Conversation · Titus Hardie

"Kitten?"

"Let's go with that. Point is -- it's just a rusty winch, it doesn't put her on the roof."

"There were pinball machines in the workshop. Still operational."

"Right -- what the fuck does that got to do with Ruby?"

"Just making an observation. Let's move on."

He makes a gruff gesture for you to continue.

He gestures with his beer can -- so you haven't won him over yet! That bad boy goes down on the table only when he's completely focused on something else.

"Nothing. I just thought we could bring some down. Get some new machines in here."

"Wow, man, can we? I mean..."

"That'd be awesome, I've beat that Royalist machine twenty times now."

"Alright alright, we can get the barman to bring them down -- what else?"

"What if they're somehow connected to the murder -- a Pinball Murderer?"

"Goddamn it, cop -- are you kidding me? You know it was no goddamn Pinball Murderer!"

Don't say funny things. He looks calm, but these are serious accusations against -- against one of their own.

"Just a thought experiment. Let's go on." He nods for you to continue.

"Boss, but maybe..." The blond guy interjects. "A single machine like that is worth over 500 reál."

"It wasn't that. I'm calling an end to this shit if you don't have anything better, cop."

"Have we firmly established Ruby could have had access to the roof where the man was shot?" (Move on.)

"Firmly?" He shakes his head. "Try shit on a stick. All you've established is a possible route to the roof -- that you haven't found."

"And even then -- a route doesn't put that bullet in the merc's head. A gun does that. And Ruby doesn't carry one."

Phase II: Murder weapon. Get a gun in her hand. If not that, then at least a shadow of a doubt (in the shape of a gun).

Just don't contradict yourself. If it doesn't sound like 'RUBY DID IT', maybe keep it to yourself?

But what if you miss interesting information that way? The choice is ultimately yours, but...

"The local pawnshop sold my lost gun to a woman. Maybe it was her?"

"You LOST your gun?!" The blond man is taken aback. Not even laughing.

"What an idiot!"

The big man leans closer. "Tell me -- did you lose it before the murder?"

"Uhm...."

"You didn't. And Ruby didn't use your lost gun to kill him."

Stop thinking about your lost gun, dammit. You'll get a heart attack.

"This was merely a thought exercise. He did not lose his gun. Let's move on."

"Then why the fuck was he asking you for your gun, huh? When he tried shooting himself or some shit... Because he doesn't have his own!"

That's a solid logic structure. Do something. This is bad.

"Fuck, boss..." The tattooed man realizes something. "This is why he was always asking for the other guy's gun. He doesn't have his own."

"Yes."

"No you didn't. And Ruby didn't use your lost gun to kill him."

"No."

"Of course not." He scoffs. "And Ruby didn't use your lost gun to kill him."

"It was a joke."

"Sure." He scoffs. "Take your sorry ass out of here -- Ruby didn't use your lost gun to kill him."

"I have analysed the bullet that killed him -- it was jacketed."

"So...?" The man shrugs and looks at you.

"So it had to come from a breech-loading rifle. Military-grade." He turns to you. "Not even you militia-monkeys have those."

He doesn't wait for a response. "This goes against your everyone-has-a-gun theory. If it was a military-grade, how'd Ruby get it?"

Wait, did he say you don't have big guns?

No, just say you're honest with him, don't challenge him.

Screw honest -- you just showed him a breech-loading gun!

"I'm just being up front with what I know."

"Right." Titus nods. "And that's mighty forthcoming of you, so let me extend you the same courtesy: she's connected. To you-know-what."

Organized crime -- down in Jamrock probably. He's not being too forthcoming -- this is not a surprise.

"So she may have access to semiautomatics. But that's a long fucking stretch of the imagination."

"You wouldn't believe the shit we have at the RCM."

"I don't have to believe. I know you ain't got shit." He squints at you.

"Just because it's rare doesn't mean you can't get it."

"Cop -- that's exactly what it means."

That wasn't strong.

"You're right. I'm never solving this case, it's too complicated."

"What are you gonna cry now?" He squints at you, as if inspecting how close to crying you are.

"No, he's not." He looks at you, as if making sure -- then at Titus again. "We're just under stress here. This case needs to be solved and fast, or bad things will happen."

"Which is why we need to talk to her as soon as possible. There is grounds for a questioning here -- everyone sees that."