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The Murder of the Boxer
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Acemaster
Acemaster
Well-Connected

Jan-20-2009 12:15

((In case you missed the other threads, check out: The USS Sleuthetania, the any location place ;), and The Expecting Miss Violet Parr.))

Ah, France. Not just France, but Paris, France.

Scarlett, Clift, Ace, and Vivienne decided to cut their wonderful trip to New York short. They had lost Violet, but they were to meet her when they got into Paris.

Clift picked up a newspaper. "MURDER IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT!" was emblazoned across the top of the page. Clift red it for a few moments as Ace chattered with Scarlett and Vivienne. They waited for Violet outside of a little cafe, knowing they'd be waiting for a while.

"Wow!" Clift interrupted his friends, "Guess who's dead?"
"Who?" Scarlett jumped.
"Joey Bane."
"Bane is dead?" Ace inquired.
"Apparently he murdered a man and was shot down by police."
"Who was the man?" Vivvy asked.
"I don't know. It doesn't go into it."
"What happened?" Scarlett asked.
"Foot pursuit on the docks. They shot him and he went over the rail into the ocean. They didn't find the body for several hours."

Just then, Violet's cab pulled up. The group hadn't yet reserved a table, so they grabbed one now.

"Remember, Ace." Scarlett asked, "No ketchup!"
"Ha ha ha." Ace mocked, "And no soda! Especially not in Italy."
"We are in France, not the boot of Europe." Violet spoke up from behind.
"Hey, Violetta!" Ace teased.
"Hey, Tonail." Everyone laughed at the comeback.

Replies

Abdur Rahman Ahmad
Abdur Rahman Ahmad

Jan-29-2009 06:07

(This part is not in the story.
First thing I want to say is that I and Yousuf are the same user.
Second thing is that I apologise for any grammer or spelling mistakes as English is not my first language.
Thank you!)

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:44

*back in the apartment, while the cops were distracted outside*

“This place is starting to get a bit too crowded for my taste” grumbled Bane as Yousuf Ahmad was rushing out of the building. “Is he a friend of yours?” asked him upon turning his eyes towards Abdur Rahman.

“Yes…and a dear one, in fact” replied Abdur who was now standing in front of a mirror, arranging steadily his tie. He was still acting as if this was the most common situation in his life.

Upon adjusting also the position of his hat, he started gathering his things up from the table. Bane was standing in the door frame, still holding the gun in his hand and not being sure if he should raise it up again or not. Abdur noticed his hesitation and started speaking in a calm but emphatic voice: “Mr. Bane, holding that weapon in plain sight will not be a good thing if one of your neighbors should happen to step out in the hallway, so I suggest you holster it. We both know you are not going to try and kill me, as I am worth more to you alive; to you and…most likely also to your freedom, I may add.”

Joey raised his head up and looked into Abdur Rahman’s eyes, suddenly realizing that in the fast succession of events he didn’t get a chance to finish his interrogation…or even to actually start it, for that matter. Abdur Rahman smiled at him as if he was able to read his mind as an open book and the continued in the same manner: “Yes, Mr. Bane, your logic did not fail you. I did come here with a certain interest and I can also assure you it is in your benefit. I do realize there are quite a lot of variables to your current situation, but one thing is sure: the police are right outside and I don’t know if my friend Yousuf will manage to only stall them or ditch them completely. This leads to the conclusion that we need to make an exit.”

“WE?”

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:45

“Yes, Mr. Bane, WE will leave together. Now…since the front door is not exactly an option under the current circumstances, I suggest we use another exit.”

Bane weighted all his options for a moment and then decided to agree with the man. “Ok, Mr. Ahmad, we go together. This building is though on the river bank, so there is no back door to it, only…please follow me.” Joey led the way to the bedroom, unveiling the tunnels access hatch.

A grin of disgust appeared on Abdur Rahman’s face upon comprehending Bane’s suggestion. “Hmmm…are you absolutely sure there is no other way?”

“Afraid to get a bit of dirt on your fancy suit, Mr. Ahmad?” Bane laughed. “Well…I guess there is also the river…”

“I fail to appreciate your humor, Mr. Bane. Please lead the way.”

“Hold on!” said Joey reaching under the bed and pulling out what seemed to look like a case file. “Ok, we’re good to go now.”

Bane went down the small ladder into the tunnel and lighted a small headlight he found at hand at the bottom. “Are you just going to stay there rubbing your hands, mister? Come on down…and hurry up a bit. We ain’t sightseeing here, you know…”

Upon Abdur Rahman reaching the pavement of the catacombs, Bane climbed the ladder back again and slammed the flap door, in an attempt to make the carpet fall over it and cover it completely. “Let’s move now!”

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:46

*a couple of minutes after the two had left*

Yousuf Ahmad was standing in the middle of the apartment, looking around and trying to find a clue about where his friend and Joey Bane might have disappeared to…and also how, for that matter. His detective instincts kicked in as he started to slowly walk around the room. “Let’s see now…they did not come out through the front door, as I would have seen them. This building doesn’t have a back door, so…they either climbed up on the roof or there’s some secret exit around here somewhere.” He looked out on the window. “Hmmm…I strongly doubt they have got out swimming. Let’s try the bedroom…these old houses all have hatches to the tunnels.”

It didn’t take him long to find the flap door, but he had doubts about them having used it, as it was fully covered by a carpet. “I don’t believe an old prize fighter like Mr. Bane would pay so much attention to details in order to cover his tracks so good.” Upon turning around to exit the room he noticed something sparkling on the bed. He picked it up and a smile flourished on his face: “Abdur Rahman’s golden sleeve button. I knew he’d leave a clue for me. So…they’ve gone underground. This means Abdur will lead Bane to our usual safe place. I know where to find them now.”

He put the button in his pocket and left.

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:46

*in the tunnels*

Joey was leading the way holding the headlight up in front of his eyes. He had no clue where he was heading to. After a few minutes Abdur got a bit fed up with his aimless wandering and decided to stop Bane in his tracks by firmly placing a hand on his shoulder: “Mr. Bane, it is already obvious you have no idea where you’re going. Please hand over that headlight and follow me.”

Bane turned around in surprise: “You mean you know your way around these caves?”

“Indeed I do. You see…I had to use them myself once before…in the past.”

“Ok then…but…HOLD ON! Where the hell are you taking me?”

Abdur shook his head in a displeasure gesture and adopted a serious attitude speaking emphatically: “Mr. Bane, your lack of trust had already seized to be amusing and it’s about to turn into just a distasteful and poor manner of communication. I will indulge though and answer your question: we will be heading to a safe place, a summer residence belonging to a friend of mine in Paris. The mansion is isolated and uninhabited for the time being. We will be able to talk there without anyone disturbing us. Now please stop any nonsense and follow me. Also…” he added “keep your voice down around here. These tunnels are not actually as empty as you might believe and we wouldn’t want some uninvited guest jumping at our throats, if you understand what I mean.”

Although Joey had his doubts about following a man he just met, he also realized he didn’t have much of a choice in managing to find his way through this labyrinth. So, he decided to comply with the situation for the moment, mumbling something just for himself: “There seems to be more to this guy than meets the eye on the first view…hmmm.”

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:47

*a couple of hours later, inside the mansion*

“Damn!” exclaimed Joey while climbing up the ladder. “I felt as if I’ll never see the light of day again. I now know how a rat’s life feels like: trapped and distasteful. Absolutely DISTASTEFUL!” He straightened up and took a look around, realizing they were inside what seemed to be an old wine cellar. He followed Abdur up the stairs until they ended up in a large, but cozy library room. Like all the other chambers they’ve passed through, this one presented very stylish and expensive decorations. It was obviously the house of a wealthy man. Bane took a look out on the window noticing that indeed, as Abdur said, they seemed to be somehow in the middle of nowhere.

“No one will find you here” reassured Abdur. “The house will be empty for another week.”

“Ok…is there any strong booze in this house? My throat has gotten really dry from all that walking in the tunnels.” He headed to the cabinet Abdur pointed at and took out, with satisfaction in his eyes, a whiskey bottle. Upon gulping a first shot he took the bottle and a glass and sat himself at the small table in the middle. “Ok, Mr. Ahmad…I’m listening. Now what exactly is your story?”

Abdur Rahman Ahmad also made himself comfortable and took a seat into a large armchair by the chimney.

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:49

“All right, Mr. Bane. I shall answer your questions now. Allow me thus to start with the beginning and properly introduce myself.” Joey leaned himself back in his armchair and took another sip, as Abdur continued: “My name, as I have said, is Abdur Rahman Ahmad. I am indeed a businessman and a successful one at that, I might add. I also used to be your fan…well…until you have decided to take that fall in New Orleans. It was a poor decision, may I say…I never understood your reasons. You had all that it takes to be a champion.”

“Old times, old and forgotten sins, Mr. Ahmad. I had the same chance of being a champ as any kid who grew up on the New York streets: none. Now please move ahead the story to the present time. What were you looking for in my apartment and what is your involvement in regard of my current situation?”

“You see, Mr. Bane…business can be really boring, so from time to time I tend to…meddle a bit in different stories that I may find to be interesting. Upon coming to France on business, I noticed the newspaper article and since I had some spear time at hand, I decided to look into it. Using my contacts I have managed to track down most of your moves since you had left New York. I have learned thus about your dead client in London and also that you disembarked in France only to deliver the killer in the authorities’ hands. Then I have wondered myself what the reason was for you remaining here, since the Crown Odyssey was headed to New York and Aquitaine was just a simple stop. Now, at this point things started to get complicated. I had to use all my connections in order to finally learn that you were actually entrusted with another mission, by no one other than the English police investigator who came all the way here to pick up your prisoner...

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:49

...He asked you to track down a certain person. Considering the event in Aquitaine, your disappearance presented as a death and then the charges that have been recently brought to you, I started to suspect that you are involved in something big, weather you know it or not. I started thus to believe that this man the English are looking for is actually important also to the French police, or…to someone with the power of influencing it. How and why, I do not know. Now…at this point all the doors have started to shut in my face, one after another. The only thing I had left to do was to try and get any information you had and then link it somehow to mine. That is the reason for which I broke into your apartment.”

Abdur took a small break crossing his hands on his chest. “Now, Mr. Bane, I think it is your turn to tell me a story. Even though I got stuck in my research, if we put 2 and 2 together we have a chance of making at least a minor breakthrough in your case. With my connections and power of influence we might even be able to clear out your name in the end.”

Bane took a long moment of silence, compiling all that he had heard. Even though he learned nothing new, Abdur’s opinion in this matter was very similar to his. Also, the man in front of him had the ability to open doors that Joey couldn’t even reach. Thus he decided to come forward with…at least part of the truth.

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:50

“Ok, Mr. Ahmad” he said “I’ll try to give you some more pieces of this puzzle. Maybe us two working together will provide me a real chance to putting all this mess behind me.” He gulped another shot and started: “Indeed I have been hired by…the English police, I thought, to find this man.” He pushed forward the file he had brought with him from the apartment. “This record contains all the data that has been given to me about him.” Abdur picked up the file and started looking over it. Bane then continued: “You will not find much in there. It seems to be a file put together only on ‘need to know’ basis. It does not contain the reason for which he is hunted. Apparently, he is some successful detective who had retired and started to leave off his savings, quite generous ones as I understand. Also he seems slipped quite heavy into an alcohol addiction. I’ve been informed he is currently travelling around the world and has been last spotted in France. I do not know if he is hiding or not, but apparently he seems to be a very hard man to find due to his habit of being always on the move.” Joey picked up the bottle and poured himself another drink. “Now, as a first step I’ve managed to track down a connection between him and some interlope figures right there in Aquitaine. Things didn’t work so well though between me and them, as they have sent a cleaner after me. That was the man I killed…in self defense, of course. I did, however manage to find out my target was in Paris. Upon my shooting and fall into the waters, I had enough luck to be found by some friends who patched me up and put me on a train to here.”

Joey stopped for a moment thinking whether he should go ahead or not.

“You do understand, Mr. Bane, that in order to be able to help you I need to know at least all you know, don’t you?”

Joey
Joey "Bulldog" Bane
Washed Up Punter

Jan-30-2009 12:51

Abdur was right. This has decided Bane to continue the story: “Upon arriving in Paris, I did manage to find out his whereabouts. It took me some time though and also I had to put my persuasion skills to it. I could’ve contacted the English inspector about a week ago, but something told me I should look into this deeper. Somehow this guy did not seem to be the usual perpetrator, so I wanted to know more about the reasons he is hunted for. Unfortunately I have not been able to come out with much, but I did learn though that he is considered to be in possession of some documents related to an old and complicated case…the disappearance of a famous detective. That case was closed, but apparently pieces are still missing and someone appears to be trying hard to get hold of them all.”

Bane took another sip from his glass and decided to end the story: “Now that is practically all I know about this subject. My interest at this point is just to clear my name, so I figure I can work this in two ways. On one hand I may try to get hold of that information. I think that if I have it I can trade it for clearing my name. There is also a second approach and with this I will need your help. I’m sure the police have nothing on me, as all those charges are bogus. I need to check their case…see who’s name is written on the report regarding me. I figure if I know that name I’ll have a place to start and work my way up to the ones who really generated all this mess. So…since you claim you wish to help me and obviously you have friends in the police, I think you could work on the official leads. Meanwhile I’ll try to do the dirty work and see about this man and what he holds.”

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