Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Sidekicks (Original Draft) Chapter 3

Chapter 3
A File and a Name


Night was beginning to fall as Damien, Father Damien, Leslie, and Chernobyl stood around the police station counter, and an officer by the name of Jones shuffled through the files.

"Have you ever seen Broderick?" Officer Jones inquired.

"No, but I've heard his voice."

"We've been after 'im for years, but he can get out of any fix." He handed them an open file. "This is Luther."

Ms. Laws looked at the pictures. Staring back out was the person whom they called Luther Broderick, his blond hair falling over one eye. He was extraordinarily handsome, but his eyes...he had the iciest stare she'd ever seen. Looking into those eyes, she had a feeling total terror, and the feeling that she just couldn't stop looking... [Note--seems to be a missing "of" before the word "total."]

"Ms. Laws, Ms. Laws, ma'am!" Officer Jones's voice came faintly, but then Ms. Laws came out of it, finding that she'd dropped the folder.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said hastily, trying to reach for it. But someone else reached it before her. Looking up, she saw that the person was female, and appeared to be a gypsy [sic]. She wore a crystal around her neck, and her dress was fringed with different-colored beads. She had a red and yellow kerchief on her head, and black hair. Her eyes were black and slightly slanted, giving her a foreign appearance. When she spoke they knew for sure that she wasn't American. [Note--ick, ick, ick. I apologize to any Romany who might stumble across my early writing. Not only did I fall prey to Stereotype Heaven, but who said that Gypsies can't also be American?? In my more recent, less ignorant storyline, I still have Roma characters, and yes, they're still foreign, but they're also American. Cripes.]

"I believe you dropped this, darling," she said, smiling strangely.

"Thank you," Ms. Laws said nervously, taking the folder and edging back.

"I believe we've never met," Damien said, pushing forward to see her.

"Oh, ve have," she said, "in a past life."

"What?" Damien asked, looking puzzled.

"Vhy, you don't remember? I vas a countess, and you, you vere a saint--Saint Damien [sic], to be exact." [Note--no more "Madame Solatska" in the storyline, fortunately. The "Saint Damian" reference on the other hand, interestingly enough, remains intact into the newest version of the storyline.]

Damien's eyes widened. He looked impressed. [Note--more in-character reaction would be for him to roll his eyes or something.]

"Just who are you and what are you doing here?" Officer Jones asked, annoyed.

"You may call me Madame Solatska," the gypsy [sic] replied. She turned to Ms. Laws and Damien again. "I came to varn you. The great varrior from the fertile flatlands is out for the little loyal friend. It is best to go into hiding before the hallowed evening." Then she left.

"What does that mean?" Ms. Laws asked.

"She was referring to names," Damien said quietly. "The great warrior from the fertile flatlands is Luther Broderick." [Note--no way the real Damien would know something that obscure off the top of his head.]

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