(no subject)

[walk_ins]

He'd come in on his own the next morning, and that made Cathcart and Charrington exchange a glance over their first cup of coffee. Surely Gabriel Tam didn't believe that he could get off on good behavior, as it were?

They need information.

They'll get information.

But not before they finish their coffee. Let him cool his heels again. Surely Tam couldn't have passed a pleasant night last night.

It's almost like visiting your doctor, isn't it?

Comments

[gabriel_tam]

This time, he'd come prepared. Gabriel sets a slim black leather portfolio on the table in front of a chair, and then takes a seat.

He adjusts its position on the table very precisely and leans back, looking at the seemingly-blank mirrored window with a calculating gaze.

[walk_ins]

Charrington looks down at Tam, considering. "Do you think they think that's cute? Looking at us that way?"

Cathcart says, voice blank, "Doesn't matter. He'll talk. One way or another."

They exchange another glance, and Cathcart refills their coffee -- and now they take it with them as they go down the stairs and around the corner.

The door emits a hiss before opening, letting the morning-cheerful Cathcart and Charrington into the interrogation room, cups giving off steam and a smell like heaven.

Only the best for everyone. That was the point of Unification.

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel has no coffee, but that doesn't mean he can't recognize the scent of a high-quality blend.

"Good morning, gentlemen." This time, he rises in order to offer a formal and businesslike greeting, suŏyŏu de dōu shìdàng, before resuming his seat once more.

"If you haven't tried it before, you may find the Qianjin Estates blend superior to others."

[walk_ins]

"We're well aware, Mr. Tam."

"We prefer something a little...darker."

They're not going to offer him any.

"So." Cathcart settles into a chair.

Charrington nods to the portfolio. "So."

[gabriel_tam]

The moment of truth.

He doesn't show any outward signs of nervousness, even though he knows that what he's done isn't strictly... acceptable by official standards.

Gabriel flips the cover open and extracts a single sheet of digital paper, sliding it across the table to Charrington.

"I believe I'd mentioned an orderly report."

Accessible through the paper is a shifting list of several performed searches-- and the near-infinite number of results that had been yielded.

[walk_ins]

Charrington hands it to Cathcart, who is in the process of drawing what looks like a small silver stick out of his sleeve.

He presses a button.

The end of the stick extends. What slides out of the stick is blue.

[gabriel_tam]

He leans back in his chair once more, though not without a quizzical glance at the blue wand.

Gabriel waits, clearly intending to give them time to peruse the document.

[walk_ins]

Charrington sips his coffee, looking...beatific. "So, Mr. Tam -- who do you like for the University Championships this year? Federer, perhaps? Or maybe Farson?"

Cathcart is reading through the information, using the stylus he drew out of his sleeve.

[gabriel_tam]

"I think Filaro's still got a few tricks up his proverbial sleeve," he replies. "It wouldn't do to rule any contender out too early."

Get the deal done. Gabriel seems largely disinterested in Cathcart's review of the material, but he's far from unaware.

[walk_ins]

Cathcart's not giving anything away -- only he does look up to murmur, "Oh, come now, Mr. Tam -- Filaro is simply ridiculous. Haven't you seen the statistics?" And then he's back to reading, running his stylus over the paper, exploring words and phrases and results.

Charrington shakes his head woefully. "I'm afraid I must agree with my colleague, here -- I think Sheppard's a much more likely dark horse. His averages are much more solid."

[gabriel_tam]

"Averages are all very well, gentlemen, but all the same it doesn't do to count out the random element," he replies.

"I'm not one for rampant speculation when it comes to business, but it's worth noting that sometimes risk brings its own rewards, and that's something more easily seen in such competition."

[walk_ins]

"Certainly." Charrington inclines his head gracefully. "But you must acknowledge the fact that there hasn't been a University Champion since 2485 with stats like Fila--"

"We appreciate your compliance." Cathcart's voice is cold. "I'm still not satisfied."

Charrington's face matches Cathcart's tone, now.

[gabriel_tam]

"Then it would appear you have a problem."

He's still leaning back in his chair as he says this, but then Gabriel straightens, and clasps his hands together over the leather portfolio, the picture of an attentive negotiator.

[walk_ins]

Cathcart has a sip of coffee. It's long, and luxurious, and he enjoys it very much.

Charrington: "I would imagine, Mr. Tam, that the problem lies with you."

Cathcart: "The poetry of the New Dialecticians has nothing to do with gunslingers...and yet you spent more time there than almost anywhere else." Pause. "And since your daughter was kidnapped, there's no one left in your house who'd have the slightest interest in dialectics, New or Old."

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel's tone is thin and slightly sharp, now. In fact, it's not entirely unlike that which an unhappy Simon might be heard to use.

"It appears, gentlemen, that you know rather more about what might or might not be found on the subject than I do." A beat. "I suppose you've had better luck with your research, or simply longer to look."

[walk_ins]

"What we have and haven't done is no concern of yours." Cathcart.

"What you should be concerned with is giving us the information we want." Charrington.

"Where did you hear of gunslingers?"

[gabriel_tam]

"They promised they'd be discreet if you cooperate." Gabriel looks back and forth between them and says nothing, at first. After a moment or two of silence, carefully calculated to show strength, he answers calmly,

"I received a letter." Barely a hesitation, now. "You'll recall, I'm certain, that I've been contacted by ... fringe elements ... before."

[walk_ins]

"We're well aware."

"When and how did you receive this letter, what did it say, and where is it now?"

[gabriel_tam]

His eyes narrow slightly at the tone, but he makes no protest, not even a token one.

"...you are going to cooperate, because I will not have another scandal, do you hear me?" Regan is right; they can't afford another scandal, not so hard on the heels of the previous uproar.

"Some messenger service delivered it -- surely you don't expect me to keep track of such things? The boy said it had been dropped off at their office."

And this is where what he's done becomes rather less certain in its legality, but to his credit Gabriel Tam does not flinch as he continues, "It said that if I wanted to locate Simon and River, I should research these 'gunslingers.' "

"I destroyed it."

[walk_ins]

Cathcart and Charrington exchange a glance.

"That's certainly convenient," Charrington observes.

[gabriel_tam]

Dryly, "It's better for a man in my position to deal with the disposition of such things before they have a chance to get lost."

[walk_ins]

It's a moment before either of them says anything, as they're both giving him oh really? looks...but they let that go.

It's not why they're there.

Charrington says, almost dreamily, "And so you searched to find your fēngle criminal children."

"And why didn't you leave that to the authorities? Or contact our offices with this information immediately?"

[gabriel_tam]

There's something of polite disbelief in the look he's giving them now.

"As you yourself said but a moment ago, gentlemen -- you're well aware that I did just that, last time."

"Gave up," a soft voice tries to whisper in his memory, but it's so deeply hidden in his subconscious mind that Gabriel doesn't even notice it at all.

"You'll also note that it was after that when the situation deteriorated." Thinly.

[walk_ins]

"You of all people, Mr. Tam, ought to appreciate just how -- devastating -- vigilante action can be."

"Since your son saw fit to engage in it, after all...and now -- I'm sure they've killed more than simply the peace officers on Ariel."

[gabriel_tam]

"Dad, I wasn't wrong and I wasn't crazy..."

The lost breath of a voice never even makes it to the level of a thought. Gabriel's lips tighten visibly an instant before he snaps out,

"And whose fault is that, gentlemen? My children need help-- my son is clearly ill, and my daughter needs to complete her treatment, and you weren't able to protect her in that top-flight school of yours!"

[walk_ins]

Another exchanged glance.

"We fought the war so that everybody would be safe."

"So that lunatics like your son wouldn't attack schools."

"But we can't do anything if people don't catch the symptoms -- or if they catch them, and do nothing."

Placid, both of them.

[gabriel_tam]

"I did my part the first time," he says coldly. "I reported it. And you did nothing, and look what happened."

Gabriel shoves the chair back from the table and crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at them both. "That's why I didn't report it this time. I thought I might have a better chance to accomplish something of use."

[walk_ins]

Charrington, soft: "You want to watch yourself, Mr. Tam."

Cathcart: "All right. So you destroyed the letter, without even letting us know it existed."

Pause.

"If you submit willingly to further interrogation, there are ways to make sure this doesn't appear on your permanent profile."

[gabriel_tam]

Dangerous ground, and well he knows it.

"And if I don't, gentlemen?"

Politely inquiring.

[walk_ins]

"You've obstructed a government investigation." Charrington sounds downright cheerful. "And we'd be well within our authority to arrest you right here."

[gabriel_tam]

Leaning back in his chair, Gabriel examines them both once more.

"Well then, it's just as well that I'm fully prepared to cooperate, now isn't it?"

Beat. "We share a common interest, after all."

[walk_ins]

"Do we?" Perfectly polite, is Cathcart. "And what would that be, Mr. Tam? Just so we're clear here."

[gabriel_tam]

"The safe return of my children from whatever lièzhì corner of the universe they've lost themselves in," he says flatly.

[walk_ins]

Cathcart looks at him for a moment.

And then he puts his stylus back where it came from, and rises. Charrington does the same.

"We'll send someone along to collect you in a moment, Mr. Tam."

"And then," says Charrington, still abominably cheerful, "we'll find out what you know."

He downs his coffee, still smiling at Tam, and turns to follow Cathcart out of the room.

The door locks behind them.