Chapter 21: Rosa

They were arguing again, and it was her fault. She took her breakfast to the elevator and went to her fort. Yes-man had helped her move some of the slot machines together, and she brought down some blankets and pillows and stuffed animals. So she sat and ate and rubbed her eyes. They didn't even realize she was gone.

A loud thud knocked against the wall of her fort. She grimaced and kept eating the waffle. She had heard some people had arrived and used the elevator. Sounds like not all of them did. She really didn't feel like talking to them. She just wanted to be left alone. She wondered if Mr. Bones could take care of them like he took care of the monsters under her bed. No, she thought, that was too mean.

"Rosie, come out," one of them playfully taunted, and another thud rang out against her wall.

"Go away," she called out, letting out a sob.

The thuds came to a stop. Rosa wrapped the blanket around her as she pouted. They knew the rules, no one entered the fort without her permission. Just like she was never invited to their house without listening to Mr. and Mrs. Boone first. This was her daddy's house, and her house was just inside it.

A baseball rolled in under her blanket-curtain, coming to a stop at her feet. She gently reached down and picked it up. The ball had some writing on it, along with a drawing. The words "Butt" and a picture of the very same. She started to giggle.

"Fine," she gave up. "You guys can come in."

Carlie and Tobster both tried to enter at the same time, as usual. Carlie squeezed in first, with Tobster closing the curtains behind him. Rosie offered both a piece of waffle. She was already in a much better mood.

"You OK?" Tobster asked.

"Daddy and Florence were arguing again," Rosie admitted.

"Mom says Florence is going out west soon," Carlie offered.

"I don't want her to go," Rosie shook her head. "I like her, daddy likes her, but…" she looked away.

"Grown-up stuff," Tobster nodded. Carlie repeated the action, sagely.

"…How is your mom doing?" Rosie asked. "Maybe she could spend time with your dad and mine?"

The twins glanced at one another. "…I don't think our mom likes your dad very much," Tobster admitted. Rosie groaned as she fell back on her pillows. "…I don't think daddy likes spending time with me."

Carla and Tobey both didn't know how to answer that question. "I don't know where my mom is. Why can't I just go live with her if he doesn't want me around?" Rosie continued to sulk.

"It's bad out there, Rosie," Carlie waved her hands. "You want to get eaten by a scorpion? That's what's going to happen if you go out there!"

Rosie stuck her chin up. "I'm not scared! With my daddy and Mr. Bones, I won't be scared of anything!"

"…Isn't Mr. Bones pretend?" Tobster asked.

"He killed the monsters under my bed and in the closet!" Rosie insisted.

"That's so cool," Carlie breathed. "Dad just gave me a lighter and said if anything tried to grab me in the middle of the night, burn them, and also don't tell mom I have it."

"I know what we can do!" Tobster stood up, dislodging the roof of the fort. "We can go to Jimmy's! Maybe he's got some new comics!"

"Shouldn't we ask our parents first?" Carlie suggested.

"I can leave whenever I want if I ask Uncle Gav or Uncle U," Rosie beamed. "C'mon, let's go!"

Rosa sat in her tent, pocket mirror in one hand and a toothbrush in the other. She scrubbed her teeth, spitting on the dirt every few seconds. As was the rule with camp life, morning rituals were dutifully observed. After this, it would be a matter of finding somewhere private to relieve herself.

"You done in there?" Tobey asked as he waited outside her tent. Rosa looked up as she stashed her pocket mirror away, one of the many gifts Flo had left her over the years, usually via packages on her birthdays. "I feel sober," Rosa called out.

"Sorry to hear that," Tobey replied as he held the tent-flap open. Rosa returned her sundries to her suitcase before leaving the shelter. She brushed past Tobey, nodding at him as he proceeded to follow her.

"Where's your sister?" Rosa asked.

"Some of the senior JMs made contact with another group to the north. Intel suggested they were allied with the junkyard boys Cali dealt with earlier. They sent Tandi and Rathmore further up to investigate, and Carla went with."

"And you aren't backing her up?" Rosa asked. Tobey shot a sour look at her.

"Oh, right. Ugh," Rosa gagged. "Sorry I brought it up."

"Wait, what?" Tobey stopped. "What did you just say?"

Rosa turned to look at him. "…That I'm sorry I brought it up?" The realization hit her. "Oh, fuck you," she rolled her eyes as Tobey began laughing.

"That's a rare occurrence right there! Rosa Perez apologizes! Miracles do happen, guess Joseph was right after all!" Tobey cheered.

"Ha-ha," Rosa dryly replied as she turned to watch a platoon of 1st Recon run their morning drills. "You finally take a shot at whatever that thing was that got that one sentry?"

"32nd reported seeing a deathclaw in the area. You know what standard procedure is with the lizards, right?" Tobey asked, rhetorically.

Rosa looked over the horizon. "I'm still on probation, right?" she asked.

"More or less," Tobey concurred.

"But not necessarily confined to the camp, I just have to not leave your sight, right?" Rosa continued.

"Sounds fair," Tobey nodded, feeling uneasy.

"You want to go hunting?" Rosa asked.

Tobey blinked. "I didn't think you liked the outdoors that much."

"I don't, but I really hate having stayed in camp these last few weeks," Rosa grinned. "A little sweat and sun would do me some good, I think. Joseph is also too much of a homebody and Jimmy is too pampered to ask, so that leaves you!"

"Well, I'm… flattered," Tobey replied, looking away. "…Why, though?"

"…Cuz I'm bored," Rosa said, putting her hands around her back and gently swinging her body, trying to feign innocence.

"…Are we asking Carla to join?" Tobey immediately saw through the ruse.

"She wants to piss me off and hook up with a stranger, that's her business," Rosa snapped. "She wants to string along a hookup I'm already sick of, she's more than welcome! It ain't my problem, and I don't care!"

"Sounds like you do," Tobey folded his arms, unconvinced.

Rosa kicked the dirt, fuming. "… Deserves better," she muttered under her breath.

"What?" Tobey's ears perked up.

"Nothing! You know what, forget it!" Rosa threw up her hands. "I'll just hang with Jimmy as usual. Thanks for babysitting," she spat as she went deeper into the camp.

"1800," Tobey called out. "I'm going on border patrol at 1800. There's my offer."

"Sounds awful. Why the hell not?" Rosa accepted. "Bout time I had something to do."

Downtown Vegas, as was commonly known by locals and tourists alike, was effectively the fortress wall and protective barrier to the crown jewel of the city, the Strip. Still, with all that said, it wasn't without its own charm and attractions. The Bishop family arrived and acquired several bars, clubs, and vendors on the outskirts of the Strip. Their main headquarters, the Silver Shark, was the finest gambling establishment outside the main venues, large enough to draw a profit but low-key enough to keep a minimal profile. Just the way Gavino Bishop liked it.

It was two in the morning, and the staff on the floor were cleaning and readying for the next day. Jake Freeman was watching the doorway, keeping out the especially desperate from trying anything, as a few local gangs had recently tried to do. So when he saw the young girl approaching, he already braced himself for a honeytrap.

"Ma'am, this establishment it closed, please go home," he announced as he reached into his coat.

"I want to talk to Jimmy," she quietly muttered.

"So do lots of people, go home," Jake deflected, unconcerned.

"I know he's here, I just need to see him," she continued, trying to hold it together.

"Ma'am, we'll be here in the morning, so just go home and sleep it off," Jake put on an insincere smile as he gripped the handle.

"I just have to talk to him," she pleaded, sounding close to tears. "I had a really bad day."

"And it's going to get a lot worse if you don't kindly fuck the hell off," Jake countered as he finally drew out his piece.

"Hey, Jake, what the hell is keeping you, we're about to start without-" Jimmy came to the doorway. He stopped for a moment and glanced at the girl. "…Rosa?"

Jake glanced at Jimmy and then the girl. While the Governor's kid was rather well known through town, regarding her current condition, that being a dirty leather jacket, wild and unkempt hair, and a filthy short skirt with fishnets, one could be forgiven for not immediately recognizing the dejected young girl.

"Jimmy," she sobbed, barely choking on the word.

Jimmy immediately grabbed her and ushered her inside. The staff briefly paused to acknowledge Jimmy's young charge before resuming their duties. The young underboss escorted the girl to his office, nodding to his consigliere before shutting the door and sitting her down.

"What happened," he asked as he pulled up his own chair from behind his desk, sitting it in front of her.

"… I was at Duke's again," she began, already embarrassed. Jimmy rested his face in his hands. "How many times did I tell you to stay away from him?!" he let out, exasperated.

"H-He said he was trying to change," Rosa gulped. "And he wanted to show me something he wanted to give me. So I went by his place and we… " her blushing steadily got more intense. Jimmy was one of her closest confidants, but even with him there were some details about her life she didn't feel comfortable sharing. At any rate, Jimmy knew the nature of her and Duke's relationship for some time. Not quite boyfriend and girlfriend, not that Rosa realized it, but close enough that they spent enough time with and on each other.

"I told you to stay away from him," Jimmy growled. "What now? He cheated on you again?"

"He brought some of his friends over. Said, "I'm feeling generous, guys, so however wants a ride…" Rosa buried her face in her arms as she let out an ugly choking gasp.

"…They didn't…" Jimmy quietly breathed, horrified.

"I told them I had to use the bathroom. But when I was there, Duke was telling them about all the stuff we used to do together," she continued, her humiliation increasing. "He made me sound like the biggest slut in the city," she burst into tears. "I snuck out the window while they were laughing at me and came to see you as soon as I could."

"You were very smart and brave to come to me," Jimmy comforted her as he wrapped her arms around her neck, Rosa returning the gesture as she shook. "You just stay here, I'll get on the horn with your dad an-"

"NO!" Rosa cried out, releasing Jimmy. "He can't know! Please!" she begged. "He'll never let me leave that stupid tower again if he found out," she sniffed.

Jimmy sighed. "…Ok, I understand," he admitted. "…So, what do we do?"

"…I just have to think," Rosa breathed. "I just have to think and come up with something. Oh, why did I have to mess things up so bad? They're probably already spreading rumors, I'll never be able to show my face…"

"Rosa, one step at a time," Jimmy gently coaxed. "Right now, we can just get you nice and cleaned up. You can stay at my place upstairs in the meantime. Take a bath, take a nap, we'll discuss where and what we'll do in the morning."

Rosa let out a sniffle. "I'm sorry, I know you told me not to…"

"That's for neither now nor then. Just relax, I'll see you in the morning."

"…Thanks, Jim," Rosa finally started to smile. As Rosa left for the bathroom, Jimmy sat in his office and began to fume. Rosa was barely seventeen. Duke was not. That wannabe shooter had been a thorn in Jimmy's operations for quite a few months, but Jimmy never made a move against him thanks to Rosa's affections for the "charming and mysterious rogue." Looks like he no longer had that problem after tonight.

"Jake," he announced as he went back down to the floor. "Take a crew to the Casa Madrid. Quick and quiet. Have them get their hands on the palookas staying there."

"And work em over?" Jake predicted.

"No, take em out past Poseidon. Hold em there til I get free," Jimmy ordered.

"And then?" Jake asked.

"Bring shovels," Jimmy ordered as he returned to the stairway.

"…So, that's the long and short, I guess I'd say," Frost said to Jimmy as the mobster pretended to clean his revolver. The discussion had been more like a lecture from a particularly overwhelmed salesman asking for a loan. Jimmy hadn't said anything, focusing all his efforts on tolerating the glorified camera guy and not finding a reason to put one in his skull.

"…And, why me?" Jimmy politely asked, turning his head towards the documentarian, having been caught off guard by the eye contact.

"…Well, with the nature and makeup of the AEG, there are very few I would think would be permitted to take "freelance work," he explained.

"But the suspected criminal would never turn down an opportunity to make a cap," Jimmy completed as he snapped the chamber back in.

"Look, I would feel better if I had some protection. The 32nd wasn't interested, and the 66th refused outright. And I would ask for Tandi's, but…" he remembered the way all those tribals bore their gazes into him. "And I don't see the Marshals or 1st Recon lending a hand either. You are the probably the only other person I could ask."

"…All right," Jimmy began to smile. "I'm down to help."

"Oh, thank the heavens," Frost exhaled. "For a while I thought I'd have to… what are you doing?" he asked as Jimmy began jotting down something on a notepad. Finishing, he ripped the sheet off and handed it to Frost. As the journalist took it, he felt his heart begin to sink.

"These are…" he began.

"That's the minimal package," Jimmy explained. "All day, gun at the ready, that's the minimum I'd ask for. Now, if you were to get yourself into another combat situation, I'd have to triple my rates," Jimmy explained.

"…How much do you think I make?" Frost balked.

"Just ask NCRBS to cut you a check," Jimmy shrugged. "If not, fuck off."

Defeated, Frost got up and turned to leave. He passed by Rosa as she took his previous spot by the tent. "So, I finally have something to do," Rosa beamed. Jimmy glanced up at her. "So, I'm just going to be playing poker with Joseph, now?"

"Don't be like that," Rosa shook her head. "I'll be with my probation officer, anyway."

"Tobey? Finally time you got your head on straight," Jimmy laughed.

"What was that for?" Rosa pouted.

"Tobey is the one guy you didn't completely regret hooking up with, right?" Jimmy asked.

"It's not a romantic thing. We're going into the wasteland to blow away animals that grew too big," Rosa retaliated. "It's fun, not romantic!"

"Got room for one more?" Jimmy asked as he stretched his back and picked up his sidearm.

"Three's a crowd, Jimmy," Rosa shook her head. "And besides, I could use you for a favor back here."

"Name it," Jimmy smiled as he rolled his eyes.

"When Carla and Dipshit get back, keep an eye on them. Make sure he doesn't try and pull a fast one on her," Rosa asked.

"You're asking me to be awfully paranoid over something you insist isn't any of your business," Jimmy sniffed.

Rosa took a breath. "…Look, you were right about Duke. I don't know what I was thinking back then."

"You do have a lousy taste in guys, more or less," Jimmy concurred.

"I wasn't pissed I got with him. I'm pissed I stayed with him," Rosa shook her head. "Duke was just a hookup I was stupid enough to think was something more. Dipshit isn't any different. He was only good for a night, and nothing else. Maybe it isn't his fault he can't leave, but if there's one thing I can do for Carla…."

"It's to make sure she doesn't make the same mistake you did," Jimmy completed. "So, you want me to cockblock, huh?"

"She deserves better," Rosa looked away. "And don't tell her I said that."

"All right," Jimmy nodded. "You seem pretty altruistic, today."

"It's funny," Rosa said as she fell on her back to look at the sky. "I'm the reason everyone is out here, and yet it feels like there's a separation between me and everyone else, both with the Marshals and the Cali troops. Or maybe I just got sick of hanging out with you and Joseph."

"Could be," Jimmy chuckled. "I'm starting to miss the Silver Shark, myself. I'm thinking of cutting a deal with the quartermaster, later, see if there's anything she has for me?"

"She?" Rosa perked up.

"Don't get any ideas. Came in with the 5th with Baxter, coordinates with all the other units. I figure if I ever get sick of plugging my thumb up my ass, I could run the occasional errand. I'm getting a bit stir-crazy, myself, and Joseph and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye," Jimmy explained.

"Has anyone ever?" Rosa cracked.

"Funny," Jimmy said as he stood up, holding out a hand for Rosa. She took it, her body pulled from the ground. Her relationship with Tobey was still up in the air, but Jimmy was her solid rock. Whatever her problems, she knew Jimmy had her back. And for Jimmy, it meant the world to see the one he regarded as his little sister grow up strong. Whatever and however that meant.

The north side of Vegas had grown in the past few years. Where once it had been something of a sparse collection of buildings, a general afterthought compared to Freeside and Westside, the return of the Mormons had seen the community rejuvenated. It became the hub of the Mojave Nation's trade. And while they had gained a reputation for being insufferable at times, the Mormons were second to none for hospitality.

Rosa strolled through the street, watching as carts driven by brahmin strolled down the street. After the devastation wrought by the fall of New Canaan, the decimated Mormons had been hard at work recouping their numbers. While they worked to bolster their numbers the usual way on a nightly basis, their efforts to recruit people into the flock had been surprisingly successful. Faith often had a way of reaching people who had hit rock bottom, and quite a few gamblers, prostitutes, and addicts were sitting in the pews every Sunday.

Maybe that was why she was here, Rosa derisively snorted as she sat on a bench. Duke had skipped out of town, Jimmy explained when she woke up in the morning. She was furious, as she had desperately wanted to confront him on her terms. Sorry, said Jimmy, he went back to California. So, thoroughly angered and receiving no closure, Rosa just wanted to be alone for a little while.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Rosa extended her middle finger to the guy, not even looking at him. The last thing she wanted to deal with was talking to another guy, regardless if he was looking to hook up or worse talk about religion. Eventually, he'd take the hint.

"…I take it you wish to be left alone. I understand. My apologies for intruding. But if I could bother you for a moment, do you have the time?"

Rosa looked across the street to the clock that had been installed above the town market. Now sick of being pestered, she finally decided to snap at the annoyance. "Can you read a fucking clock? What are you, bli-" she turned and saw the bandages over his eyes and the cane in his hands.

"Oh, shit!" Rosa called out. The man lifted up his shoe, sniffed a bit, and placed it back down. "No, I don't think I stepped in any."

"Please, take a seat," Rosa finally offered, feeling guilty. The man accepted. "Thank you. The time, if you could, please?"

"A quarter to two," Rosa finally answered.

"Night or day?" the man asked. Rosa turned to look at him, seeing the faint smile on his lips. "It's a joke," he admitted.

Rosa let a laugh escape. "So, what brings you here?" she asked. "Hot date?"

"Perhaps," the man smiled. "She'll be getting off work, soon, and I'm hoping I can take her somewhere special."

"Got any ideas?" Rosa asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, I was thinking Hoover Dam would be nice and scenic for her, but the more I thought of it, the less I believe it a good idea," he admitted.

"Why?" Rosa asked.

"Well, she crossed it once a few years ago, and has no fond memories of the other side," the man explained.

Rosa quietly did the math in her head. "…Legion?"

"Essentially," the man nodded. "So, I'm a bit at a loss."

Rosa stroked her chin. "…I take it you aren't really big on Vegas, itself?"

The preacher-looking man smiled. "What gave it away?"

"…There's a place just south of McCarren, it was an old hotel called the El Rey," she began to offer.

"I'm not looking to take our relationship that quick, please," the blind man began to blush.

"I'm not talking about the hotel," Rosa shook her head. "Near the hotel, one can look out to where Vault 3 had been hidden. After the raiders were driven out, a bunch of Westside locals decided to spruce up the place. If you look out from the hotel balcony, you can see a giant mural of the story of New Vegas."

"I've never heard if it," the man exclaimed, surprised.

"Well, it was a bit of a recent project," she exclaimed. "The artists recently got together and tried to pretty up that place. If no one's going to build houses there, they might as well have."

"Prudent," the man nodded. "Well, I thank you for your suggestion, Ms…."

"Rosa," she cast her eyes away.

"The Governor's-" the man began.

"Yes," she finally bristled.

"I had a feeling, but you didn't want to say anything, so neither did I," the man stated as he took off his hat. Rosa felt her respect for this stranger begin to rise. "Melody!" he called out.

The young doctor beamed as she approached the stranger. Taking their hands in each others, they shared a kiss. Rosa felt like she had become the intruder, and looked to make a break for it. As she left, she realized that she had never gotten the stranger's name.

"It's Joseph," the man called out.

"I… thank you!" Rosa replied as she left. "It was nice talking to you!" she concluded, honestly.

In the end, Joseph would take up Rosa's suggestion and his date would take him to the El Ray to show the mural. What Rosa, however, neglected to mention that the artists, going by the monikers Rosalina Pierre, Tobias Beauregard, and Carolina Belladonna, had far more ambition than talent, as the various stick figures and jumbled composition mangled any potential artistic coherence they intended, concluding in an admission of defeat via the word "Butt" proceeding an image of the same. Melody thought the whole thing was hilarious, took the whole incident in stride, and accepted Joseph's proposal regardless.

Rosa swung by Joseph and Melody's tent right as the evening sun was about to set. Taking up the free cot, Rosa laid on the mattress as Melody re-entered the tent. "You've made yourself at home," she said as she set down her bag and set up a chair.

"Just like Joe said I could," Rosa smirked.

"His hospitality is his best and worst attribute," Melody sighed. "So, what now?"

"You think just I swung by here because I want something?" Rosa asked, offended.

"Yes," Melody nodded.

"Where's your husband?" Rosa asked.

"Chatting with that Frost guy. Something about a bodyguard," Melody shook her head.

Rosa sat up. "Joe's going merc?" she balked.

"He's asking Joseph to put a good word in for him. He can't help it that preachers are considered more trustworthy than journalists," Melody explained.

Rosa scoffed. "Sounds about right."

"Now don't try and change the subject. What are you doing here?" Melody asked.

"Waiting for Tobey," Rosa answered.

"Oh, you guys are back together?" Melody began, trying to hide her elated relief.

Rosa held out her hand and waved it. "Let's take it one step at a time."

"Of course," Melody hid her mouth. "Well, nothing against hoping for the best."

"So far," Rosa said as she checked her Pip-boy. "Well, it's about that time. Border patrol, yay."

"Best of luck," Melody nodded as she held the flap open for her. Rosa shot a glance at Melody before she left. "Didn't you want to know what I wanted?"

"Sounds like you got it all sorted out now," Melody said as she motioned outside.

"Almost. When you see your husband, tell him I want to talk to him tomorrow," Rosa said.

"We'll he's my husband, so anything good enough for him should be good enough for me," Melody pressed.

"Well, it might not be so much a conversation as much as it is an… appointment," Rosa said.

"…I see," Melody reluctantly understood. While she specialized in treating physical ailments, her husband focused on that of a spiritual matter. Even though all their years of marriage, Melody could not understand exactly what her husband offered and how he did it. If nothing else, she wanted to avoid treating her loved one like an experiment. "Well, have a good trip."

Rosa headed out the tent to the northern outskirts of the camp. As she did, she saw the platoon of tribals, ghouls, marshals, and one Dipshit return. Natalie was waiting as the two officers in charge approached to debrief her. Going off how they all looked, whatever incident had gotten their attention had not been resolved violently. Fitting as the two scariest leaders in the AEG had been sent to dissuade any hostile action.

Rathmore spoke curtly, his usual belligerent profanity held back while Tandi stood in silence, glaring at the Commissioner. As Rosa watched closer, she realized that Tandi wasn't actually staring at Natalie, the quailing figure of that Frost douche retreating under her gaze some distance away.

"Hey, Rosie," Tobey said as he caught up with her. "Ready for another exciting night of walking in the dark and blowing away dangerous animals?"

"It's like you read my mind," Rosa replied as she kept her eyes peeled for two of the returning couple. Dipshit has chatting her up, resting his rifle over his shoulder like he was hot shit. And Carla, stupid girl, was just laughing up whatever dumb shit Dipshit tried to joke about. Still, the best she could do was put on a happy face and be the more mature woman.

She approached both, Carla letting out another laugh as Dipshit caught her out of the corner of his eye. As Carla turned to look at her, her smile noticeably began to fade. Rosa came to a stop in front of them.

"…How'd it do?" Rosa asked.

"…It was a simple operation," Carla stated. "Rathmore took the lead while Tandi outflanked them. Larain and I here were providing cover-fire, but it didn't have to come to that."

"Kind of a shame, don't you think?" Dipshit piped in.

"Just because we can kill doesn't mean we have to," Carla told her new shooter.

"Well, I'm doing border patrol with your brother, so I just had to check and make sure you both came back alive," Rosa replied.

Carla rose her brow. "You're making yourself useful? That's new."

Rosa smiled, her lips thin and tight. "Well, what can I say, your brother is more fun to hang out with."

Carla returned the gesture. "You seem more unnerved than usual? Care to tell me what's eating you?"

"I don't think I will. Looks like you have a new shoulder to rest on," Rosa said as she broke away. "C'mon, Tobey, let's get this over with."

"Can't I just have five minutes to talk to my sister?" Tobey complained.

"Fine," Rosa snorted, standing next to Dipshit. "The keep it quick, though."

Tobey ran up to his sister. "You good?"

"I'm good. You?"

"I'm good," Tobey nodded. "OK, Rosa, let's get."

Dipshit let out a laugh while Rosa rolled her eyes. "You guys are going to give me cancer one of these days. Well, so long, I might miss some of you." She was about to leave when she paused and turned to Dipshit. "Now, you behave yourself while I'm away."

"That's rich, coming from you," Dipshit retaliated.

"Ha-ha, maybe you're right!" Rosa laughed as she elbowed him in the rebar wound. She strolled away as Carla began hovering over him after his knees buckled. Tobey shot an apologetic glance at the two of them as he trailed after Rosa. In the distance, Jimmy fished out another toothpick. It promised to be a complicated task, but he'd pulled those off before. All he needed was patience, an opening, and an excuse.