Sam Spaid Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 August 22, morning "Come on Chuck, you can't be serious. No information at all? A con artist swindling people with cheap trinket jewelry and you guys know nothing?" Sam wasn't sure if he was feeding her a load of shit, or if a guy using methods so sloppy really had somehow gone under the radar. "Listen, Samantha," he said, almost apologetically. "We have no information, nothing at all, if this guy exists he's new in town or keeps a really low profile. Probably the former if he's as clumsy as you suggest." Sam sighed and pinched her nose, "I'm looking at the ring my client said he conned her friend into buying, it's garbage, I don't know how he managed to pull a con with something that a child wouldn't fancy, but however he did it, it wasn't clumsy." Sam had to admit that anybody who could pawn off the little trinket on her desk as a valuable piece of jewelry had to be pretty skilled. She just couldn't figure out why they would make the evidence of their crime so painfully obvious. "Well, then he keeps a low profile. Sorry I can't help you out more but I can't tell you what I don't know." "It's OK, thanks Chuck, I owe you a beer." "I'll take dinner and a movie instead, my treat," he said, almost hopefully. Sam smiled, into the phone, "Sorry, you know I don't date cops." "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Anytime you change your mind Sam, just call me." "Sure, Chuck. And thanks for the information, or lack thereof. Bye." Sam flipped her phone closed and cursed softly. She'd called around to a handful of guys she knew had their eyes and ears open on the streets and none of them knew anything. In an hour's work of calls she'd verified only the possibility that this man was either new to the city or kept a low profile. The former seemed most likely based on the evidence at hand. There was little point in making more phone calls, she needed to get her feet to the street and pound pavement. She opened her desk and pulled out a lockbox that opened with a combination and a small key. Inside was several hundred dollars in ten and twenty dollar bills, with a few fifties and hundreds; graft money. She grabbed three hundred, and then locked the box and returned it to the deck, locking it as well. She knew the places to go, the people who's palms could be greased for information. She checked her weapon, and then locked up and left, getting into her car to make the rounds to the dive bars and street hustlers were the right money got you information with little questions asked. An hour turned to two, and two turned into four; the morning shifted to afternoon as she made her rounds. The later in the day it got the smaller the wad of extra bills in the pocket of her jeans got, and for all her efforts the list of facts about this Jeremy character was as short as it had been in the morning. Frustrated Sam pulled her car up to the curb and got out, slamming the door a little harder than was needed. The little car rocked slightly as Sam looked up the street. A man, slight and thin, was standing at a small folding table, with various odds and ends displayed upon it, ostensibly for sale. Sam fingered the last forty bucks she had in her pocket, wincing at the thinness of the bundle of bills. Expenses were paid by the client, but even with her rates reduced her fees would tax August and her friends to the limits of their modest student incomes. She approached Ricky casually, at a strolling pace, no need to spook the twitchy little snitch. He watched her with dark shifting eyes, glancing all around to make sure she was alone; that they were alone. "Hey Sam, sexy as always. Pretty lady like you need some pretty jewelry?" "Flattery will get you nowhere Ricky," Sam said with a smile. Flattery might not get him anywhere but Sam didn't mind being called sexy or pretty ever. "Besides I already have some crappy jewelry, I was hoping you could tell me who made it." Sam produced the ring from he pocket, the sixty dollars was rolled up inside the loop of the ring. He took it and before she could blink the money was gone, palmed off and away. He studied the cheap ring for a moment and then looked at Sam, and then the ring again. "My friend said that her man bought that from a guy named Jeremy. Apparently he was pretty slick, got good cash for that trinket. My friend's boyfriend went missing and I'm trying to track this Jeremy guys down to ask him some questions." Ricky handed the ring back and rolled his shoulders, looking this way and that, before he spoke. "You ain't heard it from me right?" "Ricky, how long have I known you? You ever catch heat off me?" Sam scowled, "Let me rephrase that you little perv, you ever get in trouble because of me?" "No," he sounded almost sullen, he probably resented being called a perv despite it being entirely true. "Look for him in Tuna Canyon Park.... southwest of the Topangas. He hangs there, looks for marks." Sam smiled brightly, Finally! "Thanks Ricky, I owe you a little something extra next time!" She was already headed toward her car, the cheap ring clutched in her hand tightly; things were looking up. "You always say that Sam!" Ricky called. As he watched her go he leered, "Sorry to see you leave, but always happy to watch you go girl." A little info. First roll: Manipulation + Persuasion = 6 dice -2 (scarce info.) Police contacts Second Roll: Manipulation + Persuasion = 6 dice -2 (scarce info.) Underworld contacts 4d10.hitsopen(8,10)=0, 4d10.hitsopen(8,10)=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Frustrating past few weeks, eh? Well, Jeremy certainly was walking on the trail for now... letting nature sooth him with the song of life. One could forget the party and the swindling issues and just about anything. Once he got a bit deeper into the woods- he made a left turn, and stopped by an oak. To sink his talons into the branches, keep a week off flying free. Why not? What could stop him from that? Then he stopped and turned his head as a another woman came from over the trail. And from the way she glanced at him- she had been looking for him. Jeremy didn't know it, but things were about to go downhill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Spaid Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 An hour to get there. Sam was fortunate to be headed away from the city in that regard. Getting to the park however she quailed; the place was huge, she could spend hours and not cover the whole park, and worse it was large enough that while searching in one area her quarry could be in another and escape her notice. Sighing she decided to find the parking lot with the most cars and start there; it was a good a method as any. An hour later, Sam was slapping at bugs and stumbling over a rough path when she found herself starting at a dark man standing by an oak. Shaggy black hair; check. Dark eyes that bordered on black; check. A little on the short side; check. Shifty looking? Sam realized she had stopped and was staring. She blinked, and realized he was staring back. Yeah, he's a little shifty lookin', she mused. "Umm ... Hi. I, uh," she laughed, affecting a nervous titter. "I kinda got myself turned around and I can't find the parking lot. Can you help me?" She hoped she looked the part. An hour of hiking around in the woods on a hot August day and Sam figured that any residual sexy had been replaced by tired and harried looking. She slapped at another mosquito, These don't hurt the disguise either. Lying! Manipulation + Subterfuge 5d10.hitsopen(8,10)=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Unfortunately, a good con-man knows when people are lying, unless of course, they are better con artists. And the raven's knack didn't hurt either. Jeremy identified the severe affectation of nervousness, an excuse. She was looking for him, he knew- though the long hike and mosquito biting certainly had occurred. But rather than leave any indication of his awareness he smiled politely and pointed down the way Sam had came. "Go back there, turn right at the green-marked tree, and follow that route, takes you straight to the parking lot." With any luck, she'd go back there, at least far enough that he could turn into raven form and then disappear... though he wondered who she was and why she was looking for him. Leave that to the Professionals! Wits+Subterfuge+Truth Sense Jeremy *rolls* 7d10: 2+10+2+4+3+8+9 Jeremy *rolls* 1d10: 9: 9 4 sux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Spaid Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Sam looked back down the path behind her, the parking lot was well out of sight from here, and a good ten minutes walk at least. "I ... umm," she turned back to the man, "I just came from that way. I didn't see anything. I don't suppose ... could you ... would you mind showing me the way back?" She offered him her best winning smile, tinged with doubt and worry, which were genuine, this was not the kind of work she was used to. "I would be grateful to you, I really don't want to get lost again for another couple of hours." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Jeremy was a little irritated inside, but decided to take the woman up on her game. He could find out what she wanted and then leave once she was escorted down to the parking lot. That would work well enough. His intuition could be wrong, though that was not a certainty. "Follow me." He said with the same polite smile still on his face, and took Sam down the path he had specified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Spaid Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Sam smiled, relieved that he came around. "Thank you so much ... umm," she stuck her hand out, "Samantha, you?" "Jay," he replied, monosyllabic. If his replies got more curt she would need to play hangman to figure out his replies to her inquiries. Sam hesitated as he took her offered hand and shook it. She doubted very much that his name was Jay. Not the least of which because we was growing more convinced that this was the man she was looking for. "Thanks!" she said brightly, recovering quickly. Sam bit her lip, and then looked at the path, "After you." She fell into step beside the man, on his right where her gun arm would be harder to bind. A plan quickly formed in her mind. Not a good plan, but then Sam hadn't really thought this far ahead, she usually just went and found what she needed, and flushing out hidden information was a skill that had atrophied some. After a moment of quiet, the only sound their footsteps in the forest floor clutter as they walked down the sun dappled path, Sam asked, "I don't really want to impose but do you mind if I ask you a question?" She didn't bother to wait for an actual answer, it was merely an icebreaking question. "I'm looking for somebody. My brother Brad. He comes here sometimes and I haven't been able to get a hold of him in a couple of weeks." She watched him for a reaction, her eyes feigning a hopeful expression. She continued, giving a rough description, the same that August had given her, "Brad Tolliver. You don't happen to know him do you?" Lies not to be believed [Jeremy] 8:01 pm: Manipulation + Subterfuge + Lies Specialty for Jeremy Jeremy *rolls* 7d10: 8+6+1+6+9+1+3: 34 [jameson] 8:01 pm: Mapip + Subterfuge to detect for Sam jameson *rolls* 5d10: 6+5+5+10+7: 33 jameson *rolls* 1d10: 10: 10 jameson *rolls* 1d10: 7: 7 [Jeremy] 8:02 pm: isn't it wits + sub? [jameson] 8:02 pm: push [jameson] 8:02 pm: same number of dice [Jeremy] 8:02 pm: push? 0 net sux, fail for the lie Sam's lies to Jer [jameson] 8:18 pm: Manip + Sub to lie jameson *rolls* 5d10: 2+9+7+6+8: 32 2 sux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Jeremy kept on walking, even though he realized that this was something related to the old swindle two weeks back. Had something happened to the idiot student and August probably- considered him to blame? This was probably some private detective after all. So he did the best thing he could. Focusing his raven aura to enhance his canny words, Jeremy shook his head as if the description was unfamiliar to him. "Sorry, haven't met anyone with that name or description. Hope he's alright." You Can't Handle the Raven! [Jeremy] 8:21 pm: right doing some rolling. Starting with Wits+Subterfuge+Truth Sense Jeremy *rolls* 7d10: 5+1+5+2+8+9+10: 40 Jeremy *rolls* 1d10: 5: 5 3 sux is enough to resist Ok, Manipulation + Subterfuge + Lies Specialty + Activating Feral Heart Jeremy *rolls* 9d10: 9+6+2+8+9+5+5+1+3 3 sux. Sam's resistance: jameson *rolls* 5d10: 5+6+3+4+7 0 sux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Spaid Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Huh, Sam thought, That's either the truth or the best lie I've heard in a while. She frowned and then nodded, "OK, thank you. I had to ask. It's been a couple weeks now since either his girlfriend or his roommate has seen him. The police say that after this long it doesn't look good, and I don't think I can believe that he would just up and walk away from everything, his friends and his family. The police say he could be dead." Sam kept a close eye on him as she said the last, gauging him for his reaction, if any. She was surprised when he did react, and not as expected. There was no flash of guilt, no sudden flare of anger or worry as his deed was laid before him. Instead there was the briefest flash of shock and surprise. Whatever he was lying about, whatever his connection, or lack thereof, to Brad, he was not expecting to have somebody tell him that he might be dead. "I'm sorry to hear that," he replied levelly, his words measured, weighed, and metered out. He pointed down the path, "The parking lot is right there, you can see that cars now." "Oh! Oh, thank you. Thank you Jay," she said. She continued to walk toward the light reflecting off the cars, the hot black asphalt, and the next part of her investigation. She stopped halfway and turned back, and saw him watching her. Sam wanted to call bullshit on the lies she knew he had told, to find out what information he really did know about Brad, but she was alone, in the woods, with a man she didn't know. She couldn't afford the risk in case he proved dangerous when pushed. Sam waved, and then continued on to the parking lot. He was convincing but she was certain he was the Jeremy that August had told her about. She was just as convinced that he was not party to Brad's disappearance, and for now that was good enough. [jameson] 8:50 pm: Wits + Empathy for Sam jameson *rolls* 5d10: 3+8+9+9+6: 35 [jameson] 8:50 pm: [Jeremy] 8:51 pm: using a WP on this one Jeremy *rolls* 9d10: 2+7+3+2+9+4+8+7+2: 44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Jeremy turned about as she left and then walked back into the woods a fair distance. Once he was sure she wouldn't be coming back, he leaned on a nearby elm, immersed in irritation that he wouldn't be having his getaway in the forest primeval as planned. The detective- that he was sure, was only the beginning. If Tolliver was dead, or missing, it was clear that August regarded him as responsible. He didn't want any police snooping or other annoyances creeping into his work. If nothing else, it meant being able to find the proof that someone else was responsible. He ended up turning around and walking for the parking lot. He knew people, a necessary part of being successful, and it was time to call in some favors and offer rewards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Spaid Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Sam opened her car up, rolling the windows down and getting the blowers on high to try and drive out the stagnant hot air within. She stood next to the car, the driver's side door open and considered what to do next. Trying to shadow the con-man was going to be less than useless unless he decided to leave right then and there, and even then he would likely notice her following him out. She sighed and realized that the best bet was to go to the UCLA campus and ask around. That would maybe get her something useful while she waited for August to get her a photograph to work with. A photograph which would make asking people on campus easier, she mused. She got into her can and drove off. Call the client, get the photo, ask around campus. If that turned up nothing she'd resort to the fast method, which hopefully wouldn't lead her to a crime scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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