บท 132: Bill of Death

Afton approaches his motel room and sheepishly knocks on the door, "Karl? You're not naked again right?"

...

After getting no response he just shrugs and opens the door, finding his partner sitting at the end of the bed with a prominent scowl on his face. He seemed to be clutching something in his hand but Afton couldn't get a good look at it. "Karl? Is something wrong?" he asks, confused at what might've brought this on.

The man jolts slightly at his voice, his head whipping towards Afton and sighing when he sees him. "Ah, kid... No, nothing's wrong, just lost in my thoughts is all."

"You sure? You seem angry about something..."

Karl shrugs, "Well... There is this one thing..."

Flashback :

Karl had just bullied Afton out of the room so he could resume his 'exercise' with Jeannie. He'd become interested in the woman over the past couple of days, and she'd obviously reciprocated. Something still felt off about her though, the smile she flashed at the citizens of the town aswell as himself seemed almost fake.

Regardless, it'd been a while since he'd bedded a woman, and there was only so long you could spend around sweaty criminals before you start questioning your sexuality...

After another session of roughin' and tumblin' he slumpt against his pillow with Jeannie resting her head on his chest. They'd just begun the dreaded ritual known as "Pillowtalk", Karl wanted to just drift into unconsciousness but knew it wouldn't be polite to leave the woman hanging.

Another thing to note was the fact that people generally spewed their secrets during this time. As a ranger he'd learned to information gather and infiltrate. He couldn't help but fall back into his old training and started subtly interrogating Jeannie.

"Don't know what's wrong with my partner, tryin' ta help out that Boone character seems like a pointless endeavor," he states to see her reaction.

"Don't say that, Boone's a nice person, he's just had some bad influences in his life. He should start acting like his old self soon."

...

What could she mean by that? It sure sounded suspicious... Inwardly frowning Karl releases an audible sigh, "My partner said something about the man's wife going missing, wants us to find her or something."

At this he could definitely feel Jeannie tense up, "Erm, I think it would be best that you give up on finding her. I heard the Legion managed to grab her, it'd be a death sentence to try and save her now."

Karl shakes his head, "It wouldn't be the first time I've risked my life for something similar, it'd be a good thing to die for I think."

...

Jeannie seemed to lose hold of her emotions for a moment as she rapidly retorted, "I don't know why you want to go risking yourself for a person like her, but if that's what you want to do then fine." she rolls over and goes silent, clearly ignoring him.

Karl knew something was wrong now, that wasn't how she usually acted. Sounded like she had some sort of vendetta against Boone's wife. That'd make her the prime suspect in selling her to the Legion... He'd need to investigate this further, if only to clear the air. If not he'd not be able to forget about this.

The next day while Jeannie was out, Karl snuck into her office and started looking around. He'd dealt with the Legion before and knew they always left receipts to people who do business with them. The reason for this? Blackmail.

No one wanted to be identified as someone who worked with the Legion, especially in NCR owned territory. That's why most slavers sell slaves anonymously. One thing about the recept though, was the fact that you'd be hunting down and butchered if you destroyed them. A spy would occasionally drop by to make sure you still had it in your possession as well, forcing you to keep hold of it.

If Jeannie had been involved in the kidnapping of Boone's wife, then there would definitely be physical evidence of it. He'd metaphorically torn the place apart looking for something, eventually finding a floor safe that was heavily secured.

It'd take some elbow grease, but he'd managed to crack it open. Inside was a heap of caps, another one of those weird books that Afton seemed to hideaway somewhere, and... A small note.

[Bill of Sale]

We, the representatives of the Consul Officiorum, have this day bargained and purchased from Jeannie May Crawford of the township of Novac the exclusive rights to ownership and sale of the slave Carla Boone for the sum of one thousand bottle caps, and those of her unborn child for the sum of five hundred bottle caps, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged.

Karl saw red for a moment after reading it, he crumpled the note in his hand as he grit his teeth. This was one of the vilest thing's he'd ever seen. He felt sick to his stomach at the fact he'd actually liked this woman, he didn't know how he'd not managed to notice her true persona...

He quickly stood, closed the safe and cleaned he place up to make sure she didn't know he'd been here. immediately heading up to his motel room to think on what to do next.

Flashback end.

After Karl was done telling Afton what he'd discovered he forced his own hand open and gave him the note. It was crumpled but still legible, it was basically a death sentence as well, as if Karl were in Boone's shoes he wouldn't let the woman continue existing for a few minutes longer.

Afton scowled at the note and looked up to Karl, "Will your relationship with her be a problem?" he asks and Karl shakes his head, "She'll die you know?"

"I know. I hope it'll be as painful as the fate she tried to inflict on Carla and her child." he spits.

Afton nods, "Good. Let's go to Boone and see how we'll go from here. It's his revenge so we'll do it however he wants." he states before marching out of the room.