Sullivan Vaisey (hg_vaisey) wrote in hallowed_ground, @ 2008-12-18 22:28:00 |
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Entry tags: | * complete, 1997: august, pansy parkinson, sullivan vaisey |
Date: 13 August, 1997.
Characters: Sullivan Vaisey and Pansy Parkinson.
Location: At the corner of Diagon and Knockturn.
Private/Semi-Private/Public: Public.
Summary: A business meeting interrupted.
Status: Complete.
The owl had arrived at his old flat that morning, a small and hastily-scribbled note from his stepbrother Evan - an older petty crook and somewhat duller than Sullivan, but useful enough:
Oi Pipsqueak,
Rumour has it that little shite-for-brains (you know which one) is trying to move in your territory again, even after the last warning you already gave him. If you want to keep your garden to yourself, there are some weeds to be pulled - some branches to be pruned if you know what I mean. Heard he might try to get ahold of some of your products to give himself some pointers, so look out for that. A wanker like that is bound to draw unnecessary attention to the business of people like us. Maybe it's time someone convinced him to retire. Make sure to get the you-know-whats to the you-know-where, you-know-when.
Ev.
Evan was about as subtle as a sack of bricks, but he often heard things that a loner like Sullivan didn't, and it was for that reason alone that Sullivan even bothered to keep in touch with him. Incinerating the note, Sullivan re-arranged the envelopes in his knapsack and left the decoy flat. He had work to do, and the tip he'd gotten from his stepsibling made him all the more grateful that he had a contingency plan should this next 'business meeting' go sour.
He'd arranged to meet this newest potential customer at the intersection of Diagon and Knockturn - people didn't tend to linger much in the area between the two, and he'd rather this happen in broad daylight should the customer decide to hex his nose off or slit his throat. The customer's name was not one he knew, and for all he knew, they could've been the rival fraudster Evan had mentioned or an undercover agent for the Ministry. He decided to take extra precautions on this one, and thus had constructed two packages instead of one: the first would contain what the customer had paid for - identification, heritage papers, even an address to where a new job might be attained; the second, however, would appear to contain the same but would lead the buyer in a considerably less pleasant direction. If after observing and questioning the potential customer, Sullivan decided they were legit, they would receive the first envelope. If he had his doubts, the second. If he wasn't sure, he supposed he'd have to flip a coin. Whatever. He didn't care. He'd be long gone with their money before they knew the difference anyhow.
Sullivan sat on the bag and waited, eyeing every passing person with suspicion. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone approach. Was it the buyer? An auror? Or someone in the wrong place at the wrong time? Feeling apprehensive, he turned to find out.