In New York City

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

The last time Nightstar was in New York, she stayed at the Themysciran embassy, saw the UN, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and all the other places Wonder Woman had suggested.

This time she is visiting the grimy side of the Big Apple, where rats and cockroaches swarm in the alleys, and she decides to hover above the sidewalks rather than let her feet touch the ground. It takes her some time to find the address because most of the street signs are covered in spray paint and some of the building numbers have been torn away. But finally she finds the building she needs, where the person who can help her lives.

She knocks on his door, surreptitiously brushing the dust off the back of her knuckles, trying not to breathe too deeply of the cocktail of smells in the hallway.

Comments

[onthecase.livejournal.com]

"Woah. Slow down. Start with what you know. You need to know the building... why? What's going on there?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"There's a man who works there." She spins around slowly in mid-air, her gaze unfocused as she loses herself in the memory of the dream. "He's connected to Croutex--the one who's behind all the reality shifts. I need to see him. Or at least see his office. He's the only real lead I have right now."

[onthecase.livejournal.com]

"So you know about Croutex, too, huh?" He brushes a few papers from the couch onto the floor. The couch looks as though it has seen many better days: several unclassifiable stains mark its surface, and it looks as though it has lost several important internal support beams. "I don't suppose your boss has toldja what the connection is between him and his siblings with this Croutex guy yet, has he?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I figured that out, yeah, and he told me I was right." She smiles proudly. "Croutex is trying to take over Destruction's realm, only he's not doing a very good job of it, and that's why things are so necrotically angular."

[onthecase.livejournal.com]

Chimp smiles, the last piece falling into place.

"Tell you what, doll. For that, and because this is tied to another job I'm already working, I'll give you a special discount price. $50/day, plus expenses."

He wanders to a filing cabinet, where several drawers are already open. He rifles through several drawers and hanging folders before he finally sighs. "Damn, but I need to clean this place up." He shakes his head.

"Alright. Let's run to the store and get us a map so we can start looking at possibilities."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Thanks!" She digs into the top of her boot, pulling out a small sheaf of twenties. "Uh, can you make change, or should I just give you sixty now on account?"

[onthecase.livejournal.com]

Chimp grins. "Tell you what. You run and grab a map from the 7-11 down on the corner. I'll bill you once the case is closed. Deal?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Okay!" She zips out the door and heads down the hallway.