Police Quest 2 Part #7 - Episode Five: On the Trail

Part 7: Episode Five: On the Trail

Keith, I think we need to head back to the station and hand over some of this evidence.

If you think we'll actually make it. I have mucho paper work to finish.

Bets?

Bets on what?

Whether we'll actually make it there this time. Fifty cents says we don't, come on.

I wouldn't take that bet.

Look, I am not going to bet on...

...

"...The current 10-20 is northbound on Second Street in the vicinity of the airport."

"53-10 is requesting assistance and advises that he's losing suspect in heavy traffic... any unit responding acknowledge."

Dispatch, 53mary2... be advised we are responding to 53-10's 10-20, code 2.

As you continue to respond, 3-10 comes on the air again... "Dispatch, 53-10... I... I lost suspect in heavy traffic."

Good God, really?

Shh!

"53-10, 10-4," Dispatch answers... "Confirm last known 10-20 of suspect vehicle."

You listen attentively as the 53-10 unit answers... "Suspect vehicle last seen in vicinity of airport."

I can't believe it! How could he lose him?

I hate to say this, but I agree with Keith.

Come on! The airport!

Dispatch responds... "53mary2... 10-4. Dispatch copies 10-97 Lytton Airport."

Keith wanders away in 3... 2...

Mmmmyep.

Stop horsing around. Bains might still be in the lot somewhere.

Remember to pick up your kit from the trunk.

Right, thank you.

Okay. Well, there's a car right down there which kind of matches the description. Let's go take a look.

Yeah, this is the one alright.

Well, take a look. But be careful. If he's hiding in the seat or something...

No, I can see it from here. It's empty.

You read the "VIN" number: "S1234T10".

Taking a quick look around the seat.

You see some cookie crumbs and an occasional dead leaf. There is nothing significant.

Nothing?

Nothing.

Damn, I though for sure there'd be something in there, at least.

You reach into, under, and around the front and back seats, but you come up empty-handed.

Where else can we look? We can't spend the time we'd need to rip the car apart if he's possibly nearby.

There is one more thing we can try. What's the first thing you do when you're going to drive someone else's car?

Fix the seat?

OK, what's the second thing you do?

Adjust the mir... oh!

You carefully dust the rear view mirror, and come up with one good print. Gently and carefully, you use the fingerprint tape to lift the clear print impression from the rear view mirror.

AH!

Where in the hell did he come from?

Dammit, Keith. Okay. Let's call this in.

Well, hurry it up, then!

"Dispatch, 53mary2... request a check be made on license number C035609."

"53mary2... be advised that your plate number matches that of the vehicle stolen from the mall."

Continuing... "VIN number, S1234T10 should match..."

"Attention all units," she says. "10-22 looking for suspect vehicle... 53mary2 has it located."

Alright. Back outside.

You mean he wants to stay here rather than walking around everywhere? Shocking. I'm shocked.

Alright, Keith, keep an eye on it. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Where are you going, Sonny?

To that button over there.

...Sonny, it is like twenty feet across that road. Are you seriously going to press that button? Why am I even asking? Of course you are.

Hey, you're not the one that's going to get hit by a speeding car if you aren't careful.

There are no moving cars anywhere, Sonny.

None that YOU can see.

(Does a city of this size REALLY need an airport like this?)

(Quiet.)

Oh no, what's this?

How do you know he even has one? Maybe he wants to buy some for his special friend Keith!

Not this again. What have you got?

Hmm. I wonder what I should get?

...it's for your girlfriend.

Yes?

Your girlfriend. Who you love.

Yes?

...you get her the rose! The single rose, you amazing twit! Buy it! Buy it now!

Okay, okay.

Is either of those guys suspicious?

Not for any reason we care about.

Sonny... should we really be going in here without backup?

Absolutely not. It is a terrible idea.

Just checking.

Let me go check with someone at the desk.

Yes. Have you seen a man that looks like this?

Uh... I don't think he wants to get involved.

I'm looking for a man named Bains.

He's...

Leave it alone for a second. I have another idea.

What's that?

I have a hunch we should check the men's room.

A hunch?

Yes. A hunch. Do you have a problem with hunches?

I guess not. The men's room? Alright.

Stop and talk to those guys first if you want. Maybe they saw something.

...

...

Tourists, huh?

You look around the public rest room but the only unusual thing you notice is that it's cleaner than most. Good old Lytton!

OK, so what am I looking for?

I don't know. But if I were a desperate man trying to ditch something before I went through security, this is pretty much the only place in this airport I'd be able to find any privacy.

My God, that actually made sense. Are you feeling okay?

Ha ha. Come on, take a look around.

I'm coming up empty here. Nothing on the floor, nothing in the sinks, nothing in the trash...

Sonny, there's a more obvious place you could be looking.

Oh, wonderful. But yes, you're right. Let's get it over with.

Nothing in this one. Next?

This one's empty too. Or at least doesn't have anything in it I feel like describing. Remind me to take an extra-long shower later.

One more lucky contestant left...

I think there's something... I don't know. This toilet lid isn't on quite right.

Ew?

No, no, not like that.

I don't see it, but okay. Shall we see what's going on in there?

Hell-o.

Alright, get that puppy out of there.

I know that water is clean but this always feels so wrong.

Hey, it isn't YOUR hand.

I take it you're not going to try to fingerprint that?

You mean after sitting in a tank of water for lord knows how long? I think I'll pass. Let's see if we can make it a little easier to carry, though.

Let me put this away. Wouldn't want to cause unnecessary comment.

I don't know, it would kind of be fun to watch.

Let's try the desk again.

Maybe somewhere else? There's a corridor over here.

I guess we could put the flight desk off for a bit. Let's check out that way.

A car rental place. That sounds like a good candidate.

Yes, let's check that out.

Man, so many people go to a new city on vacation and think "Hey, I'd just love to ride around here in a Mac Truck, and..."

Just... just stop.

Could you look at this picture and tell me if you've ever seen this man?

You do? May I see his rental information?

Luis Pate? Really?

You write down the vehicle information: 1988 green "CMG" sedan. License #C43256.

Thank you, ma'am. You've been very helpful.

Okay. The main desk now and I'm not taking no for an answer.

Maybe try the other clerk?

Clerk?

Well, whatever.

Alright, fine.

I'd like you to take a look at this picture.

Wait a minute, this doesn't make any sense.

One second. Can I see the passenger list?

God damn him. Sonny, when you catch up with that guy...

I'm going to arrest him. Just arrest him. You know that.

Yeah. I guess.

I don't understand this at all.

We'll work it out.

Oh, that's just what we need.

Well, he apparently got on a flight to Texas and rented a car here at the same time.

But how does that make any sense?

That's what I've been saying!

It's obvious. One or the other of those plans is a decoy. He may still be local or he may have gone to Texas, but he left the other trail in the hopes that we'd find only one. We've got to follow up both leads and we have to do it now.

What?

No, he's right. We need to look at the evidence we have, report back to base, and get some rest. You and Keith have been at it for hours. There's a whole department after this guy. If you put all the stress on yourself you'll end up useless when you finally do catch him.

I guess.