[Sodium_noir] Back to the store/enter a man in black

[eugene mcfadden]

> > Dr. Lazarus, John Black
> > Gotham Museum, Egyptian Wing
>
> > Another rich socialite who want prominent people at
> > he party so the people
> > of the city can oggle, Hiram thought. But, at least
> > it could be a way to
> > wrangle more funding...
> >
> > He turned back to John.
> >
> > "Can I show you anything else?"
>
>John smiled.  "No, thank you.  I appreciate your time,
>though."  He said his good byes and left the museum,
>hopping on his Indian he'd left by the front door.
>Great thing about owning a cycle was how easy one
>could find parking.
>
>It took about 45 minutes to get back to the shop,
>taking a quick side stop at the bank to drop off the
>check Jaguar had given him.
>
>Mike's Place was busy.  There were the usual ameteurs
>looking to bring down an enemy or make someone fall in
>love.  Tommy was being as helpful as possible but it
>could try one's patience to hear someone whine about
>how much work was actually involved in casting spells.
>
>There were also a few regulars stocking up on the
>basics, asking about a specialized item or two.  One
>wizard was in the process of choosing a set of tarot
>cards, explaining that his had been destroyed.  Rather
>than review the packaged, mass marketed, ones, he was
>carefully examining the hand made decks, each card a
>work of art, that were kept locked beneath a display
>case for the serious practitioner.
>
>"I remember getting my first deck.  I was young and so
>excited.  I just knew which one I wanted, and when I
>held it for the first time, I swear it was like my
>Awakening all over again.  Anything was possible."
>His eyes were getting wet.  "And now they're gone."
>
>Tommy smiled and tried to be sympathetic, but he
>simply couldn't appreciate what the man was going
>through.
>
>John approached.  "My friend, I understand exactly how
>you feel.  But if you dwell on their loss, they will
>haunt you, like a lost lover, and it will poison any
>new relationship you try to make."
>
>The man nodded.  "You're right."  He wipped his eyes,
>took out a handkerchef and blew his nose, and then
>took another look, his first real one, at the display
>case.
>
>As he focused, John leaned into Tommy.  "Give it to
>him, free."
>
>Tommy looked startled.  "Some of these decks are
>$10,000.  Are you nuts!?!"
>
>John shook his head.  "The cards will have more power
>if it's a gift.  I can't explain it.  Remember, the
>customer comes first."
>
>Tommy nodded, though he wasn't happy, and John took
>his leave and went into the back.  He didn't see Mike
>anywhere and frowned.
>
>Picking up the phone, he dialed Matt's number.
>
>"Evening, Brother.  Are we still on for tonight?"

At this point the bell jangles and in steps someone who, on a scale ofsuch 
things, was least likley to be found in a magic shop.  To be sure, he did 
wear black, and he did have a walking stick, and there was a long black 
leather trench coat... but unlike most people who wear long black leather 
trench coats, Titus could actually pull the trick of it off.  More 
importantly, he could carry it off without trying too hard.

He paused a second, taking in, amoung other things, the fact that Mr Mystery 
was busy, the shoppers and the exits, then limped over to the occult book 
section and started scanning the goods.  The manner Titus used was, on the 
surface, an attempt at being inconspicuous, but was about as effective as a 
volcano trying to hide behind a small shrub.  It was clear that he wanted to 
be noticed, but he didn't want to be noticed for wanting to be noticed.

A game was being played and he wanted to see if Mr Mystery would bite.

TAG