geniuswithasmartphone: (Chatting on Couch (All 3))
[personal profile] geniuswithasmartphone
Once Parker returned and they'd trooped upstairs, Hardison picked up his remote and started running the information gathering session.

"Ben's Chili Bowl," he explained, as an old picture of a black couple came over the monitors, standing in front of a restaurant that looked brand new. "Seen here on its opening day, August 22, 1958, with owners Ben and Virginia Ali. This little restaurant has had a huge cultural impact on DC. It opened on U Street, back when DC was still segregated, and was one of the most popular restaurants in the city. Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Nat King Cole used to eat there after performing at black jazz clubs on U Street."

He eyed Eliot. "Those names would be familiar if you know anything about music with soul," he jibed. "Anyway, moving on, the Chili Bowl also managed to stay open during the riots of '68 after Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated. Most other places had to shut down and obey the curfew, but Ben got permission to stay open and fed cops and firefighters as they tried to combat the mess."

He rattled off some more of the more interesting historical facts about the restaurant before turning to their clients. "So, Eliot's friend Vance called us on behalf of the current owners of Ben's Chili Bowl, Kamal and Nizam Ali, sons of Ben and Virginia. After almost sixty years of history, one Congressman Jessup from the Norman district of Oklahoma has come forward stating he has evidence that the young Ali's have been using their company to launder money for various criminals around DC. He's facing a lot of heat for it, as Ben's Chili Bowl is pretty famous and popular, but he's not backing down which means he's either got something iron-clad or there's more on the line for him than his political career. He's calling for the original location of Ben's Chili Bowl to close down for the duration of the investigation. Now, our boy Vance thinks that there's something fishy going on and wants us to help the Ali's out so the restaurant can stay open. This is about more than just a restaurant or even a legacy, you know? This is a restaurant that the people of the community have looked to and taken pride in for years. It's practically a damn landmark."

[For the fellow thieves, please!]

Date: 2015-02-25 05:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com
"We'll find you a mugger to beat up on the way home if you don't get to, swear." The Team needed to stay positive! Thinking thinking... "Congressional aide for me, so I can get into Jessup's office, and go to the Chili Bowl for food? And--" She wasn't sure, but the thought occurred: "We should have surveillance on the Chili Bowl if it is a place where the mob's hanging out. That's part of why Vance wants us, isn't it. We're the best."


Date: 2015-02-25 05:46 am (UTC)
vdistinctive: (eyebrow-face)
From: [personal profile] vdistinctive
"So they'll work?" Eliot asked, cutting to the only part he actually cared about. "Even if I get thrown into the tidal basin?"

It wasn't like he was planning to get thrown into the tidal basin, but in his line of work things happened.

Date: 2015-02-25 05:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com
"So we're running a Kansas City Cruller," Parker said, humming to herself. "... I think."

Date: 2015-02-25 05:53 am (UTC)
vdistinctive: (thinky-face)
From: [personal profile] vdistinctive
"What?" Eliot shook his head. "Nah, this sounds way more like a Chi-Town Luau. You know, only with chili."

Date: 2015-02-25 06:01 am (UTC)
vdistinctive: (bespectacled grouch-face)
From: [personal profile] vdistinctive
"We can't do the Queen's Bastard, we don't have any midgets."

Date: 2015-02-25 06:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com
"I thought that was with clowns?" Parker frowned. "... no clowns. No."

Don't ask.

Date: 2015-02-25 06:08 am (UTC)
vdistinctive: (thinky-face)
From: [personal profile] vdistinctive
"We still don't have any," Eliot noted. ". . . Which one's the one with the midgets, then?"

Date: 2015-02-25 06:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com
"Where would we even find the little people for that one?" A pause. "Disneyland?"

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