A dark and foreboding forest creaks and crows. The sunlight attempts to brighten the forest floor but the shroud of swaying branches act like decrepit old hands blocking all warmth and hope.
A small branch snaps underneath your little, red velcro shoes. You feel your hand squeezed by the young girl next to you.
An old cottage sits within the forest. Unwelcoming, looming. You walk towards the misshapen oak door.
[[Open the Door.|The House]]
Your childish hand twist the knob.
The door slowly opens.
CREEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAK.
[[Step Inside.| The Kitchen]]The fireplace flickers with ill-intent.
ROTTING food sits on the table with festering flies buzzing around it.
The smell consumes all your senses.
[[Go to leave.|Old Lady]]
[[Go to the fire place.|Fire Place]]
The Door slams shut. You're not going anywhere.....
'AGHAHAHHAHAHA!' The harsh cackle erupts from the candle-lit corners of the kitchen. A crooked, frail yet harrowing figure turns to face you. A Witch! Her eyes swirl with darkness; her features sunken and wrinkled.
[[Close your eyes! Hope that it's all a dream.| Dream]]
[[SCREAM!|Nightmare]]The flames lick a false sense of safety upon you. But there's something in the corner of your eye. You turn to look. A crooked, frail yet harrowing figure turns to face you.
'Hello children!' Her eyes swirl with darkness; her features sunken and wrinkled.
'AGHAHAHHAHAHA!' The harsh cackle erupts from the candle-lit corners of the kitchen.
[[Close your eyes! Hope that it's all a dream.| Dream]]
[[SCREAM!|Nightmare]]RING! RING!
RING! RING!
[[Open your eyes.|Open eyes]]The fire roars! The witche approaches! In her hand, a butcher's knife! You feel it! That all consuming fear! Your bottom lip trembles. The streams of tears that carries your fear roll down your cheeks and fill your mouth with dread.
The hand holding yours squeezes tighter! So does the Witch's hand holding the knife.
[[Take your final breath.|Darkness Breath]]
[[Close your eyes shut.|Darkness Eyes]]RING! RING!
RING! RING!
[[Next| Wake Up Breath]]RING! RING!
RING! RING!
[[Open your eyes.|Open eyes, Blink]]The buzzer on your door wakes you up. I guess it's not like you were enjoying your rest anyhow. Closing your eyes never helps... and it always feels like they're never going to reopen.
[[Get out of Bed.|Get up]]
[[Stay in bed.]]The buzzer on your door wakes you up. I guess it's not like you were enjoying your rest anyhow. She always gets you when you take the breath... and it always feels like your last.
[[Get out of bed.|Get up]]
[[Stay in bed.]]You swing back the duvet. You're wet, but it's not urine. You've only 'mentally pissed yourself' as your sister used to put. She probably still does, just not to you on account that you're not talking.... Families... You make your way through your barren, poorly-lit studio apartment where you live... alone... not that that bothers you...
[[It doesn't.| Living Alone]]
[[Shut up, I just want to open the door.|Flat Door]]Fuck it! It'll answer itself... but it probably won't because you live alone... All by yourself... Alone...
'RING! RING!'
'RING! RING!'
[[Fine... I'll get up.]]The buzzer on your door wakes you up. I guess it's not like you were enjoying your rest anyhow. She always gets you when you close your eyes... and it always feels like they're never going to reopen.
[[Get out Bed|Get up]]
[[Stay in bed.]].... sure....
[[Go to open the door|Flat Door]]'RING! RING!'
'RING! RING!'
You arrive at the buzzer.
[[Wait... I should probably put some clothes on first.]]
[["Who is it?"| Case 1]]
[["Yelllooo."| Case 1 Good]]You swing back the duvet. You're wet, but it's not urine. You've only 'mentally pissed yourself' as your sister used to put. She probably still does, just not to you on account that you're not talking.... Families... You make your way through your barren, poorly lit studio apartment where you live... alone... not that that bothers you...
[[It doesn't.| Living Alone]]
[[I GET IT! I LIVE ALONE!]]
[[Shut up, I just want to open the door.|Flat Door]]
.... Sorry! Didn't mean to hit a nerve. Let's just go open the door shall we...
[[Lets.|Flat Door]] "Mr. Wali! You absolute dimwit. I have been standing outside your shitty apartment for 5 minutes. Let me the fuck up!"
He's right... it is a shitty apartment. Mr. Wali is your most recent client. Wanted proof that his wife is cheating on him.
Ohhhh the glamorous life of a Private Investigator. Time to give him the bad news.
[[Buzz him in.| Enter Mr. Wali]]
"Yellloooo is not a respectable introduction you complete moron. Let me up."
That sounds like Mr. Wali. Your most recent client. Wanted proof that his wife is cheating on him.
Ohhhh the glamorous life of a Private Investigator. Time to give him the bad news.
[[Buzz him in.| Enter Mr. Wali]]Enter Mr. Wali. He holds some letters in hand. His style, posture and general demeaner all reinforce the power and stature this man clearly has. The type of man with an office that displays success... where he'd sit behind a large oak desk... and do office stuff... You'd assume... I guess you're the type of P.I. that doesn't need an office because the streets are your office... and the case is your clock... and you're always on the clock...
"Why aren't you clothed?"
FUCK!
He stares at you with regret... regret that he's already paid you. Probably going to be a hard ask to get a reference from him after this.
[["Give me a moment"... Let's go put some clothes on.| Dressed]]
[["It's how I operate." ... Power play... nice...| Naked Man]]
Smart! You're a scrawny dude, not really impressing anybody physically... probably why you live alone...
You grab the usual outfit: striped shirt, wrinkled because you're a mess, and jacket worn from over-use.
"RING! RING!"
"RING! RING!"
Time to answer this buzzer!
[["Who is it?"| Case 1.5]]
[["Yelllooo."| Case 1.5 Good]]"Mr. Wali! You absolute dimwit. I have been standing outside your shitty apartment for 5 minutes. Let me the fuck up!"
He's right... it is a shitty apartment. Mr. Wali is your most recent client. Wanted proof that his wife is cheating on him.
Ohhhh the glamorous life of a Private Investigator. Time to give him the bad news.
[[Buzz him in.| Enter Mr. Wali clothed]]"Yellloooo is not a respectable introduction you complete moron. Let me up."
That sounds like Mr. Wali. Your most recent client. Wanted proof that his wife is cheating on him.
Ohhhh the glamorous life of a Private Investigator. Time to give him the bad news.
[[Buzz him in.| Enter Mr. Wali clothed]]Enter Mr. Wali. He holds some letters in hand. His style, posture and general demeaner all reinforce the power and stature this man clearly has. The type of man with an office that displays success... where he'd sit behind a large oak desk... and do office stuff... You'd assume... I guess you're the type of P.I. that doesn't need an office because the streets are your office... and the case is your clock... and you're always on the clock...
"So, Greg... What news have you got for me?" Mr Wali looks you up and down. He's heard good things and he's expecting to see results.
[["Let's talk."| Case Chat]]You grab the usual outfit: striped shirt, wrinkled (because you're a mess) and a jacket worn from over-use.
Now we can talk.
[[Next| Case 1 Chat]]"You're fired."
[["Smart, trust your gut."]]
[[Stand there in silence... and solidarity... Alone.]]"So, Greg... What news have you got for me?" Mr. Wali looks you up and down. He's heard good things and right now he's questioning all of them...
[["Let's talk| Case Chat]]Before you can even finish your sentence, Mr. Wali is gone.... with your post too... you fucking mess. Guess it's just another day of sitting on the sofa and hoping the phone rings.... There's always another case....
[[Sit on the sofa and hope the phone rings.]]Your silence is all that your left with. Mr. Wali is gone.... with your post too... you fucking mess. Guess it's just another day of sitting on the sofa and hoping the phone rings.... There's always another case....
[[Sit on the sofa and hope the phone rings.]]Mr. Wali sizes up your very unsizeable apartment. You can feel the judgement coming from his privilaged gaze as he places your post on the kitchen table. But that looks about to change in a second, once he sees your hard work at play. You grab the file with the incriminating photos from your desk. Mr. Wali takes them out and begins flicking through them.
"His name is Benjamin Molloy." You say with confidence.
Mr. Wali becomes uncomfortable. The pictures are of a middle-class, well-dressed woman, Mrs. Wali, with a typical-looking London lawyer.
"She’s not sleeping with him." You're confident, in yourself and the case.
"He’s a divorce lawyer. Works for Brookman’s Solicitors. It’s a pretty successful firm." You've done your research and you can see from Mr. Wali's tense jaw that it's hitting home...
Mr. Wali flicks through the pictures revealing his wife with another man. Mr. Wali recognises him. Anger consumes him!
"This is-"
[[Cut him off and impress him! "That's William Busby. The man your wife is sleeping with! It’s her Taekwondo instructor."]]
[[He's receiving some pretty tough news... you should let him piece it together. He'll take it easier that way.]]It doesn't...
You're a terrible detective.
[[Next| Game over]]
GAME OVER
"This is William Busby..."
This part of the job never gets easier. Seeing a man's heart break right in front of you...
Mr. Wali takes a strong gulp and looks you in the eye. "This is her best friend..."
[["I know... you can't trust anyone these days."]]
[[... Let him say it... He has to come to terms with the facts.]]His gaze is off the photos and now completely on you. You did it... your job has been complete but at the expense of this man's emotions, at the expense of this man's heart... and to you... it was just another case-
"It’s Sabom, not sensei! And she’s not sleeping with him. He’s a friend that’s helping her out through a tough time and also happens to be gay... I play badminton with his husband every saturday..."
You're gonna have to think fast....
[[... FUCK...| Fuck]]
[["... I have... Evidence..."]]
"What I can't trust are your online reviews and going rates! This is a gay man! I play with badminton with his husband every saturday morning... He's not fucking my wife! Is this all you had?"
[[(Time to lie) "... No..."]]
[[Stay silent.]]"I play with badminton with his Husband every saturday morning... please tell me this isn't your lead...."
[[(Time to lie) "... No... of course not..."|"... I have... Evidence..."]]
[[Stay silent.]]
Crushed it.... that'll keep your reputation in tact.
"Then what else have you got?"
You're gonna have to think fast....
[[... FUCK...| Fuck]]
[["... I have... Evidence..."|"... I have... Evidence..."]]
[["... yeh.. That was pretty much it."| That's it?]]Your silence says it all. He looks at you with the type of stare that could petrify a shark, which, if anything, just shows how little you know about sharks.
"You’re a terrible Private Investigator!"
He's not wrong.
He throws the photos in your face and storms out. Good luck getting your expenses covered now. Boots' in-store, same-day photo prints don't come cheap either!
The Door Slams!
And again... you are alone... in your lonely apartment... with no case... and nobody...
[[Wait... I still have my post...| The letter]]
[[Time for a beer]]Fuck? Really? That's all you had? You truly are an idiot and a terrible Private Investigator..
"You’re a terrible Private Investigator!"
I told you...
Mr. Wali throws the photos in your face and storms out. Good luck getting your expenses covered now. Boots' in-store, same day photo prints don't come cheap either!
The Door Slams!
And again... you are alone... in your lonely apartment... with no case... and nobody...
[[Wait... I still have my post...| The letter]]
[[Time for a beer]]"You’re a terrible Private Investigator!"
He's not wrong.
He throws the photos in your face and storms out. Good luck getting your expenses covered now. Boots' in-store, same day photo prints don't come cheap either!
The door slams!
And again... you are alone... in your lonely apartment... with no case... and nobody...
[[Wait... I still have my post...| The letter]]
[[Time for a beer]]The post sits stacked on your table. Mr. Wali brought up your post for you... maybe he wasn't all that bad.
[[Nah, fuck him.]]
[[Huh... Maybe I'm the problem?]]You open the fridge revealing mostly ready meals, milk and a few bottles of beer.
[[Take out a Beer.]]
[[Looks like I'm drinking milk from the carton.]]That's it? That's your response... solid improvising there, pal. You're a great Private Investigator...
"You’re a terrible Private Investigator!"
Sounds like he agrees...
Mr. Wali throws the photos in your face and storms out. Good luck getting your expenses covered now. Boots' in-store, same day photo prints done come cheap either!
The Door Slams!
And again... you are alone... in your lonely apartment... with no case... and nobody...
[[Wait... I still have my post...| The letter]]
[[Time for a beer]]You pop off the bottle cap and sit and your kitchen table. You take a swig. Refreshing. You'd say it's too early for beer but you don't actually even know the time.... The case of Unknown Time... Closest thing to a case you've got right now.
The post sits stacked on your table. Mr. Wali brought up your post for you... maybe he wasn't all that bad.
[[Nah, fuck him.]]
[[Huh... Maybe I'm the problem?]]Milk, a good choice. It's never a bad time for milk- this milk has gone off.. I guess there is a bad time for milk... what even is the time?
.... The case of Unknown Time... Closest thing to a case you've got right now.
The post sits stacked on your table. Mr. Wali brought up your post for you... maybe he wasn't all that bad.
[[Nah, fuck him.]]
[[Huh... Maybe I'm the problem?]]That's right, never question yourself. You're an incredible P.I. You solved the case of The Hanging Man. And you've got a keen eye... the type of eye that could spot a strange envelope that was placed right in front of you.
And that's exactly what you've done.
[[Next| Unique Letter]]Obviously... obviously you're the problem. You're a Private Investigator that's haunted by their past and has a terrible relationship with their sister and an even worse attention span when it comes to self reflect-
That's a strange looking envelope....
[[Next| Unique Letter]]
A unique, tanned envelope with your name on it: 'Greg Lang'. Of course, that's not the strange part, in fact most letters you receive have that part on it. Or 'Emily Smith', the idiot that lived here before and didn't change her address so you're still getting offers for Wi-Fi in her name... You hate Emily. Smith.
What's strange about this letter though is the font... seems classical... Traditional... Old? Like a type writer had dug the ink into the envelope. It caught your eye for one reason or another.
[[Open it|Open Letter]]
[[Leave it| Leave Letter]]You pull out a paper, 'THE PEMBLESHIRE TELEGRAPH' A picture of a beautiful, smiling couple heads the page. The man has a big smile that beams under his mighty and thick beard.
The headline reads:
“Police issue 'urgent' appeal to find missing Pembleshire woman.
Vicky Wheatly was last seen at her Lonsmun Grove home in the early hours of Sunday morning.”
You scan the news article, then place it on the kitchen table.
[[Check the envelope for more.]]
[[Look further into the news article.]]Why would you want to open it. After all it's just a plain old letter with no real interest. I'll tell you where the real interest lies... on the sofa...
[[Move to the sofa]]
[[Actually... I will open the envelope|Open Letter]](set: $CashIsCollected to true)
£2,000 in cash. Nice.
[[Look deeper.| Letter search]]You turn back to the newspaper. Your eyes hooking onto every word in hope that something connects, that something speaks to you...
[[This looks familiar.]]Guess it's just another day of sitting on the sofa and hoping the phone rings.... There's always another case....
[[Sit on the sofa and hope the phone rings.]]You find one final piece, a note. You slowly pull it out. In matching handwriting to the envelope, the note reads:
‘Guess My Name, If You Can!’
What could that mean?
[[No clue.]]
[[Well, obviously it means I should guess their name... if I can?]]Well, if I were to hazard a 'guess'... I'd say this... might be a case.
The £2,000 cash sits in front of you. You could just take it... and not guess anything. It's not like you could actually solve it anyway...
[[I know what you're doing.]]
[[I could solve it! I could solve it with ease!]]
[[Maybe you're right.]]
Guess who's name?
[['Their' name.]]
[[If I knew that... I wouldn't be a guess.|No clue.]]And their name is?
[[That's what they want us to work out!]]
[[No clue.]]Of course you do. Now, can we get back to the case at hand?
(if: $NewspaperIsCollected is true)[ [[Well, looks like we're heading to Pembleton|All the Clues]] ]
(else:)[ [[I should look more into the newspaper|Look further into the news article.]] ]The words "You're a terrible Private Investigator" bounce around in your head. You're motivated! Driven! And currently have one lead... The newspaper...
(if: $NewspaperIsCollected is true)[ [[Well, looks like we're heading to Pembleton|All the Clues]] ]
(else:)[ [[I should look more into the newspaper|Look further into the news article.]] ]
[[Actually... this is all pretty exhausting. I might just chill on the sofa and wait for the phone to ring... |Sit on the sofa and hope the phone rings.]]Firstly, I'm always right. A secondly... it's up to you. I'm not even meant to be directly chatting with you that much. I'd hate to influence you in your decisions.
[[You haven't, this is my own free will. I'm going to take this money and enjoy it. I'm going to win. Win at the game of life! | Game over]]
[[You're right! It is up to me! And I 'choose' to actually tru and solve this case.|Back to the case at hand.]]Smart. Well... you currently have one lead...
(if: $NewspaperIsCollected is true)[ [[Pembleton! The last place she was seen.|All the Clues]] ]
(if: $NewspaperIsCollected is false)[ [[The newspaper! I should probably take another look at that.|Look further into the news article.]] ]
[[Actually... this is all pretty exhausting. I might just chill on the sofa and wait for the phone to ring... |Sit on the sofa and hope the phone rings.]]Smart. Well... you currently have one lead... The newspaper...
[[I should probably take another look at that.|Look further into the news article.]]
[[Actually... this is all pretty exhausting. I might just chill on the sofa and wait for the phone to ring... |Sit on the sofa and hope the phone rings.]]You shoot up and march over to your desk. You open the draw with urgency. Papers slide up and down the draw as it jolts open.
You flick through the ‘organised’ mess and stop!
An old dusty newspaper sits there, in your draw. In big font at the top:
'THE PEMBLESHIRE TELEGRAPH'
(set: $NewspaperIsCollected to true)
[[Compare the newspapers]]
[[Ignore it... there's no link here]]
You lay the two articles side by side. Although the font and quality of print is different. The top reads the same:
'THE PEMBLESHIRE TELEGRAPH'
At the top of the article, a picture of an ominous and dark wood. The all too familiar wood that you dream of most nights.
The headline reads:
“Two children found in forest after being abandoned by parents:
The brother and sister, 5 and 6, were found wandering the forest near the Pembleshire Village, St. Hamcot...” It continues to ramble on about the thing... the thing that haunts you most nights...
[[Next| Cackle]]Exactly, there's no link between the two and you've saved yourself a bunch of time trying to connect the dots. Now we can move on and actually solve this case.
[[Next | You're an idiot!]]AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHA
The Witch's cackle echoes through your soul.
[[Snap out of it!]]
[[Close your eyes and hope it all goes away!]]Your eyes open. The Witch and her cackle are gone... but the scars of fear remain.
You look down at the newspaper. Your fingers shiver.
You sinks back into your chair and stares at the ceiling. The cogs in your brain visibly turning.
[[Next|Newspaper Clue]]You snap back to reality! The Witch and her cackle are gone... but the scars of fear remain.
You look down at the newspaper. Your fingers shiver.
You sink back into your chair and stare at the ceiling. The cogs in your brain visibly turning.
[[Next|Newspaper Clue]] So... We've got a 'Vicky Wheatly'... a woman that went missing a few days ago and who's married to a man whose face has more hair on it than your entire body does... not that that bothers you.
[[It doesn't.|Beard bitch lying]]
[[It does.|Beard bitch]]Sure, sure.
Well the beard that's not immasculating you also happens to be near where you and your sister were 'abandoned' when you were children.
[[... Coincidence...]]
[[Something shady is at play here.]]At least your honest.
Well that beard that's not immasculating you also happens to be near to where you and your sister were 'abandoned' when you were children.
[[... Coincidence...]]
[[Something shady is at play here.]]... You're an idiot but I'm going to let this one slide. It's obviously not a coincidence. Someone's setting a trail... or a trap?
(if: $CashIsCollected is true)[ [[So I guess we go follow that trail.|All the Clues]] ]
(Else:)[ [[I should check out the envelope for more clues.|Check the envelope for more.]] ]Agreed! Someone's setting a trail... or a trap?
(if: $CashIsCollected is true)[ [[So I guess we go follow that trail.|All the Clues]] ]
(Else:)[ [[I should check out the envelope for more clues.|Check the envelope for more.]] ]So you're going to Pembleton? You sure you're ready for that? Lot of history there for you?
[[This is what I do. I'm a Private Investigator... It's time to investigate some privates.]]
[[This person knows where I live. I don't think I have much of a choice.]]
[[I think I'd rather not. Rather just stay here and relax.]]
[[It's a case... a case I'm going to solve.]]{
(Set: $CashIsCollected to false)
(Set: $NewspaperIsCollected to false)
(Set: $BlueBeardAlarm to 0)
(set: $MeetBlueBeard to false)
(Set: $HannahTrust to 5)
(Set: $BlueBeardSolved to false)
(Set: $BlueBeardWife to false)
(set: $WhereIsShe to false)
(Set: $Resemblance to false)
(Set: $SchoolKnown to false)
(set: $BedroomTried to false)
(Set: $Abandonned to false)
(Set: $BinChecked to false)
(Set: $SinkChecked to false)
(Set: $BathChecked to false)
(set: $BBGoodQuestion to false)
(Set: $NotAScrewUp to false)
(set: $LockPickFail to false)
(set: $PhonedHannah to false)
(set: $Hungry to false)
(set: $Thirsty to false)
(set: $BeardChatComplete to false)
(set: $WifeChatComplete to false)
(Set: $SchoolKnownChatComplete to false)
(Set: $ResemblenceChatComplete to false)
(set: $BedroomTriedComplete to false)
(set: $SonElliot to true)
(set: $ShavedBeardChat to false)
(set: $BinCheckedChat to false)
(set: $BathCheckedChat to false)
(set: $SonElliotChatComplete to false)
(set: $AccusedBlueBeard to false)
(Set: $SchoolAfterVicky to false)
}
Interesting choice of words. But I like the energy.
You slink over to your computer and book your train tickets. An open return to Pembleton. An open return so that you can return when the case is closed. Your bags are packed and your brain ready to be picked. You approach your door, ready to leave... but you stop... one last thought before we set off...
You're heading back to your roots here... I know you two haven't spoken in years but... you two used to work cases all the time. In fact that's how you got into this industry. Together. Hannah was always the brawn and you the brains.
She's your sister... maybe you two could finally talk?
Maybe she'd help... or maybe she'd just get in the way...
[[Phone Hannah.]]
[[Don't phone Hannah.]]These are dangerous times... Dangerous indeed. And being a P.I doesn't make it any safer. You can make a lot of enemies working a case... You have made a lot of enemies whilst not working a case...
But maybe you're right. Maybe you don't have much of a choice.
You slink over to your computer and book your train tickets. An open return to Pembleton. An open return so that you can return when the case is closed. Your bags are packed and your brain ready to be picked. You approach your door, ready to leave... but you stop... one last thought before we set off...
You're heading back to your roots here... I know you two haven't spoken in years but... you two used to work cases all the time. In fact that's how you got into this industry. Together. Hannah was always the brawn and you the brains.
She's your sister... maybe you two could finally talk?
Maybe she'd help... or maybe she'd just get in the way...
[[Phone Hannah.]]
[[Don't phone Hannah.]]
The enemy you know is better than the one you don't. So lets not guess who sent this stuff, take the £2,000 and just relax. Like a real winner.
[[Next| Game over]]After all, you're the Private Investigator that solved the crime of the The Hanged Man. And duty calls. And on the other end of that phone call is you. And you'll answer... because you can't afford a secretary... or an office. And did I mention duty calls your mobile because you can't afford a landline. Who even has landlines these days? No one! That's who.
I got a little carried away there... where were we?
[[I'm going to go solve this case.]](Set: $HannahTrust to it +1) (set: $PhonedHannah to true)
The phone rings... but that's all it does. No Answer. Maybe too much time has passed. Maybe not enough. But at least you tried.
[[Leave my flat.|End of Chapter 1]]Smart. You should really be concentrating on the case. Now is not the time to dwell on the past...
Now, let's go solve this case linked to your childhood!
[[Leave my flat.|End of Chapter 1]]That you are!
You slink over to your computer and book your train tickets. An open return to Pembleton. An open return so that you can return when the case is closed. Your bags are packed and your brain ready to be picked. You approach your door, ready to leave... but you stop... one last thought before we set off...
You're heading back to your roots here... I know you two haven't spoken in years but... you two used to work cases all the time. In fact that's how you got into this industry. Together. Hannah was always the brawn and you the brains.
She's your sister... maybe you two could finally talk?
Maybe she'd help... or maybe she'd just get in the way...
[[Phone Hannah.]]
[[Don't phone Hannah.]]End of Chapter 1
[[Next|Chapter 2]]The street is green and serene. A perfect village road, with each house having a picturesque front garden. All except for one. It’s not messy, just not nearly as maintained as the rest.
You stand tall in your creased clothes in the middle of the quiet road, your suitcase by your legs.
A black cab drives off behind you.
A street sign reads 'Lonsmun Grove'. The place where Vicky Wheatly lives and was last seen.
[[I approach the front door.]]
[[I'm going to wait till nightfall. Pick the lock and rummage around in the darkness.]]You approach the door. (set: $MeetBlueBeard to true)
You knock.
In a monotonous voice, you hear "Hello?" from behind the door.
As the door slides open, you see the bearded man from the newspaper article. A man with a stocky, rugby-player's build. George Wheatly. Except now he's clean shaven. His eyes are sunken, almost emotionless.
"Who are you?" He asks.
Remember, first impressions are important. How are you going to approach this?
[[Open with the truth: "Greg Lang, Lang Agency. I’m a Private Investigator."]]
[[Open with a Lie: "Got a call about your water boiler being on the fritz. Here to take a look at it."]]
[[ Catch him off guard: "You murder your wife?"]]Really?
[[Yes, really.|Wait till dark]]
[[Actually, I'm going to knock.|I approach the front door.]]Good job on waiting. It's officially dark and you're using it fully to your advantage, hiding around the corner.
Boom! Out steps George Wheatly. He locks his door and walks away. The house is empty. Time to get some answers.
(set: $BreakIn to true)
[[I'm going in guns blazing! I'm knocking down that door!]]
[[I'm going to go pick that lock!]]He looks you up and down. Getting ready to slam the door in your face, but he's hesitant. Tired and defeated.
"You here to talk about my wife?"
You nod.
"Well, why should I talk to you?"
[[Hit him with the facts: "170,000 people are reported missing every year..."]]
[[Tell him about your past: "About 25 years ago, two children were found in a forest not far from here..."]]He slams the door in your face. Nice one genius... I forgot about the Boiler repair men the dress like failed teachers in their early 30s. Next time, bring a jump suit.
Guess all we can do now is wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]]He looks you dead in the eye... I think he's about to knock you out...
(set: $AccusedBlueBeard to true)
[[Next|Thud!]](Set: $BlueBeardAlarm to it +1)
You hit him hard with the numbers."170,000 people are reported missing every year. Most are found within the first 24 hours but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what the statistics are after that."
He takes a breath. The numbers don't make him happy but it seemed to have the desired effect. He's lingering.
[["Ten minutes. And a couple of questions to point me in the right direction."]]
[[Give him a moment to see how he reacts.|BlueBeard door shut]]"About 25 years ago, two children were found in a forest not far from here. Their parents were missing. You hear about that?"
He nods. So, he has heard of your case... interesting. "Thought their parents abandoned them."
You grit your teeth. That's the story you were always told but not the one you've always believed... or understood. But you've got him to not slam the door on you. You should keep it that way. "That was my sister and I. It’s what made us- me! Become a P.I."
[[Lie: "And it’s what made me specialise in missing people."|"Ten minutes. And a couple of questions to point me in the right direction."]]
[[Give him a moment. See how he reacts.]]
(Set: $Abandonned to true)He stands aside. It worked. He's letting you in.
(set: $EnterBlueBeard to true)
The house matches the exterior décor. Well-designed, clearly a family of comfort but recently slacking in their home's maintenance. It's descent matches the one in George Wheatly’s eyes. He sits down on his armchair. You plant yourself on the matching L-shaped sofa.
"It's a nice place." You tell him. And you mean it. It makes your flat feel like it has as much warmth as a street-murder crime scene on Christmas day.
Your eye is drawn to the family portrait. Vicky Wheatly, George Wheatly and a 16-year-old boy. The boy looks drastically different to the two adults.
"What do you want to ask?"
[[Ask about his wife, Vicky Wheatly.]]
[[Ask about the 16-year-old boy.]]His reaction was to shut the door... fair play.
Well, there goes the direct approach. Oh well. You can't win them all... You can't win any.
Guess all we can do now is wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]]THUD!
(if: $NotAScrewUp is true)[You're a complete screw up.]
(if: $CoffeeCaught is true)[No coffee for you.]
[[Next|End of Chapter 2]]You are rocking it, Sir. A cut lip and eyebrow. Pretty sure it's still bleeding. And that black eye... bright!
You stand, slightly mended, in front of a hospital entrance(if: $NotAScrewUp is true)[ with a crumpled up and bloodied business card in your hand, with the words 'Lang Agency' printed on the side. The nurse said it was found on you when the ambulance arrived..]. Your interaction with the Mr. Wheatly was clearly a success. Your clothes are now roughed up... or as you'd put it, slightly less ironed. Oh, and your shirt is stained with blood... You look great.
Mr. Wheatly at least had the courtesy to call you an ambulance after he left you dumped in the middle of the road. (if: $AccusedBlueBeard is true)[I mean, you did ask him if he murdered his wife like three days after she went missing... you're a bit of a dick...](else:)[(if: $BreakIn is true)[And it's not exactly like you've got much ground to stand on. You did try and break into his home](else:)[And it's not like you can say much. You were sneaking around his home and being a bit of a dick.] ]
And now you're here. Stood outside a hospital in the early hours of the morning without any sleep... apart from the time you spent knocked unconscious (but the doctors told you that doesn't count).
A car pulls up in front of you.
A Ford Focus. Clean and presentable. And you know who's in the driver's seat... Your sister...
The window rolls down.
[[I should be civil. I'll greet her. "Hey."]]
[[I'm going to question her. "What are you doing here?"]]
(Set: $BlueBeardAlarm to it +1)
He stands aside. It worked. He's letting you in.
(set: $EnterBlueBeard to true)
The house matches the exterior décor. Well designed, clearly a family of comfort but recently slacking in maintenance. It matches the descent in George Wheatly’s eyes. He sits down on his arm chair. You plant yourself on the matching L-shaped sofa.
"It's a nice place", you tell him. And you mean it. It makes your flat feel like it has as much warmth as a street murder crime scene on Christmas day.
Your eye is drawn to the family portrait. Vicky Wheatly, George Wheatly and a 16-year-old boy. The boy looks drastically different to the two adults.
"What do you want to ask?"
[[Ask about his wife, Vicky Wheatly.]]
[[Ask about the 16-year-old boy.]](Set: $BlueBeardWife to true)
You take out your pad and pen. Time to start asking your questions! You take a breath.... "So, Vicky-
[["-Did she say anything around the time? Act any different before she... went missing?"]]
[["-Did she have any new friends or relationships? Perhaps she didn’t tell you about them?"]]"That your son?" You ask. (set: $SonElliot to true)
"Yes. Elliot."
[["How’s he handling all this?"]]
[["I can’t say I can see any family resemblance."]]"No. No, she was her normal self." He's stern... short.
(Set: $BluebeardWife to true)
[[Keep digging."Was there any sign of a struggle?"]]
(if: $SonElliot is false)[ [[I should change my approach. Ask about the 16-year-old boy.|Ask about the 16-year-old boy.]] ]
(if: $SonElliot is true)[ [[Take it back to Elliot, "I can’t say I can see any family resemblance."|"I can’t say I can see any family resemblance."]] ](Set: $BlueBeardAlarm to it +1)
"How would I know if she didn’t tell me about them?"
... He has a point.
(Set: $BluebeardWife to true)
[[Keep digging."Was there any sign of a struggle?"]]
(if: $SonElliot is false)[ [[I should change my approach. Ask about the 16-year-old boy.|Ask about the 16-year-old boy.]] ]
(if: $SonElliot is true)[ [[Take it back to Elliot, "I can’t say I can see any family resemblance."|"I can’t say I can see any family resemblance."]] ]"- Are you actually a private investigator?" He's trying to flip the interview.
You can see He's starting to doubt your credentials. You should probably back yourself up. Flip the control back into your hands.
[["Yes."]]
[["I'm the one who's conducting this interrogation!"]]Smart. A good direct answer.
"Have you solved many cases?" George persists.
Clearly your one worded answer wasn't enough. Double down. Really sell your career to him.
[["Yes."|Double Down]]
[["I Solved the case of The Hanging man."]]It's going to be hard to conduct this interview. Especially from the otherside of his front door... He kicked you out. And the size of him compared to the size of you made that easy for him to do.
Crushed it!
Guess all we can do now is wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]](Set: $BlueBeardAlarm to it +2)
Crushed it! That will have really sold George on your career. He's looking at you with that look. The look that you've got him hook, line and sinker.
But these questions aren't getting you anywhere. Maybe you can find a way to look around.
[["Can I use your toilet?"]]
[["Any chance I could get a cup of coffee."]]"A man hanged himself... suicide." Ahh yes, the case that made you. This should impress George.
"His family tried to make it look like a murder so they could claim on the insurance. They got the police involved and myself to double down... BUT, I got to the truth... They couldn’t afford to pay me after."
Huh... surprisingly, I actually think that story helped. But these questions aren't getting you anywhere. Maybe you can find a way to look around.
[["Can I use your toilet?"]]
[["Any chance I could get a cup of coffee."]]"Well. He’s in a boarding school not far from here. St. Hamcott."
(Set: $SchoolKnown to true)
Wait! St. Hamcott! that's the school that you were found near. Think you just found a clue. Keep it up.
(if: $BlueBeardWife is false)[ [[Change approach. Ask about the wife.|Ask about his wife, Vicky Wheatly.]] ]
[["I can’t say I can see any family resemblance."]]"My first marriage. His mother is no longer with us."
(Set: $Resemblance to true)
[["Where is she?"]]
[[Let him talk.]](Set: $BlueBeardAlarm to it +1)(set: $WhereIsShe to true)
He looks at you like the fool you are. "She passed around 10 years ago."
... Did you really have to ask that? Unless you have any other ingenius questions, I suggest you try and find a way to look around.
[["Can I use your toilet?"]]
[["Any chance I could get a cup of coffee."]] "She passed around 10 years ago. I met Vicky about 5 years ago."
... Probably murdered her too. Just saying.
These questions aren't getting you anywhere. Maybe you can find a way to look around.
[["Can I use your toilet?"]]
[["Any chance I could get a cup of coffee."]](if: $BlueBeardAlarm > 3)[ He looks at you. Weighing up his judgement. "I think it's time you leave."
Good job. You truly are the world's best Private Investigator. I'll tell you now, I'm being sarcastic. I'm worried that your investigatory skills are so poor that you wouldn't pick up on my sarcasm... you idiot.
[[Pretty sure I'm going to be kicked out now.]] ]
(else:)[ He looks at you. Weighing up his judgement. "Upstairs, first door on the left."
[[I make my way upstairs.]] ](if: $BlueBeardAlarm > 1)[ He looks at you. Weighing up his judgement. "I think it's time you leave."
Good job. You truly are the world's best Private Investigator. I'll tell you now, I'm being sarcastic. I'm worried that your investigatory skills are so poor that you wouldn't pick up on my sarcasm... you idiot.
[[Pretty sure I'm going to be kicked out now.]] ]
(else:)[He looks at you. Weighing up his judgement. "How do you take it?"
[[Milk, 3 sugars.]] ]That may be your best detecting to date. And you're right. He leads you to the front door.
(if: $Abandonned is true)[ As you stand on the other side of the front door. He gives you that stern look for what you feel will be the final time.
"I assume you never found your parents?"
[["I was five."]] ]
(else:)[ And now you're stood on the other side of it...
It slams shut in your face.
Crushed it!
Guess all we can do now is wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]] ]Your not-so-light-footed steps cause a creak with each step up with wooden stairs. The upstairs landing is nice, a modern furnish. Some flowers sit in a vase on a table, they are beginning to wilt.
You have a door on your left. The bathroom.
Another door, straight on. A sign rests on it:
‘STAY OUT!’ Probably the kid's room.
We haven't got long here. Which way we going?
[[Try the bedroom.]]
[[I'll try the bathroom.]] He gets up and heads towards the kitchen.
Nows your chance... Step up, P.I.
[[I make my way upstairs.]]
(set: $BlueBeardCoffee to true)"You're not any more." He slams the door in your face. Crushed it!
... Brutal... The guy went straight for your pride. And now you're stood outside in the cold. Alone... classic you.
Guess all we can do now is wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]] You head over to the bedroom. You place your hand on the knob to open it.
RATTLE! RATTLE!
The door is LOCKED. Interesting. Or not. It's a kid's bedroom. Teenangers tend to be private.
(set: $BedroomTried to true)
[[I'm going to pick the lock]]
[[I'll try the bathroom.]](if: $LockPickFail is true)[Phew... that was a close one. You can hear him heading back down the creaky wood stairs... You're in the clear. Time to take in the surroundings.]
The bathroom is white and pristine. The light bounces off the white tiles lighting up the bathroom perfectly. A large mirror hangs above a fancy sink. To the right of it, a comfortable looking bathtub with the shower curtain drawn.
[[Well, when in Rome, urinate as the Romans do.]]
[[Search the bathroom.]] (set: $LockPickFail to true)You take out a lockpick set and look around. The coast is clear. You lower yourself to the keyhole.
(if: $BlueBeardCoffee is true)[ "What are you doing?"
Turns out... the coast isn't clear. You turn around to see George Wheatly and his stocky, rugby player frame...
[["I'm looking for the bathroom!"]]
[["I can explain."|Thud!]]
[["... I've got nothing..."|Thud!]] ]
(else:)[... You're making a bit of a racket and if you get caught, it's not going to end well. I'm pretty sure you used to be able to actually do this too. You're clearly losing your edge.
Do you want to keep trying or should we make our way over to the bathroom?
[[I'll try the bathroom.]]
[[Keep trying.]] ]Nothing changes... Do you know the definition of insanity? It's a full grown man trying to break into a 16 year old's room that has a sign that clearly states 'Stay out!'.
"What are you doing?"
Looks like you made a little too much noise. You turn around to see George Wheatly and his stocky, rugby player frame...
[["I can explain."|Thud!]]
[["... I've got nothing..."|Thud!]] FLUSH!
You head over to the sink and wash your hands. (I'm glad that wasn't a decisions you had to think about.) A white towel hangs on the side.
[[Pick it up and dry your hands.]]
[[No time to dry. I'll looks around.|Search the bathroom.]] You pull the shower curtain back. Blue dye! It’s stained the inside of the bath. Has this guy not heard of bleach? Or not dying stuff blue? Maybe she didn't go missing... maybe she just left him and his terrible choice in colours.
(set: $BathChecked to true)[ [[Put the shower curtain back.|Search the bathroom.]] ]
You pick it up to dry your hands. What's this? A BLUE DYE STAIN.
[[Sniff it.]]
[[Put it back on the rack.]](if: $BathChecked is false)[ [[Let's see what's behind shower curtain number 1.]] ]
(if: $BinChecked is false)[ [[Check the bin.]] ]
(if: $SinkChecked is false)[ [[Check the sink.]] ]
[ [[I've seen enough. I should head back downstairs.]] ]
You head back down to the living room. George Wheatly sits alone the living room. The TICK! TICK TICKING! of the clock is all that can be heard.
(if: $SinkChecked is true)[His freshly shaven face now stands out even more to you.]
(if: $BlueBeardCoffee is true)[ A coffee sits on the table. The heat coming off it. Make sure you don't piss him off or that could be used as a deadly weapon.
[["Sorry, I just had to use the toilet real quick."|"Thanks for waiting."]]
[["Your house is lovely."]] ]
(else:)[You sit down back on the L-shaped sofa. He looks somewhat impatient.
[["Thanks for waiting."]]
[["Your house is lovely."]] ]
You bend down and rummage through the toilet bin. A little gross but a good detective has got to get their hands dirty. You find beard shampoo, the container still half-full.
[[Squeeze it.]]
[[Leave it.|Search the bathroom.]]It's a pretty standard sink. Ha! To think you'd sink to these standards. Little pun for you. But for real. It's just a sink with a pop-up plug. Nothing too exciting here.
[[It was a terrible pun.]]
[[Pull up the pop-up plug]]
[[Leave it.|Search the bathroom.]]
[[Earlier you said it was 'fancy'?]]A Private Investigator trying to solve the case with their nose? Original. But it smells of nothing.
You place the towel back on the rack.
What do you want to do next?
(if: $BathChecked is false)[ [[Let's see what's behind shower curtain number 1.]] ]
(if: $BinChecked is false)[ [[Check the bin.]] ]
(if: $SinkChecked is false)[ [[Check the sink.]] ]
[[I've seen enough. I should head back downstairs.]]You place it back on the rack.
What do you want to do next?
(if: $BathChecked is false)[ [[Let's see what's behind shower curtain number 1.]] ]
(if: $BinChecked is false)[ [[Check the bin.]] ]
(if: $SinkChecked is false)[ [[Check the sink.]] ]
[[I've seen enough. I should head back downstairs.]]Blue beard shampoo? Weird. But who are you to question people's fashion choices, you have one jacket.
(set: $BinChecked to true)[ [[Stop searching the bin.|Search the bathroom.]] ]
You're seriously taking time out to insult my creative genius. Come on! Concentrate on the case at hand.
[[Leave it.|Search the bathroom.]]
[[Pull up the pop-up plug]] You reach into the sink and grabs the Pop-up plug. You pull it out. Blue hair! It's wrapped around the bottom of the plug. Pretty gross if you ask me. Clearly treats his house like he lives alone. You should probably put the plug back.
(set: $SinkChecked to true)[ [[Put the pop-up plug back.|Search the bathroom.]] ]
(if: $BlueBeardCoffee is true)[ You take a sip of your coffee.... That's some good brown!]
He brushes off your compliment. I don't think that's something that he particularly cares about at the moment. You stare into his sunken eyes.
[["I actually had a couple more questions if you wouldn't mind?"]]
[["I should be on my way."]]"Not a problem." The words leave his lips but sit in stark contrast to his mood. Maybe a slight 'problem.'
(if: $BlueBeardCoffee is true)[ You take a sip of your coffee.... That's some good brown!]
[["I actually had a couple more questions if you wouldn't mind?"]]
[["I should be on my way."]]"Shoot."
[["Your son boards at St. Hamcott? Even though you only live around the corner?"]]
(if: $BinChecked is true)[ [["Why did you dye your beard blue and then shave it off?"]] ]
[["Why did your wife leave you?"|Thud!]]
"Agreed." He says in agreement. He leads you to the front door.
(if: $Abandonned is true)[ As you stand on the other side of the front door. He gives you that stern look for what you feel will be the final time.
"I assume you never found your parents?"
[["I was five."]] ]
(else:)[ And now you're stood on the other side of it...
It slams shut in your face.
Crushed it!
If we want more answers, I suggest we wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]] ]He stands up. He's big... and you tend to lose to big.
(if: $BBGoodQuestion is true)[And you ruined it... I should know by now not to expect too much success from you.]]
Maybe you can say something that will difuse the situation.
[["Did you murder your wife?"|Thud!]]
[["I'm sorry. I snoop. You know, P.I. and all that."]]"I think it's time you left."
Phew! Well difused. Pretty sure that was going to end up with his fist sore and your face broken.
He leads you to the front door.
(if: $Abandonned is true)[ As you stand on the other side of the front door. He gives you that stern look for what you feel will be the final time.
"I assume you never found your parents?"
[["I was five."]] ]
(else:)[ And now you're stood on the other side of it...
It slams shut in your face.
Crushed it!
If we want more answers, I suggest we wait till dark.
[[Then wait we shall.|Wait till dark]] ]"He used to be a day-boy, came home after each day of school. But he began boarding at the school around 4 years ago." George replies.
Good question. (set: $BBGoodQuestion to true)
Keep it up.
(if: $SearchedBin is true)[ [["Why did you dye your beard blue and then shave it off?"]] ]
[["Why did your wife leave you?"|Thud!]]
[["Around the time Vicky moved in?"]]George frowns. "Sure." (Set: $SchoolAfterVicky to true)
Nice follow up! You delivered that with stone-cold-killer energy. I'll say this: Maybe... maybe there's a chance you can solve this.
"I’m going to have to see you out." George stands up to escort you out. At least he's being civil... unlike when he probably murdered his wife.
[[Leave your card.]]
[[Be escorted out.]]"Well, take my card and give me a message if you think of anything I should know." You place it on the coffee table in front of you.
A plain, white card with a black magnifying glass on it. ‘Lang Agency’ is written in bold text along with a contact number.
Solid move. Very professional. Usually these things end up with you getting knocked out or at the very least kicked out. Credit where credit's due... you're not a complete screw up.
(Set: $NotAScrewUp to true)
[[Be escorted out.]](Set: $BlueBeardSolved to true) He escorts you to the front door.
(if: $Abandonned is true)[ As you stand on the other side of the front door. He gives you that stern look for what you feel will be the final time.
"I assume you never found your parents?"
[["I was five."]] ]
(else:)[ And now you're stood on the other side of it...
It slams shut in your face.
Crushed it!
If you want more answers, I suggest you wait till dark.
[[Then wait I shall.|Wait till dark]] ]YEH! ALRIGHT! LET'S DO THIS!
... How are you going to do this?
[[I'm going to run at it! Shoulders first!]]
[[Kick! I'm going to kick it down!]]You scuttle over. You take out your lockpick set. (if: $LockPickFail is true)[Hopefully this goes better than the better than the bedroom.] You lower yourself to the key hole.
Now... Time to work your magic.
[[Time to work my magic.]]You drop your lockpick set.
[["Fuck."]]
[[Don't say anything.|Pick up Lock Pick]]'Fuck' indeed.
[[Pick it up and try again.]]Run at it! Nice! This is going to be cool as hell! You're just going to fly right through! Into the house! Without thinking about it at all! Yes! Totally sweet! Let's break into a missing per's home! This is the smartest decision you've ever made! And this defintely won't have any physical consequences on your body!
(set: $DoorShoulder to true)
[[Be cool as hell!|Hit Door.]]
Kick it down! Nice! This is going to be cool as hell! You're just going to smash it down! Just foot to door action! Without thinking about it at all! Yes! Totally sweet! Let's kick down the door of a missing per's home! This is the smartest decision you've ever made! And defintely won't hurt at all!
(set: $DoorKick to true)
[[Be cool as hell!|Hit Door.]]"60 percent of women murders are done by their spouse. So it would be foolish to not at least investigate you."
... Probably more foolish to get caught though. How do you think this is going to play out? I think he's going to knock you out...
George exhales ANGRILY through his nose.
He's definetly going to at least hit you.
[[I can take it!|Thud!]]
[[I'm a wordsmith. He'll understand why.|Thud!]]
[[I also think I'm about to be knocked out.|Thud!]]OH MY GOD!
JESUS!
That was not 'cool as hell!' It looked painful as hell. You're on the floor! You were defeated by a door.
{(if: $DoorShoulder is true)[You just bounced off of it. Like a ragdoll thrown carelessly by a three year old child. Your shoulder will definetly bruise!]
(if: $DoorKick is true)[I think your knee is fucked. I don't think it's meant to move like that. That was horrible to be a part of. I want you to know that. That you made me partake in something that has made me feel horrible. I think I heard it pop.]
Why would you do that? Why wouldn't you just pick the lock? Who do you think you are? Someone who's not a scrawny P.I. who takes enough Omega 3 to put that much stress on their joints?}
...
That was brutal...
"What the fuck are you doing?" (if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[Ahh, you forgot how big those rugby shoulders are. Especially from this angle on the ground.] (else:)[Oh... he's bigger than he is in the newspaper picture. Especially from this angle on the ground. Also... he doesn't have a beard any more... not sure how that helps you from here but I found it interesting.]
You should use that silver tongue of yours.
[["60 percent of women murders are done by their spouse..."]]
[["Fuck."|Thud!]]
(if: $MeetBlueBeard is false)[ [["Hey. You shaved your beard!"]] ]End of Chapter 2.
[[Next|Hospital]]"Hey." Solid. You guys haven't spoken in years. Your wordsmith-ways will have really repaired the relationship.
(Set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"Hey." She seems to be taking a moment to process this interacton. "The hospital called... Emergency contact. They phoned me last night.(if: $PhonedHannah is true)[And I saw your missed call...]"
[[Roll your eyes.]]
[[Force a lipless smile.]]"What are you doing here?" Nice, stand your ground. Things didn't end civil last time you spoke. Why should they begin civil now?
"Your emergency contact. They phoned me last night.(if: $PhonedHannah is true)[And I saw your missed call...]"
[[Roll your eyes.]]
[[Force a lipless smile.]]Ow! Your face still hurts. I would avoid expressive emotions if I were you. Maybe next time, stick with a sigh.
"You going to get in or what?"
[[Get in. "I'm hungry."|Enter Car Hungry]]
[[Get in. "I need a drink."|Enter Car Thirsty]]Ow! Your face still hurts. I would avoid expressive emotions if I were you.
"You going to get in or what?"
[[Get in. "I'm hungry."|Enter Car]]
[[Get in. "I need a drink."|Enter Car]]You get in.
[[Next|Cafe]]You and Hannah sit in the booth of a half-filled cafe. Hannah has her eyes locked forward, looking right at you... looking down at her younger brother.
Your eyes are led astray. A family are sat a few booths down. A 4-year-old girl peers over her father's shoulder as the rest of the family talks and eats. She, on the other hand, is staring intensely at you. And now your eyes are locked!
She's scowling at you.
[[I don't like this kid. Give her the middle finger.]]
[[Turn back to my sister.]]
"I see you haven't changed much. Still swearing at kids!"
(set: $HannahTrust to it -1)
I agree, you've come so far....
The tension between you two is palpable and definitely unhealthy between siblings... or normal. Perhaps relationships with siblings are always unhealthy.
"What can I get you to drink?" A waitress stands over your table.
(if: $Hungry is true)[ [["I'm good thanks."]] ]
[["Coffee would be great."]]
[["Two Bloody Marys. Spicy."]]
[["Water."]]You both look at each other. The tension between you two is palpable and definetly unhealthy between siblings... or normal? Perhaps relationships with siblings are always unhealthy.
"What can I get you to drink?" A waitress stands over your table.
(if: $Hungry is true)[ [["I'm good thanks."]] ]
[["Coffee would be great."]]
[["Two Bloody Marys. Spicy."]]
[["Water."]](set: $BloodyMary to true)
"Bloody Marys, Spicy. Got it."
"One Virgin, please." Your sister interjects.
"And anything to eat?"
"Poached eggs, please." Your sister is the type of person that knows what they want... lets see how you fair.
(if: $Thirsty is true)[ [["I'm good."]] ]
[["Same."|Poached]]
[["Scrambled."]](set: $Hungry to true)
You get in.
[[Next|Cafe]](set: $Thirsty to true)
You get in.
[[Next|Cafe]](set: $NotThirsty to true)
"Anything for you?" The waitress turns to your sister.
"Virgin Bloody Mary, please. Spicy." Ahh, her usual drink but made boring.
"And anything to eat?"
"Poached eggs, please." Your sister is the type of person that knows what they want... lets see how you fair.
(if: $Thirsty is true)[ [["I'm good."]] ]
[["Same."|Poached]]
[["Scrambled."]](set: $Coffee to true)
(if: $BlueBeardCoffee is true)[ You're addicted to the stuff. But I guess you didn't get to fully enjoy the one Mr. Wheatly made for you.]
"Coffee it is. And anything for you?" The waitress turns to your sister.
"Latte, please."
"And anything to eat?"
"Poached eggs, please." Your sister is the type of person that knows what they want... let's see how you fair.
(if: $Thirsty is true)[ [["I'm good."]] ]
[["Same."|Poached]]
[["Scrambled."]](set: $Water to true)
"Water it is. and anything for you?" The waitress turns to your sister.
"Waters fine, thanks."
"And anything to eat?"
"Poached eggs, please." Your sister is the type of person that knows what they want... lets see how you fair.
(if: $Thirsty is true)[ [["I'm good."]] ]
[["Same."|Poached]]
[["Scrambled."]](set: $Poached to true)
Hannah looks at you with those stern eyes only an older sister can give to her younger brother. I think she's expecting you to be more polite.
[[Be polite, add "Please"]]
[[Ignore her.]](set: $NotHungry to true)
Hannah looks at you with those stern eyes only an older sister can give to her younger brother. I think she's expecting you to be more polite.
[[Be polite, add "Please"]]
[[Ignore her.]](set: $Scrambled to true)
Hannah looks at you with those stern eyes only an older sister can give to her younger brother. I think she's expecting you to be more polite.
[[Be polite, add "Please"]]
[[Ignore her.]]"... Please." (set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
The waitress smiles and walks away. And Hannah seems happy about it too.
(if: $BloodyMary is true)[Non alcoholic Bloody Mary... seems suspicious...
[["Are you pregnant?"]]
[[Leave it.]] ](Else:)[Hannah looks at your bruised face. She's composed, you're beat.
"You going to tell me what happened? You look terrible."
[["I was working a case."]]
[["You always thought you were the better detective. I'm sure you can guess."]] ]The waitress smiles and walks away. And Hannah seems happy about it too.
(if: $BloodyMary is true)[Non alcoholic Bloody Mary... seems suspicious...
[["Are you pregnant?"]]
[[Leave it.]] ]
(Else:)[Hannah looks at your bruised face. She's composed, you're beat.
"You going to tell me what happened? You look terrible."
[["I was working a case."]]
[["You always thought you were the better detective. I'm sure you can guess."]] ]"Fuck me, Greg! Seriously?" She seems filled with distain towards your question. Perhaps not the greatest question.
(set: $HannahTrust to it -1)
Hannah looks at your bruised face. She's composed, you're beat.
"You going to tell me what happened? You look terrible."
[["I was working a case."]]
[["You always thought you were the better detective. I'm sure you can guess."]]Hannah looks at your bruised face. She's composed, you're beat.
"You going to tell me what happened? You look terrible."
[["I was working a case."]]
[["You always thought you were the better detective. I'm sure you can guess."]]"A case?" She asks (set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
[["A case."]]
[["Yeh."|"A case."]](set: $HannahTrust to it -1) "You were obviously working a case. The only reason to why I think you'd in this far from your place. So I'm going to guess you got caught taking pictures." She seems disappointed in you. "Or you were somewhere you shouldn't be?"
(set: $BetterDetective to true)
(if: $BreakIn is true)[ [["Tried to get into some guy's house."]] ]
(else:)[ [["Being a bit of a dick."]] ]"And what? You got caught taking pictures? Being somewhere you shouldn't?"
(if: $BreakIn is true)[ [["Tried to get into some guy's house."]] ]
(else:)[ [["Being a bit of a dick."]] ]"Breaking and entering! Jesus Christ, Greg."
Well she's half right. But the only thing I'd say you broke was yourself... and your pride. He broke your nose and ribs before you could do the entering part.
"The hospital said you were attacked." (if: $HannahTrust > 2)[She actually seems somewhat concerned.] (else:)[She doesn't seemed too bothered by that as a concept.]
(if: $BloodyMary is true)["Bloody Mary with alcohol?" The waitress returns with your drink. You raise your hand to take the alcoholic one- Hannah slaps your hand takes it herself then puts the virgin Blood Mary in front of you.
[["What the hell?"]]
[["Do you Mind?"|"What the hell?"]] ]
(if: $Water is true)["Two glasses of Water!" The waitress returns with your drinks and places them on the table.
"Thank you." Your sister again with the good manners. The waitress leaves.
"So, the guy who did this to you? Is he cheating?"
[["No, his wife is missing."]] ]
(if: $Coffee is true)["Latte and an Americano." She puts the coffees on the table.
"Thank you." Your sister again with the good manners. The waitress leaves.
"So, the guy who did this to you? Is he cheating?"
[["No, his wife is missing."]] ]
"Makes sense. You're an asshole!" She's right. You are. And also you're lonely... felt like it's been a while since I brought that up.
(if: $BloodyMary is true)["Bloody Mary with alcohol?" The waitress returns with your drink. You raise your hand to take the alcoholic one- Hannah slaps your hand takes it herself then puts the virgin Blood Mary in front of you.
[["What the hell?"]]
[["Do you Mind?"|"What the hell?"]] ]
(if: $Water is true)["Two glasses of Water!" The waitress returns with your drinks and places them on the table.
"Thank you." Your sister again with the good manners. The waitress leaves.
"So, the guy who did this to you? Is he cheating?"
[["No, his wife is missing."]] ]
(if: $Coffee is true)["Latte and an Americano." She puts the coffees on the table.
"Thank you." Your sister again with the good manners. The waitress leaves.
"So, the guy who did this to you? Is he cheating?"
[["No, his wife is missing."]] ]"You have a concussion! You shouldn't be drinking!"
She has a point. Or does she? I don't remember.
"So, the guy who did this to you? Is he cheating?"
[["No, his wife is missing."]]She laughs. "So he was hiring you?"
[["No."]]
[["Actually, I don't know."]]"If not him, who are you working for?"
You don't have an answer to that...
[["I don't know."|"Actually, I don't know."]]
[[Stay silent.| Silent hire]]"You don't know who hired you?"
(set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
[["It's complicated."]]
[["... I got a letter?"]](set: $HannahTrust to it -1)
She seems aggravated by your silence. "Why are you being weird about this?"
[[Continue with the silent treatment.]]
[[Tell her the truth. "I don't know who's hired me."]]"Sounds it." She crosses her arms. She's expecting you to talk more.
[[Tell her what you know.|"... I got a letter?"]]
[[I've got nothing to say to her.|Continue with the silent treatment.]]You reach into your pocket and take out the unique letter that you got sent.
[["I got sent this in the post."]]
[["Open it."|"I got sent this in the post."]](set: $HannahTrust to it -2)
"If you don't talk to me, I'll walk away right now. Taking your ride with me. Because I'm pretty sure you've got nothing else."
[[I don't need her anyway. I'm going it alone. A true lone wolf.]]
[[Tell her what you know, "I got sent this in the post."|"I got sent this in the post."]]]]"You don't know who hired you?"
[["It's complicated."]]
[["... I got a letter?"]]Hannah stands up, puts cash on the table and holds her car keys firm.
"See you around, Greg."
[["See you around, Hannah."|Bad End of Part 1]]
[["Bye."|Bad End of Part 1]]
[[Say nothing.|Bad End of Part 1]]
Hannah opens it. She takes out the contents. Firstly, the news article.
'THE PEMBLESHIRE TELEGRAPH'
The picture of a beautiful smiling couple heads the page. The man has a big smile that beams under his mighty and thick beard. The same man that left your face broken, cut and bruised.
"She’s the missing woman, and this is the guy that did that to you?" She gestures at the picture. (if: $BetterDetective is true)[She is the better detective.]
"And you think he did it?"
[["60% of female murders are commited by their spouse.."]]
[["I did... but now I'm not so sure."]]
[["No."|Didn't Commit Murder]]
[["Yes, I think he did."]]
[["He's definitely on my suspect list."|"Yes, I think he did."]]You come in hard with the facts!
"- 60%, I know." She cuts you off, she's probably the one that told you the statistic. "And do you think that's applicable here?"
[["Not any more..."|"I did... but now I'm not so sure."]]
[["No."|Didn't Commit Murder]]
[["I do. I think he did it."|"Yes, I think he did."]]
[["He's defintely on my suspect list."|"Yes, I think he did."]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"What changed your mind?"
(if: $PlantPot is true)[ [["He kept a spare key under his plant pot. Doesn't seem like a murderer's move."]] ]
(if: $EnterBlueBeard is true)[ [["He let me into his home. He seemed desperate."]] ]
[["His front garden seemed a mess. He's not looking after himself or his house."]]
[["I've just got a suspicion that he's innocent."]]
[["He didn't kill me... that helps."]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"What makes you so sure?"
(if: $PlantPot is true)[ [["He kept a spare key under his plant pot. Doesn't seem like a murderer's move."]] ]
(if: $EnterBlueBeard is true)[ [["He let me into his home. He seemed desperate."]] ]
[["His front garden seemed a mess. He's not looking after himself or his house."]]
[["I've just got a suspicion that he's innocent."]]
[["He didn't kill me... that helps."]](set: $HannahTrust to it -2)
"Then why send you a newspaper with his own face on it? I think it's more likely someone's giving you a trail and he's the starting point."
She has a point. You're not really impressing her here. I'd try and step it up if I were you.
She takes a sip of her drink and concentrates.
"But you do think she's murdered?"
[["Oh yeh! She's dead."]]
[["Probably..."]]
[["I don't know."]]
[["No."|She's Alive]]His nostrals are flaring... How do you think this is going to play out? I think he's going to knock you out...
He's definetly going to at least hit you.
[[I can take it!|Thud!]]
[[No... My silence would have told him everything he needed to know.|Thud!]]
[[I also think I'm about to be knocked out.|Thud!]](set: $PlantPot to true)
You bend down to pick up your lockpick and see it... right under the plant pot... a god-damn key. This genius keeps a key to his front door under a plant pot outside of his front door! What a moron! And what a moron you are! You didn't even look. So I guess it worked... until now... I'm unsure how to feel about this as a safety precaution. It only didn't work because you failed the alternative...
[[Who cares, I've now got an in.|Take the key.]]
[[Take the key.]](set: $PlantPot to true)
You bend down to pick up your lock pick and see it... right under the plant pot... a god damn key. This genius keeps a key to his front door under a plant pot outside of his front door! What a moron! And what a moron you are! You didn't even look. So I guess it worked... until now... I'm unsure how to feel about this as a safety precaution. It only didn't work because you failed the alternative...
[[Who cares, I've now got an in.|Take the key.]]
[[Take the key.]]
"What the fuck are you doing?" You turn around to see a very pissed off beardless man. Mr. Wheatly.
(if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[You forgot how big those rugby shoulders are.] (else:)[Oh... he's bigger than he is in the newspaper picture. Also... he doesn't have a beard any more... not sure how that helps you when you just got caught trying to pick his lock... but I find it interesting.]
You should use that silver tongue of yours.
[["60 percent of women murders are done by their spouse..."]]
[[Don't say anything.]]
[["Fuck."|Thud!]]
(if: $MeetBlueBeard is false)[ [["Hey. You shaved your beard!"]] ](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"Yeh, I don’t think that’s so weird around these parts. I keep a backdoor key hidden in the garden... but I get your point."
She takes a sip of her drink and concentrates.
"But you do think she's murdered?"
[["Oh yeh! She's dead."]]
[["Probably..."]]
[["I don't know."]]
[["No."|She's Alive]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"You're right... that is desperate." She takes a sip of her drink and concentrates.
"But you do think she's murdered?"
[["Oh yeh! She's dead."]]
[["Probably..."]]
[["I don't know."]]
[["No."|She's Alive]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"So we can also remove you as a suspect, too?" She takes a sip of her drink and concentrates.
"But you do think she's murdered?"
[["Oh yeh! She's dead."]]
[["Probably..."]]
[["I don't know."]]
[["No."|She's Alive]]"A suspicion? That's not exactly much to go on..."
She takes a sip of her drink and concentrates.
"But you do think she's murdered?"
[["Oh yeh! She's dead."]]
[["Probably..."]]
[["I don't know."]]
[["No."|She's Alive]]"That does take the strongest of wills to pull off. But doesn't mean he did anything."
She takes a sip of her drink and concentrates.
"But you do think she's murdered?"
[["Oh yeh! She's dead."]]
[["Probably..."]]
[["I don't know."]]
[["... No."|She's Alive]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
Hannah leans into her seat and looks back in the envelope, pulling out the note and reading it.
"'Guess my name, if you can.'" she takes a moment.
"... Weird."
You sit, as her brain ticks!
{
(if: $Poached is true)[ "Two poached eggs on toast." The waitress has returned with your food. She puts a plate in front of you each.]
(if: $NotHungry is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast." The waitress returns with Hannah's food. She places the plate in front of her then walks off.]
(if: $Scrambled is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast and scrambled eggs on toast." The waitress returns with your food.
"Poached eggs are mine." Your sister claims her food and the waitress gives places the scrambled eggs in front of you]
}
"Can I get you guys anything else?"
[["No."|Rude Food]]
[["We're good... thanks."]]"I'd be inclined to agree." You two finally agree on something. It's a good start. A bit of bonding over a 'probably' murdered woman... ahhhh, siblings.... good times.
Hannah looks back in the envelope and pulls out the note and reads it.
"‘Guess my name, if you can.'" She takes a moment.
"... Weird."
You sit, as her brain ticks!
{
(if: $Poached is true)[ "Two poached eggs on toast." The waitress has returned with your food. She puts a plate in front of you each.]
(if: $NotHungry is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast." The waitress returns with Hannah's food. She places the plate in front of her then walks off.]
(if: $Scrambled is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast and scrambled eggs on toast." The waitress returns with your food.
"Poached eggs are mine." Your sister claims her food and the waitress gives places the scrambled eggs in front of you]
}
"Can I get you guys anything else?"
[["No."|Rude Food]]
[["We're good... thanks."]]"My guess would be she probably is." Hannah has always been the more pessimistic out of you two. And she tends to have the better gut instict too... I think she's just better than you.
Hannah looks back in the envelope and pulls out the note and reads it.
"‘Guess my name, if you can.'" she takes a moment.
"... Weird."
You sit, as her brain ticks!
{
(if: $Poached is true)[ "Two poached eggs on toast." The waitress has returned with your food. She puts a plate in front of you each.]
(if: $NotHungry is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast." The waitress returns with Hannah's food. She places the plate in front of her then walks off.]
(if: $Scrambled is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast and scrambled eggs on toast." The waitress returns with your food.
"Poached eggs are mine." Your sister claims her food and the waitress gives places the scrambled eggs in front of you]
}
"Can I get you guys anything else?"
[["No."|Rude Food]]
[["We're good... thanks."]]"Then I'd say, you're being foolish. " Hannah has always been the more pessimistic out of you two. And she tends to have the better gut instict too... I think she's just better than you.
Hannah looks back in the envelope and pulls out the note and reads it.
"‘Guess my name, if you can.'" she takes a moment.
"... Weird."
You sit, as her brain ticks!
{
(if: $Poached is true)[ "Two poached eggs on toast." The waitress has returned with your food. She puts a plate in front of you each.]
(if: $NotHungry is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast." The waitress returns with Hannah's food. She places the plate in front of her then walks off.]
(if: $Scrambled is true)[ "Poached eggs on toast and scrambled eggs on toast." The waitress returns with your food.
"Poached eggs are mine." Your sister claims her food and the waitress gives places the scrambled eggs in front of you]
}
"Can I get you guys anything else?"
[["No."|Rude Food]]
[["We're good... thanks."]](set: $HannahTrust to it -1)
Hannah looks at you with those disaproving eyes. She then begins to eat her poached eggs. (if: $Poached is true)[You cut into yours too. Real original by the way, ordering the same dish as your sister. Way to show her how decisive and adult you've become...](if: $Scrambled is true)[And you cut into your scrambled eggs, perhaps a little envious of her runny yolk... or maybe you're not. You're an independant man. You can order something different and then not compare... comparisons are unhealthy after all...]
"I guess the real question is... Why you?" she takes another bite. "If it's a trail... or a trap- which it most likely is."
"Then why are they sending it to you? What do you have to do with this?"
[[Take out the newspaper article about you when you were younger.]]
[[Don't tell her about the newspaper article about when you were younger.]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
Hannah looks at you with approving eyes. She then begins to eat her poached eggs. (if: $Poached is true)[You cut into yours too. Real original by the way, ordering the same dish as your sister. Way to show her how decisive and adult you've become...](if: $Scrambled is true)[And you cut into your scrambled eggs, perhaps a little envious of her runny yolk... or maybe you're not. You're an independant man. You can order something different and then not compare... comparisons are unhealthy after all...]
"I guess the real question is... Why you?" she takes another bite. "If it's a trail... or a trap- which it most likely is."
"Then why are they sending it to you? What do you have to do with this?"
[[Take out the newspaper article about you when you were younger.]]
[[Don't tell her about the newspaper article about when you were younger.]]You reach into your scruffed-up jacket pocket and take out another folded piece of paper, the old news article. You lean across the table and plant it in front of Hannah.
'PEMBLESHIRE TELEGRAPH'
“Two children found in forest after being abandoned by Parents:
The brother and sister, 5 and 6, were found wandering the forest near the Pembleshire Village, St. Hamcot (Cont.)”
Hannah’s face becomes serious. She stops eating... it's defintely serious...
[["It’s where we were found."]]
[["You not recognise where we are?"]](set: $HannahTrust to it -3)
You feel the article in the breat pocket of your jacket but you decide not to share it with her.
[["Well, maybe they just want the case solved."]]
[["I don't need to 'Why'. I just need to know 'Who'?"]]Hannah's face drops... she's processing it all.
"It could just be prank, right? Someone knows who you are, decides to mess with you."
[["Doesn't change the fact that something has happened."]]
[["There was £2,000 in the envelope."]]It clicks!
"This is where..."
Hannah's face drops... she's processing it all. She doesn't need to say it for you to know she knows. Her face says it all.
"It could just be prank, right? Someone knows who you are, decides to mess with you."
[["Doesn't change the fact that something has happened."]]
[["There was £2,000 in the envelope."]]"Then why hire you?"
Ohhh, the sass! And it's a good question. Your success rate isn't exactly the highiest. Probably should have shared the article about you two with her. Might have helped convince her... but what can you do, ay?
(if: $HannahTrust < 3)[She stands up and takes out her purse. You see cash be thrown down on the table above her half eaten food. She looks at your beaten face. "I know you're not tell me everything, Greg. And I'm done asking. Have a good life, Greg."
[[Next|Alone Ending]] ](else:)["Go on then. Tell me what you know so far, P.I.?" She crosses her arms, fully expecting to be disapointed.
[[Tell her what you know so far.|I know this:]] ]"Spoken like the detective of a cancelled CSI series."
Ohhh, the sass!I don't think your silver tongue worked so well here. Probably should have shared the article about you two with her. Might have helped convince her... but what can you do, ay?
(if: $HannahTrust < 3)[She stands up and takes out her purse. You see cash be thrown down on the table above her half eaten food. She looks at your beaten face. "I know you're not tell me everything, Greg. And I'm done asking. Have a good life, Greg."
[[Next|Alone Ending]] ](else:)["Go on then. Tell me what you know so far, P.I.?" She crosses her arms, fully expecting to be disapointed.
[[Tell her what you know so far.|I know this:]] ]Her intrigue grows. It feels like you two are... connecting...
"So... we have a missing woman who's most likely dead. Her husband most likely didn't kill her and someone sending you into a trap all around the area that our parents abandoned us... Tell me everything you know?"
[[I know this:]]Her intrigue grows. It feels like you two are... connecting...
"So... we have a missing woman who's most likely dead. Her husband most likely didn't kill her and someone sending you into a trap all around the area that our parents abandoned us... Tell me everything you know?"
[[I know this:]]What you know so far:
(if: $BeardChatComplete is false)[ [[Tell her about his beard.]] ]
(if: $SonElliotChatComplete is false)[(if: $SonElliot is true)[ [[Tell her about his son, Elliot.]] ] ]
(if: $WifeChatComplete is false)[ [[Tell her what you know about Vicky Wheatly.]] ]
[["That's everything I know."]]What you know about his beard:(set: $BeardChatComplete to true)
(If: $ShavedBeardChat is false)[ [[He shaved off his beard.]] ]
(if: $BinCheckedChat is false)[(if: $BinChecked is true)[ [[He dyed his beard blue.]] ] ]
(if: $BathCheckedChat is false)[(if: $BathChecked is true)[ [[The bath was stained blue.]] ] ]
[[Go back.|I know this:]](if: $HannahTrust > 5)[Hannah places her cutlery down. She looks at you but truly at you... it's more of a stare into your past. Perhaps nostalgia is playing in her head... feelings of old that are still welcome. Or maybe it's sadness... sadness of what used to be and where you are now...
Either way, she's looking right in to you.
"What's your plan?" The words leave her lips is if your answer doesn't particularly matter. Her real question has already been answered.
(if: $SchoolKnownChatComplete is true)[ [[Go to St. Hamcott. Pretend to be a parent weighing up my child’s educational options. Investigate.]] ]
[[Go back to where it started. St. Hamcott in Pembleshire... see what I find.]]
[[I don't know.]] ](else:)["Greg... you haven't changed, have you?"
It's that tone... that tone she gave you all those years ago...
[["What's that supposed to mean?"]]
[["I don't need to change."]]
[["And you still talk down to me like I'm a child."]] ](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)(set: $BinCheckedChat to true)
(if: $BinChecked is true)[(if: $ShavedBeardChat is true)["The blue look he quickly parted from came from his beard shampoo bottle. The 'shampoo' inside had been dyed blue. Much to his surprise I'm sure, given his reaction."](else:)[(if: $BathCheckedChat is true)["The blue stain in the bath came from a beard shampoo that I found in the bin. Assuming, not his desired effect from the product."](else:)["I found a beard shampoo bottle in the bin, half used. When I squeezed it, it came out blue. The fact that he threw it away makes me think-"
"He didn't like the end product." Hannah cuts in, taking away your steam.
"... Yeh."]]]
[[Back|Tell her about his beard.]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"He stained his bath blue.(if: $BinCheckedChat is true)[ So I assume he was using his smurf beard shampoo whilst having a shower. Probably looked down and saw the bathtub was blue before he realised his beard was." Look at you piecing together all the clues...
"Smurfs have blue skin. Their beards are white... at least, Papa Smurf's is." She replies absent-mindedly
"What?" Your pop-culture knowledge is worse than you thought.](else:)[(if: $BinChecked is true)[Which probably had something to do with what I found in his bin)"
Nice! A hook to really drag her in.]](else:)[ "And I don't think the new look was by choice."]
[[Go back.|Tell her about his beard.]]
(set: $BathCheckedChat to true)(set: $ShavedBeardChat to true)
(if: $SinkChecked is true)["I found his beard hair wrapped around the pop-up plug in his sink. Man doesn't know how to clean up after himself-"
"And you do?" Hannah interjects. Trying to shame this guy to someone who knows how you live? Pot-kettle-black much, her eyes seem to say.(set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
(if: $BinCheckedChat and $BathCheckedChat is true)["Well, he clearly didn't like the look the tampered shampoo gave him or know about it in the first place."](else:)["Well, after he 'blue' himself, he clearly didn't like the look."]](else:)["He shaved off his beard since... seemed strange to me?"
"That someone could grow a beard like that?" Hannah is obviously coming at your insecurity (Which you defintely don't have) over your own facial hair.
"Well... It was clearly a look he had and I assumed liked."]
[[Back|Tell her about his beard.]]
I said "I don't know how that helps you!"
Why would you-
......
Whatever...
[[Next|Thud!]]What you know about Elliot:(set: $SonElliotChatComplete to true)
(if: $SchoolKnownChatComplete is false)[(If: $SchoolKnown is true)[ [[ "Elliot goes to St. Hamcott."]] ] ]
(if: $ResemblenceChatComplete is false)[(if: $Resemblance is true)[ [["He's from the husbands first marriage."]] ] ]
(if: $BedroomTriedComplete is false)[(if: $BedroomTried is true)[ [["He locks his bedroom door."]] ] ]
[[Go back.|I know this:]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)(set: $SchoolKnownChatComplete to true)
Hannah's face smirks, "The school we were found near?"
"Yeh." Oh, you love that you have that juicy little connection...
"Could just be a coincidence?"
[["There are no coincidences. Only the illusion of coincidences."]]
[["I'm not so sure."]]
[[Yeh. Maybe you're right.|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]]She looks at you.
"Who said that?"
[["T.S.Elliot."|Wrong Answer]]
[["Alan Moore."|Right Answer]]
[["Virginia Woolf."|Wrong Answer]]
[["Stephen King."|Wrong Answer]]
[["Agatha Christie."|Wrong Answer]]"Alan Moore, you idiot."
She's always so mean!
(if: $BBGoodQuestion is true)[ [["Well, even though he lives around the corner, he became a full time boarder there around the same time Vicky moved in..."]] ]
[[Back to Elliot.|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]]She sits in a grump... must have meant you guessed right because we both know that was a guess.
(if: $BBGoodQuestion is true)[ [["Well, even though he lives around the corner, he became a full time boarder there around the same time Vicky moved in..."]] ]
[[Back to Elliot.|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]](set: $HannahTrust to it +1)(set: $ResemblenceChatComplete to true)
"Where is she now?"
(if: $WhereIsShe is true)["That's what I asked! Turns out he meant she 'passed', around 10 years ago... So she has an alibi..."](Else:)["She's dead. So I've ruled her out as a suspect."]
Your sister smiles.
[[Go back.|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]]
(set: $HannahTrust to it +1)
"Struggling relationship with the new mother-in-law?"
[["That's my thoughts."|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]]
[["Something I want to find out."|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]]"What makes you so unsure?"
(if: $BBGoodQuestion is true)[ [["Well, even though he lives around the corner, he became a full time boarder there around the same time Vicky moved in..."]] ]
[["Just got a feeling."|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]]She looks at you, her face visually confused.
(set: $BedroomTriedComplete to true)
"He's a teenage boy, Greg... What a real mystery... I wonder what he's hiding from the world? Why would a teenage boy lock his door?"
She's mocking you...
[[Go back.|Tell her about his son, Elliot.]](set: $WifeChatComplete to true)
Yeh... you don't really know too much about Vicky Wheatly that Hannah doesn't already know...
(if: $BlueBeardWife is true)[Your questions didn't get you too much information from the ever talkative George Wheatly.](else:)[Maybe the chance to actually ask some questions might have helped in that department...]
[["There's not too much to say outside of what you know."|I know this:]]
[["My Vicky Wheatly file is pretty empty. I still need to learn more."|I know this:]]
[["My case revolves around Vicky Wheatly... the one thing I need is more information on her."|I know this:]]
"You? A parent?"
[["Yep!"|Greg A Parent.]]
[["That's the plan."|Greg A Parent.]]
[["You know it."|Greg A Parent.]]
"You're just going to walk around a village which is predominantly a school filled with youths, looking like you do, trying to solve a murder?"
I don't think she is all for your plan here...
"You’ll look like you’re there to abduct the kids."
It's crazy how often you hear thaat.
[["Fuck you."|My point is.]]
[["Why are you always nay saying?"|My point is.]]
[["Have you got a better plan?"]]"Well, I do... I'm coming with you."
What did she just say?
[["What did you just say?"|come with]]
[["Excuse me?"|come with]]
[["I don't see how that's better?"|come with]]"You know what it means, Greg."
(if: $BlueBeardSolved is true)[You got all the evidence possible from Mr. Wheatly and asked the right questions. Thus proving that you are a real private investigator, even if you did still get knocked out and woke up helplessly in a hospital. But what's that worth? You may have gathered enough clues on your own for the beginning... but you didn't get Hannah's trust. Maybe if things were different... if you were more civil... but now, you're back to being alone.](else:)[(if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[You screwed up in your interview with Mr. Wheatly and didn't get enough information to win over Hannah. She still doesn't trust you... as a brother or a Private Investigator... Even if you didn't have all the answers... you could have won Hannah over with your attitude...but now, you're back to being alone...](else:)[You're a bad private investigator and a bad brother...Even if you didn't have all the answers, you could have won Hannah over with your attitude...but now, you're back to being alone...] ]
[[Next|Bad Ending.]]"It was a mistake for me to come. You're still a bad P.I. Greg. and not much better of a brother..."
(if: $BlueBeardSolved is true)[You got all the evidence possible from Mr. Wheatly and asked the right questions. Thus proving that you are a real Private Investigator, even if you did still get knocked out and woke up helplessly in a hospital. But what's that worth? You may have gathered enough clues on your own for the beginning... but you didn't get Hannah's trust. Maybe if things were different... if you were more civil... but now, you're back to being alone.](else:)[(if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[You screwed up in your interview with Mr. Wheatly and didn't get enough information to win over Hannah. She still doesn't trust you... as a brother or a Private Investigator... Even if you didn't have all the answers... you could have won Hannah over with your attitude...but now, you're back to being alone...](else:)[You're a bad private investigator and a bad brother...Even if you didn't have all the answers, you could have won Hannah over with your attitude...but now, you're back to being alone...] ]
[[Next|Bad Ending.]]"You still act like one, Greg."
(if: $BlueBeardSolved is true)[You got all the evidence possible from Mr. Wheatly and asked the right questions. Thus proving that you are a real private investigator, even if you did still get knocked out and woke up helplessly in a hospital. But what's that worth? You may have gathered enough clues on your own for the beginning... but you didn't get Hannah's trust. Maybe if things were different... if you were more civil... but now, you're back to being alone.](else:)[(if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[You screwed up in your interview with Mr. Wheatly and didn't get enough information to win over Hannah. She still doesn't trust you... as a brother or a Private Investigator... Even if you didn't have all the answers... you could have won Hannah over with your attitude...but now, you're back to being alone...](else:)[You're a bad private investigator and a bad brother...Even if you didn't have all the answers, you could have won Hannah over with your attitude...but now, you're back to being alone...] ]
[[Next|Bad Ending.]]"A parent that can afford a school upwards of £15,000 a year?"
She doesn't believe you can do it... and neither do I.
[["Actually, it's more like £30,000."]]
[["If you've got something to say, say it."|Your face is fucked.]]
[["I can be very convincing!"|Your face is fucked.]]"HAH!"
Yeh, I don't think she's fully supportive of this idea.
[["Fuck you!"|Your face is fucked.]]
[[Sit there smug. Ignore her negativity.|Your face is fucked.]]"Greg, your face is fucked up and your clothes have blood on them." She has a point.
What's your excuse going to be?
[["Car accident."]]
[["I'll tell them the truth."]]
[["I'll improvise when I see them."|"Car accident."]]"You’ll look like you’re there to abduct the kids."
It's crazy how often you hear thaat.
[["Fuck you."|My point is.]]
[["Why are you always nay saying?"|My point is.]]
[["Have you got a better plan?"]](if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)["That you tried to break in to a pupil's home and got your ass kicked by their dad after you attempted to interrogate him?"](else:)[""That you tried to break in to a pupil's home and got your ass kicked by their dad?"]
(if: $BlueBeardSolved is true)[ [["Succesfully 'questioned', thank you!"|My point is.]] ]
[["I'll tell them some of the truth..."|My point is.]]
[["Why are you always nay saying?"|My point is.]]
[["Have you got a better plan?"]]"If you go out there alone, into what is most definetly a trap... you're going to end up dead. Most likely dysentery. But potentially murdered. I go with you... you might actually stand a chance of solving this case before a premature end."
You both sit there in silence. You and your sister. Back together again. Just like old times....
"Plus." She flashes her car keys. "You need a ride."
What do you say?
[[Accept.]]
[[Reject.]]"That I'll come with?"
What did she just say?
[["What did you just say?"|come with]]
[["Excuse me?"|come with]]
[["I don't see how that's better?"|come with]]"Look at you..."
You look at yourself. You regret it.
"I'm honestly surprised you've survived this long!"
[["Hey!"|My point is.]]
[[Shrug in agreement.|My point is.]]
[[Stay silent.|My point is.]]
She smiles... and so do you. Because you know, deep down, she's right. Someone's luring you back with the mystery of your childhood and the mystery of a missing woman. Right now, you don't know much but with both of you together... there's a chance you can solve this.
The mystery has only just begun and there are going to be a lot choices to be made and a lot more clues to find. You've only scratched the surface of the true horror that awaits in St. Hamcott. There will be death around every corner... and if you choose poorly... it'll most likely be yours...
But, for once, I have some hope for you. (if: $BlueBeardSolved is true)[You got all the evidence possible from Mr. Wheatly and asked the right questions. Thus proving that you are a real private investigator, even if you did still get knocked out. But hey, you showed Hannah what you're capable of and now she trusts you.](else:)[(if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[You may have screwed up in your interview with Mr. Wheatly but you were kind enough to your sister where it counted. Helping you earn her trust and in turn, her help. And you know you're going to need it!](else:)[You're a bad private investigator but that doesn't mean you're a bad brother... Hannah trusts you and it was just enough to get her on board... and, like I said: You're a bad private investigator... You're going to need all the help you can get!] ]
[[Next|Good ending.]]For a moment, a smile... hope... it lingered on her face... but that emotion has since gone. Perhaps you are rejecting more than her help. You're rejecting your chance to reconnect and deep down, you feel the same sadness... the same loss of hope... Because you know, even deeper down, she's right. Someone's luring you back with the mystery of your childhood and the mystery of a missing woman. Right now, you don't know much but with both of you together... there may have been a chance you could solve it. But that chance is fading with the love that you had for each other.
And, as always, I have little hope for you.(if: $BlueBeardSolved is true)[You got all the evidence possible from Mr. Wheatly and asked the right questions. Thus proving that you are a real private investigator, even if you did still get knocked out and woke up helplessly in a hospital. You may have gathered enough clues on your own for the beginning... but for the rest of your journey... you're going to need help... and a ride... so, for now, it's back to being alone...](else:)[(if: $MeetBlueBeard is true)[You screwed up in your interview with Mr. Wheatly and now you've screwed yourself out of the help and trust of your sister. And you know you were going to need it!](else:)[You're a bad private investigator and a bad brother... Hannah trusted you and it was enough to get her on board... and, like I said: You're a bad private investigator... You were going to need all the help you could get! But instead, you're without the help and without a ride... back to being alone.] ]
[[Next|Bad Ending.]]Hannah stands up, puts cash on the table and holds her car keys firm. You're heading to St. Hamcott.... together...
[[Next|End of Part 1]]The sun shines over the green hills and through the fairy-tale-like treetops. The lighting, the scenery; even the cool breeze, all come together to make a calming spectacle.
A beautifully handcrafted SIGN reads:
'Welcome To ST. HAMCOTT. Please Drive Carefully.'
[[Next|The End]]
The mystery will continue....
I hope you've enjoyed it.
Part 2 coming soon...Hannah stands up, puts cash on the table and holds her car keys firm.
"See you around, Greg."
[["See you around, Hannah."|Bad End of Part 1]]
[["Bye."|Bad End of Part 1]]
[[Say nothing.|Bad End of Part 1]]
She walks out of the cafe... and you just sit there...
[[Next|Alone Ending]]The Mystery won't continue...
I hope you've enjoyed it.Welcome Player,
'Folklore: A Detective's Tale' is a hypertext narrative adventure where you take on the role of Greg Lang, A Private Investigator with a troubled past... a completely original character...
Throughout your investigation you will decide how to gather clues, question suspects, and approach the world around you. These choices can be good, bad, and occasionally wrong. So choose wisely.
And, as a parting piece of advice: Don't be too much of a dick.
Or do... I don't care... The choice is yours.
[[Okay.|Title Card]]
[[Thanks for the heads up.|Title Card]]
[[Good to know.|Title Card]]
[[Got it.|Title Card]]
[[You say 'Choice' but all the above options mean the same thing? That's not really much of a 'choice'.|Title Card]]Content Warning:
This story includes strong language, references to parental death, suicide, violence, and murder that some may find offensive.
[[Continue.|The Introduction]]
[[Folklore: A Detective's Tale.
Part 1|The Beginning]]It's called wordplay! You're seriously taking time out to insult my creative genius? Come on! Concentrate on the case at hand.
[[Leave it.|Search the bathroom.]]
[[Pull up the pop-up plug]] You're an idiot.
[[Next | Game over]]"Door on the right! That's my kid's room."
Or it's where he hides the bodies... but most likely the kid's room.
"You said sugar, right? For the coffee."
[["Yeh."|Sugar]]
[["No."|No sugar]]He lingers for a moment. You've managed to conceal the lockpick set behind your leg.
"Well, yeh... Toilets there." He points to the bathroom door. He looks at you, suspicious.
[[I make my way to the bathroom.|I'll try the bathroom.]]
[[I stay at the son's bedroom door.]]"I'm pretty sure you said you did want sugar?" (set: $CoffeeCaught to true)
Ohhh, he's caught you in a lie!
"You wouldn't be snooping would you?"
[["Matter of fact, I am."|Thud!]]
[["Of course not."|Thud!]] Ok... now he's looking at you with a look that is a tad more intense...
(set: $CoffeeCaught to true)
"You wouldn't be snooping, would you?"
Think fast:
[["Matter of fact, I am."|Thud!]]
[["Of course not."|Thud!]]