It's That Kind Of Night

[Ershey]

"I, uh... um..." started Risk, realizing that he left out a really important detail. It was now or never. It was the first time he considered telling the truth since he step foot inside the lodging house.

"I'm... an undercover cop," whispered Risk, just loud enough for Macbeth to hear.

[Macbeth]

"You're a...a what now?" She couldn't believe she'd heard him right. Then she thought he might be joking. Then she just started laughing, though whether it was because she figured he was joking or that he was serious, she couldn't quite say. "You're...you're a...you're not serious," she gasped out between gales of hysteria.

[Ershey]

Risk simply watched Macbeth, his face serious as she tried to process this new news. "Why'd you think I know so much? And how do you think I'd be able to track Adri this far? I'm not lying, Beth. And the last thing I want to do is turn my sister in."

[Macbeth]

By the time she finally managed to gain control of herself, she had to wipe tears from her eyes. Then she gave him a look that was very clearly not amused anymore. As much as she cared about Ershey, she wasn't even ready for that part of the picture yet. "What the hell did you come here for? To investigate this Ericson thing? Was finding Ershey just a...a side gig?" She looked him over in disbelief. "And how has no one killed you yet?"

[Ershey]

"Both," answered Risk, sighing. "I grabbed the opportunity when I had a feeling she'd be here. It all somehow fell into place. I'm here, so I might as well... it's been on my to do list and I've been wanting to see her." He looked over at Macbeth, feeling himself sobering up due to Race's previous outburst. "Well, the closest person who's got close to killing me would be you."

[Macbeth]

She shook her head, leaning against the porch railing to process all this. "So...all those questions. Everyone complaining about how curious you are..." What the hell had she told him when he was drunk? Hadn't she mentioned gang connections, for God's sake? And that was the least of her worries right now. "And Ershey was involved? Ershey?" If he hadn't already said he didn't want to turn her in, Beth might've stabbed him on the spot. "Who else?" she demanded.

[Ershey]

"Those two siblings... Goblin and Wraith? I got Goblin out of the Refuge so Wraith'd keep her mouth shut... I'm sure that Brookie had somethin' to do with it too. Or else he wouldn't threaten me to be careful around here."

[Macbeth]

Macbeth was pretty sure her heart actually stopped for a second. "So...that's what that was about."

Ershey was her dearest friend in the world. She'd never do anything to hurt her or get her in trouble. But Tristan Shamien didn't know that, and she had something on him now. And from what she'd gone through today, she knew there was a good chance she might need it. For now, however, she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the matter at hand. "So you solved your case," she said with her usual biting sarcasm. "Congratulations." She glared at him. "But you can't tell anyone about it, 'cause of Ershey. So you go to your...boss or whoever the hell you..." She was still having trouble with this cop thing. "...and tell him you didn't find out anything. What's the problem?"

[Ershey]

"I can't just pretend nothing happened," muttered Risk angrily. "I have to come back with something. Get their scent off of Ericson... they've been hunting these people down since they've heard about it. It's an open case until there's evidence that they're not worth going after. And since they're just a bunch of newsies, the other cops just see it as a bonus. Extra money for the year. And if I come back with nothing, I lose my job."

[Macbeth]

"This may come as a staggering shock to you," Beth said, "but the tragedy of you getting fired is failing to move me right now. I don't give a damn what you come up with as long as you leave Ershey and her guy out of it. Though," she couldn't help adding, "if you find a way to pin the whole mess on that Tristan guy, I'll buy you a lifetime's worth of beers."

[Ershey]

"I worked hard to get this job," sighed Risk. "I'm actually getting paid to do something I'm good at... even though it means getting beat up over it once in a while. It's something that Adri would be proud about... er, until she finds out about this whole thing. I just need to distract them with something... wait, Tristan? Why, you have something against him?"

[Macbeth]

"Tristan is a whole other conversation," Macbeth snapped, "and one that I'm not sure we're ever gonna be having, because I don't usually have conversations with fucking undercover cops." She sighed, actually tired out by the absurdity of it all. "And I bloody well hope you realize that you're telling Ershey everything as soon as she's sober enough to understand it. You're gonna have to leave when you wrap this whole thing up anyway. What were you even planning on telling her then?"

[Ershey]

"I, uh... I don't know... I haven't thought that far," he frowned. "I'm still trying to let her get used to having me around. She just found out that I'm here and now I have to tell her I'm a cop? I'm pretty sure she'll run away just like last time."

[Macbeth]

"If I remember correctly, she ran away last time 'cause you gave her plenty of reason to. And I can guess at the details," she said with quiet fury in her voice. She remembered how close he'd come to hitting her when she interrogated him on the roof. There was no real doubt in her mind that he used to knock his sister around, and the thought made her want to kill him all over again. "Did it ever occur to you that she'll be a hell of a lot better off if you just leave?"

[Ershey]

"Leave?" repeated Risk, astounded. The idea never occurred to him at all. "Why would I leave? I finally found Adri and now that she knows that I'm here, you want me to leave her?"