Part 30: Returning a Letter

Music: Overstepped Memory


Let's return the letter to Marie. Not like we got anything else to do.



Here's the description for the letter, since we're going to give it away soon.



Knock

"Who is it?"

I hear Marie's voice echo from inside.

It's Kyle Hyde.

"I'm a little busy, Mr Hyde. Can't it wait?"

I've got something here that belongs to you.

"You have? Okay, hang on."

Music: Ace of Diamonds


Did you drop anything in the hallway?
What?
Like a letter from an insurance company?
[img]https://lpix.org/3237503/Marie%201.png[/igm]Did you say an insurance company?
Easy, what's with the sudden excitement?
I found this on the floor.
I see.
So, the money you said you would likely be getting... It's from an insurance policy?
Mr Hyde, please come inside.
I think it'd be better if we discussed this there.



Sadly, we can't ransack investigate Marie's room anymore.

Marie.
Please show me the letter you found, Mr Hyde.

Music: Gusty Town


Show $5
You can put your money away, thanks.
Show others
What are you showing me this for?

Show insurance letter

Music: Ace of Diamonds
Here.

I hand the letter from the insurance company to Marie.

Thank you. I've been trying to find this.
It was lying on the floor out in the hallway.
Can't believe I dropped something this important.
I'm going to have to pay more attention to what I'm doing.

With yesterday's ring and this letter? Yeah, you really should.

It's from my late husband's insurance company.
It contains the details on the amount of money I'll be receiving from the policy.
So that's the money you were talking about earlier.
Precisely.



When the funds reach my account, I'll be able to pay my rent and leave this place.
But it's unfortunate, isn't it? I had no idea I'd be leaving this apartment so soon.
After all, I only decided to move in here half a year ago.

(What made you decide that?)

Music: Gusty Town
Can you tell me how your husband died?

Kyle really likes talking about dead husbands. As opposed to Hotel Dusk where he talks about surviving husbands.

How did your husband die, Marie?
It was a car accident. I waved him goodbye one day half a year ago...
But he never returned home.

Why did you choose to live here?

Why did you choose to live here?
It was somewhere I was fond of.
How come?



IIt was quite a while back, when the place was still a hotel actually.

(You knew the place back then?)

I came back here after he'd passed away.
I had no idea that this place had been converted into apartments. Still, the exterior had remained untouched.
I thought to myself...
Living here would help me keep the memories of our time together alive.
Living with your memories.
Does it sound strange?
Not at all.
Your husband's a lucky guy. I mean, you're still devoted to him even now.
He was so dear to me.
You're an unusual person, Mr Hyde.



I think Kyle has a better career as a psychologist than a salesman.

You sure you're not getting me mixed up with someone else?
Mr Hyde?
Yeah?
There's this other thing I'd like to talk to you about.

What kind of hotel was it?

What kind of hotel was it?
It wasn't very big and only had a small number of rooms, but it had a good reputation, exceptional service and delicious food.



He worked with my brother when they were both still alive.
(What did you say?)
Your brother used to work in the hotel too?
That's right.
But when the decision was made to close the place down 13 years ago, both he and my husband found themselves out of work.
So you know about the incident that happened here 13 years ago?
Incident?
Someone got murdered and the case never got solved.
I had no idea.
I see.

You got something you'd like to discuss?

You got something you'd like to discuss?
It's about that man who came into the building just now.
You mean Rex?
Yes, Rex Foster. I wanted to talk to you about him.
Did he try any funny stuff?
He placed this in my room while I was out.

Music stops




That's a...
...bugging device, I know.
You said he placed this device in here?
I'm sure it was him. I can't think of anyone else who would.
So he's been trying to gather information about you all this time.
That's what I suspect, yes.
Tell me something, Marie.
Can you think of any reason why he's so interested in your day-to-day activities?
I haven't got a clue.



I only noticed him watching me about three days ago.
Do you have any sort of connection to him?
None whatsoever.
In fact, he scares me. What do you think I should do, Mr Hyde?
Leave it to me. He and I have got some unfinished business. I've got some questions of my own that need answering.
Really, will you talk to him for me?
I think that's my cue to leave.
Of course.

*Kyle leaves Marie's room*

(Am I meant to believe that Rex goes around planting bugging devices in people's rooms?)
(Could he have planted this one in Marie's room?)

Music: Overstepped Memory


That's our cue for our first confrontation in the game.

Music: Town Dyed Purple
What?
You really are a nasty piece of work!
Steady on, pal.
Listen up, Rex.
You've been targeting Marie Rivet and don't try to deny it!
She's the one you're after.
And what's that got to do with you?
Don't try to pull a fast one, Rex. I'm on to you.
I don't know what you think you've stumbled on.
Really? I know about the bugging device you planted in her room.
What bugging device?
You're not making any sense.
Spit it out! I know the kind of dodgy dealings you're into!



This feels just like a police interrogation, you know?
You guys jump to the wrong conclusion and force people to confess to it.
Like now, you're trying to get me to won up to planting a bugging device?
You don't have a shred of proof to back any of this up!
You want proof, do you?
If you think you can get me to confess to anything, show me the proof. And you'll have to find something very convincing.

...Or maybe not. The pacing in this game is MUCH slower than Hotel Dusk's.

(I hate to admit it, but he's got a point. I can't pin anything on him without proof. I'd better start looking around for something that links him to all this.)





I slump on the sofa to think about what's transpired.



As I think, I notice the sun setting from outside the window.





Today's hint is: The color is important, both in the crossword and in the object itself.