[IC] Sudden Payback (Session 1)

"That's weird," Tyler adds from the corner. "The news said no one got snatched up from One-Two, though. Why's it matter that Fatima escaped from Wholesome?"

"Nah, no one got snatched but not for lack of tryin'. They ran into a little bit more opposition than they anticipated. Red, Hank, Max and me are a bit more than they bargained for and beat 'em back, but they were there to snatch another recent prisoner we think." Marv lets the revelation sit for a moment, watching the Pantones' reaction carefully. "You said Fatima escaped? Tall order to get done alone. Anybody she owes a favor for that early freedom?"

"I've reason to believe albeit no proof that there is a corrupt cop behind bars still trying to manage and expand a criminal organization from behind bars, if former criminals are getting out they make good people to exploit even if they want to walk more on the straight and narrow and not end up back in prison. I wouldn't put it past someone recruiting against people will to resort to kidnapping when the person being asked wants nothing to do with it and being forced to work and do things they don't want to with the threat of their family and friends being leaned on, coerced, or possibly threatened to be killed... If Fatima is under duress is doing something to you all highly likely to make her do something dangerous she'd rather not do to keep you safe?" Max unloads out of the blue rubbing his chin with his thumb absent mindedly.

Sensing, perhaps, that Max is a cop, Fatima shoots Tyler an angry look. "Fatima... She said her 'release' from Wholesome wasn't exactly above-board. Said she was on some work detail out in the Sticks when the guard up and told her to get lost. Said he'd come calling when he needed a favor." She looks down, flushes. "She came back here, and things seemed back to normal. I was worried something would happen to her, that this guard would come lookin' for his 'favor,' but she told me we Pantones could hold our own, not to worry 'bout it. She promised... she wasn't going anywhere." Tasha clenches her fist, a baleful scowl coming over her face. "Then those yahoos in the masks showed up and yanked her... in the middle of the goddamn night!"

Tyler puts a hand on Tasha's arm, a stark contrast to his machismo outside. "Hey, Tash—we'll find her. Don't worry," he says. Tasha flinches at his touch, and he retracts the hand. He looks to Max. "We've been worried they might come back, especially if Fatima's refusing to cooperate with whatever they have in mind. We've been trying to figure out who snagged her, but so far no luck."

"Damn. Sounds awful familiar. Our pal got out of Wholesome on 'good behavior,' but sure seemed to happen fast. Seems like maybe this crooked guard is trading favors in the joint for muscle outside. An' it doesn't sound good that even with folks in his debt, he feels the need to kidnap them. He must be planning somethin' big to get this loud and reckless."

Hank strokes his beard as he looks up at the festive wallpaper on the walls: movie film and cameras dance around the border:


No wonder they come out swinging. If they'd brought us straight here, I'da thought they were a Mickey Mouse operation for sure.

"By the way, anybody else here do time in Wholesome? Any chance they'd know anything about this guard?"

"Did he look like this?" Max asks after a few seconds pausing the video feed from the store on the tight uniform heavy set hairy cop.

Tasha and Tyler take a look at the footage, eyes widening when they see the guard show up. "Is that the asshole?" Tasha asks. "I never saw the guy. And Fatima never really said much about him." She pauses another moment, catching her temper it seems. "She did mention that some goon came calling one night and demanded she do them some favor. She told them to go to hell. I'm guessing the kidnapping was payback for her telling them to get lost."

"Well if she's out on early release kidnapping falls into line to get her to do something with no way out. Thank you for the information. Lay low so they can't dangle you to edge Fatima's decision." Max states before looking at the others "Are we still going to start cold searching for kidnapper hideouts now?"

Marv peeks over Max's shoulder and something about the video still shakes loose a memory. He snaps his fingers and points at the screen, "I totally know that guy." He takes Max's phone without asking and holds it close to his face, "I don't know why I didn't recognize him before. He's a wholesome guard." He hands the phone back to Max, "Real hard ass wannabe jar head type. What was his name again?" He scratches his head as he tries to recall the guard's name.

"Victor. Victor Petrovich. Had that gung-ho newbie energy. Did Fatima mention anything about somebody coming around in the days before she got snatched? Our friend had an "opening offer" before they came for him. We think they wanted to grab him because he refused. Did Fatima turn somebody down beforehand?"

Max leans in his hand over his mouth, "She literally just said that... you ok?"

Tasha nods. "Sounds like the same thing that happened to your friend. This guy let her go if she did a favor down the road, and she said no. So they snatched her up." She stands up and pounds a fist on the table. "I'm sick of staying here while Fatima rots somewhere!"

"You and me both, sister. If we let this continue, who knows what happens to Fatima, or how many innocent people get hurt. I say we do some digging on Mr. Petrovich and then pay him a visit. Who knows what muscle is backing him up, or we'll be walking into."

He looks to Red, Max, and Marv, then over to the Pantones. "I'm pretty confident in the abilities of the One Two Crew, and I can think of a hell of a lot worse cavalry than the Pantones to back us up. What do you say, folks? Want an ally in this? Show 'em you don't mess with Rumble City without Rumble City messing right back?"

Hank puts out his hand out for a shake with Tasha.

The Pantones' de facto leader looks at Hank, then to Tyler, who stares blankly at the faded cartoon figures on the wall. She leans forward and puts her fist on Hank's. "We're in. Rumble City's gotta Rumble." Tyler adds his fist to the pile, as do the handful other Pantones in the room."So what do you have in mind? We going after them, or luring them here?" Tasha asks.

Red adds her hand.

"Ooo, lure them! Maybe you can bring them in, probe them for information while we hide, and if things get violent we'll pop out and surprise em'!" Red is not much for strategy, but tries her best.

"Isn't that a good way to get arrested possibly?" Max warns.