Conversation · Kim Kitsuragi

"I've got some good news." The lieutenant smiles. "I took care of the body. The thought of him decomposing in my MC wouldn't let me sleep."

"I don't know if I was ready to let him go..."

"Well, he's in processing now. We have other matters to attend to."

Oh well -- we'll get the armoured boots in another lifetime.

He kind of wishes you'd acknowledged his contribution, but you've missed your opportunity now.

He points to the mess hall doors. "The Union muscle finally turned up, and they look rowdy. We need to talk to them."

He won't even acknowledge the stolen boots you're wearing. For him, they don't exist. You'll have to bring it up yourself, later -- if you dare.

"Are these the men Garte told us about yesterday?"

"I completely forgot." He looks at his notes. "Sorry, I had a rough night's sleep. It's them, by the looks of it -- loud and nasty, just like the manager said."

"One loose thread less to worry about -- and one big problem to replace it." He crosses something out.

"Why do we need to talk to them?"

"This is clearly the Union's peacekeeping force Evrart told us about. The one he said hanged our victim."

"We can't be sure of course -- Evrart may have lied to us. He definitely has an agenda of his own. Either way, we need to interview them. And it won't be easy."

"Everything points to the Dockworkers' Union: the belt used for hanging him, the circumstances in Martinaise, my preliminary information..."

"Which may, of course, all be wrong. But we still need to talk to them -- and it won't be easy."

"Everything points to the Dockworkers' Union: the tracks in the mud, the circumstances in Martinaise, my preliminary information..."

"A lot of things point to the Dockworkers' Union: the circumstances in Martinaise, my preliminary information. Hmm, actually..."

"...that's not a lot of things. We should have dug up more yesterday. Still, we need to talk to them. And it won't be easy."

"What do you mean 'rowdy'?"

"I mean ungovernable. Martinaise isn't exactly enthusiastic about the RCM being here. They prefer to be policed by the Union -- these men here..."

"Men who drink beer for breakfast. I have no doubt these are the Hardie boys Evrart told us about, the ones who keep the peace around here."

"And the big one," he squints his eyes, studying the men in the mess hall, "must be Hardie himself..."

"Men who drink beer for breakfast? There's talk of an armed wing of the Union called the Hardie boys, who are responsible for said policing. I think it's them."

"There are so many of them. Maybe we should call in reinforcements?"

"That would just escalate tensions. No captain would sign off on it. Solving one murder isn't worth a conflict between the RCM and the Débardeurs' Union."

"In fact, even the death of two detectives might not warrant an all-out war. So let's keep a cool head, okay?"

He's not exaggerating about that mortal danger. Just calmly factoring it in. Your fists clench and your pulse rises uncomfortably.

"Let's roll." [Leave.]

"One more thing before we do..." He glances at the booth again. "We don't have to talk to them immediately. We can walk right past them, continue with our business."

Good. A power move. Purposefully concentrate on something else first.

Yeah -- streetwise. Zoom right past, do it on your own terms.

But... aren't you curious to know what they have to say about the murder?

"They're in no hurry to leave -- they think they own the place... Anyway, I leave that choice to you. Whatever you decide is fine by me."

"Well, he's in processing now. We have other matters to attend to."

"Good, thanks."

"I'm just glad he's gone. We have other matters to attend to."

Oh well -- we'll get the armoured boots in another lifetime.

The lieutenant is downplaying his contribution -- he got up before sunrise to get this done. And now he's quite pleased with himself for taking care of the gruesome business so efficiently.

"I'm just glad he's gone. We have other matters to attend to."

"Looks like we can get to work at once. The Union muscle turned up." He points to the mess hall doors. "They look rowdy. We should talk to them."

"Looks like we can get to work at once. The Union muscle turned up." He points to the mess hall doors. "They look rowdy. We should talk to them."

"And one more thing..." He pulls the black plastic over the dead man's face, then looks at you. "This was very good work, detective."