Part 46: Blackwell Deception - Update 5

Update 5

We rejoin Rosa and Joey as they trace the footsteps of Jeremy Sams, attempting to figure out what happened to him, and helping to piece his story together. He had a post-it note on his monitor about The High Line, which seems a good place to start!

The City Post



Rosa doesn't even need to leave The City Post to do some research. She just whips out her phone and looks it up. Sure enough, The High Line is an actual park in Manhattan, built on a decommissioned train line. It has just been opened to the public around the time Convergence came out, and Gilbert obviously liked it enough to include it in this game.



Rosa and Joey quickly duck back to the apartment to chat.

New parks going up. Old buildings going down. This city changes so fast it's hard to keep track.

Yes, yes, Joey. We get it, you're old. He's not done complaining about "kids these days" yet, though!

A park on old train tracks? This is what people make these days?
It's an elevated train line, Joey. I think the view's quite nice.
Maybe we'll visit it again when someone isn't dead.



Also before checking out The High Line, Rosa drops back in at Jeremy's place to let him know how things went at the City Post.

Really? I called her and told her to expect you. Strange! I'll give her another call after you leave.

Either he's confused, or his ghostphone only works when ringing us.

Does the "High Line" mean anything to you?
... Should it?
Maybe. There was a post-it note about the High Line on your desk.
On my desk? No. Impossible.
Never heard of it.

That... sounds ominous. It was obviously something important, given that the post-it note mentioned "This could be IT!" For Jeremy to be acting as though he's never heard of the place, right after he sent us to look in his office, is not a good sign.



Let's check this park out.

The High Line



Oh, wow. If that's what I think it is, it didn't us take long to finish following Jeremy's footsteps.

I really don't like the look of this, but I can't say I'm surprised. It looks like a murder scene. And I'm afraid I know whose.
Jeremy. I'm so sorry.

Mind you, we don't know for sure the outline is of Jeremy. But it seems to be a safe bet. Rosa and Joey look at each other.

Look at him, business as usual. Not that he shouldn't be, of course.
She looks a bit lost in thought. Guess I can't blame her.

The music here is mostly just atmosphere and didn't make it onto the Deception soundtrack, but I've recorded it and put it on Tindeck for you, since it is quite effective for what it is.



Thanks, historian Joey! Before we do anything else, of course, Joey has to check out the view.

Wouldn't it be a kick to fly off through the skyline? Being tied down to a host is such a drag, sometimes.

Clicking on the view while controlling Rosa has more morbid undertones, however.

Um, no. There's been enough death for one night.

I just wanted you to look at it, Rosa A man in a trenchcoat stands by the chalk outline, presumably a police officer of some description.

He looks pretty grim. I wonder what he's doing here?
He must be investigating whatever happened here. I just wish I knew why he looks so familiar.

Familiar? We'll get to that in a second. Perhaps he'll know whether the victim was Jeremy?



It's Detective. Detective Durkin. And you shouldn't be up here at this hour.

Wait a minute... Detective Durkin? As in Sam Durkin? This must be Mavis' son, who Lauren spoke to on the phone all the way back in Unbound. I guess he followed in his father's footsteps. Presumably Joey recognises him from when Lauren took custody of Rosa in the early 1980s.

Did something happen here?
No, I'm doing street art. Course something happened. You should run along home. You don't want the same thing to happen to you.
Someone died, didn't they?
Gee, what tipped you off? Believe me when I say you don't want to be involved.

Durkin is every "hardened, grizzled cop" stereotype rolled into one, complete with Brooklyn accent.

Could you tell me who it was?
Couldn't even if I wanted to. Because we don't know.
So it's a, whadayacallit, a John Doe?
Yeah, sure. Whatever.

I love it when Rosa tries to use grown-up detective phrases



Oh boy. This is bound to go well.

You do, huh?
His name was Jeremy Sams.

Durkin asks the obvious question.

And how do you know this?
I... just do?
You just do. Yeesh. What is it about parks that brings out all the crazies.

I don't think he's buying it, Rosa.



Let's try this again with more confidence this time!

You want to come look at the body. You know how crazy you sound?
I do?
You come out of nowhere and say you know a stiff by looking at an outline on pavement? Yeah, sounds crazy. Even if you could ID the guy, it wouldn't hold up.

Rosa is starting to get a bit frustrated here.

I'm offering information here! Why won't you take it?
You think you're the only crackpot with a theory? We have procedures. We'll release a photograph, and then get a proper ID. Now run along.
Right. I'll be back.
It's a free country.

Rosa and Joey decide to head home and think about things a bit.



Rosa really doesn't realise how crazy she sounds

Maybe you came on too strong. You're not exactly a people-person, are you?
Whatever.

Joey starts thinking out loud.

If we're right about Jeremy - and I'm sure we are - we have to prove it to that detective.
He won't let me see the body.
Why do you want to do that? There's gotta be a more pleasant way to show that you know him.

Time for a Joey Clue!!

So what's your advice?
A picture speaks a thousand words, so they say. Do you have a picture of Jeremy?
No, but maybe I can track one down somewhere.

I think I know where we can find one of those.

Jeremy and Rosa



Rosa and Joey head back to Jeremy's place, where Rosa does a bit more gentle prodding.

The... the what?
Somebody was killed at the High Line park. Very recently.
That's... interesting news.

Jeremy sounds like he's on the verge of breaking through, but just as quickly, he falls back into ignorance.

But hey, somebody else is going to have to cover it. I'm really sick, and I've already got a story to cover.

Rosa tries one more time...

Are you sure you've never been to the High Line? Not once?
No! Please stop asking about it!
Sorry. Just asking. Never mind.

...but Jeremy is starting to get hysterical. He's not ready yet.



Rosa asks for the photo of her and Jeremy.

Really? You want it?
If it's okay.
Sure. I've got copies somewhere. Go right ahead.
Thanks.

Wait... you do? Just how many copies are we talking, here?



Back to the High Line, Rosa presents Durkin with the photograph of Jeremy.

Lemme see that. That's him, all right. What did you say his name was?
Jeremy Sams.

Durkin recognises him from the photo... so the man murdered on the High Line was Jeremy. If the outline is still there, the theory about it being a recent death must be correct.

Jeremy Sams. And what's your relation to him?
We used to work together.
Hm. Do you know any of his family? Anyone we can notify or speak to?
I know he was a reporter for the City Post.
Right. I'll give them a call.

Hopefully that receptionist will be a bit more accommodating now.

And we're gonna have to follow up with you, too. You got a number?
Here's my card.

Oh geez, don't give him your glow-in-the-dark business card, Rosa.



Hahahaha

Anyway. Right. Goodnight. Don't stay up here too long. It ain't safe.

With that, Durkin leaves.



Joey seems a bit put out by Durkin's demeanour, but Rosa is too busy reflecting.



Dunno, Red. But if it helps the spook, we need to find out.

I guess the next step is to get Jeremy's notebook.

I wonder if Durkin called the City Post by now.
I'd guess yes. he seems like the type who doesn't waste any time. The lady at the City Post probably heard the news by now.
Yeah. Maybe now she'll believe me.

Rosa sounds kind of offended that the receptionist didn't believe her before, but honestly, what was she expecting to happen?



So many years and so many names, they all become a blur after a while.

Don't feel bad Joey, Durkin couldn't get his own name right on the letter he sent to Lauren!



It doesn't say as much in the dialogue, but when Durkin leaves, he gives us his number. So Rosa can display her total lack of social awareness by ringing him almost immediately after he leaves the screen

Hi. It's Rosangela Blackwell. Remember me?
Yeah. Whaddaya want?

Hahaha, "remember me?"

I was just checking in. Any word on Jeremy's murder?
Nothing yet. We're working on it. You got anything for us?
I don't have anything for you.
Hm. Good night.

I guess we'll call him if we find anything out.

The City Post



Returning to The City Post, Rosa hears the receptionist call out to her as she enters.

You were right. Jeremy is really dead. I just saw him two days ago! He was always... nice to me.
I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry. About before. I was a complete jerk.

Actually, I'd say she reacted pretty normally. Rosa probably could have found a less confronting way to bring up her colleague's death, or at least tried to assemble some evidence first.

Why didn't you say it was murder?
I wasn't sure at the time.
The police seem pretty sure.

So once again we find ourselves investigating a murder victim. In the past I would have immediately thought of The Countess, but she's long gone.

You said you were investigating his death?
Yes. I wanted to take a look at his desk.
Right. I'll buzz you in. The place is empty. I'm just here holding the phones. Take as much time as you need.



We'll try

I'll do my best. Could I ask you a few questions?
I'll do my best. What would you like to know?

Let's see if she has any useful information.

So how well did you know Jeremy?
He was... nice, I guess. Just one of the faces I saw every day. It's weird to think of him as gone.
Jeremy was killed on the High Line. Do you know why he might go there?
That's the new park on the west side? I have no idea why he'd go there.
Thanks again.
No problem. If I can do anything to help, just ask.

Unfortunately, she doesn't really know anything. Let's check out Jeremy's office.

Jeremy's Office



Never thought I'd get in this way.

Doesn't look like anyone else is working here at the moment, either.

You'd think a big newspaper like this would have reporters working around the clock.
They are. They probably just email their articles in these days.
Hm.



Rosa quickly searches through Jeremy's computer for anything useful, but doesn't find anything.



Let's look at what we came here to get. Rosa grabs the notebook.

Let's see if it was worth getting killed over.



So much for "really good notes", these are pretty damn vague. Rosa comments on each paragraph.

According to this, Jeremy interviewed a woman named Penelope Haines.
Looks like Jeremy tried to speak to someone named Penelope Haines over the phone.
"A definite connection..." Connection to what?
It says that Jeremy followed up with someone, and whoever it was tried to scam him.
Jeremy lost his phone somewhere. I wonder if anyone found it?

Penelope Haines, hey? We'll need to pay her a visit. Also, Jeremy lost his phone? Sounds like he definitely used a ghostphone to call us.



The press pass Joey saw before is here. We won't need to use it for a long time, but we may as well grab it now.

It seems to be expired, so I doubt anyone will miss it.

Of course, by the time we need it we'll almost certainly have forgotten that we even have it, but hey, that's what Adventure Games are all about!



Rosa decides to call Durkin. I could have done this back at the City Post but for whatever reason I decided to come back home first.

Did you find a cell phone with Jeremy's body?
A phone? No. I would have remembered that. We couldn't find one in his apartment either. Why do you ask?
No reason.

Smooooth.

Jeremy spoke to a Penelope Haines before he died.
From the old folks' home? Yeah, we know. We found her through his phone records. It's a dead end, if you ask me. The woman barely knows where she is.

An old folks' home, hey? We could probably dig her up with some clever Oogling, but it might be best to just see if Jeremy can remember.

I like the idea that Rosa is now working with a detective, sending clues his way and (hopefully) receiving some back in return. I get the impression that Durkin isn't quite as keen on the idea, though

Jeremy and Rosa



Rosa and Joey head back, once again, to Jeremy's place, with his notebook in hand. Hopefully it will help to clear things up a bit, or perhaps even prompt him to recognise his death.

You are a rock star.
Here you go. Take it.

Rosa is still gently prodding Jeremy to recognise his own death here. Of course, she knows he can't take the notebook, and subconsciously, he knows it as well.

... Right. On second thought, could you read it out to me? This... flu is making me a bit fuzzy. I'm having trouble focusing my eyes.
Are you sure?
Yes. Please.
Sure, Jeremy.
Thank you.

You can see Rosa is trying to be as gentle as she can with Jeremy, but sooner or later she's going to have to push him a bit harder.



Before we read it out, let's get a little bit more familiar with Jeremy.

A little after you. Most of us did.
Really?
Our boss was a slimeball. When you left, we all followed your example.
I had no idea.

It's surprising that Rosa made such an impact on her colleagues, especially given she was "just" a book review writer. Jeremy's right, though, her boss really was a slimeball.

So. The City Post. That's pretty impressive.
It's grueling work, but it's been nice. Everyone's saying that print newspapers are dying, but there's something legit about being in print.

Rosa seems to be putting off reading out the notebook...

So. Did you... I mean, do you still talk to anyone from the old paper?
Not really. I was just happy to get away from the place. How about you?
No. I never even talked to anyone when I was there.
You spoke to me. Sometimes.
I... guess I must have.

She definitely made an impression on him, alright.

So... what else have you been up to?
Oh, you know. Nothing much. Just this darn flu. I just hope you don't catch it.
I... wouldn't worry about that.

If Rosa was allergic to ghosts, we'd have found out long before now.



Looks like I never will now.

Finally, Rosa runs out of conversation starters. Time to get into this.

You wrote about someone named Penelope Haines.
Penelope Haines, yeah. She's an interesting case. She's a victim, but doesn't believe she's a victim at all. She embraces it. I wish it was uncommon, but unfortunately it's not.

Jeremy is rambling on here, but he's not making much sense.

What do you mean?
... God, my head. It's like thinking through a straw. Penelope. She's the weak link. She's a talker.
Most people don't like to talk about this kind of thing, but she does.

Whoever Penelope is, something involving her is definitely bothering Jeremy.

Talk about what?
It's... hard to explain.

Joey is starting to get frustrated at how long it is taking Jeremy to get to the point.

Why don't you try us?



But Jeremy reacts quite violently. He really isn't ready to face up to whatever is bothering him.

I'm just... really sick, okay? I can't think straight.
Of course. You're sick. I understand.
Thank you.
But I do need more to go on.
Speak to Penelope. She lives up on Park Avenue. She's a bit old, so be patient with her. Penelope knows something. Try and get her to talk. If I remember right, she likes to talk.

I guess that's a lead. Last of all, Rosa tries talking to Jeremy about his missing phone.



Did I?
Yes, you did.
If I did, I must have found it. I've got it right here. See?

Sure enough, Jeremy pulls out his ghostphone. Despite being so lucid, Jeremy is clearly still mired deep in denial. This is going to take some time.



Join me tomorrow as follow up with Penelope and try to figure out what she spoke with Jeremy about!