Press "Enter" to skip to content

A Dangerous Con: Ignoring the Hospital Quiet Zone (Part 2)

Miss Domino stepped forward again, launching a punch – one that landed squarely in Mr. Wright’s eye as he lunged between them. “Will you two stop?” he growled, as Domino struggled, trying to reach around him.

“Out of the way, Wright!” yelled Bookworm.

Mr. Wright looked back over his shoulder at her. “Domino was helping me!”

“How could she? You weren’t here!”

“No, but she has removed a very large problem from the path of a friend.”

Bookworm goggled at him. “By nearly killing that man?!”

Mr. Wright snorted. “He’s a Shore’s man. He’ll be fine.”

Domino continued to struggle, hitting and kicking out at Bookworm. Mr. Wright grabbed hold of both her arms. “Domino, stop.”

“Tell that to her!”

“I am. First, I’m telling it to you.” That did no good, as Domino continued to try to kick Bookworm.

“Wright, I gave her one more chance,” Bookworm said sternly. “She has wasted it. By my authority as Militia captain, I order you to stand aside. She *will* be placed in a cell. Now.”

“Look, can I just explain what’s going on? And why Domino is far more useful to us outside a cell?”

“Useful?! She’s downright insane!” As she exclaimed this, Bookworm felt another presence behind her. She looked swiftly, to see Mr. Ranulf Falconer there – the new man she’d allowed into the Militia, provisionally. He looked into Domino’s eyes and said her name.

“But also a skilled combatant,” Mr. Wright continued, “and one we can use against our hunter problem.”

“She cannot be trusted!” In the silence after Bookworm’s exasperated cry, Mr. Falconer repeated Domino’s name again and again, capturing the woman’s attention. Her struggles against Mr. Wright slowed down.

As Mr. Falconer continued his mesmeric work on Domino, Mr. Wright said, “You just need to direct her violent inclinations at the right outlet – as we’ve done to Nicholas Herding’s giant. There is a point to tonight’s violence.”

Bookworm cut him off. “No. I do not want to hear this right now. I don’t care if she’s in Militia headquarters, or the asylum. But she needs to be taken off the street now.” At those words, though, Domino began struggling against Mr. Wright’s grasp again.

Mr. Falconer, his eyes still locked on Domino’s, said quietly, “Let me have her. I will take her wherever you wish.”

“Conduct her to Militia headquarters,” she replied, her eyes on Mr. Wright, who glared balefully at her.

“Yes, Captain.” He stepped toward Mr. Wright and the now-panicked Domino. “Domino – look at me.” His voice, still calm and quiet, continued, “Remember… relax…” Suddenly, he roared, “Listen to me!” causing Bookworm to jump. He smiled, having seen her reaction out of the corner of his eye, and his voice dropped back into quiet. “Sleep.”

Domino went limp, dropping out of Mr. Wright’s arms. Mr. Falconer quickly stepped in and picked her up, holding her easily in his arms. “She is fast asleep.”

At that moment, Dr. Jekyll rushed in, his clothing rumpled, as if it has been put on hastily. “What on earth… is…” He stared at them all, eyes wide in shock. “Miss Hienrichs?”

“She is fast asleep,” Mr. Falconer assured them.

Bookworm replaced her revolver in its holster. “A neat trick, that, Mr. Falconer. Take her to headquarters now. I’ll be along later.”

“Yes, Captain.” As he moved to leave, Mr. Wright snarled at him in Latin. Bookworm, who had, of course, studied Latin, looked askance at him. Mr. Falconer only smiled, and replied, “Semper ubi sub ubi.” With that, he exited, still carrying Domino easily.

Dr. Jekyll looked at Bookworm and Mr. Wright nervously. “I was informed that there is a patient for me. Where is he?”

“I believe they put him in the exam room next door.”

“Thank you.” As he hurried out, Mr. Wright followed, saying, “Henry, a word, later.”

Bookworm took the time to beckon a couple of the nurses over, and spoke hurriedly with them. After a moment, she was convinced that Mr. Quillman’s account was the accurate one, and she shook her head grimly. She headed through the hospital, and paused, seeing Mr. Wright lingering near the exam room. “We will speak soon, Mr. Wright.”

He said nothing in reply, and she continued on, heading back home. She’d decided to have Mariah look at her shoulder, so she could get some peace. There was certainly none to be had at the hospital… again.

Spread the love

One Comment

  1. Beryl Strifeclaw Beryl Strifeclaw July 25, 2016

      She had asked them to be subtle, discreet, unnoticed so that no one would connect them to the events.  They were her regulars, every action they took came back against her.  ‘Thinking like Tepic’ to Hyde apparently meant a public brawl with three of her regulars and Domino stabbing Gus in the hospital in front of witnesses. 

       Mr. Herding was calling her into the office, and he had a knife in his hand and three guards standing beside him.  

       Survive.  Whatever you have to do to survive.  Cyan’s words rang in her mind besides Myrtils.  Fly needs you.

       Beryl steeled herself for what was coming next.  She hoped he would believe her version of events…and she was now considering something she had never done before.  Something she had avoided at every turn…to complete what she needed to do for Fly and to survive no matter the cost, while being…questioned she might be forced to make another vow…this one to Mr. Herding.

      She entered the room and the men shut the door behind her.

Leave a Reply