Conversation · Lena, the Cryptozoologist's wife

"I knew it..." you hear Kim say quietly to himself.

I'm not surprised it's already getting out of hand.

"Well, in that case sweetie, let me give you a small token of my gratitude." She hands you a ribbon-tie held together by a silver bird skull. "It's a tie, Mesque in origin. The pin is an antique... quite special to the cryptozoological community."

The little silvery knob holding the tie together feels warm in your hand. It's in the shape of an avian skull. With eight eyes.

You could ask her about this, when you get the time -- it's probably a cryptid. But the phasmid, of course, is more important...

"It was a truly epic long distance trek."

"Truly -- a lot of legwork. My partner adores these kinds of things..." The lieutenant is still catching his breath.

"Here, I want to give you a small token of my gratitude." She hands you a thin ribbon held together by a silver bird skull. "It's a tie, Mesque in origin. The pin is an antique... quite special."

"It was just on my way while I was working the case."

"Just doing my job, ma'am."

"Thank you so much for helping us out with our research, sweetie," she says, beaming. "I hope all of this hasn't been too much of a distraction for you..."

"Oh, hello, dear. There you are again." She sounds glad to see you.

"Oh, hello, dear. I didn't notice you at first." She smiles up at you distractedly.

"Oh, hello, dear. I didn't notice you at first." She smiles up at you distractedly.

"So, about your husband... Does he often go missing?"

"That's just it! This isn't like him at all. He always plans his expeditions so carefully..."

A cold breeze hisses through dense thickets of reeds.... Something sweet in it, somnolent. A damp chill goes down your spine. When you look around, you're still in the Whirling-in-Rags.

“But you have more important things to worry about.” She glances out the window toward the bay.

More important than a missing expedition? I don't know... expeditions often lead to something interesting.

"Is everything alright?"

"You see, Morell, my husband, and Gary were supposed to get back Monday night, but they're still missing and I haven't heard from them..."

"We ran into your husband on the coast, madam. He was just going to finish up some work and then come back."

"Are you sure it was him? Oh, thank heavens! Silly me." She smiles, though there's still concern in her features.

"I knew what I was getting into when I married a cryptozoologist, of course. It's just... Waiting for him to come back from field work is always nerve-racking..."

"Still, I should have known he'd be returning late this time around. Finding the Insulindian phasmid -- it's very important to him." She glances out the window toward the bay.

"I believe we ran into your husband on the coast, madam. He seemed to be busy setting up some trap, so we didn't talk to him much."

"I think I ran into your husband on the coast. He seemed to be busy, so I didn't talk to him much."

A little missing person's puzzle might be just the thing to take your mind off the hangover.

You hear that? Someone's missing. There could be foul play afoot!

I love missing persons cases.

That's right. Now skip the foreplay. Time to dive into the dark alleys, start shaking down the usual suspects -- you know, legwork.

"This sounds more like a side thing. I need to take care of my main thing -- then I'll get back to this." [Leave.]

"Of course, sweetie. I'm probably working myself up over nothing anyway. I'll be right here." She glances out the window toward the bay.

"Okay, I'll bite. Has your husband gone missing before?"

Doing some good will alleviate the hangover. At least you're of use to someone.

Why do I have to play Rescueman?

To redeem yourself before the hoods of Law. Now start asking questions, like a real law enforcement official.

Missing persons aren't really my style.

You don't have a style, you have a duty. Now start asking questions, like a real law enforcement official.

"So why did you need to make that call?"

"To let the young woman who's house-sitting for us know that we may be delayed. Morell, my husband, and Gary were supposed to get back by Monday night, but they're still missing and I haven't heard from them..."

"I was also hoping she'd heard from Morell..." She looks down.

"Is everything alright, ma'am?"

"You see, Morell, my husband, and Gary were supposed to get back Monday night, but they're still missing and I haven't heard from them..."

"Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Lena. My husband and I are staying with our friend Gary just down the street, but I come here for tea when they're away."

"Hello again, ma'am. So why did you need to make that call?"

"To let the young woman who's house-sitting for us know that we may be delayed. Morell -- my husband -- and our friend Gary were supposed to get back by Monday night, but they're still missing and I haven't heard from them..."

"I was also hoping she'd heard from Morell..." She looks down.

"So, about your husband... Does he often go missing?"

"Just a moment." The old woman turns back to the cafeteria manager.

She's agitated, judging from the way she keeps pulling at the frayed edge of her blanket.

"And there's no public phones nearby?"

"The closest phone booth is down the coast. Sorry for the inconvenience, ma'am." The cafeteria manager appears genuinely apologetic.

"It's fine, I understand. Thank you anyway." She turns back to you with a weary smile. "I'm glad to see you again, dear."

The lady is distressed. Perhaps something more up-beat might cheer her up?

"Howdy, Lena! What's kicking?"

"Please don't trouble yourself about me, sweetie. I was just hoping to make a call, but the Whirling's phone line isn't working."

A faint smile tells you she appreciates the effort, but at the moment her mind is on more serious matters...

"The Union office probably has a phone, but I can't really get there, or to the phone booth down the coast... And Gary's phone is dead, too..." She sighs.

No mystery here -- this is Klaasje's handiwork. She cut the line.