IC -27 - Stakeout! - Everyone

[Philulhu]

”Fire service, please,” replied Kris, doing his best local accent. “There’s smoke coming from a house on Lancaster Road. It’s coming from around the back - I think the kitchen’s gone up!”

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn manages not to laugh, but she can't hide a smirk as she watches and waits for the fire brigade to arrive.

[Silver Priest]

Even Simon is greatly amused. He's hoping this move will finally knock Balfour off his game and they can capitalize on that.

[Mephistophilis]

It only takes a few minutes before a full size fire engine is rushing down Lancaster Road, lights flashing and sirens blazing. Grey and Adebayo have cleared off by this point and the engine parks up outside the house. A couple of firemen climb out and look at the plume of smoke. Then one gets back in the engine and turns off the siren but the lights are still flashing. As the two firemen begin to walk up the drive they suddenly stop, and seem to be talking to someone. It's difficult to make out who it is through the screen of high hedgerows.

Anyone going in for a closer look or are you going to let things play out?

[Silver Priest]

Simon curses under his breath. "I don't imagine they'll be let in." He stays put for now.

[Mr. Handy]

"Should I try to sneak closer to overhear while they're distracted?" asks Jocelyn. "Or is it not worth the risk? We can always ask the fire brigade what happened after they leave."

[Silver Priest]

"It would be nice to figure out what lies they're telling now," says Simon. "I suppose it depends on how confident you are that you can make it closer unseen. I don't think it's critical, however."

[Philulhu]

How dense are the hedgerows? Could we get closer without being seen?

Kris is beginning to think he should have brought one of those reversible jackets and a range of hats* so he could change his appearance at will.

*Not withstanding any damage it would do to his hair, obviously.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, it's probably not worth the risk," says Jocelyn. "I can probably remain undetected, but there's always a possibility that I'll be made. We'll talk to the fire brigade when they're no longer in sight of the house."

[Mephistophilis]

The hedgerow is tall and thick. I guess that means it would be relatively easy to get close and listen in. I'd say it is a Stealth roll with a bonus die to remain unseen and then a Listen roll to hear what's being said.

[Mr. Handy]

In that case, I think I should go for it, unless anyone else objects.

[Philulhu]

Kris’ stealth is 27 so he isn’t the most subtle… anyone else want to have a crack at it?

[Silver Priest]

Give it a try, Mr.Handy!

[Mr. Handy]

"Wish me luck," says Jocelyn, slipping out of the car. She approaches the hedgerow quietly, pretending to be just a curious passerby if anyone sees her. Nobody does, and she is able to hear everything.

Stealth roll (60% skill) to sneak up to the hedgerow:
d%
Bonus die:
1d10*10
Listen roll (56% skill) to overhear the conversation:
d%

[Mephistophilis]

It's Rev Balfour and two other men, presumably the firemen. They're having some kind of argument. 'Listen Sir, just let us take a look and make sure everything is okay. That's quite a lot of smoke you've got coming out of your back...'

'It is just a little bonfire,' interjects Balfour a little testily. 'This is private property and I can assure you that the fire is quite under control. Thank you for your assistance but it is not needed.'

'We're just doing our job Reverend. We had a call from a concerned member of the public about...'

Balfour snorts, 'I know about your concerned members of the public. They've been sitting outside my house all morning watching me. It is an absolute...'

'I don't know anything about that, we're just the fire brigade. If you could just...'

'My answer remains the same. No thank you. Now if you'll...'

'Do you want us to call the police and ask them to come and have a word with you?'

'Oh fine, fine, fine, fine...' shouts an exasperated Balfour. 'Follow me.'

There's some crunching footsteps and a few minutes later they return.

'Now that wasn't so hard was it?' 'Sorry for wasting your time Reverend Balfour. You have a nice day.' And the two firemen trudge back to the fire engine. Balfour walks to the end of his drive and looks at the spot where Grey and Adebayo were parked. He frowns then looks up and down the street without obviously taking any note of Kris's car. Jocelyn is safely pressed up against the bushes and isn't visible. He turns and walks back up the drive to the house and Jocelyn hears a door slam.

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn slips back into the car and reports what she observed. "He showed the fire brigade whatever it was he's burning," she says, "so it doesn't seem like he's destroying evidence. Maybe he's conducting some kind of ritual. He knew about the earlier surveillance, but he noticed that the other car is gone and didn't seem to see ours, so he may think it's been lifted."

[Philulhu]

”Where did Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub* go?” asked Kris. We wanted a quick word about what they’d seen.”

*The name of the firemen from the children’s TV series, Camberwick Green.

[Mr. Handy]

"Back to the fire engine," says Jocelyn. "I didn't want Balfour to see me when he looked outside, but it should be okay to go talk to them now."

[Silver Priest]

"I want to learn what he showed them," Simon nods. "What may be insignificant to them may be entirely different to those of us in the know. A shame the officers here did not pay attention to those who came to visit Balfour. If I had to hazard a guess, a child was among them. Chances are he's trying to sell a new family on the 'honour' of letting him sacrifice their kid."

[Philulhu]

Can we see the fire engine? Can we get there without being seen?