Operation Pie Spies

[thebadboyfriend.livejournal.com]

((Backdated to immediately following the second war/diplomacy council.))

Or maybe that was too dirty? But "Operation Let's Go Ask The Killers Not To Hurt Us, Please" didn't have much of a ring. Logan took the Skyway to Fantasyland arguing with himself all the way through Toon Town over whether it wouldn't be better to just go do the talking to Sweeney and/or Lovett himself if it had to be done, but nevertheless headed straight for Veronica's tree house - formerly Chip n' Dale's - like a responsible little conspirator. Maybe he was growing as a person. (Growing wussier.)

He bounced up the stairs and knocked on the treehouse's door. "Hey Mars. You home, or should I start checking all the girl's bathrooms?"

Comments

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

Veronica came down the stairs and met Logan at the doorway. "Logan," she said with a weary smile. "What's up?"

[thebadboyfriend.livejournal.com]

"Hey." Hm, was that not-feeling-so-good weariness, or just the chronic not-feeling-so-good-now-that-you're-here-with-your-I-need-a-favor-face-on variety? "So, uh, you remember that thing I mentioned when you first got here? About the meat pies?"

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," she said, concerned. "Is everything okay?"

[thebadboyfriend.livejournal.com]

"Well." He rubbed the back of his head. "Sort of yes and sort of no. Nobody's hurt or anything," he hastened to add. "Yet. Just, apparently they figured out that we - unspecific 'we,' but including the people who went to talk to them the first time - know about them. And they've moved back in together. Which must have been an interesting conversation, considering they, like, killed each other and all. So we figure they're kind of freaked."

"Dr. Jackson is going to go talk to them. And I said I knew someone who could set us up with a wire." A thought occurred. "You did bring your Nancy Drew Spy Kit with you, right?"

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

"I might have something that could work, yes," Veronica said. "I don't think collecting evidence is going to do much good in this situation, though."

[thebadboyfriend.livejournal.com]

Shrug. "Can't hurt. It'd be nice to be able to hear it if he's screaming like a little girl, for instance. And to know what they actually say, since I'm expecting his version to be something like, 'Well, Sweeney did offer me a shave at one point, but I'm sure he was just being polite. He probably doesn't get much business, and maybe he's lonely...'" (Logan's Daniel impression was pretty decent, if excessively goody-goodily sing-song. And probably going right past someone who'd never met the guy.)

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

Veronica raised her eyebrows. "All right," she sighed. "When are you planning on doing this?"

[thebadboyfriend.livejournal.com]

"Sooner the better, they all think. I have been sent to fetc...humbly request your assistance and escort you to the meeting at Cayce's. In Tomorrowland," he added as an afterthought.

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

"What? No limo?"

[thebadboyfriend.livejournal.com]

The landing was fairly close to Cayce's, just the other side of Space Mountain and the Pizza Port. Logan showed Veronica in with a gracious wave.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Veronica Mars, private eye. Veronica," pointing all the others out as he named them, "Susan Sto Helit, Cayce Pollard, John Crichton, and Daniel Jackson. Who you are bugging."

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

"Hey." Veronica gave them a small wave and smiled, feeling a little awkward.

[caycep]

"Hi Veronica," Cayce said. "So has Logan given you the rundown on what's going on?"

((...and I realize this contradicts Cayce and Veronica's "I don't believe we've met" at Logan's party. >.< Whoops.))

[veronica-pi.livejournal.com]

"More or less," Veronica said. "How close to, ah, the subject can we set up a surveillance spot? Everything I've got with me sends a signal to my laptop, but there's some variation in range."

[caycep]

"Anyone know the girl who runs the Blue Bayou, Rae?" Cayce asked. "She might let us set up shop there; that might be close enough."

[always-confuzed.livejournal.com]

John gave a small wave and a smile back. She actually kind of reminded him of Gilina at first glance. Of course, Gilina had been a Peacekeeper tech, not a private eye. Still, it was a comforting association to make. "I think most of us have been in the Blue Bayou at some point or another, so I'm guessing she wouldn't be against it. Doesn't Fett live right above her?"

[caycep]

"Yeah, in the Gallery. That should work out well, then." She looked at Daniel, a wry smile on her face. "Well, Daniel? Ready to do this thing?"

[a-good-man.livejournal.com]

“Yep,” Daniel said, with a purposefully comical grimace at Cayce and then a genuine smile for Veronica. “Ready when you are.”

The Interview

[caycep]

((If anyone has a problem with their strategic placements here, let me know and I'll revise.))

In a quiet corner at the back of the Blue Bayou, Susan, Logan, and Veronica sat hunched over Veronica's laptop. Cayce was watching one of the streets leading away from the shop and Crichton the other; he was also placed the closest, near enough to help Daniel if needed. (This decision had basically boiled down to Crichton being the biggest and most physically imposing of the crew.) And Daniel himself, wired and ready to go, was approaching the shop.

Cayce stuck her hands in her pockets and tried not to fidget.

[a-good-man.livejournal.com]

Daniel took a deep breath as he stood by the door to Mrs. Lovett’s shop… not hesitating exactly, but taking a moment to psyche himself up.

You were the one feeling guilty about the whole thing,” he reminded himself. This is what you wanted, a chance to tell the truth.

Like he had done the first time he had come to the shop, with John, for the first subtle interrogation, he knocked briefly and then went in.

[nellielovett.livejournal.com]

Mrs Lovett heard the door open and emerged from the kitchen. "Hallo there, dearie, how can I -- Oh. It's you, Mr Jackson. Lovely to see you, dear."

The smile was perhaps just a little pasted on. But that was more or less true of almost every smile she'd given anyone of late.

[a-good-man.livejournal.com]

Daniel offered a small smile in return.

“Hi, Mrs. Lovett. Is, um, Mr. Todd here? I was hoping I could talk to you both, if that's okay.”

[nellielovett.livejournal.com]

"He's upstairs, I think, but -- what was it you wanted to talk about, dearie? He doesn't really bother himself much with the business of the shop."

Pity there wasn't a harmonium or such about to keep him busy...

[a-good-man.livejournal.com]

Daniel pinched his lips together and glanced away from her, then back.

“Could you go get him, please? It’s kind of important.”

[nellielovett.livejournal.com]

She looked at him in silence for a longish moment, her mouth working slightly. Then she stuck the smile back on. "Very well, dearie, so I shall. Back it a moment!"

She clattered upstairs to Todd's room and rapped on the door. "Mr Todd! Mr Todd! Something's up!"

[attendthe-tale.livejournal.com]

The door creaked open a moment later. At any other time he might have ignored her tapping and scratching at doors, but when she sounded so distressed.... "Mrs Lovett?"