I don't own the characters, Marvel does. I'm just borrowing them and certainly wouldn't dream of making any money from them. Like it would pay the rent anyway. LOL
The Set Up
Story set in the mid 1930's after prohibition. Characters have powers but don't openly use them, they ignore their gifts but occasionally may use their power.
Lobotomies were used in that time period as a form of treatment, especially in cases of deviant behavior. Deviant behavior for the time period in its most basic definition would be different and non-conformist behavior. For a real sad glimpse of this - I suggest the film "Francis" starring Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, and Sam Shepard. The film "House on Haunted Hill" has a few scenes of gruesome stuff from that era as well.
I kept the accent light. Not a fan of heavy accents.
If you didn't read Lucia's challenge fic – its okay. I'll give you some brief character stuff now. If you did read it, I'm pretty much picking up where I left off, only a different case.
Bishop is Captain in the Police department. Bobby Drake is a detective working under Bishop. They both have a relationship with Remy LeBeau. Bishop uses Remy's business when he can't get things done himself in the department. Remy and Bobby like to hang out together and get into trouble.
Logan is a friend of Remy's who helps him when Remy needs him.
Jean Grey is engaged to Scott Summers and is Remy's secretary at his private detective agency.
Chapter 1
Remy LeBeau knew he had a penchant for trouble, but this time it really, truly wasn't his fault. The waitress wasn't putting up with either of them. There was no amount of flirting that would help Bishop of out the mess he had made. And Remy couldn't stop laughing. Bishop just gave him a dirty look while cleaning the banana cream pie from his face. The waitress walked back to the counter to pick up another plate of food for another table in the diner.
"You'd think I insulted her and not the cook."
"Well, you did make fun of the blue plate special."
"Oh c'mon LeBeau, there is nothing special about meatloaf."
"Maybe next time you should wait and tell her the food was crummy when she's not holding a pie in her hand," Remy grinned.
"I guess you're right," Bishop gave a small smile.
"We're not here to give a review of the food. What do you want, mon ami?" Remy poked at the remnants of food on his plate with a fork.
"We fished a body outta the Hudson, no identification with the exception of a crest on the inside of his jacket."
"Who found the body?"
"A night patrolman with his guard dog. The dog went crazy barking at something, so he took a closer look and there it was." "The Commissioner doesn't think there is anything to it. Just another dead guy and that we shouldn't spend anymore time on it."
"But somethin' ain't right," Remy loved these kinds of cases. No interference with these types. He would get carte blanche.
"Well, I've seen the crest before. On a guy we took to the asylum. He kept muttering somethin' about a gem, that he needed it or he would die." Bishop remembered looking at Cain Marko like he was crazy. But the big tall blond man was serious. He had the look of desperation and of certain impending doom if someone didn't help him.
"Have the crest or picture of it?"
Bishop handed him the actual crest. The guy in the asylum wouldn't be wearing the clothes he was brought in with anyway. And there was no way, they were going to ever going to release this guy. Bishop sort of felt bad for the patient. Marko really believed he would die with out this gem.
"His name is Cain Marko, and he says he needs the gem of Cytorrak. We found him wandering around and the Doc at the station said he looked healthy but considered him in poor mental health." Bishop frowned at the thought. Lobotomies were an all too frequent treatment for those who thought or acted different from the rest of society. Drilling holes and scraping a part of the brain as a treatment sent chills down his spine. And with Marko's ramblings he was a good candidate for the procedure.
"And the dead guy?" Remy looked at the crest more closely while waiting for Bishop's answer.
"Well, the Commissioner looks at it as gangster issue. Probably got whacked by one of his own, taking care of their own business. But I don't think it has all that much to do with the gangsters as it does with poor timing on this fellows part. He just doesn't fit the profile."
"What do you mean?" Remy thought if this guy doesn't fit the profile, then this case could take on a dangerous twist.
"Well for starters, usually there are markings around the legs, bruises where sandbags would have been tied. There were no bullet wounds either. From the looks of things he was forced into the water with his head held down until he drowned. Gangsters like covering things up, making sure that if a body is found, there isn't much to go on. This was sloppy" Bishop took a sip of his coffee. At least that was better than the meatloaf. "But with all the illegal gambling, drugs and prostitution, the Commissioner just wants to close the case and move on."
The waitress walked by and refilled their cups with more coffee. She then waltzed back to the counter to take another order from customers that had just arrived in the diner.
"I'd like to look at the body, take some photos." Remy thought he might need Logan and he would need as much information as he could get.
"Sure, I'll take you there myself. It's my day off today anyway." Bishop winked, he knew if he was going to ask LeBeau for help, he needed to be as thorough as possible and that meant taking time off to give him all the details he needed.
Bishop and Remy dropped money on the table. Then they went out the door of the diner and whistled for a cab.