Great Caesar's Ghost!

[Harrison Cutter]

Cutter's bulk was presently looming over the next paper's layout, which he was getting cigarette ashes on. "Who wants to tell me how we're going to turn the kid's failed stab at journalism into a story we can sell?"

[Pearl Spivey]

Pearl stood near the table, taking the foil off the top of the plate of chocolate chip cookies she had made fresh that morning. She sat down, pushing the cookies to the middle of the table, and smiled dryly. "Well, what little did they see? Gossip and speculation can go a long way."

[Milton Hughes]

"Come on, Cutter, it's big news!" Milton reached in for a cookie, holding it aloft and surveying it as he spoke. "We found two unconcious bodies, a secret laboratory and experienced the harsh treatment of wrongdoers by our local police force. Or, at least, I did. I'd say that was a night well spent."

[Frankie Prescotti]

Frankie shot her coworker a look. "Officer Grissom was just doing his job." She said staunchly, looking back at her boss. "Milt's right. Scientists. Labs. Who knows what they're doing. And who they're doing it for."

[Harrison Cutter]

Cutter put his cigarette out in the nearest ashtray and looked back at the layout. "And if we print an article full of gossip and half truths about some scientists who might be doing good work, who wants to be on point when a nice young man from some law firm shows up? Huh?"

He turned to face them. "It'd be a great story. If we knew the facts." Cutter glared at Milt. "Or if we had pictures." He said, shifting his glance to Frankie.

[Milton Hughes]

"So far as I know, being a policeman doesn't involve putting people into dog pens whilst spending the night with your girlfriend." Milton leant forwards. "We do have some facts. Enough for something, at least- the townspeople need to be informed, Cutter, who knows what those men are doing?"

[Harrison Cutter]

Cutter sighed. "Finding a cure for polio?" He said dryly.

[Frankie Prescotti]

"Blythe choked up when his kid told me they had a lab in the basement." Frankie pointed out. "And the Solucio character was upset that the kid talked to the police.. Maybe Milt should go talk to the kid or something."

[Milton Hughes]

Milt frowned thoughtfully. "I don't think the kid was too happy with us. But I could have a go." he paused. "And they were unconcious, Cutter- we had to carry them up the stairs and they didn't wake up, not at all. It's gotta be something."

[Harrison Cutter]

"Yeah, Hughes? Find out what that something is, and we'll print it. For this issue, just write about how you were treated at the station. Say that it was a test to see what the average citizen would face." Cutter told him, lighting another cigarette.

[Frankie Prescotti]

Frankie almost choked on her cookie, and shook her head Milt, mouthing something along the lines of "Don't you dare."

[Pearl Spivey]

"Maybe we should interview the kid." Pearl pondered, tapping her long red nails on the table. "We could approach him from a different angle. I mean, what, he's the new kid in school at the end of the year? I could do an interest piece about that. I could interview him, lending a sympathetic ear, and when he's more willing to talk, sneak in a few questions about this lab."

[Milton Hughes]

"Right." Milton scribbled something down, giving Frankie a long wink. "And that sounds like a plan, Pearl. These cookies are divine, you know, maybe take some along. I wouldn't be able to withold any sort of information if you gave me these." Milton took a bite, then waved it at Frankie. "You could suggest these to your man if he ever wanted to go into torture methods."

[Harrison Cutter]

"Good idea, Pearl." Cutter said, helping himself to several cookies. "You get on it. These cookies are good." He said, momentarily taking his cigarette out to chew on it. "Almost as good as Pearl's work, which couldn't be sweeter. You wanna take the kid with you when you go?" He asked the older woman, shaking a thumb at Milt. "He needs practice."

[Frankie Prescotti]

"That would probably only work if you start getting arrested more often." Frankie replied. "Not to mention that Officer Grissom probably doesn't even know how to spell torture, let alone what it is."

[Pearl Spivey]

"Oh, Milty, I'll let you take some home with you, if you'd like. You too, Harry." the elderly woman said, waving a hand at him. Pearl curled her red lips smugly. "Yeah, I'll take him with me. He can also apologize to the kid or something. So we've got a plan?"

[Milton Hughes]

"I've got nothing to apologise for." Milton said, indignantly. "It was Frankie's fault and I'll stand by that. Pearl, you're a sweetheart, these'll keep me for a week." He glared at Frankie. "I wouldn't have been arrested but for you, you know."

[Harrison Cutter]

"Yup. You two interview the kid, gain his trust, see if Milt's something is out there. Kid's always talk." He looked over Milt. "You'll do whatever you have to for a story and that's that. Understood?"

[Frankie Prescotti]

Frankie very maturely stuck her tongue out at Milt.

[Pearl Spivey]

"It simply won't do to bicker about who's fault it was." Pearl said primly, "You were both in there, and I'm sure that the boy blames you both fairly equally." She looked between Milt and Francine and raised her eyebrows at the stuck out tongue.

[Milton Hughes]

"I still don't see why I'm getting the stick for this." Milton grumbled. "Sure thing. Whatever I have to do for a story and that's that. Though it'll still be Pearl's story, right?"

[Frankie Prescotti]

The young woman sucked her tongue back up and looked down at the table, her face going red. "Sorry Pearl. I'm real glad Milt's going with you to apologize for us both." She mumbled.

[Harrison Cutter]

"You're getting experience, not the stick." Harrison said gruffly. "And it's still Pearl's, unless you can figure out a something for your own article. If not, you'll just get a little byline at the end of Pearl's. Got it, kid?" He asked, raising his brows. "I'm being nice here."

[Pearl Spivey]

"That's quite alright, Francine." Pearl replied with a nod and a smile. She pulled a notebook out of her handbag and jotted down a few notes. She twirled her pen between her fingers and pursed her lips. "I'll have to buy more chocolate chips. Unless you think peanut butter cookies will do?"

[Milton Hughes]

"Right." Milton intoned. "Just remember that I suffered for this story. I think you need more of both, Pearl."

[Harrison Cutter]

"Yeah, yeah, we all know how you suffered." Cutter said boredly. "Just don't get caught again. Either of you." He said, taking another cookie. "You could try making peanut butter chocolate chip ones, too!"

[Pearl Spivey]

"Mmm, peanut butter chocolate chip. I think I might try that." Pearl scribbled a final note down in her book and snapped it shut.

[Milton Hughes]

"We didn't mean to." Milton said mildly before stuffing another cookie in his mouth, drawing the pen from behind his ear and looking contemplatively at the notebook that sat in front of him.

((out))

[Harrison Cutter]

"Please do, Pearly. Tell me how the interview goes." He said pleasantly. "Don't let Milt there get you in trouble." Cutter joked, taking another cookie. "And don't come back without something, all right, Milt?"

((out))

[Frankie Prescotti]

Frankie got up from her chair. "I'm going to go see if anyone wants to advertise." She remarked, heading out of the office.

((out))

[Pearl Spivey]

"I'll make sure that you get to try some fresh, Harry." Pearl replied, giving a little chuckle as the man joked. "Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't get me in trouble." The elderly woman fetched a different notebook out of her purse and began to write at length, pausing on occasion to tap her nails on the table or twirl her pen.

((out))