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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 18:24:32 GMT -5
"I shall not be bullied into accompanying you, Cluont."
Honestly, was the man so starved for fatherly attention that he would try to blackmail Javert into coming to a whorehouse with him? Clearly, Cluont had issues... and Javert didn't feel like being the one to solve them.
On the other hand... Jason was right about Lambert. Lambert... enthusiastic, Javert-worshipping Lambert. The boy who was able of spending hours staring at the inspector like a lovesick puppy... Lambert... who was indeed close to a promotion... and might very well be placed at the desk next to Javert's should he succeed. Lambert, who'd be hanging over Javert's shoulder... asking him what he was doing. Needy, needy Lambert who would constantly badger him for advice on matters any thinking organism should be able to sort out.
Javert gulped.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 18:32:03 GMT -5
Jason raised an eyebrow and pulled his coat from the rack near the door, expertly managing to get it on with one hand.
"Suit yourself. Personally, I can't wait to hear him regale us both with tales of your former glory. All day long."
He put his hand on the door to the upstairs hall. "He has songs."
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 18:40:39 GMT -5
Javert was wearing his coat and standing near the exit in a flash. A man his age should not have been able to move that fast, but the inspector had baffled many a suspect with his speed.
"What are you waiting for, Cluont? Human trafficking is no matter to take lightly!"
Songs...
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 18:52:27 GMT -5
Again he smirked, his brow settling back into place.
"Are you certain? His songs are quite good. You'd be surprised at what rhymes with 'Javert' Well then. Off with us."
And once he was past the door, the inspector was all business--well, after he'd made his way painfully up the stairs. They had been a problem since he'd lost his leg, and he'd worked for months just to be able to make it up to his bedroom in his own home unassisted.
At any rate, once he was on more level ground, he moved as quickly as anyone else with only a slightly limp and the lean on his cane, though recently his iron and leather knee joint squeeked. He'd have to get Lee to made some repairs to it.
The supposed site of the slave ring was in a tavern not surprisingly situated near the docks, and Jason had the name of the man who allegedly ran the operation. Just the two of them going in would be a dangerous endevour if the place proved to be packed, but if they could get the operator in irons, the rest of the business would fall apart, scatter and be easily cleaned up later.
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 19:01:07 GMT -5
"I recall his poetry," Javert said coldly.
Oh Javert, Strict but fair, I'd gladly be a prisoner, If I were in your care.
It was traumatizing to even someone as resilient as the inspector. Especially since there were an impossible amount of verses.
The air outside thankfully managed to clear the policeman's head a little. Going out arresting people while thinking of Lambert might result in some police brutality charges he really didn't need.
"Who is our intended target?"
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 19:09:16 GMT -5
Jason gave him the name of the man as they bore down on the tavern, he pulling his issue pistol from his coat. The same gun that had taken his leg in the hands of Justin's uncle. He always gripped it tight on these sorts of cases, now, it'd never get away from him again.
When they entered the place--two rather large and intimidating men of The Law--business ground to a standstill and Jason looked to the barkeep who nodded to a door in the far wall and then went back to pouring drinks.
"You lead." he muttered to Javert, preferring the older man get shot first.
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 19:23:32 GMT -5
With a barely audible "Whimp." Javert did indeed take the lead, though there was hardly any true menace in the insult. Right now the two inspectors were united as men of The Law.
With slow, but sure steps the inspector made his way towards the door, drawing his own weapon in the process. This was one of those cases where a wave of his nightstick and a mean look would not suffice.
Javert positioned himself on one side of the door, his hand on the handle and his weapon at the ready. He then looked to Jason in order to make sure the other officer was ready. A completely legless policeman would be rather useless.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 19:37:37 GMT -5
Jason nodded on the opposite side of the jamb, ready to cover his colleague in the case of a firefight, his weapon up and ready.
It wasn't that he was a coward it was simply that he could easily mis-step with his leg and ruin the entire operation, he wasn't fast enough to dodge an attack, and only had one hand with which to defend himself, much too large to bring up his cudgel arm in time if he were set upon straight off.
On the other hand, he didn't have need of a club as his cudgel was weighted and could be deadly when backed with his considerable strength.
"Watch the civilians, remember, Javert these are not whores, they are women and boys abducted and pressed into service."
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 20:11:01 GMT -5
"I realize the difference, Cluont."
Not that it made their job any easier... quite the opposite. Too many innocent victims were claimed by the ruthlessness of criminals, they had to take care not to damage anyone themselves, there was already enough misery in the world.
The inspector turned the handle and opened the door, scanning the occupants as he stepped inside. Their mark wasn't hard to miss, some people just had 'criminal' written all over them. Javert aimed his gun at the man.
Now the matter was which of the others were innocent and which were accomplices.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 20:18:40 GMT -5
Jason followed, barking orders to the people in the room--some of them were bound and blindfolded, clearly the "goods" being exchanged and bartered for.
He was tired and painful, and so he left Javert to do most of the actual arrests, keeping him covered with his gun and seeing to the compliance of the people involved.
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 20:33:31 GMT -5
By their standards, the arrests went rather smoothly. Nobody had to be chased... which was almost unfortunate. Still, catching the bad guy was satisfying.
"We should have brought more reinforcement. Even if it was just to march them to the precinct."
Or to take care of the victims... Javert always found them difficult to deal with, his softer side was rather underdeveloped. He did his best to provide some comfort left and right, but the inspector never really got further than an awkward "There, there". Some of the poor things seemed to appreciate the way he refrained from any physical contact other than the strictly necessary.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 20:45:13 GMT -5
Jason had personal experience in dealing with the people in this...situation, and was adept at handling them and handing them off to others, though Javert was right and they should have brought more men if only for the fact that there was not the time to deal with the victems properly. They would be left in the room and someone sent to care for them.
He followed Javert in marching the offenders back, six in all, to the prefecture and bundled them into a single cell, then retook his seat with a satisfied grunt, doffing his hat and wiping at his brow, then gritting his teeth and pressing his palms into the muscle above where his knee should have been.
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 21:02:23 GMT -5
"Your leg giving you grief again?" Javert asked in a rare moment of compassion.
Usually he preferred not to notice others in discomfort, especially since his job brought him into contact with such people a lot. If he stopped to bother about every single one of them, he'd never get anything done.
Yet, the combination of their successful operation and the compassion he'd mustered for the victims put him in a mood to care.
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Post by Inspector Jason Cluont on Mar 17, 2009 21:18:41 GMT -5
"Nothing the needle can't take care of" he muttered and rubbed at his false joint before straightening.
"You'll take care of the reports?"
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Post by Javert on Mar 17, 2009 21:25:10 GMT -5
"You watch yourself, Cluont... the needle shouldn't take care of too much. We see plenty of examples every single day." Javert shot his fellow officer a warning glance.
"And I'll take care of the reports if you go and take some rest rather than just shooting up."
Javert was a good cop... and something about Cluont's almost casual manner about the entire thing worried him. And a good cop listened to his gut.
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