Rue: Web of Deceit - Part 32

Expedition

With their target identified, Rue makes their way to the city courthouse and watches the trial of their old acquaintance, Marcus.

The day's trial docket had been pinned to a notice board in the lobby of the city courthouse, and Rue quickly scans it for the information they need: "13:00: City of Bathala versus Marcus Gainsborough." Feeling less anxious than their first visit  , Rue makes their way over to the security gates, queuing patiently to be let through.   Most of the people around them are dressed in suits, their hair neatly combed out of their faces, shoes polished to perfection, but there are some people - people Rue vaguely recognises - who look less put together. It’s obvious they’ve still made an effort, with patched up ties and the cheapest button up shirts they could get, but no matter how much hair gel they might hide behind, they stick out like a sore thumb. Rue wonders about their stories, if whatever they did was done out of necessity or if they are getting what’s coming for them.   They step forward and empty their pockets into the tray, careful not to show the logo on the envelope to the guards. They get through without a hitch, and soon find themself following the signs towards the public gallery for Marcus’ trial. They find a seat two rows from the front, where they’ll be visible enough without drawing too much attention to themself. As they wait for more people to trickle in, Rue casts a glance around the space, searching for a guard with an eye patch.   A small crowd of spectators soon gathered, most appearing to just be waiting for another case later on. Rue isn't surprised to find that a fairly small-time henchman doesn't draw much of a crowd, but their attention is pulled to the door when a familiar scent hits their enhanced senses.   A door is held open and, without much fanfare, Amelia Abel enters the room, her electric wheelchair (the same one Rue had seen transform into some sort of power armour those months prior) whirring as it wheels her towards the front row of seats and takes position near the side of the prosecution.   They can almost feel the same jolt of pain they felt when Amelia threw them against  the brick wall, their gaze lingering on the woman for a moment. Though it doesn’t surprise them to see her here, they still feel the hairs on the back of their neck standing upright, a chill running up their spine as they silently pray that she doesn’t somehow spot them and recognise them without the mask.   A turn of the head, their eyes meet, and for an agonising second Rue is sure that Amelia recognises them, but it becomes moot when the doors at the other end of the courtroom open up and the shabby form of Marcus stumbles into the room, flanked by a pair of bailiffs. He scans over the room, eyeing his accusor and other members of the gathered audience before his gaze lands squarely on Rue.   Feeling less anxious locking eyes with their personal ‘observer’ than they did with Amelia, Rue gives the man a barely perceptible smirk and a wink. The look on his face is difficult to parse at first. A certain rage is undeniable, but Marcus isn't stupid. He quickly surmises why Rue is there, and his embarrassment and anger quickly give way to a dejected acceptance and he turns his face to the side, breaking eye contact. He's escorted to his position by the pair of bailiffs, and Rue quickly notes the distinct eye patch adorning one's face as the trial begins in ernest, Judge Reinhardt taking position at the head of the room and calling order.   Rue savours the look on Marcus’ face for another second, feeling oddly satisfied, before they turn their attention to the bailiff standing to the side. They patiently wait for Montana’s gaze to meet theirs, listening to the opening statements in the meantime. The bailiff looks a little bored, but eventually he turns his head just enough for them to catch his eye.   Rue gives the man the smallest nod to keep his attention, briefly checking to ensure everyone else’s attention is on the case, before partially pulling the envelope out of their pocket, just far enough to show the mark on it.   The bailiff's one visible brow raises as he notices the insignia, his eyes moving back up to meet Rue's before giving a subtle nod and returning to his neutral stance as the trial continues.   Rue hasn't seen many trials in their time, their main experience being confined to Tara's endless stream of Judge Judy episodes, but even so the trial seemed to be going particularly badly for Marcus. Rue watched as he failed to give any motive for the assault, or any mitigating circumstances, knowing better than to say anything that might implicate The Spider, and then Amelia is called up to the stand and reveals to the room that her armour actually recorded the whole incident. The footage is shaky at best, but clearly shows the two of them making their move on the police officer and getting their asses handed to them.   Rue's head throbs slightly as they watch the footage of themself being thrown against the wall before escaping into the night, not a memory they're keen to relive, and the prosecutor announces that Marcus has refused to identify the "second assailant" in the case. The defendant's eyes moving over to meet theirs as the lawyer begins grandstanding about how he needs to have an example made of him.   They give Marcus a noncommittal shrug, fully aware that he wasn’t covering for them by refusing to name his accomplice, but for their employer. They silently watch as the prosecutor and lawyer continue their verbal sparring, the envelope in their pocket still on their mind. They’ll have to find the bailiff after matters are wrapped up in here and somehow hand it to him. It’s not the first time they’ve delivered a message for one of Creel’s pawns, but doing so in a court of law adds a certain amount of risk to the equation.   Eventually the trial reaches final statements and the judge retires to his chambers for deliberation, allowing the gathered crowds a small reprieve to stretch their legs and use the bathroom. Rue takes the opportunity to watch as Montana is relieved of his station, heading towards the back exit of the courthouse for a sneaky smoke break.   Keeping their head down, Rue weaves through the crowds, slipping through the door just before it can close. They find themself in a small square, the space clearly a popular break room for anyone with a nicotine addiction, judging by the copious amounts of cigarette buds scattered around.   “Mr. Montana?” They say calmly once they’re certain they’re alone.   "Aye, that's me," he says, taking a drag from his cigarette, the pungent aroma offending Rue's facilties almost as much as the corruption inherant in the exchange, "You the courier? Seem a little young for this kind of work."   “Makes it less likely for people to notice the work in question, I suppose,” Rue says coolly, pulling a face as the bailiff takes another drag. They retrieve the envelope from their pocket and hold it out for him to take.   He quickly takes it, looking around the area to make sure there are no uninvited witnesses in the area. He quickly slips the envelope into his jacket, "Yeah, I guess so," he says, dropping his cigarette to the ground and stomping it out, "Was there anything else?"   “Think that’s it.” Rue says with a smirk. They turn their back to the man with a dismissive wave, heading back the way they came.   The moment they’re back inside the hallways of the courthouse, Rue pulls their phone out of their pocket, sending a quick update on the trial as well as confirming to Creel that the message has been delivered. They stop at a vending machine, taking their time to look through the selection and, feeling a little peckish, eventually paying for a small bar of chocolate.   "Good work, Morsel," comes the Spider's reply mere moments later, "I'm sure Marcus appreciates our support in this trying time. I have one other job for you while you're there, though. Remember Jonathan Sinclair?"   Rue frowns at their phone, chocolate bar dangling from their mouth as they type out their response; ''Hard to forget our so-called 'family man', why?''   "He's been slipping a little since last time you saw him. Seems his mayoral campaign didn't quite come together, and that gutter-trash Jasmine Walker blackmailing him hasn't helped," Rue grimaces a little as they remember the day in the courthouse parking lot, and how they'd stolen Jasmine's phone for the Spider, "Anyway, we've developed something of a cordial relationship over the past few months, and I've even lent him some funds to help him mitigate his losses from the campaign. Unfortunately Jonathan did not feel the need to reward my generosity with good courtesy, and has been avoiding my attempts to contact him."   ''So you want me to find him, I take it?'' Rue sends back, hesitating for a moment before adding another message, ''Do you just need to know where he is, or did you have something else in mind?''   "Just remind him who he's dealing with, and that I won't be so easily ignored," he replies, "I'll leave the particulars up to you, Morsel. Have fun with it."   Though the term 'fun' doesn't quite sit well with them, Rue shoots off a quick message, taking the final bite of their chocolate bar and throwing the wrapper into a nearby bin.   ''Will do.''   To be continued...