Bishop & Vanessa | Saturday

[x-copycat.livejournal.com]

Bishop and Vanessa spend their Saturday trying to hunt down the identity of their mystery guy from the security tapes. They find a name and another piece of interesting information.

In District X Vanessa had found she got more cooperation if she walked around in her own body. In case they had to track down leads beyond the neighborhood, however, she had a lock of hair in her pocket for a quick change. She and Bishop were out to see if they could find anyone at the locations of the disappearances who knew their mystery guy. "Is this what it feels like being a cop," she asked her tall companion. "Wander around with a fuzzy photo and hope someone recognizes them so you can get a name?" They were nearly at the deli where surveillance tapes had him hanging out eating a sandwich at Rosa's last known location.

"What's it's like to be a detective. I spent more time driving to and from places than anything else. That's why my car is low profile and comfortable." Bishop nodded, getting the door for Vanessa. Her obvious mutation was very handy in District X and he appreciated that.

"So that's why you're so portly. All that sitting and driving," she joked. You only had to glance at Bishop to tell he was in shape, but the dig amused her nonetheless. She gave him a nod of appreciation as she walked through the door and strolled up to the deli's counter. It was hard to know whether or not people would respond positively to Bishop if they hadn't met him before. Allies were always appreciated but it wasn't the same as being a mutant. Most people assumed he was an ally the way they assumed most women who hung out with gay men were allies, not lesbians.

The metamorph got to the counter with a smile on her face. "Hey, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

"Does it involve the bathroom without ordering something," the girl behind the counter asked warily. She passed for human save the slight opalescent sheen to her skin and the vaguely reptilian look of her eyes.

"No, but it does involve looking at a picture and letting us know if you know who the person is."

Now she looked more wary and her eyes jumped to Bishop. "Why?"

Vanessa's smile never faltered. "We're looking into some people who've disappeared in the neighborhood and he was around when one of the people was last seen. We just want to see if maybe he saw anything that could help us."

The girl's eyes were still on Bishop. "Are you cops?"

Bishop opened his jacket and pulled his PI badge. He had an X-Factor holder custom made at one of the shops in town. If they had a reputation he wanted to use that to his advantage. "The mutant cops, I've heard we're called. We don't arrest and it's illegal for us to use force for anything but self-defense, just like anyone else. We just want to make sure no more mutants disappear without anyone with a badge giving a shit, so I went out and got my own." He had long ago learned an officer that lied wasn't worth anything to anyone after the people on the street found out about the first one.

The counter girl had leaned forward and squinted at the badge, scrutinizing it. It looked legit enough and she visibly relaxed. "Alright, so who's the person?" Vanessa held up the picture of their mystery man. "Yeah, I know him. Karl. Dunno his last name. He's in here every Wednesday and sits there," she pointed to a table against the wall. "I think he hangs out at Kennedy's. You know that Irish pub two blocks down?"

"Thanks."

- - - - - -

Bishop slinked into the bar with Vanessa in tow, heading for a dark booth in back in order to use one of his preferred tricks. He liked to call it 'fetch.' "Now we wait for our server." He said quietly, "Then they show up, we name drop, and they go out of their way to find him for us to keep their customer base feeling the place is helpful and easy to meet up at for drinks."

"Is our server cute?" It was an automatic response from Vanessa. She may have been happily occupied romantically but she liked to see the cute ones flutter about. "Besides, it makes our job easier for us."

It didn't take long for a server to show up. The server was in fact female, though her unnaturally large, almost fish-like eyes made it difficult to say if she was precisely cute or not. "Hey guys, how're you doin'? I'm Cyn and I'll be your server. What can I get ya?"

"A pair of Sam Adams on draft." Bishop ordered for Vanessa as well in order to look like a couple and also made his order rare to hopefully keep the server present for the hook. "Do you see Karl yet? He usually isn't late. This is his place, after all. We should have went to mine." He rambled to his partner.

Cynthia was about to tell him that they didn't have Sam Adams on draft when he started talking to his girlfriend.

Vanessa craned her neck up over the booth too look around the bar. "Hm...no, I don't see him. Maybe he got the dates confused? Are you sure you made it clear we'd meet up with him here?"

"Karl? Tall? Like you tall," she was referring to Bishop. "Dark hair? Kinda greenish eyes?"

Bishop nodded, "Not quite as tall as I am but most people aren't."

"I don't think he's here right now," she told him in an apologetic tone. "But I'll look around for you and see if Jerry's seen him." She turned to go and then stopped and pivoted back to them. "Oh, and we don't have Sam Adams on tap. We have bottles if that's alright?"

"It will have to be." Bishop nodded with a smile.

"Alright. I'll be right back and I'll see if I can find Karl for you." She was quite perky there at the end before pivoting again and going off to the bar.

"How do you feel about women with really large eyes," Vanessa asked, slightly amused. "Because I think you could get a date with her. She never spoke to me, you realize. Always to you, you devil."

"Commanding presence is all. I'm still curious about the girl that glows pink that's in the district somewhere. That sounds much more alluring than really large eyes." Bishop replied with a short laugh.

"Ah, well I'll have to find out where she hangs out for you. Or stake out Silver to let you know when she's there." Vanessa laughed and gave him a wink. "Gotta look out for my partner's interests here."

Bishop laughed and nodded, about to reply before their server returned. He looked on quietly, waiting for the the information he had her 'fetch.'

Cynthia set down the two bottles and turned her big eyes toward Bishop again. "Sorry, but he's not here. Jerry said that Karl was in last night and he mentioned getting a job for a couple days down in the meat packing district."

"Maybe he had news for us yesterday and we're late." He offered Vanessa an apologetic smile before turning back to the serve. "Thank you."

"No problem." She gave him a smile and went off to the bar to talk to the bartender, presumably Jerry.

"I'm going to need to change my skin before we head to the meatpacking district," Vanessa told him. She looked rather affectionately at the beer but knew neither of them were going to get much of that. They were working and even Vanessa was responsible enough to not drink on the job. She threw money down for the drinks and a tip for Cyn. "Aye, let's go lover boy."

- - - - - -

Bishop took lead again, his size and build usually an in to people that worked in labor. He didn't bother with a story this time, it they didn't find the man they would at least get an address; employers required them. Instead he approached with a picture in hand, ready to intimidate if requesting didn't get him the results he wanted.

Vanessa had shifted over to her brunette, peach-colored variety for their trip out into the rest of the city. Her jeans, tee shirt and jacket kept her from looking out of place, but she also followed a half step behind Bishop to make it clear she was with him but also deferring to him.

The guys working the loading docks of the warehouse saw the pair approaching the building, but it definitely wasn't the tall black guy who drew their attention. Tall, slender and fitted jeans that came with a pair of tits won out any days. "Hey baby," one of them greeted. They only got a raised eyebrow from Vanessa who shifted slightly closer to Bishop to make it clear who she was with.

The foreman tended to be inside and Bishop moved in without breaking stride, looking for the person trying the hardest to appear busy but actually doing the least. It was the person most likely to stop and question him as well.

They had wound their way nearly halfway through the warehouse before a gruff voice called, "Hey. You two in the black jackets who don't work here."

Vanessa spun on the balls of her feet and cocked her head to the side in a casual who? me? gesture.

"Yeah, you two, How 'bout you get over here and tell me what you're doing in my warehouse when you don't belong here," the foreman instructed more genially than his words should have seemed.

Bishop showed his badge as they approached, letting the foreman know they were Law Enforcement without comforting him like he tended to do with people inside District X. "We're looking for someone."

They were still too far away for the foreman to see that the badge said "private investigator" rather than "police officer." He assumed the latter and lost some of his attitude immediately. "Alright, who're you looking for? A lot of guys come and go 'round here."

Holding up a picture, Bishop watched primarily for the foreman's reaction instead of his response. The man might lie but an initial reaction often offered good clues on where to go next.

Staring at the picture, the foreman looked as if he were trying to remember something. "He's familiar. I can't really place him. Is he a day worker?"

"Do you employ day workers often," Vanessa inquired.

"Eh. Sometimes. If we've got guys out sick or heavy work loads. He hasn't had a regular job or anything but he looks sort of familiar."

Wow, that was helpful. Vanessa attempted a memory stimulant. "His name's Karl."

"Uh..." The foreman scratched the side of his head. "Sorry lady, I've got nothing."

"We'll have to shut everything down for a bit so we can interview all your employees and collect evidence." Bishop attempted to issue some pressure. The worst thing for any job site was to be shut down, force to play everyone for no productivity. He couldn't do it, of course, but it might lead to a burst of helpfulness.

That won Bishop no friends. "Look, buddy, I don't remember the guy. We pay day workers under the table so there's no paperwork on him if he's worked here either. So why don't you go on your way. You don't have the authority to shut us down." He hadn't seen the badge up close but he'd been checking. No radio. No gun. No cuffs. If guy was undercover he sucked at it.

Before Bishop could annoy the guy more Vanessa stepped a bit in front of him. "Any idea who else down here might use day workers?"

The foreman shrugged. "I dunno. Lots of the places do. Take your pick. Next closest is the meat packing place down that way." He indicated direction with a nod of his head.

"Thanks." Then she nudged Bishop along. Being a dick wasn't going to win them any friends and they had no real authority to back up burning bridges.

Taking the nudging, Bishop moved on to the next warehouse, waiting until he was away from the foreman before speaking. "You push me along but now we know he wasn't trying to cover anything up; admitting to illegal activity happens when someone's trying to be upfront." Paying without documenting workers, and so providing tax information, was very illegal.

“There’s probably better ways of going about it than being a dick. Remember, you’re not a cop or a detective with the NYPD anymore. No one actually has to put up with you making groundless accusations. Plus, if we need him again he won’t cooperate with you now.” She shook her head. “Only burn bridges we’re sure we won’t need, aye?”

- - - - - -

The meat packing plant a block up was their next stop. This time Vanessa led because Bishop was, well, too much of a cop. If she needed him to be the strong armed ass then that was always there as a back up. It was hard to back up strong armed ass with something more gentle. She looked for the guy who looked to be in charge and strode up to him with a little sway in her hips.

“Can I help you?” His voice was gruff and he didn’t seem all that pleased with the prospect of strangers, but his focus was on Vanessa rather than the stoic giant a half step behind her.

“Yeah, we’re looking for a guy, Karl?” She looked slightly embarrassed as she spoke to him. “I think he works here? I’ve got a picture? He’s dating my little sister and I haven’t been able to get in touch with her for a couple days and I was hoping he might be with her but I don’t have his number or his last name or anything. Could you help?” She worn a distinctly hopeful expression on her face.

The man relaxed a little. “Sure, where’s this picture?” Vanessa held up the picture of Karl, apparently, from the surveillance tape. Now he looked suspicious. “Why’s the picture you got of him off security tapes? This guy in trouble?”

"It's from my gym." If he could look like any business owner, that was it. "That's where all of us hooked up. I do a cardio kick boxing class. Women love it, guys love meeting women at it. We didn't have anything else."

He seemed suspicious still, but the man seemed to accept the explanation. He took a closer look at the photo and after a few moments said, "I'm pretty sure that's Lykos."

Vanessa perked up at the apparent good news. "How do you spell that?"

"L-y-k-o-s."

She grinned. "Do you have his cell number?" She asked with a hesitant tone, as if she knew she was asking him to break the rules.

"I really can't give out that kind of information. Employee privacy and all. But he's a day worker, you can probably find him around or up where we go to pick guys up for that sorta thing."

Vanessa visibly deflated and turned to give Bishop puppy dog eyes. Yes, she was shameless.

Bishop dug his hands into his pockets. "Her sister's missing, man. It would mean a lot to us." As he said that he pulled out a money clip, beginning to flip bills out of it.

The man looked thoroughly torn. His eyes moved from Vanessa's mopey posture to Bishop's face and then down to the money clip only to recycle the whole circuit again. "Alright. Let me look him up," he finally replied after at least a half dozen glancing circuits between the two people and the money. He went off, presumably toward an office.

Vanessa grinned, grasped one of Bishop's arms with both hands and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Best fake boyfriend ever," she proclaimed with humored affection.

Bishop laughed and looked down to her on his arm. "Because I carry cash."

She tilted her head to the side a little with a corresponding shrug of nonchalance. "I was going to go with 'because you're manly and strapping,' but your version works, too."

"Yours is more flattering." Bishop silently ended the banter as the man returned with their information. Now they had something to work with.

- - - - - -

Vanessa had dropped her alt mimic when they had gotten back to District X and was tightening the belt on her pants as she walked into the X-Factor offices. "So, you hop on and look for any warrants and criminal history and I'll hit up the credit history, leases and DMV?"

Bishop nodded, "If he has warrants I'll see if I can check the service history to narrow some places down for us." He moved to his desk and slid into his chair easily, his fingers already running across the keyboard.

"Hopefully that will give Jean-Paul and Laura enough to figure out where he is if they haven't managed to find him yet." She could just imagine them blindly wandering around the locations they knew he'd shown up at hoping to find him. Vanessa took a seat at her own desk and started pulling up websites she could get to ferret out information for her.

"We can't just find something he's touched and have Laura sniff him out... right?" Bishop asked half-playfully. That would be a lot easier than actual police work, after all.

Vanessa snorted. "Well, technically we could. But you saw how well that worked out with Nick. And we'd probably end up with the chick he'd fucked last night instead." Or better, with her picking up the wrong scent from the undoubtedly many-scented item.

"That would make this a lot easier." Bishop grumbled, compiling a file, his printer whirring as it warmed up.

"Papa bear's cranky," she muttered to herself, "quick, someone get him some honey!" Some days she just had to amuse herself, even if it made no sense to anyone else. "If we wanted easy we'd be doing something else. Like flipping burgers or stripping. Instead, we snoop."

"I'd make a great stripper." He mentioned idly as he compiled several files, then began to flip through his Rolodex for the numbers he'd need to call.

Vanessa had no response for that. None at all. "Beefcake night featuring Officer Naughty?" Okay maybe she had a little bit of a response. "I can't find any bank accounts or address for this guy."

"I'll start on my calls." Bishop said in warning that he was about to be busy for quite some time. He had to do warrant checks, incarceration checks, and incident checks. Since he wasn't actually in law enforcement anymore that required calling every department he reasonably expected might have picked Lykos up sometime in his life no less than three times.

At her desk Vanessa fell silent. She didn't have to make any calls to find out anything on her end so she grabbed her laptop and went around the corner to the small alcove in the back where she kept bean bag chairs and a lamp as her hideaway. It was there she settled in to types up their notes from the day and continue trying to find a paper trail on their guy Lykos.

It took Bishop well over an hour and it sounded like a frustrating task of transfers and uninformed employees before he stepped around the corner, looking down at Vanessa in her hideaway. "Wanted for questioning." He held out a copy of a court order. "They don't have any idea where he is either but now we know we can call in a tip if we need to. And that we're not the only people drawing this connection."