Conversation · Titus Hardie

Hey! Did someone say something already? No? Yes? Who cares! Upstairs, in Klaasje's bedroom -- the window the bullet came through. Analyse that!

Reporting for duty! A thorough search of this Union box may help unearth something incriminating! Pin it on her -- she's been here, right?

Can't get through the door? You know what would help -- doing a thorough search of this room! Maybe something's hidden.

For starters, you could find out what's behind that mystery door in the kitchen. If it's a secret route, she could have used that to get to the roof!

For starters, you could search the Whirling-in-Rags for hidden passages she could have used to get to the roof. There's a door in the kitchen I've had my eye on for a while...

But the lieutenant isn't here. What am I supposed to do without him?

Easy! If the lieutenant isn't here, you should find him and attempt this again while he's with you.

Oh no, he's stuck again. Please, someone -- just animate him. I got nothing.

Get a move on, asshole! Stop standing with your dick in your hand.

Your mouth is open. Close it. It's really, really going to help if you do.

Stop drooling. Run around or something. Hit yourself in the face. Anything. No one has any idea what to do with you if you just stand here.

Say something. If you say something you can jolt out of the stupor. Just one sentence. Here we go...

Thanks guys. Let's get moving again.

Gladly.

Not just yet -- can't we review the components of the theory?

Sure. Why not? Let's hear what some of our friends have to say.

Go out and run circles around the building until you come up with something. Whatever you do, don't stand here anymore.

Nothing is happening. The pieces are there, but they remain unconnected.

No, no -- we can do this. (Squint your eyes.)

Sorry. You're not coming up with anything. Again, the pieces are there: she could have done it, somehow, something else, wala-wala-bing-bang -- it's just not coming together.

Give up.

There we go. Your mind is a relaxed muscle. It's so nice and easy to give up, isn't it? On the downside -- you have no idea what you were supposed to do now. I could have debriefed you.

Blissful idiot -- say something. You've stood there for too long.

Walla-walla-bing-bang?

I don't know what it means, but it felt like the most appropriate thing to say. That's what the Witch Doctor would say, at least.

(Squint your eyes harder.)

Still nothing -- but that's okay. This doesn't have to turn into some kind of meltdown. You're just a cop taking your time to present a theory.

Why does Puzzle Face get to not melt down? You and I melted down like crazy, remember?

Right. Puzzle Face shouldn't be the cool guy when he fails. I was supposed to be that.

Shush. I'm just more level headed than you. That's my thing. Let's look at this as a learning experience. What are the components you need to implicate Ruby?

His wife left him. He needs to kill himself -- make her sorry she did.

No, no! He needs to say: "Five hundred Lears and I can't remember the first line!"

"Five hundred Lears and I can't remember the first line."

"You know, I'm beginning to think this clown is squinting at me..." He looks around. "...because he wants to start something."

"Nah boss, he's just mentally handicapped. I've seen them do that."

"He's thinking. Let the man think." The lieutenant defends you.

He fires a nod of solidarity in your direction, as if to say: take your time. It's okay.

"My wife left me and I'm completely alone."

"I don't know what to say to that."

"That's sad, man -- but why are you squinting like that?" The tattooed man leans closer. "Looks to me like he's about to get aggressive."

"No, no." The lieutenant looks at you with slight worry. "That's his... concentration face."

Please, please do not melt down again. We're so close to wrapping this up and getting out of here.

I just want to hear the components of the theory.

Here you go: access to the roof, weapon, and motive. That's not too hard. And here is what you can do to make it even easier -- c'mon guys!

Also, you should say: I need to kill myself and it's all over!

Say: "Five hundred Lears and I can't remember the first line!!!"

No-no. He already said that, and nothing good came of it. Just do what the nice helpful guys said -- and don't do the bad things.

It's that simple.

"Ehm..." The lieutenant puts his hand on your shoulder. "Unless we have more business, we should..." He looks to the door.

Say... Hard to remember with your brain in overload, but have you smoked lately? A cigarette may help you.

YES! Huff and puff and blow this case wide open!

No-no! Nothing good will come of it -- he did the right thing not saying that the last time. Just do what the nice helpful guys said -- and don't do the bad things.

... No one?

Really?

Absolutely nothing?

Just me, huh? Wow. Well... Good luck!

You should say: I need to kill myself and it's all over!

You could crack Klaasje's last defences. Maybe she'll tell you something helpful?

Wow, you've been very thorough. There's nothing else to add -- just crack that Klaasje's defences. Maybe she'll tell you something helpful?

There's a spooky building West of this. Take a flashlight with you, search the basement. There are secrets -- magisterial, ancient secrets that may assist you.