[IC] Sudden Payback (Session 1)

"I can dig it, Lenny. Nice to meet you." 'Sam' sticks his hand out for a strong gripped handshake. "When're they cuttin' you loose? Sounds like the sort of scene right up me 'n Clank's alley." He shifts his weight to the opposite foot. "Always better with a friend,' namsayin?"

The applause fades after a moment, but the smiles and nods in the room suggest that Max's words seem to have hit home. Mahoney seems none-too-pleased. But before he can get in a retort, Captain Karen Guerriero comes over and shakes Max's hand. "Good work, Officer Roberts. You made us look good out there." She turns to Red. "And you, miss, thanks for the assist." She turns back to Max and looks concerned. "But you should be taking time off, Roberts. You took a beating in that brawl. I want you to take a couple of weeks of paid leave. See a doctor. Get sorted." The captain looks to Mahoney next. "In the meantime, you see to it that Roberts gets a full report of the incident, Mahoney. Shouldn't be much hassle, seeing as you're taking the lead on the investigation." Before the other cop can protest, she walks back into her office and closes the door.

Max locks up when the Captain shows up. He relaxes slightly and looks at Mahoney "Well Detective I was curious about the report and if there's anything I can do to assist, came in after I noticed the New said no one was arrested after the incident so I figure I'd check what happened to those apprehended by the Uni's on scene."

Why does everyone think I got beat up? I was totally fine after the incident. he thinks to himself before thinking of Henry and Marv's faces on the news during the icident.

Hank nods to Lenny and takes a drag on the cigarette. Ain't smoked in a good fifteen years. Better take it slow so I don't hack it up like a damn sixth grader. "Appreciate it, pal. Even if they ain't hiring today, least we'll know what door to scratch at."

"Gimme half an hour," Lenny says with a clap on Hank's back. "I gotta move a few palettes of paper around, but I'm owed some time off."

The two of you head back to Mildred and wait for O'Donnell to come back outside. About thirty minutes later, you spot him walking out of the building, lunchbox in hand and puffing on another cig. He heads over to the car as you roll down the passenger-side window. "Place ain't far. Maybe six blocks? Want I should hop in? Or you prefer a walk?"

Back at the precinct, Mahoney walks over to a desk and takes a seat, indicating for Red and Max to pull over a couple of aluminum chairs for themselves. "So, yeah, arrests last night. None so far. The problem is that most of the perps were unconscious when we nabbed 'em. They're all in hospital beds, and we're waiting on 'em to come to so we can read 'em their Miranda rights." The detective gives a sarcastic grin. "The ones who are alive, of course. I saw the tape. Looks like you made 'em get all shook up, huh?" He makes a gesture like someone falling and splatting on the ground. "So, any leads I should know about from what you saw last night?"

Max visibly winces and looks down feeling a bit small with the shock of the comment, "Wait, the partial plate wasn't in the report from the ones that drove off?" Max asks after wiping something out of his eye. He sniffs and frowns a bit. Did he forget to say something from the blur of the event or was it not actually added.

Mahoney's shit-eating grin disappears as he furrows his brow and opens a manila folder. "Wait--you got a partial plate? I was a little pissed that none of those media types got a good shot of the getaway vehicle, but..." He thumbs through the pages of the report. "What'd'ya know? Looks like a vanity plate of some kind. I can send it over to the DMV now. Should get results back within the week."

"I could do it since I have free time..." Max volunteers.

Marv pats Mildred's dash, "Be a shame to leave the ol' girl out of all the fun, but not my call to make. Whattaya say, Clank?" He struggles to suppress a snicker at the terrible nickname.

"I don't mind stretchin' my legs. Up to you, Clank."

Max gets the feeling Mahoney's not telling the whole truth. Besides, there's been a new system in place for at least two months that allows police to access DMV records directly. Mahoney's either not up to date on current procedure, or he's stalling for some reason. Or he's just being a jerk.

"Uh, yeah... sure. You want to hoof it over to the DMV, be my guest." Mahoney thumbs through the papers, his face seemingly in deep concentration. "You know as much as I do about it, right? B, A, W, something, something, B, A. Big, black van. Dark windows." The senior cop closes the folder and puts it back on the desk. "So, if you don't mind, Maxie, I've got a lot of work to get to..."

"Way I figure it, if it's the kinda place a man wants to have backup, it's the kinda place it wouldn't hurt to have a ride out. Let's drive and then park around the corner."

"Ok I'm on it Detective Mahoney." Max states and stands nodding away to Red with his neck.

He looks to find a free desk terminal to put in the information.

Lenny hops in the back seat as Hank takes the wheel. Since it's now after 5, there's a bit more traffic than usual—folks getting off their shifts at some of the few factories and warehouses still operating out here in Pillsville. But Lenny plays GPS and gets you to within a couple blocks of the place in about five minutes. From there, you find street parking for Mildred, and Lenny leads the rest of the way on foot.

As you turn only Lord Street, you see the place he has in mind: an old brick building that looks like it used to manufacture doors. The building's about a block away, on MacArthur and Lord. Marv texts this information to Max and Red.

"There she is," Lenny says. "Not sure what they got goin' on in there, but my buddy tells me the pay's good."