kinda boran update with lotsa dialoguing coming right up
Before leaving Rosa's home, we can check sum new mail.
:reptilian conspiracy:
No idea how those files are supposed to help now, but I'm sure they will be Very Significant later.
Anyways, lets gtfo
My name is Rosangela Blackwell. I was told you'd be expecting me?
Is this about George?
That's right.
I still can't believe it. But here's the key. Twelfth floor, penthouse A.
Up and away!
Cool place, bro.
There's actually not much of interest in this apartment, except for some electronics performing telakoituminen on the cupboard to the right.
It's a tablet computer. Looks like it's still in the charging dock.
"Call Joe", "Call Michael", "Call Tomo". Only thing this game is missing is Kilroy was here.
Time to plunder the email!
Whoever this "Michael" is, he seems to know quite a lot.
"SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED!!!!" -> [perception] He seems to know a lot!!!
oooookie-dokie. He does seem to know a lot.
So this Michael has a source who knows about Bestowers. About me. This is starting to get personal.
gg
Leaving the apartment shows us this place. Seems to not have been used for a while.
wat
Hm?
Yet another ghostly visage!
Time to play the dumb tourist!
Just admiring the view.
The view is private. Or did George let you through?
Nah, I used muh grappling hook and powers of levitation to get all the way up here
Either way, you're here now. Anyway, I'd best head back in, but I'm sure I'll see you around. Ta.
AFTER HER!
sigh
you know what that means.
She seems pretty easy-going, but it's hard to say if it's genuine. It feels polished, practiced.
tacticool analysis.
Also, there's some paper on the floor.
Big deal
Blowing it to the light of the window.
And it's signed by someone named "J".
Clearly significant! And that's it.
I'm sorry, have we met?
Kind of. I think you met my friend earlier.
I see. You are both looking after George's place?
Yeah, something like that.
So you actually live here? Er, so to speak.
Smoooooth
Yes. Why are you so surprised?
Well, this place is kinda... well, empty.
I live alone.
That's not what I meant. Look around, there's nothing here.
What on earth are you talking about.
Sigh, never mind.
I might not have the highbrow taste that George has, but my furniture is just serviceable as his.
Sure is.
And twice as comfortable, I might add
Ahem. Who are you, if you don't mind me asking?
Cute. Very cute.
@_@
Eh?
Wait, you are serious. Isn't this delicious. It's so rare that I get to be the mysterious one.
My name's Joey. Joey Mallone? Why don't you tell me yours?
You honestly don't know who I am?
I'm afraid not.
I admit, I'm fascinated. I know your name, but you don't know mine. It's not often that I'm in this position.
Unwittingly, Joey stumbled right into the nest of a fierce predator.
So... are you gonna tell me or what?
I think not. I want to savor this for just a little while longer.
Come on, you know my name. It's only fair.
I can't tell if you're being genuine, or if you're just playing with me.
Why not both?
Well, the night is young. See if you can figure it out.
So what is this? Are you famous or something?
Or something.
"I know about Heather"... do you know anything about this?
About what?
This note. The one on the floor.
I have no idea. It has nothing to do with me.
Then what's it doing here?
I have no idea!
Okay, okay, relax. The note is signed J. Who's J?
I have no idea. And I don't know anything about any note.
Well, whoever you are, I'll see you around.
Say hi to George from me, if you see him.
Doesn't seem like there's anything left to do here.
Let's try calling this mysterious Michael of George's.
...
there is no answer! D:
Do you know who lived in the apartment across from George?
I'm afraid not. I only started working here a few months ago, that apartment has been vacant the whole time.
Huh. Curious.
Let's dig for more info at the police station.
It's the bad cop again!
Hi. Cory, was it?
No. It's Officer Palmer
So, Durkin told me to speak to you?
Yes, I heard. Congratulations, I guess. I don't know why you are so special, but orders are orders. You need any information from us, I'll see about getting it to you. But you talk to me and only me. Understand?
Perfectly. I'm sorry about Lia.
Don't even go there. I don't care what you saw, or what the evidence says. Lia wouldn't kill herself. And if she DID... then she wasn't Lia anymore.
So are we... good?
"Good"?
You don't think I killed anyone, do you?
I don't know what to believe. But Durkin vouches for you. And he owes me a favour now. A big one. So I guess I come out ahead.
Is detective Durkin around?
I haven't seen him since yesterday. I'm sure he's wandering around somewhere.
You seem to be taking Lia's death rather personally.
The chief would agree with you. That's why I'm shackled behind this desk, instead of out there doing something.
What's the latest on George Ostin?
He was killed by a 22 caliber bullet. That's all we know so far. We're still talking to Lia's ex-husband, but he has a solid alibi.
How did Kendra die? Was that ever established.
I read the autopsy report. It was definitely a bullet wound. It went right through her shoulder. Clean hole all the way through. The coroner said that she bled to death, but she could have survived if she was brought to hospital right away. I don't understand this. Not at all.
Did you know Emil Haskins at all?
I don't know much. Just what Lia used to tell me. I got the impression he was a deadbeat. Always out of a job. Always late with child-support payments. Things like that. Guess he doesn't have to worry about that stuff anymore.
Actually, I've just realised something. Take a look at Emil.
Now remember he owns a computard shoppe. What does that give you?
Yup. Emil Haskins is an alter ego of
Crispy
So what's the story with you and Lia? I get the impression you knew her pretty well.
Yeah, I guess you could say that. I partnered with her, back when I first joined the force. She taught me a lot. Everything, really. I owe her. She was a rock. A rising star. Why would she flip out like she did?
I'm working on it, Cory. I really am.
That's Officer Palmer. And I'm not holding my breath.
Does this phone number mean anything to you?
No, but we can trace it.
Trace it?
Run the number, see who it belongs to. Within reason, anyway. Where did you find it?
I found it on George Ostin's home.
Oh, we ran that number already.
You did?
Yup, it belonged to Grace Church. Probably calling for donations or something
Yeah. Or something.
Is it just me or is the police force here ABSOLUTELY INEPT
Hm. Thanks anyway. Well, I'd better go. Thanks for the help.
Sure.
So, Grace Church, huh? Curious how everything seems to centre around that place. I'm sure HHR is the main villain in this game.
Yes. And would you please keep your voice down?
[Intelligence] Do you know any Michaels?
In my line of work? I know more than I can count.
I checked with the police. This number belongs to a phone in this church. A man I'm looking for made a phone call from this number. His name is Michael. It's very important that I find him.
... I'm afraid I don't know who you are talking about. Sorry.
I'm looking for information on the Grace Group. They used to meet here, in the basement. Some kind of self-help group?
There are hundreds of so-called Grace Groups. And they all have meetings in the basement. You will have to be a bit more specific about that.
Hundreds of groups. Meeting in the BASEMENT.
The telephone that uses this number. Where is it?
Why would you need to know that?
Michael used the phone. Maybe he left a clue behind when he did.
He could have used any one of a dozen offices in our administration wing.
Really. Over a dozen.
Yes. So if you want to locate Michael Cooper, you'll have to find another way.
Wut
Wait, Cooper?
...pardon?
You said Michael Cooper.
Isn't that the gentleman you are looking for?
No, I just said his name was Michael.
So you did. Slip of the tongue, my apologies. It IS quite late, and I'm tired.
You aint foolin' me, padre
You need to tell me who Michael Cooper is.
I told you, I don't know any Michael Cooper!
That tactic ain't working, sweetheart. You need to come at this some other way.
Let us ask... THE INTERNET!
zing
Michael Cooper. He's a priest too, isn't he?
So?
So it's a pretty big coincidence, wouldn't you say?
I... um...
Please stop lying to me.
I'm not lying.
You aren't telling the whole truth either, are you?
I made a promise. He came to me scared. Begging me to protect him. To give him sanctuary. He was ranting, I should have turned him away. But we roomed together at the seminary. We were close friends once, what could I do?
rad bromance
You can take me to him.
He's raving. He's mad. He says he's in a battle for his very soul. Is this true?
Yes, it is.
Sigh. He is in the school. It's closed for the winter break, so it seemed as good a place as any to hide him. Here's a key. The entrance is around the corner. Please. Do whatever you must. Just... don't come back here.
I suppose with our record it was only a matter of time.
The entrance to the school is around the block. Let's go.
Grace church is deleted from the locations list.
Lafayette street looks cold and icy. Better stick to the sidewalk.
Head on it!
@_@
I think he's reciting the Psalm of David? From the books I've read, it's supposed to guard against evil.
YOU ARE THE ONE FROM MY DREAMS!
Michael?
Stay back, Bestower. I've got a gun!
Just a second-
I need to talk to you.
Talk? Did talking help Lia or George? Or any of the others?
Please, I'm here to help.
Help. I wish that was true. How much "help" did you give George? Or Lia? Or the others?
Others? How many of you are there?
You don't even know that? You don't know a thing, do you? This wasn't the plan.
Plan?
Yes. Our "brilliant" plan. We get the Bestower to escort our souls to the next world. Protect us from this... force that is after us. Instead, you let us be destroyed!
You think I wanted this to happen? People dying, souls torn apart, you think I wanted this?
Of course not, it's just... look at what we've been reduced to.
I'm sorry. Whatever is going on... it's new. I've never seen anything like it before.
I see. And what about him?
Huh?
Your friend. The man behind you. He hasn't said a word since you walked in here.
D:
Er... me? Do you mean me?
Yes, you. Don't look so surprised. How else could I have known who you were? Now get out of here. You've been nothing but trouble ever since George went to look for you!
I FEAR NO EVIL FOR I AM FEAR INCARNATE
Fine, shoot. Kill the only person who can help you.
...
That voice... it can't be!
Yes, my host, I know. But I had to intervene. These two know me. If I may...?
Fine, fine! Just make it quick. I'm losing my concentration.
Mallone, Blackwell. What a pleasant surprise to see you both again.
Yeah, surprise is the word. What the hell are you doing here?
Is it not obvious? You freed me, Mallone, brought me back into this world. And as it befits all of our kind, I had a host waiting for me. And so I have returned to my former duties.
Look, as touched as I am about this reunion, I need to focus!
Perhaps we should all converse outside?
Fine, outside, just leave me in peace.
Thank you, my host.
I'm sure she's got a lot to teach us. Once this is all over, anyway.
Blackwell, Mallone. It's been a long time since we've been able to converse.
SQUEEEE DESU DESU WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO, OL' TIMER? \^__________^/
It's been almost six months since Joey freed you. How come we're only seeing you now?
I admit, the transition hasn't been... pleasant. I have had three hosts since returning to this world. The first was an old man, on the edge of death. He lingered for six months before finally succumbing to the inevitable. When the old man passed, I became bound to his niece for a time. She ran every time she saw me. I tried to keep my distance, give her time to adjust. But in the end, she fell down the stairs in an attempt to flee. The poor woman died, and I was passed to her brother. The man inside.
Good job, retard
Do you know what is going on? Why are these souls being attacked?
... I do not know. I wish I did. Like you, we saw it happen. We saw a soul being torn apart, and could do nothing. I'm afraid my host became a little... unreasonable after that.
Why was George looking for me?
We needed a Bestower. A PROPER Bestower. My host and I were not up to the task.
Eh?
It might be due to my time in the void. It might be because my host's soul has been marked by... whatever is out there. But in any case, our abilities are limited. We cannot even help lost souls move on, as you do. We can see them, and talk to them, but that is all. Hence why we needed you.
Lucky us.
So what can we do? We don't even know what's going on.
Sigh. Our theory was that you could help those poor souls move on to the next world before they were destroyed... but it appears it did not achieve the desired result.
You could say that, yeah.
You must investigate. My host and I are restricted, but you two are not. If anyone can uncover why these poor spirits are being attacked and stop it, it is you.
You should really call me Rosangela.
Forgive me. When you are as old as I am, all names blur together.
So I tend to address those I speak to by their family name. It is just... easier that way. And less painful. I'm afraid it is a habit that is difficult to break.
So, how d'you like being on the outside, as it were? I imagine it's better than being trapped wherever you were.
I had thought... I had hoped... that I would pass on. That being brought back to the mortal world would force me to obey mortal laws. Instead I... no, it is not to be. I have returned to my former duties. Therefore, I must have further work to do. But yes, it is nicer than being trapped in the void. Did I ever thank you, Mallone?
Not as much, no.
Well, I must rectify that. Thank you.
Yeah, sure. Anytime.
Do you know anything about this Grace Group?
I know that it meant a great deal to my host, as well as his friends. Whatever happened at those meetings, it greatly improved their lives. But obviously it came at a cost.
Why do you let Father Michael push you around like that?
It is what my host wishes.
So?
Simply that. I must do what my host commands.
Heh, right. Seriously. What's the story?
No story, Mallone. If my host wishes me to leave him alone, I leave him alone.
That... actually works?
Of course, it is my duty to do so.
So Joey could...
No.
Sigh. Of course, some of us take our duties more seriously than others.
Well, I suppose we'll talk to you soon.
Of course.
Okay, enough of this goddamned typing.
In the next episode of our GRIPPING SERIES, we shall... do more investigashuns! See more spirits! Pester people with questions!
AND MORE!!!!!111