Part 94: Blackwell Epiphany - Update 18 (Part 1)

Update 18

Yesterday, Rosa and Joey learned that Jim Peebles, the senior producer at the Channel 11 Newsroom, had enjoyed Heather's services back in the day. It's a safe bet that he wrote the note we found in Tanya's apartment claiming to "know about Heather." The question is, how do Heather and Tanya's stories meet up? Let's find out.

Channel 11 Newsroom



Rosa emerges from the elevator, and immediately bears down on Jim with an accusation.

Sorry?
I know who Heather is, and what she did for a living. I also know that you... procured her services. There was a note in Tanya's apartment that said "I know about Heather." It was signed "J."

Flustered with the sudden intrusion, Jim is unsure how to respond.

That could have been anybody.
Do you really expect me to believe that now?

Finally, Jim's facade cracks.

*sigh* No I don't.
Tell me about your involvement with Heather.



Looks like we're finally getting somewhere.

Working the late shift, sleeping during the day. Who has time for a social life? So yes. I found... other ways... to meet my needs. Heather was one of them. I'm not proud of it, but I make no excuses for it either.
You said it was twenty-five years ago. So you stopped seeing her?
She quit the business. I didn't know what happened to her, until she walked in that door.



Wait... seriously? Heather and Tanya are, what. The same person?

Tanya?
The name was different. The hair was different. The whole attitude was different... but I knew.
Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. Heather and Tanya are the same person?

That's a new one, for sure. Jim is surprised at Rosa's question.

You didn't know? Isn't that what all this is about?
She reinvented herself. Changed her looks. Got a gig as a weather girl. Worked her way up to this newsroom... Worked here for years and never knew who I was. Until I told her.
Until you blackmailed her, you mean.



I saw an opportunity and I took it. So I wrote her that note. I threatened to expose her past.

Jim is getting pretty worked up here.

I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect her to go home and... for that to happen! They said she fell in the shower because she was drunk. But she was only drunk because of me.
So what now?

Poor dude sounds depressed and guilty as can be here. I suppose that's probably only fair. Rosa has three choices. She can indicate she's going to tell the police:

I'm going to have to tell the police.
*sigh* I knew it would happen somehow or another. Do what you must.



If she goes down that route, Joey asks her if she intends to follow through once they've left.

I don't see the point.
Neither do I. It's not like he actually did anything, aside from make a few bad choices. Let's get going.

I don't know, Joey, blackmail is generally illegal as far as I'm aware. Rosa can instead say that she's not going to do anything.

Nothing. It wasn't your fault. Tanya was smart. She knew that if you exposed her, you'd only expose yourself. You wouldn't have gone through with it.
*sigh* Yeah. I had the feeling she'd call my bluff, but I was desperate.
When she died that night, it was for... other reasons.
Other reasons?
Reasons that I can't go into.
... I... I'm not sure I believe you, but thanks.

Rosa still seems to believe that Peter and Heather/Tanya's deaths were not an accident, even though we haven't actually seen any evidence of that outside of other members of the Grace Group being targeted. Outside, Joey has something to say.

From what I've seen of Tanya, I'm surprised she didn't eat Jim alive after he pulled his stunt.
Something got to her before she got the chance.
Huh. No doubt about that.

I don't know. To me, the simple explanation of Tanya taking a cocktail of alcohol and drugs to deal with the anxiety of having her life of prostitution exposed to the world, and then accidentally dying during the stupor seems a more realistic option. Maybe Rosa and Joey know something I don't know?

Finally, Rosa can just tell Jim that it's up to him what happens next.

It's completely up to you. I'm not going to do anything.
You're not?
I got what I came here for.

Outside, Joey gives her some stick.

Very profound, Red. Very profound. Ever think of getting into fortune cookies?
I'm only thinking of getting my coffee refilled.
That's my girl. Always planning ahead.

Heather Goffstein



Anyway, Rosa and Joey head back to Heather to see if they can get her sorted out. On the way, they try to figure out what happened in this case.

She killed off her past so thoroughly that it became its own ghost?
I suppose so.
I didn't know ghosts could do that.
What? You read the rule book? Because I sure haven't. If we've got a split spook on our hands, we've got to put 'em back together.

This is all a bit strange.



A schitzo ghost. I guess there's a first time for everything.

Actually, we already had a schizophrenic ghost in Convergence when Frank Lyons kept going all Joe Gould on us, but anyway. So Heather and Tanya are the same person. Yet, as far as I can tell, Heather's ghost is from a good twenty years ago. My interpretation is that Heather wanted so fervently to change her profession that she somehow killed off her past self, and assumed a new identity - Tanya Corsey. When Tanya died, the part of her old self that was still trapped inside of her became it's own ghost. That's confusing, but let's try to work with it.



Joey heads in to talk with Heather about it.

What do you mean?
You're Tanya Corsey. Or at least, you're gonna be.
You're making no sense. I'm me. I'm Heather. Maybe I'm not sure who that is yet, but I know it's me.

Of course, that's not going to work, is it? Heather's ghost is from the time before Tanya took over. We're going to need to talk to Tanya to get this sorted out, not Heather.

Tanya Corsey



Joey floats back up to the top of George's apartment and over to Tanya. This is probably going to get messy.

We've already covered this, haven't we?

Nothing for it but to just dive right in.

No. I mean who you really are. You're Heather Goffstein. Or at least, you were.
...
I told you. I don't know any Heather.
Tanya...

Tanya isn't listening, however. She's just getting angrier and angrier.



I think we might actually be getting somewhere here.

She doesn't exist anymore. She can't.
I'm sorry Tanya, but she does.
What do you want? Money? A promotion, like Jim?
No. I just want you to come with me. There's someone you need to meet.
...

Tanya stares forlornly at Joey.



She obviously thinks we're in the process of blackmailing her or something.

Fine. Lead on. But remember this - Peter didn't just teach me how to do pilates. Take me anywhere funny and you'll be looking at a broken nose.
I wouldn't dream of it.

Joey leads her outside to the balcony.

Why are we going out there?
Just trust me.
Trust you. That's rich.



Outside, Tanya casts an accusatory glare at Rosa.

Are you in league with this man?
Um. Kind of?
Two blackmailers instead of one. This is just great.

If Rosa was the person to meet Tanya first, she does actually recognise Rosa, but doesn't like her any more than she does here.



As they head out of the apartment building, Tanya remains feisty.

Just follow us, okay?
Can I at least call my car service?
I don't think that's possible.
What do you mean?
She means that they'd never come in this weather. It's better to walk. Come on.

Much like with Kendra earlier in the game, we're railroaded a bit here. If we try to take Tanya to the "wrong" place, she kicks up a shitfit. If we try to go home:

Why on earth are you taking me there?
You know what? I have no idea.
Make up your mind.

If we try to go to George's apartment:

You want to go BACK, all of a sudden?
Um. Not really, no.
Make up your mind, already.

The police station:

You want to blackmail me and you're taking me to a police station?
Er... right. Maybe we should go somewhere else.
You're not very good at this, are you?

Hahaha If we try to take her to Grace school, it's Joey that stops us.

I can't take her there yet. We need to make her aware first.

Let's get her to Heather's place. That's what we need to do here.

Where are we going?
It's just up this way.
Wait. I KNOW this building.

(continued next post...)