Mid-September 2012: Featherhead, South Dakota, Regent Office Building; The Warehouse

[damncompass]

Joshua pulled into Featherhead about an hour later than expected, running up the stairs, and into a room occupied by two other people.

"Sorry I'm late, guys. Got out of Minneapolis late, and everything spiralled from there."

Comments

[damncompass]

"She was, Artie. I sent her to California to pick up Tesla's tool set. It's a simple enough snag, even with all of the Tesla fanatics out there." He shrugs. "She left mid-sheet, so I finished her inventory for her."

[claudiometer]

"Why isn't someone going with her?"

Claudia sighs again. "We're all busy, you're too butthurt to work with her and there's a noob on his way in so maybe Joshua thinks he should be here for--"

"Wait, what?" Artie turns to face Joshua. "There's a new - why didn't you think to mention this?"

[damncompass]

"Artie, she's a fully-trained Warehouse Agent with a badge. I think she can at least pick something up at an auction." He pauses, and a horrified look crosses his face.

"You... you didn't know? Artie, I swear, I thought you did."

[claudiometer]

"And how did she know? Why are you giving Claudia special treatment?"

"Oh, for godsakes, Artie, it's not special treatment! I just ask questions and let him finish a sentence afterward. Bet he thought his boss told you and his boss thought he told you, or something. Besides, we were sharing a hotel room when he had to go help read the new guy in."
She didn't so much ask where Joshua had been as 'so that was the noob?', but that's beside the point.

[damncompass]

"What she said, Artie. I'm not giving her any special treatment. She just asks questions and listens to the answers. Hold on a sec." He goes and rummages in his bag, returning with a file. "His name is Agent Steve Jinks, and he's from the ATF."

[claudiometer]

Artie snatches the file and stalks off, muttering under his breath.

Claudia facepalms. "Well, that went well."

[damncompass]

"Fuck. Just... fuck." Joshua grabs his bag and starts to the office door. "Can't fucking do anything right."

[claudiometer]

"Hey, none of that, Artie's butthurt is his problem, not yours."

[damncompass]

He hears Claudia, but doesn't really react. He's already out the door and going down the stairs.