Statement 4: Back to School

[Philulhu]

Des’ didn’t say anything. She just looked at Jordan, then reached out tapped the erased figure in the drawing.

[Mr. Handy]

Jordan nods, having noticed it too. "I'm a civilian consultant," he says, "so I'll let the police do the talking, but nobody here is in trouble. We just want to interview a potential witness."

[Trivun]

Izzy nods at Jordan's words, glancing at the deputy headmistress.

"That's right. DC Izzy Cooper, seconded to the Dyfed-Powys Police to help with the search for our missing Councilor Short. We understand your lollipop lady, Mrs. Evans, may have seen something and just wanted to speak to her to find out what she witnessed at the site of his disappearance?"

She keeps her best 'talking to the public' voice and expression, but Izzy's notice can't help being drawn to the pictures on the wall, and more specifically, the impression of the images that were present before. Rather grim subject matter for a primary school...

"Were these done by the kids here? Impressive work, I assume it's about the history of the town?"

[Snapper]

"Sounds proper lovely, ladies. Lead on. I do hope you will allow me to buy you all tea and the what's-its you mentioned."

"I can tell you about my lady vicar friend. Are you easily scandalised? Give me fair warning now and I'll tone down my chat."

"I'll just send my colleagues a message let them know where I will be." Skipper thumb typed a rapid-fire message to the team. "All done, time for tea and cakes."

[Philulhu]

Des glanced at her phone when Skipper’s message arrived. ”’e won’ be joinin’ us. ‘e’s pulled…” she smirked.

[BoyBlunder78]

Eli followed Des and Jordans prompt at the mural, muttering under his breath at how he could've possibly missed it. "Looks like the children may know about some of the murkier aspects of the towns history. "

[Mr. Handy]

Jordan raises an eyebrow when he sees Skipper's text. He's pretty sure that Izzy and Leo have Level 2 spells by now, and maybe Level 3. Isn't Fireball Level 3? It should be effective against the undead.

[SaintMeerkat]

DC Leo Dansby.jpg (16.73 KiB) Viewed 389 times

"DC Leo Dansby," Leo added, proffering his warrant card. "As my colleague said, no one is in any trouble. We were hoping she could help us with one of our enquiries."

Observation (60/30): 1d100

[jp1885]

Inside the school

"I'm glad no-one's in trouble at the school," admits Miss Driffield: her expression a mix of puzzlement and relief. "Yes some of the pupils can be a bit high-spirited at times, but we're lucky that they're normally very well-behaved. Quite unlike Councillor Short I hear - is it true he's run off to Spain or somewhere?"

Noticing your interest in the rubbed-out section of the mural, she gives an embarrassed laugh.

“Our mural was drawn by the children two years ago. The tribesmen are supposed to be Celtic warriors, and the man with the bible a Methodist preacher from the nineteen-hundreds - caused quite a scene right here in the old chapel apparently. Some of our more imaginative pupils got carried away I'm afraid. Sometimes Mrs. Evan likes to tell them tall tales.”

"She’s a lovely person and dedicated to her job, standing at the crossing in all weathers. She’s manned the crossing since before I started at the school five years ago. She's always welcome to pop into the staff room for a cup of tea and a biscuit."

Please make a Read Person roll.

Driffield's eyes seems to glaze over, unfocussed for a second, before reverting to normal.

----------------

Skipper - In the cafe

The cafe, or more precisely, the Cwmllyn Tea-Rooms, is a modest affair, but nonetheless bustling with lunchtime customers.

Some pop in from work to grab a generously-filled sandwich or baguette, while others are meeting up to gossip over a pot of tea and a slice of cake.

The three old dears settle at what is obviously their favourite table, affording them a good view of the street, Without conferring with you, they order a pot of tea and a few slices of bara brith ("with some for our bnew friend"), each slathered with butter.

"So what brings you to Cwmllyn?" they ask, in between mouthfuls. "Does your vicar friend live nearby?"

[Trivun]

Read Person: 60%

1d100

Izzy definitely catches the glazed over look as the deputy headmistress speaks. She thinks back to magical effects that could cause such a thing, in particular, use of the glamour... But who could have done that to her? Short himself... or whoever spirited him away at the crossing?

"Not Spain, as far as we're aware... that's what we're trying to find out, actually. Who saw him last, and where he might have gone."

It's true, to an extent... except the evidence points increasingly to him being sent away via dodgy black hole to the Underworld for his property-related crimes.

"Oh? What kind of tall tales? I used to love those kinds of stories when I was a kid, couldn't keep me away from the London Dungeon and the Clink when we went into town. The more macabre the history, the more interesting..."

Again, not exactly untrue. After all, Izzy had always been described as 'nice, but a bit weird' by her friends at school...

[Philulhu]

Read Person (60) 1d100

Des frowned at the headteacher’s reaction. Like something that Izzy had said had caused some sort of reaction. She’d seen a hypnotist on YouTube and he’d hypnotised someone so they started dancing every time they heard the word, ‘Hello’. It was like that, except more weird… …

[BoyBlunder78]

As the head teacher spoke Eli caught the odd look in her eyes, it reminded him of some of his students when they were reciting passages from books verbatim, word for word.

[Philulhu]

Studying Mrs Driffield carefully Des said, ”U’ve got ur lollipop lady tellin’ ur kids stories? Don’ u fink dat’s a bit odd?”

[Mr. Handy]

"We're not entirely sure where he's gone," says Jordan. "We're trying to find out."

Read Person (60% skill) about Miss Driffield:
d%

[Snapper]

Skipper munched on bara brith tea cake happily. "Well that is lovely. I remember I've had it before. When I was in the Navy, Welsh crew mates made it for us sometimes."

"To answer your question, right this minute I'm looking to take some proper good photos of your lovely village." He held his modern digital SLR camera up for the ladies as professional proof. "If you'll allow me, I'll be happy to take a few photos of the three of you together. I can email them to you or have them printed out."

He settled back to drink his tea for a moment. "So, I was not long ago in an English village called Nennington. Not as pretty as here but some locations worth photographing. One was the church. Turns out, the local vicar is this well fit lady, the Reverend Maureen Shipley, happy for me to take photos of her church. Definitely more fit than the Vicar of Dibley, much as I love the show."

"The Rev is a bit of a fan of a long black trench coat rather than your usual vicar threads. I reckon it makes her look a little bit goth. In fact, she's quite happy to wear it and no..." He stopped himself, turning a bit red. "Ah, I may have got carried away there. What's in this bara brith?" He looked at a cake slice suspiciously.

"In any event, the Rev is not opposed to my taking photos of her..." Skipper looked guilty again and stopped talking, but grinned at the ladies and really hoped they weren't easily offended.

I had to Google bara brith.

[jp1885]

Inside the School

Driffield considers your questions for a second.

"Mrs. Evans does like a good natter and knows a lot about the town's history. It's not surprising she tells the odd tale while she sees the children across the road. I guess the ones about the rioting and such excite more imagination - it's a sad fact of life that society's drawn to the violent movies rather than the nice ones I suppose. The more macabre, as you say."

"So what exactly can I do for you? The police have already interviewed everyone about Councillor Short - no-one saw anything. If you wait for the home-time bell in about three hours, you'll find Mrs. Evans at the crossing, so you can ask her these questions yourself."

-------------

In the Cafe

If the ladies are scandalised by the talk of your vicar friend, they do a good job of not showing it.

"Ah, it's all lady vicars and gay priests these days isn't it? Modern life and such. That's just how it is isn't it?"

"Aye, that it is. No point getting upset about it."

"So your just here to take photos of the town are you? Some kind of art project is it?"

[Mr. Handy]

"We were hoping to find her when she wasn't so busy," says Jordan. "Do you know where she is now? I'd also be interested in learning more about the town's history."

[Snapper]

Skipper shrugged affably. "All I can say is I'm very happy one particular lady vicar exists. And, of course as I said, the Vicar of Dibley was always good value. Bless Dawny French."

"To answer your question though, the hopefully half decent artistic photography is a hobby. Just something I do in my free time. I'm actually in town as a specialist support photographer and analyst for the Met coppers - the Old Bill - what got sent here to find this missing councillor. Whatsisname? Short?" He shows the ladies his Folly card. "I was a bit of a fan of 'The Bill' too, the earlier ones mind, before it went all soapy."

"I'd be grateful if you could keep that to yourselves, of course - my job not the telli show. Don't want everyone in the village charging me three times price for everything just cause I'm a civil servant." Skipper grinned at the ladies.

"Did you know of this Short, ladies? Not many seemed to like him. Or miss him much."

[SaintMeerkat]

DC Leo Dansby.jpg (16.73 KiB) Viewed 233 times

Leo listens intently, nodding. He also vicariously enjoys seeing space bullies and evil emperors get their comeuppance from the safety of a theatre seat or sofa. He blames his father.

"Yes, do you know her home address?" Leo chimed in. "I wouldn't want to interrupt her while she was trying to keep the little ones safe. That would really help us."

Read Person (60/30): 1d100

[jp1885]

Inside the School

Ms. Driffield frowns.

"Mrs. Evans' address? I don't think I know... it must be on the system though - the staff employee records."

There follows a brief discussion with the receptionist, and some puzzled shaking of heads on her computer.

"That's funny... She isn't listed... Hmm, well she's been been here ages, probably before we got computerised. Lovely lady isn’t she? Whenever we have a cake sale we always keep one for her.”

-----------------------------

In the Cafe

The trio of old ladies tut in unison at the mention of Councillor Short.

“I hope they put him away for good; always on the take that one. Still, they all are, aren’t they?”

“Him as much as anyone! With a wife as expensive as his, I’d do a runner too!”

“Well I’m glad he’s gone. You try getting planning permission around here without his say-so! Our Susan got her extension turned down five times!”