“Who what?” Tony made his way over to the cluster near the door. Rhodey was standing with five people, all in the sort of plainclothes outfits that screamed “undercover”. Tony took them in at a glance.
The leader was a diminutive brunette with a disarmingly innocent face, while the two guys that flanked her--one tall and wide, one short and sinewy--were clearly minions. A fairly hot redhead--her hair much darker than Pepper’s strawberry--looked a little overwhelmed. The odd man out was a blond with a vague smile who was examining the painting hung nearby.
“California Bureau of Investigation,” the brunette said, holding out one hand. “I know this is a difficult time, Mr. Stark, but we’re here to help.”
“Yeah, I got that.” Tony shook her hand once and let it drop. “California has junior-league g-men?”
The taller of the minions frowned, but the leader didn’t so much as twitch. “I’m Agent Gibson. These are Agents Cho, Rigsby, and van Pelt.”
“Who would want to hurt you, Mr. Stark?” The blond smiled wider, a confiding expression, as if he were asking what Scotch Tony preferred rather than speaking out of the blue.
.....
“We might surprise you,” the blond said cheerfully. “This is a genuine El Greco.”
Gibson rolled her eyes exasperatedly. “This is Patrick Jane. He’s a consultant for the Bureau. And I’m sure it’s genuine, Jane, Mr. Stark is hardly the type to own copies.”
Jane shook his head, still smiling gently. “Teresa, it’s an unknown El Greco. One not listed in any catalogue of his work.”
Tony squinted at the man. “It’s been in the family a while.” He knew the painting was unlisted, but he couldn’t remember anyone else ever noticing. On the other hand, his guests had rarely tended towards the art appreciation type.
He waved a hand. “Do whatever you need to. Just...find Pepper.”
Gibson nodded, and quickly directed the bigger minion to go liaise with the police before turning back to Tony.
My original idea was to use the team from The Mentalist, because watching Jane frustrate Tony would be hilarious. But it was too early in the show's run for me to get the characters right (and clearly I even got a character name wrong!) so I switched to the UC:Undercover team. I know them much better.
Also, as IM2 revealed, Pepper (Virginia!) was an expert on Tony's art collection and no painting of his would have gone unknown for long. But I started this months before the movie came out.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 12:45 am (UTC)“Who what?” Tony made his way over to the cluster near the door. Rhodey was standing with five people, all in the sort of plainclothes outfits that screamed “undercover”. Tony took them in at a glance.
The leader was a diminutive brunette with a disarmingly innocent face, while the two guys that flanked her--one tall and wide, one short and sinewy--were clearly minions. A fairly hot redhead--her hair much darker than Pepper’s strawberry--looked a little overwhelmed. The odd man out was a blond with a vague smile who was examining the painting hung nearby.
“California Bureau of Investigation,” the brunette said, holding out one hand. “I know this is a difficult time, Mr. Stark, but we’re here to help.”
“Yeah, I got that.” Tony shook her hand once and let it drop. “California has junior-league g-men?”
The taller of the minions frowned, but the leader didn’t so much as twitch. “I’m Agent Gibson. These are Agents Cho, Rigsby, and van Pelt.”
“Who would want to hurt you, Mr. Stark?” The blond smiled wider, a confiding expression, as if he were asking what Scotch Tony preferred rather than speaking out of the blue.
.....
“We might surprise you,” the blond said cheerfully. “This is a genuine El Greco.”
Gibson rolled her eyes exasperatedly. “This is Patrick Jane. He’s a consultant for the Bureau. And I’m sure it’s genuine, Jane, Mr. Stark is hardly the type to own copies.”
Jane shook his head, still smiling gently. “Teresa, it’s an unknown El Greco. One not listed in any catalogue of his work.”
Tony squinted at the man. “It’s been in the family a while.” He knew the painting was unlisted, but he couldn’t remember anyone else ever noticing. On the other hand, his guests had rarely tended towards the art appreciation type.
He waved a hand. “Do whatever you need to. Just...find Pepper.”
Gibson nodded, and quickly directed the bigger minion to go liaise with the police before turning back to Tony.
My original idea was to use the team from The Mentalist, because watching Jane frustrate Tony would be hilarious. But it was too early in the show's run for me to get the characters right (and clearly I even got a character name wrong!) so I switched to the UC:Undercover team. I know them much better.
Also, as IM2 revealed, Pepper (Virginia!) was an expert on Tony's art collection and no painting of his would have gone unknown for long. But I started this months before the movie came out.