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Post by Orpheus Jack on Jun 13, 2016 17:18:04 GMT
"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). Andrew was glad that Joan had told her story first. He'd been so nervous at the start of the conversation, he was sure he'd have made a fool of himself if he'd had to do much talking. But he was feeling comfortable now, aside from a brief moment of embarrassment, he had nearly choked on his soda when Joan mentioned that Alan Ridges was mixed up with hoodlums. He'd remember that for later. For now, though, he had other priorities. Andrew related to Joan the story of his life so far. He told her about the years he spent sick, in and out of hospitals. He told her about his miraculous and sudden recovery (leaving out the part where the miracle in question was the spirit of his dead uncle joining with his body). He told her about wanting to join the army, to go over to Europe to fight the Nazis, but how the records regarding his illness had foiled that plan. "So for now I'm mostly just helping out my family as best I can. We do ok, but we've never had a lot of money. Probably on account of my medical bills." He then told her something he hadn't mentioned to anybody else yet, not even Jack. "I was thinking maybe I'd become a police officer."
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 13, 2016 18:41:27 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)) "Thank you but I don't want endanger a civilian. Perhaps one of your security guards could give me a tour?. Also I would like to use your phone, maybe call in those names you gave me to HQ." He then said after taking a drag off his cigarette. "Also where do they usually meet at the depot?"
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 13, 2016 18:44:14 GMT
"Can you provide me with some descriptions of these men"? He asked keeping in mind the mook he saw accosting the woman and teenager earlier.
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Post by dtspurrier on Jun 14, 2016 0:24:15 GMT
Howard comments " I thought I saw some make up or skin conditioner still on your hands sorry must be the light here. Anyway as a fan of police radio dramas thr officer always ask does anyone here have a personal grudge against did or does did have any enemies?"
(Ooc Scott is the ventriloquist here? If not then howard will also asks " where is the ventriloquist and his pet chimp?)
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 15, 2016 19:34:16 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. The maid seemed too distraught to interfere with The Leading Man making his way into the house. Moving from room to room, he soon found a study that seemed like it was being used as an office. He started to check through the desk first before the filing cabinet behind it. Henri had taken quite an interest in local theater since moving to the Minneapolis, particularly The Orpheum theater. There were press clippings on the desk for it and more paperwork about it in the top drawer. The middle drawer was full of photographs in long boxes. The early photographs looked to be from Europe, and most of them showed the same attractive woman in them. The bottom drawer had miscellaneous items like a flashlight, a box of paper tissues, and a case with a revolver in it. Before The Leading Man could investigate further, the maid came back. She had dried her eyes and collected herself. "I'm sorry," she said. "You're who again?"
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 15, 2016 19:55:24 GMT
Andrew related to Joan the story of his life so far. He told her about the years he spent sick, in and out of hospitals. He told her about his miraculous and sudden recovery (leaving out the part where the miracle in question was the spirit of his dead uncle joining with his body). He told her about wanting to join the army, to go over to Europe to fight the Nazis, but how the records regarding his illness had foiled that plan. "So for now I'm mostly just helping out my family as best I can. We do ok, but we've never had a lot of money. Probably on account of my medical bills." He then told her something he hadn't mentioned to anybody else yet, not even Jack. "I was thinking maybe I'd become a police officer." Joan listened intently to Andew's whole story. She looked sympathetic about his sick years, but nearly choked on her drink and then laughed out loud at Jack's confession. "To think, in one day I'd go from being with a man like Alan to having a Coke with someone who wants to be a police officer." Joan looked like she was concerned about offending Andrew after that. "I'm sorry. Look, I should be going. Thank you for the Coca-Cola, and the company. If you...ever want to talk again..." She fished a business card out of her small purse and wrote her name and number on the back. She slide it in front of Jack. "Call me." Picking it up and looking at the back of the card, Jack could see it was for The Minneapolis Artificial Limb Company.
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Post by theleadingman on Jun 15, 2016 20:52:52 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. The maid seemed too distraught to interfere with The Leading Man making his way into the house. Moving from room to room, he soon found a study that seemed like it was being used as an office. He started to check through the desk first before the filing cabinet behind it. Henri had taken quite an interest in local theater since moving to the Minneapolis, particularly The Orpheum theater. There were press clippings on the desk for it and more paperwork about it in the top drawer. The middle drawer was full of photographs in long boxes. The early photographs looked to be from Europe, and most of them showed the same attractive woman in them. The bottom drawer had miscellaneous items like a flashlight, a box of paper tissues, and a case with a revolver in it. Before The Leading Man could investigate further, the maid came back. She had dried her eyes and collected herself. "I'm sorry," she said. "You're who again?" "Liam Mortimer, miss," The Leading Man lied. "Old friend of Henri. Met when he was visiting Sheffordshire after the war. When did your mistress go out, again? I'd like to get to the bottom of your fears. Let's have a look at that medicine, huh?" The Leading Man made an "after you" gesture with his hat and then followed the maid.
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 15, 2016 20:56:44 GMT
"Thank you but I don't want endanger a civilian. Perhaps one of your security guards could give me a tour?. Also I would like to use your phone, maybe call in those names you gave me to HQ." He then said after taking a drag off his cigarette. "Also where do they usually meet at the depot?" "Can you provide me with some descriptions of these men"? He asked keeping in mind the mook he saw accosting the woman and teenager earlier. Edwin only paused a moment. "Of course. My phone is at your disposal," he said. "I'll find a security guard to take you around in the meanwhile." Long distance phone calls were a long, laborious, and expensive affair, but Rick was confident he could call the home office collect, and did not wish to leave the premises to send a faster telegram. A string of telephone receptionists were still connecting his call when Edwin came back into the room two minutes later with a security guard who looked to be in his mid-40s and overweight. "This is Daniel Holm," Edwin said. "He's my best security guard and has spotted the German sympathists the most number of times. Daniel, you'll wait here and take ...is it Agent Murphy or Captain Murphy? Captain Murphy on a tour of the depot." And with that, Edwin left. Seven minutes later, Captain Murphy was talking to someone in the Washington office. "Spell those names for me?" the secretary asked, making sure she had heard them right through the bad connection. "I'll have someone run a check with you. How would you like us to get back to you with the information?" After Rick told them, the secretary hung up and Daniel Holm was waiting for him. "I'd be happy to take you around, if you don't mind my limp," he said. "I was injured in the Great War. Got to sit out this one. Can you tell me if there's anything in particular you're looking for, or if you just want me to try to spot any of our suspects today?"
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 15, 2016 21:32:01 GMT
Howard comments " I thought I saw some make up or skin conditioner still on your hands sorry must be the light here. Anyway as a fan of police radio dramas thr officer always ask does anyone here have a personal grudge against did or does did have any enemies?" (Ooc Scott is the ventriloquist here? If not then howard will also asks " where is the ventriloquist and his pet chimp?) "Sid didn't have an enemy in the world!" June cried. "Everyone loved him!" Fred and Will stayed quiet, but gave Howard a look like they didn't believe that to be true. "What's going on in here?" someone said at the door. A slim man in his 50s, wearing a suit and hat, came into the room and looked around. "I'm Detective Larson. Is this the grieving fiance? Allow me to give you my condolences..." Larson said. He strode into the room and took June's hand. Howard noticed he was careful to examine the hand before touching it. There was no sign of Roscoe Ball and his chimp Billy, who had left the scene sometime after Howard went into Sid's room.
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Post by majorvictory on Jun 15, 2016 22:04:44 GMT
"Thank you but I don't want endanger a civilian. Perhaps one of your security guards could give me a tour?. Also I would like to use your phone, maybe call in those names you gave me to HQ." He then said after taking a drag off his cigarette. "Also where do they usually meet at the depot?" "Can you provide me with some descriptions of these men"? He asked keeping in mind the mook he saw accosting the woman and teenager earlier. Edwin only paused a moment. "Of course. My phone is at your disposal," he said. "I'll find a security guard to take you around in the meanwhile." Long distance phone calls were a long, laborious, and expensive affair, but Rick was confident he could call the home office collect, and did not wish to leave the premises to send a faster telegram. A string of telephone receptionists were still connecting his call when Edwin came back into the room two minutes later with a security guard who looked to be in his mid-40s and overweight. "This is Daniel Holm," Edwin said. "He's my best security guard and has spotted the German sympathists the most number of times. Daniel, you'll wait here and take ...is it Agent Murphy or Captain Murphy? Captain Murphy on a tour of the depot." And with that, Edwin left. Seven minutes later, Captain Murphy was talking to someone in the Washington office. "Spell those names for me?" the secretary asked, making sure she had heard them right through the bad connection. "I'll have someone run a check with you. How would you like us to get back to you with the information?" After Rick told them, the secretary hung up and Daniel Holm was waiting for him. "I'd be happy to take you around, if you don't mind my limp," he said. "I was injured in the Great War. Got to sit out this one. Can you tell me if there's anything in particular you're looking for, or if you just want me to try to spot any of our suspects today?" Murphy gave the description of the man earlier and also asked that he help spot the suspects. "Take me to the place that they tend meet up at too".
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Post by dtspurrier on Jun 16, 2016 5:39:43 GMT
Howard says " June again sorry for your loss. Detective I have some practicing some tricks to work on for the show you can find me downstairs. Come veronica the detective can handle this. " Howard and veronica leave the room.
Howard walks down the hall and says quietly " notice how only June said that Did did not have enemies. Anyway let's go see a man with a chimp and see if he saw anything."
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Post by Orpheus Jack on Jun 16, 2016 14:05:39 GMT
Joan listened intently to Andew's whole story. She looked sympathetic about his sick years, but nearly choked on her drink and then laughed out loud at Jack's confession. "To think, in one day I'd go from being with a man like Alan to having a Coke with someone who wants to be a police officer." Joan looked like she was concerned about offending Andrew after that. "I'm sorry. Look, I should be going. Thank you for the Coca-Cola, and the company. If you...ever want to talk again..." She fished a business card out of her small purse and wrote her name and number on the back. She slide it in front of Jack. "Call me." Picking it up and looking at the back of the card, Jack could see it was for The Minneapolis Artificial Limb Company. "I will," Andrew said, smiling. "Count on it." As Joan left, he looked at the card. It didn't have a person's name on it, just the company and a local address. Curious. Andrew started walking back over to the train station in a heck of a good mood. And then Jack came back. My own flesh and blood wants to be a copper. Ain't that something?"You got a problem with cops." More like cops tended to have a problem with me. They're not all bad though. Always a few fellas who know how to look the other way for the right price."That won't be me," Andrew said, determined. No? That's too bad. Your family could use the extra money."We'll manage." There's always that pile of cash buried out at my barn..."I told you no. That's not honest money." Have it your way kid. You might need it someday, though. I bet Joan's got expensive tastes."Lay off, Jack," Andrew said, weary from the back and forth. Alright, alright. I'm just giving you a hard time. You did good today, kid. You stood up to that mook and you got the girl. I'm proud of you."Thanks Jack, but we're not done yet," he said as they got back to the train station. "Lets take one last look for your friend." Andrew would work his way through crowd first, see if he could spot any of the guys from the wanted poster. If they didn't turn up, he'd start poking around a little behind the scenes. Check if any doors that seemed like they should be locked weren't. Keep an eye out for anyone going into employee areas that didn't look like they should be there.
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 18, 2016 1:22:42 GMT
"Liam Mortimer, miss," The Leading Man lied. "Old friend of Henri. Met when he was visiting Sheffordshire after the war. When did your mistress go out, again? I'd like to get to the bottom of your fears. Let's have a look at that medicine, huh?" The Leading Man made an "after you" gesture with his hat and then followed the maid. "My mistress, Mrs. Deselles, left an hour ago to shop. But her shopping trips, they are more like social calls. She probably will not be back until late. I've never seen the medicine up close. Mrs. Deselles either keeps it in her locked drawer, which I'm not supposed to go into, or keeps it on her, as I've never just found it lying about while cleaning." If The Leading Man suggested it, the maid was very hesitant about letting "Liam" go into Mrs. Deselles room.
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 18, 2016 1:37:14 GMT
Murphy gave the description of the man earlier and also asked that he help spot the suspects. "Take me to the place that they tend meet up at too". The security officer, Daniel, listened carefully to the description of the man who had harassed the girl in the depot and been stood up to by the younger man. "Hmm...no, no, he doesn't sound like one of the regulars to me, at any rate. I may have seen him talking to the regulars before, though. I'm not sure; I'd have to see him myself." They took a short tour and saw three places in the depot where the "regulars" usually met -- the east corner of the depot, which was right next to a newsstand; just to the left of the southeast entrance (nothing in particular was by it, other than the main entrance); and the west corner, by a maintenance door. "I've never seen them try to use that door," Daniel said, answering the obvious question. "That door is normally kept locked anyway. But it leads to a storage room that has stairs leading down to a utility room below the station. Oh -- I think that might be one of the regulars now..." Daniel said, indicating a short man in a wide-brimmed hat and trench coat. (( rolls: 4, 6, 2))
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Post by Adminenkainen on Jun 18, 2016 1:42:34 GMT
Howard says " June again sorry for your loss. Detective I have some practicing some tricks to work on for the show you can find me downstairs. Come veronica the detective can handle this. " Howard and veronica leave the room. Howard walks down the hall and says quietly " notice how only June said that Did did not have enemies. Anyway let's go see a man with a chimp and see if he saw anything." "I didn't notice," Veronica said. "I was talking to that nice detective." They were on their way to Roscoe Ball's dressing room when Al Keith shouted out "Twenty minutes to curtain call! Howard! Where are you? Oh, there you are!" Al came over to talk to him up close. "June isn't in any condition to go on first tonight. How about you? Can you wing 20 minutes more material on stage tonight, if I give you a second slot up front? Or do you want me to offer it to Will and Fred?"
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