“Okay Sherlock,” jokes Ezy. “I guess three heads aren’t better than one.” He laughs, perhaps using humor to defuse the grisliness of the investigation.
“Well the kid is in Arkham Sanitarium, so we can’t see him tonight,” Ezy reminds Baines. “When we go back to Boston to question the wino we can swing up to Arkham.”
Baines tries fast talking the maître-de with a story about being a publisher interested in Timothy Carver’s work. The Oriental looks skeptically at the agent.
“I so sorry,” he says. “I no know this Carver. What he look like? Maybe someone here know him.”
"Alright Watson, seems like we wont have much sleep tonight", said Baines half joking and half serious, he always wanted to say that.
Baines senses the maître-de's doubts about him but he stays consistent with his vulgar approach, "I would have thought with your nifty joint here, you would have paid more care to your customers. It's the first rule of business", he turned to Ezy, "Isn't that what I always say? Connecting with your customer is the first step to success", he looked back at the maître-de, "One by one you build a big customer base that is loyal to you, they would feel guilty even if they think about visiting some other joint", Baines rambled on to try and drop his guard. He let up a cigarette, "Umm...what did you ask? Oh what did he look like? I only saw him a couple of times so I cant paint you a perfect picture but he wore glasses with circular lenses, huge moustache, messy hair and did I already say he was a bit of an oddball?".
The Chinamen looks at Baines as he rambles on. He glances at Ezy, who seems to be quite interested in the walls and ceiling at the moment. As the BOI agent describes Carver, the Chinamen nods.
"Ah yes, I see him sometime. He like corner seat." He points to a certain small table in the northwest corner. "You go sit there and eat. I send girl to take order, she maybe know this man better."
The agents walk over and sit down. The maitre de talks with a girl, pointing over at Baines and Ezy. She comes over and bows.
"You eat sirs? What you like? And you have questions?"
Baines continues with his vulgar style even though it makes him feel uncomfortable. He looks at the waitress and smiles, "Sweetheart you are something out of this world. You know Timothy Carver? Glasses with circular lenses, huge moustache, messy hair and a bit of an odd bird? We will have whatever he normally has, and we will have you joining us because you are too precious to be just standing there", the words came out of the agent's mouth but somehow looking unnatural, flirting was never his forte but he is trying to fake until he makes it, "We just want to know more about our new author. Just a few questions here and there, and I will be more than thankful", he attempted to wink but stopped at the last moment.
When she left for the food, Baines looked at Ezy, "So, did you find anything in the walls that might help us?", he asked half sarcastically.
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Baines finds himself admiring the walls as past memories of travels with his parents flood his mind, he looked at Ezy a bit surprised, "I didn't take you for an art enthusiast, I guess you learn something new everyday", he smiled, "have you ever visited the lands of the east Ezy? Its quite something, these paintings fail miserably in comparison to the real beauty of that land. Hills of green short grass with flowers of red and yellow creating an intermingled beautiful aroma while the birds sing in harmony as the sun sets, it takes your breath away". Baines stops reminiscing and gets back to the task at hand, "I suppose Carver enjoyed the atmosphere of this restaurant, it probably helped him get inspired with his writings, though his past author talents probably doesn't connect with him chopping up 6 people."
When the waitress came back, he went back to his vulgar disguise, "Heeeeey, the food is here, and whats that? its being served by a beautiful angel, I can't believe my luck", Baines felt embarrassed from the things he said but pressed on anyway, "Say sweetheart, about that Timothy again, do you remember if he met with anyone or if he did anything.....weird. He is our new employer and we wanna know if he is on the up and up if you know what I mean", Baines still smoking his cigarette.
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Baines lost all hope in learning anything about Timothy from here, he doesn't believe that what he is about to ask will bear any fruits but asks it anyway to be thorough. "Well miss, one last question, do you know anyone by the name of Carcosa?", he asked not expecting an answer, a complete shot in the dark.
Once the waitress gives her answer, and it turns to be uneventful then Baines pays for the meal and leaves with Ezy, "This place was nothing more than a food joint that Carver enjoyed, it has no significance to our case. We can scratch that off the list, at least for now" Baines smokes the last bit of his cigarette then steps on it while looking at his watch, "Is it about time we go to the club or do we swing by the music shop first?"
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Baines never really acquired a taste for these kind of things and it was clearly illegal but he thought it would help him understand Carver better, so he accepted her offer. He whispered back, "I would love some, it has been a while".
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
The China girl motions to a door in the back. "You go first," she says to Baines. "Then you friend in a few minute."
The waitress leaves and exits by that door. The curious BOI agent follows. A short 15' hallway is behind the door, with another door at the end into the kitchen and a door to the right. The China-girl escorts Baines through the right door, down some stairs and into the basement. They go down a hallway with several doors and into the door on the end...
Baines smiles to the China-girl and goes inside the shady basement. He sits down comfortably and when offered the pipe he pretends to smoke it, not that anyone would notice at their state.
He sits there for a few seconds and looks at the crowd, searching for someone that looks as though he comes here often and "awake" enough to have a conversation with. Baines tries his best to act under the influence even though no one is probably paying attention, "You come here often? This place looks terrific, a friend pointed out to me, Timothy, or as we call him Tim. Odd guy with long hair and circular glasses, a bit of a hippie, you know him?"
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Baines pretends to hit the pipe, but doesn't inhale the opium. The BOI agent looks about the room for someone to talk to. A China man with a dazed look turns over next to him and smiles.
Baines smiles and strikes up a conversation, inquiring about Timothy Carver.
"Maybe I do and maybe me not," slurs the man. "He you lover or something?"
Ezy walks into the room, a shocked look on his face as he sees Baines kicking the gong.
Baines gives Ezy a hard glare to make sure that he doesn't blur out something stupid then gives him a quick wink to reassure him.
"He is a friend of mine and he has been missing for quite sometime and his sheba is quite worried, that woman is a real bearcat but she is losing it without him", he grins, "I will make it worth you a while".
Ezy gets the hint and reluctantly sits down on a floor mat two spaces over from Baines. A hookah is brought and he partakes. The BOI agent exhales with a cough. Baines realizes that Ezy actually inhaled.
Baines' sly offer of money helps persuade the China man. He holds out his hand while saying, "I think I see him sometime."
Baines was extremely surprised to the point where he almost laughs out loud when he saw that Ezy actually smoked but he held his laugh, that is one amusing conversation that he couldn't wait to have with Ezy. Baines nudges Ezy and points with his eyes at a different man in an attempt to tell Ezy to investigate.
Baines slips the man a few dollars, "There is more where that came from, now speak, the smallest details matter. What did he say, especially recently, did he say anything wei....", he looked at his surroundings and decided that weird is normal here, so he chose different wording"insane? Did he mention names, things, places? Anything?"
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Baines loses his patience realising he won't get anything from the opium addict but just in case he drops Carcosa's name just to be sure, "How about Carcosa, have you ever heard the name? Did Timothy mention him?"
If the man doesn't yield any information, Baines will take Ezy and leave the resturant.
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
The opium-stupored China man shakes his head. "Me no hear of Carcosa."
Baines figures he's had enough of the yellow skins. He grabs his partner Ezy and exits the establishment. Not all clues may yield leads, the BOI agent realizes. Though he does file away the mention of a better drug that Carver switched to from opium.
"Well Club Zothique will be hopping by now," says Ezy.
"Yes Ezy, you are in the optimal condition to go to a club", said Baines muffling his laughs, "Maybe we will get a hint on what Carver enjoyed far more than junk, lets head there".
“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
