Conversation · Ruby's Journal

The thick journal bound in brown leather is full of candour and diagrams.

Put the journal away. [Leave.]

Flip through the pages.

It's a mix of logistical notes, diagrams, and personal reflections, all dated.

"We could learn a lot from this."

What did she write the day Lely died?

Nothing on March 4th... March 5th, though: "Well, that's bound to come back and bite me in the ass. I'm bad at this -- loyal to a fault. Except... But that's another matter entirely."

She is referring to betraying her previous employer. Does this suggest she did it in self-defence?

You have no idea what she means. These are personal notes, don't expect to understand all of it.

How far back do the entries go?

The first entry is from August 2nd of last year. It reads simply: "I know my position is precarious. All I can do is make myself as useful as I can while looking for a way out. (Remember: no one is indispensable.)"

Anything personal?

Short, wry observations of people and places -- probably a way to pass the time on the road. Also, what appear to be attempts to sort through some difficult decisions. There are a few passages with many questions in them.

The way some of those question marks trail off into ellipses -- she was going through a tough time.

Staff issues, always tough on the leadership. You smell traces of betrayal.

What kinds of logistics?

Hard to tell exactly -- it's mostly noted down in code. Looks like contact information, quantities, directions.

"There could be useful information about local operations in those notes. We have a junior sergeant at my station who's good with codes -- I can give this to her after we finish this."

Professionalism is his coping mechanism.

What's the most recent entry? (Conclude with journal.)

The most recent entry is from today. It reads:

"Even when I leave here (if I leave here alive) -- what's my next move?... Staging a lynching is a crime, even if I'm not accused of murder on top of that. Forever on the run? Not really my idea of the open road. Man, I was really looking forward to winning."

"I don't think she killed the mercenary." The lieutenant taps on the page. "It looks like she might have been... framed?"

This whole thing was a detour -- and a fatal one, he thinks.

Don't get emotional.

"So she died for nothing?"

"She was in plenty of trouble even without the murder charge." He looks down. "Still, it's a nasty business."

"Then who do you think killed Lely?" (Conclude.)

"Klaasje was the one who pointed the finger at Ruby. Perhaps she was trying to steer us away from herself? Or..." He stops to think.

"I don't know..."

"Either way, we need to keep an eye on her."

"One thing is for certain: We have business back in the Whirling-in-Rags. Questions to ask. We should get to it."

Something tells you you should be extra careful from now on.

"Seems plausible."

"But no one heard the shot..."

"Maybe she had an accomplice. Either way, we need to keep an eye on her."

"Could have been Titus. Then again..." He pauses to think.

"T-man wouldn't fuck me over!"

"Either way, we need to keep an eye on him. Somewhere along the way, we might have been fed a lie or two..."

"But no one heard the shot..."

"Maybe there's a Hardie boy we've yet to meet who acted as his accomplice? Either way, we need to keep an eye on him."

"Seems plausible."

"I don't know..."

"Kim, am I really a La Puta Madre agent?"

"No, I don't think you are." He looks you straight in the eye for a moment, then sighs. "Ask someone in your precinct if you want to be sure."

He truly does not believe you are. Perhaps he shouldn't be so trusting...

His trust is well placed. You aren't. You can feel it.

"Who is La Puta Madre?"

"The head of a major Jamrock gang specializing in drug production and trafficking -- a very bad person."

He's not 100% sure you're not indebted to this very, very bad person.

"If she didn't do it, then maybe it's good that we didn't catch her?"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that -- we have other reasons to arrest her." He frowns.

"Besides, I'm not sure her life as a fugitive is going to be much better than with us."

"She killed the merc, then turned the gun on herself -- case closed. It's so tidy!"

"No, it's dirty."

Kim's posture is unusually rigid -- he's used to this sort of thing, but he's not particularly happy about being used to it.

"Okay. What do you mean, framed?"

"By the Hardie boys, by Klaasje, by us."

"It looks like she might have been... framed?" The lieutenant taps on the page.

That would be a first -- or a fourth -- but who's counting, he thinks. Very rarely does anyone actually get framed.