[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=orangered]Caesar[/color] & [color=darkgoldenrod]Keystone[/color][/i][/b][/h1]
[img][/img][hr][b][color=dimgray]Location:[/color][/b] Chicago (Grimaldi Books -> Outside of Grimaldi Books)
[b][color=ff4500]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A
[b][color=b8860b]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A [hr][hr][/center]

	Caesar didn't react immediately as the paperwork he was holding was snatched out of his hand and shoved underneath the counter in front of him. He stuck the hand that once held said papers into his jacket pocket, and tilted his head slightly to the side. The proprietress apparently had a bit to say, following the nonverbal refusal of service. While it easily could have been a predictable monologue, there lay the remote possibility that she might say something useful, even in hindsight, and so Caesar continued his lack of reaction until the magic words were spoken: [i]Get Out[/i]. Thus ended the legalities of his presence. The letter and spirit of a law that he disagreed with on a personal level was something he didn't overly care one whit about. This sort of scenario, if illegalities were pressed, stood to profit him nothing.

	He spent the next half second in contemplative thought, followed by a simple, [color=ff4500]"Hmm."[/color] It wasn't an objection nor a flat refusal to Adelaide's demand for his removal of self from premises, nor was it a question in monosyllabic grunting form. It didn't particularly seem to be an acknowledgement that he heard and understood the intent behind the words, either, nor the wordless expression that he might have an idea forming in the interim. While such things were not beyond the man, it simply wasn't foremost at the moment. When Caesar did react, it was to pick up his phone and clear the open bank transfer application, as it would not be seeing use. [color=ff4500]"I'm sorry, ma'am."[/color] he said flatly. [color=ff4500]"[i]Disfruta el resto de tu dia.[/i]"[/color][sub]1[/sub] He held no illusion that the woman didn't speak Spanish as well as other languages. Many people seemed to these days. 

	When the older Mexican turned to leave the building, Keystone immediately moved to the door, himself. He held it open for Caesar and, just prior to exiting behind him, cast a slightly confused look, coupled with a shrug, back at Adelaide. She had apparently moved onto other business, so he simply called out in a voice that seemed friendlier than the conversation so far that day, [color=b8860b]"Thanks again f'that coffee, Miss!"[/color] He let the door close behind him. 

	Back on the streets of Chicago, the big man wondered how much closer they would be to the actual site they were supposed to be investigating were it not for this detour. Naturally, he wasn't very trusting of the magic letters that popped up on a closed electronic system over a pre-recorded movie of obscure origin that urged them to look for ...something... that cost more money than a decent sized house just to learn about. He began to understand Caesar's earlier hesitance, and the reason why he had made an attempt to alter details of the deal as it went on. Considering all that had gone on in recent weeks, this looked so, so very much like a setup of some kind. 

	It was extremely possible that the events of the party at Queensguard R&D were making him a little paranoid. The memory of it was still very fresh in his mind of how he followed protocol and beyond, put so many safeguards and as much personnel into play for that last-minute gathering, and set the best technical minds he could acquire on the job. Then he remembered that nothing helped in the least. About how, despite personal communications being online still, no one would report nor give him answers to direct questions. No one was stationed at their appointed areas after he put them there himself. Bad things kept happening and nothing even slowed them down. Even this last bit about the motor pool being robbed, after [i]even more[/i] precautions were taken. Was it paranoia after that? And was it too much to think that this could be one huge trap? [i]Another[/i] one? Keystone kept those thoughts to himself. What he did voice was another security concern. 

	[color=b8860b]"Been puttin' some graymatter to it, Boss. May'ap I ought not go back on the now, yeah? Things bein' arseways as they are, maybe we ought not split up. Can just as easy float a message on one of our secure services..."[/color] 

		[color=ff4500]"We don't have secure services, Keystone."[/color] growled Caesar, interrupting his subordinate. He just glared at the larger man, giving an expression of frustration and anger. [color=ff4500]"Everything has been compromised. [i]Everything[/i]. You know this. My home. Building. Business. Tech. The [i]plane[/i]. All compromised. No communication is safe. It has to be handled in person, quietly."[/color] 

	[color=b8860b]"Well lookit, [i]El Jefe[/i], it needs doin' in a timely bloody fashion, and me on a plane ain't timely. Get me? You an' me's gonna have to think of somethin' else to do, on the sodding [i]now[/i]. Got anything indirect you can send what's faster than air travel?"[/color] 

		Caesar thought for a moment. [color=ff4500]"Maybe."[/color] Their new Tech Lead was his niece. Her father, Caesar's brother, was a priest. If nothing else, the Catholics were a highly organized bunch. He might be able to convince a local Church to send a message to his brother Benecio, who in turn may send one up to his daughter. Personal courier sent through channels completely unrelated to any of MSS's holdings in that part of the world.

	Keystone could see the wheels turning in Caesar's mind. [color=b8860b]"Right! Maybe's better'n fuck-all. Got someplace we need to be in town?"[/color] he asked, the two of them making their way to the company vehicle. It sounded almost hopeful. 

		[color=ff4500]"Yeah. Need to go pray first."[/color]  

	That was NOT the answer Keystone was expecting. 

	


[hider=Translations]
1	=	"Enjoy the rest of your day."
[/hider]