Originally posted December 22, 2009
((I liked Eddie so much I had to figure out a way to get him to MC. Someday, I'd like to roll Eddie into an MMORPG.
This meeting set up Dani and Chance's second date.))
Eddie looked around his shoulder at the café, checking out the small space, the stage, the colors. "You know. This place reminds me of…"
"Yeah," Chance interrupted. "I know. Great sweet potato fries, too."
The waitress came over to take drink orders, chatting amicably with the younger of the two men. The good detective raised an eyebrow, "frequent customer?"
"It's becoming a haunt, yes. It's a good place to study and the music at night is top notch."
"You really are settling in," mused the bald policeman. "All we need to do now if find you a girl and you can call it home." Chance blushed. Eddie smiled. "Oh, you have a girl now?"
"I don't have a girl, Eddie," Chance responded, shaking his head. "She is her own woman. She's not a girlfriend, either." He shrugged. "She's kinda got this thing about labels and definitions. We are dating and she is really cool. I like her. I think it has potential. And she tells me she feels the same way."
"I'd like you to meet her Eddie. Maybe not on this trip, but soon."
Eddie smirked at the young man, pondering whether or not to make a smart ass comment. The wistful look in Chances eyes warned him off. The boy, the young man he corrected himself, was clearly smitten. The detective hadn't seen that look on Chance's face in a long time, not since,… well, a long time.
The waitress delivered their beers and took their orders. As she departed, Eddie raised his glass. "Salud."
"Salud," Chance agreed. "So level with me Eddie. You certainly didn't come all this way to check on my love life."
The detective reached down to pick up then open a beaten leather briefcase. He pulled out a file and handed it to Chance. "An item of historical and cultural significance is coming to Millennium City. The original owners, the Chinese government, want it back."
Chance looked up from the open folder. "It says here that the Chinese suspected the On Leong has had this vessel in Chicago for a few years. Why act on this now?"
Eddie shrugged. "The Red Banner might have more mojo than our friends on the South Side."
Chance continued looking through the file, occasionally sipping his beer. Eddie gave the young man time, looking around the place, smiling at the waitress. "OK, Eddie," Chance finally ventured. "This shouldn't be that hard. But why are you really here? You could have emailed me this stuff?"
Eddie took a longer drink. "They are dissolving Special Services, Chance. I had an interview with MCPD this morning."
Chance snorted, taking a sip. "Sure. Like Lucy would ever move out of Chicago."
Eddie set his hands down, about to speak. The waitress set down their plates and retreated before he began. "Lucile and I are separating, Chance. Things haven't been quite the same for a while…"
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