Chapter 29

When Kelly arrived at the Kanto Police station, she went with a few of her men.

The last time she met with Dixon, the building was stationed in Saffron. However, the Police were hoping to cover more ground, so she was brought to the substation in Fuchsia. (Which made for an agitating journey, considering she was in Johto when she was summoned).

Sitting in the interrogation room, she was in the process of examining her split ends when Dixon came in. As he did so, she acknowledged him, then went back to her previous activity.

"I should be excited." She said when the officer sat down. "Usually you send one of your trained pigs to harass me." Despite her veneer of jest, she secretly found herself concerned. The Boss was still ill, though he had since been relocated to the hospital in Goldenrod. As to be expected, she and the other Executives were on edge.

"I felt, given the current situation, it was best we speak on neutral ground." Dixon said, tossing a folder out on the table.

"Neutral ground would be that lunch date I've been waiting on." Glancing at the dossier before her, Kelly, who had been leaned back in her seat, sat up. "I'm guessing this is about the incident in Mt. Moon last week? We were within our rights... Granted, we blew into the side of the cave and trapped a few miners, but they got out...eventually."

Dixon, who was use to Kelly's bullshit at this point, motioned towards the two guards standing behind her. "I think it's best you dismiss your men, since you're so worried about secrecy."

"As soon as you dismiss yours." Kelly said, in reference to the officers beside Dixon. "And so long as they keep their hands to themselves...Last time I was here, you jumped my guards and landed one in prison." She added. "Which we then proceeded to bust him out. You'd think after all these years you'd spring for better security."

Once they were alone, Dixon saw to it that the door was latched tight behind them. "We have information pertaining to the incident in Cerulean. Considering the people involved are a threat to both of us, I figured you'd be interested." He opened the folder. "We took in a handful of men, but only a couple were willing to talk." Among the papers, fingerprints and mugshots were a couple of hand written statements. "It would seem they have taken a vendetta against your Organization."

Kelly read over the documents, remembering key words to pass onto the others once she saw them. "There was an incident in Birtan not to long ago." She started. "From what one of our Executives gathered, they have a hideout stationed in Travessia."

"From the looks of it, they have them stationed all over." A map of Kanto dropped from the folder. "We had the snitches circle areas they've been congregating. They had a small group in Cinnabar and Viridian..."

"Probably in squat houses." Kelly responded. "Their organization is new, they don't have the money or man power to build a decent defense. When they receive word from the higher up, they gather a handful of men and go from there." Their adversaries were very scattered from the sounds of it, a large pool of people trying to organize themselves but having little luck. "They have a fortified area or two, but not much else..."

Dixon nodded. "We have an idea of how best to break down their defenses, but it isn't something we can do alone." He noticed a snarky smirk light up Kelly's face. "I'd prefer a level of seriousness on this matter."

"Oh of course." Kelly said, still shifting through the evidence on display. "It's just flattering to know how desperate you've become Dixy."

"Your men are the ones they're after." Dixon snapped. "If I had a chance to face them myself, I wouldn't even consider you reprobates. But the only way we're going to find them is to-"

"Use us as bait?"

"Partially." He said. "Also, if anyone knows how the criminal mind works, it's another criminal."

Throwing her coy demeanor to the side, Kelly leaned forward. The thought of working with Dixon and his men after all that'd happened between them wasn't appetizing.

However, there was more at stake, so she'd cooperate for the time being. "Your best bet is to start from the bottom. In this confession they mention the hideout in Cinnabar. If you invade there, you might find other men that are willing to talk. Taking care of their smaller groups will eventually lead us to the source." She added. "We know of a main hideout in Birtan, but even knowing the city won't help. They're excellent at hiding themselves." She strummed her fingers on the table top, an idea forming in her mind. "I have a good idea where to start, but it's going to take more than just a friendly conversation to chide me."

Dixon's brows furrowed, almost as if he knew her game. "I suppose you want us to turn the other cheek when it comes to your fiasco in Mt Moon?"

"No..." There was a snap of silence brought on by contemplation. "I want you to pull your men from Celadon."

"If you think I'm going to leave an entire city unprotected-"

"Not the city, so much as a specific building..." Kelly continued. "We've been trying to set up another Game Corner in town, but every single time I send men over to scope out the area, they're arrested. It's very inconvenient." She laced her fingers. "So if you would be willing to...maybe look away and leave the building be, I would have no issue cooperating. In return, we won't practice any activities with in the city itself. You won't even see us in the streets. The civilians can live on in ignorance, thinking their happy lives are safe, and we can go about our business without a bunch of blue suit dipshits busting down our door."

Dixon didn't put up much of a fight, something that Kelly caught onto quickly. "I suppose if that's what has to be done."

She smiled, letting her lips turn up. The grin wasn't one of acceptance, but of victory.

"Also, deputy, as a side note." She picked a pin off the collar of her shirt. It was in the shape of a clover, and she had been playing with throughout the course of their conversation. "Say hi to the camera."

"You son of a bitch-" When Dixon lunged across the table, tossing the folder and papers in a scatter. Kelly leaned back.

"Lets not get too angry, you don't want to look bad for the people." She waited until the Deputy sat back before holding the pin out to him. "You can break if you want. It won't matter. Everything you said has been sent, in full, to one of my techs. Also, before you get it in your head to go raiding my headquarters, it's not there. As we speak, multiple copies are being made and sent to every region that we have." A seriousness came over her, one that wreaked of smug satisfaction. "It's real easy for you to say you'll keep your promise without actually doing it. I'm not about to spill information at the risk of you stabbing us in the back. So, you'll leave our Celadon division alone, or I'm going to have our conversation leaked to every available news outlet in Kanto. Maybe even beyond, just in case you decide to flee the region once your reputation is ruined here." She chuckled. "I'm sure you making plans with us will effect the next election...and if they were to know you inadvertently helped us get new members..." She expected some kind of response. Instead he glared at her with a locked jaw, a redness crawling up his neck. "There's a boy in my branch. A few years back, his buddy got him a new car. Weeks later, he was pulled over by your men. Turns out, unbeknownst to him, the vehicle had been stolen. He was smacked with a grand theft charge. Luckily the judge gave him a reduced sentence, but when he got out, no one wanted to help. His parents abandoned him, his girlfriend dumped him. Being a felon, no one would hire him. He was homeless and desperate." Still receiving no response, she continued. "There's a company in Kanto that works with criminals, gives them a second chance to get on their feet. All he needed was a signature from the local Law Enforcement to say he was willing to do whatever he had to. And...I can't remember...who was the one they contacted? A certain deputy who couldn't look beyond his felony charge?" Kelly made it a point to turn the mini camera in her fingers so that it got a good look of Dixon's dishevelment. "Imagine in your mind's eye, a single mother who has no family save for her son. She turns on the news one day and sees this footage. She then realizes that the man she has trusted to keep her son safe would have no issue confining her child to a lifetime of misery simply because he made a mistake. Maybe her son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That doesn't matter to you Dixy. A felon is a felon, and you'd much rather toss them aside then treat them with an ounce of human decency." She smiled, the kind of smile one would give a dear friend. "We know our reputation, but yours is one you can't afford to lose. With all that said, do we have a deal?"

Dixon clenched his fingers into fists on the table top. The red in his neck still prevalent, an angry exhale followed. "I guess we do."

With that confirmation, Kelly took her pin and snapped it in two. "Good." She added. "Every year, there's a gala that our Boss attends. They tend to jump around from region to region, as they don't want you officer types jumping in and arresting any criminals that show up."

"It's a ball to get in your Boss' good graces?"

"Not necessarily. Some do attend for that reason. It's just a thing that happens, something fun to unwind after months of running around and trying to keep our asses out of the fire. The Boss won't be attending this year due to reasons I won't disclose, but our enemies don't know that."

"You think they'll show."

"I know they will." Having had enough with all the talking and blackmailing, Kelly stood to leave, smoothing the fabric of her navy denim dress. "Until then, your best bet is to start looking into their small settlements sprinkled throughout the region. I'd do so with caution, considering the power of their Pokemon. From what I've heard, a breakthrough has been made in order to combat them. Once I learn what can be done, I'll be sure to pass it on to you." She headed for the door, feeling victorious but also concerned about the state of their situation. "If you want to talk, just shoot me a message. I'll be in Celadon. You know how frustrating it can be, getting a business off the ground."