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Post by DocHolliday on Sept 27, 2015 19:45:13 GMT
"I must ask, Jonathan, as it's been troubling me throughout this journey."
"Go on, Sanderson."
Professor Reed took in a deep lungful, readied his nerves, and spoke.
"That's Elijah. Our Elijah. But he... Unless I miss my guess, there is something perturbed about the boy. He has not ate a morsel nor breathed a word since we reconvened. There... There is something of the night about him."
Doc Murray nodded.
"There is indeed."
Professor Reed snorted, and puffed with indignation. He looked ahead, cogs grinding in his head. Doc Murray could almost see the smoke coming from his ears.
"He was a dear friend... I... All the times we've... risen men... but they were vagrants, human effluence, not to be missed. Elijah... Damn you, Jonathan! To the deepest Hell! If I should fall in our venture -"
"I shan't raise you," Doc Murray interrupted, "I give my solemn word."
"Very well... Good..." Professor Reed blustered, looking ahead once more at the road, but feeling an intense unease. He longed to cast a glance at Doc Murray, but daren't. He feared his glance would meet a predatory glare.
In Puerto Palomas, Professor Reed went off with Freddy to search for a likely place to put a smuggler's den. Elijah lumbered behind Doc Murray, and the curious fellow from Juarez followed suit. Doc Murray began to ask around for Stanley Howard.
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Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2015 20:08:45 GMT
Just outside Puerto Palomas, there was a disused mine shaft. It was clearly abandoned not long after being opened, and there was precious little trace of useful ores or minerals. Freddy, somehow retaining an instinct about mining ventures, indicated that he did not believe anybody would return here, making it a perfect place to establish a smuggler's den. They committed the location to memory, as to leave no trail for anyone outside the Crew to follow.
Back in Palomas, it became clear to Doc Murray that this was a town in which sobriety was most elusive. It was not governed by any discernible council or hierarchy, and the law certainly had no presence. Instead, the proprietors of each of the key establishments kept to themselves, rarely crossing each other's paths. The one exception were the dynamic duo of Francesco Vega and Angelica Ortiz, the two were observably close, but the nature of their relationship remained ambiguous to any onlookers. It was in La Casa de Citas, an establishment owned by Ortiz, where Murray found the scoundrel Howard.
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Post by DocHolliday on Sept 29, 2015 18:33:48 GMT
Professor Reed, with funds arranged from Doc Murray, builds a smuggler's den on Murray's behalf in the mine.
"Stanley Howard?" Doc Murray asked, tapping the fellow on the shoulder. Elijah cracked his knuckles behind his back.
"Now, now, Elijah. Mr Howard, allow me to buy you a drink."
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2015 20:01:25 GMT
The man was perturbed by the chance encounter, but believed one should never refuse a free drink and accepted the good Doctor's offer.
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Post by DocHolliday on Sept 29, 2015 21:15:11 GMT
Doc Murray bought two whiskeys, and sat at the table with Howard.
"Now, Mr Howard. I'm afraid my business here is unfortunate, for yourself. I understand that you owe a Mexican fellow in Juarez a sum of money, and that he would like it returned. I don't want to cause a stir, because if you refuse, one of my retainers, on behalf of my employer, will haul you back to Juarez personally."
"Do we have an understanding?"
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2015 21:54:59 GMT
'Jeez, look guys, I don't know what you're talking about. Ask any of these girls, I've been here for weeks. I was in Juarez, trying to set up trade in coca with Alvarez, on behalf of an anonymous client. The negotiations went south, deal flew off the table, and I thought that was the end of it. Before that Mexican maniac decided I'd murdered some of his hombres. I had to get out of town, but they blocked off the border crossing. So here I am, and here I've resided since. Now gentlemen, thank you kindly for the drink, you have your decision to make.'
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Post by DocHolliday on Oct 2, 2015 14:33:12 GMT
"So... as I understand it, you sell coca leaves?"
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Post by Admin on Oct 2, 2015 14:46:54 GMT
'Naw, I was hoping to open up a market in America on behalf of a client of mine. Alvaro controls all the Coca in the area, he changed his mind at the last moment, and all of a sudden I'm the most wanted man in Chihuahua. Look, I only have $200 in all the world. You can take that and see if it will satiate Alvarez, or you can lead me to my death. It's your call.'
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Post by DocHolliday on Oct 2, 2015 19:20:09 GMT
"Your money, then." Doc Murray replied, "There are worse things that can happen to a man than death, but I do not think penury is one of them."
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Post by Admin on Oct 3, 2015 9:28:20 GMT
'So be it.' The man handed over his wealth and retired into the bossom of a well to do painted lady.
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Post by DocHolliday on Oct 3, 2015 14:29:38 GMT
"That was strangely easy..." Doc Murray muttered. He handed the money to the Mexican that had accompanied him.
"Take the money to Alvaro. Tell him to send the coca leaves to my hideout in Puerto Palomas. I will send payment after."
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Post by Admin on Oct 3, 2015 15:28:08 GMT
'It will be done.' Said the Mexican with a wry smile. 'We'll send details of the payment we expect with the first shipment.'
OOC: Doc Murray will have a ready supply of coca leaves imported from Mexico for a price of $100 per week.
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