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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 19, 2010 11:47:57 GMT -5
Diner
"You know anything about a man named Smiley?" Renee took a bite of her food. "He's linked to a few other abductions, and the MO fits. Plus the note in the secret room..." She shrugged. "With the note, is there a chance you could pull out a handwriting analysis, see if there's a link?"
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Post by Myridd on Mar 19, 2010 13:29:50 GMT -5
Jack Houston nodded at Mr. Murphy than looked over at Renee. "You mean Stev Smiley? Yeah, we ran the name on those old cases. Couldn't tie it to him. Couldn't prove that those disappearances were crimes, actually. Or at least that is what I heard." He shrugged a bit, shaking his head. "But I do have his current address. He donated to the policeman's ball this year. I was the one to collect from his house. As for the note, it's written in capital letters with a red sharpie. Not exactly great for handwriting analysis."
He reached over, took a napkin out of the dispenser, and a pen out of his pocket. "Here. I personally don't think that Stev is involved, but you might want to give him a looksee. " He scribbled down an address on the napkin and passed it to Renee. "However, I do think he knows more about these cases than he is willing to admit. Try to convince him to spill, eh?"
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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 20, 2010 2:38:22 GMT -5
Renee nodded, taking the napkin. "I think I'll do that." She finished her food, then rose to her feet, looking to Murphy. "Shall we?"
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amstard
Junior Member
Hope is everything.
Posts: 80
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Post by amstard on Mar 21, 2010 10:14:15 GMT -5
Murphy shrugged. "Sure...I didn't have anything better to do, anyway." He got up and followed Renee out the door of the diner.
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Post by Myridd on Mar 21, 2010 18:07:51 GMT -5
Approximately thirty minutes later.
Luckily the rain has stopped, though it was still pitch black outside by the time they pulled into the Smiley's drive. It was a modest, ranch style home with cute shutters and a sign in the yard saying "Gordon for Commissioner, He's friends with Batman!" In front of them in the driveway was a Dodge Caravan with handicapped plates. It was a burnished red color, and though it looked like an older model, it was well taken care of.
Flower beds had been planted, but the rain had ruined them. When Mr. Murphy and Renee made it to the front door, they noticed a black metal mailbox with the house's number on them and a welcome mat that said "Woof!"
They knocked, waited, and knocked again. They than heard a voice, heavily accented English, the speaker was probably Japanese in origin.
"Yes, yes. One moment. " She said pleasantly and than opened the door. She was a woman about forty years old, graying straight black hair back with a ribbon. She was garbed in a kimono style bathroom, and looked confused as she noticed the people at the door.
". . Yes? I have green card. Master is sleeping. Need to wake him?" She asked, obviously protective.
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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 21, 2010 18:21:54 GMT -5
The Smiley Residence
Renee smirked... the hat had done its trick once again. "Please. We've got some questions to ask... nobody here is in trouble, but there's been an incident that we could use some information Mr. Smiley may have for. It's quite urgent." She pulled her hat back a bit, letting the maid see her eyes. "Thank you."
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Post by Myridd on Mar 21, 2010 18:48:35 GMT -5
The Smiley Residence.
"Oh yes. Come in. Remove shoes please?" She backs up, and pointed to an area with two big pairs of shoes, one men's and one women's, and a little pair of pink sneakers with hello kitty on the side. Once their shoes were removed, the woman led them to a comfortable looking living room. Mismatched sofa and chairs, sturdy wooden coffee table and end tables. The walls were adorned with japanese art as well as a picture of small female child of obvious Japanese descent.
"I am Kimoko. I will get Master-san and make tea, yes?" Kimoko says, smiling, than she disappears down a hallway, and by the sound of it, up some stairs. About ten minutes later, a soft bark was heard, than heavier footsteps coming down the steps.
The man who entered the living room looked about 50 years old, his black hair graying at the temples. His eyes had a blank stare and was walking kind of ridgedly. He was dressed in a flannel bathrobe. Leading him was a beautiful golden retriever with a harness on its back that the man was holding on too.
The dog led him over to a high backed leather chair. The man reached out, grabbed the arm of the chair, and than settled himself into it. He than looked in the direction of the couch. "Kimoko has told me I have visitors." He reaches out his hand in Renee's general direction, offering to shake. "I am Stev Smiley, how may I help you?" He asked, sounding a bit sleepy.
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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 22, 2010 17:37:20 GMT -5
Renee shook Smiley's hand, then spoke softly. "Renee Valesquez. I hate to bring up old wounds, but there's been an... incident. Something similar to previous events that you were investigated for. A murder, and a kidnapping." She took a seat near him, adjusting her hat. "We found the girl, but a guard was killed, and the one responsible is still at large."
She folded her hands together. "I've been accused of things I was innocent of as well, Mr. Smiley. I know what it feels like, how your life falls apart around it, and that you become willing to do whatever it takes to learn what actually happened, to prove to the world - maybe even to yourself - that you are innocent. So I need to know... what do you know? What have you learned that the police haven't? There are lives at stake, and I want to keep those in danger safe."
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Post by Myridd on Mar 22, 2010 17:43:20 GMT -5
Stev Smiley suddenly sat up straighter, looking a tad bit confused before a thought dawns on him.
"Ms. Valesquez, I appreciate the tenderness in your words, but I am not the one you are looking for, though I probably have the answers you seek." He shook his head, and as if called Kimoko appeared with a china tea set and poured them all some tea that smelled faintly of peaches. Smiley waited until she had disappeared into the kitchen again to speak.
"You are looking for my son"
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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 23, 2010 21:54:33 GMT -5
Renee blinked a bit at that, seeming startled. "Your son, Mr. Smiley?" She took a long sniff of her tea before setting it aside. "So he is the one behind this? What makes you so certain?"
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Post by Myridd on Mar 24, 2010 11:19:08 GMT -5
Mr. Smiley smiled somewhat sadly, and gestured towards the coffee table sitting infront of Renee and Mr. Murphy.
"There is a drawer in the table. Opening up towards the couch. In it is the research I did after being accused of the kidnapping of the first theatre girl. Most of the articles I found in my son's room. He was staying with me at the time."
After Renee had the leather bound journal in her hands, Mr. Smiley continued.
"As you see, he is obsessed with my late wife. His mother. I hate to say it, but my boy has never been right in the mind, and my late wife "Smiley said, gritting his teeth. Renee and Mr. Murphy instantly caught on that Stev Smiley was not fond of the woman. "left us, abandoned Stev Jr. on the street when he was ten. He refused to listen when I told him she left us. He sank deeper into his own mind and begun to spin his own story that she had died, and had once been a great songstress. What you have in your hands, is his journal. Nothing that says he did it. Nothing that proves it. But a father knows his son."
He sighs, and the golden retriever laid his head on Stev's leg, comforting his master. "I was in the Marines. I was injured in the war. Been living off retirement and disability for over twenty years now. I was able to give my son the best therapy, any thing he needed. But when he started getting violent with the girls at his school, I had him committed. He came back to me after he turned eighteen, and he lived upstairs where Kimoko's daughter sleeps now. Stev had ran away from home shortly before the first disappearance, and I haven't seen him since."
He looked sad, perhaps a bit secretive.
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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 24, 2010 14:37:40 GMT -5
Renee nodded to Mr. Smiley. "Do you have any idea where he might be, Mr. Smiley? I know you haven't heard from him... but any thoughts on where he could be would be helpful." She thumbed through the journal a bit, trying to get a read on its writer.
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amstard
Junior Member
Hope is everything.
Posts: 80
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Post by amstard on Mar 24, 2010 16:01:55 GMT -5
Mr. Murphy leaned in a bit and asked, "Also, if it's alright with you, I'd like to take a look up in his room, see if anything jumps out at me." Without waiting for a response, he headed up towards the area which old Stev had indicated.
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Post by Myridd on Mar 25, 2010 13:18:27 GMT -5
Mr. Smiley looked startled at the sudden new voice, and went to stand when Mr. Murphy announced he was heading to Stev Jr's old room. "That's Ayane's room. She's sleeping, you have no right to search my house!"
He went to go after Mr. Murphy, knowing the way around his house very well, but he twisted his knee, and gave a yelp of pain before collapsing to the floor. "Old war injury. ."He said meekly, as he refused Renee's and Kimoko's offers to help him stand. "I can get up. Renee, was it? Who is that with you? I thought you were on my side? Why are you searching my daughter's room?" He said, sounding angry as he found his way to his feet.
Ayane's room.
Mr. Murphy entered the room, and was bombarded with shades of lilac and rose. A girl of Japanese decent sat awake on her bed, atop her Hello Kitty bedspread, holding a stuffed Hello Kitty tight to her chest. On the table by the bed there was a humidifier, and she was taking deep breaths from the vapor it emitted. She looked towards the door as it opened, her wide cocoa eyes looking startled at first, and than sad. "Are you here to take me from Mommy? I don't want to leave Mommy! I don't want to go back to Daddy!" She cried, diving under her covers and quivering.
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Post by Trailfoot on Mar 25, 2010 21:37:02 GMT -5
The Den
Renee glared after Murphy. "He's new, eager, and apparently doesn't exactly think things through... this is my first time working with him. If you don't mind, I'm going to go drag him down here, then we'll be leaving... I think we've taken enough of your time and more than enough of your patience. And I sincerely apologize for this."
She pocketed the journal as she looked toward the stairs, waiting for Smiley to give her permission to go after Murphy.
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