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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 9, 2016 14:55:39 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. Lee/Mike was lucky alright; this little podunk town was at least big enough to have its own phone book. He flipped through the cheap newsprint and, sure enough, laid his eyes on one "H. Deselles". Seemed Henri wasn't trying so hard to stay out of the limelight after all. That left Lee/Mike with a decision to make. Should he find another Seamus first, to get the lay of the land from, or go directly after Deselles?
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 9, 2016 15:06:56 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) The other entertainers out in the hallway were only too glad to take June into their midst and offer her their condolences as well, leaving Howard a moment to talk to Al alone. "Well, I don't know if that's the right thing to do..." Al said, squirming a little at the suggestion of letting Howard manipulate the crime scene. "But I suppose I should make the call to the police from my office. It'll take me about a minute to walk down there." That didn't give Howard a lot of time to look for clues. Yes, Sid had been shot in the side of the head at point blank range. The gun was still in his hand. But there were no powder burns on his hand or on his face. Howard looked around, but found no suicide note, nor any sign that the room had been robbed or searched. Veronica appeared at the doorway. "I heard a police siren outside, boss!" (( roll: 2))
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Post by Orpheus Jack on Jun 9, 2016 20:06:20 GMT
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)) Andrew was looking at Joan, dumbfounded, when Jack chimed in. Well, if you're not gonna say nothing, I got a few ideas of my own."Shut up, Jack," Andrew said reflexively. Joan took a step back, offended, and said, "Excuse me?" "Sorry, I was just talking to myself." "You were telling yourself to shut up," she asked, dubiously. "But you weren't saying anything." Good luck, kid. You're on your own here.Andrew could feel his face reddening with embarrassment. "I was afraid I might say something foolish." "How'd that work out for you," Joan asked. "Not well," Andrew conceded. Much to his relief, Joan smiled. He gathered up his courage and forged ahead. "If you want, I could make sure that nimrod leaves you alone from now on. Maybe then you wouldn't have to leave town. I'd be a shame for you to go, what with us having just met and all."
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Post by theleadingman on Jun 9, 2016 20:57:38 GMT
The Leading Man knew exactly what to do. The sooner this job was done the sooner he could head someplace warmer. So he noted down Deselles's address and headed out of the terminal for a cab and what he hoped would be a quick end to an easy job.
"Hey, Mack. I need a ride. And while you drive you can tell me what a new guy in town oughta know," The Leading Man said as he hopped into the back of the Yellow Cab.
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Post by dtspurrier on Jun 11, 2016 3:56:06 GMT
Howard says "thanks veronica this is no suicide there is evidence of foul play. Let's see if we cn find June. " As Howard leaves he thinks back before June left the room if she was wearing gloves or if June had any black powder on her fingertips.
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 11, 2016 15:07:34 GMT
"How'd that work out for you," Joan asked. "Not well," Andrew conceded. Much to his relief, Joan smiled. He gathered up his courage and forged ahead. "If you want, I could make sure that nimrod leaves you alone from now on. Maybe then you wouldn't have to leave town. I'd be a shame for you to go, what with us having just met and all." "Yeah...I guess there's no reason for me to leave now," Joan said with a smile. She took Andrew's arm. "Come on -- buy me a soda and I'll tell you all about me." Nearby was the Woolworth's department store with its in-house luncheonette. Sitting as far from a group of kids hassling the soda jerk as they could, Andrew and Joan sipped their Coca-Colas and looked at each other. Then Joan finally felt ready to tell her story. "I grew up around here. I graduated from Minneapolis Central High School last year. My mom startled hassling me right away, 'when are you gonna meet someone and settle down', like I was already an old maid or something. Only, I never wanted to settle down around here. I thought I'd die if I didn't get away and see places. I started hanging out in the cafes at the Dyckman Hotel, just to meet guys who travel a lot. I thought it was exciting to let them buy me a drink and tell me about where they were from. "Alan Ridges talked real sweet to me when I met him. He convinced me to go dancing with him and, ever since then, he's been treating me like I was his property. Expecting him to be at his beck and call, so I can hang on his arm when he calls for me like a dog. And worse, I think Al is involved with hoodlums," she said in hushed tones. "But what about you?" she asked, after another sip from the straw in her bottle. "What's your story?" What would Andrew tell her? That he was supposed to be picking up groceries for his mother, but was out playing hero instead? Jack had been strangely quiet in his head, as if the old man had fallen "asleep" again, and had not offered any guidance with girls yet (which he normally did whether Andrew wanted him to or not).
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 11, 2016 15:30:22 GMT
The Leading Man knew exactly what to do. The sooner this job was done the sooner he could head someplace warmer. So he noted down Deselles's address and headed out of the terminal for a cab and what he hoped would be a quick end to an easy job. "Hey, Mack. I need a ride. And while you drive you can tell me what a new guy in town oughta know," The Leading Man said as he hopped into the back of the Yellow Cab. "Sure thing," the cabbie said. They drove to Groveland Terrace, in the Lowry Hill neighborhood. "Are you interested in politics? Did you hear what the State Legislature wants to do? They want the federal government to set up a prisoner-of-war camp here. I mean, I get that we've sent a lot of our working men to war, but I'd rather have a bunch of dames making my stuff than some captured Nazis, don't you think?" They arrived; the cabbie was expecting 50 cents for the trip. There were some amazing mansions -- almost castles! -- on Groveland Terrace, and though Henri Deselles' place was not the nicest of the lot, it was still mighty fine (it's the house on the far right in the picture below). When Lee reached the front door, it was opened almost at once by a maid, in tears. When Lee asked for Mr. Deselles, the maid said, "Mr. Deselles -- Henri -- I think he might be dead!"
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 11, 2016 15:41:08 GMT
Howard says "thanks veronica this is no suicide there is evidence of foul play. Let's see if we cn find June. " As Howard leaves he thinks back before June left the room if she was wearing gloves or if June had any black powder on her fingertips. Veronica followed along. "Okay, but why do we have to find June...?" she asked. They found June in the dressing room of Will Allen and Fred Andrews. Will was patting June on the shoulder and Fred was finding a fresh handkerchief for June to blow her nose into. June was not wearing gloves now. Howard didn't remember seeing gloves on her when he saw her before either. He had not taken a good enough look at her hands then to know if she had powder burns on them or not. He did remember that Will and Fred both wore gloves in their act -- part of the routine was getting into a mock fight and slapping each other with their gloves. Neither was wearing their gloves now. Howard heard Al saying loudly, "Thank God you've come," down the hall outside, most likely to a police officer. Howard had only a little time left to be in charge of this investigation before having to hand it over.
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Post by dtspurrier on Jun 12, 2016 9:57:20 GMT
Howard looks at will, Fred, and June hands and see if there is any black powder. He then says " June the police are here. Why not tell me what you heard and saw, treat this as a rehearsal as the police will want a statement. Also Fred and will if you saw or heard something please chime in. "
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 12, 2016 12:20:06 GMT
Rick Murphy walked to the office of the bird who ran this joint. Since he was here to guard the station it made since to ask the head honcho if there was anything suspicious going on.
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Post by theleadingman on Jun 12, 2016 15:31:22 GMT
"Sure thing," the cabbie said. They drove to Groveland Terrace, in the Lowry Hill neighborhood. "Are you interested in politics? Did you hear what the State Legislature wants to do? They want the federal government to set up a prisoner-of-war camp here. I mean, I get that we've sent a lot of our working men to war, but I'd rather have a bunch of dames making my stuff than some captured Nazis, don't you think?" They arrived; the cabbie was expecting 50 cents for the trip. There were some amazing mansions -- almost castles! -- on Groveland Terrace, and though Henri Deselles' place was not the nicest of the lot, it was still mighty fine (it's the house on the far right in the picture below). When Lee reached the front door, it was opened almost at once by a maid, in tears. When Lee asked for Mr. Deselles, the maid said, "Mr. Deselles -- Henri -- I think he might be dead!" Before he left the cab he told the cabbie, Andrew Torgsen, to wait for him. He might need a ride later. Greeted at the door by the maid, The Leading Man said, "Let me see, miss." He took her gently by the elbow and had her lead him to Deselles, "Where's the missus?"
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 13, 2016 12:43:55 GMT
Howard looks at will, Fred, and June hands and see if there is any black powder. He then says " June the police are here. Why not tell me what you heard and saw, treat this as a rehearsal as the police will want a statement. Also Fred and will if you saw or heard something please chime in. " June nodded and got her emotions more under control, the notion of rehearsal having been drilled into her head by years of professionalism. "I was just going to Sid's room to see if he'd drafted our list yet -- what songs we were gonna do tonight. He likes to vary things up, you know, for the repeat customers. Only...when I get there, his head is on his dressing room table and there's so much blood. And a gun in his hand..." June started to lose it again, but Will had found a fresh handkerchief and handed it over for her to sob in. Unbidden, Fred picked up the narrative. "We all heard the shot, but no one recognized it for what it was. I could even tell it came from the direction of Sid's room, but I just through he'd dropped something heavy in there." "Not me," Will said, "I thought it was a car backfiring outside. It sounded too distant." "And that was about three minutes before June passed us on her way to Sid's room....Hey, what are you looking at my hands for?" he asked, suddenly upset by the idea. Howard had noticed no powder residue on any of their hands. From here, Howard could hear voices of strangers -- undoubtedly the police -- coming from Sid's room across the hall.
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 13, 2016 13:23:46 GMT
Rick Murphy walked to the office of the bird who ran this joint. Since he was here to guard the station it made since to ask the head honcho if there was anything suspicious going on. It was not hard for Rick to find the Stationmaster's office. The Stationmaster, Edwin Bermacki, was immediately impressed by Rick's credentials, practically jumped out of his chair, and came around his desk to shake Rick's hand. "Thank you for coming, Captain Murphy. I'm really surprised, but grateful, that someone of your rank was sent to investigate here. You know, I tried to enlist myself; I was just 35 last year, but they turned me away because of my asthma..." Rick had to politely get Edwin back on subject. "Oh, of course, why you're here. Please, have a seat." Edwin returned to his seat, leaned forward, and rested both hands on his immaculately organized desktop. "I have, like any good American, been diligent in watching for spy activity, and have had my staff doing the same. We believe there is a group of at least ten German sympathizers using the depot as a regular meeting place. They have been observed speaking in German -- that one by me personally -- and also referencing Hitler, and sharing photographs of locations in the Twin Cities with each other. My staff is equally diligent in monitoring them, and have learned two of their names from purchasing tickets -- Raymond Cline and Arnold Egger. The others only come for the meetings and don't buy tickets. I believe they use my depot because it is always crowded, so few would be suspicious of a crowd of people here, and because the depot has many exits. I'm afraid that's all the information I think I have. Unless you have further questions, I would be happy to take you on a tour of the depot. Perhaps we'll get lucky and spot one of them." (( SCM roll: 12))
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 13, 2016 14:23:27 GMT
Before he left the cab he told the cabbie, Andrew Torgsen, to wait for him. He might need a ride later. Greeted at the door by the maid, The Leading Man said, "Let me see, miss." He took her gently by the elbow and had her lead him to Deselles, "Where's the missus?" "Sure thing!" Andrew told The Leading Man. The maid let The Leading Man in. "She's not here," she sniffled. "Neither of them are here." The Leading Man tried to gently prod out of her why she thought Henri was dead if he wasn't there. "Well...it's like this, sir. I just have to tell someone, you see. Mrs. Deselles has been giving Mr. Deselles -- sleeping pills at night for a week now, or at least that's what she says. Only, she makes sure that I never see the pills, and got angry when I asked her about them. And last night, when Mr. Deselles didn't come home....I panicked right away, because he's never stayed out all night before unless it was a planned business trip. But Mrs. Deselles was cool as a cucumber about it. She said not to worry and that she'd be out shopping all morning. But I can't help but worry, can I?" (( SCM rolls: 10+2, 7+2))
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Post by theleadingman on Jun 13, 2016 15:07:47 GMT
"No, no, you can't help that. I'm an old friend of Henri's, from back in Europe. Why don't you let me have a look around and I will see if I can track him down."
The Leading Man gave the maid a gentle smile and he headed in a likely direction for the missing man's office.
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