Part 45: Roaming the Halls

Last time, we...



Never mind. Let's pretend that never happened.



Music: Slow Steps
What're you doing?

I'm not doing anything. And it looks like I should be asking you that, with the way you're skulking around.

Keep asking questions. See where it gets you.

Aw, forget it. What do I care what you're up to?

Jeff goes back into his room and shuts the door. ...Moody little punk.

Yeah, Jeff. You go into your room and you'll stay there!

Anyway, we did everything in Room 217 as before. When we get out there's sound of door closing.

Huh? Someone was in the hall.

Music: Monochrome






Huh. The floor's wet. Let's check the toilet.

Music: Straight Chaser


Toilet It's a toilet. ...Looks like the tank lid is a bit off-kilter.

Not going to check it, okay. We move away a little...



Is it coming from the bathroom?

(Why is the floor wet?)

NOW we can check the toilet.



Toilet

Huh?



Our first instinct would be to flush the toilet.



Our second thought would be to check inside the toilet. We can't open the toilet lid, so we try to open the tank. Just slide it to the left.



This takes a while, so let's just skip to the end.



There's something in the tank.



Oooh! Money!

Ah, come to papa...



The cash was in a plastic bag.

(Money in the tank, huh? Oldest trick in the book. How did this get here? Well, until I find out, I probably shouldn't keep this much cabbage on me...)

We could stash this in our suitcase, but we're not going to. We want to see the reactions to the money from other characters. By the way, the phone rings.







Phone The phone's ringing.

Better answer that.

Music: Serenity


That you, Rachel?

Everything OK? I know this is weird, but I had a strange feeling, and... Well, I called. Sorry.

Score one for woman's intuition. I got a bit of a situation here.

A situation? Oh, how I adore cop talk. What's happening?

It's the toilet in my room. Somebody decided to stash twenty large in the tank.

What? In the toilet? That's disgusting. Why would someone do that?

Search me. People got reasons for doing all sorts of crazy stuff. Whoever did it is in the hotel, though, so I'm going to find him and have a chat.

Last time you had a chat with someone, he needed stitches, remember? Take it easy, Kyle. You know Ed hates having to post bail.

How could I forget? Don't worry. I'll be on my best behavior.

Kyle: I already have a chat with 2 people and none of them needed stitches!

I'll get the checkbook ready.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Listen, you find anything on our pal, Osterzone?

I've got a friend who works in an art museum. She's looking into it. I'll give you a call as soon as I hear anything.

Appreciate it.

See ya around, handsome.

Yeah.



Now what?

(Guess it's time to roam the halls and see what's going on. Feels like I'm back on the beat again.)

Music: Monochrome
We are now left to wander around aimlessly. We'll just talk to anyone available.



Like Jeff? Sure, why not.

Music: Slow Steps
Hey, you got a minute?

What?

What are you up to?

Seriously?



Well...



You need Dunning, right?

You got business with the front desk?

That's right. That's why I'm standing here.

What do you need?

I don't think that's any business of yours.

If we try talking to him again...

You got a minute?

You're bugging me. Go away, will you?

Wasn't it nice not seeing him for the past 2 chapters? Oh, the good ol' days...

Music: Straight Chaser


By the way, remember this TV?



It's 7 PM now, so we can use it.

Knobs There's a power switch and a channel selector.



We can turn the power on.



We can also tap the channel selector (The leftmost knob) to choose the channel. None of the other knobs do anything.





And that's it. That's all to this TV. Just 2 channels (technically 3 since there's 2 channels for the news).

Music: Monochrome
Now that we don't have anything else to do, we'll just go upstairs since why not and...

Huh? Someone's in the hall.





Oh good, we can talk face-to-face with someone who isn't Jeff this update.

Music: Hangover Blues
Oh, it's you. What're you doing?

I had some business with Summer! But where is he? I don't know! He's not in his room... Oh, things are never easy for Rosa, let me tell you!

(??? You need Summer? ???)

Gosh darn it! I have to get back to the kitchen right away.

Music: Rainy Night


Read note
What're you looking at? Hmm? What is that?
Write note
What're you writing? Hmm? Hey, what is it?
Show room 217 key
No, I'm not going to do that. Although it's tempting since usually Rosa won't cause a game over this way, Louie specifically told us not to.
Show fountain pen
Huh? What? Yes, that's a pen. Very nice.
Show old photo
That? That's an old photo. No, I don't know who it is.
Show stack of cash
...Oh my goodness!
If you've got that kind of money, why are you staying here?
The same reason Summer staying here? He's a famous writer, so he should be rich, right?

Why do you need Summer?

What do you want with Summer?

Huh? What? What do I want? What do you THINK I want?! I want his autograph!

Oh.

That's right! It's not often we have a best-selling author stay here.

You've got to strike while the iron's hot, you know? Sure you do.

Wait a minute! Now wait just one minute...

Your showing up has given me an idea, Mr. Hyde!

This doesn't sound good.

Oh, hush now. Here, I want you to take this.

What is it?

It's one of Mr. Summer's novels, of course!





The name of the book is The Secret Word.

Thanks, but I'm more of a sports page kind of guy.

Don't get smart with me, mister! Just get Mr. Summer to sign it. OK? Good.

Look, I'm busy. Why do I have to-

Because I have to get back to the kitchen, that's why! Now stop grumbling.

Don't forget, Mr. Hyde! Don't you dare!

Music: Hangover Blues
Look, I'm not-

Wait a second!

Rosa turns and rushes away.

Dammit!



Well played, Rosa. Well played.

Music: Monochrome
Again, we just roam the halls. At least now we have SOMETHING to do. Let's see if Jeff knows where Martin is.

(There's somebody at the front desk.)