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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 18, 2016 1:34:41 GMT -5
Two weeks had passed since he had taken the contract on Diana's life and Christian had been fighting an internal battle ever since. Discovering that Diana bore him a daughter 16 years ago had been quite the shock, but coming to terms with their daughter's disappearance (essentially a kidnapping, for lack of a better word) and his growing interest in Diana herself had complicated the business transaction. If Christian voided the contract, a new hit wizard would be hired and both he and Diana would have targets on their backs. Keeping the contract was important for Diana's survival, but with just less than a week left to produce a body Christian was in a bind.
After locating Copperbottom, Christian set up a meeting with the man. It took several very large men and a few nasty threats before Copperbottom agreed to meet with him, for fear of being discovered by Diana. He should have been more concerned about the man he was meeting.
It was five past noon and Copperbottom was late. Christian drummed his fingers on the shadowed table at the back of the Hog's Head. Punctuality was important to Christian. It was how civilized wizards did business.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 18, 2016 1:40:52 GMT -5
Copperbottom didn't want to attend the meeting. Not only did he not want to come out of hiding, and was quite startled when Christian's men located him, but he wanted his hands washed of this business.
That being said Copperbottom didn't mean to be late either, but checking his shadow every five minutes was costing him time. He had heard about Hadelman and the heat was on for him and the rest of his colleagues.
Finally he stepped into the room and sought out his employee, though that term wasn't quite accurate for Christian who was somehow calling the shots now. He found the man quickly enough and sat down at the table.
"I hope you have good news for me."
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 18, 2016 1:47:48 GMT -5
The drumming of his fingers stopped as Copperbottom approached. Christian eyed the man with contempt, apparently displeased with his tardy associate. "I think you'll be pleased," Christian replied coolly. Pleased until...
"I've located our girl. I tracked her to Barbados. I'm sure by now you've heard of your colleague's demise." Christian looked at him levelly. "She's quite the fighter."
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 18, 2016 1:51:33 GMT -5
"So she is, you're telling me you tracked her and didn't kill her?! What the hell am I paying you for?" he said apparently forgetting that he was talking to a very dangerous man.
Copperbottom wasn't used to men like Christian. He was a businessman, he told people what to do and they did it and he paid them. He assumed that in paying Christian he thought he owned the man.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 18, 2016 2:02:55 GMT -5
Christian's eyes narrowed as Copperbottom roared. In Christian's business, he did the yelling and commanding. But Copperbottom would learn in time, if he had the time when all was said and done.
"Hadelman's guards interfered. I didn't realize I would be working with imbeciles," he said rather harshly in response. "It's a wonder any of you have survived this long." His eyes narrowed.
"I know where she is hiding now. But as I said, she's quite the fighter. It won't be easy."
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 18, 2016 2:04:32 GMT -5
"What do you mean it won't be easy? You have one week Ward. One week or else!" he threatened slow to pick up on Christian's tone.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 18, 2016 2:13:49 GMT -5
Christian brought his hand to rest on the table, firmly gripping his wand which just so happened to be pointing directly at Copperbottom's chest. "Actually, I have four weeks," he said firmly. This wasn't a negotiation.
There were three board members lined up. Copperbottom made four. The fifth had yet to be located. Four weeks what all he needed to take them out and save Diana's life. Then they could find their daughter. In a month's time it would be over. Christian was confident, though all that Copperbottom saw now was a terrifying man who wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 18, 2016 2:19:57 GMT -5
"Four weeks! A month!" he yelled, then as if the wheels had only just begun to turn in his head he realized that Christian wasn't negotiating with him, he was threatening him. The change was instantaneous. Copperbottom's eyes bulged, both at the indignity of an "employee" threatening him, and at the sudden fear he experienced.
Copperbottom was stuck, Diana was loose killing his colleagues and he needed Christian, he could get another killer but that meant he'd have to pay more and he didn't fancy doing that, nor did he fancy upsetting the man who now held him at wand point. He swallowed and stuttered, "A m-month...t-that's fine, t-take the t-time you n-need."
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 18, 2016 2:29:54 GMT -5
Christian hadn't expected their meeting to take long, and was quite pleased how quickly Copperbottom fell in line. That was generally the way it happened when dealing with spineless weasels. "In one month you'll be free of this terror," he said with a dark smile. You'll be free of this earth.
"I expect a little more gratitude the next time I see you," he warned.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 18, 2016 13:32:11 GMT -5
"Y-yes of course." he answered "Is t-that all?" he asked wanting to leave immediately.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 18, 2016 13:45:52 GMT -5
Christian smiled at the man's change in attitude. Copperbottom was sweating again, clearly nervous and wanting to be free from Christian's presence and the public in general. He enjoyed watching the man who wanted Diana dead twitch with fear.
"One last thing," Christian said in a more sincere tone. He pulled a small box from his pocket and slid it across the table. "In case his family wanted something for the service." Inside the box was the only thing that remained of Lester Hadelman - five bloodied fingers, three of which still wore their large gold rings. Christian maintained a level expression as Copperbottom opened the box.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 18, 2016 14:25:01 GMT -5
Copperbottom hissed as he saw what was inside and drew himself as far away as the seat would let him go from the bloody body parts. Feeling as though he had received permission to go he stood and practically ran from the bar.
Christian was a sick man, but once out of sight from the deadly assassin Copperbottom would feel more in control. He just wanted this nightmare to be over with, and in the end if that meant killing Christian too, he'd be able to put that in place. It was time to work on Plan B.
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