Chapter Sixty-Eight: And now, a plan.
“I already know.”
Daniel deadpanned after Tammy told him what she'd found out about
Judith Jofrey being Sidewinder.
Daniel deadpanned after Tammy told him what she'd found out about
Judith Jofrey being Sidewinder.
Silence reigned over
the tip. Charlie opened his mouth to say something, but then thought
better of it and closed his mouth. Soon after, Sammy had a thought,
but decided not to share it. Belle raised her finger ready to say
something too, but even she couldn't bring herself to make a noise.
the tip. Charlie opened his mouth to say something, but then thought
better of it and closed his mouth. Soon after, Sammy had a thought,
but decided not to share it. Belle raised her finger ready to say
something too, but even she couldn't bring herself to make a noise.
Awkward factor times a
million.
million.
“This is okay. We can
work with this.” TJ finally said.
work with this.” TJ finally said.
“Totally. Especially
as Danny is dating Judith.” Petunia agreed.
as Danny is dating Judith.” Petunia agreed.
Everyone nodded.
“You guys ARE allowed
to be mad at me for keeping it from you.” Daniel rolled his eyes.
to be mad at me for keeping it from you.” Daniel rolled his eyes.
That's when it started.
“How COULD you Dan?!”
TJ cried. “Sammy and I are you brothers!”
TJ cried. “Sammy and I are you brothers!”
“I know you think
she's hot, but she's MARIONS SISTER!” Sunny fumed.
she's hot, but she's MARIONS SISTER!” Sunny fumed.
“She's TRIED TO KILL
US MULTIPLE TIMES!” Sammy yelped.
US MULTIPLE TIMES!” Sammy yelped.
“Hang on guys.”
Belle looked thoughtful. “Let's roll back a bit and think.”
Belle looked thoughtful. “Let's roll back a bit and think.”
“What's there to
think about?!” Petunia wailed. “Danny KNEW that Judith is Mobster
Marions sister, he KNEW that she is Sidewinder, a woman who has tried
to kill us, and he didn't tell us?!”
think about?!” Petunia wailed. “Danny KNEW that Judith is Mobster
Marions sister, he KNEW that she is Sidewinder, a woman who has tried
to kill us, and he didn't tell us?!”
“How would you feel
if someone you were starting to grow feelings for was suddenly
revealed to be one of the bad guys?” Belle asked them. “Remember
Webster and Tate?”
if someone you were starting to grow feelings for was suddenly
revealed to be one of the bad guys?” Belle asked them. “Remember
Webster and Tate?”
“Wasn't THAT a
complete and total trainwreck and three quarters.” Tammy muttered
to Petunia.
complete and total trainwreck and three quarters.” Tammy muttered
to Petunia.
“At the very least
Dan hasn't started brutally murdering people en masse.” Belle
pointed out.
Dan hasn't started brutally murdering people en masse.” Belle
pointed out.
“Like I would!”
Daniel looked insulted.
Daniel looked insulted.
“See?” Belle said
triumphantly.
triumphantly.
“Besides, getting mad
isn't going to get us anywhere.” Charlie pointed out. “We need to
figure out what to do with this information.”
isn't going to get us anywhere.” Charlie pointed out. “We need to
figure out what to do with this information.”
“We should probably
talk to my Dad.” Belle suggested. “He'll know what to do.”
talk to my Dad.” Belle suggested. “He'll know what to do.”
—
Evil gleamed in the
eyes of Peter Masters.
eyes of Peter Masters.
“Dad, we're the good
guys remember?” Belle tugged at his sleeve as he sat at the Masters
table. “No blackmailing your boss with what we've just told you.”
guys remember?” Belle tugged at his sleeve as he sat at the Masters
table. “No blackmailing your boss with what we've just told you.”
“You ruin everything
Beauty.” Peter sighed as Meow jumped up and licked his face.
Beauty.” Peter sighed as Meow jumped up and licked his face.
“Still, it's
partially a good idea.” Bill pointed out as he wiped a glass and
put it away. “If Sidewinder gets wind of the fact that the Noble
Knights plus Chuckles and Giggles know that she's Judith Jofrey, then
it might be enough to keep the DVM under control.”
partially a good idea.” Bill pointed out as he wiped a glass and
put it away. “If Sidewinder gets wind of the fact that the Noble
Knights plus Chuckles and Giggles know that she's Judith Jofrey, then
it might be enough to keep the DVM under control.”
“It might be.”
Peter mused. “Then we have Jones under our thumb too. It could be
our chance to re-educate the people of this city without the fear of
retribution undoing all of the good work.”
Peter mused. “Then we have Jones under our thumb too. It could be
our chance to re-educate the people of this city without the fear of
retribution undoing all of the good work.”
“We finally have our
break!” Charlie grinned.
break!” Charlie grinned.
“If she doesn't try
to kill us first.” Belle deadpanned.
to kill us first.” Belle deadpanned.
“It'll be fine.”
Charlie patted her head.
Charlie patted her head.
Naturally, she bit his
elbow in retaliation. Being short isn't funny. Please don't pick on
your short friends.
elbow in retaliation. Being short isn't funny. Please don't pick on
your short friends.
“Belle, spit that
out, you don't know where it's been.” Sunny chided her. “You're
as bad as Melody.”
out, you don't know where it's been.” Sunny chided her. “You're
as bad as Melody.”
“One thing though,
how are we going to convince Sidewinder we have proof?” Peter
rubbed his chin as Belle spat out Charlies elbow. “We don't want to
implicate Dan.”
how are we going to convince Sidewinder we have proof?” Peter
rubbed his chin as Belle spat out Charlies elbow. “We don't want to
implicate Dan.”
“Otherwise they'll
just retaliate by telling everyone who we are, then we're dead.” TJ
frowned, sitting in front of the couch where Sammy lay, reading a
comic.
just retaliate by telling everyone who we are, then we're dead.” TJ
frowned, sitting in front of the couch where Sammy lay, reading a
comic.
All of them pondered
the question for a minute. Belle got up and grabbed a book.
the question for a minute. Belle got up and grabbed a book.
“Belle, honestly,
can't you stay focused on current issues for a minute?!” Charlie
groaned as Belle started investigating the book.
can't you stay focused on current issues for a minute?!” Charlie
groaned as Belle started investigating the book.
“Hush, pleb.” Belle
fired, shutting Charlie up. “I think I might have an idea.”
fired, shutting Charlie up. “I think I might have an idea.”
“Going to share it?”
Petunia asked.
Petunia asked.
“What, and spoil the
surprise?” Belle flicked a page over.
surprise?” Belle flicked a page over.
Everyone groaned.
—
While we wait for Belle
to finish reading, let's have a look at the latest spat from Mobster
Marion.
to finish reading, let's have a look at the latest spat from Mobster
Marion.
“No flowers, no
appreciation, no support, no love, no NOTHING!” She broke another
sword against the tree, which was looking much worse for wear.
appreciation, no support, no love, no NOTHING!” She broke another
sword against the tree, which was looking much worse for wear.
“You still haven't
done anything about getting payback for my trains!” Judith Jofrey
growled angrily.
done anything about getting payback for my trains!” Judith Jofrey
growled angrily.
“Why should I? No one
gives ME what I want!” Mobster Marion threw the broken sword away.
“Demon's been cagey recently and it's making it hard for us to rule
this city!”
gives ME what I want!” Mobster Marion threw the broken sword away.
“Demon's been cagey recently and it's making it hard for us to rule
this city!”
“If you weren't such
a greedy guts with the fuse of a toddler then there wouldn't be an
issue!” Judith snapped. “But noooo, because YOU can't control
your constant gluttony, you're constantly at the mercy of Chuckles
and Giggles. No wonder Demon wants us out.”
a greedy guts with the fuse of a toddler then there wouldn't be an
issue!” Judith snapped. “But noooo, because YOU can't control
your constant gluttony, you're constantly at the mercy of Chuckles
and Giggles. No wonder Demon wants us out.”
“Excuse me?!”
Mobster Marion rounded on her sister.
Mobster Marion rounded on her sister.
“The only reason he
has anything to do with us at all is because of what I own. The
moment I lose our legitimate assets the Mobsters of Misneach and the
Death Valley Gang will be going the way of the crime groups of old!”
Judith advised her sister snidely. “And you know what the March
Hill Crusaders are capable of.”
has anything to do with us at all is because of what I own. The
moment I lose our legitimate assets the Mobsters of Misneach and the
Death Valley Gang will be going the way of the crime groups of old!”
Judith advised her sister snidely. “And you know what the March
Hill Crusaders are capable of.”
“They haven't proven
a thing.” Mobster Marion shot back. “They can't even get rid of
those punks and the Noble Knights of the Last Order.”
a thing.” Mobster Marion shot back. “They can't even get rid of
those punks and the Noble Knights of the Last Order.”
“Lucky for you they
can't.” Judith muttered.
can't.” Judith muttered.
—
“So, what you're
saying is we can follow all these links through history back to the
Mobsters of Misneach?” Petunia looked over Belles shoulder.
saying is we can follow all these links through history back to the
Mobsters of Misneach?” Petunia looked over Belles shoulder.
They were sitting
around a table at Bills restaurant, eating nachos and listening to
Belle.
around a table at Bills restaurant, eating nachos and listening to
Belle.
“It was almost their
signature move back when they first established, if anyone had
bothered to connect the dots.” Belle pointed to the page she was
on.
signature move back when they first established, if anyone had
bothered to connect the dots.” Belle pointed to the page she was
on.
“Raid a business,
lower it's value, then have someone who looks completely unconnected
to the Mob come in and buy them out.” Charlie looked disgusted. “No
wonder crime managed to get such a foothold in this city.”
lower it's value, then have someone who looks completely unconnected
to the Mob come in and buy them out.” Charlie looked disgusted. “No
wonder crime managed to get such a foothold in this city.”
“They own most of the
businesses here, although the last few generations haven't been so
wise. Mobster Marion seems to get her issues from her father.”
Belle mused.
businesses here, although the last few generations haven't been so
wise. Mobster Marion seems to get her issues from her father.”
Belle mused.
Daniel looked at one of
the pages Belle had scribbled on. “And it looks like we have
further proof. Judith said that she inherited everything from her
Uncle. Officially though, it says he was her father. So there's a lie
we can catch her on.”
the pages Belle had scribbled on. “And it looks like we have
further proof. Judith said that she inherited everything from her
Uncle. Officially though, it says he was her father. So there's a lie
we can catch her on.”
“From what I've read,
the second child of the family was raised seperately from the oldest
one, with the oldest getting the Mob and the youngest getting the
assets. Then when the next heir to the Mob was born, their younger
sibling would inherit the assets.” Belle showed everyone her notes.
“Of course, there were a few false starts with siblings getting
resentful, but they were often murdered by the Death Valley Gang as
part of the agreement with the Mob to take out the March Hill
Crusaders.”
the second child of the family was raised seperately from the oldest
one, with the oldest getting the Mob and the youngest getting the
assets. Then when the next heir to the Mob was born, their younger
sibling would inherit the assets.” Belle showed everyone her notes.
“Of course, there were a few false starts with siblings getting
resentful, but they were often murdered by the Death Valley Gang as
part of the agreement with the Mob to take out the March Hill
Crusaders.”
“Wow. Just…wow.”
Peter looked through the notes. “So what's the plan?”
Peter looked through the notes. “So what's the plan?”
Everyone looked at
Daniel.
Daniel.
“Why do I have come
up with the plan?!” Daniel cried.
up with the plan?!” Daniel cried.
“Because she's YOUR
girlfriend.” TJ said.
girlfriend.” TJ said.
“Because YOU know her
best.” Tammy added.
best.” Tammy added.
“Because YOU'RE the
one with the most contact with her.” Sunny pointed out.
one with the most contact with her.” Sunny pointed out.
“Because YOU'RE the
oldest.” Sammy grinned.
oldest.” Sammy grinned.
“And because YOU'RE
our fearless leader.” Petunia finished.
our fearless leader.” Petunia finished.
“Technically he's not
our leader.” Charlie pointed to himself and Belle, who nodded.
our leader.” Charlie pointed to himself and Belle, who nodded.
“Guys, please. You'll
go along with whatever Dan decides, because Dan's got this, right?”
Sammy looked up at his hero.
go along with whatever Dan decides, because Dan's got this, right?”
Sammy looked up at his hero.
“Yeah!” The Noble
Knights of the Last Order crowded around Daniel, who looked pale.
Knights of the Last Order crowded around Daniel, who looked pale.
“Uhhh…”