Criminal Connections|{Richard/Hector}FINISHED

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

This week had been nondescript. Except for a row with Edward concerning the guest list for his upcoming party (which Richard had to fight tooth and nail to get Dr. James Faustus onto) nothing of note had occurred. That was until yesterday evening.

Richard had received a phone call from one Hector Tormei, inviting him to a brunch the following day. He was somewhat sporadic on the details and the reason for the meeting, but that mattered little to Richard. He considered Hector to be one of his closer acquaintances, a man he genuinely respected and admired. He wouldn't go so far as to call Tormei a friend...Richard didn't really have friends. He had acquaintances, associates and colleagues...that was all.

Considering their similarity in status, one would assume it only natural that they knew each other quite well and were on good terms. This was indeed true, but the real reason for their association was much less open to discussion.

It had been two years ago now when it happened. The Big Scandal. Edward Plantagenet had had many such moments over the years, and most were easily glossed over or forgiven in light of his more desirable traits. But this particular instance could not be swept under the carpet with such ease.

Richard's older brother had engaged in a tryst with a woman, bad enough when one considered he had a wife. But things got worse; it turned out the young woman in question had been only nineteen years of age. Edward had been rather heavily intoxicated at the time, but that was no excuse for his behaviour. When Richard had found out what had occurred he had been furious; if this got out it was sure to threaten not just Edward's political standing but his own as well.

This was where Hector Tormei had come in. Richard knew the man passably through some of his connections at City Hall; apparently he had helped to cover up a number of similar situations in the past for other politicians and those of high rank. The youngest Plantagenet got in touch to rectify the situation in his own way; Hector had risen to the challenge and responded admirably (in return for a rather large sum of Richard's money).

The comptroller was still in the dark as to the specifics of how the woman in question had been dealt with. But Hector had informed him the deed had been done, and that was all Richard needed to know to satisfy him. He hadn't told Edward what he'd done of course; giving his brother information to use against him was never in his plans.

The restaurant in which Tormei had specified they meet was one Richard had not visited before but one which was clearly near the top of the chain when it came to sophistication and class. Having been escorted to a table Richard took a seat, musing over the intended nature of their meeting. Tormei had yet to arrive but Richard didn't mind; this, he presumed, was not a meeting for business...surely if it was Hector would have told him so outright?

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector wasn't one to ask for favors often. People came to him to ask favors. Favors of all sorts though the majority of them were concerning clean up. A glorified and well paid janitor, that was what Hector was half of the time. He made scandals go away, political blemishes vanish, and errors of judgment disappear. That's how he met an influential man by the name of Richard Plantagenet. He was called on to make a problem concerning the man's married brother go away. Hector hadn't known Plantagenet before then though he had heard whisperings about him in all spheres of society; to be honest, Hector had been expecting a call sooner or later.

Edward Plantagenet was far from subtle.

Hector, for safety reasons, hadn't revealed how he had handled the situation. For safety reasons that Plantagenet understood. Hector had handled the situation personally, as he did with every high paying job. He respected and trusted his men but he never risked a pay off as large as Plantagenet had offered. It was lunacy to even think about handing the job off to a worker bee.

It wasn't hard to make sure that the girl would never be a bother again.

Two years later, a line of communication had remained opened between the comptroller and the mafioso. Most of what transpired was business, neither man suffering the notion of friendship really. Plantagenet's personality was too acidic (even Hector had to admit that, admiration or no) for friends and Hector was too acutely aware of how his acquaintances could endanger.

But, off all the people tucked away in his Rolodex (ancient, he knows) hidden in his desk's drawer Richard Plantagenet was the only man that Hector was confident enough in to call on when he needed help. Hector didn't have many issues in his life that he couldn't control and he loathed having to go outside for aid.

And, in true Hector Tormei fashion, he was running late due to a late shipment that he had to manage. He had neglected to inform Richard of the purpose of the meeting just to make sure that they sat down to a meal open minded without prejudices. Labeling a lunch as a business lunch was one sure fire way to ruin it. Hector arrived to the restaurant nearly ten minutes late and, after a quick apology, seated himself at the table across from his colleague.

"Hello Richard," Hector smiled, all charm. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long,"even though he knew that he had.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard had been alternating his gaze between the nearby window and the door, waiting for Hector to make his appearance. Not that the latter being late bothered him much; he liked having time to himself to think, which was rare these past few weeks. Hopefully this meeting would be one in which he and Hector could simply catch up and talk, rather than add any new tasks to their to-do lists. Richard, for one, had quite enough on his plate at the moment...most of it, ironically enough, to do with the man that had brought them together.

After a few minutes more of sitting and waiting, Richard glimpsed Tormei through the window, here at last. He couldn't help a small smile; although there was no notion of friendship between them, he enjoyed the other's company. It was pleasant to converse with someone with a similar sense of humour, at least, and humour was something recent events had lacked (for everyone except him, and pretending to be as emotionally cut up as everyone else was not always as entertaining as it promised to be).

"Hello Richard! I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long,"

Richard returned Hector's smile, then shook his head.

"No, no, not long at all. I understand you're a busy man, and in my view business should come before pleasure." Ignoring the fact of course that arranging Edward's murder was both. "It's good to see you again I must say; it's been far too long. I trust you are well?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector nodded and smoothed down his tie as he settled himself in his seat. "Very well, thank you. Business is booming, if you'll pardon the pun," A crooked grin. "And how are you? I assume that life is just as busy as always," Even though this was a business brunch Hector couldn't help but feel a little more relaxed. Being around someone so similar to him gave him an opportunity to let down his guard a little, but not completely. Hector would never call Richard a friend, but he would certainly label him as a kindred spirit. They shared almost identical senses of humor and thought processes.

It made it much easier to do business.

Business. Hector inwardly scoffed at the word. His life had been nothing but business for the past twenty-five years. He was tired of it but he didn't know anything else, and probably never would. That thought bothered Hector greatly; his whole life was going to end up as one giant nine-to-five workday and when he's on his death bed, alone with no real family gathered at the foot of the bed praying, he's going to look back and realize that he never lived. Hector pushed the thought away quickly. He could dwell on that later over a glass of Scotch and a Cuban cigar.

A waitress made her way over to the table, bringing Hector's usual for the arms dealer as well as Plantagenet. Hector frequented this particular watering hole on a weekly basis for meetings with foreign buyers and the staff knew him well. "I hope you don't mind Shiraz. It's real Shiraz, imported from Australia, not that crap France tries to sell," Hector swirled the pot bellied crystal and sipped on the fermented liquid reverently.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Very well, thank you. Business is booming, if you'll pardon the pun. And how are you? I assume that life is just as busy as always,"

Richard had laughed at Hector's pun; wordplay was one of his favourite forms of entertainment. Twisting the meanings of what people said for his own gain, saying something but meaning something else entirely... It was particularly entertaining in the latter case when the person he was conversing with had no idea of the subtle wordplay he employed (which was almost always).

"Consider it pardoned. As for myself I am well enough; my schedule is particularly punishing at present, one of the reasons why I anticipated this meeting of ours with great favour since your call yesterday evening. Business may be important but then it's good to stop working every once in awhile."

He was being hypocritical considering his previous words, that and the fact that his mind never seemed to stop working, what with his near constant planning and scheming. But that was just how he worked, and he'd accepted long ago that true relaxation would never come easily to him. A good book, classical music, a visit to the theatre...that was about as close as he got.

"I hope you don't mind Shiraz. It's real Shiraz, imported from Australia, not that crap France tries to sell,"

Richard chuckled again at Hector's words and accepted the glass offered him.

"Don't mind at all, Hector, and all the better for knowing that it's the real deal. Only the best where you're concerned, eh?"

This being said he raised the glass as if toasting his companion before taking a sip. It was very different to his preffered wine, but that wasn't to say it was bad. As a matter of fact it was a nice change.

Setting the glass down, he addressed Hector again, his words formal as ever yet his tone more casual than it had been in days.

"You frequent this establishment, I take it? The staff appear to know you well."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector smirked. Only the best, certainly. After living in squalid conditions for most of his childhood, Hector latched onto the finer things the moment he could. Besides, with a seven digit yearly income figure Hector was allowed to waste money on imported wines and Italian made leather. "I come here often, yes. My foreign connections prefer it to most places. Probably because I know the owner," The way Hector said the last sentence, the inflection in his voice, all pointed to exactly how he knew the owner. Another favor to call in eventually.

"Unfortunately, Richard, this isn't a lunch just for catching up. I have a favor I need to ask of you. It's a small one, really, no killing or embezzlement involved," Hector chuckled lowly. He didn't even know why he was asking this favor. It had occurred to him in the middle of the night that he might need a little help acquiring something that would aid in his business.

Hector Tormei needed a passport, a legitimate one, but since he was a person of interest to the police it was hard to obtain one. But, being the King of the Underground happenings, Hector had connections that could make the passport happen. Like Richard.

Of course, all that was pointless unless Richard agreed.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"I come here often, yes. My foreign connections prefer it to most places. Probably because I know the owner,"

Richard noticed the stress Hector put on the words, and realized instantly what he meant. He smiled wryly but didn't laugh; that hit all too close to home what with the Edward fiasco. Thank God his older brother would soon be out of his hair for good.

"Ah," he said, taking another sip of the wine.

"Unfortunately, Richard, this isn't a lunch just for catching up. I have a favor I need to ask of you. It's a small one, really, no killing or embezzlement involved,"

Richard followed suit and laughed a little, shaking his head as he did so.

"I should have known," he said, in a surprisingly jovial tone. "No rest for the wicked. Well well, fire away Mr. Tormei...who am I to stop you? A small favour I'm sure I can do."

Although he wasn't adverse to killing or embezzlement. Richard assumed Hector had said that in reference to his own line of work; he didn't know Richard had killed Henry and Edward d'Anjou...and Richard intended to keep Tormei's lack of knowledge on the subject as it was.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector sighed and ran his finger around his collar. "I need a passport. A real one, not a fake. Since you've got more secure ties with the local government than I do..." Hector trailed off with a shrug. It felt strange to actually need to leave the country, especially when it was to go to his motherland, Greece. He had cut all ties to his family long ago after both of his parents died.

His bastard father and his weak willed mother...they didn't matter. But, for some reason, going to Greece did. The Eleftheria Festival was coming up in October and of all the things he remembered from his hazy childhood (head trauma didn't really allow for memories) the Eleftheria Festival was one thing he could remember from his mother's stories. When ever she tried to comfort him, that he could recall, she would tell stories of the theater and dance festival held every October.

Now, Hector had the means to actually go there. He wasn't burdened with a family; he certainly had enough money; he wasn't going to lose too much money since he never made any without taking the first step anyway.

No reason not to go to the festival. As long as he had a passport. And a legal passport would be useful in the long run.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Tormei seemed nervous, and Richard found himself all the more intrigued as to what it was the crime lord was after. If it was as small a favour as he professed, why was he making such a deal out of it?

"I need a passport. A real one, not a fake. Since you've got more secure ties with the local government than I do..."

Richard smirked. Secure ties indeed. Not just ties in title, but ties in blood. It would be easy for him to obtain a passport for Hector; Edward knew little about him, and what he did know of the man was that he ran a book store. The mayor hadn't the slightest idea of what had occurred between Richard, Tormei and the young woman he'd involved himself with...the extent of his knowledge was that Richard had been furious with him.

Luckily Richard was an expert at keeping things to himself. He wouldn't slip up and Edward need never know just who he was providing with a legitimate passport.

"That can be easily arranged, Mr. Tormei," Richard replied, his tone quite brisk now business was at hand. "I have all your legitimate information on record-" That is to say all Hector's legal information, stored as everyone's was in the Hall of Records in City Hall; names, addresses, all the minute details gathered from government censuses. "And, unless there's any detail I've missed that you'd care to tell me now, I should be able to have it ready for you soon. When do you need it by?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"October. There's a festival I want to attend in Greece," Hector explained briskly. He folded his hands on the table and rested his weight on his forearms. It was just to get comfortable, not anything else though Hector supposed it looked like he was going to tell a secret. He wasn't going to tell Richard anything vital to anyone. It was Hector Tormei's policy not to keep secrets. It was too easy to let one slip. So, he made whatever information that was too precious to be made public just a thought.

It's much easier to keep your thoughts to yourself Hector thought with cynical amusement. After all, how many times had he beat secrets out of moles or spies? He had yet to succeed in beating out their thoughts. Hector shook himself and steered his mind away from that line of thought. Smashing kneecaps with baseball bats and tearing skin with crow bars wasn't the best topic to entertain at a meal.

"And, in return for this small favor, I'm willing to return the favor. As long as it's small. I have enough on my plate with South African militants trying to tap into my cocaine operation," Hector sneered at the memory of one harassing phone call from said group. He was sick of them. He had told them several times to forget about it and yet they continued to call and write letters.

Such amateurs.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"October. There's a festival I want to attend in Greece,"

Richard nodded again, quick to notice Hector's change in posture, as though he were being more conspiratorial. The comptroller knew from experience not to read too much into this; he and Tormei were both very private people, hiding their true feelings, thoughts, emotions and, so Richard thought, keeping secrets.

He was surprised, however, at the crime boss' reason for wanting the passport (though he knew not to pry further, for reasons just mentioned), and the length of time he'd given Richard to sort it out. Of course Plantagenet would sort it sooner rather than later, he didn't want to get into Hector Tormei's bad books, of all people's bad books to get into. And yet arranging Edward's murder was marginally more important than this small favour Hector had asked of him. No matter. He'd get to it eventually. It was on his list.

"Certainly," he said, reaching for the wine glass again with his good hand. "Consider it done, Mr. Tormei."

"And, in return for this small favor, I'm willing to return the favor. As long as it's small. I have enough on my plate with South African militants trying to tap into my cocaine operation,"

Richard smiled at Hector's words, one of his smaller smiles, one of the more devious ones. Hector's willingness to return the favour was somewhat unprecedented, but Richard was glad of the offer. The problem was taking him up on it. Edward's murder was in the hands of himself and Doctor Faustus. Hector could be of no help in that regard.

But then...if anything got out...

Maybe he would be in need of Tormei's services after all.

The thought of being discovered was enough to wipe the smile from Richard's face. However he swiftly forced it to return, hoping Tormei hadn't noticed it's temporary leave of absence...the youngest Plantagenet didn't want to give anything away, in his words or his looks.

"I understand, Mr. Tormei, and I have to say I'm flattered by your offer of assistance. I'm afraid as yet there's nothing that springs to mind that might require your particular branch of expertise. However...you know Edward. With him anything can happen. Would it be alright if I kept you to that offer, but didn't partake of it just yet?"

Using Edward as a cover for his own plans had been spur of the moment, and Richard hoped it would work. It was surprising how useful he was finding his older brother all of a sudden...almost a shame he'd have to go. What use could he be if he was dead? then again, he wasn't of all that much use left alive.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector watched Richard carefully, gaging his response and answer. He agreed, of course, Hector had been expecting that to a certain degree. He wasn't expecting however, for that pleasant and schooled smile that Richard always wore to slip off his face for a millisecond then reappear.

Something was on his mind.

Hector kept his expression neutral as he studied his companion. Plantagenet was up to something, Hector would bet anything on that. He was always up to something. Hector's suspicions were confirmed when Richard wanted to keep his return favor in his pocket for a later date.

Probably clean up again. That was okay with Hector; it made him more money than any of his other endeavors.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Hector said nothing, and Richard felt a little uneasy, though he dared not show it. The fact that Hector appeared to be scrutinizing him while not saying a word did little to diminish this emotion.

The look the mafioso was giving him looked quite nondescript, emotionless, neutral. Yet Richard knew all too well what emotions could be hidden behind a mask like that. He wanted to know what Tormei felt and, more importantly, his thoughts on leaving the favour till later. It was an unusual request and one that Richard now came to realize would arouse suspicion in his colleague.

"I assume that would be alright with you, Mr. Tormei," Richard said, breaking the silence that had descended on the pair of them. "Not taking you up on your offer just yet, that is."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Of course it's alright, Richard," Hector grinned. At least, he tried to. It came out edged with cruelty that Hector had been trying to keep inside. It was a cruelty that he usually reserved for alleyway excursions with his favorite iron bar and a snitch. However, it was a cruelty that always came out when Hector figured something out that he could hold over someone.

Richard Plantagenet was planning something and was reserving Hector's services until a later date.

If that wasn't blackmail material then Hector didn't know what was.

"So, lunch. I think you'll enjoy this place; it's a fusion of all sorts of cultures as well as science. The tandoori chicken with the nitrogen curry ice cream is simply wonderful," Hector slipped back into his more neutral and welcoming persona, the cruelty pushed away once more.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

"Of course it's alright, Richard,"

This was said in a friendly tone, and accompanied by what looked like a grin. If it indeed was a grin. More like a grimace. There was something cruel and underhand about the comment and the accompanying smile, in truth, reminding Richard somehow of a shark.

It was strange, he reflected, how the pair of them had acted just then. Richard had let his guard down, allowed his calm, collected demeanour to slip...Hector had allowed a tinge of malice to pervade his voice and his smile. They both were hiding something...their true feelings, if nothing else. Although there was something else. A matter of life and death.

Though that wasn't exactly a fitting subject for a meal.

Richard nodded as Hector explained the restaurant's premise, raising his eyebrows at its unusual ideas.

"That certainly sounds intriguing," the comptroller replied, taking another sip of the wine. "Do you know how they got science into the mix?" He had to admit he was curious...but also glad of a change of topic.