Hooker and a Rock Star
Summer 2021, Week 4
Friday afternoon
Ryder Hooker's Trailer, The Wards
Storyteller
The trailer had been cleaned up a bit. There was no longer the clattered chaos of Henry's battle. It was starting to look like the office and homespace that it was before, except there was tape over the bullet holes, and a faint line of cigarette smoke leading to the single bedroom.Ryder Hooker
The smoke was coming from the cigarette nestled between Ryders dry cracked lip that had been given a fresh shade of purple to match his black eye. He'd had the shit kicked out of his thin form again, but at least they didn't dirty the suit this time. "Fucks sake. How am I meant to pay them back? They just keep increasing the interest...." He grumbled to himself as the 7/11 employee shirt was taken off revealing more bruises across his body until the single came on and he completely changed into his suit, he wasn't sure why but he just wanted to make sure it fitted. "W--what is wrong with me? T--the other night wasn't normal? M--maybe I'm actually an evo? What no it makes no sense..."Xander Knight
Xander was desperate, grasping at whatever straws he could catch. He needed an extra set of eyes, an ear to the ground, but a Brit with no connections wouldn't get far. There was no way he was dragging Ilya or Paige into this mess, and his bandmates had already headed back across the pond. He had already visited the New Victoria library in search of detectives, only managing to settle on one lead before his quick exit, leaving only a checked out copy of frankenstein and an utterly fried public desktop, trekking himself out to the fringes of the Wards in search of the one who might be able to help. At last he arrived, his light gray hoodie worn beneath his signature white denim battle vest. Probably should have dressed a bit more incognito, but he never left home without it, hoping the blue aviators would help hide his identity, along with the hood blocking out his stark white hair and most of his tattoos covered. Stepping up to the door, he reached to knock before stopping himself. The window, maybe he should sneak in. No telling how a private eye would react to either a rockstar or and EVO. Then again, no telling how anyone would react to someone climbing through the window. He sighed, knocking against the trailer door before stepping to the side, not entirely out of view from the open door, but out of the line of fire, so to speak.Ryder Hooker
Ryder quickly looked around and dug through a drawer pulling out a small revolver and sliding it into his pocket before he put out the cigarette and pulled out some cheap old booze. The man sauntered his way to the door and peaked through the window next to it. Well, if they work for the gangs they're new. He opened the door in a jerky movement before he punched it and it smoothly moved open revealing his Disney prince esque face polluted with bruises. "Uh hey. W--what can I do for you?" His voice was soft if a bit rough from the lack of water and the busted lip. He wasn't anything like the detectives from the books or movies, He wasn't a man struggling with trauma, or a genius fighting a coke addiction. He was just a young man.Xander Knight
Turning his head slowly towards the man, Xander merely examined him for a moment. His olive, tanned skin was covered in a patchwork of american tradition, bohemian, classic rocker tatoos, what little bits of his hands, wrists, and a bit of his neck could be seen were pretty decently inked. A scar on his lip and one just beneath his eye seemed evidence of fighting, jagged like glass as opposed to a blade. He stood fairly tall, 6'3" in his trainers, and though hidden by a hunched posture, perhaps to seem less intimidating or perhaps to seem more mysterious, and baggy clothes, the man was quite muscular, the definition in his hands and fingers obvious to those who could spot it. "You're Hooker, the Private Eye?" he asked, his Blackpool accent marking him a stranger in New Victoria. "I've a job for you, though... might not be so simple."Ryder Hooker
Ryder was a bit shorter then Xander although, he still stood above him given the steps into the crappy hole ridden trailer a smile slowly appearing on his beaten face. "O--oh uhm, W--well Yes.....but I m--must legally inform you I--I'm not a licensed detective. I---if you're alright with that c---come inside and we can t--talk about it. T--the wards isn't a good place to talk business." He turned around and quickly picked up a corkboard and sat it onto an ancient wooden desk. It had been cleaned trillions of times over and over again, the only scents that filled the room were cigarette smoke, and Whisky. Ryder pulled out an old cassette tape recorder, adjusting the microphones he offered a seat to the new stranger on a chair infront of the desk some paper being quickly pulled out and a pen clicked. "Lets discuss then we can talk payment and legal things. Though I will inform you anything you say in here unless a threat, suicidal thoughts, or sounds of murder will stay just between us." The soft voice let out an awkward as he poured the two glasses up to full and offered one, clearly trying to make it a more comfortable place.Xander Knight
Stepping into the trailer, Xander assessed his surroundings before taking a seat at the desk, looking to the glass. "Oh, it's alright, I can't get drunk." He eyes the tape recorder cautiously behind his sunglasses, removing them to show his steel gray eyes, removing the hood and letting medium length wavy white hair fall. "The tape stays 'tween us, yeah?"Ryder Hooker
"Y-yep. U--unless you break one of the requirements I--I just said." Ryder quickly downed one of the glasses and pulled the other next to him. He hadn't recognised Xander Knight, unless he was Nancy Drew, One of the Hardy boys, Sherlock or Sam Spade. He pulled out a notepad and a pen before clicking the recorder. "Alright Sir. Everything you say on this tape is private between the two of us except for the reasons I s--stated before, c--could you please tell me your name a---and whatcha or who you're looking for?"Xander Knight
The man let out a deep sigh. "My name is Xander Knight. I'm... trying to talk with someone. Someone hard to find, harder still to talk to." His eyes couldn't find a place to settle, his head down. Was he really about to do this, to ask for help for such a thing? Who's to say this man won't turn him in first chance? "You've got... detective skills, yeah? I need to track him down. Known contacts, places of visitation, all that shite." He shook his head, finally locking eyes with Hooker. "I need to talk to Blood Bolt."Ryder Hooker
Ryder was intently listening writing down in dot points what Xander was saying. Okay pretty standard so far wait did he say Blood Bolt? "I'm uh sorry what? Did you say Blood Bolt? I---If I may ask w--why d--do you need to track him down? I--i mean I kinda know where he is. I can guesstimate but if I may ask again why?"Xander Knight
"You may ask, provided not a word of it is breathed outside this room, eh?" Xander closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath of whiskey and cigarettes in an attempt to clear his mind, feeling the well of emotion and the bristling of static at his fingertips. "He's... he may be the only person who can help me, the only lead I've got. I've... just got to speak with him."Ryder Hooker
"Well, unless it's about you wanting to commit a small murder, genocide or harm. I think it would be fine." Ryder took a long sip of his Whisky and turned the recorder off to try and make Xander more comfortable. "Take a deep breath Mister Knight okay?, I don't think that's really possible. After the battle of Henry he was taken in by EHEA. I presume you aren't from here given the accent b--but EHEA is basically our police force for evo's. If I may ask, and this won't effect the case or how I view you, but does this involve evo's or an Evo? Personally I do not care if one is or isn't an evo, as long as they aren't harming others that's all that I care about."Xander Knight
"It does," he responded plainly, attempting to keep his cards close to the vest. "I'm not expecting immediate audience. And I'm not expecting you to do all the legwork. I just need your eyes, your skills, connections, to follow the trail. Can't you find... his group or some such bollocks, the mates he ran with, the places he crashed? I just..." Xander took a moment, leaning back in his chair, unaware of how far he had leaned towards the detective. "I just need something."Ryder Hooker
“Alright. I won’t keep pushing, But I want you to know I’m here to help. The more you tell me the more I can do my job. I’m here as a humant-tool f-for your g-goals. I-If there’s any reason besides just wanting to talk to blood bolts crew I’d like to know.” Ryder pulled out some documentation and pushed it to Xander before he pinned a picture of blood bolt onto the cork board. “You’re lucky I was looking into him pre-arrest. Now I’ve got a plan. We’ll start tomorrow. Work our way from Henry. Now I gotta know a general estimate of how much you can afford to pay. So I don’t empty your account. I’m a dude not a landlord.”Storyteller
The documents were general things you’d expect. Promises to pay him or he can sue etcetera, etceteraXander Knight
Fishing through his pockets, Xander produced a wad of cash. "I've got... $27 and a fiver, though I've no clue what five quid does in America. We can work the rest out after. I'm not looking to bust him out, not lookin to take up the mantle... I just need to see him. I've a tug in my heart says he's the one can solve my problem." He leaned in, reading and signing the contract.Ryder Hooker
"That does explain why you came here. Are you expecting more money to come through soon or no? Just so I can adjust my rates." Great doing an insane job for less money then finding that old ladies cat would've gotten me. At least if I die from this job I won't have to keep getting beat up. "In my line of work we try not to focus on that one theory we feel is right. Every problem has more solutions then one can count. Even when our hearts, brains and bodies tell us otherwise.....A--anyway. Tomorrow morning meet me back here a---at about 9am, a--and if you're trying to hide your identity y--you kinda stick out."Xander Knight
"I can get you more money, but that's all I've got on me, as a... down payment, show I'm willing." He lingered on the detective's words, trying to find another option, another path, but... it all comes back to Blood Bolt, the lunatic wreaking havoc in the streets and bringing EVOs to the front page. "It's got to be him. Just him..." he muttered to himself, a small arc of static electricity hopping between his fingertips before he quelled his nerves. "I'll find a better disguise if I need to, but... I'll hold off on that."Ryder Hooker
“Just give me five bucks as a down payment once the job is done I’ll figure out the rest but just remember, there’s always another way.” Ryder quickly flicked a book open and started to write down his plan looking up at the weird sound. “What was that? Shit did I break the wire for lights again….anyway, I recommend things that hide your body shape more.”Xander Knight
Xander left the $20 bill on the desk, standing and adjusting his jacket. “I’ve got a flat nearby, a loft in The Heights near Briar park, not too far. Find me there, I’ve uh… I’ve not got a phone.”Ryder Hooker
He quickly wrote down a plan on some paper and handed it to Xander. Roughly detailing where he will be looking around at certain times. “That’s how you can find me. If you give me your address I can update you in person. Normally it wouldn’t be needed but you’re an exception Mister Knight. Oh I should ask just before you go what are your preferred pronouns?”Xander Knight
Taking the slip of paper, a small bead of static jumped from his finger to the detective’s, his arm tensing for a moment as he regained control. The rocker tilted his head. “I’m… not sure anyone’s ever asked me that,” he said, thinking about his answer a hair longer than most would. “…eh? I’m a he, but… not terribly picky. I’ll be seeing you, Hooker.” Xander flipped his hood back up, taking a bit of care to cover his hair. that’ll be the first to go, he thought, should he ever need to go on the run, to hide more seriously than smuggling himself on a ship across the pond.Ryder Hooker
"I'll be seeing you Around Knight. Just check the schedule if you need me."Storyteller
And with that the two went their separate ways, however with a combined goal of finding the group that caused so much destruction and chaos in Henry. Ryder still wasn't sure if taking this job was a good idea....however he needed money quicker then he could pull it together, and the banks won't ever help.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Authoring Date
7/16/21
Authors
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