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Investigating the Elusive Barry Grant
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Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-28-2008 02:14


...

“He’s just gone!”

“What do you mean gone?”

“I mean gone, detective, disappeared without a trace.”

“Barry Grant? Gone?”

“…”

“And what do you expect out of me?”

“What should I expect out of you?”


Replies

Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Oct-28-2008 10:46

Makensie thought of something, as she walked along. "Oh dangit! I should've told him about that", she said, stomping her foot. Maybe she could catch back up to him.

As she turned, she took off at a jog toward Mr Garrett. "Mr Garret!! Mr Garrett!!", she yelled, in a gasp. He turned as he heard his name, and he walked back toward her, and said, "Why, Ms Brewer. Are you ok?" She laughed, breathing heavily from the jog, and says, "Oh yes, Im fine. A little out of breath, but fine. I just remembered something" His face grew curious, and says, "Yes?"

She continued with, "At the agency we belonged to together, before he took on his own agency, there were secret tunnels within the building, that held many secrets. Him and I explored them tunnels a few times, and he was just fascinated by them. Maybe a clue is hidden somewhere in the tunnels. I dont know how you go abouts getting in , but, maybe someone there will let you enter, so you can investigate. Then again, maybe not....that is a very private bunch, but, I am very good friends with the Directors so, maybe if u tell them I sent you, and who u are looking for, they will allow you to come in...as long as you dont waste time looking"

He smiles, and says, "This is a great help Makensie...Im sorry, Ms Brewer....I appreciate the lead u are giving me" She waves him off, saying, "Oh please, call me Makensie. As I said, they are a private bunch so make sure u tell them that I sent you. I dont know if them tunnels have anything to do with his disappearance or not, I am just giving u some kind of idea where to start so, if it doesnt work out...dont hate me" She chuckles, as she writes the name of the Directors to this agency, and the address. "Here you are! Good luck, Mr Garrett! Let me know how it goes. I left my number there to my office , along the bottom, should u need anything, or to fill me in on this bizarre happening"



Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Oct-28-2008 10:48

He smiles, puts the piece of paper she gave him in his coat, and says, "I will be giving u a call soon. I thank you again, you have been a wonderful help"

She turns, to walk away, and says over her shoulder, with a wink, "You are very welcome , Mr Garrett! Good luck!" She waves, once again, and continues on.

Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-29-2008 01:43


The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and Clift was lost with it.

He always got a sense of pleasure from smelling hot, steaming coffee before he drank it. He played with his spoon making slight clanking noises that seemed to have irritated in the elderly couple in the table across from him. To their relief, he put the spoon down and took one huge gulp from his cup.

Clift then took out a notebook and started to write down some of the information he gathered and his thoughts on this matter. The first words he wrote were ‘The Closers, Shanghai’ and he then scribbled an address next to it. He then wrote ‘Barry Grant Associates, Shanghai’ and he then scribbled another address.

‘Hmmm…’ Clift thought, ‘Meeting those two Directors Makensie told me about would be a good start I suppose. That would require travelling to Shanghai immediately though…’ Clift wondered if he had the time or the funds to be able to make such an expensive trip, especially since he is beginning his career. ‘Betty must’ve seen something in me that I don’t yet see in myself.’

He then took out a huge folder from his suitcase. He put it on the table and opened it. Several newspaper clippings flooded out, the first of which carried a huge headline in bold print: “Break in Case of Missing Detective” it was written by a Ms. Breit Katherine Pfeiffer Adams. Clift started reading, there was a lot of interesting news in that file.

Clift took out his witness list and wrote two additional names:
1.) Chief Inspector James Mulligan
2.) Rebecca Franks

He looked at his list and thought ‘Four people to speak to, and three of which have known addresses. I suppose I’m not doing that bad after all.’


Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-30-2008 03:00


New York Police Headquarters " 9:37 a.m.

Chief Inspector James Mulligan looked critically at Clift for a good five minutes that seemed like an eternity. He seemed like a very critical middle-aged man, the kind that formulates their opinion of you well before you begin speaking.

Before Clift attempted to explain himself further, the Chief Inspector cut him and began speaking.

“Mr. Garrett I do not take too kindly to private investigators. They meddle in police business and, more often than not, end up doing more harm than good. Now the Barry Grant case you talk of was an open and shut case. It ended almost two years ago: Barry was kidnapped, he was later found, hospitalised and he made a full and complete recovery. That was all.”

“I understand, Inspector, but you see Mr. Grant has disappeared again, he has not been seen by his family for well over a year now-”

Inspector Mulligan cut in once more. “No one has come forward with an official complaint, therefore we assume Mr. Grant is attending some private business and would like everyone else to mind their own.”

Clift swallowed a gulp of the strong tea he was offered before he continued. “I understand, but I have been hired by his family to find out some information about his whereabouts. I would not ask you to give out any classified information about the Case of the Missing Detective, but anything you would remember would be of some help.”

The Chief Inspector looked thoughtfully at Clift Garrett, he hesitated for a moment, then spoke fluidly: “I remember the case very well "it received wide coverage by the local media: Barry Grant turned up at Police Headquarters several days after his disappearance at 3:37 am, beaten, bloody and barely able to stand. He was then moved to a classified hospital run by the War Department where only close friends and family members were allowed to see him.”


Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-30-2008 03:02


Inspector Mulligan hesitated briefly then continued. “The lady whom saved him, Detective JasNmushu was also taken to the same facility. She was very badly injured... hmm... come to think of it, I am not sure she survived the whole incident... At any rate only Barry’s sister, her two children, and a friend of Barry’s which he asked for by name were authorised to visit him... a Miss Andrea X I believe her name was...”

Clift did not comment, he was scribbling everything that was being said on his pad. Inspector Mulligan began to enjoy the grandness and the importance Clift awarded his words. This prompted him to continue to speak with more excitement. “Of course, Dr. David Adams, a well-famed doctor at the War Department, handled Barry’s case. Although the police was not involved much after that "except for protection and follow up purposes-I did come across a few of the more interesting happenings the surrounded Barry’s hospitalisation.

Even though no one was allowed in to visit Barry but family and authorised personnel, there were several security breaches in the hospital during his time there. All of which directed at visiting or communicating with him.”

“Hospital breaches?” Clift suddenly became very alert and wary. “Was Mr. Grant hurt by any of this?”


Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-30-2008 03:08


Inspector Mulligan laughed heartily. “Oh by no means, it turns out they were all harmless: the first breach was by an agent working for LIONS Head International -an international law enforcement clearing house situated right outside of Paris, France. He apparently came in through the ventilation system, various report later showed.

The second intruder was a Nona D. Dictrich, a German immigrant known locally a Nonaddict. She was killed shortly after she left the hospital with a cyanide-poisoned tranquilizer dart, he murder was never solved and it remains a mystery till this day as to who wanted her dead and whether or not it had anything to do with the Barry Grant case.

Clift Garrett was entirely and genuinely fixated by the information that was pouring from the Chief Inspector , which gave the Chief Inspector all the more feeling of importance. “Now, the third breach was caused by a Miss Violet Parr, and it was the breach that received the greater amount of interest from the War Department officials.

I remember a highly publicised search for her, until she was eventually tracked in London by the U.S. and British Governments. Later questioning and research revealed that she was only tied to the case superficially. She was an old friend of Mr. Grant’s it appeared.”

“That’s a lot of information Inspector. You seem to have given this case personal attention. Anything else you can tell me?”

“That’s all I recall... except one last thing, I remember that Barry was moved to the Broadway Plaza Hotel after his hospitalisation, and remained there for the duration of his recovery. The case was out of the Police hands since the very beginning... I have friends in the War Department, but that is as far as my knowledge, and memory, can take me.”


Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-30-2008 03:14


Clift smiled. “Inspector, your input has been invaluable!”

“You’re a good kid Mr. Garrett, be careful when investigating Barry Grant, he has made some serious enemies during his time as a Detective.”

Clift responded. “From what I hear, some really good friends too.”

Chief Inspector James Mulligan couldn’t help but smile. “Indeed.”


Clift Garrett
Clift Garrett
Thespian

Oct-30-2008 14:17

***

Clift made his way out of the police station. He was pretty tired even though it was the beginning of a new day. The Barry Grant case had started to give him sleepless nights. It seemed that he was completely absorbed in the persona of Mr. Barry Grant.

It felt almost like retracing the steps of some important historical figure. Clift shook his head: he needed to focus on the case rather than Barry himself. Somehow he needed to keep the facts separate from the myth.

He needed information from Shanghai, badly, but he could not travel just yet. Not before he exhausted all of his New York leads. 'Perhaps I could get some emergency aid from Obelisk's Shanghai field office.' Clift thought merrily.

Mr. Garrett sent two telegrams that day. The first was sent to his colleague and mentor at Obelisk Inc., Mr. Jesse Hunter:

DEAR MR HUNTER STOP
NEED HELP FROM SHANGHAI STOP
ON BARRY GRANT CASE STOP
ANY INFORMATION STOP
WOULD BE HELPFUL STOP
CLIFT GARRETT

The second was sent to his newest friend, Ms. Makensie Brewer:

DEAR MAKENSIE STOP
THANKS FOR TIPS STOP
SPOKE TO CHIEF INSPECTOR STOP
MULLIGAN STOP
NEED TO FIND STOP
REBECCA FRANKS STOP
CLIFT GARRETT


Jesse Hunter
Jesse Hunter
Bibliophile

Oct-30-2008 20:41

**Shanghai, Obelisk Field Office, 2320 hrs (local)**

-tap tap-

Barely audible above the rain outside, it could hardly be called a real knock. Still, Jesse Hunter recognized it for what it was. He had heard it many times before.

“In!” he barked, not looking up from his mountain of paperwork.

The office door cracked open just wide enough to admit a slender Chinese man. Jesse was already regretting having been so gruff, since he very much liked the fellow. He was the personal assistant and agency clerk whenever Obelisk had business in this part of the world. In the last few months he had proven himself to be efficient and very thorough in his work. More importantly, Jesse could actually pronounce his name.

“What is it, Wu?”

“This just come in for you. From New York.” He handed a telegram to Jesse and then stepped back against the doorjamb, hands clasp in front of him.

“Thank you, Wu.” Jesse skimmed over the message. “Does the name Barry Grant mean anything to you?”

“Oh yes - some. Mr. Grant worked a few very… public cases here. You can maybe still read of them in the archives. Mr. Grant even had his own agency. He worked with many other agencies besides, even in other cities.”

Jesse leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. “He should leave a wide trail then. Arrange for car here tomorrow morning, as soon as the city archives are open.” He glanced at the stacks of old case files and financial documents that had chewed away the last fourteen hours of his life. “I suppose I’ve got another full day of dangerous, thrilling paperwork ahead of me.”

“As you say so, Mr. Hunter. The car will be here.” Wu backed out of the office and silently pulled the door closed.

Not wanting to brave the rain even for the short walk to his apartment, Jesse Hunter abandoned the overloaded rolltop desk and crossed the tiny office. There he settled onto a battered leather sofa for a short night’s sleep before a long day’s work.


Jesse Hunter
Jesse Hunter
Bibliophile

Oct-30-2008 20:57

**Shanghai, City Archives, the following morning**

Jesse glanced at the clock on the reading room wall. Clift Garrett usually worked late at Obelisk, but Jesse realized that he would have to hurry if he wanted to get a telegram to Clift while there was still a chance of catching the rookie still in the office.

"Well, it's not much to go on, but it's a start" Jesse thought. There was simply too much information here to process quickly. Better to give him SOMETHING to chew on right now. There would be time later to come back and dig for more detail.

"Why is it," Jesse mused as he left the archives for the telegram office, "that there's ALWAYS more time later for work? And so rarely more time NOW for anything but?"

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