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Devils In The Nectar: An RP Stage Short
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Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Sep-10-2012 20:17

CASE/ RP TITLE : "Devils In the Nectar"
CASE CLASSIFICATION: Homicide
DATE: 13 November 1934
LOCATION: The Sahara Nightclub, New York City, New York

VICTIM NAME: Janie Eugenides
VICTIM AGE: 23
VICTIM PROFESSION: Chorus Girl (read: exotic dancer), employed at The Sahara Nightclub, NY

CAUSE OF DEATH: Lethal poisoning (unknown compound)
CRIME SCENE DETAILS:
Victim found in dressing room of nightclub, slumped over makeup counter. Apparent distress of victim- discoloration of face, swollen tongue, rash on arms, forcible evacuation of stomach.
NOTE: Bottle of red wine, overturned on counter before victim.
NOTE: Bouquet of flowers on counter before victim. Addressed to "JUNO- Thy voice is like sweet nectar'. from AMBROSE BIERCE.
NOTE: Victim discovered by fellow chorus girl, VERA ELSPETH.


NOTE: Due to staffing demands, case has been turned over to private investigations agency.



Replies

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Sep-26-2012 18:44

Vulkie took immediate inventory of the items, 1 spare badge, 1 pistol, 1 brown leather wallet containing $24.59, and a folded piece of paper. She unfolded the note and read it to herself:

"I can't do this anymore. You need to make this right, and you know what needs to be done. Either go to your wife and tell her what's been going on between us, or I will.

-J"

"Mr. VonVictor!" Vulkie shouted, "You would dare try to hide this from me?"

"Now look here girlie," Heimlich said nervously, "I meant to inventory that... I er... I forgot it was in my pocket. These things happen when you get to be my age. No harm done..."

Vulkie stared at the old man. Could she trust him? Could the note have been addressed to him? Did he really just make an honest mistake?

"Well," Heimlich said quickly, "I think we've found all that we can here. I'm going to interview some more witnesses." He quickly moved out of the dressing room, and Vulkie followed.

Heimlich immediately caught sight of a chorus girl standing by the door. "Hey!" he shouted at her, "Just what do you think you're doing?" He grabbed her arm and locked eyes with her, "Just what did you hear?" he demanded. The girl was absolutely speechless as Heimlich dragged her off.

Vulkie began to follow when she felt an arm on her shoulder. "Ah, there you are dear. I've been looking all over!" Molly said with a smile, "One of our regulars, a Miss Riza Hawkeye, seems to have disappeared for a few hours with no accounting for her whereabouts. I've just now come across her, and I knew you'd want to speak with her."

Riza Hawkeye
Riza Hawkeye
First Nomad

Sep-26-2012 19:55

Riza sat slumped over her table, one hand clutching a half-empty glass of amber fluid and the other caught in the tangles of her obsidian hair. Her head was pounding, and even whispers sent spasms through her head.

So a girl had been killed, big deal. It wasn’t like people didn’t die every day. And those damn nosy-bodies had leapt on it like beggars on scraps.

Riza saw things. She heard things. But no one ever saw her as more than the drunken woman. Partaking in a fair share of drink may have dulled her senses, but not her mind. It was an interesting gathering of people here tonight. And it seemed everyone had something to hide.

Riza had decided several things that night regarding those present. The man she had run into earlier wasn’t to be trusted. The woman accompanying him was a hothead. That smooth-talker was no idiot. And that Maltese woman…well, she was a tough one to read. Riza just derived great pleasure from aggravating her.

Upon seeing two figures approaching her, Riza sat to pour herself another drink, but found the bottle to be empty. She flung it across the room, where it smashed against the wall.

Riza didn’t feel well. She stood up unsteadily, but found her path blocked by the hotheaded woman whom Molly was introducing.

“Gout mah way,” Riza slurred.

“Miss Hawkeye, I need to ask you a few questions regarding--”

“Moo!” With a sudden burning sensation, Riza violently projected the contents of her stomach onto the front of the woman, who stepped back in disgust.

Riza stood up unsteadily and began to stagger over to the table with flowers on it which seemed to contain a bottle of wine she could have. Approaching the table, she saw a wilting bouquet of flowers. And there was a note attached. Curious, Riza leaned in closer to inspect the writing. Losing her footing, she tumbled forward and caused the table and all its contents to go crashing to the ground.

Riza Hawkeye
Riza Hawkeye
First Nomad

Sep-26-2012 19:56

An outraged voice barked at her from behind. “What the HELL do you think you’re doing? Get away from that!” A pair of hands pulled up by the shoulders.

Riza turned and began to laugh: a cruel, hyena-like laugh which gave her the appearance of being deranged. “Wuff header, Valerie,” she mumbled, throwing a glance at the mess both on the ground and on the woman.

“Victoria!” the woman screeched. “And I’ve had just about enough of--”

“Note,” Riza interrupted, gesturing vaguely. “Ehh…flowers.”

“What?”

“Beers,” she said pointedly. “Devil dick knee.” She paused a moment at the blank look on Vulkie’s face. “Neck turd,” she said slowly, as if talking to a particularly slow child.

Riza swayed, squinting. She then meandered back to her seat, muttering something which sounded to Vulkie suspiciously like “idiot.”

Wolf Girl 22
Wolf Girl 22

Sep-26-2012 20:08

Heimlich yanked Therian into an empty room. She turned and blinked at the rather angry man. He was yelling his head off, his face turning positively red. She forced back a smirk.

"ANSWER ME! WHY WERE YOU BACK THERE?" He snapped again. Therian made no attempt to answer. VonVictor's fury was bubbling over. He had had enough with the young chorus girl. She sighed and decided to answer before she was shot.

"My name is Therian Wolf." her quiet voice came out just over a whisper. He had barely heard it.

"That wasn't the question." He glared.

"It wasn't?" She blinked and tilted her head.

"The question was, why were you back there and what did you hear?" Therian bit her lip a moment in thought.

"I didn't hear anything come to think of it.... Should I have?"

"Why were you there?" He watched her carefully. She shrugged and quit talking again. Heimlich wouldn't be able to make her talk by yelling threats. He would have to think of something more creative.
Therian sat down in a chair beside the small table in the room. She acted nervous for a minute then suddenly acted like she owned the world. Heimlich couldn't tell if she was serious or playing with him... He watched her closely, suddenly her eyes widened ever so slightly as someone walked up behind VonVictor.

Jack Billings
Jack Billings
Thespian

Sep-27-2012 00:01

"Why, what a terribly indecorous way to speak to a lady...Von Victor, wasn't it?" Jack Billings purred in his supine way, ambling up behind the two with his hands in his pockets. He wore an impeccable, expensive cream-colored three-piece suit that seemed out of place against the dingy blue wallpaper that was peeling of the aged walls behind him. Von Victor looked up from Therian, his rheumy eyes narrowing.

"Who the hell are you?" he barked gruffly, but of course he knew. Everyone knew who Jack Billings was. He was half the reason there was an audience seated inside the Sahara most nights, the reason that B-list celebrities and businessmen graced its tacky tables. Society attracts society, and Jack Billings' penchant for remaining in the audience slowly but surely increased the number and pedigree of its clientele. This is why, it was well-known, Jack Billings was given the star treatment. Comped drinks all the time, and the staff and girls were under orders to keep him coming back at all costs. Not to mention the depth of his pockets was an attractive marker in and of itself- that is why most of the girls had no problem bending his way.

"Don't be silly, Von Victor." Jack said breezily, waving away the question. "Why don't you go harangue another poor innocent being and leave this one to me? I've been meaning to ask this delightful child a question for ages, but I never did seem to be able to catch her in between peacock feathers and spangles." He threw a wink her way, and sensing an out, Therian smiled warmly at him.

Grumbling loudly, but backing off nonetheless, Heimlich hesitated before turning on his heel. Halfway down the hall, he paused and threw a cunning look Jacks way.

"Very well, Billings. Perhaps Miss Wolf will be more forthcoming with you on what she may have heard. I think it will be most interesting to you in particular." He sneered and left, leaving a trail of malice behind him. Jack raised a brow.


Jack Billings
Jack Billings
Thespian

Sep-27-2012 00:04

"My, Miss Wolf. You simply must have heard the most delicious gossip for old Von Victors feathers to be so ruffled." he said smoothly, adjusting his tie. "I do admit I was so very tired of the tension out there that I wandered back here- though I seem to have found more of it! I was hoping to find Vivien in fact, but I seem to have just missed her. No matter, you are equally lovely company. Won't you sit a while and talk with me?"

He smiled warmly and Miss Wolf chewed her lip in thought, wondering if she ought to stay. And for that matter, wandering if this enigmatic mans ambling backstage was really as innocent as it seemed?

Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Sep-27-2012 00:14

"My, wasn't that the most curious thing?" Molly clapped her hands as she watched Riza amble back to her seat. "I can't make heads or tail of it, but do you know, Vinnie I know someone who probably could. After all, who understands the inanities of the drunk and disorderly better than those who serve them?"

So saying she turned to scan the room until she caught sight of Kesla. "Miss Hill!"

The cocktail waitress looked up, startled, but came over. Molly made a motherly show of ducking the girl under her arm. "Yes Vinnie, this is our waitress, Miss Kesla Hill."

"How do you do." Kesla murmured politely. Vulkie gave a nod and Molly continued.

"Kesla darling, Miss Hawkeye has strung together the most interesting set of syllables. Since you are well-accustomed to her odd manner of speech, perhaps you can shed some light on her pearls of wisdom? Veda, what was it now?"

Vulkie threw an aggravated look in her direction but parroted, "she looked at the note over there, and said 'Beers. Devil dick knee. Neck turd." Vulkie flushed a dark shade of crimson, but maintained a level stare.

Kesla mulled over these words...

Kesla
Kesla
Assistant Postman

Sep-27-2012 15:16

As she realized Vulkie was pointing to the flowers, Kesla pieced it together.

"Well, Bierce. Devil's Dictionary. Nectar. That's what I make of it," Kesla stated. "I've learned to understand Riza's speech even at the worst of times. Riza may be a slush, but she's one of the smartest people I've ever had the chance to meet, so I suggest you take her comments seriously."

Kesla wrinkled her nose as she handed Vulkie a towel. "Here you go detective, you have a little something right..." Vulkie glared at Kesla, cutting her off.

"I'm fine, but thanks," Vulkie bit out, "I appreciate your help with what Riza was trying to tell us, but that will be all for now. Don't go too far, Miss Hill, I may have more questions for you later."

"I'll be right here, Detective Nouson. It's not like I have anywhere else to be anyway," said Kesla.

Vulkie then turned her attention back to Molly and asked, "Who is this Bierce, then, and what was his relationship to the victim?"



Vulkie3
Vulkie3
Haynes

Sep-28-2012 05:38

As Vulkie listened to Kesla's explanation, her mind went over events that happened before: The confrotation with Mr. VonVictor, who had hidden a potential piece of evidence, which she still had in her own pocket where she also kept her revolver. And then there was the mysterious case of Ms. Hawkeye, who slurred out some words which had no connection at all, until Kesla started to piece it all together...

"Well, Bierce. Devil's Dictionary. Nectar. That's what I make of it" was what Kesla said and as she handed Vulkie a towel, Vulkie's mind started rattling.

"Devil's Dictionary... Nectar.. flowers? What did those three have in combination?" Vulkie thought. Vulkie then glared at Kesla, saying "I'm fine, but thanks. I appreciate your help with what Riza was trying to tell us, but that will be all for now. Don't go too far, Miss Hill, I may havae some more questions for you later".

Kesla replied by saying that she had nowhere else to go, and that was true. The whole crime scene was still in lockdown and nobody would leave until the killer was found.

Vulkie then turned her attention to Molly and asked "Who is this Bierce, then, and what was his relationship with the victim?"

Molly replied simply by saying: "I've never heard of that name, but I did read a book that featured him".

Book... Ambrose Bierce. Suddenly, it struck Vulkie why the name seemed so familiar. Ambrose Bierce was possibly a writer, or a novelist.

"If you'll excuse me, Madame Maltese, I have an urgent phonecall to make.." Vulkie said, while wandering off towards the telephone...


Vulkie3
Vulkie3
Haynes

Sep-28-2012 05:50

"Operator? Could you connect me towards the Pinkerton Agency Detectives office? Yes, I know they are closed, but my secretary is still there. Yes, I'll hold" Vulkie said in the telephone horn and listened while the operator connected her with the agency.

"Pinkerton Agency Detectives, how may I help you?" a sleepy voice said.

"Henry, is that you? Listen, darling, I need you to do something for me.." Vulkie began, but Henry interrupted her by saying: "Do you know what time it is? I've been working here for the last 18 hours, a man deserves to get some sleep from time to time.."

"Henry, darling, it's really important. Listen, I need you to pop out towards the New York Public Library and find me all the information you can on a Mr. Ambrose Bierce. Suspected to be a writer or a novelist. Once you find anything of importance, you can dial me back at the Sahara's club. The number is.." Vulkie said, while she fumbled with a card that she had acquired from Madame Maltese earlier, "212-555-0783. Also, take note of this. There are a few keywords I'd like you to investigate which are linked to this. Here they are: Devil's Dictionary. Nectar. Flowers. Poison. . That'll be all for now Henry. Goodbye!" Vulkie added and then hung up the horn.

Vulkie then returned to Molly and asked: "I'd like to see the toxicologist, a Mr. Ed Carlyle if I'm correct?".

Vulkie was guided by Molly towards Ed, a young handsome man who was in full suit. "Edward, darling, this is Violet Nouson, a detective. She'd like to speak with you about Janie.." Molly said. Vulkie didn't even bother to try correcting Molly on her first name.

"Mr. Carlyle, if you'd like to accompany me towards the victim, I would appreciate that. It's of the utmost concern to me that I have a faint clue about how the victim got poisoned, but I want you to "test" and verify my theory." Vulkie began, while Edward replied: "But of course. Lead the way Ms. Nouson". And so, they went to Janie's dressing room...

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