Conversation · Sunday Friend

"Well, that was a waste of time."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more assistance."

"Those are all my questions. Thanks for your time."

"Can you at least tell me when it happened?"

"You're right, that does seem strange."

That comports with the dicemaker's testimony as well.

"What do you mean 'nothing happened'? They lynched a guy!"

"Were they men, women?"

"All men, I presume. But again, I couldn't see very clearly."

"Hmmm. But we're fairly certain the lady driver was present..." The lieutenant flips through his notes.

"Are you sure at least one of them wasn't a woman?"

"It's possible, officer, but I cannot say with certainty. It was very dark, you must remember."

That doesn't quite comport with what you know. Don't forget the lady driver!

"What ethnicity were they?"

"Those funny... Oh." He blinks. "Officer, that kind of language is unbecoming of an officer of the RCM..."

"I believe they were mostly white, though I believe I saw two Areopagites among them. And I am quite certain that one spoke with a Mesque accent."

Two Areopagites and a Mesque -- could be Eugene, Theo, and Alain.

"Wait, so you didn't actually see the lynching happen?"

"Did any of them look like drummers?"

"Drummers? Why... no... but then, I don't know what a drummer is supposed to look like."

"I think we can drop the drummer-angle," the lieutenant says impatiently. "That was my bad."

Sound familiar? That matches the prints you observed at the scene.

"What happened next?" (Proceed.)

"Who were 'they'? Can you describe them?"

"I couldn't see their faces well, and there were quite a few of them. But they were very loud and very... Martinaise..." He pauses, looking for the right wording.

"Let's just say that the labouring classes can get rather expressive with their profanities."

"Sounds like the victim was unconscious. Or at least incapacitated. Well done, detective." He nods to you.

"Sounds like the victim was unconscious. Or at least incapacitated. Interesting."

"What's the meaning of this?"

Back off -- now! This man has diplomatic immunity. It serves no good to accuse him of a crime he didn't commit.

"I'm sorry. Let's start over. My nerves got the best of me there."

"It means the jig's up, creep. I am the law!"

"My apologies, I misspoke. I mean, what did you see?"

"Officer, it's very difficult to describe what I saw that night. It was so surreal to me, like in a play."

He holds out his hands and blossoms his fingers, like a drama teacher setting the scene.

The lieutenant is already scribbling down notes. "What do you mean, 'like in a play'?"

"No, no." The man shakes his head. "I mean it was so strange I could barely believe what was happening..."

"Meaning it was entertaining?"

"Meaning it was terrifying?"

"Start from the beginning, if you don't mind."

"What if I told you there's a fugitive from the Moralintern in Martinaise?"

"A fugitive?"

Hypothetically sssspeaking, you might add.

Say nothing.

"Well, I would say that is very bad, indeed. Not super."

"What sort of a fugitive are we talking about here?"

"Pretty serious, like corporate espionage-type stuff."

"That is extremely serious!"

"Corporate espionage may technically be legal in Revachol, but elsewhere it's a very high-level offence. It violates a number of international agreements, in particular the First La Cherte Accord..."

"This fugitive must be turned over to the ICP immediately. Have you apprehended them already?"

"A moment, if you don't mind, sir." The lieutenant pulls you aside.

"You do realize what you're doing, don't you?" He whispers to you, sotto voce.

Of course, you're turning over a dangerous LAWBREAKER.

You're dooming a young woman in her hour of desperation.

"Yeah, I'm turning over a dangerous fugitive."

The lieutenant looks you straight in the eye, trying to gauge your seriousness.

"I won't tell you how to do your job. But remember, this is an RCM matter. Make sure you weigh your next words carefully."

He won't tell you how to do your job, but a good police officer knows when to listen to his partner.

When you turn back the man is looking at you expectantly.

"I'm still looking for the fugitive. I'll report back if I learn anything more."