Chapter 2:
Shadows cast their long way across the floors and walls of the ACME Detective Agency. At least the one based central to the whole operation. Jocelyn and Patrick's apartment home for the last nearly three decades. The detective agency wasn't an official business but those that worked for it treated it that way. The non-central offices for ACME didn't have permanent stations. Those offices were nothing more than employee self designated work spaces that moved with where they could work from best. A rented office space, an apartment, a home, bar, church, once word had even hit the pair of co-worker friends. That another detective working under them had for a while been using a horse stable.
With a flick of the light switch by the entrance, the long shadows ceased to be in an instant. Chester had turned on the living room's center placed domed light, protruding from the room's ceiling. This was the first time he even had to make use of the key he'd been given to the place. At seeing the room light up, he felt happy this evening so far was turning out in his favor. He just hoped it would stay that way.
Ever since he had formally quit working for PBS, his life had taken interesting turns. Mostly all financial related. ACME had so far been good to him but as far as the agency getting cases that paid his bills. That had forced him out of the apartment he'd been living in for years to then have him favoring a different apartment with a monthly lower rent rate to it. It was smaller and strangely enough in a better neighborhood. The neighborhood at least seemed that way on paper and with passing observation before he'd signed his rental agreement documents to the place. When he moved in it didn't take long to discover why the place had been made available minus it's smaller floor plan. The neighbors above and below him. All of them felt to him like the sort he'd normally be paid to investigate with what he could loudly hear going on with their daily and nightly activities. He'd tried to file a police report once only to have it backfire on to him from the landlord.
"A happy place is a place all mind their own. Otherwise they aren't welcome." Had been what the landlord had told Chester after word had hit the man about the visitation the tenant had prompted from the blue authorities.
When he had received the phone call from a booth on corner of where Mason Ave. and Bedford Ave, met before Midland Field, from Jocelyn. When she had told him business had come up which forced both herself and Patrick away on a trip. That in that matter at least temporarily. Their home would have a guest living in it for a short while before he could make his way back to Missouri. She told him she wanted at least one person living in her home, with the agency, she actually knew. Meaning in request he be that person.
Chester was sure her picking him for this had to do with what she had heard him mention of life back at his apartment. What mystified him about the request, why would she ever in the first place have someone living in her home she didn't completely trust. Her answer had been mentioning the name of a detective he'd never met before but had heard of, a mister Benjamin. That this person knew him. Also she felt better leaving the place in the care of someone she knew for peace of mind. Lastly a long time ago and this was a point she seemingly wanted to press in on him. Patrick had shown similar kindness to her once. That helping a stranger in need while a reward in it's self on the act. Might lead to friendship later on and ACME needed all the friends it could get.
She had also said there was another matter which needed discussion back at her home slash office. Something about bad press, untrue press might happen and good press wanted to help them. Chester wasn't sure at all what that meant but he was sure when she, Patrick and who ever else finally made it to where he was. Coffee was likely needed to help figure things out.
Having made his way into the kitchen of the place while he'd been thinking about what could be happening and what might he soon expect of that. That's when the phone started ringing. The young detective wasn't sure about answering the phone. After all it wasn't his, but he was one of ACME's employees, this was what acted as it's headquarters. He was also expected he assumed to carry out the agency's work while it's lead bosses were gone. Answering the phone, well no one could get on his case for that if he was truly right about his case here.
Picking up the handset to the phone in the office, positioned not far from the kitchen. He answered it, "hello?"
"Do they need extra help? This guest, am I right on the hunch he was on board the Edgewood? P & J were going there to get mister Benjamin." It was Cheri questioning and stating comments on the other end of the line.
"I don't know yet and yes, that's my thought too. One of the other returning soldiers. My guess is this is all a sudden surprise to them." Chester was considering sitting down as he'd started replying to his friend and like how who they referred to as P & J, shortened for Patrick and Jocelyn. He was also a co-worker to Cheri.
Cheri had left the PBS detective agency at about the same time as he had. Although she'd had an easier time adjusting to the income difference. Because she had never officially earned as much as him working for PBS. Also because what helped her budget was being an investigator off the clock helping him on cases. That extra work not always being constant. She'd taken to keeping a habit she'd invested in during the Depression. The noble chipmunk philosophy she called it. Of get a nut. Wait and see if another nut was coming. If no nut was coming, slowly eat the one in your possession. But if you had that one nut and then you got hold of another and another. Pile them up but eat just one at a time because you never knew when the tree was going to come down that gave you all those nuts to begin with. Cheri had kept the same place she had started living in while working for PBS.
When he had received the phone call earlier that requested he come to where he was to keep an eye on things. He'd called her just before leaving his place. They had been planing an evening dinning out together on street gourmet from vendors in the more touristy area of town and if they were lucky. The evening playing their cards right with other friends, they'd be able to catch a Broadway show at a fraction of it's normal cost.
"I'm not sure if I should be jealous or not of their plans to head off to Europe because of Benjamin." He added after finally deciding he needed to stay un-relaxed for the moment of not sitting down. Coffee after all still needed to be made for the true residences of the place and their added company he'd never met before. Chester didn't want to cut off talking to Cheri, but he did feel the need to get back to why he was in the office to begin with. She continued the conversation. A matter he should have foreseen. He was to blame for her understandable curiosity in this.
"Why on earth would they want to go to Europe right now? No wait Benjamin."
She had a real point about travel to Europe given the amount of military destruction the continent had been bombarded with in the last few years. The fact that it was now at peace didn't make it any else an undesirable picnic spot. Places had to rebuilt over there but Cheri was likely right again, as to Benjamin. Neither of them had ever met the man. They only knew of him from first hand accounts from those who'd met him stateside. Fellow co-workers for ACME that he'd worked along side with before he had enlisted into the army.
He couldn't wait for more answers to come about what was taking place with his higher-ups, unknowns, and a co-worker he'd never met before. Not wanting to set aside any mystery was part of why he got into the work he did and why it drove him so. Knowing he had to get on top of what he knew courtesy dictated when his higher-ups returned to their home slash central workspace. Wishing the phone's connection to the wall wasn't hidden from sight. Chester grabbed up the phone's base to tug it a little, checking how taut it's line was. The answer the pull gave made his heart leap into his throat with panic. It disconnected the line. By mistake he'd hung up on her!
Setting the phone's base back down to where it had been. Putting it's handset back in place. Reconnecting it's line. All of that took place as fast as he could do the actions. The act of dialing Cheri's number, to reach back to her only had second thoughts as it was taking place. He was about to create a phone bill for his bosses. Deciding if that was ok or not happened after the fact. He just hoped P & J would be understanding about his reasoning. When she answered the call he'd made to her, their previous line of conversation was then dropped. Her words to him in the easy realization without question the incoming call had to be from him, was, "why did you hang up on me?"
"My fault, my bad. I wanted to find out how far the line went." Was the first thing he could think to say in reply. Although as he'd ended those words to her, he could hear sounds elsewhere from the owned apartment. A door being opened and footsteps of multiple people entering. Higher-ups and the guest. They were here now. He wasn't sure what to do about the nice big boulder that had placed it's self before him and the hard spot he was in. All he could think to do at that moment was answer Cheri further and hope she too had understanding over his action. "A case, I'm sure a case! If at least a suspected one! Highly suspected one! Maybe worse lets hope not! They're here now!"
Holding the handset closer to his left ear, pushing it against his head. He felt impatient for the likely just a few seconds it took for Cheri to come to word her response to him. "Chester, whatever you do tonight, avoid anymore caffeine in your diet ok?"
Relaxing his positioning with the handset against him. Hearing near by from Jocelyn, "Chester, where are you?"
He answered Cheri back with, "I promise I will try to avoid drinking caffeine. But they're here now I think. I just heard Jocelyn. Cheri, I think I need to go now."
Barely a pause happened after Chester had indicated he this time and intentionally, needed to end the conversation. Cheri knew with the new company on his end, attention to that was needed else where. Sounding stern with a touch of concern in her voice, she replied. "Once things settle over there, call me and tell me everything. Bye for now."
"I will, bye." He said before hanging up the phone.
In the living room which to the space being used for business purposes, was used when dealing with ACME's clientele. Currently it was having an uncommon moment of purpose. Jocelyn may have been the first to speak up when entering the area but not the first to enter it. That was bestowed to Bernard, an act she felt right because of all he'd been through. Also things he hadn't spoken of yet she had strong suspicion of by his behavior. Something was up about Benjamin having not been on board the Edgewood with him. She hoped not that the man had died. She knew Patrick had to be sharing the same sentiment as herself about that hunch. Also that they knew without a doubt even upon the coming investigation to if Benjamin had died or not. VILE was up to something over where their lost detective was. Sinister she guessed. The organization's practices of business were never clean, always illegal in some respect.
What Jocelyn wasn't sure on was the young lady of her current company. Sadie had the clear hallmarks about her personality that spoke of paranoid guilty conscience. Further still, what she'd seen on the woman's dark red colored dress. As they were making their way pass Prospect Park towards 600th Clarkson Ave, where they were now. A sign something was being concealed in one of the woman's pockets. It showed as a slight bulge in the spot but what made that intriguing. In silence that curious matter was passed in eyes between herself and partner. Patrick knew too Sadie had recently wiped off fresh blood near the bulging pocket. This lady, both Jocelyn and Patrick felt sure she must think they suspected nothing was up on that front.
A different guest in the living room, having entered the place from the short hallway nearby, connected to the office of the home. Chester coming into view of the party hadn't taken too long from the soft shout the old lady had directed at him. He looked at the group, but mostly towards those he didn't know. He too spoke in silence to the other ACME detectives in the room. His quiet commenting, both his bosses noted wasn't over the blood near Sadie's bulging pocket. It was over simple curiosity for want of better understanding as to who these strangers were.
Patrick took the initiative for at least one introduction, the one that mattered most. At least to the concerned younger detective. Bernard getting guided over to the abode's temporary caretaker happened with sudden forced movement. The old man's left hand square center to his back, flat palmed pushing him forward gently, as the man walked along side him.
"Bernard Powl meet Chester Bumpass, he'll be your host while you're staying here. Patrick said cordially, while waving with his right hand to the still feeling puzzled Chester.
The information given over the phone hadn't been much. All Chester knew about the kid now besides his name which he'd just been informed of. Was that he'd known Benjamin. His connection on United States soil had not been given enough time to prepare for his return. Such as making travel arrangements to greet him once the military ship he'd been traveling on, docked at port. Also that he'd said something about Benjamin that had caused such alarm to the senior employees present for ACME. That with likely less notice Powl had gotten the war was over and the ship he was on wouldn't be docking at Kristiansand in Norway. They would soon instead be heading out of European waters.
In nervous habit Chester then fidgeted with the frame of his glasses by one ear. Wanting a load of information about what was going on. It had to start somewhere beyond his introduction to the solider he'd soon be helping out. Certain things, he was sure he could figure out on his own. The only example his deductive reasoning could currently give him of that was how Powl had handled his active service time overseas. The man couldn't have been put through the ringer as much as the other soldiers who had just served in the war now over. He had to be what? He couldn't have been 18 years old. The kid looked to have at least a little of wear to his demeanor that spoke of military lifestyle acceptance. Maybe 19 or 20 years old, certainly no older than 22.
Returning his thought to ask at least one question for now. What he'd a moment ago, halted on. Directing his focus towards Patrick, the former PBS employee asked, "where in Europe are you and Jocelyn going?"
Motioning politely to Bernard, he wanted to speak alone to Chester. Patrick took their being alone one step further ushering the younger detective into the hallway where it acted as a stone's throw between the kitchen and office room. The old man glancing towards the living room, noting where Sadie was in it or rather not. She wasn't in his line of sight peering into the room south of them. He then in a low voice said. "France, Chester something is going on with VILE. Benjamin might be dead. He was investigating whatever was happening when he disappeared. That young lady in the next room, Sadie. The way she acted when we came to the Edgewood to pick up Benjamin. It basically screamed her sister and likely herself are involved in criminal matters. Jocelyn and I intend to keep an eye on her while we're gone."
Taken a back a little by the shockwave of information he'd just received. Chester quickly absorbed it and while grateful he'd been given the answer he was hoping for and more. What Patrick had just told him raised more questions in his mind about what was going on. On top of another question he'd yet to ask about. Making sure to keep a low voice himself, Chester asked. "You believe Sadie and her sister work for VILE? Also if that's the case I have to ask why I guess take her to France with you? Gathering proof she's on the wrong side? Any of us could easily get her prints right now and have the police check them if she has a record."
"She acted or at least came across like she wasn't aware VILE was an organization when she sang out her sister's innocence at the dock where we met her. She either is working for VILE and is a B grade actress in hiding that fact. She and her sister work independently in criminal matters. Or they work for some other organization or mob, equally loathsome." The senior ACME detective replied, continuing to speak in a low voice.
Wanting to see this suspected criminal again. Without moving a foot from where he was standing. Chester swayed himself to try and see better around Patrick towards the living room. The young lady was still out of view from his standpoint. Returning his focus back to his boss and remembering to keep voice soft, he then asked again. "Why take her with you?"
"She's insisting she discover what fate might have befallen her sister for not greeted her off the Edgewood. Also she seems bent on finding out what has become of her family's heirloom. She wants to get it out of where ever the sister has it. Wants to get it safely stored with the family she has here in the states. That she told us not long after rejoining us as we departed the dock. Chester, yes prints would be a good idea to get off this woman. I'll try and I want you to try and get that done too. I think and I'm sure Jocelyn thinks the same. The blood on her dress has to be from the idiot Zebra reporter that was bothering us." Patrick replied to him moving from soft spoken to almost a whisper by the time he'd ended his words.
Questions still were mounting in his mind about what was taking place. The most unique one was what he then spoke next, forgetting at that moment to keep to low volume. Coming out instead at a normal tone, Chester simply asked, "zebra reporter?"
Zebra reporter, yes the younger detective had reason to be wondering about such a description being used on a person. Perhaps lacking understanding of context played a big role in that. Patrick wondered himself what Chester knew already. It was Jocelyn who'd placed the call to him from the phone booth. He just had not heard what she told him besides the employee had been informed they needed a favor done for them. That had come from Jocelyn right after she'd hung up the phone and stepped out of the booth. Nothing more about the conversation was said after that.
"Zebra Ink reporter. One of them was being a royal pain to us back at the dock," Patrick then cleared up in a low voice.
"I have other questions, Patrick. Bad press, I guess by that Jocelyn meant the Zebra Ink reporter. But good press? And about Sadie, you're just going to roll with her doing whatever it is she plans on? You're going to help her?" Chester asked, returning his voice to being at a lower volume.
"A different reporter, one that has volunteered. He in a sense appointed himself to giving us a better name if the tabloid reporter decides to make good on being an a-hole to us. I think he was only talk to being a white knight to us at first, no real depth to his words. I talked him into following through on those words. Jocelyn and I are paying for him tagging along on this trip too. As far as Sadie goes, if there is any truth to her words, we're doing her a massive favor in letting her tag along as well. She really wants to get in touch with her sister and that heirloom. If she is a low life as we strongly suspect she is. Well, it's a good thing Joce and I have made some establishment of ACME overseas in that area. With luck we might be able to contact them and them in turn will get the local PD on her." Patrick answered in the same tone of voice he'd last used.
Leaving being by the senior detective, Chester went into the kitchen and grabbed a series of five similar mugs from a cabinet drawer, right side under to the room's sink. As he did the next act of pouring water into the reservoir of Patrick's coffee maker. The older man asked him, "you think we all need coffee?"
"I had a feeling before you guys got here it was needed. That and it should prove an easily way to get Sadie's prints, don't you think?" Chester replied, with his voice speaking in a normal sounding tone.
Joining him in the kitchen, Patrick grabbed and then opened up a large tin. It had been sitting out of place since a day before on the table of the room. The reminder tin or mind sharpener tin it was called back and forth in usage. Placed on the table it was used to point out notes left half beneath it, their words meant to be seen, poking out. It was in fact a coffee grounds tin reused over and over. Interesting unintentional favors sometimes came out of it because of that re-usage.
Why it had been placed on the table the day before was it had earlier that day, had a note half poking out from under it. The note's statement was simple, it was a reminder to start heading over to the dock on Staten Island a good forty-five minutes before the USAT Edgewood was due to dock in port. After the tin had been opened up, Patrick rose it up to his nose for a sniff. The interesting act not missing Chester's attention, who'd just grabbed what he assumed was the normal scoop used in the tin. The older detective explained in normal tone, his curious action to the other man as he offered outwards the tin to him to scoop out it's grounds from.
"It smells like Colombian but there could be a dash of Brazilian in there. I refilled it a few days back. Things tend to blend. Also you're right but make sure you keep track of which of those is hers. Those mugs look all nearly the same. We aren't trying for a shell game here."
