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 Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:03 am
*Bard gives Maureen a hug* Sorry again, Mo.
*Maureen hugs him back* "Don't you worry about that. Just be happy... with... whatever. That's all I ask, okay? And bring this guy back. You know... Time permitting."
I will. I promise. *Bard reaches for the door*
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:13 am
Thanks. Have a good night.
*Luke follows Bard outside in the snow to where he's parked his car.*
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:37 am
*They reach the car and Bard unlocks the passenger-side door for Luke before climbing into the driver's seat. Once they're both inside, Bard heaves a long sigh*
Terrific. Now, she almost certainly thinks I'm just ditching her party. I've told her all about you, Luke. She knows where you're from, and she knows when you're from. And so that whole bluff about family business must have registered as one big lie.
Why did you... *he looks at Luke curiously* ... you... you weren't actually bluffing, were you?
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:11 pm
*Luke had been staring forward. He turns to Bard.* I need to get to Pennsylvania, and I need to get there as soon as possible.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:34 pm
*Bard's jaw works for a second but no sound comes out. At last, he turns away from Luke and puts the key in the ignition. The Jaguar's engine purrs like a kitten as he pulls out onto the street*
Okay. First, we're going to go to my house. Then, we're going to sit down, and you're going to tell me exactly what the hell is going on. After that, we'll talk about going to Pennsylvania.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:55 pm
*Luke opens his mouth to say something, but then closes it.*
*He sighs.* Fine. Okay. *He says cooperatively.*
*Luke looks outside as the snow continues to fall and the wind blows. Luke puts on the coat Bard gave him, thinking - Christ, what time was it?*
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:43 am
*The drive into Evanston takes more than an hour because of the snow, but Bard doesn't say a word the whole way. He barely gets the car into the garage. He gets out of the car and just barely manages to get the garage door closed again. He gives Luke a meaningful look, as if to say, 'I don't know how you plan to drive to Pennsylvania in this'*
All right, let's go sit by the fire and warm up.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:12 pm
*Under normal circumstances, Luke would have had much to say to that. (Are you gonna hold my hand? Whisper in my ear? The least you could do is buy me dinner first.) But his mind is in a different place - as it has been since he left the Brink.*
*Luke waits until Bard closes the door to his house to say.* Look, I was quiet in the car... because you asked me to be. But I wasn't joking before. I have to get to Pennsylvania. *Luke looks at the clock in Bard's house. It was just after 11:30 p.m. He levels with him.* I know it's late. I know it's Christmas, and it's snowing like hell outside. But I need to check what flights are going out, and I need to get to the airport.
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:18 pm
*Bard doesn't even look at him. He walks over to the gas fireplace and adjusts it until the flames begin burning cheerily. He sits down in an overstuffed armchair and motions for Luke to take a seat opposite him. When Luke doesn't sit immediately, he says*
Luke, I can see this is extremely important to you, and by the way you keep glancing at the clock as though it's going to jump off my mantel and attack you, time seems to be of the essence. However...
... as far as I'm concerned--as far as you're concerned, whatever is happening right now in Pennsylvania is ancient history. You don't need to be there any more than I do. So, why don't you sit down now and tell me exactly what's going on. What happened on Christmas 1999 that you're so desperate to get back here?
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:03 am
*Luke jerks and frowns at the words ‘ancient history’ and again when Bard calls him desperate. He walks over and sits across from Bard. He pauses for a moment, collects himself, and says.* Look… when I was 17, my sister was targeted for a kidnapping. My father works for the government, and these bastards must have thought they could get some money out of us if they took her. They went after her at this park where she always went running. But before they could grab her, I showed up. I broke it up, and she got away. But… *Luke breathes deeply, before he continues in a hard tone of voice.* There was three of them and one of me and … They got me instead.
*Before Bard can say anything, Luke declares.* Look, I got out fine. You can see that. People found me, and I got out okay. *Luke leans in urgently.* But… they never caught the mother ******** who did this to my family. I’ve looked at all the mug shots in the world, and I’ve tried for years to ID these mother ********. But… *He admits.* I can’t.
*levels with him* Bard, this is happening 12 hours from now. It might seem like ancient history, but it’s -not- to me. This is happening now. If I can get out to Pennsylvania, I can see who did this, and I can find the bastards who did this to my family.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:47 am
*Bard listens carefully to what Luke has to say. At last, he sighs and says*
Say you find them. What are you going to do?
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:07 am
*Luke stays silent for a moment, then says with conviction.* I'm gonna figure out who they are. I'm gonna remember exactly what they look like and go back to the authorities working on the case, so they can find the bastards.
*Luke frowns. His voice is hard, but level.* These people are still out there. I don't know what else they've done. I don't know what they're going to do next. But I bet you anything this wasn't their first brush with the law. *adds angrily* Or their last.
Look, I have tried everything, for years, and I haven't been able to find these people. This is my chance to go back and see who did this. *brow furrows, as he says simply but firmly* I have to do this.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:18 am
*Bard rubs at his eyes*
Luke... there is no way in hell I can, in good conscience, send you off to Pennsylvania to find your own kidnappers....
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:32 am
*blinks, puts his hands out* Bard, you're not "sending me off" anywhere. All right?
*Luke makes himself calm down and talks in a softer tone of voice.* Look, I didn't want to involve you in any of this. Okay? I didn't. If I could do it myself I would, but the bottom line is that I can't get a plane ticket on my own. I need you to help me get to Pennsylvania. <********, asking him... Luke was all but begging him.* I'm not gonna get another shot at this. I have to get out there. But I need you to help me do it.
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Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:12 am
Luke, I'm not getting you a plane ticket on Christmas night in the middle of a blizzard. Provided I could even get you of flight the next 48 hours, which is doubtful, all you're going to do is sit in the terminal because the planes aren't even going to get off the ground.
But if you don't believe me? *he motions to the telephone* Go ahead and call the airports. O'Hare and Midway. Who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky.
*he rises from his seat and heads for the kitchen* I'm going to make us some coffee.
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