Conversation · Joyce Messier

Look who's defensive suddenly.

"Misinformation..." She shakes her head vigorously. "This is all because we haven't shared information on the lynching yet. See, already the adversary uses it to their advantage. Don't let him."

"Hurry up on that probe. The moment you tell me you're finished at the traffic jam, I will gladly tell you the company's side of the story."

She must really want you to look into the drugs -- otherwise she'd tell you.

She was worried for a moment. That she's overplayed her hand by not sharing info sooner. Then she settles down, curious to hear more.

"No, I mean like a real door. To someone's house."

"Oh my -- a real door?"

The lieutenant does not say anything, but you hear the nylon of his jacket rustle as he looks at you.

"It had to be done -- I got information. It was useful to the case."

"That's good to hear, detective. Police work is rarely pretty, but it sounds like you did what you had to do."

Her bartering mind cannot fathom that you didn't ask anything in return.

"Frankly, what was done was not pretty at all -- but neither was it illegal. And it was not for nothing." He turns to you...

This seems serious...

"I advise you to be very selective with what information you choose to share. This may have consequences beyond our line-of-sight."

"I helped scare someone for Mr. Claire."

"My-my! What I'm hearing is..." She says, slow and teacher-like: "You inspected a premises because you suspected that it was involved in the narcotics trade..."

"And in the process you turned up some information relevant to your investigation. Only from Evrart, surprisingly!"

"It was nothing."

"Of course. The RCM has the right to inspect any premises." She nods: "How else would you catch the bad guys? The information was useful I hope?"

"I scared this Gary for Mr. Claire. He got pretty scared."

"I actually lied that I opened the door. I didn't really do it."

"Stupendous." She takes a little bow. "Pulling one on the old würm. Commendably done. And... did this trick yield anything interesting? I assume it was necessary -- for the case..."

"Mr. Evrart helped me find my gun."

"Stupendous!" She nods, more than a bit surprised. "I didn't think he'd pull through."

"Oh!" Her eyes become large and round. "That's so helpful of him..."

"I helped him turn up the heat on the borscht."

"Did you now?" She's intrigued, if a little confused. "What sort of borscht is he making?"

"The cook makes it to keep the strikers drunk. Helps them strike."

"The strike brew," she nods. "That's a classic. And by turn up the heat I presume you mean put more alcohol in it?"

"Nope -- you misunderstand. I turned the knob like this." (Turn the heat down)

"Beyond curious. I will choose to interpret that as you turning the alcohol in the strike brew down -- for the sake of our professional relationship."

"And because I don't like the idea of them any more drunk than they already are." She nods. "What else?"

"Yes."

"Why, if I may ask? Why make them more drunk? Aren't they corked enough already?"

"Yes, detective -- what were you hoping to accomplish with this strange thing?"

"An act born of sympathy for the working man. I set fire to the fumes of struggle."

"Very curious." She blinks both eyes. "A very curious thing to do."

"Truly, but that's how he operates. He just does things, ma'am. And then talks about them -- even if it's inappropriate."

A strange equanimity has overtaken the lieutenant. He's just going with the flow now. Easier that way.

"What else?"

"Actually, I turned the knob like this." (Turn the heat down.)

"I did it out of sympathy for alcoholism. It's a cause dear to me."

"It's uninteresting, I thought it would make the broth taste better."

"Unimportant."

"You're right detective -- that whole undertaking was very unimportant. Why did we do it?"

"I disagree. It sounds like a strike brew -- and you made them more drunk? Aren't they corked enough already?"

"That money you gave me -- would that make things... weird? If I shared information, I mean?"

"Weird? Oh no. One of the positive things to come from the Revolution is the unhindered exchange of information, you see, even when it comes to trade secrets..."

"Which isn't to suggest our talks constitute corporate espionage. Even if they did -- it would be fine. But they don't, since you logged the money as a donation and this is clearly just gossip between friends."

The lieutenant might have -- but I don't remember you logging anything as anything, Harry.

"Actually... this is not Evrart-related, but I tracked down a suspect."

The lieutenant narrows his eyes.

I do not think that's a good idea.

She looks positively surprised. "That's great. For the investigation, I mean."

"It went really badly. She killed herself."

"A she..." The negotiator does not seem to be shocked at first.

Not even a flinch. That must take willpower. Yet below it, some little crack starts running in the foundation.

"I hope she wasn't a serious suspect then -- as to the suicide -- that must be difficult. Yet, in your line of work..." She tilts her head.

Not be too rare an occurrence.

"I don't even know why I told you. This isn't about Evrart..."