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Double Exposure
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Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Jul-7-2010 12:44

At least four things had gone wrong in the relatively short expanse of Molly Malteses morning. One, her daughter Annabelle had once again given her nurse the slip and was now not in lessons as a girl should be, but presumably venturing around the streets of New York like a rampant little urchin.

Two, she hadn't had a respectable case in a good long while, and her understatedly extravagant lifestyle would soon be getting mighty uncomfortable if the veritable drought of business didn't end soon. She was a private investigator in New York, for heavens sakes, one would think there was a murder on every street corner to be looked after.

Three, she hadn't had coffee this morning, and so she was very irate in general. And four, the police were currently handcuffing her hands behind her back.

"You're sure this is the one you saw?" the older of the pair asked the man standing on the sidewalk. He had a deep, rumbling voice and grey whiskers. The man on the sidewalk nodded vehemently, and the younger officer took this as a cue to yank Molly towards their van, throwing her off balance wildly.

"I've never seen this man before in my life!" she said in supremely haughty tones, drawing herself with effort up to her impressive height of 5"11. Her green eyes were hard peridot, casting a glare sharp enough to cut.

"Yeah, because by all accounts you were too busy murderin' that poor fool to notice!" the younger policeman barked in her ear, yanking her head back by her long curtain of vibrant copper hair. She gasped, and taking that as a sign of his victory, the officer sneered and threw her into the back of the car.

"I was home all evening, you bloody imbecile!" she barked, furious as tears welled up involuntarily in her eyes in direct reaction to having half her hair nearly pulled out.

"Tell it to the judge." was all she heard the policeman mutter before the door slammed shut with an authoratative bang. Molly swore colorfully, then took a deep breath.

Replies

Andrew Corelli
Andrew Corelli
Huntsman

Oct-5-2010 12:35

"Ok, Miss Blankenship, this piece of evidence shows that you had a hand in the murder of Mister Morrison, and you don't have a great alibi, it's a lie" detective Corelli was smiling, another case closed, the cops arrested miss Blankenship, and almost like fog on a summer day, everyone dissapeared, except for that little man with the big suit and a hat too big for his head, he was known as the Toe, but Corelli hated nicknames, it was enough with a name.

"Larry, what brings you here?"

"Well, word on the streets says that you caught the one that gave the big sleep to old Morrison."

"Yeah" said Corelli, while he lit a cigarette, he had too much work to waste time in some idle talk.

"Well, you know... that fella, Morrison, he owed me some dough..."

"Yeah, yeah, silly of me, this isn't the first time that happens, I actually know the script, you can tell me something about some great place that it's actually of no use for me, and only for $500, right?" it didn't sound quite bad, Corelli could grab a drink..., or two...

"It's actually $700"

"What!?"

"Well, that doll, the one that ran away, she was spotted in Big Lucy's."

"I'll give you $500, just because you want to recover your money, but with my luck she's gone by now."

Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Oct-5-2010 12:43

She stood halfway in the shadows cascading in some dark corner of Lucys Cabaret and watched the little scene unfold. The man, a detective friend of Molly's coming in, taking a seat. Mere moments later, a primly dressed blonde joining him. It took her a double-take to realize that the petite face underneath the blonde wig and horn-rimmed glasses mirrored her own exactly. What a tacky disguise, she thought sniffily. Blonde looked terrible on their snowy complexion. Pink was far from their color.

Presently, the two at the bar got up to leave, and after biting her lip, she decided to follow. She caught a taxi, asked it to tail the two as subtly as possible, and wrote down the address where they parked and went inside. Drawing a hood down over her hair, she ducked in after them a little ways, and wrote down the apartment number.

Stepping outside, she stopped in a nearby store and asked to use the phone. Dialing a number, she lifted the mouthpiece and fired off the address into the phone, instructing the person on the other end, a waiter in Lucy's to give the police the address straightaway if they came to inquire. With a small smile, she turned and blended away into the throng of people on the busy New York streets.

Andrew Corelli
Andrew Corelli
Huntsman

Oct-8-2010 21:55

Corelli silently closed the door of the car, his squad was waiting for orders but everyone could feel the heavy atmosphere. In a susurre Corelli said:

"Ok, people, this is a mob controlled neighbourhood, we cannot make any mistake or we're going to end up with our share of lead" everyone was silently nodding, Corelli could see the perfection of her plan, she was hiding in a place where a police officer wouldn't enter, and because of that he thought that was the perfect movement, no one would expect him to do something like this "Harry, I need you to enter with all the squad after Pat and me; and remember, no remorse"

Corelli walked to the door, the music was loud enough, it was definitely the place, his informant wasn't lying, "This is it, no remorse" yet, he wasn't quite sure about that, and as soon as he opened the door he was reached by a wave of colours, smells and noise, after all, he was in Big Lucy's cabaret.

"Pat, go grab a drink"

"What about you boss? Want a drink?"

"Nah, I'm going to take a look around here..."

Pat had a big grin in his face.

"I'm actually going to look for the suspect, Miss Maltese"

The big grin was still there, Corelli just sighed.


Andrew Corelli
Andrew Corelli
Huntsman

Oct-8-2010 21:55

***

Just the usual crowd, everyone having fun, except for Corelli who was in his limit, two days without sleeping before the Maltese case, and he was completely sure that he wasn't going to get any sleep 'til the return of the Chief.
The mirror in the bathroom had an obscene scribble enough to make him smile, but the reflex in the mirror just showed him a pathetic look of himself, the black curly hair was a mess and the shade of a growing beard wasn't helping him.

"Detective, I've been looking for you..., are you ok?" said Harry, the youngest officer in the department.

"Yeah... what is it?"

"The waiter just told us that the suspect was seen leaving the place with a man”

"The suspect? Oh, Miss Maltese, right"

"And he gave us an address..."


Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Oct-9-2010 14:38

The rap came sharp at the door, and Mollys head whipped around alertly. Marc had left 10 or 15 minutes before- he wouldn't need to knock on the door of his apartment. Thinking quickly, she tore off the wig and the glasses, casting them into a corner behind the couch.

A knock came again, and then a sharp voice.

"Police. We know you're in there, Miss Maltese. Open the door or we'll break it down!" She narrowed her eyes. She recognized that voice. Detective Andrew Corelli.

She picked up a knife and hurriedly scratched out a series of letters on the wall. The clock was ticking, and sweat beaded on her brow.

YZGGUIB YLZIWDZOP. MLLM.

Throwing down the knife, she ran to the window and threw it open, clambering out onto the metal fire escape just as the door shuddered dangerously. One heeled shoe disappeared out of sight just as it splintered inward.

She raced down the ladder as fast as her precarious heels would allow, imagining the officers tearing through the apartment upstairs. Reaching the last rung, she sighed in relief and turned around- to bounce square off of Detective Andrew Corelli's chest and go staggering backwards. He smiled at her, a gun in his raised hand.

"Sorry, Miss Maltese. Oldest trick in the book, fire escapes. I hope you'll go quietly." he said, showing her the handcuffs he gripped in his other palm. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Corelli, you don't understand. Its a frame-up, I didn't do in that man. If you arrest me, you'll never catch her."

"Catch who?" he said in the lazy tone of someone who didn't believe a word of what he was hearing.

"The double." she said with quiet conviction. Corelli gave a chuckle, and seeing her expression didn't change, sobered.

"Really, Miss Maltese. Thats the weakest story I've ever heard." he said indulgently. "Come along now."

"I'm serious, Corelli. It's so unbelievable it works, and she's not done causing trouble just yet. If you take me in now, we're all headed for some serious trouble."

Andrew Corelli
Andrew Corelli
Huntsman

Oct-10-2010 22:21

That was the first miracle Corelli saw in the interrogation room: a resurrection through coffee, Molly Maltese was quite calmed even in her circumstances, she was even enjoying the coffee while Corelli was looking at the file.

"Molly Maltese, profession: private investigator..., known associates: Marc Lacrimosa, Joseph Zeo..., age: ... I never thought that you..., Sorry. Well, miss Maltese, as you can see we have a file about you, we have files about everyone, and I must say it looks really good, not a single antecedent which is kind of strange on the other hand, so tell me, why do you murdered mister...?"

"Oh, my... I told you, you're making a mistake, it was my double and we need to go after her before..." her white-like-porcelain face remained calmed.

"Look, miss Maltese, I've already heard that one, as a matter of fact, this file also includes a really brief note, it suggest the possibility that you're not who you say you are" the porcelain lady took a really good hit and she wasn't breaking, Corelli continued "Apparently a long time ago there was a girl by the name of... Amelia de Maltesse, a socialite, married to some local rich, mister... oh, yes..., Jack Billings, well mister Billings claimed that her wife died in some tragic incident, an apartment on fire, have you heard something about it?"

"No"

(Continue)

Andrew Corelli
Andrew Corelli
Huntsman

Oct-10-2010 22:21

"No smart comments miss Maltese? Well, it looks like the coroner in the case identified the remains of Amelia de Maltesse, the detective on charge of the case wasn't quite happy with the results and found that someone set on fire the apartment, and even that the victim wasn't Amelia de Maltesse, some politicians put a lid on the case..., and then, a few years later, out of nothing enters into scene the detective Molly Maltese, who, according to some witnesses, looks exactly like the late Amelia de Maltesse, and starts a crusade against Jack Billings' Hellfire club. So, Miss Amelia de Maltesse, it looks like that thing about the double isn't a new thing, wouldn't you say?

Molly Maltese listened Corelli's rant, her blue eyes looking at the steaming coffee, thinking; after a few minutes, when she was about to say something, Harry opened the door.

"Detective Corelli, I... uh... think we need your help..."

"Harry, for god's sake, I'm busy..."

"Outside there's a group of armed men, and it looks like it has something to do with the suspect, Miss Maltese."

"Come on, Miss Maltese, it looks like this isn't going to be an easy case"

Corelli removed Molly's handcuffs and they left the interrogation room.


M. Lacrimosa
M. Lacrimosa
Thespian

Oct-11-2010 20:52

The bar that Marc walked into wasn't far from the building where he had left Molly. It was about a five minute drive, just around the block. Marc walked in to find his "contact" as Marc called him. His "contact" was somewhat similar to the city's shady guy who sat in the back of the Tricky Mister. Marc sat down in front of him and the man smiled.

"Marc Lacrimosa," the man said with smile that revealed yellow teeth, "it's good to see you around here."

"You too Sal," Marc said, "but I'm not here for chatting. I need some information and quick. I haven't got much time. I need to know about a certain double."

"A double? Like a twin?"

"Well, sort of. A friend of mine is being accused of a crime she didn't commit. She claims that it is someone who looks like here. Of course, the police wont' listen to here because that's what everyone else has said."

"I know nothing about a double for your friend." Sal said. His attention quickly went out side the window and back to Marc. "But I will tell you this. If you are going to find your friend's 'double' then you will need to start outside the city and work your way in. She is not safe here. You need to get her and get out." Sal continued, "I know some information about doubles being involved in murders. There have been cases of a few look-a-likes that have landed innocent people behind bars."

Marc cut him short. "Thanks, Sal." Marc said and left leaving Sal a small reward. Marc stepped outside and lit up a cigarette. No sooner had he put out the match when a couple of cars sped past where he was standing. His eyes followed them. The driver..Andrew Corelli. And in the back was none other than Molly. Swearing under his breath, Marc ran back inside the bar and grabbed Sal. "They got Molly." Marc said quickly.

They got back to the safe house and could see the room and the open window where Molly had tried to go out through the fire escape. "Let's go," Marc said. He and Sal got out and ran up the stairs and into his room.


M. Lacrimosa
M. Lacrimosa
Thespian

Oct-11-2010 21:07

"Look for any type of clue," Marc said. Not twenty seconds later that he said that, Sal spoke up. "Found something," He said.

It was a message carved into the wall by Molly. YZGGUIB YLZIWDZOP. MLLM.

Marc closed his eyes and sighed deeply. They had gotten her. And now he was going to have to get her out for the second time.

"Damn it!" Marc yelled slamming his fist down on the table. "There is no legal way to get her out, Sal" Marc said. All Sal could do was nod in agreement. Marc was now pissed off. And he hated being pissed off.

Marc and Sal sat down looking at the door that had a hole in it. Marc shook his head and placed his face in the palm of his hands. "I have no clue what to do."

Sal said nothing. After a moment of silence, Sal spoke up. "I have an idea. We need to get your friend an alibi for the time of the murder. " Sal said. "The question is, will she play along with it if she knows that we are trying to help?"

"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" Marc replied grabbing his car keys. "Let's go, I think I have an idea." Marc said. Then they headed to the police station.

Vulkie3
Vulkie3
Haynes

Oct-12-2010 10:03

Vulkie saw how Marc and a pal of his jumped into the car, heading towards an unknown destination.

"So you're in it too, Marc? Trying to help a friend out?" Vulkie murmered and she quickly walked towards Molly's apartment, clicking with the high heels she was wearing.

As Vulkie entered the apartment, she saw something carved in a wall.

"YZGGUIB YLZIWDZOP. MLLM."

Vulkie grabbed a pen, some paper and began to think up loud what the solution was.

As she noticed an open newspaper, she saw a hint that gave it away. "That's it! Clever, Molly, veeeerry clever" Vulkie thought and began to decipher the message.

"An E there, an N there... Yes, that's it. Now I know where to find you. Don't worry Molly, I'll help you. No matter... what" Vulkie murmered, as she had a small flashback of what she and Molly went through in the past few years.

Suddenly, Vulkie was a bit scared by a blow of the wind and as she turned back to the message, she saw a figure sitting at the other end of the table. A figure she had not seen for a while...

"Ace... My friend... she's in trouble... The police probably took her away, as I noticed that the door had a hole in it. Molly wouldn't shoot just randomly, unless she got a reason for it. And believe me, she has a few reasons to do it, only for one person" Vulkie said to Ace, trying to keep a grin away from her face.

"Go to the place she wanted to meet your other friend, Marc. She'll probably show up there when she is free again..." Ace replied and as another blow of the wind shut the door, Vulkie turned around and quickly looked back, staring at the empty space where her boyfriend would sit, if he was alive...

Vulkie took her coat, went to her car and started it, shifting it into the right gear.

"Hold on Molly... I'll help you" Vulkie murmered and Vulkie pulled into the traffic, heading to the place where she wanted to meet the person who could decipher the code...

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