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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 6, 2016 2:13:17 GMT
Howard practices the act and says " right now this gig is pretty steady. Besides New York is much colder and probably more snow then here. Let's ride this out and then we will head there later, perhaps in the spring. We really don't want to go there broke do we." Howard finishes the prep work and comments" OK we have everything in place. Oh one thing for the "sawing a woman in half trick" I want to use a volunteer instead of you this time as to spice the act up a bit. Also when we do the card tricks we do this in the audience instead of the stage. This makes interaction with the audience better and should get better tips. For these two tricks I want you to pick the volunteers." "New York is colder? Than this?" Veronica asked naively. It would not be the first time Howard had taken advantage of Veronica's naivety. Now it would be some time until she bugged him about New York again. "You want me to pick the usual dupes?" she asked, while they were discussing the tricks. That was when they heard a woman scream. It was coming from upstairs (they were in the storage area under the stage where most of his big props were stored). (( roll: 1))
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Post by Orpheus Jack on Jun 6, 2016 4:16:59 GMT
The Minneapolis Great Northern Depot was a sandstone fronted building, with colonnades and a great stone arch facing Hennepin Avenue on one side, and the mighty Mississippi flowing past the other side. The tracks ran northwest and southeast, between the building and the river. The depot itself was bustling with humanity. One hundred twenty five trains a day passed through this depot, moving passengers or freight. A people watcher could spend all day here. It was warm here too, so it was a good place to get out from the cold. And, of course, Jack could think of other reasons to hang around here. Great place for picking pockets... he brought up, as if Andrew wanted to hear it. An hour passed. Hey, I didn't say he spent all his time here, did I? Jack asked, getting defensive. You sure you don't want to pick a pocket to help pass the time?After two hours, Andrew noticed a pretty blonde in a heavy coat and muff walking quickly across the station, being followed by a broad-shouldered man with a black mustache, in a Fedora, black winter coat, and gloves. "Please leave me alone!" she said to him on one occasion, when she was close enough to Andrew to be overheard. (( rolls: 3, 2, 5)) Well, look at her, would ya?Andrew was, just not in the way Jack wanted. She seemed like she could use a hand. It wasn't why Andrew was there, but he needed to do something. He set off across the depot after the blonde and the goon who was following her. That a boy. I'm starting to believe we might actually be related.Ignoring Jack, Andrew sped up his pace. Once he was close enough, he grabbed the man in the fedora by the arm. The guy spun around, a nasty look on his face. He was bigger than Andrew, but ever since Jack happened, it took a lot more than that to rattle him. Andrew did his best to sound tough. "Look, pal, I'm pretty sure I heard the lady tell you to leave her alone. Whatever you're selling; she ain't buying. Scram."
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 6, 2016 16:14:33 GMT
"BTW can you tell me how to get to the Great Northern Depot?" Rick already had the address, but it was good to find out how cooperative the locals would be. The guys here, at least, were being honest. "The Depot is on Hennepin Avenue; you can't miss it. As for a coat...try Hubert White on 6th and Marquette." It was a good tip. Hubert White was a men's cloth's shop with high end merchandise and dark cherry furniture. "This coat suits you, sir," a well-groomed salesman with slicked back hair was telling Rick. "It's $12, but has duck down padding and is guaranteed to keep you warm, even in Minneapolis in the winter time. Here on business, sir? From your accent, I could tell you're an out-of-towner." "Good eye there buddy. Yeah here on a business trip, looks like a nice little town. Well see you later" Rick then put on the coat and walked on the snow covered street towards the Depot. He then adjusted his shoulder holster and patted down on his government issue pistol. He hoped he wouldn't need to use it this time but one must always be prepared.
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 6, 2016 16:18:09 GMT
As Rick headed for the Depot he couldn't help but notice the altercation between a rather pretty blonde, a big thug of a man and a teenager about to start a fight. It didn't take him long to decided to get involved and went in that direction to investigate.
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Post by dtspurrier on Jun 7, 2016 5:48:20 GMT
Howard says with a smile and a wink "yes my dear the usual dupes. Now I heard a woman screaming upstairs where the large props are being kept. If she does work here I hope she is not injured. Let's go help her out."
Howard heads upstairs
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 7, 2016 14:13:12 GMT
That a boy. I'm starting to believe we might actually be related.Ignoring Jack, Andrew sped up his pace. Once he was close enough, he grabbed the man in the fedora by the arm. The guy spun around, a nasty look on his face. He was bigger than Andrew, but ever since Jack happened, it took a lot more than that to rattle him. Andrew did his best to sound tough. "Look, pal, I'm pretty sure I heard the lady tell you to leave her alone. Whatever you're selling; she ain't buying. Scram." The girl spun around, saw the confrontation happening, and rushed behind Andrew. "Please help me, he won't leave me alone!" she said. The man looked Andrew up and down and didn't seem to think anything of him. "Who are you, gettin' in my business?" he asked. "Now scram, kid, and you won't get hurt." The man took a step forward to get into Andrew's face, trying to intimidate him. (( rolls: 5, 5, 11))
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 7, 2016 14:18:22 GMT
As Rick headed for the Depot he couldn't help but notice the altercation between a rather pretty blonde, a big thug of a man and a teenager about to start a fight. It didn't take him long to decided to get involved and went in that direction to investigate. ((Yes, he does; I rolled for it and he managed to spot the altercation.)) Rick was able to get pretty close (10') to the fight that seemed to be brewing. So far, no one was paying any attention to him; he was just another spectator in the crowd around the brewing altercation. (( rolls: 2, 6, 3))
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 7, 2016 14:34:40 GMT
Howard says with a smile and a wink "yes my dear the usual dupes. Now I heard a woman screaming upstairs where the large props are being kept. If she does work here I hope she is not injured. Let's go help her out." Howard heads upstairs "Gee, there are large props upstairs too?" Veronic asked, but she followed along. They followed voices to Sid Manly's dressing room. Outside the door were two other acts on the bill for tonight -- the comedy team of Will Allen and Fred Andrews, and the ventriloquist Roscoe Ball, who performed with a live chimpanzee named Billy instead of a dummy. Inside the dressing room, June McCroon was sobbing. "I'm so sorry, June..." Al was saying as he led June out of Sid's room. She was sobbing all over his shoulder. "You shouldn't have had to see that." "What happened in there?" Veronica asked. "I'm surprised you didn't hear it!" Fred said to her. "Sid shot himself in there. He's dead!"
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 7, 2016 14:54:46 GMT
The office of the Ministry of Opportune Vigilance Interdicting Extraordinary Syndicates was a dark room and Lee Plantagenet had never seen the faces of his superiors there. But then, he was just grateful to now have purpose. "Have you ever seen the work of Henri Deselles?" they had asked Lee. He had not. "He was an actor -- huge in France before the war. He was coming to Hollywood to sign a big contract in 1940. Seemed like a huge win for him -- he got out of Occupied France and was going to be making big American bucks. Only, he never made it to Hollywood. He was touring the U.S. with his wife, Jeanne, when he announced that she had fallen in love with Minnesota and they would not be leaving it. And that was the last anyone heard of him. The world just kind of forgot about Henri after that." "We now think that Henri might have had another reason to keep a low profile. He might know things about the Germans that our government needs to know, and he's not been forthright in telling. That's why we want you to go find him. Get the information out of him there, or bring him back here." January 10, 1943. Sunday Wold–Chamberlain Field Lee disembarked from a plane that just landed. The winter air registered as cold on Lee's synthetic skin. Henri was believed to be in Minneapolis. Lee did not have an address for Henri, but so long as Henri had not changed his name, there was unlikely to be many Deselles in Minneapolis.
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Post by Orpheus Jack on Jun 7, 2016 15:29:23 GMT
The girl spun around, saw the confrontation happening, and rushed behind Andrew. "Please help me, he won't leave me alone!" she said. The man looked Andrew up and down and didn't seem to think anything of him. "Who are you, gettin' in my business?" he asked. "Now scram, kid, and you won't get hurt." The man took a step forward to get into Andrew's face, trying to intimidate him. (( rolls: 5, 5, 11)) Andrew couldn't deny that his natural impulse was to run, to get away this large and potentially dangerous man. He held his ground, though, and Jack was there to help him. Don't worry, kid, this mook ain't gonna do nothing in this crowd."Awful lot of witnesses here," Andrew said, looking up to stare the goon right in his eyes. The big man grimaced back down at Andrew, his jaw clenched. That's my boy. Can't give this type an inch or they'll take a mile."Why don't you move along, now," Andrew continued, trying to sound a lot more confidant than he felt. "You don't want to do something stupid, get yourself thrown in jail." Back in jail is more like it. I'd put money on that.
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 7, 2016 15:41:06 GMT
As he moved closer, Rick started to analyze the larger man. Watching for his hands and where they were going.
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Post by theleadingman on Jun 7, 2016 21:01:06 GMT
The Leading Man paused for moment at the top of the stairs. The cold wind caught his hair just right before he put his hat on. He jammed it down low and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his trench coat. He hoped the men who had hired him to find the Frenchman and his Allouette were right that the guy had holed up in the Twin Cities. It was too cold for The Leading Man, Mike Hammer, to be away from his brown.
He hustled down the stairs and knew he needed three things. First, he needed to get the lay of the land here - find another Seamus, maybe - count on some professional courtesy. Second, he needed to get his suitcase and one of the sweaters inside it. Third, he needed to get himself on the outside of whatever rotgut would chase some of this chill away.
But just in case he was wrong about all those needs, The Leading Man, Mike Hammer, headed with his suitcase into the terminal building and made for a phone booth. Luck was for fools and Mike Hammer was feeling cold enough to be one. Maybe Deselles in the phone book.
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Post by dtspurrier on Jun 8, 2016 4:45:25 GMT
Howard says " i am so sorry for your loss June. Veronica help her outside and get her some water or coffee. Al I know you want to call the police but do me a favor and wait . Please let me take a look here and do a little investigation. My brief act of heroics in illinois and this incident has brought back my heroic spirit. Plus I want to see if there is any foul play here. " Howard checks the body and the gun. He looks for where the bullet entered the body, and also if the body's fingers has powder from the gun being handled and fired. If there is time he will look at the dresser tops for suicide notes or anything out of the ordinary.
(OOC to the editor I am using my charisma to convince Al to delay the police. Using my investigation skills for the other)
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 9, 2016 14:44:29 GMT
That's my boy. Can't give this type an inch or they'll take a mile."Why don't you move along, now," Andrew continued, trying to sound a lot more confidant than he felt. "You don't want to do something stupid, get yourself thrown in jail." Back in jail is more like it. I'd put money on that. The bigger man stared hard at Andrew for about a half-minute, and then softened. "You got moxie, kid. Okay, I'm gonna let this slide, this time." Looking at the girl, he said, "And I'm gonna let this slide for you this time too, angel. See ya around..." "Oh, thank you!" the girl said when the man was walking away. She threw her arms around Andrew and hugged him. "My name's Joan, Joan Tobias. That was Al, Alan Ridges. He thinks we're going steady just because I let him take me dancing once. Al can be really...overbearing, and a bit of a thug. I was about to take the next train out of town just to get away from him. Is there...is there anyway I can repay you for helping me?" (( roll: 9))
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 9, 2016 14:47:46 GMT
As he moved closer, Rick started to analyze the larger man. Watching for his hands and where they were going. Rick had noticed the big man clench his hands into fists, but then relax them. It seemed the younger man had stood down the bigger man; Rick heard the bigger man say something about "moxie", and then leave. Then the younger man got a hug out of it! Looked like someone was getting lucky, luckier than Rick so far with this baffling mission. So far, none of the three people involved in this little scene had noticed him eavesdropping from nearby; Rick did a good impression of someone just waiting for their train. (( rolls: 6, 5, 5))
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