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Outside of the cities influence, but close enough to be an influence on the city is the Carnival of Crime. Of course that's not what the signs say. No one would attend a circus with a name like that, but there was no show this night. Vince greeted his friends as he made his way to the wagon belonging to the ringmaster Max Malini.
"I was wondering when you would show up. I guess you are here to talk about what happened earlier today. You might as well step into my office. Rollo. Please join us."
The inside of Max's office is always a cluttered mess. Within can be found countless treasures from a rich history of past magicians, ringmasters, and Capes. It's almost a wonder how Max finds anything, but after some searching, he always seems to find what he's looking for.
"Max, Rollo, do you know anything about this guy? Is he really who he says he is?"
"I started asking around as soon as I heard the name. As far as anyone knows, he's the real deal." The man who spoke may have been a dwarf, but Vince knew better then to underestimate him. Rollo had kicked his butt on more than one occasion.
"That being said, I think you should avoid him at all cost."
"He's usually got a very short attention span from what I hear. He should give up after a few more days."
"Why don't you want me to talk with him Max?"
"Tell him Rollo."
"I think he's here to kill you. Word is that he's currently broke. He's been doing the good guy bit and because of that he hasn't been paid. Well you know how that is."
"But what make you think he wants to kill me?"
"He's asking for you Vince. Use your cop training and think it through. Even if he is on the up and up, I would suggest that you not align yourself with him."
"Why's that Max?"
"Haven't you wondered why they didn't say what happened to the bank robbers? Have you even seen the news? Even without knowing his past, it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that he's not the nonviolent type." Vince mulled over the information he had been given.
"I think that's exactly why I have to meet with him."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"You said it could be a week before he leaves if he's really here just to talk, but how long will he stay if he was hired to kill me? And how many heroic acts do you think he will do in that time to try and draw me out?"
"I should have known that you would put yourself in danger to keep a lunatic in check. But don't you bring him around here. You do and you will not be welcome here anymore. We don't need the attention that he would bring. You don't either, but I guess there's no point in trying to talk you out of it."
"You said that he's been acting the hero as of late, right Rollo?" The strongman nodded his head. "Maybe I can convince him to leave."
"You think you will have a hero to hero talk with him and he will just leave? What if he has been paid to kill you?"
"You guys have trained me well. I think I can handle myself."
"I still say it's a bad idea, and that you should just not deal with him. If you're afraid of what he might do next time, why don't you follow him around?"
"I would but then I can't keep tabs on Fleming."
"He's been quit for a while now. Do you really think that he's got something in the works?"
"No. But now that I think of it, who else would bring in a mercenary to kill The Cape?"
"It wouldn't be the first time he's tried it. Do you think you can talk him into leaving?"
"No. But I think I can make him think it was his idea."
"Now you're using your head."
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