Part 11: Chapter 3-2

And after all of that, we’re dumped right back where we started, plus a sore neck for Vickie. Let’s go back and talk to Claire.

“Hey…”



“Yeah, I’m OK. I ran after him…the son of a bitch got away.”



“Hey, about…”

No Vickie, this is an awful time to seg into talking about Claire’s daughter.



No kidding.

“Are you sure? Hey, Browning can wait.”



“So what happened on your end?”

Yeah Claire, did you just happen to be in the bathroom when the guy in a top hat and a 14th century doctor’s mask took the elevator down here, chopped up Jack’s corpse, strolled into the security room, waited until Vickie turned her back and then left, making the entire department look even worse than they did already?



That’s not what I was asking, Claire.

“Where was it?”



“Do the others know?”



“I can imagine…OK, going upstairs to deal with Todd.”



And that’s about all that can be done down here for the moment. Back upstairs to chat with Obstructive Police Chief Browning.



But first more elevators.

As soon as we reach our floor, Vickie’s phone rings.

“Hello?”



“Oh, hi, Richard.”

Richard being Vickie’s nigh unseen boyfriend, last making an appearance in the opening cutscene.



“Oh yes, I’m fine, sorry about that, it’s just we found another victim and some really weird stuff is going on.”



“I’m very tired and in dire need of unwinding like…we did two nights ago.”



I have some vodka and Roofies and…oops.

“Very tempting, but I have to decline.”



“Well, I have to go get yelled at by my boss. Anyways, why are you so excited about this exhibit? I’ve never seen you so into your work.”


Anyway we got enough to make an exhibit…

“Richard, I’m sorry, I really have to go.”

Yes, yes, mysterious stranger turns up in town who happens to be an artist, whatever Dick, we have work to do!



“Yes I do…I’ll talk to you soon.”



“I will, bye.”



And we abandon Richard to his home of Off-Panelia. Back to see Miller.



But as soon as we enter, Obstructive Police Chief Todd enters and punches the door frame.







Look, I know you’re angry, but you don’t have to raise the roof at me.



And Browning stomps off to his office.



“Don’t sweat it Miller, I’ll cover you. Anyways you have the report to finish. I’ll even get his damn coffee.”



Shut up Miller.

“Miller, don’t make this any harder than it already is…”



“Can you give me a preview?”



“You didn’t tell…”



“OK, I’ll see you after.”



And Vickie won’t go see Todd until we waste a minute with that coffee. Sigh.







…but we have no cups.



The answer is here in the interrogation room of all places.



No Licker through the window, just Todd’s mug on the table here.



Thanks, game, for wasting my infinite amount of time.



Anyway, now Vickie will go in to see Browning.

“Here’s your coffee.”



And Vickie rips out Browning’s heart. All told, he’s very polite about it.

“In what new way have I pissed you off this time?”



Well, I’m trying, but you keep reminding me.

“No I haven’t…”



“The perp entered, I assume through the garage…”



“I pursued the perp with the 4x4 into the alleyway. He climbed up a fire escape to the rooftop. When I got up there, he gave me a surprise blow to the shoulder with a two by four. He got away through the other fire escape.”



“Yes. One.”



“Besides what the next victim looks like…no not really.”



“Is that it cause I’d like to get back to work now.”



“What? Why!?”



“I’m losing it now? I think you’re just pissed because we look like shmucks on the news…it’s all about image isn’t it?”



Great idea. The case isn’t progressing, so put one of the three people working on it on probation. With one of those remaining being Miller.

“This is bullshit.”



“You know Browning; I usually get kissed before I get fucked.”



And Vickie stomps on out. Well, that was the opposite of productive.



“Not really. (Sigh) I’m on probation and he’ll probably take over the case.”



“(Sigh) It’s OK…been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.”



“We think the killer broke into the morgue and left us a picture of the next victim.”



“I kid you not. A bold SOB, I’ll give him that. You should go down and take a look at the picture. Claire needs to do a few tests on it and send it off to the labs.”



“Sure it is…”



“What’s this big lead you were telling me about?”



“Try me.”



“How did you get the name Vaclav Kolar?”


sure of it.

“Any relationship between the 4th and 5th victim?”



“Definitely. I’ll go alone. He’s seen you before, so it might make things go smoother. Make him less nervous.”

“OK, and I’ll give Kolar a visit.”



“Good idea.”



So we’re off to interview Yakov Smirnoff. But before we go, there is a new bundle of files on Vickie’s desk. These are the pictures we took back at Jack’s murder scene.















And to the campus we travel, to chat with our only real lead.