Book 2: Chapter 32: Power Corrupts (1/2)

”But you're gonna hit back, right?” Dan asked.

”We're gonna hit back,” Cornelius agreed.

The room was quiet after that pronouncement, before Cornelius unsubtly changed the subject.

”Dunkirk called Captain Gable today,” he remarked casually. ”He asked the good captain what he knew about one Daniel Newman.”

”The fuck is this guy's problem?” Dan complained loudly. ”I'm pretty sure I saved his ass, and in return he's crawled up mine!”

”Maybe its his way of showing gratitude?” Cornelius postulated. Connor snorted into his drink, spraying himself with coffee.

”Regardless, your FBI file is apparently restricted in some way.” That wasn't surprising, given who had created it. Cornelius must have thought the same, giving a knowing look to Abby. It had actually been Anastasia, but the older officer didn't need to know that. He continued his explanation, ”He wasn't able to access it with his clearance level. Given that you did that courier job for us, he tried to pump Gable for information.”

”I've never met Captain Gable,” Dan replied neutrally, ”and that job was supposed to be for your brother.”

Connor started at that, but Cornelius quickly admitted, ”Yes, well that was a lie. Obviously.”

”Uncle!” Connor exclaimed indignantly. ”You can't just throw around father's name to get your way!”

”My brother knew, of course,” Cornelius soothed him, ”but we needed to pass a message along, and the word of a Congressman trumps that of a precinct captain. Dunkirk is notoriously ambitious, and never passes up an opportunity to kiss the ass of someone higher up on the social ladder.”

”Shocking,” Dan stated blandly. ”Am I allowed to know what that message I delivered was about?”

Cornelius cocked his head as he considered it. ”I suppose I can tell you now. It doesn't matter after this mess, and you're involved enough to deserve a warning. I've already spoken to Connor and Officer Pierre-Louise”

”A warning?” Dan repeated, now slightly worried.

Cornelius leaned back into the couch, making himself comfortable.

”So...” he began in the voice of a practiced storyteller. ”A few months back, I brought in the notorious terrorist Andros Bartholomew.” He paused, then added, ”That's the fella who'd kidnapped Connor and Gregoir.”

Dan already knew this, given that he'd incapacitated the villain before handing him off to Cornelius. The mad scientist had attempted to capture Dan, and had bitten off far more than he could chew. Apparently, Cornelius had kept Dan's involvement secret, even from family.

”Ever since then,” Cornelius continued, ”he's been held at the FBI office on Bering.”

Dan's eyes widened.

”Yeah. That one.” Cornelius sighed, scratching at his scalp. ”Dunkirk had hoped to pump him for information, but his... well we're not entirely sure if he's a Natural or a Mutate, but his abilities make him very difficult to interrogate. He's just been sort of sitting there, twiddling his thumbs, for the past few months.”

You kept him here?” Abby's voice was quiet, but something dangerous lurked in the shadow of her tone.

Cornelius eyed her with some caution. ”I didn't, no. I made the hand off to the FBI, as per protocol, and Dunkirk made the decision to keep him in the city. Naturally, we were worried about their ability to hold him, but the APD were told in no uncertain terms that the FBI cells were sufficient.”

Dan snorted.

”Yeah,” Cornelius agreed with the unspoken comment. ”The feds have got some egg on their faces after this. Dunkirk's reputation has taken a huge hit, and he's looking for someone to blame.”

There was a pause.

”And he's been asking questions about me?” Dan repeated slowly.

”Yeaaaahh...” Cornelius trailed off. ”I don't think there's much he can do at the moment. His pull isn't what it was after this disaster. We're all expecting him to be demoted or replaced. It's just a matter of time now, so he's grasping for any lifeline he can find. You stirred up some things with your, ah, interference.”

Dan waited for some kind of condemnation to come from the cops present in the room, but found none forthcoming. Cornelius' face was a blank slate, completely expressionless, while Connor and Freya simply looked uncomfortable.