Elliot Nest has been concerned about seeing that criminal Clyde Reeves lurking around every corner lately. The punk had definitely been trying to get his attention.
Elliot recalled seeing Clyde show up as a "tourist" in Sunlit Tides when Elliot and Anabel were on their honeymoon. Clyde had stuck out like a sore thumb.
Elliot had wondered at the time what Clyde'd been doing in ST. But he'd had other things on his mind. Now, Elliot got a nasty feeling in his gut.
After returning to Roaring Heights, Elliot got a call from Clyde Reeves inviting him to a party. What was the guy up to? Clyde had actually sent them a wedding gift. But Elliot and Anabel both had a past with Clyde. The crook was an evil SOB and a klepto to boot. He drove the getaway car in all the heists in town. And Clyde's girlfriend Bonnie wasn't much better.
Elliot decided to talk to the kid face to face and see if he could shake something out of him. So, in a surprise move, Elliot invited Clyde over to the house--while Anabel was out with their son Merit.
The two men hung out in the basement, just gabbed for awhile. Talked cars and sports. But Elliot kept his eyes open, and Sono the Nanny-House Guard was also nearby. Clyde taunted Sono with jokes about robots, and then smirked while showing off juvenile dirt-eating stunts.
But Clyde seemed to relax and soon dropped his snarly attitude. Asked Elliot about the resort they owned, seemed to have a real business sense. He also kept admiring the Nest's convertible and hesitantly told Elliot he could make that car of his "purr like a lion." As a getaway driver, Elliot figured Clyde knew a thing or two about car engines, so he let him tinker around a bit. And, sure enough, the car did run more smoothly afterwards.
There was more to this punk than Elliot had thought. He found out that Clyde had graduated top of his class with a Business degree, thanks to help from a school counselor. Elliot knew he'd come out of the sticks somewhere down south, had some bad breaks since arriving in the city, but what was it that had really driven Clyde to crime?
Clyde: I'm not sorry for what I've done! I went to school, tried to get a decent job. I wanted to go places, see? I got ambition! And I'm not afraid of nothing! But you have to know people in this town. The only guy who'd give me a chance was Mr Dandy. He said he was grooming me for the top!
Elliot: Dandy, the Master Thief?
Clyde: Yah, Mr Dandy even nicknamed our hideout after me. Treats me like a son!
Elliot: A son? Isn't Dandy also close to that handsome fellow, Mark Davis-Welles?
Clyde (scowling): What's that suppose to mean!?
Elliot observed the younger man closely.
Elliot: I mean, I thought you cared about Bonnie.
Clyde (blushing): Yah, I'm crazy about her. But she deserves more than I can give her. I just need a break, that's all. That's why, well, that's why I've been trying to talk to you.
Elliot: You want my help?
Elliot thinks: Poor chump. Or was it HIM being the chump? Was Clyde thinking Elliot was a soft touch?
Clyde: I've seen you with Anabel--uh, Mrs Nest. And now you got a kid. Your business. A swell life. Nobody around pushing your buttons, making you do things. I'm getting worried about Bonnie, Mr Nest. She's joined the gang now. It's just not right for her.
Clyde (shaking his head): Bonnie's a sensitive gal. Wants to write and all--just like Mrs Nest. Bonnie doesn't know anything about burglary! It's just no good!
Elliot looked Clyde over. He was pretty sure the boy was being straight with him.
Elliot: All right son, here's what I'll do for you right now. You give me something, so I know you're on the level. Then I'll see what I can do for you and your lady friend...We got a deal?
Clyde: You bet, Mr Nest...sir!
When Elliot finished up his notes, he told Clyde to go on to the warehouse and make sure the coast was clear for a surprise raid that night. Clyde took a deep breath, then walked off.
Elliot (calling after him): You better not be messing with me, Reeves, or I'll come down on you like a ton of bricks!
That night, Elliot took a boat over to the criminal warehouse. The place looked dead. Dark as a tomb. Maybe Clyde had kept his side of the bargain.
Easiest raid Elliot had ever done. Went off without a hitch. And he scored big time. Documents, codes. He'd hand it all over to headquarters, but he had searched through it himself. Wasn't sure what he was seeing, but there was something about a weapon. A super weapon?
He needed to talk with Clyde--and Bonnie. If his hunch was right, there was a lot more going on here...and Bonnie and Clyde had just marked themselves as targets.
Elliot recalled seeing Clyde show up as a "tourist" in Sunlit Tides when Elliot and Anabel were on their honeymoon. Clyde had stuck out like a sore thumb.
Elliot had wondered at the time what Clyde'd been doing in ST. But he'd had other things on his mind. Now, Elliot got a nasty feeling in his gut.
After returning to Roaring Heights, Elliot got a call from Clyde Reeves inviting him to a party. What was the guy up to? Clyde had actually sent them a wedding gift. But Elliot and Anabel both had a past with Clyde. The crook was an evil SOB and a klepto to boot. He drove the getaway car in all the heists in town. And Clyde's girlfriend Bonnie wasn't much better.
Elliot decided to talk to the kid face to face and see if he could shake something out of him. So, in a surprise move, Elliot invited Clyde over to the house--while Anabel was out with their son Merit.
The two men hung out in the basement, just gabbed for awhile. Talked cars and sports. But Elliot kept his eyes open, and Sono the Nanny-House Guard was also nearby. Clyde taunted Sono with jokes about robots, and then smirked while showing off juvenile dirt-eating stunts.
But Clyde seemed to relax and soon dropped his snarly attitude. Asked Elliot about the resort they owned, seemed to have a real business sense. He also kept admiring the Nest's convertible and hesitantly told Elliot he could make that car of his "purr like a lion." As a getaway driver, Elliot figured Clyde knew a thing or two about car engines, so he let him tinker around a bit. And, sure enough, the car did run more smoothly afterwards.
There was more to this punk than Elliot had thought. He found out that Clyde had graduated top of his class with a Business degree, thanks to help from a school counselor. Elliot knew he'd come out of the sticks somewhere down south, had some bad breaks since arriving in the city, but what was it that had really driven Clyde to crime?
Clyde: I'm not sorry for what I've done! I went to school, tried to get a decent job. I wanted to go places, see? I got ambition! And I'm not afraid of nothing! But you have to know people in this town. The only guy who'd give me a chance was Mr Dandy. He said he was grooming me for the top!
Elliot: Dandy, the Master Thief?
Clyde: Yah, Mr Dandy even nicknamed our hideout after me. Treats me like a son!
Elliot: A son? Isn't Dandy also close to that handsome fellow, Mark Davis-Welles?
Clyde (scowling): What's that suppose to mean!?
Elliot observed the younger man closely.
Elliot: I mean, I thought you cared about Bonnie.
Clyde (blushing): Yah, I'm crazy about her. But she deserves more than I can give her. I just need a break, that's all. That's why, well, that's why I've been trying to talk to you.
Elliot: You want my help?
Elliot thinks: Poor chump. Or was it HIM being the chump? Was Clyde thinking Elliot was a soft touch?
Clyde: I've seen you with Anabel--uh, Mrs Nest. And now you got a kid. Your business. A swell life. Nobody around pushing your buttons, making you do things. I'm getting worried about Bonnie, Mr Nest. She's joined the gang now. It's just not right for her.
Clyde (shaking his head): Bonnie's a sensitive gal. Wants to write and all--just like Mrs Nest. Bonnie doesn't know anything about burglary! It's just no good!
Elliot looked Clyde over. He was pretty sure the boy was being straight with him.
Elliot: All right son, here's what I'll do for you right now. You give me something, so I know you're on the level. Then I'll see what I can do for you and your lady friend...We got a deal?
Clyde: You bet, Mr Nest...sir!
When Elliot finished up his notes, he told Clyde to go on to the warehouse and make sure the coast was clear for a surprise raid that night. Clyde took a deep breath, then walked off.
Elliot (calling after him): You better not be messing with me, Reeves, or I'll come down on you like a ton of bricks!
That night, Elliot took a boat over to the criminal warehouse. The place looked dead. Dark as a tomb. Maybe Clyde had kept his side of the bargain.
Easiest raid Elliot had ever done. Went off without a hitch. And he scored big time. Documents, codes. He'd hand it all over to headquarters, but he had searched through it himself. Wasn't sure what he was seeing, but there was something about a weapon. A super weapon?
He needed to talk with Clyde--and Bonnie. If his hunch was right, there was a lot more going on here...and Bonnie and Clyde had just marked themselves as targets.
