasn’t?

He made no indication that he’d heard anything at all though. He kept his eyes idly roaming around, watching like anyone else would that wasn’t in a pack in a place like this. He and a handful of other guys and girls that came in for a shot or two before going on home for the night. Speaking of shots…another glass was brought over to him, the glass in his hand passed off and soon the new drink was at his lips. A sip this time rather then a gulp. Supernatural sorts always did have to keep an eye on that, wasn’t as easy to get drunk but if you started downing the bottles and didn’t get tipsy people sort of began to notice.

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secreteyes
2008-05-04 10:19 pm UTC (link)

Some things just required some old fashioned leg work. And that Veronica wasn't afraid to do. Really, she relished it. There was something comforting about slinking about, watching someone and knowing that they aren't watching you. Information, baby. It was all about information. Who had it. Where to get it. How much it cost. It made the world go round. Whether it was information that let you steal someone's identity, track it, or obscure it. All in all, it was the one commodity that seemed to never really go out of style.

The bartender grinned at her request, more than happy to comply. How often did a woman really buy a man a drink. And he'd never seen this particular face before. She didn't exactly look out of place, blending in rather well dressed as casually as she was. And so the whiskey was handed over and Veronica paid for it in cash. It seemed the subject of her search wasn't the only one who didn't like to be tracked if it could be helped. A playful wink was given and she took the drinks in hand and walked across the room toward the back.

She's well aware of the fact that more than one pair of eyes followed her as she moved. What was the difference. She was there on business and as long as everyone kept their hands to themselves -- well, as the old saying goes...don't start none, won't be none. She knew how to handle herself and that's the wonderful thing about conceal and carry. The other wonderful thing was even when establishments posted their little 'no weapons permitted on property' signs 99 percent of them were wrong. People thought just by posting a sign they could legally prevent it. Ha. She'd had to enlighten more than one person before about the rules on that particular law.

Still, when she stopped in front of Taavi's table, holding the drink she looked down at the man and held one up and out to him. "Mind?" She asked out of politeness sake, but it wasn't so much permission, it was more like she gave notice. She took the empty seat there and kept her eyes on him. Her demeanor wasn't at all threatening. And in fact, she seemed as casual as any other patron there. If she was 'stalking' someone who had done something wrong, or could potentially be a suspect for something, or who posed some sort of a problem, she wouldn't have taken such a direct approach.

But this case was different. Taavi, as Eliina had named him, was a missing person in her eyes. One that someone who obviously cared about him very dearly wanted found. The direct approach seemed best. If he suspected anything or if she accidently spooked him following him back and forth and all around across town, she could lose him. And maybe for good. And all for what? A misunderstanding. "I hope you don't mind. But I needed a drink." She took a deep drink of her own and continued to watch him as she did so. Could he really be the person she was looking for? At least now, she got a good look at him.

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liar_for_hire
2008-05-08 05:59 pm UTC (link)

The information game was one that everyone played. From the bottom rung to the top everyone had a need for it and everyone was capable of getting their hands on it. The differences started up when you questioned the kind of information. And on who. Or what. Tavin had played the game enough and still did more often then he liked. It wasn’t his business but it was made to be a time or two. The sorts of people he worked for weren’t the kind that liked the word no. Then again Tavin got away with it a whole lot more then most people did. But he’d earned his place and his preferences. He did well and for it he got that slack that others would never see. The fact that he didn’t take advantage of that fact only got him more rather then less.

No one really trusted but they treated those that were loyal well. If any did trust Tavin would have walked right over them. Push them down and step on their backs to get to their higher up. Tavin didn’t work with the weak and he didn’t work with those that didn’t’ understand the definition of tight lips. Keep him out of conversations, don’t ever mention anyone he was seen with, and everything was good. People had been killed for even thinking to mention Jerzy, was one of the worst moves to make with Tavin. He wasn’t the sort that went out and thought killing was a blast. But he was well aware of the fact that in life you do what you got to do. Especially when it comes to keeping people you care about safe.

That was why he was still here. Why he didn’t just walk off and disappear when he heard the woman in the bar. If Tavin wanted to get lost he would. Tracking him was an all day pay attention thing, not any side effort that you can ease the hours with by playing games. He was sly, he was discrete, and he watched his steps. But if this woman was following him, he wanted to know the why.

Most of the time he could figure it out long before the words were really spoken. Reading a person, the words between the lines. Nothing was really as innocent as they always tried to make their approaches seem. She wasn’t the first to follow. Tavin’s guess was that she wouldn’t be the last. The list was long of those that wouldn’t mind seeing him gone. The reasons were varied and some pretty fucking pathetic even. But Tavin kept these facts always on his mind. Acting like he was safe was the second he really wasn’t.

His gaze shifted when she approached, looking her over like any man would normally do. Not giving away suspicion or acting like he thought her anything more then just another girl in a bar trying to find company so she didn’t feel like a lush drinking alone. “Why not…” he mused nearly in return, his words just loud enough to be heard but far from the shouts that patrons around them felt the need to do. A sign perhaps that he wasn’t near as drunk as the rest. Not even slightly, not a buzz or a high or anything else. Not right now at least.

“Think that would more be you needed someone around rather then a drink, can have that anywhere at all.” He continued after her words, his hand faintly swishing the drink he’d taken and set straight to the table, but he didn’t take a sip. He didn’t drink from glasses he hadn’t seen poured with his own two eyes.

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secreteyes
2008-05-19 08:58 pm UTC (link)

He's one of those. The kind that seemed to read people rather well and didn't beat much around the bush. That the second glass she had remains untouched didn't seem to make an impression on her. At least not outwardly. But that she took note of it is for certain.

"You're right," she admitted, poking a bit at her own glass. She looked up at him and met his eyes. "I needed you around, but I think you realize that already." She leaned back and took the other glass, deciding it was a shame to let it go to waste. "I bet you know that I've been tracking you all day," she ventured. That didn't bother her, and she didn't see the point in trying to pretend otherwise.

"I'm not here to cause trouble or make waves," Ronnie said simply enough. She glanced to the side, watching as someone else walk through the door. It was only a momentary distraction and she kept talking. "Anyway," she leaned forward. "I'm not a cop. I don't work for anyone in particular...well, I do in particular."

She took a quick drink and made a slight face. "Whew. Definitely not Makers Mark." Ronnie leaned forward, "Basically, I'm just here to tell you I don't really care what you do or don't do. But I do care that someone seems to put a lot of stake in finding you. Enough to hire me at not a small price to do so."

She watched him then, before shrugging her shoulders. "I believe we have a mutual friend." She tilted her head, "A woman by the name of Eliina Luvic." Ronnie waited for several moments, as if trying to read if the name meant anything to him at all. Ellie wasn't sure if he'd remember. And if he did, then what?

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liar_for_hire
2008-05-20 12:20 pm UTC (link)

“You’d be right, should work on getting better at that.” Of course that was a bit of a cheap shot considering most she tracked probably weren’t supernaturals. But Tavin wasn’t exactly here to play nice. He didn’t take kindly to people watching him. And often those that denied working for anyone that would care about what he did, were those that were lieing through their teeth. Tavin trusted no one. He trusted trackers even less. Nevermind the fact that he did the same sort of work at times. But he didn’t expect people to trust him either. In fact it was in their best interest to not.

The world was the sort of place. Everyone wanted to think it was nicer then that, that you should give people the benefit of the doubt. No, Tavin wasn’t that delusional. You needed to be wary. Wary kept you alive.

Tavin said nothing more however. He let her tell her tale of what she was and wasn’t. Not believing it but willing to let her go on with it all the same. Picking apart the words to get clues of his own in all of this. Tavin wasn’t the lead to anyone type. If someone wanted to see him, he found them, he didn’t let it be the other way around. Was a matter of precaution. He didn’t acknowledge her remark on what he did or didn’t do, he was doubtful she’d seen much but he still knew to be careful in the following weeks.

More careful then he already was.

Tavin didn’t really care how much this woman had been paid, anyone trying to find him would have probably had better luck with just looking for a dealer to find him. But not everyone knew where Tavin resided, which was a good thing. The matter of money to many meant nothing. And often people talked up how much they were paid regardless. Trying to make the other feel important or somehow more interested. Tavin wasn’t. If someone shelled out cash to find him and he didn’t like who it was, they weren’t going to find him again. That was pretty much the end all to that. One thing the brothers had learned well in their years was how to hide. Evade.

The name…it did strike him by surprise. But it didn’t show to his features, that cool blank calm remained. He looked if anything, completely indifferent. But internally he was working through it. She couldn’t be alive could she? He didn’t trust it. Though family was important he could never, and would never, blindly believe her to be alive. Not with the shit they had all been put through.

Family was linked to the past…and the past was always careful ground with Tavin.

“And where can this Eliina broad be found?” was all he remarked with a slight arch of the brow. Appearing more like he was interested in the cash this one claimed the woman had, then anything else. Far from the case but Tavin knew how to put up a good appearance. That bit of information was all he wanted. Once he got even a hint to that he’d be gone, Tavin wasn’t leaving any calling card or way for this nosey chick, or the other, to find him again. He’d do the tailing instead this time around.

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secreteyes
2008-05-27 05:20 pm UTC (link)

"Touche," was Ronnie's response. She got that he made her out while she was tracking him. Normally she was fairly good at such, but she won't quibble over the small things. Whether he saw her or not, could lose her at any time, or otherwise avoid detection was all irrelevant to her now. Mostly because she was there tonight and sitting in front of him and that was actually her end goal. Well...maybe not the drinks. That was just a personal bonus. She'd found him. He was talking to her. And she didn't need much more than that to get what she needed.

"Broad? That's a nice way to refer to her." She couldn't tell if he was happy, sad, or otherwise indifferent. But anyone who kept that much of a poker face was likely toward not knowing or indifferent. Still, she shrugged. "She obviously puts a lot of stock in you and I'm well aware of your relationship." Ronnie could tell this guy wasn't stupid. He couldn't be just from his demeanor and how carefully he guarded himself. "The thing is this isn't just about you." Of course, there's always more involved in a situation like this one.

Ronnie looked him over again and considered. "So. How about this. We arrange a meeting. You, Eliina, and your brother...if you know where to find him." She waited a moment, curious if he would know anything about that or show any sign or reaction whatsoever. "We can do it right now if you want. I can call her the moment I walk out of here. She'd make herself available." Of course, Veronica was just assuming that, but from the other woman's reaction, she somehow figured it would be true.

"You wouldn't even have to tell me anything you don't want." The fact that she at least has him pinpointed within the city and with some active haunts is perhaps more than Eliina has ever known or heard. A definite plus in her column. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a card, dropping it on the table. "I'm not hard to find, and you can call me whenever. You pick the time. You pick the place. Just give me a heads up to get her there."

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liar_for_hire
2008-05-27 05:40 pm UTC (link)

“All she is, is some random her. No reason to be nice.” He remarked offhandedly. This wasn’t the first time that someone had tired using the past to get to him. He doubted it would be the last. Were people really so naïve in the world that they believed shit so blindly? Oh the sky is black, well if you say so then it must be! Sorry that wasn’t how Tavin’s world worked. She said she knew some chic, nice for her. That didn’t make it the real one now did it? She gave absolutely no verification, nothing at all to make him believe. All she had a bunch of words and to Tavin that was nothing. Garbage. A waste of time. Anyone could claim to be anyone. Anyone could shell out bucks and a sob story and get someone else to do their dirty work.

“Tell you what…” he remarked, getting up to his feet with a cool smile playing on his lips. “How about we don’t and I see to matters on my own. Sorry that this broad wasted her cash on you. Got nothing to offer me and no verification except a bunch of claims. I don’t do claims. I don’t deal with strangers or go into meetings blind. So kindly go back and tell this “broad” that your jobs done up.”

Tavin had zero patience with this sort of crap. Especially when someone mentioned his brother. No way in all hell would he ever bring him into some strange ass meeting with some bitch that he didn’t know from anyone else on the fucking street. Even if the broad was his sister, so what? He still didn’t know her. Still didn’t trust her. And still sure as hell wouldn’t let her anywhere at all near Jerzy until he did.

So right now the two were out of luck and out of options. Tavin played by his own rules.

“So, you can either be useful and give a where on this women or we are finished here.” Just like he said before. Give him something or get on going. She hadn’t given him anything. Nothing but the ability to set up a meeting with random people. Nice but he could do the same.

Through it all his face never changed. His voice smooth and calm, showing absolutely nothing at all. No anger, no frustration. Nothing other then simply being done with this conversation for reasons that were fully his own. You had to talk quick with Tavin and give him something worth sticking around for. Without that you just rode his nerves and Tavin didn’t really have a need for that.

A cigarette was put to his lips, lit as he gave this broad one last chance to do something worth the bucks she’d been paid. Either way after she uttered a where, or didn’t, he was out the door. This conversation was over for him. He had some investigating of his own to do.

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secreteyes
2008-05-31 11:15 pm UTC (link)

Touchy. Not surprising. Skittish? Interesting.

Veronica listened to him, calm, as it seemed finally a nerve had been touched. She doesn't flinch or otherwise bat an eyelash. Instead, she gave him the space to talk, say what he apparently thought, or at least what he wanted her to believe he thought. And when he was finished, she nodded. "Have it your way."

After comments like that, if he thought she was going to give up Eliina or her position, he was either on something or he thought Ronnie was. And either way, it meant one of them was underestimating the other. She could think of a million reasons why she wouldn't tell him where to find his sister. But, from what she'd seen so far, she wasn't at all sure this guy was safe. It'd been years since the family had been together. People had changed harshly before in a shorter period of time. But strangely enough, she had all the information she possibly needed.

She rather suspected this wasn't over for him. Which worked well. She had found him, which was what she'd been paid to do. And while she had hoped to set up a meeting with minimum hassles at a place of his choosing, it seemed that her 'mark' insisted on doing things the hard way. "A shame," she concluded out loud. And she would say nothing.

She watched as he went, calmly taking up her cellphone and hitting a programmed number. Hopefully, the other woman would answer, if not, she would leave a cryptic message. "I found him. In Seattle. And unless I miss my guess, he'll be coming to find you."

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