A long overdue log.... [Closed to Allen Ridgeley]

[tvknpc]

The Prospero police station is fairly sparsely populated even during the day, the town being fairly peaceful, or, at least it was until the appearance of the outside forces that have turned every midnight hour into a private war.   Even so, the officers are fairly efficient, taking reports, answering calls, testifying in court as the need arises.

Allen, having presumably called ahead for an appointment, is ushered into the office of the police chief, one Kei Nishimura.   The office is spare to the point of being somewhat spartan, and he is in uniform.  He gives Allen a friendly smile, and says,  "This is somewhat unusual, but I have some time today.  What can I do for you?"

Comments

[want_a_vacation]

Allen returns the smile, looking a little sheepish. The expression isn't entirely faked, either. While he was comfortable and in his element organizing and planning various aspects of the investigation, this was something he was nervous about. But it had to be done, and it had to be done by someone he knew would pay attention to details.

"I'm sure it is a little odd. But with all the business with the church, I've been a little worried about some rumors I've been hearing, and I wanted to find out from someone involved if they were true."

There. He hadn't actually lied, just omitted some details about why he was worried.

[tvknpc]

Kei raises an eyebrow at Allen, and says, "Well, why don't you ask the church about that? I understand they are a proselytizing religion after all, and as long as they aren't breaking any laws, the police department really has nothing to do with them."

[want_a_vacation]

"It's not rumors about the church I'm worried about."

He clears his throat, then continues. "I've actually been hearing a lot of rumors about you and the mayor not getting along, and I was wondering if there's anything to them. With him being so tight lipped about what his father's doing, it makes me a little nervous to think that the chief of police might have a reason to have a problem with him that the citizens here don't know about."

[tvknpc]

The temperature in the room almost seems to lower for a moment, as Chief Nishimura's previously polite attitude seems to disappear, and he fixes Allen with a direct look.

"The relations of Prospero PD and the Mayor's office are as cordial as can be. I'm not sure what you're talking about."

[want_a_vacation]

Allen could tell from the shift in the mood that Nishimura was lying to him. He wasn't sure if it was an outright lie or a technicality from not mentioning anything about the specific people involved, but the fact remained that he was hiding something. Calling him on it would be easy, but he knew that getting too pushy was likely to just get him thrown out, so he'd have to keep his mouth shut on how obvious it was.

"Ah, like I said, it's just a rumor. I've been hearing it lots of places lately. You don't think someone's spreading it on purpose do you?"

[tvknpc]

"That's entirely possible, but at long as nobody is doing anything illegal, we can't investigate it, really."

There's a pause. Almost like an opening there.

[want_a_vacation]

He wasn't about to let it pass him by.

"I've been losing contact with people every now and then, like they've dropped off the face of the planet. Even their cell phones have been disconnected. I haven't exactly been close friends with any of them, so I suppose it's possible that they've left the island and didn't tell me they were moving, but it's a bit of a coincidence that their phones went inactive at the same time as they left. It might be related to whoever's trying to slander the police and mayor's office."

[tvknpc]

"Have you filed a missing person report for them? That is what we'd need to start any kind of investigation."

[want_a_vacation]

"Like I said, I don't know any of them very well, so foul play didn't occur until I really thought about it just now."

He folded his hands thoughtfully in front of him.

"But I don't even know any of their last names."

[tvknpc]

"My advice would be to find someone who was close with them, and get the details. ONce you do that the police department would be free to investigate.

Wherever the trail happened to lead us."

Nishimura puts some emphasis on the last part, as he ponitedly looks out of the window.

[want_a_vacation]

Allen gives a grateful smile and nods.

"I'll do that. And I'll let you know if something happens to anyone else I know."