Hal Lancaster On the Case

[makken123Tabs]

"Good ol' America, 'Land of the free.'" says Hal without any inflection. "The niggers were treated worse than the Huns. You served, Detective?"

[Grognardsw]

"Yeah, part of the First Division of the American Expeditionary Forces in early '18," answers Sipowicz. "France then England."

The investigators reach Aiken.



They drive around looking for any carnivale trucks but find none.

"We need local intelligence," says Sipowicz. "Find these carnivale people fast. Any ideas?"

[Grognardsw]

Scenes from Aiken and thereabouts















"I'll take New York any day over this," grumbles Sipowicz.

[makken123Tabs]

"Meuse-Argonne offensive," mutters Hal, still reminiscing and he wears a slightly pained expression, like there is an unpleasant smell inside the car.

"'Ideas'? Er--how about I check-in at the local paper, no doubt it'll be named the Aiken Advertiser; you could check-in with the local cops?"

[Grognardsw]

"Sounds like a plan."

Sipowicz pulls the auto in front of the Aiken Standard and drops Hal off.

"I'll be down the street a little ways." Sipowicz points to the police station a few blocks down the street.

The front page of the newspaper is posted on the wall outside the office door.



Hal makes his way in.



"Good afternoon sir, can I help you?" the standing man in the hat asks with a Southern drawl.

[makken123Tabs]

"Well, sir," says Hal, sitting down elegantly, "I hoped the Standard may help me." He taps a thick case which he took from his breast pocket, "Cigar, gentlemen?"

[Grognardsw]

“Don’t mind if I do,” says the man, taking and lighting the cigar. “I’m Walter Wilkins, editor. And who may you be? You sound from up north.”

[makken123Tabs]

"Hal Lancaster from Boston. How do you do? One of Cuba's finest, no?" he says, puffing away himself. He performs a little cough, "Tsk tsk. Damn Heinies have even spoilt my smokes!" Casually he asks: "Know about the carnival? I hear it's in town."

[Grognardsw]

Mr. Wilkins takes a long draw on the cigar.

“Yes, I can taste the quality.”

“Carnivale you say? Haven’t heard of such, and I’d know about something like that.” He glances over at the men working at the table. “Any of you boys heard about a carnival in town?”

The men nod their heads no and mumble that they need something like that.

“Sorry Mr. Lancaster.”

A dirty young boy of 12 or so, perhaps a newsboy or cleaner, pipes up. “I saw circus trucks pull in behind the old Laveau plantation. Me and my pals were hunting back there.”

[makken123Tabs]

"Thanks, sonny," says Hal. "How do I get there?" He flips a nickel to the boy.

[Grognardsw]

The boy eagerly catches the nickel then gives directions.

“It’s at the southwest edge of town. Take Grant St. then a left on Whiskey. Follow that a few miles. Right before the sign into Gloverville, they’ll be an unmarked dirt road on the right. That leads into the old Laveau plantation. My grandma says the place is haunted and us kids shouldn’t go near it. But it got great fishin in the lake near it.”

[makken123Tabs]

Ooc: I missed the email saying my turn, which I’d been waiting on! Will post tomorrow.

[makken123Tabs]

"Great fishing is worth defying ghosts. Thanks, kid."

Hal goes in search of the detective.

[Grognardsw]

Hal steps out of the Aiken Standard’s offices to grey skies and a light warm drizzle. He sees Andy Sipowicz motoring down the street, pulling to a stop in front of Hal.

“Any luck?” Sipowicz asks. “Police knew nothing.

Hal gives Sipowicz the dope.

“Let’s go then,” Sipowicz says.

Soon the pair are rambling down the almost-concealed dirt road to the abandoned Laveau plantation. Sipowicz slows around a bend on the approach, pulling behind a group of overgrown bushes.

“Let’s go in on foot. If they’re here, they’ll hear the car,” says Sipowicz.

The pair move quietly forward and come into sight of the dilapidated main house.

If you want to take other actions prior, or a different course, we can adjust.

[makken123Tabs]

"I haven't any weapons, Detective," says Hal, "Maybe it's best that way," and he involuntarily places his hand over his weak heart. "On foot, yeah."

[Grognardsw]

"Reconnaisance then, soldier," says Sipowicz with a wink. "But just in case..."

He hands Hal a small .22 pistol. "I have my own .38."

They creep forward and see the main house.

Beyond it on the right an old worn-out barn, its white peeled paint barely discernable.

On the far left another smaller house in equal disrepair.

Behind the houses overgrown fields with pockets of trees. In the distance a row of modest broken down shacks. Perhaps old slave quarters.

The investigators can't see directly behind the house from their current vantage point.

Actions?

[makken123Tabs]

"No matter how derelict, I reckon the boss'll be in the big house. Can we get there without being seen?"

[Grognardsw]

"Depends on whose doing the seeing, if anyone," says Sipowicz.

[makken123Tabs]

"We are the cops---well, you are---what could possibly go wrong? Let's go."

[Grognardsw]

"Private eye yes, but not technically a policeman," Sipowicz says as he and Hal move forward.

They keep to undergrowth and straggly trees as they approach the main house.

Please make Hide, Sneak and other skills you think helpful to reflect success.

You can lead on giving actions and such. Thanks.