Take a look around....

[Ask For More]

As Arky walks up the stairs he realised what was bothering him. The walls on the upstairs hallways were much fresher, as if they had been painted over recently. Ordinarily this wouldn't be unusual, but after what they had just seen it struck him as odd.

The paintings were all landscapes; vineyards, corn fields, farmhouses and such like. The realism in the was noticeable even to a heathen such as Arky. As he was looking at one such painting something caught his eyes, a small edge sticking out from the bottom corner. It looked like a piece of paper. Arky gingerly lifted the painting, and a small card fell to the floor. Picking it up, he read the words, 'Last Call Motel'. It listed the phone number and location of the motel.

 

[Neale]

Jerry Sullivan

Arky had gone upstairs and was puttering around. Jerry took one of Angelica's hands in his own, and looked her straight in the eyes, "Angel... I swear, we had nothing to do with this. I know I'm not the most serious person in the world," she grinned at that, "but I wonder if we ought to be a little more careful now. I mean, that was a real fucking ghost! What does he know that we don't?"

Jerry released her hand after a final, quick squeeze, "Hey, Arky! Find our boy up there?"

 

[captainb]

Arky

I let my fingers trail over the wall as I climbed the stairs. Odd that only this section of the house would get painted. Maybe there was some damage or new construction? Or something that was being hidden? I prided myself on being skeptical, especially where supposed ghosts were concerned. This had the added benefit of keeping me suspicious about easy answers, and I wondered if the layout of the house was really what we thought.

At first glance, the paintings were a disappointment. I thought there would be portraits of former owners that would watch as you crept past, something that would fit in with our gothic mood-of-the-moment. Landscapes didn't run well with my Heironymous Bosch-type preference. But the level of detail in the paintings was fascinating. The artist had a unique talent, and that more than made up for the subject.

The card was odd, not just for the message but the place it was hidden. I held it, looking at the ceiling and the next flight of stairs. A weird feeling of paranoia crawled up my spine: I was positive that this card had been purposefully left for us.

I carefully lifted the painting off the wall and examined the back of the frame as Jerry's voice echoed up the hall. Opening my penknife, I gently scraped at the paint around the picture hook, curious as to what might be underneath. Jerry called something again, but I was distracted as I peered closer, not wanting to scrape too deep.

 

[Ask For More]

The picture hook falls off suddenly because of Arky's probings. A small hole is revealed in it's place. Inside, Arky can see a tiny glass tube, sealed by a plastic stopper. Tape also runs around the stopper. Evidently the person who sealed it doesn't want it to be opened.

 

[captainb]

Arky

Well, this was strange. My heart started beating faster with excitement. Carefully I edged the glass tube out of the hole with the tip of the penknife, careful not to press too hard. I examined the tube closely and lifted it to the light, hoping to see what was inside. A voice called again, this time with a note of annoyance. "Come on up here, guys," I called back. "There's something you should see."

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

I sit there as Eliza comes back in saying that the guy just disappered. I hear her talking something about making decisions and how we want to be treated, but honestly I was thinking about nothing more than what the guy had just said and the money he had casually thrown on the desk.

"Eliza, if this guy can just toss 5G's on the table. He has to be in the big leagues. I dont know if we should be playing there or not. The last thing I want to see happen is for you to get hurt becuase of some stupid case."

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

I stopped my ranting for a few moments at Pete's words. We had not been partners long but we already knew how to work together and we even had some mutual friends outside of the business. That was how we met and got into business together. But I didnt realize until then that he worried about me and, it struck me that I worried about him to.

Sitting down in a chair across from him, I bit my lip and tried to think. Looking at the cash on the desk I had to nod. "You're right," I said to him in a slow deliberate tone of voice,"but think about this. Thanks to our anonymous client we are involved in this already. And, if what we are involved in happens to be illegal, than we can be tied to this and maybe dragged in even deeper."

I sighed as I sat back up and leaned over the desk to look at him. "If thats the case I would rather know all we could about this guy and our mysterious client in case we have to defend ourselves. In this case, ignorance is not bliss."

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

Damn. She was right again. But then again, thats why I wanted to work with her. She is definetly the brains behind our outfit while I had the street smarts and contacts to solve a lot of our problems.

"Ive got an idea. How about we get in contact with the guy who sent us on this wild goose chase, and let him know that this is going to harder than antcipated. We can let him know about everything except the last 10 minutes and see what he says? Maybe we can get more money off of him to, and get some details at the same time!"

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

I looked at Pete for a minute, stunned by his gall as well as the brilliancy of the plan. Suddenly I burst out laughing and handed him the phone.

"By all means," I said, a smile still on my lips,"What have we got to lose at this point? We are already in too deep to back out now...might as well go full steam ahead."

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

I dial the number we were given in the packet. I turn to Eliza and quickly say, "Unlabeled VM".

As I hear the system beep. "Um, yes. This is Pete with The Look it up Agency. I am responding to what we've received in the mail from you. I would like to talk to you about the progress we've made on the job. Please call myself or my partler Eliza back at 555-6969. Thank you."

I hang up the phone and look at Eliza. "This about all we can do until we hear back. " I get up and walk to the small fridge in the back of the office. "Do you want a beer?"

 

[Ask For More]

The phone rings suddenly, and Pete answers it.
"Hello? Did you just call me?" speaks a gruff voice.
"Hi there. This is Pete Walker. I believe you hired me to follow a certain man?"
"Ah yes, I remember. Well have you any information for me?"
"I have some," Pete replied.
"Ok, then...actually let's not talk over the phone. Can you come and meet me so we can discuss things?"
Pete turned to Eliza, who was listening in on the conversation. She nodded in agreement.
"No problem. Where do you want us to meet?"
The voice replied, "I'm staying in a motel on the edge of town. It's called the Last Call. Do you know where it is?"
"Yep," Pete replied, "when do you want us to come? Tonight?"
"Well it's quite late. How about tomorrow afternoon?"
"No problem."
"Ok. See you then." Then the line went dead.

 

[Isolde]

....

[Edited by Isolde on 05-07-2001 at 11:10 AM]

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

"Damn!", I exclaim. "That was fast. Tomorrow afternoon. " I look at Eliza and she seems kinda worried.

"What is the matter Eliza. I can tell you dont like something about this."

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

Hanging up the extension, I looked over at Pete. A client wanting to meet somewhere neutral instead of in the office or talking on the phone. Not unusual. So why were shivers coursing up and down my spine from the call?

Picking up my jacket, I said,"Forget the beer, lets go find a bar. My treat." Looking at the front of his pants I added with a smile,"As soon as we stop by your apartment and let you change that is."

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

Free Beer? I shut the door on the refrigerator and turn around to see you staring at my crotch. I start to blush until you say " After we go to your place." Huh, you want to go to my place? Then I remember, DUH, I've got a crotch full of coffee.

I sheepishly smile and say, "Yeah. I've got something really hot down there. ", as I wait at the door for you. "Lets just had to my bar, and then neither of us will have to pay"

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

I almost laughed at the blush on his face. Evidently he had forgotten the coffee incident earlier. I nodded at his suggestion and hand him the keys.

"Lead the way, partner," I said with a smile,"Right now I would pay black market prices for any type of alcohol. I dont know about you but this case is getting weirder by the minute."

 

[Neale]

Jerry Sullivan

"C'mon, Angel... sounds like Arky's found something more interesting than trying to find footprints down here." We shared a smile, and went upstairs, joining Arky as he examined something. "So, whatcha got, bro?"

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

"Any price for achohol. How about some of those clothes?", I tease as we walk out to the car. I wait for you to get in and then start the motor and go down to my place.

"Do you want to come in for a minute while I change, or wait out here for me?"

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

Making a face, I slide quickly out of the passanger door. "After everything that has happened tonight? Dont even think you are leaving me alone for very long. Consider me your shadow."

True to my words, I walked as close as I dared without entering his personal space as he moved to the foyer of his apartment and the welcome lights within.

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

I notice that you walk as close as you dare going into my apartment. I flip on the light switch and you seem to breath a sigh of relief. Is all of this stuff got you that spooked?

"Can I get you anything to drink? One of the bennies of being a baretender is that I have a fully stocked bar here."

 

[Guest]

Angelica

I didn't know if it was the events that had just happened, or just my instincts told me not to stay alone... at least not until we figured out exactly what was going on.

I followed Jerry up the stairs to find Arky, maybe he'd found something that we could use to help us figure out who or what we had seen.

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

I smile sheepishly at Pete. "Look, I know I am acting like a kid afraid of the dark but I just have a really creepy feeling about all of this. And if we are dealing with something illegal than we may be considered a liability. I would rather be safe than sorry."

No matter how hard I tried I couldnt get the warning given to us by the guy we were following out of my head and it did nothing to calm my nerves.

Sitting down on Pete's couch, I said,"I'll take whatever you grab first. As long as it is guarenteed to calm the nerves I'm all for it."

 

[indyweasel]

Pete

I grab 2 beers out of the fridge and bring one around to you. "Here ya go. I'm gonna go change real quick and then we can head down to the bar"

I walk into the bedroom, not bothering to shut the door. I throw my jeans and socks into the corner and go looking around for a clean pair of shorts to wear. Finally, after looking all of the place, I find a pair that are clean and I walk back out to the living room.

"Ready to go?", I ask as I notice you kind of staring at me.

"What? Do these have a coffee stain too??"

 

[captainb]

Arky

"Check it out," I said, showing them the tube. I quickly explained why I'd poked a hole in the wall and passed them the card. "I still think that something is hidden behind this wall. In the meantime," as I held the tube out, "someone feel like opening this?"

 

[Isolde]

Eliza

Looking at Pete, I almost choke on the mouthful of beer that I had just taken. Coughing and sputtering I covered my mouth to prevent the beer from going all over his furniture.

There was nothing really to laugh at, I mean, from my point of view I could tell why the girls tended to hang on him but the fact that he apparently did not realize that he was half undressed put a humorous spin to the situation.

"Ummm, you might want to finish dressing first," I said, knowing I should avert my eyes but not being able to do so,"Otherwise we are going to cause quite a scene when we go to the bar."

Was it me or was it getting hot in here all of a sudden.