Alyssa

[kabukiman]

(Sounds of angry comment)

-Just appear young lady, ok?

[Mr. Handy]

[OOC: Is the angry comment coming from Jack, or from someone else in the room with him?]



"All right," says Alyssa. "Let me just make a couple of telephone calls and find out about the reward. Like I said, I'll see what I can do. I'll see you there, Jack. Goodbye." With that, she hangs up the phone. Then she calls Detective Harrigan. This whole thing sounds like a setup, she thinks, but I have to go in order to get the information. I certainly don't have to go alone, though. After I talk to the detective, I'll give Mr. Marmont a call.

[kabukiman]

OOC: It was from Jack. Everybody else is working in the room.

[Mr. Handy]

[OOC: I meant was there someone else with Jack? The comment came from him, so he could have been commenting to someone else with him or to himself. I assume Detective Harrigan was there when I called?]



"Hello, Detective Harrigan?" says Alyssa. "This is Miss Alyssa Valentine from the Arkham Advertiser. I've got a possible new lead on the robbers and I thought you'd like to know about it. I received a telephone call from a man who would only identify himself as 'Jack' asking if there was a reward for information about the robbers, and I think he knows something about them. Do you know if there is a reward and how much it is? He sounded like an old man, maybe sixty or seventy. He did seem very interested in the prospect of money, but I get the sense he has...other desires as well. Once he found out I was a woman - and a pretty one at that - well, I get the impression that he's a dirty old man. He wants me to meet him at the Benjamin Hotel. I can't pass up the chance to find out more, but I know better than to go there unescorted. A policeman in plainclothes would make a good escort, and Jack would never know he's a cop. You could accompany me yourself if you like - oh, unless they put that photo of you in the article, then he'd recognize you for sure." She checks her copy of the paper to see if the photograph she had taken of him was in it. "Anyway, he remarked that he'd know who I was since none of the others at the Benjamin Hotel are pretty. Since the robbers were ugly, that suggests that people from wherever they came from frequent the place, and perhaps even the robbers themselves have been staying there. Jack himself may be from the same place, or he could even be one of the robbers trying to sell out the other two for all I know. There's no honor among thieves, and it's not easy to split one dagger three ways, after all."

[kabukiman]

OOC: The coment was from Jack, and not from other's voice. And the photo of Detective Harrigan is in the newspaper.
- Well, it may be only someone trying to get easy money. Mr Percy didn't talk about any rewards, and since there wasn't a death or state property stealed, there isn't any oficial reward. Say, your journal, couldn't estabilish some reward by chance? Only of course if the informer is not one of the robbers. I will send a collegue, another detective, he may say he is a fellow journalist.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, Detective," says Alyssa. "Those were my thoughts exactly. Good idea about the Advertiser putting up its own reward! I'll have to ask my boss about that. First I'll call Mr. Marmont and let him know the latest, and ask if he wants to offer a reward. Perhaps he ought to come with me to the Benjamin Hotel. That way he can work out the details with Jack. If Jack is as old as he sounds it's doubtful he's one of the robbers, but that doesn't make him a nice person. Still, as long as he has useful information, that's what matters and I'd be happy to see him paid for it. He also wanted me to bring him a bottle, and it's obvious what sort of drink he wants in it. He got angry for a second when I mentioned the difficulties Prohibition presented, then he told me just to appear. I think he'll still be willing to talk to me, though. Some liquor might have helped loosen his tongue, but I can see that the police cannot condone that sort of thing. I hope this pans out. I'll be here at the Advertiser when the other detective arrives. It was nice speaking to you again, Detective Harrigan."

After she says her goodbyes, she calls Percy Marmont.

[kabukiman]

A man answers:
"Hello, How may I be of service?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Hello," says Alyssa. "This is Miss Alyssa Valentine from the Arkham Advertiser. Is Mr. Marmont in?"

[kabukiman]

You hear some voices speaking and then:
"Hello, this is Marmont".

[Mr. Handy]

"Hello, Mr. Marmont," says Alyssa. "This is Miss Alyssa Valentine from the Arkham Advertiser. I may have a lead on the robbers who broke into your shop and home. An elderly-sounding man who would identify himself only as 'Jack' just telephoned me and asked if there is a reward, and I have reason to believe he may have important information. Are you prepared to offer a reward? If there is, I can let him know and he may be more forthcoming. I'm going to go meet him at the Benjamin Hotel shortly. I already have an escort, but you'd be most welcome to come along with us as well and work out the details of any reward with this man personally."

[kabukiman]

The man listen you, and seem to leave the phone.

[Mr. Handy]

"Hello?" says Alyssa. "Mr. Marmont, are you still there?" She waits for him to return.

[kabukiman]

Long wait.

[welsh]

OC- I don't think Kabuki would mind this intervention as its cut and paste from the Marmount thread. IN fact it might be a good idea if you post to the Marmount thread. But if you like I can cut and paste back and forth.

IC- "Oh yes of course" says Percy, returning to the phone.

"Miss Valentine? myself and a few....er, associates will meet you in the Benjamin Hotel in about forty five minutes. Would that be okay?"

[Mr. Handy]

[OOC: Thanks, I had been wondering if that would be all right. I'll go ahead and post in both threads.]



"That would be swell, thanks," says Alyssa. "The address is 240 West Main Street, not far from the docks. I certainly feel a lot better with more people there. Jack had mentioned that he'd like me to bring a bottle, and it's rather obvious he wanted alcohol in it. However, a policeman in plainclothes is going to be coming with us. I'm not sure who he is yet, so I don't know if he'd be willing to look the other way."

[Mr. Handy]

[OOC: I'm guessing the phone call is over?]



Once Alyssa gets off the phone with Percy, she goes to see Mr. Haynes. "Boss, I've got a new lead on the robbery," she says, unable to hide her excitement. "An anonymous source who would only identify himself as Jack called to ask if there's a reward for information about the robbers, and I believe he knows something about them. He wants me to meet him at the Benjamin Hotel. I already notified Detective Harrigan, and he's sending a plainclothes police detective here to escort me, posing as another journalist. I also called Mr. Marmont to ask about a reward, and he and some of his associates will meet me at the hotel so they can negotiate the reward directly. It might also be a good idea for the Advertiser to offer a reward as well. Perhaps the paper can match whatever reward Mr. Marmont and his friends put up? That would be good publicity and could lead to increased circulation too."

[kabukiman]

-That would be fantastic! I'm already seeing the extra: "Advertiser solves mistery". Or "Advertiser helps the police in the fight against crime!".
But he get's suddenly serious and says:
-But Alyssa, you must promiss me, that you will leave all the danger for the police. Even if it is important, it doesn't worth the risk of getting a bullet, ok? With the reward, as long it is reasonable, i don't mind to give some money, it will be a good publicity.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'll be careful, I promise," says Alyssa. "Of course I'll leave the danger to the police - that's why they're coming. Thank you for your concern, Boss. Yes, this will be a great opportunity for the Advertiser. Up to what amount will the paper match Mr. Marmont's reward?" She smiles, thrilled at the prospect of helping to solve the crime and pleased that her boss cares so much about her safety.

[kabukiman]

- Well, 15 dollars seems a good reward for an information, don't you think soo?

[Mr. Handy]

"That sounds about right," says Alyssa. "Fifteen dollars, maybe twenty. This Jack is keen for money, and perhaps moreso for a pretty face. He sounded like he was an old man, maybe sixty or seventy. Beyond that I can't tell much more about him, but I think he'll be willing to tell what he knows. Mr. Marmont and company will be at the Benjamin Hotel in about forty minutes, so there should still be plenty of time to get there once the detective arrives."