Conversation · Evrart Claire

"I don't know what that means, Harry. Shady brew? There are so many moving parts in my operation I can't keep track of them all..."

"You know what? Don't even tell me. Whatever it is -- do it. Surprise me!" He reconsiders. "Just one thing... if you can, make it even shadier."

He sincerely has no idea what you were talking about -- and he doesn't care either.

"What?" The big man looks at you surprised.

"The brew! The shady, shady brew."

"Oh, how could I forget your little side-project! Well done, Harry. Well done! Don't even tell me what it was. But good job! I love it when workers take the initiative like this."

So do I. That's one tasty brew, you should drink some right now if you can!

"What?" The big man looks at you, confused.

"The shady brew. You told me to make it even shadier. I didn't. It had alcohol in it. Now there's no alcohol."

"Did I? Well done then, Harry. I like not knowing about it and I'm sure you made the right call. I spend the whole day delegating tasks, and it's a great relief to see people taking initiative."

"I don't even want to know what all of that means -- brew, shady, alcohol, turned off. I'm gonna let the world surprise me."

"You might have noticed there's one hanging on a tree behind the hostel-cafeteria."

"Oh my..." He smiles pleasantly. "Don't take this question personally, but why would I get involved in this matter?"

"Mr. Claire. The man was hanged with a cargo belt. A steel reinforced cargo belt. It's safe to assume the Union had something to do with the murder."

"Besides, getting the body down would benefit all of us. It's a stain on the neighbourhood."

"Also, I studied the footprints at the crime scene. Worker boots."

"I can certainly see how having him up there might start affecting some real estate values." He licks his fat lips and smiles.

"But of course, all joking aside, I am going to help you." He picks up the handset of a radio-phone to his right -- then clicks a button.

"Jean-Luc, the cop who bested you in physical combat is here and he has a little dead-body-in-a-tree problem. Namely, he needs it to be taken down. Please extend him this courtesy."

"You can find Jean-Luc down at the gates." He turns back to you. "He's the big, impressive one. You know: tattoos, muscles -- ethnic looking. Can't miss him. Great guy."

"Jean-Luc, my boy. I'm sending two police officers down. They have a dead-body-in-a-tree problem they need help with. Namely, they need it to be taken down."

"And, Jean... please take it easy with the race science. That's a yes to getting the body down, no to the race science." He hangs up and turns back to you.

"Jean-Luc, my boy. I'm sending a police officer down. He has a dead-body-in-a-tree problem he needs help with. Namely, he needs it to be taken down."

Say nothing.

"You are a community leader, help your community out!"

"Yeah, the belt thing!"

"The belt the man was hanged with incriminates the Union. At least you could help us out a bit."

"Footprints left at the crime scene point to someone wearing a worker's boot. Possibly a dockworker."

"You seem to be the community leader -- do this for your community."

He gives you a quizzical look, then smiles pleasantly. "Don't take this question personally, but why would I get involved in this matter, Harry?"

"I don't know what that means, Harry. But I love it!" He chuckles. "I love your initiative! Knowing you're out there keeping things running lets me focus on the big picture stuff."

"Don't even tell me what was going on. Alcoholic brew, stronger, stopped it, strike. I'm just gonna let you surprise me, Harry."