Misdirection and False Signals

A smile stretched from her lips, genuine which was hard to get out of Taryn, but his words were taken more of a compliment than he’d meant them to be. “Let someone hear. What would they do? Can’t get in trouble for making an insult.” Lifting her shoulders into a shrug as she knew that much was true. Though she had a feeling he meant trouble to be more on the side of the gang presence in the town. “Plus, I’m a big girl. I can handle a little bit of trouble.” The smile now gone from her features as fast as it had come. 

“Suit yourself.” She truly didn’t think he’d take her advice on leaving, no one did, but it opened up the opportunity for her to ask some questions. “What brought you to Muddy Waters anyways?”

He looked at her half-amused and half-bewildered and Luca huffed before grabbing something from the shelf behind her. “Looks like it,” he concurred, she had a confidence that came from her position and history and to be second-in-command meant being able to do more than the others, whatever that was. Her question was met with a coy smile as Luca reviewed the things in his shopping basket, he’d probably remove most of them once he reached the counter but until then...

“I’m trying to get lucky. You?“

Alice laughed under her breath at the yet. Whoever this was, was beginning to get more and more interesting during their little walk together. He could certainly keep up with her responses, the teasing clear which was something that entertained her. Perhaps he didn’t make a terrible addition to the town. “I work at the clinic for the moment, so an appointment would be just fine.” She told him, looking towards him. “But, if you’re desperate and lucky, you can always just call me if you’re in trouble.”

It was pretty obvious the guy wasn’t in Muddy Waters for the scenery, unless he liked flat, boring landscapes that wouldn’t even make him excited, so he caught on to the joke pretty quickly. “I told you, grass is your best bet,” he smiled, tilting his head in Nick’s direction. “Do I sound like I’m from here?” he questioned, “Nah, I moved here when I was, like, 11 or 12.” Jeb paused while he thought of another question. “What sort of job are you looking for?”

“Grass, right, right; you keep repeating that like a bird, why do you think I’m on the move here?” Luca shook his head, he wasn’t really annoyed about it, he was just pointing it out.  “I don’t give two shits whether you sound like you’re from here,” he shot back, “interesting choice of a town to move into.” He stopped when he found a small patch of grass growing by a lightpost and he began to vigorously rub the heel of his boot against it. 

Clara waited for him to catch up to her before moving toward the exit, a soft chuckle escaping her lips at his quip about chivalry, and the comment that followed. Shaking her head to herself, a mildly amused smirk played on the deputy’s lips as she pushed open the door and stepped outside. “Yeah, that’s the one thing you’ll learn about me pretty quickly,” she started, spinning around mid-step in order to face him as she slowly backed out onto the pavement. “I can take care of myself.”

It was true. If Clara could ever be said to have a catch phrase, one that had followed her from her earliest runaway days to her job as a deputy, it would be that one. Hands down.

She plucked a cigarette from her pack, placing it between her lips and sparking up a flame with the help of her lighter, brown eyes watching as the embers slowly roared to life. “So,” she started after inhaling and exhaling a deep puff of smoke, then offering him a light by holding out the flame toward him. “How’d I do? Change your opinion about cops yet?”

“No doubt about it,“ Luca relented with a small shrug as the cold air hit his face at the push of the door. She was a deputy in Muddy Waters of all places and that alone required a certain level of skill or in this case, connections to stay safe, or alive. 

Taking out his own pack of cigarettes, he stuck one between his teeth and accepted her offer of a light, lowering his head just a bit more so it was easier on her part. “It’s gonna take more than free drinks, I’m afraid,” he began, blowing the smoke away as Luca answered her question. 

Alice smiled at his gratitude, and stuck her hands in her pockets as they began walking. Her house wasn’t far, just down the road from the motel he was heading towards in fact, but the evening wasn’t cold and she fancied the fresh air regardless. She needed it. Besides, the guy next to her intrigued her.

The blonde let out a laugh at his question, she couldn’t help it. She supposed it was understandable, figuring the figure she got in her line of work. “Seeing my patients fit, healthy and well is a reward in itself. The pay-cheque is simply a bonus.” A very, very welcomed bonus nonetheless. It was a cliché answer, but it was the truth.

“What a very diplomatic response,“ Luca scoffed in amusement, “I’m almost tempted to call it as full of shit but I dunno you that well-- yet,“ he laughed, unable to help himself in teasing her.  “If I ever get in trouble I’d be sure to look for you, do you do pro bono work though or do I have to give you an entire paycheck for your services?” More teasing, it was important to build rapport with everyone in town as much as possible. 

Elise laughed softly. “I don’t know why you’d want to go to the Southside.” She said sarcastically with a laugh, even though part of her was serious. Elise gulped slightly when he asked about her ma or dad not wanting people over. Was this guy trying to see if she lived alone? Was this a red flag? “Oh umm…” The jitters and stuttered were back. “No my mom lives back in Chicago, I haven’t seen her in years.” She paused, not meaning to share the last part. “My dad’s the one from Muddy Waters.” She paused. “But no, I don’t live with my parents.” She ran a hand through her hair nervously. 

“Oh,“ Luca replied, nodding in understanding for added effect and he fell silent for a while, “Well your dad has noting to worry about,“ he assured her with a smile as he readjusted the duffel bag on his shoulder. 

“I actually got friends there in the south side,“ he was back to telling her fabricated tales, “but they’ve moved out or gone away, not really sure, people don’t seem to stay for very long.“ 

The money would be nice, Shay worked two jobs for a reason, but if she had a choice then that opened up a whole new world of possibilities. “Hmm, you know you should never leave the bargaining up to the person who is trying to get something from you. Leaves me free to deliver shitty service if you refuse whatever I ask for.” She smiled, knowing her service was shitty no matter what.  “Fine, let me think and I’ll be back.” Turning around and retracing her steps to go back into the kitchen and grab him some coffee. She even went the extra mile and brewed a new pot. 

“Here you go.” Returning back after a few minutes and putting a mug of coffee down in front of the man before taking a seat across from him. “Okay, so first I was thinking about what I want, right? A new car, braids, a joint - you know, the basics. But then it hit me. Like one of those lightbulb moments.” Taking a breath and making sure he was still listening before she continued. ‘Do they still sell fireworks? Because now that you owe me one, I want a sparkler or some shit. Like nothing fancy, and while the Fourth of July is like a half year away, I love seeing the bright lights and stuff.”

Steam rose from the mug that was placed in front of him, a small smile crept on Luca’s lips as he eyed it for a bit and took a sip. It was freshly brewed. Shay sat across him and their eyes met as she finally remarked what she wanted in exchange. 

“Fireworks,“ he nodded, licking his lips as he considered her strange request, shouldn’t be too hard now should it. “Not a 300% tip but fireworks.“

Her tinted lips wrapped around the milkshake straw, as Eva enjoyed the sweet, milky taste of vanilla tickling her taste buds. But this enjoyment was cut short, rather, when he asked her his silly little question. This wasn’t the first time this question had been asked of her, and she instantly had an inkling of an idea why he did. Oh, men. 

“None at all.” The blonde responded briefly, looking up from her drink. Her bright gaze remained fixated on him, followed by a breaking of a smile on her face yet again. “Worried are we? Scared to get in a fight?” she accused him playfully.

“Worried for your friend,“ he replied easily without breaking eye contact; Luca was confident when it came to fighting, it helped with the pent up emotions, the anger and abandonment issues. Her denial didn’t mean that he would avoid trouble, Eva was gorgeous and she held a position which meant there were others who admired and wanted her. 

“A new face doesn’t mean easy pickings,“ he glanced at someone from behind her, someone who’d been watching them since they arrived and Luca flashed a grin that was seemingly directed at Eva before he finally focused on his plate. The steak was surprisingly decent. 

Her eyes narrowed, turned back towards the man and gave him one warning, “Watch it.” Not liking sarcasm from someone she didn’t know. Plus he’d called her lady and while maybe it wasn’t an insult she took it as one. Fuck small town hospitality, she needed to get back to Chicago where she was used to people ignoring everyone else in public spaces. There was a beauty in how everyone hated everyone else. 

“The warning was one that I thought would be helpful since this town is full of dirty degenerates who I can’t trust to wash their hands before handling food.” Saying it all in a matter of fact tone, as if he should have known no matter how long he’d been in town. “You are obviously new so let me let you in on another unwanted piece of advice, get out. Go back to wherever you came from and leave this hellhole. Trust me, I would if I could myself.”

“Dirty degenerates,“ he echoed, “harsh, you don’t care if someone hears you? Might get you in trouble.” Luca had to pretend he didn’t know who she was or she affiliated with, it was a risk but one worth taking and if he ever got in trouble because of his mouth well it was a good thing he can handle himself. 

“Thanks for the tip on the potato salad, but I think I’m staying,“ he gave her a knowing smile but said nothing else, with half a million on the line, the town would attract more and more of the degenerates she despised so much. 

Bailey’s lips twitched, expression amused by the show of sensitivity, mostly because it was unnecessary. If the ugly prison ink scrawled across his chest and arms wasn’t indication of his time spent behind bars, the long juvie record and history of violence pretty much did him in.

“People know,” Bailey said simply, giving Dominic a searching look. “A word of advice, secrets don’t live long here. Everyone’s going to know everything eventually. It’s a small place, and people love to talk.” It was the only thing to do in Muddy Waters.

At his warning Luca merely smiled, though he’d be lying if it didn’t make his skin crawl just a little bit. He had too many secrets and none of them would help him should they come to light but he’d been in this game far too long to be frazzled . 

 “Doesn’t mean I can’t try, right?” he said with a playful grin, “Unless the girls here are into ex-cons,” he quipped. “See you around, Rose.”

Upon realising that the person she’d addressed was unfamiliar to her, Georgie’s attention was immediately pulled toward him—looking the man up and down with the same cheery grin on her face as she processed and remembered as much as possible. Whether or not that meant that she was happy to see yet another strange person in a very short amount of time was up for debate. Perhaps she wasn’t happy at all. Or perhaps she didn’t care either way. She honestly didn’t know anymore.

“Oh, I’d never give my boss decaf unless he asked for it,” she chirped, which was patently a lie. Georgiana gave the mayor decaf at least twice a day without his knowledge. Putting her phone away, she chuckled lightly as if to wave the whole thing off and offered the man her hand. “You must be new around here. I’m Georgiana. Georgie for short. Chief of Staff at the Mayor’s Office.”

He held her gaze as the small woman examined him, perhaps trying to see if she knew him or not. When she decided that he was in fact, a stranger, she promptly introduced herself and in a way, revealed who her boss was. “I am,“ he nodded, accepting the woman’s proffered hand, “Dominic, Nick for short, currently unemployed and looking for something to do,“ was his introduction that mirrored her own. “Chief of Staff huh?”

“Then it’s to get you to stay a little longer.” she further added, not willing to not be the last one with a say on the topic. 

As Dominic told her of his tale, Eva rested her chin on her hand, propping it up by her elbow on top of the table. The blonde easily got lost in his words, taking in the details he dropped - names, dates, places, - all of them embedded into her mind. So much so, that she didn’t notice that their foods were already done, and served right in front of them. 

She chuckled at his words, shaking her head. “You’ll get used to it. I mean, I have.” Pulling her plate and her milkshake closer to her, she didn’t realise ‘till then how hungry she already was. 

“Yeah? I suppose I will, if I were to stay in town for good,“ Luca remarked. During their entire conversation, he couldn’t help but notice other people watching them discreetly, even during their walk he could feel eyes on him so he wondered if they were there to keep her safe, or if they were fearing for his life. He decided to bring it up as casually as possible; he was a new face, it can’t be helped, but if there was trouble, he’d rather not be decommissioned because of his dick. In his line of work, everything was on the table.

“Not to jump the gun here but is there someone who’s gonna be very upset that I’m having dinner with you tonight?“

“Doctor, Alice Scott.” She smiled at him, figuring by the way he was looking at her that he’d realised she probably wasn’t from around here herself. Also just in case he needed any sort of medical assistance - she was always going to be around. The blonde shook her head once he’d questioned whether General’s was a shop. She supposed it did sound like the name of a store. “The pub. The only one in town actually, they get pretty busy there, so they might be looking.”

“Doctor,“ Luca echoed, nodding in understanding,  “Thanks, I’ll swing by and ask if they’re hiring.“ He responded and they walked aimlessly about for a bit, whether he was accompanying her or they simply were heading to the same direction he wasn’t sure.

 “So are you in it for the money or am I allowed to believe that you do it for a noble cause?” Luca was blunt, but he needed to know which ones were tainted and which ones were fighting the good fight. From what he learned, the town was pretty much under Northside Rascals dominion, then again, maybe she was from the Syndicate.

Clara rolled her eyes. It was kind of a compliment, but her natural instinct when people complimented her was to assume that they had ulterior motives—that they wanted something from her, or that they were trying to get her to let her guard down by somehow playing to her vanity. It wasn’t a bad strategy, if you discounted the fact that she had absolutely zero vanity about her looks. “That sounds like bad timing, not bad luck, slick,” the deputy quipped back, smirking to herself and shaking her head before having a long, slow sip of beer. “I was single a month ago.”

Holding the bottle in her hand, she turned in her seat until she was facing her company entirely, watching his thoughtful expression with one of her own—no longer bothering to hide the shameless curiosity in her eyes as she studied his features. After all, he already knew that she was curious, so expending energy on trying to hide it would be fruitless. Clara’s time was much better spent trying to piece together what she’d learned while keeping the most vital parts of her own past hidden. And the vital parts of her own present, for that matter. Like how Lincoln definitely was the kind of hothead to get into a bar fight for no good reason. “And unless you want to walk me back to my boyfriend’s house, which is where I’m going,” she started, finishing off her beer with a flourish, “I can take myself home, thanks.”

Sliding out of the seat, she had her sights set on the door when she paused in her step, looking over her shoulder. “Do you smoke, Nick?”

The invitation was met with a nod and Luca finished the rest of his drink and gave the bartender a nod; he smoked alright, too much for his liking that he sometimes wondered if it was the cigarette that’ll get him instead of a bullet to the head. 

“I’d argue that chivalry isn’t dead, but we both know I’m not a knight in shining armor,“ he chimed in, “Besides, you’re much better equipped at getting yourself there in one piece, walking you home just invites trouble.“

Was tonight a success? He hadn’t expected to run into someone he knew and yet it was a good thing to be aware of it so early on, Luca could plan things and avoid her, and, depending on how things turn out, maybe she could be of help in the future.