Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Role Playing Stage

Dec-14-2008 20:26

"Pretty sad about that Shady fellow." Scarlet remarks as she and Ace walk down the street.
"Oh, in a week, there will be a new one. No one liked the old codger anyway." Ace replied lightheartedly.
Scarlet stops in her tracks. "Why, Ace Masters! The man was shot and killed over a card game, and you aren't the least bit upset!"
"No," Ace turns to face her, "I'm not. Shady had a purpose. That was to siphon money from detectives pockets. So, as long as there are detectives, there will be somebody nearby to take their money."
"Well, I still think it's terrible!" Scarlet remarks, walking again.
"It is terrible, I'll give you that much." Ace replies, "But, then again, Shady wasn't the most loved person in the detective world. Granted, clearing a detective record takes some doing. But, he charged a few detectives I know up to $700,000 just to clear the records."
"Well, okay, but it's still..." Scarlet is cut off by the screech of tires.

Both Ace and Scarlet turn to face a car, speeding right at them! Ace jumps out of the way, reaching at Scarlet to pull her to safety. But suddenly, she's out of reach. She's been pulled in the car! Ace falls to the ground, recovering just in time to see the shiny black sedan speeding away around the corner.

No one is on the street. Broad daylight, yes, but this isn't downtown. The hustle and bustle isn't quite as heavy way out in the suburbs.

Ace sits up on the sidewalk, amazed and crazed with worry at the same time. While Scarlet may not have been as pure as the driven snow, she was still his sister. It looks like he was going to be his own client for a change.

He was only a block or so away from his sister's apartment. They had just gone to dinner, to reminisce after all the years gone by. They had been headed back there when this little incident happened. Ace decided to go back to Scarlet's apartment, before calling on the help of a few of his

Dec-15-2008 01:42


... Mr. Clift Garrett.


***


Clift Garrett had just returned from Shanghai after, apparently, a very futile trip to find an old veteran detective by the name of Barry Grant.

It took Clift some months of searching all over for Barry, and though there were several sightings of him, at the end, he never managed to find him.

As a detective, Clift knew that many had some scores to settle with Barry, and having thought about the matter thoroughly, he decided that he did not want anything to do with it.

After all he included Makensie Brewer who was herself in risk due to what happened. As well as Miss Violet Parr had double-crossed several underworld factions and defied many in her audacious attempts to save her very good friend.

Clift decided he wants to leave the matter to rest and get away from the past and focus on his present moment.

He was sitting in his favorite place for reflection: the Cacophony Conservatory where the sound of ill-tuned instruments filled the air.

Angela Caban, the Music Teacher, was as usual on her lunch break and had left Clift to his reflection.

“Mr. Garrett?” someone interrupted Clift’s daydreaming.

Dec-15-2008 01:44


Clift turned to the man and noticed a tall and strikingly handsome-looking fellow standing by the Conservatory door.

“Do I know you?” Clift replied absent-mindedly.

“No, but you know my sister." The man answered him. "I am Mr. Ace Masters, my sister Scarlett Masters is a well-known author whom wrote one of the plays you performed through your acting career. You surely remember the writer of ‘Damsel in Distress’?”

Clift face lit up with a knowing smile. “Yes I remember Scarlett... very well actually, and I do remember ‘Damsel in Distress’ I starred in that play against Vivienne Garrett my sister.”

Ace nodded in recognition of Vivienne Garrett, and Clift frowned slightly. They both knew each other’s sisters which did not seem very appropriate.

Ace Masters spoke again. “I need you to tell me what you knew about Scarlett during her involvement in the Broadway production.”

Clift raised an eyebrow. “Now, wait just one minute Mister… You are Scarlett’s brother and you should just go and ask her. Plus, I am no longer an actor, my days at Broadway are over by far. I cannot be held responsible for any memory to do with Broadway.”

Ace Masters was slightly shocked. “You are no longer an actor? Then what are you?”

“I’m a private detective, a rookie at Obelisk Inc.”

Dec-15-2008 07:42

"Well, good for you! I'm also a P.I., an agent at Hunter's Academy."
"So we're fellow private eyes?" Clift asked. They both flashed a badge, a telltale sign, of course.
"Okay, I'll answer your questions, friend. Maybe I'll help you on the case. I knew Scarlett quite well."
"You better not have known her TOO well." Ace chuckled.
After a quick laugh, Clift spoke up again, "Well, to answer your earlier question, I'm not entirely sure. Scarlett had a few problems with the producer of that play, but then again, tell me, what writer doesn't?"
"That's a point," Ace remarked as he took a chair, "Did she have any problems with the cast or crew? Maybe the director?"
"Not that I can remember. It was somewhat of a long time ago."
"Do you remember anyone named..." Ace paused as he took a paper from his pocket, "Jerome Williams?"
"Rome? Oh, I knew Rome quite well! He was also an actor back on Broadway!" Clift stated.
"Well, then, maybe you can explain this for me." Ace handed Clift another paper.

Clift took it and read it over. It was some sort of letter, addressed from Jerome to Scarlett:

"Dear Scarlett,

You don't know how much you've hurt me. Maybe I should show you sometime. I'd watch your back.

~Jerome~"

After reading the letter, Clift spoke up again, "I don't know what to make of this. They never had anything between them, in fact, Rome hated Scarlett for as long as I can remember. How she hurt him, I won't know."
"You wouldn't happen to have a current address or anything of that sort?"
"No, I don't. When I became a P.I., he was still working the area. I'm sure you could turn something up at City Hall, though."