Detcano Copy

(set: $askweapon to 0)(set: $asktimeframe to 0)(set: $attitude to 0)(set: $jpastry to 0)(set: $jdad to 0)(set: $jcharacter to 0)(set: $oboss to 0)(set: $ophone to 0)(set: $ocontact to 0)(set: $otimeplayed to 0)(set: $omultiplayer to 0)(set: $ccarpool to 0)(set: $cbentonwork to 0)(set: $cgotalong to 0)(set: $cpromotion to 0)(set: $ccharacter to 0)(set: $cfriend to 0)(set: $ctimeline to 0)(set: $fautopsy to 0)(set: $fgetaway to 0)(set: $foperation to 0)(set: $fcrime to 0)(set: $jaylen to 0)(set: $oro to 0)(set: $colleen to 0)(set: $flann to 0)(set: $work to 0)(set: $home to 0)(set: $crime to 1)(set: $empathy to 1)(set: $personal to 1)(set: $left to 1)(set: $destroyed to 1)(set: $took to 1) [[Start|Opening]] (if: $finished is 1)[[[Chapter Select]]]

You politely shake their hand. They give you a small smile. "You can call me Indigo. I suppose you're wondering why I've asked you to come?" They cross their legs, letting their rhetorical question linger for a moment before they begin their explanation. "A middle-aged insurance agent named Benton was found dead in his own home. I would like your assistance in solving his murder." [["What is your connection to Benton?"]] [["Why are you asking me for help?"]] [["Tell me about the murder."]]

"Who are you?" They lower their hand, breathing a slight chuckle. "Down to business already, aren't we? I'm afraid that's a question I cannot answer, but if you're seeking a name, you can call me Indigo. I suppose you're wondering why I've asked you to come?" They cross their legs, letting their rhetorical question linger for a moment before they begin their explanation. "A middle-aged insurance agent named Benton was found dead in his own home. I would like your assistance in solving his murder." [["What is your connection to Benton?"]] [["Why are you asking me for help?"]] [["Tell me about the murder."]]

"What is your connection to Benton?" Their posture stiffens ever so slightly. "I don't believe that has any relevance to your investigation." They don't seem to be interested in elaborating. [["But why do you care about this case?"]] [["Tell me about the murder."]]

"Why are you asking me for help?" They tilt their head slightly. "You're a private investigator, are you not? I would have assumed murder mysteries fall within your area of expertise." That doesn't exactly answer your question, but they don't seem to be interested in elaborating. [["But why do you care about this case?"]] [["Tell me about the murder."]]

"Tell me about the murder." "Benton was found dead sitting on his couch at 6:34 PM by his niece, Jaylen. An autopsy determined his time of death to be between 4:30 and 6:00 PM, and its cause to be blunt force trauma to the back of the head. A murder weapon was not found on the scene." [["They couldn't find the murder weapon?"]] [["He was dead for at least half an hour before his body was discovered?"]] [["Who are the suspects?"]]

"But why do you care about this case?" They give you a tight-lipped smile, making no effort to hide its lack of sincerity. "I want a murder to be solved. If you would prefer to pry into my personal life instead, I will find someone else to take this job. Do I make myself clear?" (set: $attitude to it - 1)(set: $curious to 1) [["I'm sorry."]] [["Tell me about the murder."]]

"They couldn't find the murder weapon?" They shake their head. "No object matching his injury was found on the property. We can only assume the killer took the murder weapon with them after committing the crime, and it was thus long gone before Jayden found the body." (set: $askweapon to 1) (if: $asktimeframe is not 1)[[["He was dead for at least half an hour before his body was discovered?"]]] [["Who are the suspects?"]]

"He was dead for at least half an hour before his body was discovered?" They nod thoughtfully. "Yes. Enough time to not only get away, but to manipulate the scene, as well. Hence the missing murder weapon." (set: $asktimeframe to 1) (if: $askweapon is not 1)[[["They couldn't find the murder weapon?"]]] [["Who are the suspects?"]]

"Who are the suspects?" They sit up a bit straighter. "(css: "background-color:#2287A5;color:black;")[Jaylen], his niece; (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")[Oro], his neighbor; (css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")[Colleen], his co-worker; and (css: "background-color:#AD7334;")[Flann], a suspected car thief. Hold on a moment..." They stand up and walk over to a dresser, carefully pulling out a stuffed folder. "I have the case file here; I can tell you anything the suspects told the police." They return to the couch and open the case file, balancing it across their lap. [["Let's start with Jaylen."]]

"Let's start with Jaylen." They nod, thumbing through the file. Finding Jaylen, they begin to read. "Jaylen said (css: "background-color:#2287A5;color:black;")['My uncle was sitting on the couch when I came in. I thought he'd fallen asleep watching TV, but he wouldn't wake up, even when I shook his shoulders. I checked his pulse and... nothing. I called 911, it was 6:34.']" Indigo skims the rest of the page as they await your questions. [["How did she know the time?"]] [["Why was she at Benton's house?"]]

"How did she know the time?" "Hmm..." Indigo flips the page. "Ah. (css: "background-color:#2287A5;color:black;")['I walked into the kitchen as I talked to the 911 operator. There was nothing else I could do and it kinda freaked me out, seeing my uncle like that. The microwave clock said 6:34.']" [["It freaked her out?"]] [["Why was she at Benton's house?"]]

"Why was she at Benton's house?" Indigo flips a couple pages, pauses, flips another. "Here it is. (css: "background-color:#2287A5;color:black;")['I was dropping off some pastries my dad made.']" [["Her dad was making pastries?"]] [["What kind of pastries?"]]

"It freaked her out?" Indigo shrugs. "I imagine finding a close relative dead would be quite traumatizing, especially for a teenager. It's impressive she handled it as well as she did." [["Impressive or suspicious?"]]

"Impressive or suspicious?" Indigo tilts their head slightly. "You tell me, Detective." [["Do we have any testimonies on her character?"]]

"Her dad was making pastries?" Indigo flips back a page. "Yes, her father is a baker. She said (css: "background-color:#2287A5;color:black;")['I got home from school at 4. My dad was in the kitchen baking, he called me in just after 6 to take some of the pastries over to my uncle.']" [["She has an alibi from 4 to 6, then?"]] [["Did she leave the house at all during that time?"]]

"What kind of pastries?" Indigo chuckles. "Are you hungry, Detective? She didn't specify, but I don't imagine it's relevant. The cause of death was blunt force trauma, not ingestive." [["Her dad was making pastries?"]] [["Maybe the murder weapon was a very tough pastry?"]]

"She has an alibi from 4 to 6, then?" Indigo nods. "According to her testimony, yes. Her father was there as well, so he should be able to confirm that, assuming Jaylen is telling the truth." [["Do we have testimony from her father?"]]

"Maybe the murder weapon was a very tough pastry?" "And then the murderer ATE it, which is why no one could find the weapon!" Indigo exclaims. With a small sigh, they ask "Any other questions?" (set: $jpastry to 1) (set: $attitude to it - 1) [["No, I think I just cracked this thing."]] [["Her dad was making pastries?"]]

"Do we have testimony from her father?" Indigo does a cursory scan of the case file's tabs. "...No, we don't. However, should this be an avenue you're interested in pursuing, I might be able to arrange that." (set: $jdad to 1) [["How?"]] [["Well, why not?"]]

"How?" They smirk. "I have my ways. I will warn you, though, my influence is rather limited. I should be able to pull together a further investigation of one or two leads, but that may be all. So, keep track of any loose ends and once we've reviewed everything, let me know which to follow." [["Alright, what about Oro?"]]

"Well, why not?" They purse their lips. "The problem is, my influence is rather limited. I should be able to pull together a further investigation of one or two leads, but that may be all. So, keep track of any loose ends and once we've reviewed everything, let me know which to follow." [["Alright, what about Oro?"]]

"Do we have any testimonies on her character?" Indigo does a cursory scan of the case file's tabs. "...No, we don't. However, should this be an avenue you're interested in pursuing, I might be able to arrange that." (set: $jcharacter to 1) [["How?"]] [["Well, why not?"]]

Indigo rubs their temples. "O... kay." They take a moment, looking like they rather regret the choices that have brought them here. "Well. If you find any promising leads in the future, I should be able to pull together a further investigation of one or two leads. So, keep track of any loose ends and once we've reviewed everything, let me know which to follow." (set: $attitude to it - 1) [["Write down pastry weapon."]]

"Write down pastry weapon." With a tight-lipped smile, Indigo takes out a pen and scribbles in the margin of the case file. You notice they didn't take the cap off the pen first. "Can we please move on?" [["Alright, what about Oro?"]]

"Alright, what about Oro?" Indigo thumbs through the folder's tabs before flipping to a new section. "Here it is. Oro said (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['I was in the office for most of the day. Left at 5, and it's a 15 minute drive home from there. I was just playing a game after that, until about half past 6.']" [["Can anyone confirm he was at work?"]] [["He was playing a game after work?"]]

"Did she leave the house at all during that time?" Indigo skims the page. "According to her testimony, no. Her father should be able to confirm that, assuming Jaylen is telling the truth." [["Do we have testimony from her father?"]]

"I'm sorry." They sigh, brushing their hair behind their ear. "It's alright. Let's just focus on the case." (set: $attitude to it + 1) [["Tell me about the murder."]]

"Can anyone confirm he was at work?" They skim down the page. "He has his own office, so no one can say if he was there the whole time... Ah. (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['I popped in to tell Malaika, my boss, good night when I left at 5.'] That's it, though." [["Would Malaika know if he left the office before then?"]] [["Are there any digital records we could check from his office?"]]

"He was playing a game after work?" "Yes," they pause as they give a couple pages a cursory scan, "though I gather the police didn't ask for many details. All it says is that it was a computer game." [["Is it possible the game he played tracks time played?"]] [["Perhaps it was multiplayer?"]]

"Are there any digital records we could check from his office?" "Digital records..." they hum as they look through a few pages. "Oro has an office phone for work calls. (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['I took a couple calls that day, nothing particularly interesting.'] Presumably, his office keeps a record of calls. I imagine a list of phone numbers and times could be dug up, if you thought it was worth pursuing.(if: $otimeplayed is not 1)[ Or, perhaps there are other types of digital records we could look into?]" (set: $ophone to 1) [["He's rather vague about the calls."]] (if: $otimeplayed is not 1)[[["Is it possible the game he played tracks time played?"]]]

"Would Malaika know if he left the office before then?" They consider your question for a moment. "It's hard to say without knowing the layout of the building. We could ask her, if you think it's important." (set: $oboss to 1) [["Are there any digital records we could check from his office?"]] [["He was playing a game after work?"]]

"He's rather vague about the calls." They double-check the file. "He is... I can't find anything else about them. Perhaps they simply weren't worth noting? Or..." [["Maybe he didn't actually take any calls."]] [["Maybe he was taking calls he wasn't supposed to."]]

"Maybe he didn't actually take any calls." They tilt their head, considering. "That's possible... If he wasn't actually in the office, he wouldn't have been able to answer the phone. Perhaps one of his work contacts could attest to Oro missing a call?" (set: $ocontact to 1) [["What motive would Oro have?"]]

"Maybe he was taking calls he wasn't supposed to." Their eyes widen slightly. "That's possible... Making personal calls on the company dime, worried any mention of them might make it back to his boss. We might want to prioritize other leads, in that case." [["What motive would Oro have?"]] (if: $otimeplayed is 0 and $omultiplayer is 0)[[["He was playing a game after work?"]]]

"Is it possible the game he played tracks time played?" "To confirm or deny his alibi?" They nod thoughtfully. "There's definitely a chance. It might be hard to convince the police of its importance, but I could probably find a way to get that information, if you think we need it.(if: $ophone is not 1)[ Or, perhaps there are other types of digital records we could look into?]" (set: $otimeplayed to 1) [["If Oro was trying to build an alibi, why didn't he specify?"]] (if: $ophone is not 1)[[["Are there any digital records we could check from his office?"]]]

"Perhaps it was multiplayer?" "It could've been... In that case, we would be able to check with the people he played with, or at the very least, there should be some sort of record of the matches we could find.(if: $ophone is not 1)[ Or, perhaps there are other types of digital records we could look into?]" (set: $omultiplayer to 1) [["If Oro was trying to build an alibi, why didn't he specify?"]] (if: $ophone is not 1)[[["Are there any digital records we could check from his office?"]]]

"If Oro was trying to build an alibi, why didn't he specify?" "Good question. It would be a strange choice of a lie, considering it's not immediately vindicating and simultaneously risks being disproven. Of course, it could always be a sloppy cover-up of an unplanned murder." [["What motive would Oro have?"]]

"What motive would Oro have?" They flip back a section. "Well..." They skim for a moment as they draw out the syllable. "Jaylen said (css: "background-color:#2287A5;color:black;")['I spoke to my uncle on the phone a couple days before it happened, just the usual check-in and everything. He mentioned he got into a fight with his neighbor, Oro. Something about cutting down a tree in between their houses? I don't remember exactly, I just remember he was really upset about it.']" [["Do we have Oro's perspective?"]]

"Do we have Oro's perspective?" "Yes," they flip ahead again, "when asked, Oro said... (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['We had a disagreement over a pear tree that's growing over the property line. Got a little heated, so I called him back the next morning, told him to do whatever he wanted with it. A tree isn't worth ruining a friendship for.']" [["Sounds like maybe the fight wasn't so bad."]] [["Sounds like he might be covering for himself."]]

"Sounds like maybe the fight wasn't so bad." They give a slight shrug. "According to him, at least. In any case, I think that's about all for Oro." [["How about Colleen?"]]

"Sounds like he might be covering for himself." They give a slight shrug. "Possible. The real question is, could it have been him who killed Benton? ...In any case, I think that's about all for Oro." [["How about Colleen?"]]

song: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778086837944057886/787392710029738004/song3.mp3 jaylen: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778086837944057886/781753865392619530/jaylen2.mp3 oro: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778086837944057886/781753879796645907/oro2.mp3 colleen: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778086837944057886/792474186760847402/colleen3.mp3 flann: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778086837944057886/792490815329927208/flann3.mp3 final: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778086837944057886/792501497992708096/final3.mp3

"How about Colleen?" Indigo brushes through the tabs before opening to a new section. "Colleen. (css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")['I was at work until 5 PM, after which I met a friend for drinks. I believe I arrived there around 5:10. We were together until 6 PM.']" [["She worked with Benton, yes?"]] [["She was with a friend from 5:10 to 6?"]]

"She worked with Benton, yes?" They nod. "For an insurance agency." They trace a finger down the page. "(css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")['Benton and I worked in the same office. I saw him at work that day; we carpooled together in the morning, spent a day like any other in the office, and parted ways at 5.']" (set: $ccarpool to 1) [["They carpooled together?"]] [["Did she get along with Benton?"]]

"She was with a friend from 5:10 to 6?" Indigo skims the page as they answer. "Yes, and supposedly her friend can vouch for it, along with the waitstaff of the establishment." (set: $cfriend to 1) [["Did she leave her friend at all during that time?"]] [["Just sharing casual drinks?"]]

"They carpooled together?" "Evidently. Though I wonder..." Indigo pauses in thought, flipping the page. "Ah. (css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")['Benton needed to work late on something, but I had plans right after work, so he told me he'd just take the city bus home once he finished.'] That's why she drove him to work but didn't drive him home." [["Is there any proof of that?"]]

"Did she get along with Benton?" Indigo smirks slightly. "According to her, of course. (css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")['Benton and I had no issues working together. We mostly kept to ourselves, which served me fine.'] None of the other suspects spoke on it, so all we have is her word." (set: $cgotalong to 1) [["Sounds like she didn't have a motive."]] [["Do you think she's hiding something?"]]

$ccarpool $cbentonwork $cgotalong $cpromotion $ccharacter $cfriend $ctimeline $fmovebody $fautopsy $fgetaway $foperation $fcrime $finished

"Is there any proof of that?" Indigo gives a slight shrug. "Not that we know of. There's no security footage from the office or anything of the like. It's possible that files on Benton's computer could give us an idea of the times he was working, though.(if: $cgotalong is 1 and $cfriend is 1)[ In any case, I believe that's about all for Colleen.]" (set: $cbentonwork to 1) (if: $cgotalong is not 1)[[["Did she get along with Benton?"]]] (if: $cfriend is not 1)[[["She was with a friend from 5:10 to 6?"]]] [["Let's talk about Flann."]]

"Do you think she's hiding something?" Indigo tilts their head. "She might be. Benton was her senior, so with him out of the picture, she would be in line for a hefty promotion. That isn't the strongest motive on its own, but in addition to personal conflict or something of that sort... It's a possibility. Of course, she'd have to have had the opportunity to do it, but if we can prove that, I think a further investigation into her character would be permissible.(if: $cbentonwork is 1 and $cfriend is 1)[ In any case, I believe that's about all for Colleen.]" (set: $ccharacter to 1) (if: $cfriend is not 1)[[["She was with a friend from 5:10 to 6?"]]] (if: $cbentonwork is not 1)[[["They carpooled together?"]]] [["Let's talk about Flann."]]

"Sounds like she didn't have a motive." Indigo tilts their head. "Perhaps, though it's not exactly the sort of thing she would admit. Benton was her senior, so with him out of the picture, she would be in line for a hefty promotion. Though, without a greater motivation, it's hardly a reason to commit murder.(if: $cbentonwork is 1 and $cfriend is 1)[ In any case, I believe that's about all for Colleen.]" (set: $cpromotion to 1) (if: $cfriend is not 1)[[["She was with a friend from 5:10 to 6?"]]] (if: $cbentonwork is not 1)[[["They carpooled together?"]]] [["Let's talk about Flann."]]

"Did she leave her friend at all during that time?" "According to her testimony, no. (css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")['We sat together for the entire time, excluding trips to the restroom which would not have totalled more than five or ten minutes.']" [["She didn't have a chance to sneak off, then."]] [["That's convenient."]]

"Just sharing casual drinks?" "Yes," Indigo's eyes trail down the page, "(css: "background-color:#1C5F37;")['We meet up every few weeks to catch up, as we have for the past few years. We share a table, so we were together for the whole time.']" [["She didn't have a chance to sneak off, then."]] [["That's convenient."]]

"She didn't have a chance to sneak off, then." Indigo purses their lips. "No, I wouldn't think so. Which would give Colleen a nearly watertight alibi from 5:10 to 6." [["And if she was working from 4 to 5, that means she couldn't have done it."]] [["Maybe that's what she wanted us to focus on."]]

"That's convenient." Indigo chuckles slightly. "Isn't it? But like it or not, she does have a nearly watertight alibi from 5:10 to 6." [["And if she was working from 4 to 5, that means she couldn't have done it."]] [["Maybe that's what she wanted us to focus on."]]

"And if she was working from 4 to 5, that means she couldn't have done it." Indigo smiles slightly. "Assuming she's telling the truth, of course. But in any case, unless there's anything else, I think that covers that." (if: $ccarpool is not 1)[[["She worked with Benton, yes?"]]] [["Let's talk about Flann."]]

"Maybe that's what she wanted us to focus on." Indigo raises their eyebrows. "You're implying she created a foolproof alibi to avoid suspicion, then?" They consider it for a moment. "It is almost incontestable that she was with a friend from 5:10 to 6, so if Benton died at home after leaving work at 5, she couldn't have done it. But... perhaps we're wrong about the presumed timeline here. It's certainly something to keep in mind." Indigo exhales softly. "Well, unless there's anything else, I think that covers that." (set: $ctimeline to 1) (if: $ccarpool is not 1)[[["She worked with Benton, yes?"]]] [["Let's talk about Flann."]]

"Let's talk about Flann." Indigo opens the file to a new section. "Well, in terms of testimony, there's not much to talk about. Flann invoked his right against self-incrimination and refused to testify." [["Isn't that more or less an admission of guilt?"]] [["Why would he do that?"]]

"Isn't that more or less an admission of guilt?" Indigo bits their lip idly. "You would think, which calls into question why he would do it." They look over the file before them. "I can tell you anything the police knew about him, but that's the extent of my knowledge right now." [["Why did the police bring him in for questioning?"]] [["What did the police ask him?"]]

"Why would he do that?" Indigo bits their lip idly. "That's a very good question. He'd have to have known how suspicious it looked." They look over the file before them. "I can tell you anything the police knew about him, but that's the extent of my knowledge right now." [["Why did the police bring him in for questioning?"]] [["What did the police ask him?"]]

"Why did the police bring him in for questioning?" Holding their place with one hand, they flip back through the file with the other. "A tip from Oro. (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['There was a car circling the neighborhood a few days before the murder. Didn't recognize the car and they were hanging around for a while, so I took a picture of the license plate just in case. Completely forgot about it until this all happened.'] The police tracked down the plate number and the car belongs to Flann." They flip back to the section about Flann. [["He was casing the joint?"]] [["Was there any reason for Flann to be in that neighborhood?"]]

"What did the police ask him?" They look over the page. "They asked him his whereabouts from 4:30 to 6:00 PM on the night of the murder. If answering that would incriminate him, we can assume his activities during the period weren't exactly legal." [["Is there anything tying him to the murder?"]] [["But does that mean he killed Benton?"]]

"He was casing the joint?" Indigo gives a slight shrug. "It's hard to say for sure without any information from Flann himself, but I don't see any *lawful* reason he would be circling a random neighborhood and then refuse to testify. That said, we don't know that he was casing the joint with murder in mind." [["You mentioned earlier he's a suspected car thief."]]

"Was there any reason for Flann to be in that neighborhood?" They shake their head. "Not that we know of: no friends or family, no business there, nothing. It's not a far leap to guess he was there for less than legal reasons, especially considering his refusal to testify, but he didn't necessarily go there with murder in mind." [["You mentioned earlier he's a suspected car thief."]]

"You mentioned earlier he's a suspected car thief." "Yes..." They skim down the page. "The police are currently investigating his business, a used car dealership, for serial auto theft. Evidently, many of the cars he's selling match the descriptions of cars stolen in the area." They pause, flipping forward a few pages. "The police think Flann tried to steal Benton's car, got caught, and then killed Benton in a panic." [["Wouldn't he have had to move the body?"]] [["Is that consistent with the autopsy?"]] [["How did he get away?"]]

"Wouldn't he have had to move the body?" They nod. "If this theory is true, it means Flann dragged the body inside and set up the scene. This would be a fairly rational move; a body left in the driveway would spark alarm immediately if spotted, and a murder within the house would point suspicion towards people who knew Benton instead of a stranger." (set: $fmovebody to 1) (if: $fautopsy is not 1)[[["Is that consistent with the autopsy?"]]] (if: $fgetaway is not 1)[[["How did he get away?"]]] [["Flann being the culprit would raise more questions than it answers."]]

"Is that consistent with the autopsy?" "Not entirely, which is one of the issues here. Benton was struck in the back of the head, so it's hard to imagine how Flann could've pulled it off if Benton saw him coming. I could request a more detailed autopsy if you think it might help; maybe Flann grabbled him or something of that sort?" (set: $fautopsy to 1) (if: $fmovebody is not 1)[[["Wouldn't he have had to move the body?"]]] (if: $fgetaway is not 1)[[["How did he get away?"]]] [["Flann being the culprit would raise more questions than it answers."]]

"How did he get away?" "That's a good question. Even though the only motive we know of would be car theft, Benton's car wasn't stolen, nor have there been any reports of stolen cars in the area. Perhaps he got scared after the murder and ran off? But Benton's neighborhood isn't within walking distance from his home or business, so that still doesn't solve everything." (set: $fgetaway to 1) (if: $fmovebody is not 1)[[["Wouldn't he have had to move the body?"]]] (if: $fautopsy is not 1)[[["Is that consistent with the autopsy?"]]] [["Flann being the culprit would raise more questions than it answers."]]

"Is there anything tying him to the murder?" Holding their place with one hand, they flip back through the file with the other. "No motive or personal relation, but he was seen around the scene of the crime a few days before it happened by Oro. (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['There was a car circling the neighborhood a few days before the murder. Didn't recognize the car and they were hanging around for a while, so I took a picture of the license plate just in case. Completely forgot about it until this all happened.'] The police tracked down the plate number and the car belongs to Flann." They flip back to the section about Flann. "Combined with his record, it is rather suspicious." [["You mentioned earlier he's a suspected car thief."]]

"But does that mean he killed Benton?" Indigo smirks slightly. "That's the question, isn't it." Holding their place with one hand, they flip back through the file with the other. "There is some evidence against him, as Oro testified: (css: "background-color:#D4B77C;color:black;")['There was a car circling the neighborhood a few days before the murder. Didn't recognize the car and they were hanging around for a while, so I took a picture of the license plate just in case. Completely forgot about it until this all happened.'] The police tracked down the plate number and the car belongs to Flann." They flip back to the section about Flann. "Combined with his record, it is rather suspicious, but it isn't conclusive." [["You mentioned earlier he's a suspected car thief."]]

"Flann being the culprit would raise more questions than it answers." Indigo nods. "That's what bugs me about this case. I just don't see how Flann could've killed Benton in his own driveway, then gotten away without anyone coming forward to report their car stolen or, saying they saw a man with a bloody murder weapon on the bus, or *something* at least." [["He is a practiced criminal. Perhaps he knows how to cover his tracks?"]] [["But if it's not him, why wouldn't he testify?"]]

"He is a practiced criminal. Perhaps he knows how to cover his tracks?" They tilt their head. "It would take significant resources to pull off a crime like this, and I'd have to wonder why he'd waste it all by invoking his right against self-incrimination... But it is possible, and if you think it's worth pursuing, I can look into the possibilities of a larger operation than we suspected here." They close the case file. "In any case, that's all for the suspects." (set: $foperation to 1) [["What now?"|What now?]]

"But if it's not him, why wouldn't he testify?" They purse their lips. "Well... homicide isn't the only crime he could've committed. It's possible he was partaking in a lesser crime, and didn't realize refusing to testify would make him the prime suspect of a murder? That said, it doesn't explain why he didn't confess as soon as he heard why the police brought him in... It's at least worth keeping in mind, though." They close the case file. "In any case, that's all for the suspects." (set: $fcrime to 1) [["What now?"|What now?]]

You're waiting in a quiet living area, the couch across from you still vacant. You observe the room's furnishings, and notice nothing of particular interest. It feels less like a home and moreso an emulation of one, someone's attempt to create a "normal" environment. After a moment, the door creaks open, and your presumed contact enters. They appear to be in their early twenties, and they adjust their red waistcoat as they sit across from you. "I apologize for the wait, Detective. It's nice to meet you." They extend a hand. [[Shake their hand]] [["Who are you?"]]

[[Opening]] [[Jaylen|"Let's start with Jaylen."]] [[Oro|"Alright, what about Oro?"]] [[Colleen|"How about Colleen?"]] [[Flann|"Let's talk about Flann."]] (link: "Finale")[(set: $jdad to 1)(set: $jcharacter to 1)(set: $oboss to 1)(set: $ophone to 1)(set: $ocontact to 1)(set: $otimeplayed to 1)(set: $omultiplayer to 1)(set: $ccarpool to 1)(set: $cbentonwork to 1)(set: $cgotalong to 1)(set: $cpromotion to 1)(set: $ccharacter to 1)(set: $cfriend to 1)(set: $ctimeline to 1)(set: $fautopsy to 1)(set: $fgetaway to 1)(set: $foperation to 1)(set: $fcrime to 1)(goto: "What now?")]

"What now?" "Well, we've gone through everything I have, so the question is, what do you think we should investigate further? I should be able to get deeper investigations pulled together for two leads, and I'll let you know how the first one goes before you have to choose the second. So, what will it be?" (if: $jdad is 1)[["Testimony from Jaylen's father on her alibi."]](if: $jcharacter is 1)[["Jaylen's character."]] (if: $oboss is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's boss on his alibi."]](if: $ophone is 1)[["Oro's office phone records."]](if: $ocontact is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's work contacts."]](if: $otimeplayed is 1)[["Time played in Oro's video game."]](if: $omultiplayer is 1)[["Oro's multiplayer history in his video game."]] (if: $cbentonwork is 1)[["Timestamps on Benton's work files."]](if: $cpromotion is 1)[["Promotion as Colleen's motive."]](if: $ccharacter is 1)[["Colleen's character."]](if: $cfriend is 1)[["Testimony from Colleen's friend."]](if: $ctimeline is 1)[["Timeline of the murder."]] (if: $fmovebody is 1)[["Movement of the body."]](if: $fautopsy is 1)[["More detailed autopsy."]](if: $fgetaway is 1)[["Flann's getaway."]](if: $foperation is 1)[["Flann's potential criminal operation."]](if: $fcrime is 1)[["Flann's potential lesser crime."]] (if: $jpastry is 1)[["The pastry weapon."]]

"Testimony from Jaylen's father on her alibi." "You would like me to get testimony from Jaylen's father? This would confirm if Jaylen was really at home the whole time from 4:30 to 6 PM on the night of the murder." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $jdad to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Jaylen's character." "You'd like me to gather accounts on Jaylen's character? I could request a testimonial from her father, and perhaps some of her teachers or fellow students as well, in case he would show bias." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $jcharacter to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Testimony from Oro's boss on his alibi." "You'd like testimony from Malaika to determine whether Oro left the office before 5 PM? This would likely prove or disprove if he was actually at work for that time period." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $oboss to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Oro's office phone records." "You'd like the record of calls Oro made from his office phone to check his alibi from 4:30 to 5 PM on the day of the murder?" (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $ophone to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Testimony from Oro's work contacts." "You'd like testimony from his work contacts confirming whether or not Oro was in the office taking calls fron 4:30 to 5 PM on the day of the murder?" (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $ocontact to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Time played in Oro's video game." "You'd like to get the records of time played in Oro's video game? This would confirm or negate his alibi from 5:15 to 6 PM on the night of the murder." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $otimeplayed to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Oro's multiplayer history in his video game." "You'd like records of Oro's multiplayer matches in his video game? Most games track time played, and we might be able to get testimony from the other players, as well. This could prove or disprove Oro's alibi from 5:15 to 6." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $omultiplayer to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Timestamps on Benton's work files." "You'd like the timestamps of the files Benton was working on? This would prove or disprove Colleen's testimony that Benton was working late that day and didn't leave the office until some time after 5." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $cbentonwork to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Promotion as Colleen's motive." "You'd like me to look into if Colleen would've killed Benton to take his position? It might be a bit difficult to prove, but we could look into obtaining testimonies from bosses or other coworkers." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $cpromotion to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Colleen's character." "You'd like a further investigation into Colleen's character? I might be able to find something, though it will be difficult to justify right now, since the current theory of how the murder happened would eliminate her as a suspect." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $cpromotion to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Testimony from Colleen's friend." "You would like testimony from Colleen's friend confirming they were together from 5:10 to 6 PM on the day of the murder? I don't imagine that would be too difficult, so I could probably manage getting confirmation from the waitstaff of the venue they were at, as well." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $cfriend to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Timeline of the murder." "You'd like me to further investigate the supposed timeline of the murder? We've been assuming that Benton returned home from work and was killed in or around his home sometime between 5 and 6, but if Colleen was lying and this wasn't the case... I suppose an investigation of his office would be a good place to start." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $ctimeline to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Movement of the body." "You would like a further investigation to determine if Benton's body was moved? We could look for any signs of such where he was found. This would prove or disprove if Flann killed Benton outside and moved the body to the couch, or if anyone else moved the body around." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $fmovebody to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"More detailed autopsy." "You would like to request an updated autopsy report? As we discussed earlier, there might be smaller injuries it would uncover if Flann and Benton got in a scuffle. Of course, there's always a chance we could discover something completely different from it, as well." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $fautopsy to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Flann's getaway." "You'd like to figure out how exactly Flann could've gotten away from the scene of the murder? That might be a bit difficult, but... Perhaps I could get ahold of some monitor footage from the nearest traffic light and check the vehicles that passed through? No one from the neighborhood reported their car stolen, so Flann must've used some form of outside transport if he killed Benton." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $fgetaway to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Flann's potential criminal operation." "You'd like me to investigate if Flann's suspected auto theft and potential murder are tied into a larger scheme?" (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $foperation to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"Flann's potential lesser crime." "You'd like to pursue the theory that Flann was committing a lesser crime during the timeframe of the murder and thus cannot be the killer? Without anything to go off of, I don't think we'd be able to prove it with evidence, but perhaps if the prosecutor arranged a plea bargin, Flann would agree to testify... Of course, that would mean Flann could no longer be prosecuted for the murder, so we should only pursue such a deal if you are convinced of his relative innocence." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $fcrime to 2)(goto: "Confirm")] [["Wait, let me think..."]]

"The pastry weapon." They frown. "Very funny, Detective, but you are aware a person has died? It's not exactly a laughing matter." [["I'm serious."]] [["Sorry, sorry."]]

"Yes, that's correct." Indigo nods. "Very well. Let's meet back here in, say, 3 days. I should have something by then." They stand, returning the case file to the drawer before walking to the door, opening it for you. (if: $attitude is 0)["Thank you for your help."](if: $attitude is not 0)["Farewell."] (if: $jdad is 2)[[Leave|jdad]](if: $jcharacter is 2)[[Leave|jcharacter]](if: $oboss is 2)[[Leave|oboss]](if: $ophone is 2)[[Leave|ophone]](if: $ocontact is 2)[[Leave|ocontact]](if: $otimeplayed is 2)[[Leave|otimeplayed]](if: $omultiplayer is 2)[[Leave|omultiplayer]](if: $cbentonwork is 2)[[Leave|cbentonwork]](if: $cpromotion is 2)[[Leave|cpromotion]](if: $ccharacter is 2)[[Leave|ccharacter]](if: $cfriend is 2)[[Leave|cfriend]](if: $ctimeline is 2)[[Leave|ctimeline]](if: $fmovebody is 2)[[Leave|fmovebody]](if: $fautopsy is 2)[[Leave|fautopsy]](if: $fgetaway is 2)[[Leave|fgetaway]](if: $foperation is 2)[[Leave|foperation]](if: $fcrime is 2)[[Leave|fcrime]]

"Wait, let me think..." "Take your time, Detective." (if: $jdad is 1)[["Testimony from Jaylen's father on her alibi."]](if: $jcharacter is 1)[["Jaylen's character."]] (if: $oboss is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's boss on his alibi."]](if: $ophone is 1)[["Oro's office phone records."]](if: $ocontact is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's work contacts."]](if: $otimeplayed is 1)[["Time played in Oro's video game."]](if: $omultiplayer is 1)[["Oro's multiplayer history in his video game."]] (if: $cbentonwork is 1)[["Timestamps on Benton's work files."]](if: $cpromotion is 1)[["Promotion as Colleen's motive."]](if: $ccharacter is 1)[["Colleen's character."]](if: $cfriend is 1)[["Testimony from Colleen's friend."]](if: $ctimeline is 1)[["Timeline of the murder."]] (if: $fmovebody is 1)[["Movement of the body."]](if: $fautopsy is 1)[["More detailed autopsy."]](if: $fgetaway is 1)[["Flann's getaway."]](if: $foperation is 1)[["Flann's potential criminal operation."]](if: $fcrime is 1)[["Flann's potential lesser crime."]] (if: $jpastry is 1)[["The pastry weapon."]]

"I'm serious." Indigo pauses, waiting for a punchline that never comes.(if: $attitude is -1)["Thank you for your time, Detective." They stand,](if: $attitude is not -1)[After an uncomfortable silence, they stand,] putting the case file under their arm and leaving without another word. You never heard from them again, nor could you find any news coverage of Benton or the suspects. Perhaps the case went forever unsolved, but you know what really happened. (set: $finished to 1) THE END [[Return to Title|Start]]

"Sorry, sorry." They sigh. "It's... fine, just try to focus, please?" (if: $jdad is 1)[["Testimony from Jaylen's father on her alibi."]](if: $jcharacter is 1)[["Jaylen's character."]] (if: $oboss is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's boss on his alibi."]](if: $ophone is 1)[["Oro's office phone records."]](if: $ocontact is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's work contacts."]](if: $otimeplayed is 1)[["Time played in Oro's video game."]](if: $omultiplayer is 1)[["Oro's multiplayer history in his video game."]] (if: $cbentonwork is 1)[["Timestamps on Benton's work files."]](if: $cpromotion is 1)[["Promotion as Colleen's motive."]](if: $ccharacter is 1)[["Colleen's character."]](if: $cfriend is 1)[["Testimony from Colleen's friend."]](if: $ctimeline is 1)[["Timeline of the murder."]] (if: $fmovebody is 1)[["Movement of the body."]](if: $fautopsy is 1)[["More detailed autopsy."]](if: $fgetaway is 1)[["Flann's getaway."]](if: $foperation is 1)[["Flann's potential criminal operation."]](if: $fcrime is 1)[["Flann's potential lesser crime."]]

You take your leave, noticing Indigo lingers for a moment to lock the door behind you both. You return to your own apartment and spend the next few days on some tedious paperwork until your meeting time comes. Returning to the impersonal apartment where you first met them, you find Indigo already waiting for you on the couch when you arrive. "Detective, welcome back." They wait for you to sit across from them. "I've looked into what we discussed. Based on the carpeting inside the house, the body was indeed dragged inside and placed on the couch. It was harder to determine much from the gravel of his driveway, but there were faint signs of a trail leading from about 5 feet from the front door to the stairs it's connected to. It was impossible to determine if any sort of fight took place, but we can say with relative certainty the body was moved from outside to inside." [["Alright. What's next?"]]

You take your leave, noticing Indigo lingers for a moment to lock the door behind you both. You return to your own apartment and spend the next few days on some tedious paperwork until your meeting time comes. Returning to the impersonal apartment where you first met them, you find Indigo already waiting for you on the couch when you arrive. "Detective, welcome back." They wait for you to sit across from them. "I've looked into what we discussed. Flann has accepted the charges of serial car theft in exchange for his testimony about the day of the murder." They pull out a sheet of paper from inside their waistcoat and begin to read. "(css: "background-color:#AD7334;")['I confess: I stole a car that day. I had checked out the neighborhood a bit before and knew this one guy lived alone, never went out after he got back from work a little after 5. I rode the city bus to the place, and luckily for me, seems he just bought a new sudan so I took that one. Made a clean escape on that job, but one of my messier thefts caught up with me not too long after. Heard someone had died on the night I stole the sudan, so I clammed up about it until now. Didn't want to incriminate myself when I didn't even kill 'em, y'know?']" They return the paper to their coat. [["Alright. What's next?"]]

"Alright. What's next?" "I think I can pull off one more investigation before this case closes. What should it be?" (if: $jdad is 1)[["Testimony from Jaylen's father on her alibi."|jdad2]](if: $jcharacter is 1)[["Jaylen's character."|jcharacter2]] (if: $oboss is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's boss on his alibi."|oboss2]](if: $ophone is 1)[["Oro's office phone records."|ophone2]](if: $ocontact is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's work contacts."|ocontact2]](if: $otimeplayed is 1)[["Time played in Oro's video game."|otimeplayed2]](if: $omultiplayer is 1)[["Oro's multiplayer history in his video game."|omultiplayer2]] (if: $cbentonwork is 1)[["Timestamps on Benton's work files."|cbentonwork2]](if: $cpromotion is 1)[["Promotion as Colleen's motive."|cpromotion2]](if: $ccharacter is 1)[["Colleen's character."|ccharacter2]](if: $cfriend is 1)[["Testimony from Colleen's friend."|cfriend2]](if: $ctimeline is 1)[["Timeline of the murder."|ctimeline2]] (if: $fmovebody is 1)[["Movement of the body."|fmovebody2]](if: $fautopsy is 1)[["More detailed autopsy."|fautopsy2]](if: $fgetaway is 1 and $fcrime is not 2)[["Flann's getaway."|fgetaway2]](if: $foperation is 1)[["Flann's potential criminal operation."|foperation2]](if: $fcrime is 1)[["Flann's potential lesser crime."|fcrime2]]

"Colleen's character." "You'd like a further investigation into Colleen's character? (if: $ctimeline is not 2 and $cbentonwork is not 2)[I might be able to find something, though it will be difficult to justify right now, since the current theory of how the murder happened would eliminate her as a suspect.](if: $ctimeline is 2)[Considering it's possible her testimony was a fabrication, I believe I could justify that.](if: $cbentonwork is 2)[Considering it seems likely her testimony was a fabrication, I believe I could justify that.]" (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $ccharacter to 2)(goto: "ccharacter2cont")] [["Hmm, hold on."]]

"Movement of the body." "You would like a further investigation to determine if Benton's body was moved? We could look for any signs of such where he was found. (if: $fcrime is not 2)[This would prove or disprove if Flann killed Benton outside and moved the body to the couch, or if anyone else moved the body around](if: $fcrime is 2)[This would prove or disprove if the crime scene was manipulated]." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $fmovebody to 2)(goto: "fmovebody2cont")] [["Hmm, hold on."]]

"More detailed autopsy." "You would like to request an updated autopsy report? (if: $fcrime is not 2)[As we discussed earlier, there might be smaller injuries it would uncover if Flann and Benton got in a scuffle. Of course, there's always a chance we could discover something completely different from it, as well](if: $fcrime is 2)[We know the original theory that Flann got into a fight with Benton isn't what really happened, but we might be able to find a few more details about any injuries on the body, if you think it's still worth pursuing.]." (link: "Yes, that's correct.")[(set: $fautopsy to 2)(goto: "fautopsy2cont")] [["Hmm, hold on."]]

"Hmm, hold on." "Take your time, Detective." (if: $jdad is 1)[["Testimony from Jaylen's father on her alibi."|jdad2]](if: $jcharacter is 1)[["Jaylen's character."|jcharacter2]] (if: $oboss is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's boss on his alibi."|oboss2]](if: $ophone is 1)[["Oro's office phone records."|ophone2]](if: $ocontact is 1)[["Testimony from Oro's work contacts."|ocontact2]](if: $otimeplayed is 1)[["Time played in Oro's video game."|otimeplayed2]](if: $omultiplayer is 1)[["Oro's multiplayer history in his video game."|omultiplayer2]] (if: $cbentonwork is 1)[["Timestamps on Benton's work files."|cbentonwork2]](if: $cpromotion is 1)[["Promotion as Colleen's motive."|cpromotion2]](if: $ccharacter is 1)[["Colleen's character."|ccharacter2]](if: $cfriend is 1)[["Testimony from Colleen's friend."|cfriend2]](if: $ctimeline is 1)[["Timeline of the murder."|ctimeline2]] (if: $fmovebody is 1)[["Movement of the body."|fmovebody2]](if: $fautopsy is 1)[["More detailed autopsy."|fautopsy2]](if: $fgetaway is 1)[["Flann's getaway."|fgetaway2]](if: $foperation is 1)[["Flann's potential criminal operation."|foperation2]](if: $fcrime is 1)[["Flann's potential lesser crime."|fcrime2]]

"Yes, that's correct." "Alright. I'll get back to you on that in 3 days, same time and place." They walk to the door, glancing over their shoulder as you stand to follow them. (if: $attitude is 0)["I'll almost miss working this case with you, Detective."](if: $attitude is not 0)["I'll see you then."] You follow them out and then return to your own apartment. You slog through paperwork for another few days before it's time to return to Indigo. They are once again waiting for you upon your arrival. "Detective," they acknowledge you as you sit. "I have our results. (if: $ctimeline is not 2 and $cbentonwork is not 2)[I wasn't able to get access to anything too personal without reasonable cause, but I spoke with a few of Colleen's friends and coworkers about her personality. Apparently, she's a bit reticent about discussing her job, and goes to great lengths to keep her work and personal life separate. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but that was about the only odd thing I could find](if: $ctimeline is 2)[Apparently Colleen is not what she seemed; looking into her work files, I found evidence of significant insurance fraud](if: $cbentonwork is 2)[Apparently Colleen is not what she seemed; looking into her work files, I found evidence of significant insurance fraud]." [["So, that's all for the investigation, then."]]

"Yes, that's correct." "Alright. I'll get back to you on that in 3 days, same time and place." They walk to the door, glancing over their shoulder as you stand to follow them. (if: $attitude is 0)["I'll almost miss working this case with you, Detective."](if: $attitude is not 0)["I'll see you then."] You follow them out and then return to your own apartment. You slog through paperwork for another few days before it's time to return to Indigo. They are once again waiting for you upon your arrival. "Detective," they acknowledge you as you sit. "I have our results. Benton's office was not in evident disarray, but it was somewhat messy: papers and folders were stacked haphazardly, the coffee cup on the desk was unwashed and there was a small coffee stain on the floor, and the top drawer was in disarray, with scissors and a stapler evidently dropped on top of an otherwise well-kept arrangement. It could mean Benton was simply a disorganized person, or it could be a cover-up." [["So, that's all for the investigation, then."]]

"Yes, that's correct." "Alright. I'll get back to you on that in 3 days, same time and place." They walk to the door, glancing over their shoulder as you stand to follow them. (if: $attitude is 0)["I'll almost miss working this case with you, Detective."](if: $attitude is not 0)["I'll see you then."] You follow them out and then return to your own apartment. You slog through paperwork for another few days before it's time to return to Indigo. They are once again waiting for you upon your arrival. "Detective," they acknowledge you as you sit. "I have our results. Based on the carpetting inside the house, the body was indeed dragged inside and placed on the couch. It was harder to determine much from the gravel of his driveway, but there were faint signs of a trail leading from about 5 feet from the front door to the stairs it's connected to. It was impossible to determine if any sort of fight took place, but we can say with relative certainty the body was moved from outside to inside." [["So, that's all for the investigation, then."]]

"Yes, that's correct." "Alright. I'll get back to you on that in 3 days, same time and place." They walk to the door, glancing over their shoulder as you stand to follow them. (if: $attitude is 0)["I'll almost miss working this case with you, Detective."](if: $attitude is not 0)["I'll see you then."] You follow them out and then return to your own apartment. You slog through paperwork for another few days before it's time to return to Indigo. They are once again waiting for you upon your arrival. "Detective," they acknowledge you as you sit. "I have our results. Cross-referencing the cars that passed that stoplight with those owned by members of the neighborhood, there were only a few that were out of place. A gray sedan approached at 6:10 and left at 6:17, a city bus approached the neighborhood at 6:12 PM and left at 6:15, and a black SUV approached at 6:28 and left at 6:30. The quality was not high enough to determine anything about the drivers." [["So, that's all for the investigation, then."]]

"Yes, that's correct." "Alright. I'll get back to you on that in 3 days, same time and place." They walk to the door, glancing over their shoulder as you stand to follow them. (if: $attitude is 0)["I'll almost miss working this case with you, Detective."](if: $attitude is not 0)["I'll see you then."] You follow them out and then return to your own apartment. You slog through paperwork for another few days before it's time to return to Indigo. They are once again waiting for you upon your arrival. "Detective," they acknowledge you as you sit. "I have our results. Flann has accepted the charges of serial car theft in exchange for his testimony about the day of the murder." They pull out a sheet of paper from inside their waistcoat and begin to read. "(css: "background-color:#AD7334;")['I confess: I stole a car that day. I had checked out the neighborhood a bit before and knew this one guy lived alone, never went out after he got back from work a little after 5. I rode the city bus to the place, and luckily for me, seems he just bought a new sudan so I took that one. Made a clean escape on that job, but one of my messier thefts caught up with me not too long after. Heard someone had died on the night I stole the sudan, so I clammed up about it until now. Didn't want to incriminate myself when I didn't even kill 'em, y'know?']" They return the paper to their coat. [["So, that's all for the investigation, then."]]

"So, that's all for the investigation, then." "Yes. All that's left is to put together the pieces. So, Detective... who do you accuse?" [["Jaylen."]] [["Oro."]] [["Colleen."]] [["Flann."]]

"Jaylen." "Jaylen," they repeat. "Are you certain?" (set: $jaylen to 1) [["Yes."|when and where]] [["Actually, wait."]]

"Oro." "Oro," they repeat. "Are you certain?" (set: $oro to 1) [["Yes."|when and where]] [["Actually, wait."]]

"Colleen." "Colleen," they repeat. "Are you certain?" (set: $colleen to 1) [["Yes."|when and where]] [["Actually, wait."]]

"Flann." "Flann," they repeat. "Are you certain?" (set: $flann to 1) [["Yes."|when and where]] [["Actually, wait."]]

"Yes." They nod. "When and where do you think the murder took place?" [["Between 4:30 and 5 or later, while Benton was at work."]] [["Between 5 or later and 6, while Benton was at home."]]

"Actually, wait." "Take your time." (set: $jaylen to 0)(set: $oro to 0)(set: $colleen to 0)(set: $flann to 0) [["Jaylen."]] [["Oro."]] [["Colleen."]] [["Flann."]]

"Between 4:30 and 5 or later, while Benton was at work." "Alright. What happened to the murder weapon?" (set: $work to 1) [["The killer took it with them."]] [["The killer destroyed it."]] [["The killer left it where the murder happened."]]

"Between 5 or later and 6, while Benton was at home." "Alright. What happened to the murder weapon?" (set: $home to 1) [["The killer took it with them."]] [["The killer destroyed it."]] [["The killer left it where the murder happened."]]

"The killer took it with them." They nod. "And lastly. Motive?" (set: $took to 1) (if: $jaylen is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $oro is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $colleen is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $flann is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]] (if: $jaylen is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]](if: $oro is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]](if: $colleen is 1)[["To cover up a crime."]](if: $flann is 1)[["To cover up a crime."]]

"The killer destroyed it." They nod. "And lastly. Motive?" (set: $destroyed to 1) (if: $jaylen is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $oro is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $colleen is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $flann is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]] (if: $jaylen is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]](if: $oro is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]](if: $colleen is 1)[["To cover up a crime."]](if: $flann is 1)[["To cover up a crime."]]

"The killer left it where the murder happened." They nod. "And lastly. Motive?" (set: $left to 1) (if: $jaylen is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $oro is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $colleen is 1)[["Personal conflict."]](if: $flann is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]] (if: $jaylen is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]](if: $oro is 1)[["Lack of empathy."]](if: $colleen is 1)[["To cover up a crime."]](if: $flann is 1)[["To cover up a crime."]]

"Personal conflict." "Understood." They stand, exhaling quietly. "I'll relay this all to the police, and hopefully the culprit will be caught." They remove an envelope from their waistcoat and hold it out to you. "For your help." (set: $personal to 1) [[Accept.]] (link: "Refuse.")[(set: $attitude to it + 1)(goto: "Refuse.")]

"Lack of empathy." "Understood." They stand, exhaling quietly. "I'll relay this all to the police, and hopefully the culprit will be caught." They remove an envelope from their waistcoat and hold it out to you. "For your help." (set: $empathy to 1) [[Accept.]] (link: "Refuse.")[(set: $attitude to it + 1)(goto: "Refuse.")]

"To cover up a crime." "Understood." They stand, exhaling quietly. "I'll relay this all to the police, and hopefully the culprit will be caught." They remove an envelope from their waistcoat and hold it out to you. "For your help." (set: $crime to 1) [[Accept.]] (link: "Refuse.")[(set: $attitude to it + 1)(goto: "Refuse.")]

You take the envelope from them, slipping it into your pocket. (if: $attitude is 0)[They smile.](if: $attitude is not 0)[They nod.] "Thank you for your assistance, Detective. I couldn't have done this without you." [["Take care of yourself."]] [["So why did you care about this case, anyways?"]]

You shake your head. They give you a look of surprise before hesitantly returning the envelope to their coat. "Well, um... Thank you, Detective. I couldn't have done this without you(if: $attitude is 1)[ and I'm very glad we met]." They smile. [["Take care of yourself."]] [["So why did you care about this case, anyways?"]]

"Take care of yourself." "You as well." With one last smile, they lead you out the room for the final time, locking the door behind you. They give you a small wave before turning around and walking away. [[Leave]]

"So why did you care about this case, anyways?" They chuckle. "(if: $curious is 1)[You're quite curious about me, aren't you? ]Perhaps if we meet again, I'll tell you then. For now, though, I'd rather keep my secrets." With one last smile, they lead you out the room for the final time, locking the door behind you. They give you a small wave before turning around and walking away. [[Leave]]

You return to your apartment. Days turn to weeks as you dabble in smaller cases and trudge through the menial side of detective work. One day, a letter is pushed under your door, simply addressed "Detective." You open it. Enclosed is a piece of paper(if: $attitude is 1)[, a sizable amount of money,] and a newspaper clipping. The clipping is titled (if: $colleen is 1 and $work is 1 and $crime is 1)["AGENT KILLER FOUND GUILTY"](if: $colleen is 1 and $work is not 1 and $crime is 1)["AGENT KILLER STILL AT LARGE"](if: $colleen is 1 and $work is 1 and $crime is not 1)["AGENT KILLER ON TRIAL"](if: $colleen is 1 and $work is not 1 and $crime is not 1)["AGENT KILLER STILL AT LARGE"](if: $jaylen is 1)["AGENT KILLER STILL AT LARGE"](if: $oro is 1)["AGENT KILLER STILL AT LARGE"](if: $flann is 1)["AGENT KILLER FOUND GUILTY"] and goes on to describe a murder involving people you've never heard of that is otherwise identical to the case you helped Indigo investigate. (if: $colleen is 1 and $work is 1 and $crime is 1)['Colleen' was found guilty of second degree murder and large-scale insurance fraud; she killed 'Benton' in his office after he uncovered evidence of her operation. She hid the body in her car and drove to meet her friend for drinks to create an alibi, after which she drove to the victim's house and arranged the body on the couch to confuse the police as to the timeline of the murder. Unfortunately for her, 'Flann' happened to steal her car while she was inside, and she had to call a ride-sharing company to make her escape.](if: $colleen is 1 and $work is not 1 and $crime is 1)['Colleen' was arrested but had to be let go owing to a lack of evidence.](if: $colleen is 1 and $work is 1 and $crime is not 1)['Colleen' currently stands trial, with the evidence pointing to her guilt though a motive is yet to be proven.](if: $colleen is 1 and $work is not 1 and $crime is not 1)['Colleen' was arrested but had to be let go owing to a lack of evidence.](if: $jaylen is 1)['Jaylen' was arrested but had to be let go owing to a lack of evidence.](if: $oro is 1)['Oro' was arrested but had to be let go owing to a lack of evidence.](if: $flann is 1)['Flann' was convicted for the murder. He never did testify, but he always insisted on his innocence.] The piece of paper is mostly blank, but there is a short message: (if: $colleen is 1 and $work is 1 and $crime is 1)["Thank you for everything, truly. I hope I can count on your help if something else comes along? In any case, I wish you the best. Until we meet again. - Indigo"](else:)["I thought you'd like to know how it panned out. Regardless of the outcome, I appreciate your assistance. - Indigo"] (set: $finished to 1) THE END [[Return to Title|Start]]