(no subject)

[toblameforit]

Sherry did, of course, do a background check.

"Andy Wright, age 24, graduated cum laude from Bethlem College in South Dakota with a BA in Creative Writing. No criminal record."

Tony was not impressed.

"Licensed bartender. Works in coffeeshops a great deal, as well. Published several poems in a few magazines around the country."

He shouldn't have been surprised, either, and after the initial shock he wasn't.

"Did you expect me not to? Her work isn't bad, though I think she relies on her allusions a little too heavily."

But now, if he's going to email her, he should probably get that out of the way first thing. He sprawls out in bed with his laptop and starts typing.

Subject: so hi
From: tonys (dcxvi)
To: awright (gmail)

Hey,

Sherry totally did do a background check. :( Sorry. It all checks out, though, so that's good I guess.

Anyway. If you seriously want to talk, I think I seriously need to. But like I said, I don't want to freak you out or anything. So... I dunno.

Coffee sometime?

-Tony

Comments

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

"Did they catch whoever did it?"

[toblameforit]

He starts to laugh.

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

So . . . is that a no?

She'll wait to see if he's going to get hysterical or not.

[toblameforit]

"Nope. And they're not gonna. It was a fucking gruesome job, too, the way I hear it."

Speaking of complicated feelings, his voice is wavering between grief and deep satisfaction. Heavier on the latter.

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

". . . And you hear it from?"

[toblameforit]

"Sherry knows everything," he says, like it is the founding principle of his existence.

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

". . . Okay."

And how does Sherry know everything?

And is it wrong of her to think that it's weird how reliant Tony is on Sherry?

[toblameforit]

"—He didn't do it," Tony clarifies belatedly.

It has the advantage of being completely true. In a sense.

"He just, y'know, looks up coroner's reports for fun."

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

"Oh, okay."

Her expression indicates that this is still kind of weird.

[toblameforit]

Tony sighs.

"Yeah, I probably shouldn't think that's funny."

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

She blows out a breath and shrugs, sipping her coffee.

"It's weird, but -- I don't know. I don't know him."

[toblameforit]

"Sherry's..."

He spreads his hands.

"Yeah, I can't explain him. He's just Sherry."

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

She nods, sitting back again to listen.

[toblameforit]

"Whoever did do it, though... shit, I could kiss him."

This is not at all what Tony meant to say.

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

Another slow nod. It may not be what Tony meant to say, but it makes sense.

[toblameforit]

Except now he's thinking about Obie and kissing, and—



"He wasn't just after the money."

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrows go up.

[toblameforit]

"Obie, I mean. He was..."





"He was after me, too."

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

"Oh, fuck, Tony."

She puts down the coffee, sitting forward, and reaches out to touch his arm.

[toblameforit]

He covers her hand lightly with one of his.

"Thanks," he murmurs.

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

Gently: "I can see why you'd be conflicted on this one."

[toblameforit]

Wryly: "No shit, right?"

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

"Was that -- something you knew, before he died?"

[toblameforit]

He snorts.

"Yep."

And if she doesn't pick up on the rest from the way he says that word... well.

[self-espresso.livejournal.com]

Andy lets out a breath.

"Tony, you really ought to be talking to a professional about this."