Play@YSDC

Ray says, "Hmmm. More than likely not, on second thought. It also might be difficult to track down any other members of the One True Church at this point. It might be best just to move on to attempting to get you, Julie, in contact with Elizabeth in preparation for your "joining" the cult. Unless I'm misremembering some other step we could take?"

OOC:   Also I don't believe I've ever been to a diner that serves beer, but I wish they did.

"No, I think we just need to make preparations for me to go inside," says Julie. "I should wear a wire so that you can hear everything that goes on. You can set up a listening post nearby, and if you hear me get into trouble, you can come help. We can also come up with a code word I can say if I need to let you know that I need help in case it's not obvious. I could also carry mace. Even if they found out I had it, it wouldn't arouse suspicion for a young woman to be carrying it in this day and age. The wire, on the other hand, would, but I think I'm safer with it. If they're searching me for a wire, I'm already in over my head."

The diner serves no alcohol, but the hash browns and the tuna sandwiches are very tasty.

The Investigators ponder the possible courses of action. One question remains: how to get the microphone, receiver, and related gear that Julie needs to infiltrate the cult?

Ray considers the group's next move while he eats. He wonders allowed if there would be a good electronics store nearby where they could go to pick up the gear they would need for the undercover mission. While he had some experience with using this sort of equipment, Nat had always more of a mind for that sort of thing.

"Is this the sort of stuff we can get at Radio Shack?" asks Julie.

Ray isn't sure about the technical side of the needed electronics, but he does have another idea.

Julie knows next to nothing about what they'll need.

OOC,Electrical Repair roll (10% base skill) about the electronics gear: [dice]0[/dice]

OOC,Nice roll, Cotton! I'm taking some liberties with legal terms and stuff, because I don't know much about 1970s US law, but I think what follows is sort of logical in the game world.

Ray might not know a thing about microphones and devices, but he is quite an expert in the legal issues and police procedures concerning such operations.

He knows at least three precedents when taping of a conversation was ruled legal (mostly due to the conversation being classified as non-private), and Ray is sure that he and his team can get away with basically spying on Cavendish.

And Ray has some insider information from the basements of the San Diego police. After wire taping operations, the techies are obliged to return and sign for all pieces of equipment. However, this is not always the case. Ray knows a guy who knows a guy who sells "surplus" recording devices, magnetic tape, microphones, transmitters... Getting in touch with him would require some time, and would delay the Investigators' departure until early morning.

ooc,Just realised my last post didn't upload on Tuesday, so sorry.

Electrical,(50%) roll: 11

'I can get what we need from Radio Shack - that's a great idea." Nat beams at Julie. "Look, I didn't find out anything at the library as it was shut; but I did hear sommat about Kane Springs. Seems that as a holiday destination it's really taken a dive. Something to do with the seawater going too saline. Oh and the fish dying. But we could go as poor tourists; I got us a ride so we can fit right in." He points to a battered and tired-looking jeep parked outside.

Nat knows how to make a wiretap from commercially available materials.

The Investigators have a choice:
1. wait for Ray's contacts to sell them a high quality, police issue wiretap; BUT only go to Kane Springs next morning,
2. or swing by the Radio Shack, get stuff for Nat's home-made device, and reach Kane Springs today.

"Thank you," says Julie. "I wouldn't know where to begin putting something like that together, of course. We could pick up the gear, and you could assemble it on the way to Kane Springs. I don't like leaving Elizabeth alone in that place a minute longer than we have to."

Ray says, "I understand how you feel Julie, but if we wait until tomorrow to leave I know a guy who can get us much better equipment. Trust me when I say that this sort of gear is the last thing you want malfunctioning in a situation like this." He then turns to Nat, "Good idea on that car, Nat. Anything too flashy and we'd stick out like a sore thumb. How does she run?"

"Oh, she's sound under the hood. Just won't win any beauty pagents. She's filled up with gas, the spare is almost bald but useable and I've got the papers here. If we can get the latest SNS wire from your guy, Ray, it'll be much smaller than anything I can devise and the range and battery power are much better too so it'll be worth the wait. You'd still better wear something loose to hide it though, Julie." Nat grins, "All those hours of scouring techy magazines as a teenager is really paying off!"

"Good thinking, Nat," says Julie. "When I play roller derby I wear something tight so that nobody can grab onto me as easily, but I have some loose, casual clothes. All right, we'll wait until tomorrow to get the better equipment. It wouldn't help either me or Elizabeth to have it fail or be discovered at the wrong time."

The Investigators make plans, finish their meals, and agree to leave for Kane Springs early in the next morning.

Ray makes a few calls and sets up a clandestine meeting with a shady police techie. Money exchanges hands (a big bite out of the Sandoval budget!), and Ray receives a microphone, batteries, and a receiver. The techie assures him that with this they will be able to listen in on Ray's cheating wife from a mile away (he is positive the whole cult problem is an elaborate cover story).

OOC,New topic for the next chapter coming tomorrow!

The story continues here: viewtopic.php?f=428&t=6361