Part 1A - The Cad - Sara

[SunlessNick]

"Well... a certain force behind her eyes... the sign of a keen mind... a spark in her soul that says she is meant for more than menial work, were the staid rules of society not holding her back."

[Mr. Handy]

"You sound like you're describing me," says Sara.

[SunlessNick]

"Perhaps I am at that," he says. "So, what do you say? Are you ready to break some horizons?"

OOC,Psychology 60. Rolled 36.

Apart from his obvious sleaze, you also have the impression he's been gauging you, and has come to a decision of some sort.

[Mr. Handy]

"What do I need to do?" asks Sara.

[SunlessNick]

He hands you a card. "Just come to my house tomorrow evening. You shall be my guest at a club even more exclusive than this."

[Mr. Handy]

"What time?" asks Sara, reading the card.

[SunlessNick]

"Seven O'Clock?" he suggests. "That will give each of us a chance to eat after our days' business. It was a delight to meet you."

He takes the two champagnes and returns to Elsa, never once having asked your name.

[Mr. Handy]

Sara puts the card away after she finishes reading it and continues working. Her plan is to contact Carol Osborne and let her know what happened, then have her arrange for Elsa Hauser to be outside Austin Kittrell's house before 7:00 tomorrow evening so that she can see him let Sara into his house.

[SunlessNick]

The rest of the evening passes without too much more incident, though your feet ache like hell once the function is over.

The following morning you're able to reach Carol, and she agrees to your plan, vowing to knock Elsa out and carry her there if need be.

Then it's a regular day at the office. Oscar is finishing up a couple of cases - not all that different from yours, just with clients he thinks are worth working for - and has you file reports for them. He doesn't have anything he needs you to run down for him, which leaves you plenty of time to plan how you want to handle things once you're inside Kittrell's house.

[Mr. Handy]

"Once Elsa sees me go inside, that should be enough to convince her," says Sara to Carol. "All I need to do then is get out of there. I may need your help. Elsa may be angry enough to pound on Austin's door, especially if you prompt her to, but I can't count on that. I can try making an excuse and feign a headache, but I'll also bring a whistle and a pocket knife in case he doesn't take no for an answer, and I can scream my head off too. I may also need you to convince Elsa of what I'm doing, in case she gets jealous. I can bring my camera too, in my purse. I may need to photograph evidence if something happens."

[SunlessNick]

Carol rubs a hand over her mouth. "I was so caught up in thinking about Elsa, I had considered what an awful risk you'd be taking. I'll make sure my brother comes with us too."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Sara. "That's definitely a good idea."

[SunlessNick]

The clock rolls inexorably around toward seven. The house is in McKinnon in the south east of the city. It's large and detached, with an extensive but well kept garden. The walls are faced in a mid-brown plaster.

Carol and Elsa will presumably secrete themselves somewhere opposite Kittrell's house, along with Carol's brother.

All that remains is to ring the doorbell.

Feet sound in the hallway.

Kittrell opens the door - he's wearing a sharp suit, American in cut. "Ah, excellent. I was in two minds whether you would come. Do come in."

[Mr. Handy]

Sara took a thorough but surreptitious look around on her way to the front door to make sure that the others were in place. Provided they are, Sara steps inside and says "Thank you. I was expecting a servant might open the door."

[SunlessNick]

OOC,Does that roll mean you rolled a 1 or an 8? I can't really tell. Either way it's success enough to tell that the others are in place.

"There are no masters or servants tonight," Kittrell says, leading you through into a lounge and indicates a tray of drinks. "What can I get you?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I won't be having anything," says Sara, putting a hand to her forehead. "I'm afraid I have the most dreadful headache. I wouldn't have come at all tonight, but I felt I should at least let you know and arrange for a rain check when I'm feeling better."

OOC, I rolled an 8. The 1 is there to indicate success. When you roll on Orokos, you can use 1d100u## to let it know the target number you need to get equal to or lower than in order to succeed. A failure, over the number, would give a result of 0.

[SunlessNick]

"What a terrible shame. I am grateful that you would take the time to tell me in person. Perhaps a glass of water before you go?"

OOC,Unexplained 1D100 roll: 27.

Water sounds pretty good.

[Mr. Handy]

"No thank you," says Sara, resisting her thirst out of concern that Austin may have slipped a Mickey Finn into his drinks. "I really should be going. Another time."

[SunlessNick]

"Then take a seat while I call you a cab, I insist."

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh, I told the cabbie to wait," says Sara. "I knew I wouldn't be staying long. In fact, he's going to be wondering what's keeping me if I don't come out soon, and the meter's running."