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Faith notes, "We've seemed to have played out these leads. How about we focus on one or all of these other possible leads: the museum director John Bellingham, the local mine owner/operator, Winston Smythe, and the local gem expert, Joey Miller. Are we superstitious about 'splitting up to cover more ground' or can we each take one and see what we can come up with?"
Faith leaves a moment after Fitch, waving as she heads in the opposite way. She quickly ducks into any alcove or alleyway she can find and scans the buildings nearby, looking for the figure reported by Salvo. She pulls a pair of binoculars from her pack to help.
"Sorry I brought it up. Sounds like a tough case to solve. Glad I'm not a detective. Anyway, it was nice to spend some time with you. Gives me a bit of closure on poor Marvin." Faith offers to pay the check or at least split it if he insists. Assuming she has heard the chatter about someone in a high location, Faith pretends to drop something and as she's bending low to pick it up, she quietly says into her transmitter, "Is it safe to leave?"
Faith raises her eyebrows. "Of course, I'm sorry to bring up bad memories. But before we leave, you say he took the opal?"
"Wow. It's strange you mention the occult, because that's always been something I've been fascinated about. I've read all of Carlos Castaneda's books on magic and shamans. What did Marv do?"
"No Bloomin' Onions?" Faith exclaims with mock disappointment. "Next thing you'll tell me there are no crocodile wrestling demonstrations on the weekends either." She tries to find a tactful way to ease back to the discussion of the robbery.
Faith agrees that food would be good. "I was curious about those pictures on the wall. I'm afraid I don't recognize most of those celebrities." She orders a Blooming Onion and a mixed drink. She does not pester for more details about the deceased but eventually she will bring up his comment that about what Willoughby did that enabled the robbery. She sips the mixed drink but is careful not to drink enough of it to impede her senses or reflexes.
Faith smiles and nods that she understands as Fitch exits for the bathroom. She speaks into her comm link as she gets up. "Call me paranoid, but I don't like Fitch being out of my sight, at least before he tells me what Willoughby did." She pretends to wander around looking for a spare napkin and watches for anyone else following Fitch. She ends up looking at a picture of some Australian celebrities enjoying the restaurant and keeps herself close to the exit to the bathrooms.
Faith used some of the time before meeting Fitch to concoct the details of her cover story of knowing Willoughby from what she can glean from his social media posts, working an angle that doesn't involve specific individuals likely to have met Fitch. Faith takes a quick look at the people in the bar as Fitch is approaching and after taking a seat, she takes quick glances to get a second impression of the people in the place, watching for anyone watching them more than the band or their table-mates. She also notes where Hibo is. During the discussion about Willoughby, Faith mentions that she heard about a jewelry heist at the museum. "That sounds exciting! I love movies like the Thomas Crown Affair and Ocean's Eleven. I guess real life probably doesn't work like the movies, of course. Still ..."
Faith prepares for her 'date', touching up her make-up, brushing her hair, a spritz of perfume, and a sexy top that shows some cleavage. She takes her weapons concealed in various places under her jacket. She heads out to the meet after checking that her comm link is working.
Faith wraps up her time in the museum and heads back out. She has a few hours so she tries to set up a meeting with her team to look at any video footage Snoop may have got of that incident with the limo and the guy that headed into the museum after she entered. "If we can ID anyone or anything about that, it gives us another lead to investigate. Then I'll see what I can learn from my new friend the talkative security guard."
"That would be nice. What time do you get off? I'd like to look around a bit more." Faith gives him a slightly flirtatious look.
"How did he die?" Faith asks, sounding crestfallen at the news. "Has the funeral taken place yet? I'd like to pay my respects to his family." Assuming Salvo notifies Faith of the odd events with the two cars, she keeps watch for anyone fitting the description of the person who entered after she did.
In case any of these is useful and assuming this is not meant to lead to any specific RP scenario and is only for getting information on where to start in earnest.
Faith reads what she can from Willoughby's social media posts and the obituary to have some info she can use to try to bluff her way into the good graces of any museum security guards she can chat with. She wants to see the museum anyway and plays the part of a tourist from America. She pretends to not have heard of the theft of the opal and asks where it is exhibited. After learning what the museum staff tell her about that, she will ask one of the guards if her old acquaintance, Willoughby, is on duty. She claims a connection from decades earlier (school or a distant in-law relationship) and was told she should look him up if ever in the area and he would show her around. She'll try to get what the museum guards on duty have to say about his situation. She pretends to not have seen the obit.
Faith reports to the others. "I think I've found a string that needs pulling. A guard at the museum named Willoughby. I got word that his lie detector test after the heist had unusually flat output, suggesting some kind of mind control or interference. Then he seems to have disappeared. Found an obit but nothing about cause of death, no police reports of investigations into the death. I suspect he might be alive. We should try to poke around his home for clues. Others might try to talk to other guards to see if they know what happened to him."
Faith will share her information with the others and then set about researching this Willoughby person.
Faith has a lead in the Gameplay thread now, so she will report that and a group of us can try to locate this guard who had the unusual polygraph test. Regarding cars, Faith has a Drive +12 skill, so maybe get a muscle car that can perform well if we get into a chase.
"That is interesting," Faith agrees. "I have a friend who researches lie detector test anomalies like that. This Willouby character still work at the museum?"
"I'll visit the Little Portugal area first, then check out some of these crystal shops." Faith strikes up conversations and from time to time mentions an acquaintance named Fritz to see how people react. She'll mention that she read about a gem heist recently and jokingly ask if they happen to have a large opal for sale.
Faith cleans her guns and replenishes her ammo, while the group waits for plane tickets for the down under. She will do sparing practice with anyone who wants to keep limber. When she has time at a computer, on a whim, she does some searches for Portuguese or Brazilian quarters in the cities on the itinerary. Then she does the same for German connections. Finally, she looks up shops that cater to the New Age Witch and Pagan crowds.
I retired a few weeks ago, so I'm cool chillin' until things pick up again.
Unless magic items from Urban Arcana are available through our new employer, Faith is okay with equipment. If such items are available, is there any indication of what types of magic might help against Fritz and his gang? Do they summon demons or devils, control undead, etc.?
Faith joins in the effort to research people and places that might be relevant.
There was a time Faith would have assumed this Aussie bloke was yankin' her chain spinning out such a fairy tale. But since then, she'd seen things. Now she was ready to at least work on the assumption there was something to the tale. Faith reviews in her memory the things Klaus said in the restaurant. Then she puts some things into place in Campbell's story. "So Fritz is with the group that has the princesses body and kidnapped this girl with psychic potential as the new vessel for her soul. And he needs this Heart of Darkness McGuffin to get her soul back. Is Klaus working for the cult of the princess or this Ahmed dude? Or is he Ahmed?"
Faith is not worried about the sanction possibilities for violation of the NDA. She knows this realm involves things few people would believe if told and that no law enforcement organization would act on any tip about such a group anyway. She signs and lets out a breath she did not realize she was holding, then returns to the food table for seconds.
Faith knows she should read all the documents closely before signing anything, but her heart is ready to accept the offer. Not only is it an opportunity to work with a corporation with deep pockets and seemingly good intentions, but there is payback to consider. She says, "Sounds like fun! I'm in ... well once I read the fine print. Just happen to be in between assignments of my own choosing, now that my last investigation is closed courtesy of Mr. Klaus." She does, as promised, read the documents very closely.
When the delay is announced, Faith realizes how hungry she really is and how long it has been since she had a decent meal. So she returns to the food spread and helps herself to a plateful of goodies and refreshes her drink, although she sticks with Maracujá juice. She has just bitten off a too big bite of an empadinha when the big cheese arrives. She sits with her mouth full, watching the interchange with Salvo and Doug (?), barely holding in a full out belly laugh that would have caused an embarrassing spray of food. She was not expecting this Sam Elliot clone to be the much anticipated Tanomoshi-sama. She covers her mouth with her hand when introduced and forces the food down mostly unchewed, then nods. She feels as if she has landed in a quirky action adventure flick. Her internal narrator points out, There's something you don't see everyday. And we see a lot of strange things in a typical day, do we not?
Faith realizes how tense she has been ever since waking up and sighs, leaning back, eyes closed, until the car starts to move. Then she tries to keep track of the route being taken and where in the city they end up. She too is pretty grubby, mostly from not having a decent shower and being in the same clothes for days. She keeps her guard up, for even if Stringer's information is correct, her survival instincts remind her there could be hidden dangers here. She helps herself to some food and drink, enjoying the fine surroundings. "I could get used to this. I wonder if they are hiring."
Faith is ready to listen to what Oyama has to say, given the lack of leads on Klaus.
If Faith notices Stringer's emotional response, she sympathizes. She had similar feelings after her first few murder spree crime scenes. She eventually learned to compartmentalize those emotions and channel the energy into a cool-headed determination for justice. This crime scene was no different. She wraps her index finger in a scrap of rag and spells out in a pool of blood (in Portuguese), No mercy for the merciless. Grudge established! She hopes the message gets back to the boss. She sighs as she considers what she might have learned from Machado. No matter. She has much bigger carp to fry now.
Faith sighs at the devastation, sad that they couldn't be there to help those they befriended and ultimately doomed. She makes the best of the situation and scans the room for any evidence that might be relevant before leaving.
Faith considers chasing the last guy down for questioning, but doubts a smooth operator like Klaus would allow mooks like this to know anything about the big picture. She holsters her gun and waits to see everyone get out safely and then heads for the vehicle.
Faith was going to go hand-to-hand, but if the thug is going to try to back away and shoot her, she stands her ground and shoots back. Her cop training shows.
Faiths fires her Glock at the ganger to the Southwest, then closes on him, baton in her other hand.
"I'll take door number 3," she says in Portuguese and she runs at him. "You die or flee and then we'll roast marshmallows!"
Faith slings her rifle, draws her Glock and baton and readies to head out. "Time to split this nowhere scene," Faith calls out. "Three bikers approaching." She describes what weaponry she can see on them.
Faith moves to a position in the entrance with the door held open enough that she can see and fire her rifle.
Faith brings her rifle to bear and fires at JC.
Faith has heard enough. Fire when ready.
Faith says, "You seem to think we saved the girl because we are good guys who fight to save innocents from people like you. We don't care about some snot-nosed teenager who probably spends all her time making Tik-Tok videos of herself. The world will not miss her. We saved her so we could find out who is behind this and offer our services, since you've obviously got some deadwood in your operative base. Give contact info for your boss and we'll tell you where the girl is." Bluff Roll: I have not looked at the roll.
Faith was considering faking like she agreed to his plan to learn what he would suggest, and maybe try to wheedle some information about the organization responsible. Not likely to give us much, but it might put them on the back foot when shooting starts.
What we'll want to suss out, however, is whether he is ready to try to kill us where we are in that restaurant. It does not appear he has back-up, assuming we observed the usual staff leave, but there could be muscle in reserve. He does not sound worried that we'll refuse his offer and attempt to kill him where he stands, so he likely has a plan for that eventuality. Maybe he and Jao Carlo are more Bada$$ than they appear.
Faith knows her own answer to his vile proposal, but she does not want to admit that yet, so she tries to draw Klaus out a bit. "So this girl is, as you say, 'the perfect vessel for your needs'. Vessel for what, exactly? What's in it for her besides you graciously allowing her to live in service to your needs?"
I will not generally be able to post on Tuesday or Thursday of this week. To be frank, I'll probably need a day to think about the situation and what Faith's response will be. She is not inclined to deliver a child into the hands of such people, however, so the decision is whether to indicate that up front or pretend to be willing to make the trade to give us time to plan a response.
Faith mutters into the comm unit, "We've all been invited in. So far, just one guy, who seems to be in charge; no muscle yet." In Portuguese, she responds to the man in the apron, "Estamos mais interessados em saber por que fomos sequestrados do que em comida, não que recusaremos uma refeição bem preparada.' Portuguese:
We are more interested in learning why we were abducted than in food, not that we'll refuse a well-cooked meal. Her Portuguese is excellent, although with a touch of an American accent.
Faith cautiously enters. Once the door is behind her, she begins to talk into the communicators describing what she finds as she explores.
If the doorman does not insist that Hibo disarm then Faith will holster her weapons and cautiously approach the front door as well.
Faith engages the comms and softly suggests, "Maybe one of us can approach and initiate a conversation with cover from the rest. I'm willing, if no one else wants to."
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