Brian Coltrane

But he's a tool nonetheless. *keeps a straight face* Yeah, expectin' them to stroll in heah with their whole scheme drawn out for us is a bit much. They're far too afraid of me to do somethin' that bold.

I'm comin' up blank. Mah only hope is that somebody would step up and volunteer to spy for me. *looks around the thinly populated booking room* Aside from that, I'd have to hope that Chet or Garrett would just walk in heah and announce all their insidious plots right to mah face. And then tell me exactly where I can find them when I get out.

Well, you're one of 'em, o' course, but everybody knows that, so it makes ya kinda useless in the spy department. No offense. And the other spies who go waaay back.... two of 'em are hardly speakin' to me, and recent reports have it that a third is on very friendly terms with the enemy. If I trust that last person, I could find mahself set up for disaster. *thinks about the denied pie a moment, which seems to be an example of What's Wrong With The World Today. Then looks at Alex with concern* What if ah'm truly out of friends?

*answers an earlier remark by L.J. Davenport* You weren't gonna bring me pie? There's nothin' worse than a pie lie, ya know. And seein' as how I don't intend to be in heah forevah, you might wanna stay on mah good side. Such as it is. *tries to work on a story, but distracted by Alex, as usual* Alex, Daniel can't spy for us. One, he's nevah around, two, he's nevah around, and three, he's nevah around. B'sides, he don't 'zactly blend in, around town. What I really need, is one of mah original, loyal spies.... *stops working on the story, and sighs a little* ...but they've mostly drifted off to other thangs in life. Thangs have changed in this town, Alex. I ain't got the allies I once did.

You might have coffee poured down your pants sooner than that. *finishes off the cup and caps it back on the thermos* Alex, snap outta it long enough to scheme with me, eh? Once MaryAnne springs you, ah'm on mah own heah - and as good as that sounds right now, we need to be on the same page. *lowers voice* There's no tellin' how soon MaryAnne will let you out. But we can't be blind to the outside world in the meantime. We gotta find a way to keep track of Chet and Garrett and anybody else who might favor a permanent change. Who can we trust?

*keeping distance from Alex* I wasn't quite sure who's gun you were talkin' about! And no, I don't think MaryAnne would be flattered by that particular statement. *drinks more coffee, pacing restlessly* Ah wonder if it's too late to plea bargain into capital punishment. Anythang's better than listenin' to this for the next month...

*pours coffee from the thermos into a cup. Thunks the thermous down on the small computer desk* Dude. I can't even believe you. Chet's out there plannin' lawd-knows-what, and ah'm willin' to bet Garrett's gonna be in on it. I'm locked up in heah, and I'll be lucky if I git mah bail made in two weeks, with workin' mah posterior off. And you! What's on yer mind?! How to score with mah cousin, that's what's on yer mind! Thank God I got coffee heah, 'cause there ain't no way I'm gonna git any sleep with yer doe-eyed gaze starin' at me all night... *slurps coffee noisily*

...sweet talk her into what?! *narrows eyes, letting go of Alex in order to glare at him better. Accepts the thermos of coffee from the Texas Lady, glad for it....it's going to be a long night...*

*after speaking to the ladies, turns back to Alex and grabs ahold of him by the front of his jacket* Alex, lemme lay it out to ya like this. We're locked up together. You got romance on yer mind. MaryAnne has just accepted a date with you. Your mind is gonna be in the kinda places that it can't afford to roam considerin' our close quarters and it makes me a mite bit uneasy. Do you dig?!

*looks to L.J. and the Texan Lady, glad for their offers* Hell yes, I'd take pie, ice cream and coffee right now. I've got a lot of work ahead of me, and I gotta git it done before Chet gets too used to mah title. Thank ya, ladies. *gives them a gentlemanly bow*

Name this. *gives Alex a swat in the head* Jeeze, could you have it any easier?! You masher. You slimeball. You.... Damn, I shoulda just offered a peach pie or somethin' for mah own bail. Sonofa.... *paces to the end of the cell, grumbling*

Oh lawdy. *covers ears, imagining what Alex might offer to MaryAnne*

*considers this another second* You'd take it personally, I figure. Couldn't blame ya. Awright.... *heaves a breath* Everybody else has played by the rules, so will I. I'll post bail, and considerin' all what I started, I'll make an offer you can't ree-fuse. *leans a shoulder against the bars and counts off a few items on fingertips* One. I'll come up with an article for this place every month. I fail to do so, you can put me back in heah. Two. I'll write a story from scratch, brand new, about the Dukes. Original characters only, just to prove I can still do it. Three. I'll finish the story I started two years ago, where you get killed off and become a ghost. For some reason ah'm in the mood to return to that one. *looks at cousin* This is a mighty handsome bail. *turns head to show best profile* Only fittin', I suppose. That said, I will offer ya items Two and Three completed, as conditions of ree-lease, and item One would be kind of an ongoin' parole thang.

I'd just as soon break mah way out --- *holds eye contact for a long moment* --- just to prove a point. But that would be the wrong point, wouldn't it.

(sidebar: You're fine. I enjoyed the comments. I'm just fightin' with MaryAnne right now. Everybody is welcome to chime in anytime as usual.)

*answers this by coming close to the bars again, looking through them sharply* Yer stallin'. If you really wanted me out, you'd let me out. If you really want me in heah, then quit teasin' me about bail that nevah gets set.

*at these words, slowly turns head, looking over one leather-clad shoulder at Chet...dark eyes smouldering with anger. Suddenly spins and lunges at the bars, throwing side of body against them hard, right arm snaking through the bars to grab Chet. But he's just a step too far away. Claws at the air once, snarling* You sonofa....took you almost 10 years, didn't it. This is what you always wanted. And you got just enuff of the town to stand behind you, finally, that MaryAnne went along with it. *straightens and grabs the bars, grip white-knuckled* Yer all pretty words now, boy, but I seen yer true colors. I ain't forgot the Chet who came to town years ago with one purpose on his mind. Well, maybe you forgot the Brian Coltrane who took you down then. Maybe you forgot why I can bring this town together and just as easily tear it apart. You just be careful, Chet, 'cause ah'm fixin' to give you some sharp reminders of how I got the title in the first place, once ah'm outta heah -- *lunges again, making another wild grab through the bars, catching nothing but air, cursing* --- #$%&*!!

*grabs the flask of booze, opens it, and guzzles down a bitter swallow, gritting teeth*

*reacts to MaryAnne's decree* GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! *letting go of the cell bars and turning away, pressing a hand over gut as if wounded...or sickened...*

I expected some trouble for throwin' you in heah. But ah nevah expected this much of it. And there's no way that sapsucker dee-serves to walk in mah boots for a single minute.

*grabs the bars, protesting loudly* NO! MaryAnne, don't do it! Don't give Chet mah title. You might as well take mah leather jacket away and burn it in front of me. Keep me heah as long as you want, put me on the chain gang, send me to Atlanta, but don't do this!

Way to go, man. *steps close to the cell door again , looking at MaryAnne with a frown* Either you didn't want me to git lonely in heah, or you got somethin' else up your blue sleeve.

GAH!! * no choice but to step back as Alex is shoved in. Gives cousin a shocked look as the cell door clangs, the double shuck n' jive now apparent*