thelockbox | Ray Kowalski

[ So here was the thing--people tried their best to keep Vecchio's old cases off his desk. They did. Generally speaking they even did pretty good at it too, because the risk was that one day he'd walk in somewhere and introduce himself and someone in this city would remember a slick Italian chatting them up once and it'd all be over.

It was a dumb plan, but hell if the Mountie had let it go then it could work, and they played their hand of luck pretty well all things considered. Even when they'd been named and shamed on the evening news, Kowalski's face and Vecchio's name actually in print, right there on screen, nobody had called in to make a point of it. They'd skated on thin ice, made it through, and that was good; it was greatness. But just like a run on poker it was only a matter of time before his cards were bad and his bluffing was worse, and that was when Fraser would rob him of the rest of his air.

So. He got the call at his desk, someone had asked for him - for Vecchio - by name, and he'd shrugged it off and grabbed his coat. Probably one of his contacts; they didn't leave a name. The note gave a time and a place, which thanks to his taking an extra hour at lunch chasing a cashier thief around an arcade meant he was in danger of being late.

The alleyway was down the side of a train station. The one where Fraser had been shot, if his memory was right, but either way--meeting at a train station, not that weird. Of course usually people would meet inside a train station, wouldn't they? He scratched at his stubble and took a look around the place. It was a nice sunny day, but that didn't do much for the alleyway, which was dark in all the corners. There was an ugly sedan parked up the other end of the way. He climbed out of the GTO, patted the car on the bonnet, fought down the urge to draw his gun for fear he'd spook whoever he was meeting with. Maybe they weren't here yet? ]

[Victoria stays in her car for a few minutes longer than she would've if it had been Ray Vecchio. Whoever this is, it's not Ben's best friend, which could be interesting.

Is this a set up? Keep Ben as far away from her as possible, while arresting a dead woman for what she justifies as self-defense? Jolly would've killed her, and Ben, not that she would admit that was a part of her thought process.

She hadn't left her name. Vecchio is late, and this man may have nothing to do with anything. It's the the only reason she winds down the car window, leaning out to talk to him.]

Can I help you? You look lost?

[It's a sweet smile, and the politeness is almost Canadian in nature.]

[ He's just getting to the point of tapping his foot when the window of the sedan rolls down, and he scoffs at himself. Idiot. He knew he should have checked that thing out. What if there was some sort of gunman in there, he'd have never known.

But today is his lucky day, it seems, because that's no gunman. It's a woman, about his age, incredibly attractive, long curly raven hair, pretty eyes, pretty smile. She sounds Canadian, but the plates of the car are local, so he shrugs it off, rolls his head toward his shoulder and slides down off the front of the GTO where he'd perched himself to approach the sedan.

He's good, but he's not psychic. He's not thinking of all those situations he'd gone over in his head where someone from Vecchio's past sussed out his subterfuge and popped him for it. He's thinking: she's gorgeous and hey, I'm waiting for a guy anyway, may as well try and get her number. Back on the game, Kowalski.

Of course what he should have been thinking is: why is this suspicious woman parked in an alleyway on her own in an ugly sedan, but nobody's perfect. ]

I uh--not lost, no. Not lost. [ Smooth, Ray. ] Here to meet a guy. I um... I guess you ain't seen anyone coming through here?

[Victoria knows she's pretty, and isn't afraid to use it. There's not the least bit of guilt over using it to her advantage either.

The small gun she has will remain in the glovebox.}

Haven't seen a soul, other than you.

[She giggles with her very polite, very lame joke.]

I was supposed to be meeting someone too, but unless you're him --?

[She wants a name, who is this guy, and why is he in the one place in town she happens to be. Where's Vecchio?]

[ Ray brightens at once at her giggle, smiling back down at her and placing his hand on the roof above her open window. It flashes his shoulder holster accidentally, a hint of gold badge clipped to it. He's going for flirty, breaking into a toothy grin, and then her comment catches up with him and if anything he brightens more. Even better. She's his contact. That gives him an excuse to spend more time with her.

Come on, Ray. She asked for Vecchio, so she must know Vecchio somehow. Pay attention. ]

You called, yeah? I'm Ray. Uh--Detective Vecchio, see?

[ He dropped his hand down and deliberately pulled his jacket aside to show her the badge. ]

Unless you're meeting a jewel thief or something, in which case don't say anything. I don't wanna have to arrest you. Heh. Who're you?

[Victoria lets him try to flirt, and she tilts her head a little to the side, to appear like she's taking interest -- even though it's hard to fake interest, given previous circumstances -- but she manages.]

I did.

[And that's the truth.]

I was given his name by a friend of mine. She knew about you, and a partner? I thought you had a partner.

[Sort of truth.]

And I don't know any jewel thieves.

[Total lie.]

Do you have a few minutes?

[ He reads it as turning it right back at him. If anything, after years of trying to interpret Stella's cold shoulder as anything but, he's well practiced in turning little hints of smiles into something much more promising. This is no different. So maybe she's not turning the full power of flirtation back on him, but man, it's been a dry spell, he'll take what he can get.

It helps that Fraser's not here, really. She probably wouldn't give half a damn about him if he was. (what he doesn't know etc.) ]

Yeah a partner. Me and him we're usually a two for one deal but he's uh-- [ His thumb sank into his jean pocket and he gestured wildly with the other hand. ] So I'm flying solo.

A few minutes, yeah I got 'em. You want me to get in, maybe?

[She really doesn't give half a damn now, does she?]

Nice to meet you Detective Vecchio, I'm Grace Marks.

[She can't resist herself.]

It's a shame when someone you rely one disappears, isn't it?

And yes, please get in, otherwise someone's going to think I'm propositioning you!

[ If only Fraser were here to appreciate it. Ray on the other hand takes the name in a thoroughly different light, and grins, then shoots a look off down the alleyway as he circles the car. It's still going to look like he's been propositioned, but whatever--he's a cop, he knows what he's doing, and noone else is lurking in the alley looking to get him in trouble for anything.

He pulls open the sedan door and slides into the passenger seat, tugging his brown coat forward and getting a bit more comfortable in the awkward, stuffy chair. He's not the biggest guy, but they definitely aren't the comfortable bucket seats of his GTO. ]

It's not usually his deal, but he drives me nuts so I'll take any breathing room I can get. [ His grin is perfectly amenable. All the way into the car. He might even score a date. ] What can I do you for?

It's when you need them most, people fail you. Sad truth of the universe, isn't it.

[Make him feel like a confidant, make him feel like he's got a chance: confidence woman 101.

I heard about something, disconcerting.

[She fakes a little more distress.]

But it requires some delicacy. No one can know I've talked to you.

Yeah I uh--

[ Rhetorical question, right? People fail you when you need them the most? Didn't sound familiar. But it sounded like she'd had a rough time of it. He bit the corner of his bottom lip, regretting the fact that he didn't have something more substantial to take his mind off his nicotine craving. A pencil, gum, anything would do. He'd gnaw his own wrist off sooner or later.

Someone had let this lovely lady down. Pay attention, Ray. She was feeling blue, and she'd asked for him specifically. ]

Nobody will know. You have my word. I can be delicate. I am so over that. World renowned for my light touch, ask anyone--or uh, don't, cause I'm making that bit up to impress you.

[ He ducked his head slightly. ]

You can tell me.

[Obviously, her little act is succeeding, but there is some truth in there about being disappointed in people.]

Well, maybe you can impress me some more.

[Have some false hope.]

My sister, Vicky [In for a penny, in for a pound] moved from Richmond Hill to Chicago with her boyfriend, James. I haven;t seen her in a few years, but then she calls, out of the blue, asking me to come down here and take her home.

She said James was planning a bank robbery.

Edited 2014-11-03 22:09 (UTC)

[ False hope he has. Most kinds of hope for him are false hope, so he's used to it. Life is so hard.

He shifts forward, focusing immediately. Bank robbery. James and Vicky, got it. ]

Richmond Hill--that's Canada someplace. Ontario, right? So this James, does he have a last name? If he's got a criminal record, maybe we can track him down.

[ But he's making assumptions about the end of her story, and bad things happening to Vicky. Bad things happen; this is Chicago. ]

I'm sorry, I'm listening. What about your sister?

[She has no problem giving it out either.]

Yes, it's north east of Toronto. His name is James Kinnear, I think.

[Victoria looks down, as though ashamed.] I didn't approve of him, so I'm not sure. Vicky is worth so much more.

But since I've arrived in Chicago, I haven't been able to find her.

[She hands over the address -- it's really the address of a hotel, but how could this sweet, concerned, Grace Marks know it's a false address? It's not as though she's ever stayed there.

Been in front of it, yes, but never in a room. She also gives him the name of a bank in an obscure area of town. It's not a branch known for having a lot of money, but not a lot of security either.]

This is all I have.

[She looks so sorry about that, really.]

Worth much more, yeah.

[ But his mind was on other things and his hands were busy taking the address, contemplating the places she'd marked down at the same time as his mind wandered off in another direction entirely.

Wasn't that what Stella's parents had always thought about him? "Oh, she's worth so much more." Poor James. Or maybe not. Maybe James really was trash. If he was robbing banks that seemed likely. Oh well.

He folded the piece of paper and put it in his breast pocket. ]

It's a lead, that's something. You got an uh--a photo of your sister? A description, maybe?

She had much more promise. One mistake with the wrong man, and I don't want this to be the rest of her life.

[Playing this by ear means she wasn't prepared with a picture. There's an option but she's not sure she wants to give it up.

While planning what to say next, she makes a show out of searching her purse, before pulling out a well-worn photo from the mid-eighties.]

This is the newest one I have. I'm sorry.

[He won't have any luck finding her, as she's six feet under in Alaska.

One more piece of the old Victoria turned over to the police.]

[ He takes the photo, carefully thumbing it flat and looking down at the picture. There's some similarity there, and he smiles and places it in his pocket with the other pieces. ]

That's really uh--that's good. She's real pretty.

[ And blurry, but he'd manage to get something done with it. Maybe. It was going to be tricky, especially without Fraser around. ]

I promise I'll do everything I can to find her. In the meantime is there a...do you got a place to stay? A number I can reach you on?

She

[She almost says was. Stay with it, Victoria.]

is. I mean, I expect her to be. I can't imagine she's changed that much, on the outside.

[Sad truths, rolled up into one lie.]

The motel I'm staying at, it's not the best my room doesn't have a phone and I don't think the clerk takes messages, if you know what I mean. What if I check in with you?

[Keep control of the meets. It's easier to stay in control.]

[ Yeah well he has a problem with tense too. "My wife", for example, instead of "My ex-wife." It happens, so he doesn't even blink at the hesitation, and if anything only smiles more apologetically reaching out to touch her shoulder. ]

You can rely on me. I know people. If anyone's gonna find her, I'm your guy.

[ And now it was his turn to fish in his pocket and take out a card, and his pen, and he scrawls his address on the back of it before he hands it over. ]

My cell's on there, and the number to call to get right to my desk, but if something happens, you get in a cab, you tell them to take you right here. I'll look after you. You said you're staying in a motel--I don't suppose you know anyone in town? City can uh...city can be big and lonely if you don't know anyone.

Edited 2014-11-06 03:05 (UTC)

[The smile she has outwardly portrays gratitude, but on the inside, she's pleased with how easy this man seems to be.

And he's not Ray. That's curious.]

Thank you. I'm glad I called you.

[Taking the card, she makes a show out of putting it into her wallet, with her cash, as if it's of equal importance.]

Other than my sister? I thought I knew a couple, but neither of them are here now. They must've moved on.

Well that's uh--that's too bad.

[ He even looked apologetic, ducking his eyes into the footwell briefly before looking back up at her. Why not, she was only grieving her sister and terrified of not finding her--what did he have to lose? ]

Well I um... I have to show my face back at the 2-7 this afternoon but if you wanted company, a friendly face, I'm uh... Well, like I said, my partner's out of town and it gets awfully quiet without him around the place screwing things up, so if you wanted to catch a bite to eat... Uh, cause even a cop's gotta eat, right? I'm not saying this right.

[ Too easy. ]

[This is the easiest mark she's ever played.]

Your partner messes up your plan? He sounds like a poor partner.

[This is a face of all the sympathy. It's not entirely dishonest either as Ben's been known to mess up some of her own plans.]

There's a small diner I had lunch at, I don't have much to spend, but the food's good and the price reasonable.

[She gives him the name of the diner where she first met up with Ben. It's on purpose: one final test.]

Ray Kowalski

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