Conversation · Joyce Messier

Actually, yes. I need to nail her for this.

Charge! You've got the guns and the ammo.

Yes, I do!

You have the guns and the ammo! Take this klassenfeind down!

She's having a good time arguing against the law. Too good, perhaps?

She's referring to Lieutenant Kitsuragi's motor carriage.

"I drove my motor carriage into the sea, you know. It sank."

"What a surprise," she says, not the least bit surprised. "That is one disadvantage of a motor carriage relative to a sloop like this one." The sloop bobs gently in the water.

Let it be.

"In any case..." She takes a sip from her thermal cup.

"That's not mine. It belongs to my partner, Lieutenant Kitsuragi."

"No matter whose it is. A motor carriage is just a tool. You need it to do your job -- as I do mine. It's just a means of getting where you need to go."

"There it is again -- the name of that infernal machine! I woke up to that sound, you know?"

"Hmm, I suppose that one does have a rather loud electrical engine." She does not quite understand what you meant. "A specific drone. In any case...."

"You lost me there -- I have no idea what a Coupris Kineema is."

"Pardon me, it's not especially relevant."

"Uhm, Caillou? I thought we were in Revachol."

"We are. And the city of Revachol is on the island of Le Caillou."

"What do you mean -- archipelago?"

"I mean we are on Le Caillou, are we not?" She raises her brow.

"What would you like to know?" She taps her foot on the deck.

"Why, yes I am..." She looks at the deck under her feet. Green and white sails flutter overhead.

"I spoke with the lorrymen at the roundabout."

"Yes, my eyes on the harbour have sent word to that effect -- what have you discovered?"

"We have discovered enough to conclude -- for now."

"Yes -- and? Will you start an official investigation?"

She's trying to conceal her excitement, but the slight glimmer in her green eyes tells you otherwise.

The lieutenant is about to interject. Cut him off. This decision should be yours.

Let the lieutenant handle it.

"If there is an investigation it will be part of an ongoing operation -- subject to confidentiality. I am sure you understand."

"Of course, detectives," she says, her tone more cautious suddenly. "In any case, you've held up your end of our arrangement. I trust you with the rest. Now it's my turn..."

"I wouldn't normally break protocol like this, but the situation demands it. If you don't solve this murder I'm afraid we may have a blood bath on our hands."

The words blood bath sound cold in her mouth. They taste of iron and strawberries.

Yes -- I should decide.

Exactly -- but what?

"There will be an investigation, that's all I can say."

"Okay. I thank you for sharing that much with me." She exhales, as though a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. "My employer thanks you as well..."

"In any case, you've held up your end of our arrangement. Now it's my turn..."

"We turned up quite a few interesting things actually..." (Share information.)

"Ah, good to hear. I wouldn't want to pry into a confidential police matter. But, in the event you'd like to share more... I would like to know who it was."

Yes. All ears. That's how she operates.

The lieutenant clears his throat audibly.

Be very careful, what information you're gonna share with her.

"It's possible there's even a connection to La Puta Madre."

"What is La Puta Madre?"

"A seriously bad guy."

"Well, he sounds very dangerous. I urge you to take care, officer. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. Not with what's coming..."

"A seriously bad guy. I might even be on his take!"

"No, he's not. Our friend here has quite the sense of humour, part of his technique, you see?"

"Nevertheless, he sounds terribly dangerous. I urge you to take care, officer. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

"Better not to frighten you, ma'am."

"Frighten me?" She smiles. "I'm not frightened easily, but I understand -- some things are best for the police to keep to themselves."

"I saw a really advanced radio system with a lot of stations saved."

"That speaks of the vastness and sophistication of the operation. Were you able to examine the radio?"

"It didn't have Speedfreaks FM."

"What is... speedfreaks FM?" She looks at you quizzically.

"A very loud radio station about motor carriages and rock music, I think."

"I... fail to see the relevance of this station, but..." she smiles warmly, "I'll defer to your judgement. Was there anything else?"

"Unfortunately the dial knob was missing, the radio itself was inoperative."

She nods. "Sensible for her to disable access to such essential information."