Byrd Man — Roleplayer Guild

Tonight’s Episode
“Pros & Cons”

Midtown
Heroes for Hire Offices

“Do you like art? Either of you?”

Murray Sandoval looked between Misty and Chase after he asked his question. Sandoval, dressed in a navy blue tartan suit with matching bowtie and pocket square, was ever bit the dandy Chase had heard he was. The famous Manhattan art gallery owner seemed out of place among the more… humble architecture of Chase and Misty’s office. File boxes from the Campisi case were still stacked around the room. Sandoval had placed his blue homburg on the stack of boxes beside his chair before he sat down.

“When it comes to art I know what I like,” said Misty. “There used to be a Jacob Lawrence mural down the street from where I grew up in Harlem. It showed black people on the move, whole families with suitcases and somewhere else to be. That's always stuck with me for some reason.”

“The Great Migration,” said Sandoval. “A representation of the African-American flight from the deep south in the early twentieth century. I know very well where that mural was. It’s a shame they took it down, but such is the way of urban renewal. And what about you, Mr. Chase? What sort of art stirs your soul?”

“The one where the dogs are playing poker,” said Chase.

Sandoval looked as if he’d smelled something especially foul. His upper lip curled and his left eyelid twitched.

“Ah, I see. It seems as if that old adage is true: money can hardly ever buy taste.”

“Look who’s talking about taste, Gainsborough,” Misty said with a smirk and nod towards Sandoval’s attire. 

“Well, Ms. Knight, you do seem to know your art,” he said tightly.

“What can we help you with, Mr. Sandoval?” asked Chase. “If it’s to keep insulting me, then you are free to do so as long as you can pay our fees.”

“I need help recovering a painting,” said Sandoval. “Something from my private collection was taken two nights ago. And it’s a very delicate situation, very delicate.”

“All due respect, Mr. Sandoval,” said Chase. “That sounds a bit out of our scope. I know that you know that the NYPD has an excellent art theft division that can assist you--”

“He can’t go to the cops,” said Misty. “Because the painting he needs back was either already stolen or he bought it illegally. Or maybe both.”

“Your partner speaks the truth, I’m afraid,” said Sandoval. “It’s a lovely Junior Hallinan that I acquired some years ago. Said painting went… uhh… missing during a transfer from an art gallery in San Francisco to one in Minneapolis. If I were to report it to the authorities, questions would arise as to how I acquired it. Questions I would rather avoid answering.”

“Very well,” said Chase. He reached for a pen and scratch piece of paper. He jotted a number down and showed it to Misty. She nodded and Chase passed it to Sandoval.

“Seems a tad high,” Sandoval said sourly.

“I’m sure the NYPD would love to do this job for free,” said Misty. “In fact, I can call one of my old friends from 1PP and see if they got time--”

“No,” shouted Sandoval. “No, that’s - that’s fine. This price will work.”

Chase shared an amused look with Misty before turning back to Sandoval. “Thefts like this don’t just happen out of the blue, Mr. Sandoval. Do you have anyone you suspect would want the painting? Someone with means.”

Sandoval leaned forward in his seat and nodded vigorously. “Oh, I’m almost certain is was Branford Wilmont.”

“Branford Wilmont,” said Misty. “How do I know that name?”

“The Branford Wilmont,” asked Chase. “The Reclusive billionaire who lives on Wilmont Island? A man-made fortress island in the middle of the East River. That Branford Wilmont?”

“The one and the same,” said Sandoval. "He's always lusted after that painting, he has since I outbid him at auction for it!"

Misty and Chase exchanged glances.

“Yeah,” said Misty. “We’re going to need more money if that’s the case." 

"Why?"

"We're going to need to bring in a specialist. Luckily, I know a guy… well, actually, I know a guy who knows a guy.”

---

“So there’s this rich guy named Chase and he was all like ‘Yeah, my dad owns this law firm I can do whatever,’ but is dad was like ‘Guess again, fool, you want a job you gotta work for it.’ So Chase was like ‘Damn, that’s cold, but you know what? I’ll become a prosecutor investigating dirty cops!

“That’s when my girl Misty came into the picture. She was this badass sister who had like a Pam Grier thing going on and you know that’s my thing, right? Coffy, Foxy Brown me and my cousin used to watch those movies back when I was a like twelve or thirteen and it made me feel a funny way, you know? Like a tingling--”

“Focus.”

“Right, well Misty was this badass cop out on the streets. She was busting drug dealers left and right and was like ‘Knock knock! Who’s there? Justice!’ But then this other cop named Scarfe got into Chase’s ear and was like ‘You know what? Misty Knight, she’s dirty.’ And Chase was like ‘That’s messed up. But you know what? If I bust her my dad will offer me a job!’ So he did and Misty was like ‘I’m innocent!’ and Chase was like ‘crookedcopsayswhat’ and Misty was all “What?” And Chase was like ‘Got you, dummy! You’re done!’ 

“So Misty was kicked off the NYPD, right? Only she proved her innocence and showed up to Chase’s house and was all like ‘See, fool? It was your boy Scarfe that did me dirty.’ And Scarfe was like ‘Yeah, I did it, but you won’t find out why because I’m about to be mad murdered. Smell you later!’ So Chase was all like ‘I’ve learned a valuable lesson about how messed up our criminal justice system is. I’m gonna quit the DA’s office and start working to change things from the outside. Yo, Misty, you wanna work together?’ And Misty was like ‘Cool.’ So that’s how Heroes’ for Hire started.”

“Okay,” Scott Lang said after a long silence. “But, Luis… what’s that got to do with me?”

“They need our help on a job.”
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El Hombre Pájaro

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