Home Stretch (c)

[Macbeth]

Macbeth had just spent another night with Risk in their dreary room at Kowalski's. She'd managed to sleep more this time, only to dream about the Eastman Gang and the horrible things they'd probably done to Gypsy. There were other dreams, too, even worse ones with Jo and Ershey in them, and she woke up knowing one thing for certain: even if they made it out of this alive, she was not going to be okay. And for Beth, there were only extremes; when she wasn't okay, she was a total fucking disaster.

The knock on the door didn't surprise her at all. She waited for Risk to get up so they could see what Sammie wanted now.

[Risk]

As usual, Risk bolted up and ran towards the door. He opened it to find Sammie, waiting patiently for the two of them.

"C'mon," she muttered, nodding at the both of them. Risk took Macbeth's hand and held it as the left the room until they reached Eastman's office once again. The three of them entered his room without a word, curious and anxious to see what he'd have for them this time.

[Macbeth]

Eastman, of course, flashed them his usual smirk. "Good work yesterday. I looked in on Genevieve this morning, and she seems to be enjoying her stay with us very much."

Macbeth's free hand curled into a fist, nails digging into her palm. So the girl hadn't escaped, but they hadn't killed her, either. Sammie probably knew where she was, too. Not that she could worry about any of that yet.

"I think," Eastman went on glancing at Beth and Risk, "that the two of you have proven that you're able and willing to do what you're told. So it's time we dispense with the tests and get on with real business. Namely, Alex Wisely and Tristan Shamien."

Beth's nails dug deeper, drawing blood. Normally, she would have been at least vaguely wistful at the thought of killing Tristan. Now all she could think was, Jo's with him.

"Obviously, I wouldn't entrust a monumental task like this to the three of you," Eastman was saying with a grin. "So you'll be meeting with a few...friends of mine to discuss the matter. Be at the Old Brewery at midnight."

And Beth squeezed Risk's hand and almost keeled over. That was it--a time and a place where all of Eastman's top players could be found. They had what they needed.

[Risk]

"Of course," replied Risk calmly, nodding as he turned to leave. "We'll be there." He glanced over at Macbeth, sending her brain waves that everything'll be alright. Hopefully.

The day went slower as usual, Risk counted the hours until it was midnight and time for them to be at the Old Brewery. Sammie left them to themselves, letting them know that she'd meet them there at midnight instead.

"You ready?" asked Risk to Macbeth, seeing the bar not too far away.

[Macbeth]

Her thumb brushed lightly over the back of his hand before she noticed it and stopped. It wasn't quite what you'd call a friend-like gesture. She blamed her nerves.

"Aside from the fact that this might be a trap and they'll just shoot us when we walk in?" she said nonchalantly, meeting his eyes. "Yeah, I'm ready. How 'bout you?"

[Risk]

Risk shrugged. "Let's get this over with," he replied, quite sure that he said this phrase almost every day since they set foot in Eastman's headquarters. Risk led the way, still holding onto Macbeth as he pushed open the door and led them inside.

"About time," said Sammie, spotting them immediately once they walked inside the door.

[Macbeth]

"Good to see you too, love," Beth said with an immediate smirk. "How was your day?" Baiting Sammie actually helped her relax; she always felt a little bit better about life if she could manage to piss off someone who deserved it.

Still, her eyes drifted past Sammie to the shadowy group of men seated around a corner table. This was it. If they could get names, and find out where these guys lived or spent their free time, they would have completed Goblin's goddamn mission.

[Risk]

"Just peachy," snapped Sammie, rolling her eyes at Beth. "Let's go." She started making her way towards the group of men seated at the corner table, with Risk and Macbeth following closely behind. She quickly introduced the three of them and mentioned Eastman, causing the group of men to look at each other knowingly.

[Macbeth]

Macbeth nodded when she was introduced and sat down at the table as if she owned it, putting her feet up and scanning the group of men. "And how 'bout all'a youse? Don't believe I've had the pleasure."

With people like this, there was a very fine line between 'sweet and feminine', which meant you were nothing but a whore to them; 'tough and competent', which meant they'd actually interact with you like an equal; and 'impudent', which meant they'd beat the living daylights out of you. She was trying really, really hard for the middle ground.

[Risk]

Sammie and Risk looked at Macbeth in awe as they sat next to her. Risk normally would've called her out on it but he figured it'd be better to keep cool and stay calm, especially when they were in front of Eastman's friends.

"Alex Wisely and Tristan Shamien," said one of the older men, ignoring Macbeth's statement as he leaned forward and placed his elbows on the elbow. "I'm sure Eastman's told you about them before."

"Yes," said Sammie politely, nodding. "Of course. And you want us to..."

"Careful, darling, we're in a public place," interrupted one of them, shooting her a glare.

"Owen, she's just trying to figure it all out," chuckled another one as he lustfully looked at her. "Aren't you?"

"What do you want us to do?" snapped Risk, causing the whole table to look at him. He cleared his throat, realizing his temper got the best of him. "Uh, sirs?"

[Macbeth]

Once the gang seemed to have collectively decided that Risk's outburst wasn't worth punishing, one of the men launched into an explanation of their plans for Alex and Tristan. Macbeth was not paying attention. She left that to Risk, trusting him to commit it all to memory, since he was a bloody cop and all. This might be important, sure, but what they really needed were names. And she was panicking as she started to realize that there was no way they were going to get them. This was a business meeting, not a social gathering. Unless...

Unless she made it social.

Scanning the group slowly, she settled on one of the younger guys who'd been checking out Sammie. Who looked as if he liked his girls a little rough around the edges. She caught his eye and, slowly, coyly, tilted her head and smiled at him. And when he smiled back and raised an eyebrow at her, she leaned across the table and whispered, "Drinks after the meeting?" He nodded and winked, reaching out to stroke her hair away from her face. The restraint it took Macbeth to not bite off his finger was positively superhuman.

[Risk]

Risk and Sammie were paying close attention as they listened to the men's plans for Alex and Tristan. Risk was trying his best to remember every movement, every detail as he watched each of them. There were about four men, varying from age. His concentration was broken when he noticed Macbeth shifting next to him. He looked over at her curiously, feeling his blood boil as one of them reached over and touched her. If they weren't playing undercover right now, Risk swore that the guy would've already been on the floor.

"Is that clear?" said one of the older men, glancing at the three of them.

[Macbeth]

"Perfectly," Macbeth said without missing a beat, turning to the man with a solemn nod. "Will that be all?" The others were getting up and muttering among themselves--and Macbeth's young man had already headed for the bar to order drinks for himself and his "lady friend." Turning to Risk, Beth kept her voice casual. "Go home. I'll see you later tonight."

[Risk]

"You better know what you're doing," whispered Risk, shooting Macbeth a look before disappearing into the crowd.

[Macbeth]

Beth actually wasn't sure she had a damn clue what she was doing, but Risk certainly won points for not being all annoying and protective. She took a deep breath, joined her new "friend" at the bar, and started walking her finest line yet. The line between seducing vital information out of a high-ranking gangster and giving him your virginity in the process.

An hour later, he was drunk. Two hours and she had him wrapped around her little finger. The more she flirted and then backed away from his hands and lips, the harder he tried to impress her. With the names of the big-shot gangsters he palled around with. The locations of their secret hideouts. The weapons they used, how many they had. And she teased, laughed, flirted, danced with him a couple times, did everything she could to stall the inevitable moment when she would have to follow him into the alley out back.

Three hours after Risk left the bar, Macbeth pounded on the door of their room in Kowalski's with utmost urgency. Her dress was torn and dirty, and her knuckles were bleeding profusely.