Dallas 2.0:Sessions:20160507

Friday evening, April 29, 2016. Benjamin Grimes is in a Dallas city park, preparing to test out the drone he recently bought and quite aware of the two attractive ladies who appear to be watching him. Nathan Rahl is downtown, wining and dining some potential clients. Clyde Wheeler is also downtown, playing against five other men in a private poker game. Kef is riding up from Waxahachie with some friends to enjoy folk music at Poor David's Pub.

A cop walks up to Benjamin and begins hassling him about the drone, trying to claim that flying it in the park violates some city ordinance. Benjamin points out that the park is public property, he is fully 200 feet from the boundaries of the park, and (bringing up the text of the ordinance on his smartphone) the ordinance does not apply. Nevertheless, the cop orders him to land the drone and to go fly it in a "non-residential area." When the cop leaves, the two women -- Brenda, a brunette, and Christa, a blonde -- approach Benjamin and invite him to take them dancing and drinking.

Of the gentlemen with whom Clyde is gaming -- Hector, Herman, Joe, Jorge, and Kirk -- the latter is having a phenomenal run, and Clyde finds himself about $1000 down. But then his luck turns, and he proceeds to systematically wipe all five of the others out, rising from the table with around $70,000 in his pocket. He offers to buy everyone a round of drinks, and somebody suggests Poor David's Pub.

Nathan, having successfully signed a couple of new clients, walks outside just as six men emerge from a club nearby. He recognizes one of them, Clyde Wheeler, from having done a background check on him a few months ago. He recalls the young man's sad story: drafted into professional baseball at 19 and called up to the majors a few years later, Clyde suffered a knee injury and never regained top form. After several more years in the minors Clyde retired from baseball in 2015, but tragically his wife and child were killed shortly afterward in a bus accident. Winstar Casinos had requested the background check, but from what Rahl Security could learn, Clyde's consistent wins at the gaming tables were not the result of cheating.

Nathan observes one of the other men talking on a cellphone while staring at Clyde. Nathan gets into his car and discreetly follows Clyde and the others. Clyde finds a parking place and heads into the pub, while the man who was on the phone earlier hangs back, waiting for someone. Nathan checks Clyde's car for tampering and attaches a tracking device. Meanwhile, the suspicious-looking man has been joined by a couple of thugs. Nathan phones one of his most capable people, ex-cop Orley Anders. "Come down right away. You might have to intervene in a beating."

Clyde remarks snidely to Kirk, who has arrived several minutes later than everyone else, "Did you get lost?" But then he adds, "Get whatever you want. I've opened a tab under 'Wheeler'."

Kef tries to enjoy the music, but the crowd makes her uncomfortable. She sees a man and two women come in and are shown straight to a table that Kef knows was vacated only seconds earlier, as though these people were expected. The brunette, in particular, seems to be the callous and manipulative type. Kef notices the man wince slightly, though he quickly covers it up with a smile. In a flash, she sees the brunette shoved hard against the bar by a big man with a scarred face.

Brenda's gaze roves around the crowd. When Benjamin asks, she admits that she's looking for "someone that owes me something" and suggests "maybe we can follow him." She describes him as 6'2" with thinning black hair and a scar on his left cheek from jaw to ear. Benjamin: "I am not looking for trouble, I am looking for fun!" Brenda: "Oh, we'll have fun."

Nathan notices the olive-skinned Middle Eastern man sitting with two women who are pretty obviously (to Nathan) acting more drunk than they really are. Working his way over toward Clyde's table, he surreptitiously takes pictures of the six men.

Benjamin, in turn, notices someone come in and signal toward a table of six men. He recognizes the man as one of his former students, though he can't recall his name.

Nathan picks up on Orley's signal and phones him. "The target is Clyde Wheeler; the person who is upset and hired some thugs is the one sitting to his left." Orley: "My krav maga instructor is here, too." Nathan: "Go over and say hi. What a coincidence. I bring somebody dangerous -- you -- and here is someone more dangerous -- your 'Yoda'."

A tall, solidly-built man with dirty blond hair and a scarred left cheek scowls when he sees a man sitting with Brenda and heads straight for the bar. Benjamin: "Brenda, is this the man you are looking for?" Brenda: "That's Randy. He's a bruiser. It shouldn't be a problem."

Orley approaches and greets Benjamin. "You're one of the best fighters I've ever seen." Brenda's eyes widen -- in stature Benjamin seems ordinary -- as Benjamin modestly replies, "I am not such an athlete. I am in the teaching."

Kef sees Scarface moving into position. Somewhat reluctantly, she excuses herself from her friends and moves toward the bar.

Nathan notices a short, scrawny-looking, crew-cut man with the look of a professional killer slipping toward Randy (Scarface). Nathan warns Orley, "Heads up." Brenda stands and walks toward Randy. Orley excuses himself from Benjamin and Christa to go to the restroom.

Christa explains to Benjamin that the scarred man, Randy, has something that belongs to Brenda. Christa: "How fast can a drone go? We want to follow him home and get Brenda's item back." Benjamin: "Drones can go fast, but the control range is not good. So I would have to stay close to the drone." "Are you really a good fighter?" "Orley exaggerates a little." Christa flashes a bright smile, gives Benjamin a quick kiss on the cheek, and rests a hand on his knee.

Both Clyde and Nathan see Joe (who is being squired around town in his own private limo) look over at Randy with a tight smile crossing his face.

Randy tenses as Brenda confronts him. "Randy, I want it back. I've got people who will help me get it." Randy raises his hands threateningly, but suddenly doubles over as a red-haired woman seemingly comes out of nowhere and slams her forearm into his short ribs. "Sorry, not sorry," she snaps. He gapes at the redhead, who stares back unflinchingly until he tears his gaze away.

A look of disappointment crosses Joe's face, and Clyde claps him on the shoulder. Ignoring Clyde, Joe pulls out his cellphone and heads for the restroom.

Nathan says into Orley's earpiece, "Tell Randy it's time for him to go."

Back at their table, Brenda urges Benjamin to follow Randy. Benjamin replies, "This is how the cowboys do it? All right." The three leave the pub and walk quickly to Benjamin's car, where he takes some items out of his trunk. Down the street they can see Randy sitting in his car, talking on the phone; he doesn't seem to have seen them. It seems to Benjamin that Randy is allowing himself to be followed; there must be some bigger game going on.

Brenda, now in a sulky mood, repeats that Randy has something that belongs to her. "We'll just follow him, get his address, and leave."

Kef shrugs off her friends' praise and tells them she's tired and wants to leave.

Joe starts making motions as if to go, and the party starts to break up. Kirk declares emphatically that he wants to play poker with Clyde again.

Nathan sends Orley to watch Clyde. "He doesn't realize -- that guy wants his money back. Talk to the thugs and call them off. Call me if the situation becomes too interesting."

Kef, following her friends to their car, abruptly spins and runs back up the sidewalk to intercept Orley. Grasping his arm, she warns him in a low voice that a couple of bruisers are waiting nearby to ambush and beat him up. He immediately phones Nathan, and Kef walks back the way she came.

Randy has parked in front of a house and shouldered his way inside. "Let's go," Brenda urges Benjamin. He responds, "How about about I go inside and ask him to give this item to me? I am very persuasive. We will talk, like gentlemen." Brenda finally tells Benjamin that this item she wants back so badly is a leather portfolio.

Nathan joins Orley, then walks up to the building Orley points out. He pulls out a large can of pepper spray, reaches around the corner, and applies it liberally to the two thugs, who emerge coughing and crying. Nathan waves Orley forward, asks the thugs "Hey, are you okay?" and sprays them again.

Clyde comes upon this scene: two thuggish types staggering and whimpering, a man in a suit pointing a can of pepper spray at them, another large man standing aside. The man in the suit looks around at him. "You're Clyde Wheeler. These guys were about to rob you. Did you win a lot of money from Kirk? Because he was going to take it back from you." Clyde says nonchalantly, "They don't look like a threat." The man responds "You know why?" and sprays the thugs yet again.

Nathan: "I know who you are because you're a gambler." Clyde: "That doesn't clarify matters." Nathan: "That wasn't my point." Clyde: "Well... thanks." Nathan: "That was the point!" He simply wanted to be thanked for his good deed.

Clyde goes to his car, which is parked nearby, and removes a baseball bat from its trunk. Addressing the thugs, Nathan says, "Tell the truth -- your job was to rob him, right?" One of them moans, "We weren't paid enough for this." Glancing at Clyde, Nathan warns, "If you hit them, that's assault." Turning back, he says, "I usually shoot people. You two can go now." The thugs stumble away as quickly as they can.

Nathan: "Clyde, be more careful. Oh, I guess you're curious how I know about you. A few months ago, a casino in Oklahoma had me check you out... they thought you might be cheating. I did, and you weren't. I happened to be downtown earlier, spotted Kirk -- who I know is also a gambler -- acting funny, and followed him here."

Benjamin says to Randy, "Do you have something that belongs to Miss Brenda? Yes? Can you help me, then, if I give you $100?... Listen, I am going to take this item from you. When I am finished with you, you will be happy to tell me where I can find it. Does not the money sound better?" Randy stares at Benjamin for a long minute. "Okay. The portfolio's not here. I already sold it. For a hundred bucks I'll tell you who." Benjamin gives him the money, and Randy says, "The Highlands Tropic Investment Group. Mr. Bara." "Nice doing business with you," Benjamin replies, and leaves.

Back in the car, Brenda says to Benjamin, "You need to drop us off back at the club." She has her smartphone out and taps out a text to someone, "All mucked up, pick up at pub." Crudely, Christa says to Benjamin, "Sorry, we're not going to lay you tonight." He asks for Brenda's number and right away sends her a text, "This is Mike Tyson," and it pops up on her phone (he has learned that American women don't always give out their correct phone number). As he drives away, Benjamin spots someone peeking through the blinds; judging from the height, it's either a small man or a woman.

Kef comes rushing back up to where Orley, Nathan, and Clyde are conversing. In urgent tones she describes a scene: In a hotel conference room decorated with horror movie posters and paraphernalia, Orley writhes on the floor in a growing pool of his own blood; a man wearing a Freddie Kruger mask and wielding a large knife dripping with blood lunges at (Clyde) as (Nathan) bursts through a side door. "There's a horror convention this weekend at the DFW Regency. Unless something changes, this will happen tomorrow night." Of course the men are skeptical; Kef shrugs slightly and walks away.

Benjamin walks up and Nathan introduces himself. Benjamin: "The ladies are professionals. They said they 'mucked it up' but I do not know what it means." Nathan offers to hire Benjamin for security work. Benjamin: "If I do not have to fight, I might like the job." Nathan: "If it comes to that, you are an expert. Orley, how does that red-haired woman know all that?" Orley: "I knew her from when I used to be a Dallas cop. Once in a while she would tell me something out of the blue. No idea where she gets her info." Nathan: "Well, as I say -- never let mystery get in the way of the money."

Benjamin shows Brenda's and Christa's phone numbers to Nathan and says, "Tell me about these women." Nathan gives Benjamin his business card and says, "Come by the office at 9:00 tomorrow; we'll run their names." Nathan hands his card to Clyde as well. "And you're supposed to get stabbed tomorrow. We'll see if we can avoid that."

Although it is 2:00 in the morning, Nathan phones Sara Summers, who manages his Dallas office. Nathan: "We've got a new employee coming in at 9:00 tomorrow morning, so please have his paperwork ready. Also, get us a contract to work security at the horror convention out at the DFW Regency." Sara: "Do you recognize the name Payton Grog? A woman giving that name has left several urgent messages insisting that she see you." Nathan: "Have her come in at 10:00."

When Nathan enters the Dallas office early the next morning, Sara tells him someone called earlier and left an odd message for Orley. 'DFW Regency, suite 432, before midnight, prevent a massacre.'" After spending some time with Benjamin and agreeing on employment terms ($50/hour plus expenses), Nathan sends Benjamin out to the airport to meet up with Orley.

At 9:45 Payton Grog enters the reception area. She is young (early 20s), well-dressed (wearing 2" heels and expensive-looking jewelry on a Saturday morning), has brown hair and green eyes, and appears not to have slept last night. After ushering her into his office, Nathan inquires, "What is it that couldn't wait?" Payton launches into a rambling narrative. "A friend of mine, Vicki Zann, and I rent a house in Plano. We work for The Highlands Tropic Investment Group. I'm in the Marketing department. They sell and invest in medicine, land, and other things that come out of the tropics. Vicki is the administrative secretary to my boss, Brent Bara. Well, Vicki's been acting strange, and then she didn't come home either Thursday or Friday. She's not answering her cellphone, either. She has a new boyfriend, Roberto Hansel, and they were going to attend some horror movie convention this weekend. They rented a room at the Regency. I just got a bad feeling... I think something's wrong where I work."

Nathan: "Have you tried Find-a-phone?" Payton: "I did, it's been disabled. Can you help me?" Nathan: "I can. We'll start at the Regency and work backward." Vicki pays $1000 retainer fee and uploads her phone number and address to Rahl Securities' website. In answer to Nathan's queries, she says that THTIG was founded in 2008, their office is at 12770 Coit Road Suite 750, and she has worked there for two years and Vicki for three. She recognizes the name Clyde Wheeler; "On the news they said his wife got hit by a bus."

After Payton leaves, Nathan phones Benjamin. "I just met a lady named Payton Grog, and she works for The Highlands Tropic Investment Group." Benjamin: "That is quite a... coin-in-cents!"

Clyde gets a tweet from his poker 'buddy' Kirk Wainwright: "Up for a game tonight?" "If you tweet me again, I'll break your legs!" "Do you want to get into a high-stakes poker game?" "Eat sh*t!" "High stakes! If you're interested, let me know!" Clyde's response is to drive to the nearest sporting-goods store, Cabela's, to shop for a gun.

Orley catches up with Benjamin at the DFW Regency. The phones Brenda and Christa were using last night were burners. The license plate of the vehicle they got into is that of a corporate car for Softlight Investment Group, a venture capital corporation located in Legacy Park in Plano. Via phone, Nathan sends them to find out who rented Room 432 and which room belongs to Roberto Hansel. "As you say, okey-donkey!" replies Benjamin.

There are thousands of people attending the convention. One of the celebrities signing autographs is Rose McGowan, star of the 1996 movie Scream and the supernatural drama series Charmed. Benjamin follows Orley as he works. Room 432 is a party suite for Softlight in the name of Renee Clark. Benjamin notes that two of Softlight's security people are ex-military.

Benjamin spots Brenda waiting in line. She acts surprised to see him. Benjamin: "I do not know why you would tell me the things that you told me unless you were lying to me." Brenda: "I shouldn't have picked you up." Benjamin: "If you wanted my help, why were you not honest with me?" Brenda: "You were way too sober for what I wanted you to do. I guess you did it, though -- you confronted him." Benjamin: "I am Mike Tyson, I'm the Confronter!" Brenda: "I'm just trying to recover stolen property. Industrial espionage, in other words."

Clyde pays for his new gun and a supply of ammo. He texts a reply to Kirk, "Get ready to lose all your money. #you'reabitch" The response is "Suite 532, DFW Regency Hotel". Clyde goes home and removes $150,000 cash from his safe.

Around 4:00pm, Kef is seated at her fortunetelling booth at Scarborough Faire when she spots someone she recognizes from Poor David's Pub last night and immediately flashes. Christa is costumed as an archer in leathers with a quiver and (unstrung) bow. Something about the gypsy's intense gaze leads Christa to approach her booth and sit down. Silently, Kef deals out her tarot cards. Upright: the Queen of Cups, a fair-haired woman. Crossing: Death. To the left: Nine of Swords. To the right: Nine of Wands. Christa's jaw drops, and after several seconds she manages to ask, "Does this mean... I'm going to die?" "That is the final fate of us all, but no, you can prevent this bloody death." Christa confides many things to Kef, including her real name, Hayley Frederick. "Will you be there tonight?" "I doubt it. But you will not be alone." Hayley thanks her and leaves.

Kef borrows a phone and dials Rahl Security to leave a message for Orley. Instead, Nathan (who had been napping in his office) answers. She tells him that "the blonde woman from the pub last night," defending herself with an extendable baton, will be attacked by many people wielding knives. Nathan gives her his personal cellphone number, which she writes down.

Orley checks in with Nathan. Roberto Hansel has room 702, but so far there's been no sign of him or Vicki Zann. "Benjamin met up with the brunette from last night; turns out she's a horror aficionado." Nathan tells him that the blonde will be killed by men with long knives, and "the gambler" will be stabbed in room 432. "One way or another, we'll be in that room."

It is 4:30pm Saturday. Nathan is headed for the DFW Regency and should arrive around 5pm. Kef returns the borrowed phone and watches Hayley leaving the Faire grounds. Benjamin and Orley rejoin Brenda. Clyde, dressing for the poker game and concealing his cash and his new pistol, is being angry.

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