Magnetic Attraction 33 (Patreon)

Magnetic Attraction
Chapter 33

-VB-

“Anne Barnes?” I repeated the name in surprise when Kayden asked me. “No, I haven’t met her before.”

But I knew about her. She was supposed to be only a mentioned character in Worm who was away from Brockton Bay while studying in college. Whether or not she survived wasn’t even known, but her sister died in canon.

This was apparently not the case anymore.

“She might be looking into our identities,” Kayden huffed as she leaned back into her armchair. “I don’t like that.”

“I don’t like it either,” I hummed as I tapped the side of my jaw. “But she’s a civilian. As long as she doesn’t pursue this too closely, there’s nothing we can do, especially since she’s come to talk to me at my house. The most I can do is ask her to stop and then ask for a restraining order when she gets really invasive.”

She frowned. “There must be more you could do,” she replied.

“I suppose I do have other means. I mean, if I, Arthur Anders of Anders Solutions, asked Eisenfeld, who is my employee, to go and talk to Ms. Barnes about her inquiries…”

“Yes, that.”

“It would also make me, both of my identities, seem like tyrants, using my fame and money to silence a budding journalist. That will start controversies like none other.”

“So we’re just supposed to let her dig as she wants?”

“No,” I replied. “We let her do as she wishes right up to the legal limits, and if she decides to step one iota out of the line, then we deal with her as needed, not before.”

She sighed. “Okay. As long as she doesn’t start bothering me at my work, I can deal with that, I guess.”

“Of course, I won’t let her just come visit our home without reason,” I added.

-VB-

Though I played the neutral and calm person of the house, I also did not like the fact that someone was snooping around.

Maybe it was my paternal instinct kicking in with a baby already in the house and three more coming soon, but I disliked the fact that there was someone else, woman or not.

It made me itchy.

So I did go out of my way to talk to some people.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Eisenfeld,” the man in front of me smiled as he spoke.

“It’s a pleasure for me as well, Mr. Davion,” I said as I greeted the man who owned the law firm that hired both Carol Dallon and Alan Barnes. “Someone of your long-standing history is … let’s just say that I respect you. You don’t remain a lawyer with clients from all walks of life in Brockton Bay and stay in that job. I’m sure you’ve had a few threats come your way?”

Davion laughed it off. “They are nothing an old man can’t handle!” he chuckled as he pointed to his gray hair interspaced with black hair. It matched his brown and grey striped suit, or did the suit match his hair? “It helps that most of the chums who come after me and my firm are low-level idiots who can’t follow a decent order and can’t tell the difference between a civilian and an ex-Navy seal.”

I blinked.

Well, he did have the physique for it even though he was in his late fifties, broad shoulders, tightly wound up muscles, firm hands, and et cetera.

“I also heard that you’re … in business with Danny Hebert.”

I nodded. “Mr. Anders requires a lot of laborers for his businesses here in his hometown, and the Dockworkers had a lot of laborers in need of work. My job is to ensure that none of the criminals, new and old, try to take advantage of our business partner.”

Davion snorted as he leaned back. “Have you actually had problems lately?”

“No… The only ‘problem’ I’ve run into is a new … rogue? Yes, let’s call them a rogue. He’s a rogue who obviously triggered during Leviathan’s attack. Controls water. He likes to challenge me for the ‘official strongest cape of the city’ title.”

The lawyer barked out a laugh.

“So capes being capes?”

I shrugged.

“Well, pleasantries aside, what brings you to my law firm, Mr. Eisenfeld? It can’t be to connect with old timers like me and my partners.”

“Well… It’s less about you and more about someone under you.”

His eyes hardened. “... Is it about New Wave?”

“No, no, no,” I quickly spoke up, which got him to look more confused than anything. “It’s about Mr. Alan Barnes. Or rather, his daughter.”

“... Has she…?”

“While Mr. Anders is supportive of free speech and privileges that all Americans have, he finds it concerning that Mr. Barnes’s older daughter has been investigating him, his company, and … his cape employees,” I told him slowly. “It has become … invasive, let’s say.”

“I see,” Davion frowned. “But I don’t see what this has to do with us.”

“It’s a matter of connection,” I replied with a shrug. “If the partners of Davion and Martha allow their members and their families to invade the privacies of Anders Solutions…”

The buff old man in front of me looked ready to burst a vein at what admittedly sounded like a threat.

“Then Anders Solutions can’t hire Davion & Martha even though it wants to have some of your skills on retinue.”

The sudden turn in the phrase made Davion pause and slowly settled down. “I … was not expecting that, I’ll be honest. I expected you to give subtle threats.”

“Oh no, I know that won’t work. Also, Mr. Anders is very strict about public behavior. I probably won’t be doing some of the things I’ve done before I entered his service.” I leaned in conspiratorily. “Several million in annual salary certainly helps.”

“Jesus…”

I nodded. “Certainly pays more than being a Protectorate with half of the paperwork involved.”

“No kidding.” He paused. “You’re saying that a Ms. Barnes is involved…?”

“Yes. She visited Mr. Anders’ personal residence too many times and at work. You know, kind of like a stalker.”

“Ah. I see. I’ll… I’ll talk to Alan about it. I’m sure he won’t like if any of his children gain such unnecessary qualities.”

“Good. Good. You know, Mr. Anders appreciates this. Truly. On the other hand, Mr. Anders also has a completely unrelated contract here asking for Davion & Martha to be on retinue for him…”

Money greased the wheels better than threats.