#mae is like if the waitress that would normally just be here in one scene to serve (irish) coffee and disapear

[hurlumerlu]

Was going to make a 3 will be free "guy who is a femme fatale and lady who is a noir detective" joke but then I realized it's more of a "guy who is a femme fatale and girl who is a femme fatale and guy who is a femme fatale (wide eyed ingenue deluxe edition)" type of situation.

[gaslightwestern]

When Sins Haunt: Pre-Story Drabble #1 Planning a Crime Over Coffee (Jack’s POV)

Context: Technically proceeds this scene. Jack, Martin, and Mae are bantering discussing breaking into a house when Officer O’Brera shows up. [ Dialogue-heavy; canon; 1,300+ words ]

[ Overview | Intro | Page | # | Charlotte | Jack | Warren | Sam | Martin, Mae & Theo | TL ↓ ]

The bell above the café door chimed as another customer entered; faces buried beneath bundles of thick wool. Each time they brought along a gust of frigid air with them. Jack shivered violently, his threadbare brown coat no match for the torture that was January in New York City. Everyone in the vicinity seemed cozy in their overcoats, clustered around circular wooden tables full of baked goods and hot drinks.

“I just ordered my coffee and it’s already cold,” Jack grumbled, taking a small sip from the large white mug in his hands.

Outside the snow was falling steadily, covering the city with another soon-to-be-tarnished white blanket. The red brick tenements that towered around the small café looked almost picturesque—if not for the frozen filth hanging from the iron staircases and the vagrants huddled together in the trash-filled crevices between the buildings. Carriage wheels and countless footsteps mashed the snowflakes into a sea of slush outside, flooding the dirty streets of the Lower East Side with a fresh layer of grime.

Awash in the gray light from the window, Mae and Martin shared a knowing glance, before he raised a thick eyebrow. “It’s cold because you haven’t shut up since we walked in.”

“I wouldn’t have to talk so much if you’d contribute to the conversation instead of making eyes at the waitress.” Jack retorted, before lowering his voice. “We need to figure out how we’re going to break into Captain Marlow’s house.”

“You need to figure that out, not me. I’m just here for the scenery.”

Grinning from ear-to-ear, Martin’s dark gaze returned to the voluptuous brunette who, with balance of a tightrope walker, skillfully weaved her way through the tables despite the trays of dishes and heavy mugs in either hand. In Martin’s defense she had sent more than a couple lingering glances his way. Most of the ladies who catch his eye do.

“We don’t know where he lives,” Mae pointed out, dabbing her lips with a handkerchief having finished her hot cocoa. Maybe he was talking too much. “Isn’t that, you know, the first rule of breaking and entering?”

Jack grimaced, letting the sounds of chairs strapping the floor and chatter sweep over him. The location of the Marlow residence was something Jack had neglected, but he refused to admit it. “No, that’s the second. The first is figuring out when to do it.” His hands were fidgeting and he slipped them under his thighs. “I’m thinking Friday. I overheard him bragging about how he’s planning to take his wife to Delmonico’s.”

Martin snorted. “Since when can he afford Del’s?”

“Marlow’s magically come into some money recently.”

“You’d think he’d want to be more careful about flashing his money about,” Mae said dryly, as she searched through her bag, pulling out the latest from Henry James. Jack made a mental note to borrow the book from her later.

“You’ve mistaken Marlow for a man of intelligence,” Jack grinned.

Mae suddenly gasped. Both Jack and Martin sat up alert until they noticed what, or rather who, she was gawking at. Officer Theo O’Brera was strolling up the street, nodding cordially at passersby while surveying the area. Given his rosy nose and cheeks, he was likely several hours into his sixteen-hour shift. His face lit up upon spotting the trio through the window. Mae hurriedly smoothed the sleek black strands that had escaped her bun behind her ears. Jack vacated the seat by her and sat by Martin instead, who stared openly at the pair.

“You’re both ridiculous.”

Mae ignored Martin and plucked some stray gray cat hairs off her pale green dress. “Jack, did you pick this café and the window seats because you knew Officer O’Brera was on the beat?”

A long pause followed. “Maybe.”

“Jack!”

Another gust of cool air accompanied Theo as the door swung open. Several people eyed him wearily; a few pulled up their collars while others shoved their card games aside. Theo paid them all little heed, instead tipping his cap to his friends. “Good afternoon to you all. Surprised to see you out and about. Keeping warm?”

“Trying to,” Jack replied as Theo unraveled the blue scarf Mae knit him for Christmas. “Why don’t you sit down for a bit?”

Theo gave him a hard look. Was he going to scold Jack for attempting to lure him from his duties again? The young patrolman acted as though crime would escalate the moment he turned his back on the miscreants lurking in the darker corners.

“Trying and failing.” Theo plopped his own coat on Jack’s shoulders. “You might want to save for a new one, mate. Spring is more than a fair while away.”

Rather than explain how every time he saved up some money it seemed that rent was due, Jack mumbled a quiet thank you. He wrapped the gray wool tightly around him, simultaneously relishing the warmth and attempting to cover his burning cheeks.

“How has your shift been so far?” Mae asked, flashing a smile. Martin rolled his eyes.

“Boring,” he laughed, sitting next to her. “I guess criminals took the day off. Can’t say I blame ‘em. Mostly I’ve just been informing the outdoor poor of better places to stay warm.”

While Mae and Theo discussed the plight of the less fortunate, Jack and Martin eyed one another. Undoubtedly his friend was also thinking about the times patrolmen greeted them with nightsticks, not words, to clear them and other huddled street urchins from their hideouts.

Martin’s lips twisted into a devilish smirk. “When your shift is over you should warm up at Mae’s.”

Mae’s pointy boot swiped Jack’s leg as she delivered a swift kick to Martin’s shin. He gripped the table suddenly, clamping down on his lips and smothering whatever curse words threatened to slip past. While Theo explained how his shift would end too late for that, the two glared daggers at one another. Jack sank further into the coat, knowing his whole face had gone red from repressed laughter.

“Has Captain Marlow ever invited you over to his house?” Martin asked through grit teeth.

Theo gave a nod. “He had a fair number of the lads over for dinner party back in the fall. Why?”

Jack’s back snapped up as though someone had suddenly shoved an iron rod down his spine. “What’s his address?”

Theo’s gray eyes narrowed. “What deviltry are you three up to now?”

A large gulp of cold coffee did a poor job at smothering Jack’s nervous laughter. Although normally included in his investigations, Jack had kept Theo in the dark as he and Marlow both worked out of the Seventh Precinct Station. The possibility of a speck of loyalty between the colleagues left Jack hesitant to reveal his determination to bring down the Captain.

Martin looked at his nails. “He suspects Captain Marlow is involved in an illicit liquor scam.”

“Just tell the whole world, won’t you?” Jack snapped.

Theo’s lips pursed under his thick red mustache. “Wouldn’t put it past him.” Jack’s eyes went wide, but Theo raised a hand. “Not saying the Captain is guilty. I’m just saying he’s the sort.”

“Jack has compiled a compelling trail of evidence,” Mae explained, swiping the notebook from Jack’s tattered coat to show Theo. “All he really needs now is to locate where the alcohol is being stored.”

“You gotta tell me his address.” Jack was unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. “His house would be the easiest place for him to store the boxes. Or at least some of it. If I’m right—and I am—I’ll bet you more officers are involved.” Jack grabbed Theo’s sleeve. “This could be big!”

Theo glanced down at Jack’s hand, then noticed Martin and Mae were staring at him eagerly. He gave a great sigh then began searching through his pockets, pulling out a pen and paper. “I’ll write it down for you.”

Tag List: @jess-is-a-writer, @maskedlady, @thewritertiffany, @strawberry--sunrise, @teacupwriter, @girlnovels, @cirianne, @okrashan, @paranoidwriter, @drabbleitout, @nyxnevin, @scintillations-of-the-scribblers