***
Benny Franklin, professional con man, information dealer, and 'best friend' of every group in the Row, was not having a good day. Someone had slashed
his car tires, one of his money sources had gotten enough evidence to run to the police, and now he'd just been refused service at his favorite bar.
"I always come through with the cash!" he protested.
"Sixteen hundred," the bartender replied, unconcerned as the Tank bouncer dragged Benny to the door. "You've got one week, then I send
Edward after you. I'm getting sick of this shit."
"See you in a week," the Tank added with a friendly smile, tossing him out onto the street. Benny bounced once, then came to a stop next to a pair of
top quality motorcycle boots. He paused, looking at them. Clearly custom made. Curious, he looked up, following the toned, shapely legs, over the red leather
jacket...
"Hey, Asagiri!" he said with a pained cough. "How are ya? I caught your last concert. 'We Didn't Start The Fire' was my
favoriiitteee!" His comment ended with a pained gasp as Priss placed one of the hand-made boots on his chest and started applying pressure.
"Benny, remember our last discussion? You attempt to associate with me and I break your face?" She asked with a sweet smile.
"Yeah... ah!" he winced as her boot pressed into a bruise.
If anything, her smile widened. "Good boy. Now, let's talk business. Now then, we have three options. One, you tell me what I want to know, with no
bullshit, and you get some money to keep Eddie from breaking your nose. Secondly, you dick me around, and I kick the crap out of you. Thirdly, I kick the crap
out of you, and the hero over there slaps an arrest beacon on you for the insurance fraud you pulled." Bennys eyes went very wide and he looked over to
see Major Starlight standing there waving. "Clear?" Benny nodded rapidly. "Good boy. Now then, someone raided a cemetery last night. What've
you heard about it?"
"Nothing really," Benny managed. "The meat doc's have had an outbreak of Gears in their labs, so they're distracted. The Skulls have all
been working on making trouble in the Hollows. They've been buying guns and fake hazard passes ever since the Trolls started blocking off the sewers again.
And they've been spacing their recruits out. A few guys looking to join the death heads have brought info on their targets and I've arranged a few
meetings, but word is the big two're playing it safe, now that the cops are getting the families of the masks to cremate when they can."
"So, no one is admitting to a graveyard snatch and grab?" she asked. Benny shook his head. "No boasts, no bragging?"
"I swear. There's been nothing."
Priss looked at him for a moment, then dropped a fifty on his chest. "Twenty second head start," Major Starlight called out. Benny yelped, grabbed
the money and fled down the street. "You believe him?" she asked Priss.
"Ya," she replied. "He knows not to try and fed people horseshit when they pay. They take it poorly, and usually take it out on him." Tam
laughed for a brief moment. "So... no one in the Row is admitting to it. Interesting..."
***
Benny Franklin, professional con man, information dealer, and 'best friend' of every group in the Row, was not having a good day. Someone had slashed
his car tires, one of his money sources had gotten enough evidence to run to the police, and now he'd just been refused service at his favorite bar.
"I always come through with the cash!" he protested.
"Sixteen hundred," the bartender replied, unconcerned as the Tank bouncer dragged Benny to the door. "You've got one week, then I send
Edward after you. I'm getting sick of this shit."
"See you in a week," the Tank added with a friendly smile, tossing him out onto the street. Benny bounced once, then came to a stop next to a pair of
top quality motorcycle boots. He paused, looking at them. Clearly custom made. Curious, he looked up, following the toned, shapely legs, over the red leather
jacket...
"Hey, Asagiri!" he said with a pained cough. "How are ya? I caught your last concert. 'We Didn't Start The Fire' was my
favoriiitteee!" His comment ended with a pained gasp as Priss placed one of the hand-made boots on his chest and started applying pressure.
"Benny, remember our last discussion? You attempt to associate with me and I break your face?" She asked with a sweet smile.
"Yeah... ah!" he winced as her boot pressed into a bruise.
If anything, her smile widened. "Good boy. Now, let's talk business. Now then, we have three options. One, you tell me what I want to know, with no
bullshit, and you get some money to keep Eddie from breaking your nose. Secondly, you dick me around, and I kick the crap out of you. Thirdly, I kick the crap
out of you, and the hero over there slaps an arrest beacon on you for the insurance fraud you pulled." Bennys eyes went very wide and he looked over to
see Major Starlight standing there waving. "Clear?" Benny nodded rapidly. "Good boy. Now then, someone raided a cemetery last night. What've
you heard about it?"
"Nothing really," Benny managed. "The meat doc's have had an outbreak of Gears in their labs, so they're distracted. The Skulls have all
been working on making trouble in the Hollows. They've been buying guns and fake hazard passes ever since the Trolls started blocking off the sewers again.
And they've been spacing their recruits out. A few guys looking to join the death heads have brought info on their targets and I've arranged a few
meetings, but word is the big two're playing it safe, now that the cops are getting the families of the masks to cremate when they can."
"So, no one is admitting to a graveyard snatch and grab?" she asked. Benny shook his head. "No boasts, no bragging?"
"I swear. There's been nothing."
Priss looked at him for a moment, then dropped a fifty on his chest. "Twenty second head start," Major Starlight called out. Benny yelped, grabbed
the money and fled down the street. "You believe him?" she asked Priss.
"Ya," she replied. "He knows not to try and fed people horseshit when they pay. They take it poorly, and usually take it out on him." Tam
laughed for a brief moment. "So... no one in the Row is admitting to it. Interesting..."
***