Participants:
| Scene Title | Jerusalem Can Wait |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | A telephonic discussion of Ferry business. |
| Date | July 19, 2010 |
The Verb, Penthouse
Arriving by any of four elevators, visitors will find they open into three foot corridors facing wide double doors made from sturdy southern pine which swing outward and have the strongest locks available. The stairs lead to single doors, also outward opening, at the end of three foot corridors. Entry requires both a key and a keycard; other security measures are a video camera and voice communication terminal at all doors. The 4th Street side has floor to ceiling windows interrupted only by the access points. Cream colored curtains are normally kept closed.
This level has enough space for sixteen apartments. There is an office space with reception area, conference room, and executive office; a room for archery practice and other forms of physical exercise; a very well appointed kitchen and dining area; a music zone with an array of instruments, electronics, and amplifiers; an entertainment area with an HD set covering an entire stretch of wall from floor to ceiling; a locked room where security footage for the building is recorded and can be monitored; a laundry room; a staircase for roof access; central air and heating; the main bedroom and a few smaller guest rooms; plush deep wine carpet everywhere except the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms; and track lighting everywhere overhead. The light levels can be lowered or raised in the entire place, or selectively by segments. The overall decor suggests the occupant is a woman.
It's a Monday, not that the routine varies much in the morning. Cat's been up for a while, done some morning workout, then gone out into the Village for the usual. Coffee and a stack of publications from various places around the world. 10:00 comes and goes, she's about halfway through the material. Currently, her brain is recording Berlin's most prominent newspaper. Jerusalem's will be next.
Some time later, once the stack has been gone through in another hour or so will come looking at reports from various business enterprises. While she doesn't tend day to day operations in a hands-on fashion, she does keep very well informed.
Eyes glance at the iPhone resting on the table as she finishes the German paper and moves on to the Israeli journal. 10:17, it proclaims.
As the minute's noted, that display changes rather suddenly as the phone rings. Gun Hill, according to the number that flashes up on the caller ID, presumably the super's office.
"Jerusalem can wait," Cat muses as fingers divert from their move to set the printed matter before her so she can read it from right to left. They move instead to tap the place marked Accept Call on the screen and insert earbuds. The source of this call is regarded for a moment with a chuckle. Were she the kind to keep numbers in the address book and assign ringtones, Doyle might have a piece of Jethro Tull's Fat Man.
"This is Cat," she states.
"Hey, this — this is Eric," replies Doyle on the other end of the line, clearing his throat a bit, "We have a few minor problems that just cropped up that I needed to talk to you or — er — somebody about, anyway. You have a few minutes? Is this, is this call…" A stage-whisper, "Secure?"
He's been watching spy flicks.
"It is," she tells him with curiosity and a touch of concern entering the vocal tones. Cat's face can't be seen given the distance and absence of video use in this conversation, but it's clear he has her attention. "What's the situation?"
"Ah, okay, first off — uh — there's some stalker ex that's been going after Elaine, and we have that handled, but in the middle of it all Sable kind of blurted out some stuff to Quinn," Doyle says, and his tone's rather dry, "So you might need to hurry up that vetting thing there."
"Isn't that marvelous?" Cat asks rhetorically with a quiet sigh to follow, prior to remarking "Wireless reports a clean background, what's next is advising the Council when we meet. It could be worse, but in Robyn's case I think we're safe." She declines to ask about the stalker ex, not needing to know. Eric says it's handled, she pictures the man being puppeted to punch himself in the balls a few hundred times then write 'I shall not stalk' on a blackboard ten thousand times.
"And…" A heavy sigh spills in a staticy hiss against the phone, and Eric says quietly, "…the other thing's a more… legal matter. Abby Beauchamp came by today, apparently she's dating one of Linderman's goons? Anyway, she was told to tell me that they can't keep social services at bay for too much longer. Whether or not we have Gillian back, we're gonna need to move the kids back out there soon."
"I've met the man," Cat provides with an element of some distaste to her voice. "Robert Caliban. I may soon go look him up and discuss the matter, see what covers can be arranged. If we do move the children back, you'd likely go with them, meaning we need another super at Gun Hill, right?"
"Exactly," Doyle says with a grunt of breath, admitting, "And without Gillian there, I… well, I'm going with them, yeah. That Toby guy seems — alright, I guess, so he's probably fine. Things haven't been that hard running stuff there."
"We'll make it work," Cat tells him with confidence. "Not a ideal situation, but we've faced down bigger challenges than this." After pausing for a few beats, she asks "How's that fellow Helena and I brought over?"
"Oh, uh, Wayland? He's alright, really wanting to help, uh, wanting to take a more active role than I have to offer, I think," Doyle admits, his tone wry, "Bit— a bit weird of a guy, though."
"Is he? Well, then a job can be found for him somewhere, keep him busy but not exposed to sensitive information. I can make some calls, arrange for an opportunity to fall into his lap without him having any idea strings were pulled." Alley Cat Bronx can always use more couriers, Cat reasons. "Weirdness in a trouble kind of way, or weirdness in a he's always hungry and never short of energy when he's got food way?"
"More the… sits and stares at you unemotionally and talks like a robot kinda way," Doyle replies in wry tones, "He said it was, uh, something to do with his power? I don't know."
"He'll need some help coming to terms with that," Cat opines in a diplomatic fashion. "I'll look in on him soon, get a feel for where his head is. Are there any other concerns present or brewing, Eric?"
"No, no…" A pause, and Doyle admits, "…well, there might be. I haven't managed to corner Magnes yet, but, his girlfriend said that someone was spying on him? And made me take the battery out of my phone when I visited to talk about the stalker…"
"Rebel," Cat murmurs, "the technopath. I don't know why they might be spying on Magnes, but it's possible. It's also interesting if he clued Elaine in on things like that." Another person to find and speak with. It's a good thing she likes being busy, finds it the main thing which keeps PTSD at bay. "I'm not worried about Rebel picking up our communications, they're not an enemy right now. But I'll still mention it to Wireless."
"I have no idea what you just said, really, but I've got enough to worry about right now," Doyle allows in wry tones, "Alright. Well, uh, just wanted to let you know. I'll talk to Toby since he's co-supering right now, guess he should know he might have to be taking over full time…"
"Thanks, Eric," Cat offers. "See you."