Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2017 19:40:39 GMT -5
THE ULTRAVIOLENT COMPLEX ● JULY FIFTEENTH, 2017
JULIAN CORTEZ'S OFFICE
"Good to finally meet you, I represent our good friend Rumble, here. My name is Annabelle Wolfram."
She reached out a hand, and he shook it out of pure obligation, though he was already given an uneasy feeling from the woman standing in front of him. Julian Cortez narrowed his eyes at Rumble himself, who stood next to the middle-aged blonde.
"What do I owe the pleasure? Is this you, cabron?"
"Of course not, I'm acting completely with regards to Rumble's best interest now. As you've seen, he's under investigation for the disappearance of Rowan Blackwood. This comes at very BAD timing, given we've just closed a legal battle over the death of Leon Ramos. I warned Rumble to stay out of dangerous situations, I thought he could handle himself in the triple threat at Asylum XII, now I'm here to advise you to take Rumble out of So Cal World War..."
"What?!"
"Rumble needs to lay low. This is a very touchy situation, and if Rumble wants to make it out without going to prison, then he needs to play it carefully. I know he wants the Trans-Pacific title for real, but he is DANGEROUS inside that ring, Mr. Cortez, and you knew this when you hired him. Forget Zander Blackwood cutting people's faces off, or Paige stabbing people with forks - Rumble Reyes has legitimately KILLED a man inside that ring with his bare hands. Killed him, accident or not. You think it's a good idea throwing those other two in the ring with him? In a Barbed Wire C4 match, no doubt! Blackwood probably thinks last week means he can take Rumble on, but Zander didn't feel like rushing down to the ring until AFTER Rumble was already beating both the UltraViolent number one contender, and honestly, the future UltraViolent number one contender. Before that, it took BOTH Blackwoods to take Rumble down. He can't handle a rested Rumble Reyes on his own, are you trying to cause a scene?"
"Miss Wolfram..."
"I'm not finished yet, Rumble..."
She was quick to cut him off, and Rumble obliged. She turned her gaze back to Cortez.
"But that poor girl, Paige. She's got it the worst of all. She already fell to Rumble, horribly I might add. Did you see how far she flew across the ring after that Richter 9 Powerbomb? Paige's skill are a happy medium, all-around, at best and how is she supposed to compete with monsters of that size, in such an environment? Such strength, such resilience. Rumble is the largest person on your roster, easily making him the most dangerous powerhouse. By God, the amount of punishment this man can take without ever giving up...it's horrifying. Neither of those two can last in this Barbed Wire C4 match like Rumble can...they'll be dead before he gives up..."
She shook her head, before letting out a sigh.
"This match WILL be bloody, Mr. Cortez. Do you really want their blood on your hands for some ratings?"
Julian Cortez couldn't believe the balls on this woman, but took a few seconds to think over what she was saying. Stroking her chin. Although he didn't care about anything she had said, he knew how to play his hand.
"Miss Wolfram, Rumble has the best chance of walking out unscathed, and I still don't think this is what HE wants, but I'll consider it. Just give me the Trans-Pacific Championship and I'll..."
"Oh...Mr. Cortez...the belt is gone..."
SAN DIEGO COUNTY JAIL ● JULY FOURTEENTH, 2017
RUMBLE'S CELL
He woke up to the loud banging of his cell door opening. He knew he had been here for awhile, though wasn't quite sure how long. He didn't really care either, he was just as interested to find out if he had killed Rowan, as everyone else was. He knew they hoped he'd confess, though he still wasn't sure what he'd be confessing too.
"Time to get up, Reyes, looks like someone doesn't think you're a sick freak. You've made bail."
He turned over, his eyes straining against the light to see.
"I bet you've never been more happy to see me. Not really what I planned to do on a Friday morning, but that's life."
"It's...been three days?"
"More like two and a half, but yes. Don't you have any friends left in this business, Rumble?"
Silence.
"Sorry I asked...let's just get you out of this place, and back to your house or something. I don't need any rival firms finding out one of my clients was in a San Diego jail for almost three days."
She patted him on the back, ushering him through the cell door and out into the hallway. The guard continued to escort them, obviously having a person bias against Rumble, judging by the look on his face as he walked. Still, Annabelle didn't have a problem with speaking out loud, she was that confident.
"Honestly Rumble, you've got nothing to worry about. What I told you before still rings true, they've got absolutely nothing on you. The fact they arrested you was only to make up for the SoCal fiasco with the Blackwood case. There's no body, and the proof they think they have will never hold up in a court of law. Really, we should be suing the City of San Diego by the time we're done with this whole thing."
"I just want to get out of here, take my Trans-Pacific Championship and go home..."
"Well...that's just not possible. Rumble."
They grew closer to the door, but Reyes stopped in his tracks. Nothing except his head turned in place, as the click-clacking of Annabelle's heels also came to a halt. There was something different about Rumbe's facial expression. Where a usual stoic face sat, the smallest sliver of emotion now appeared.
"What...what do you mean it's not possible?"
"Well they had to use something to try pinning this on you, Rumble. The belt. The Trans-Pacific Championship you walked around the whole county with for two weeks? They're saying it belonged to Rowan, you had it, and that creates suspicion. Of course, we know you had nothing to do with that circumstance, and they'll never make it stick. We can walk out of here, you can go home...but they're keeping that belt with them for evidence."
"I have to get it back, Miss Wolfram...I NEED it back! IT'S MINE"
Rumble's voice was beginning to rise, the anger within him becoming white hot. Though Annabelle was shocked at such a reaction, she stayed calm, slapping Rumble across the face.
"I just got you out of that cell....are you TRYING to go back in right now?"
Again, silence, as Rumble calmed back down.
"Listen. I'll get you off for another murder - even if you didn't commit this one. Not sure about your infatuation with that title, but in the process, I'll make sure you get it back. One thing at a time, Rumble..."
She grabbed hold of his arm, continuing down the hall. She really was a snake in the grass.
"...one thing at a time."