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Death and Taxes 9


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#1 Guest_Chantrys_*

Posted 01 November 2003 - 05:00 PM

Someone, probably Floyd, once told me that the only sure things in life were death and taxes. Personally, I thought that was a load of crap. The taxman could be bought, and you could wake up one day in your sister’s pocket plane after a short stay in Hell. But only if you were a Bhaalspawn. Poor Farrahd had to play by the rules.

I stared down at Farrahd’s body, waiting for Trade to quit jawing with the help. The place was crawling with cops. Some of them were capturing images of the scene, while others argued about how far the fire had burned down at the time of death. All of them studiously avoided looking at the body, and with good reason. He wasn’t terribly good-looking in life, and things had gone downhill in death.

“Hey, Anchev!” I looked up. Trade walked toward me, smiling like he’d just won the lottery. “Looks like our man overdosed on Bittersweet syrup.”

“Bittersweet?”

“It’s used to treat bronchitis,” said Trade. “Small doses ease breathing and relieve pain, but more than a spoonful and you’re a goner.”

“Aren’t you going to have Moore cast the replay spell?” Imoen asked. “Or did you want me to do it?”

Trade shook his head. “Magistrate’s satisfied that it’s a suicide, so there’s no real need. Plus I don’t really want to deal with the Cowled Wizard red tape tonight. Let’s save that for the cases that need it.”

“Inspector!” One of the guards came forward, brandishing a note. Trade skimmed through it, raising one bushy eyebrow, and passed it to me. It read:

Unfortunate circumstances force my hand. One cannot struggle against Fate.
Please accept my apologies, Lady Coltrane, for what I have done. Murder is not the
sort of deed I can be proud of, but I did what I felt I must.
Tell your brother that I am sorry about the wine, but
a detective must always watch his intake.
I am feeling a bit strange now, so I shall end this. The guards are certainly
rushing to the scene. They are most diligent. Forgive me, Father. And oh, my
Surayah, I feel so close to you tonight…

Yusef


Yet another person telling me to lay off the wine. I might be annoyed if I weren't so puzzled. “Strange phrasing,” I said. “And his writing is really bad, even for him. Lots of blots.”

“We think he wrote it after he took the Bittersweet.”

Imoen read the note with a little frown on her face, her quick eyes roving over the page. She thought for a moment, and then politely excused herself.

I handed the note back to Trade. “So I guess your case is solved, eh?”

He nodded with satisfaction. “Pity we couldn’t track down the actual perpetrator, but the mastermind is safely out of the way. Someone should inform Lady Mirielle of this development.”

“I’ll take care of that. She’ll be pleased.”

Imoen was nowhere to be found, so I said my goodbyes and left the Farrahd estate, trusting that she’d catch up. I tried to shake off the air of melancholy, but it clung closer than a dame’s perfume. Reading a dead guy’s last words will do that to you.

Poor Farrahd. He may have tried to kill me, but then again, who hasn’t? He wasn’t a bad guy underneath. I rubbed my forehead, feeling an ache like a dagger between my eyes. The cops had it all figured out. Figured out and wrapped up with a neat little bow. Something still stank about the case, but then again, something always did.

A cold wind rose, and I settled my cloak more firmly against my neck. Just a little farther and I could go back to trailing stool pigeons and boozing it up in the Crooked Crane. All I had to do was tell Sis.

My amulet flashed, and I held it up, keeping the other hand on my blade. “Anchev.”

“Heya, Sarry.” For once, Imoen didn’t sound too cheerful.

“Where the hell are you?”

“Upstairs in the Farrahd estate.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you read Yusef’s suicide note? I’m just looking where it told me to.” I could hear her grin clearly over the connection. “Don’t tell me you missed it.”

Huh? I tried to remember the letter, wondering where it had said to go upstairs. I couldn’t think of anything, but I knew Imoen had a good eye. So I tried for the bluff. “Of course I saw it. I was just testing you.”

She didn’t fall for it. “Yeah, okay.”

“Find anything?”

“Lots of shady deals, lots of pretty jewels, and two very interesting notes. Seems somebody did write him about the Coltrane shipment, and all but spelled out that he could hurt their business by messing with it.”

I stood a little straighter. The case wasn’t closed yet. “And the other note?”

“Written by the same person. It was a warning that a certain brother and sister duo was coming for a visit.” Her voice changed. There was a hint of steel beneath the chirp. “Said to take whatever steps he deemed necessary to shut our traps.”

“Farrahd was never one to listen to good advice. I’m guessing there wasn’t a signature.”

“That’s right.”

“Then that’s a whole fat lot of nothing.”

“Calm down, Sarry. I’ll poke around a bit more.”

“Great. Meet me at Mirielle’s when you’re done.”

“You got it.”

She broke off the spell. I grimaced and dropped the amulet, letting it thud against my chest. Whoever had written those notes had known we’d be coming. Given the state of Athkatla’s gossip network, that could be a lot of people. But there were only a few who knew about the evidence against Farrahd.

My head began to pound. I needed a drink. Again. There were a few bars nearby, but Snick’s was the only joint in town that didn’t serve my whiskey with a paper umbrella.

I changed direction and didn’t stop until I reached the dim lights of the Crooked Crane. As I stepped inside, I noticed someone in my seat. That was my thinking seat. I walked up to him and barked at his plate-mailed back, “Move it or lose it, kid.”

He turned around. I looked into a familiar face. The face of Anomen Delryn.

#2 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 01 November 2003 - 05:51 PM

I stared down at Farrahd’s body, waiting for Trade to quit jawing with the help. The place was crawling with cops. Some of them were capturing images of the scene, while others argued about how far the fire had burned down at the time of death. All of them studiously avoided looking at the body, and with good reason. He wasn’t terribly good-looking in life, and things had gone downhill in death.


Is it sometimes the other way around? :wink:

“It’s used to treat bronchitis,” said Trade. “Small doses ease breathing and relieve pain, but more than a spoonful and you’re a goner.”


I believe him. Sounds logical enough.

Unfortunate circumstances force my hand. One cannot struggle against Fate.
Please accept my apologies, Lady Coltrane, for what I have done. Murder is not the
sort of deed I can be proud of, but I did what I felt I must.
Tell your brother that I am sorry about the wine, but
a detective must always watch his intake.
I am feeling a bit strange now, so I shall end this. The guards are certainly
rushing to the scene. They are most diligent. Forgive me, Father. And oh, my
Surayah, I feel so close to you tonight…


Yusef


Oh dear. such a lousy attempt to fool our brave heroes. :wink:

Imoen was nowhere to be found, so I said my goodbyes and left the Farrahd estate, trusting that she’d catch up. I tried to shake off the air of melancholy, but it clung closer than a dame’s perfume. Reading a dead guy’s last words will do that to you.


I doubt those were *his* words.

“Didn’t you read Yusef’s suicide note? I’m just looking where it told me to.” I could hear her grin clearly over the connection. “Don’t tell me you missed it.”


Oh, I like it. It's actually quite possible to *hear* a person grinning over a phone conversation - I know that I'm sometimes able to tell it. :wink:

“Written by the same person. It was a warning that a certain brother and sister duo was coming for a visit.” Her voice changed. There was a hint of steel beneath the chirp. “Said to take whatever steps he deemed necessary to shut our traps.”


Now, it's either Sis or Ano, only they had an access to this info. I think.

“Farrahd was never one to listen to good advice. Was there a signature?”


“Of course not. Do you think the author was an idiot?”


Btw - Imoen's and Sarry's wisdom and intelligence stats are quite alike, but somehow lately Imoen has been making Sar look pretty dumb... :wink:

I changed direction and didn’t stop until I reached the dim lights of the Crooked Crane. As I stepped inside, I noticed someone in my seat. That was my thinking seat. I walked up to him and barked at his plate-mailed back, “Move it or lose it, kid.”


He turned around. I looked into a familiar face. The face of Anomen Delryn.


Hehe, one of the main suspects has come for a talk... this should be interesting. :lol:

#3 Laufey

Posted 01 November 2003 - 08:59 PM

Someone, probably Floyd, once told me that the only sure things in life were death and taxes. Personally, I thought that was a load of crap. The taxman could be bought, and you could wake up one day in your sister’s pocket plane after a short stay in Hell. But only if you were a Bhaalspawn. Poor Farrahd had to play by the rules.


Ah, and here's the title put into play. :wink:


“Bittersweet?”


“It’s used to treat bronchitis,” said Trade. “Small doses ease breathing and relieve pain, but more than a spoonful and you’re a goner.”


Good thing we have better cough medicine than that. :wink:


Unfortunate circumstances force my hand. One cannot struggle against Fate.
Please accept my apologies, Lady Coltrane, for what I have done. Murder is not the
sort of deed I can be proud of, but I did what I felt I must.
Tell your brother that I am sorry about the wine, but
a detective must always watch his intake.
I am feeling a bit strange now, so I shall end this. The guards are certainly
rushing to the scene. They are most diligent. Forgive me, Father. And oh, my
Surayah, I feel so close to you tonight…


Yusef


Something about that letter sounds odd...I wonder if he was forced to write it by somebody?


“Lots of shady deals, lots of pretty jewels, and two very interesting notes. Seems somebody did write him about the Coltrane shipment, and all but spelled out that he could hurt their business by messing with it.”


I stood a little straighter. The case wasn’t closed yet. “And the other note?”


“Written by the same person. It was a warning that a certain brother and sister duo was coming for a visit.” Her voice changed. There was a hint of steel beneath the chirp. “Said to take whatever steps he deemed necessary to shut our traps.”


Aha...very interesting! I assume it can't be Mirielle, surely Imoen would recognize here sister's handwriting?


I changed direction and didn’t stop until I reached the dim lights of the Crooked Crane. As I stepped inside, I noticed someone in my seat. That was my thinking seat. I walked up to him and barked at his plate-mailed back, “Move it or lose it, kid.”


He turned around. I looked into a familiar face. The face of Anomen Delryn.


Oh, the plot thickens! :wink:
Rogues do it from behind.

#4 Guest_Chantrys_*

Posted 02 November 2003 - 12:16 AM


I stared down at Farrahd’s body, waiting for Trade to quit jawing with the help. The place was crawling with cops. Some of them were capturing images of the scene, while others argued about how far the fire had burned down at the time of death. All of them studiously avoided looking at the body, and with good reason. He wasn’t terribly good-looking in life, and things had gone downhill in death.


Is it sometimes the other way around? :twisted:


(*ponders*) Actually, yes. Sometimes it is.


“It’s used to treat bronchitis,” said Trade. “Small doses ease breathing and relieve pain, but more than a spoonful and you’re a goner.”


I believe him. Sounds logical enough.


Oh, good.

Oh dear. such a lousy attempt to fool our brave heroes. :wink:


Yes, the villain doesn't think that highly of them. Or the guards.


Imoen was nowhere to be found, so I said my goodbyes and left the Farrahd estate, trusting that she’d catch up. I tried to shake off the air of melancholy, but it clung closer than a dame’s perfume. Reading a dead guy’s last words will do that to you.


I doubt those were *his* words.


You're right, they weren't. But at least he got to arrange them as he pleased. :)


“Didn’t you read Yusef’s suicide note? I’m just looking where it told me to.” I could hear her grin clearly over the connection. “Don’t tell me you missed it.”


Oh, I like it. It's actually quite possible to *hear* a person grinning over a phone conversation - I know that I'm sometimes able to tell it. :)


I can usually tell, if I know the person well enough.


“Written by the same person. It was a warning that a certain brother and sister duo was coming for a visit.” Her voice changed. There was a hint of steel beneath the chirp. “Said to take whatever steps he deemed necessary to shut our traps.”


Now, it's either Sis or Ano, only they had an access to this info. I think.


(*nods*) Those are the last two on the Established Suspect checklist, and I don't plan to bring in a previously-unknown bad guy at the last minute. :twisted:

Btw - Imoen's and Sarry's wisdom and intelligence stats are quite alike, but somehow lately Imoen has been making Sar look pretty dumb... :twisted:


Oops, you're right, Theo. Thanks for pointing that out! :( I've gone back and reworked that part to give Sarry a little more credit.

Hehe, one of the main suspects has come for a talk... this should be interesting. :(


He's a very guilty man. :(

Thank you very much for your comments and help!

#5 Guest_Chantrys_*

Posted 02 November 2003 - 12:20 AM

Ah, and here's the title put into play. :twisted:


I felt I should bring it in somewhere. :twisted:


“It’s used to treat bronchitis,” said Trade. “Small doses ease breathing and relieve pain, but more than a spoonful and you’re a goner.”


Good thing we have better cough medicine than that. :twisted:


Now if only we could make it taste good.

Something about that letter sounds odd...I wonder if he was forced to write it by somebody?


He was, yes. But at least he could arrange the words to leave a little clue for whoever found it.


“Written by the same person. It was a warning that a certain brother and sister duo was coming for a visit.” Her voice changed. There was a hint of steel beneath the chirp. “Said to take whatever steps he deemed necessary to shut our traps.”


Aha...very interesting! I assume it can't be Mirielle, surely Imoen would recognize here sister's handwriting?


Unless it was disguised somehow. But, no, you're correct. Mirielle didn't write it.


He turned around. I looked into a familiar face. The face of Anomen Delryn.


Oh, the plot thickens! :)


Like a roux. :wink:

Thanks for reading!




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