Track 7:San Francisco-Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair

[jp1885]

Tony mulls over Liz's suggestion.

"Perhaps we should check this place over first, just in case they've already been kidnapped like Mo was. A quick scout around won't hurt before running off to Palo Alto."

Before decidng which building to check first, he strolls along, studying the dusty ground for any fresh tyre marks that might indicate recent vehicle activity.

[Mr. Handy]

"All right, let's look around," says Liz, also looking for signs of anyone's recent presence.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

There are, of course, the tracks left by the Rolls itself. Other than that, the windy conditions common in this part of the world have left no obvious signs of recent activity.

The sun has sunk low while all of this mess was being cleared up, which will add to the difficulty of searching the place.

Taking the opportunity of making an escape while the investigators are looking around, the driver runs to the back of the drive-in, near the screen, hops the low fence that serves as a border for the place, and takes off into the surrounding scrub land.

With her artistic talent and superhuman memory, Zara is able to produce a quick sketch of the drive-in on a scrap of paper, apparently an exact copy of a newspaper article she saw for a fraction of a second a decade ago. (Apparently this part of Highway 28 was known as Ingham Road back then, and the surrounding area, now a suburb of San Jose, as Townsville.)

[jp1885]

Working on the theory that even kidnap victims need to eat, Tony opts to investigate the kitchen first. He proceeds carefully, holding his stick ready for any action.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz checks the projection booth, which is an isolated place where someone could be kept discreetly and also has a good vantage point. She has her mace tucked into the palm of her hand.

[SunlessNick]

Zara takes the manager's office, figuring that it's likely to have a lock.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Working on the theory that even kidnap victims need to eat, Tony opts to investigate the kitchen first. He proceeds carefully, holding his stick ready for any action.

Spoiler:

wis = 11[dice]0[/dice]

The place is uninhabited, except for a few cockroaches and mice. This is evidence that scraps of food were left out a while ago, and indeed there are a few bits of hot dogs turning green with mold, old stains of what might have been root beer and cola, and a few scattered popcorn kernels. What might be of more interest is the fact that there is a large kitchen knife on the floor, almost completely covered with a dark reddish-brown stain. Why would a drive-in snack bar need such a thing, unless it were to slice pizza?

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Liz checks the projection booth, which is an isolated place where someone could be kept discreetly and also has a good vantage point. She has her mace tucked into the palm of her hand.

Spoiler:

WIS = 10 + 1 DISCOVER SECRETS + 3 GOOD EYES = 14[dice]0[/dice]

Despite looking carefully among the many canisters of film stored in this room, there does not seem to be anything particularly interesting around (unless you're looking for a copy of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.)

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Zara takes the manager's office, figuring that it's likely to have a lock.

Spoiler:

wis = 11 + 1 perception[dice]0[/dice]

The place doesn't contain much except ledgers dealing with the drive-in's profits and such. There's an unopened bottle of Tennessee whiskey, which may be a lucky find, but doesn't seem relevant to the mystery.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

By this time the sun is well below the horizon, making investigating other areas difficult, since it's obvious that the electricity was cut off for the winter season, when the drive-in is closed. The investigators may which to continue down Highway 28 to Palo Alto, or to take their chances and do some more exploring in the dark. (Flashlights help a little bit, but not as much as good old-fashioned sunlight.)

[SunlessNick]

http://m.epcdn.net/member_ups/d37/k6z86z4zrm.jpg

Zara suggests the gang keep looking until they've checked the whole place - "This Tony's on foot a long way out of town - he's not kidnapping anyone for a bit."

[jp1885]

“Capital idea,” Tony Concurs.

Carefully wrapping the knife up for future inspection, he cautiously heads into the dine-in.

[Starspawn338]

Lew will wander up to the playground and screen area to see if there's anything interesting there.

[Mr. Handy]

Having already seen "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," Liz leaves the projection booth and checks the ticket booth, also a good place to lock up someone.

[SunlessNick]

Muttering darkly to herself, Zara realises that this has left her with the toilets. She goes to check them.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“Capital idea,” Tony Concurs.

Carefully wrapping the knife up for future inspection, he cautiously heads into the dine-in.

Spoiler:

wis = 11 but -2 for darkness with flashlight only = 9[dice]0[/dice]

There does not appear to be anything of interest here. The place is quite tidy, in fact, compared to the kitchen.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lew will wander up to the playground and screen area to see if there's anything interesting there.

Spoiler:

WIS = 10 - 3 for nearsighted and - 2 for darkness with flashlight only = 5[dice]0[/dice]

Given his less than perfect eyesight and the darkness of a moonless, cloudy night, it's not terribly surprising that Lew finds nothing interesting in these areas.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Having already seen "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," Liz leaves the projection booth and checks the ticket booth, also a good place to lock up someone.

Spoiler:

previous WIS of 14 but - 2 for darkness with flashlight only = 12[dice]0[/dice]

In the cash register, hidden below the till, is a one hundred dollar bill, folded into the shape of an origami crane. Written in pencil, in tiny but very precise letters is a message, just above Benjamin Franklin's head.

bird paid and flown cash sweeter than food

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Muttering darkly to herself, Zara realises that this has left her with the toilets. She goes to check them.

Spoiler:

wis = 12 as before but - 2 for darkness with flashlight only = 10[dice]0[/dice]

The only thing remarkable is that both rooms are very clean.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

By this time it is quite late. The investigators need to decide whether to check in at the nearest motel, just a few miles ahead, or head into Palo Alto, or possibly all the way to the City by the Bay. (Mo, snoring loudly, does not offer any suggestions.) They also need to decide if they want somebody to drive the Rolls, or just leave it where it is.