The Offices of Thalia Trimble, Private Eye - vol 1

"Why yes, of course. Name the time and place," she says without a moment's hesitation. As soon as you give a name and time, she thanks you and hangs up the phone without seeking any additional details. The woman sounded remarkably stoic given the reason you were calling her. How do you want to handle the meet up?

"Great! How about the Zimbabwe at seven o'clock?"

The arrangements made, Thalia hangs up and thinks, taking another long drink of her Coke. Finally, she picks up the receiver, pumps in some more change, and dials her friend Cynthia Belmont.

"Cyn, I'm on a case and I need a favor."

At six-thirty, Thalia pulls behind a Volkswagen Beetle parked across the street from the Zimbabwe, a trendy bar with an African theme, if you aren't too picky about cultural accuracy. She waves at the woman sitting in the Beetle, who returns the wave with a cutesy wiggling of fingers while looking in the rearview mirror. A professional photographer, Cynthia sometimes lends her talents to her best friend when Thalia has a need for photographic backup. Something about the unquestioning ease with which Kate Lawson had agreed to this meeting suggested trouble. Whatever happens, Cynthia will capture it on film.

Thalia gets out of her car, carrying a large bag that contains a .38 revolver - so far, never fired, other than on a range - a couple of scarves, a ball cap, and her glasses, among the other things one expects to find in a woman's purse. She doesn't look back at the Beetle as she crosses the street and enters the Zimbabwe.

The hostess shows you to your seat and you wait. Unlike Emilia Howard, this appointment is right on time. A perfectly polished luxury sedan with darkly tented windows pulls into the Zimbabwe parking lot at five of. A large man in a suit gets out of the passenger seat, but the driver and who you presume to be Kate Lawson stay in the car. You see a brief flare of light glinting off Cynthia's camera lens as she takes photos of the vehicle, but it is gone before anyone else could have noticed it.

The man in the suit gets pointed in your direction by the hostess. He walks toward you with perfect posture and a gait that is almost robotic. "Ms. Trimble. Please follow me. I believe you have much to discuss with my employer."

Well, it's not like I wasn't expecting something like this, Thalia thinks. She gives no outward sign of discomfiture to the goon (she supposes he's a bodyguard, but that's just "goon" by a more dignified name) and follows him out to the car. She doesn't look at Cynthia's car, but she doesn't have to look to know that she's taking more photos as she and the goon leave the bar and cross to the parking lot.

The well dressed goon opens the door and ushers you inside where Kate Lawson is waiting. She does not smile or even acknowledge your presence. She does at least slide the pencil she was using into her appointment book and places it on the seat next to her.

"Thank you for joining me Ms. Trimble. And for not putting up a fight in regards to the change is venue." She raises one finger to the air and twirls in around in a 'let's go' motion. The driver receives the cue and pulls the car into traffic. From your vantage point there is no way to get a look at whether or not Cynthia pulled out to follow without giving it away that you are looking for something.

"I hope you will understand my need to discuss this sensitive matter away from prying eyes and ears. There are many who have already tried to leverage what my brother did against me. I don't need his name popping up in the papers again in a negative way. It could derail my whole career."

"I wasn't married to Zanzibar," Thalia says. "But you could have simply told me to meet you at a place you found more discreet. And just to be clear, this is not a shakedown. I'm legitimately looking into the case."

She eyes Lawson and adds, "I gather, from what you just said, that you believe your brother's conviction was righteous? That he was guilty?"

Your first comments bring a smirk to Kate's face. "And risk the location being leaked, or you being followed? I think not. This is more secure." She gives you a nasty look when you ask if Andrew is guilty of the crime. "Of course not. My poor stupid brother could never murder anyone. He felt bad about slaying monsters while playing Dungeons and Dragons as a kid." You pick up no indication that she is lying or trying to mislead you. If anything, you get the impression that Kate is the type to always be brutally honest, even when she shouldn't be.

"Being the sister of a murderer is bad for anyone's reputation but it isn't the main problem in my case. People have used my brother's failures against me. They try to spread the idea that my family cannot be trusted to keep our inventions both safe and secret. Andrew's trusting nature is what did him in. He should have never gone public until his creation was perfected. Instead that dolt told anyone that would listen about what he was building and even let them use the things completely unsupervised. I don't know what he was thinking."

Thalia takes all that in and thinks for a moment.

"Okay, but if you knew he was incapable of those murders, and that his conviction would negatively impact your career, why didn't you hire him a slick defense attorney, give him a fighting chance to beat the rap? I've met his public defender. She seems earnest and a straight-shooter, but she was drowning in cases. She couldn't possibly have provided the kind of defense a sensational case like Andrew's required."

"I weighed my options and deemed it would be less damaging to have Andrew take the fall. He was already tried in the court of public opinion and having him in the spotlight for months on end during a trial would be bad for everyone. The quicker this whole thing blew over, the quicker people would forget about it and my enemies would no longer be able to use my brother against me as political ammunition. Judge me all you want, Ms. Trimble, but Andrew made his mistakes and is now paying the price for his reckless behavior. Whether or not he did the crime he was convicted of in inconsequential."

Pretty consequential to him, Thalia thinks.

"I don't judge, Ms. Lawson. You looked out for your own interests over those of your brother. That's your right, and your business, no question. But think about it - wouldn't it benefit your reputation if your brother's name was cleared? I think the cops did a lazy jab that barely counted as a criminal investigation. They didn't follow leads that I can already see and I've only had the case for a few hours."

She pauses just long enough for Lawson to take a breath to respond and continues. "But investigations entail expenses. If you'll agree to fund the investigation on your brother's behalf, I'll keep your involvement entirely confidential. I'll get to the bottom of what happened, and I believe I will be able to prove that he didn't kill that family. My rates are reasonable; I'm not angling to gouge you. If you refuse, I can do it pro bono. Funding will just make things easier and faster."

In regards to your first comment, Kate adds "The police force in this town has never been properly trained to deal with the particularities of life in San Espero. It has only gotten worse since a former cape was elected mayor."

Kate Lawson nods along as you speak and appears happy with everything you have to say. As much as someone like her ever shows any positive emotion. "I am glad that we are on the same page, Ms. Trimble. Whatever funding you need, you will have it as long as things stay quiet. Keeping this out of the papers is of an utmost concern. The very second I hear my family name being mentioned by the public, I will pull the plug and make sure your firm is inundated with so many frivolous lawsuits that your family will be debt until the name is stricken from the earth.

"Anything you find comes to me before anyone else hears it. Nothing written. Verbal communication in the manner that we spoke today. If we need to talk, contact me by the same number you previously called. Never call my office. Never contact or speak with anyone at Lloyd Laboratories for any reason. If you are approached during the course of your investigation we will be unable to deny that you are working for me, but only ever imply that you are looking into matters related to a contract dispute. If you so much as hint at any other story, the previously mentioned threats will be carried out in full. If we have an understanding, there should be no further questions and please get out of the vehicle."

The car quickly rolls to a stop and one of the goons is there in seconds opening the door for you to exit.

Thalia isn't sure what relevance this comment has to the conversation, but it certainly illuminates Kate's attitude toward powered people. She files it away as an interesting and potentially useful bit of knowledge of her client.

Well, the underwriter of the case. Andrew Lawson is her actual client.Thalia hides the combination of anger and amusement that rears up in her at this high-handed treatment. She quickly explains her fee structure ($50 an hour up to $400 per day, plus expenses) and gets out of the car. She hands her card to the goon holding open the door.

She doesn't overtly look for Cynthia's car as she surveys where in the city Lawson has unceremoniously dumped her.

Kate Lawson reaches next to her and grabs her appointment book when you start talking numbers. Even though she is nodding her head, it is clear that she has already mentally moved on. "Yes, of course. I'll have five grand wired to your account in the morning. When that runs dries, I'll send more."

Looking around you see a few familiar landmarks which indicate you are in a popular tourist area of town. There are many shops, street vendors, and even a group of people dressed up as popular superheroes who are taking photos with tourists for money. It is a safe part of town, but far away from your office.

Cynthia drives right by you, but you know she'll be back in a few minutes after she completes a trip around the block to throw off anyone that may be watching. She reaches over and opens the passenger door for you when she returns. "How'd things go? You get the nuclear launch codes from Dr No?" Cynthia jokes and then asks if you want to get a bite to eat.

"Absolutely," Thalia says in answer to the question of food. "Since we're in the neighborhood, let's go to Theo's. He still owes me for getting his money back from those scam artists."

She settles into the passenger seat of the little car. "And no, no nuclear launch codes. Just a five thousand dollar advance and a threat to ruin my existence to the end of time if anyone finds out that I'm working for her. Hey, did you happen to see anything interesting while you were watching the Zimbabwe, or while you were tailing us?"

Cyn gives a long whistle at the mention of the advance. "That's some pretty decent walking around money. So I guess dinner is on you, right?" The drive to the restaurant is a quick one. Cynthia finishes bring you up to speed on what she saw along the way. When you arrive she cuts the engine but stays in the vehicle until the conversation is finished.

"Honestly, I think she low balled you on that amount. I wouldn't be surprised if she spent that much money on this short meeting with you today. When you walked into the Zimbabwe nearly every eye in the joint was on you. I wish I could say it was because you are so dang cute, but it was clear that a lot of those folks were paid to be there. Oh they tried to pretend like they weren't focused on you, but when I get these pictures developed you see the tell tale signs of people keeping tabs on someone. And if I needed it confirmed, it certainly was when you left. Nearly half the restaurant cleared out before I even got pulled out of the parking lot. I don't know who this woman is, but I would take her threat seriously if I were you."

"Hell, no. Dinner's on Theo. Like I said, he still owes me."

Frowning as she listens to Cynthia's report, Thalia heaves a long sigh when it's done, letting the breath billow her cheeks a little.

"That's a lot of surveillance for one little girl detective, doncha think? Thank goodness you weren't too busy to come watch my back tonight." Reaching out, she gives Cyn's arm a light squeeze of gratitude.

She rubs her face with both hands, thinking. "She claims to be worried about her reputation and good name, which is why I'm supposed to keep our connection on the down-low. But she also insisted that I bring everything to her before I make any other moves. That sounds less like a sister searching for truth than the villain of the piece making sure her frame-up stays intact. She wants to hear my report, go around cleaning up all the untidy leads I find, and then have me fitted for the best coffin the rest of her five grand can buy."

"Pssh. I don’t care if Theo still owes you. After today, you owe me. So I’m still holding you to buying the next time you aren't served like royalty." Cynthia’s face grows more serious with concern as you continue.

"I really hope you're overreacting but I can’t help but feel worried here, Thalia. It seems like you’re getting involved in something really serious. Well, all triple murders are serious, but you know what I mean. If you need me to back you up, all you have to do is call. I’ll drop whatever I have going on. It’s going to take more than one super scary absurdly rich and powerful possible sociopath to scare me out of helping my friend. If you go and get a second one after you though, I’m out. I have to draw the line somewhere.

"What is the game plan overall? You don't have to fill me in too much if you are worried about my safety, client confidentially, blah, blah blah. But do you know how the great and wonderful Kinesic is going to tackle this caper?"

At Cyn's use of "Kinesic," Thalia grits her teeth and stifles a sigh. Her friend has been dying for Thalia to officially come out as a named - and costumed - super for years. She'd even made sketches, which Thalia had confiscated. Cyn had probably just made more, though, and kept them to herself.

"Look, I'm no martyr, Cyn. You're right, the threat level of this case is an order of magnitude higher than I was expecting when I asked for your back-up, or I would have taken better precautions."

Cynthia slows down and turns into the parking lot for The San Espero Bar & Grill, a name that is used only in signage and advertising. Everyone who frequents the place knows it as Theo's.

As Cyn slips the Bug into a parking space, Thalia says, "As for my game plan, I'm going to assume I'm being watched all the time. Step up my game on disguises and losing a tail. Otherwise, I'm putting anyone I interview in potential danger."

She reaches into a pocket and extracts her notebook. "I won't get Andrew's lab notes from the lawyer's office until sometime tomorrow, so for now, I only have one lead - some high school kid named Reuben Phillips. I'll need to proceed carefully; the last thing I want is any of Kate Lawson's goons getting to a kid."

Once inside the restaurant you and Cynthia drop all work talk and have a pleasant meal. Cyn gives you a hard time for not having heard the latest single by Panic Unlimited that apparently has been playing on heavy rotation all summer. "If I have to hear that song one more time, I’m stuffing my ears with cotton. But in all seriousness, Thalia, put the hair down and live a little from time to time. It doesn’t have to be all work all the time." She looks from side to side making sure no one is within eavesdropping range. "I want you to put on the cape more than anybody, but sometimes you gotta put yourself first and let others worry about themselves or you’ll go nuts."

Theo comes over once you are finished and thanks you again for your prior assistance before ripping up the check. You hop back into Cynthia’s car and not more than a minute down the road she notices the tail.

"How do you want to play it?" She asks while taking frequent glances at the rear view mirror.

Shit, shit, shit, Thalia thinks. So they had seen her get into Cynthia's car. That means she's put her closest friend in the world in serious danger, before she herself had even realized things were going to get this hot.

Mentally scanning a map of their vicinity, Thalia says, "Just act like you don't notice anything. But turn right at the next light. We'll head for Branfield Mall."

Cynthia does as she's told and the Beetle pulls into the mall complex about twenty minutes later. "Park somewhere in the Meyerson's lot," Thalia says, referring to one of the large anchor department stores. As Cyn is pulling into a space, Thalia says, "Okay, we're gonna get out, laughing and talking like we're just going shopping. We'll spend thirty minutes going from store to store, and then we're going to go to the restroom and do a quick-change. Ready?"

They get out of the car, loudly engaging in a good-natured argument about a leather jacket and which of them owns it and which has permanently borrowed it. As they approach the doors to Meyerson's, Thalia peers at the reflection to spot their tail and whether anyone is following them on foot into the mall.