Part 5: Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2: In Which Gustav Is a Better Character Than Vickie











And here we have the ye olde version of the Obstructive Police Chief trope, Skalnic. Gustav strolls on up.

“It’s very nice of you to let me have a peek. I’m Gustav McPherson. I’m a…”



“I had no idea I was so popular.”



…and he looks like he’s going to strangle Gustav in that screenshot.



Interestingly, Gustav has the same dialogue mechanic Vickie had for Polite or Shithead dialogue choices. But only his Polite button is lit up.

“Is this the fifth victim?”



“Supposedly?”



“So you only bother when they turn up like this?”



“I think you’ve just convinced me to take the case.”


this. There is no glory in this case. Like I said, you should stick with what you know.”

Well aren’t you suspicious.

“Do you mind if I ask you a few more questions?”



“Were all the victims prostitutes?”



“Is the cause of death the necklace on her neck?”



“So it’s not the multiple stab wounds in her chest?”



“Does she have any other significant wounds on her body?”



…that’s kind of a big detail to leave out there, Skalnic.

“Eviscerated?”



Gustav puts on his glasses to have a better look.

(I had never seen anything so horrible in my entire life. I had only heard of the horrors like this from the Ripper case in London.)

“Oh my God. Were all the victims like this?”



“Are all the organs accounted for?”



“In the other cases, were there missing organs?”



“Who’s the coroner?”





“I think you’re right about the cause of death. That slash across the neck was definitely it. The stabbings to her chest were done before the final blow to the throat. The defensive stab wounds on her arms reinforce this theory. What’s bothering me though, is the lack of blood at the crime scene. This probably indicates that she was murdered somewhere else. Not here.”

I love how Gustav is completely ahead of the times when it comes to forensics.



Too late.

“You have work to do. Of course, thanks for sharing. It was nice meeting you.”



(I had a feeling that cooperation between Skalnic and me had just ended. He was testing me for some reason. I was left to fend for myself.)



Alrighty, so as Gustav noted, Skalnic is of no further use. One screen over, however…



And he looks completely ridiculous. If I had to draw a comparison, it’s like Oleander from Psychonauts became an old timey police officer.

“Hello, my friend.”



See.

“I can’t complain. And how’s my favorite boy in blue?”



He isn’t constantly singing opera, in spite of what it looks like. His mouth is just really weirdly animated.

“How did you get the shiner?”


Metal Gear?

“Your black eye, how’d you get it?”



“Did you get sucker punched?”



“What did the man do, to deserve your undivided attention?”



“That’s understandable. I imagine you don’t have anything more to give me?”



Well you don’t have to look so happy about it.

“You don’t mind if I ask you a couple of questions anyway?”



“How long has this been going on?”



“No, I wasn’t in town. I just got back. I was working a case outside the city. Someone called me to see if I could come back and help.”



Skalickova, I hardly knew her.

“Good guess. She’s worried for her friends. I told her I’d see what I could do.”

“Can you tell me about your new boss?”



Screenshot taken shortly before Stasek unhinged his jaw and ate Gustav’s head.

“What? He doesn’t trust you?”



“Maybe, but he’d be stupid to think so.”



“Were all the victim’s bodies dumped?”



“Was there ever an eyewitness?”



(That’s what bothered me the most. How was the killer getting around the city without being seen?)

“Well, I should leave you to your work, and I have to see my client. Thanks for your input.”



“Will do.”

Talking to him again…

“Hey, I have a trick for treating that black eye.”



“Before going to bed, eat at least two oranges, and put a warm compress over the eye. Do that two or three days in a row. It should clear up pretty quick. Trust me, it works. I’ve gotten plenty of them from cheating husbands.”



And again…



“Oh OK, I’ll see you later then.”



Next screen over, and nothing of note. A bit up though, and bring on the whores!



Literally. Gustav has a thing for white knighting prostitutes.

“Hey look at you all dolled up. Hi sweetheart.”



“I didn’t call you a doll, I said that you were…never mind. I’m sorry.”



“Yes, I have. And I didn’t get much from the meeting.”



“Of course I will. Was there ever really any doubt?”





“No, I don’t want money Ida.”



“OK, listen; we’ll settle after this case. Alright?”



(What was I supposed to do? Take money off these women? That’s the last thing I wanted to do.)

“Yes, I promise. I will charge you at the end of the case.”

(Yeah, right!)

“What was her name?”



“The victim’s name.”



“Were you close to her?”



“Did she ever talk about a regular client or someone special?”



“Do you think Milena can answer a few questions?”



…is she deaf? She’s sitting right there.









And she apparently has a coke habit.



“OK, I’ll see you in a bit.”



Gustav has a seat. Meanwhile…



That conspicuous gorilla who has been hanging around at the top of the screen the entire time leaves. Hm…

“Hello, Milena. My name is Gus McPherson. I’m here to stop this from ever happening again.”



“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about Frantiska?”



“How long have you known Frantiska?”


here.

“Did she ever talk about someone new or special?”



“Did she ever have a client that had been violent with her?”



“How about you. Have you had any trouble with any of your clients?”



“Were you close to any of the other victims?”



“Did Anezka ever complain about any clients before she disappeared? Or did she ever talk about leaving?”



“Where can I find this Apolina?”


other company in the park. Maybe Apolina knows where Anezka is. I don’t know.

“Well thank you for answering my questions. It was a pleasure to meet you even under these unfortunate circumstances.”



“Trying? I haven’t even started yet. If I have any more questions, how may I contact you?”



“Again, thank you.”

And we’ll just talk to her again since we're a little detective.

“Sorry to bother you again, but just to make sure I have all these names down correctly. Anezka is the one that disappeared, and Apolina was her good friend. Frantiska, is the one we recently found. And your name is Milena. Am I right?”



“It’s just these names that all finish with the letter A. It gets confusing sometimes.”

Alright, enough messing around. Back upstairs, where Gustav gushes over Ida some more.


people who surround her. That’s why she hired me to try and help. She has an undying optimism about life in general. And I love her for it.

…well, judging by how Gustav didn’t like telling this story, I’m gonna guess someone fixed that ‘undying’ part. Just a guess.

“Hey.”



“She’s OK I guess, under the circumstances.”



“How have you been? I mean are you feeling better?”



“Did you go see the doctor?”



“Ida, go see him. It might be serious. I’m no doctor, but throwing up every day is not normal. Go see him.”



“Yes OK, but, go see him as soon as possible.”

“Tell me, where can I find Emile Korona?”



“He’s the coroner working the case. I need to ask him a few questions. Skalnic said he worked in an old chapel. Do you know where it is?”



“I don’t need a map…just tell me where it is.”

Shut up Gustav, we’ll never be able to navigate Prague without a minimap.





“OK, thanks sweetheart. OK, I have to see this Korona. I want you to stay off the streets as much as possible. Never walk around alone.”



“OK, I’ll ease up on you. You be careful.”



But we don’t listen very well, so let’s talk to her again.

“I really don’t like you hanging around here alone.”





Alrighty. Our escape from this area lies in yonder van.



Inside is Ida’s helpful map. Three locations, the place we are now, the Park, and the Old Chapel. No particular need to talk to the whores again just yet, so off to the Chapel we go.