Fugazi

Well of course, although we probably can discuss this while we're walking and investigating. Mayor Bob made it clear that we're not proceeding fast enough and the killer's trail is getting cold. What do we have so far? Let me try to summarise, and do let me know if I'm missing anything vital. Chief McGovern was killed on the 3rd of September during the night, and found next to the fountain where he likely hit his head. He was probably somewhat inebriated, and phoned his wife many times during the time he went about town. The CCTV camera of the Grocery Store captured images of the Chief apparently trying to arrest a dark figure standing with a dark companion next to the fountain. A fight ensued, the Chief was hit and struck his head. During the same night, the Chief visited the Fire Station where he was followed by a brown-haired man. None of the brown-haired men in our group admitted going to the Fire Station that night. In a possibly related event, two dark figures kidnapped Marcus last night from his home, brought him in front of Officer Jackson's house and demanded that he come outside. A gunfight followed in which Jackson was wounded and the dark figures escaped. Who had any motive to kill McGovern, then Jackson? The Chief was instrumental in arresting bank thieves some 35 years ago and jailing them for life. Perhaps accomplices of the thieves could want to extract revenge on the Chief and other police officers in this town. Remember also that Officer Hutch has his motorcycle tire slashed, and my house was set on fire. So far, it would appear that Lexington police officers are targets of the criminals among us. Who else? James Swanson punched the Chief ten years ago, but would he keep a grudge for so long and end up killing the Chief? Robert Swanson, his son, was arrested for possession of illegal narcotics. Hardly a motive for killing a police officer? We also know that the Chief had affairs on a regular basis, likely with some of the married women in this group. Perhaps a husband decided enough was enough. So far there is no evidence to support this though. Then there's this shady Richard Branhauser, suspect in a crime committed about a month ago, apparently unrelated to the Chief's death. The guy has black hair, but could he be one of the dark figures? This is about all the evidence we have I believe. Please feel free to comment while we investigate the Montgomery residence. Sure, I will have a look at some of the bank notes in Jack's safe and try to determine as best I can if they are counterfeit or legit.

Have a great one Peppermint!

If everyone agrees, I suggest moving on to the study.

I would like to check that Jeremy is really born of Jack and Julia. I guess we should move on to the dining room.

With your permission Jack, I would like to open the folder. Nevermind, Marcus is on it.

Is there any reason why you felt the need to change the locks, Jack?

I would like to inspect the knife. Does it look like one that could be used as a weapon? Is there blood on it? What colour is the food colouring? Who is smoking among the people living here? Sorry James, just get your face out of my bosom! Ha, saw you attempting to hide evidence! Jeremy, would you mind reading your letter out loud?

What's Special Agent Stone doing next door?

Right, you certainly deserve some feedback Bob. So far this game has been at least as enjoyable as Red Scare, so I think you've been doing a great job setting this up and running it smoothly. On the other hand, it's obvious from your comments that we haven't been able to figure out clues that should have been obvious. I know that I tried, and others have as well. I don't think that we can discuss this too much here without giving away the plot of the game, but I suppose that it will be easier to analyse where we went wrong after the game ends. I'm not trying to excuse anyone, but judging by Red Scare a mystery game requires a longer-term involvement than the typical mafia game. Six months is a long time. Perhaps this is why some people are wary of signing up. I agree, this is a big issue. Signing up for a mafia or a mystery game is a commitment, and I guess a few people don't take it all that seriously. I fail to understand how any of the actions you mention could help us find the criminals. I think giving open actions to players is a great idea, but the major problem I see is that every game morning when I look at the night's events I can't figure out for sure if anything that happened was related to the main mystery we're trying to solve or if it's just something a player came up with for fun. Now that I know that you're the one who had Marcus beaten up that first night, then again last night, I understand it's important in the grand scheme of things. But frankly, the first time I was pretty sure it was just a prank one of the players came up with for fun. Breaking windows and burning trees at night will only bring more confusion, so unless we're the murderers I don't see the point of coming up with random actions at night. And I'm afraid I can't think of more intelligent things to do during the night at this stage in the game. The only time I did, I ended up in more trouble than it was worth! I think we investigated the police station because some clues pointed to the police officers. If we spent 3 chapters there, it's only because it's the time it took to be thorough. I don't see how we could have done it faster given the level of participation. I hope that as the action picks up and the bigger picture becomes clearer, the absent players will want to become more involved. It's a bigger issue in Suburbia than it was in Red Scare because we're not as many, but I trust that as a group we can overcome this and keep going.

Seconded.

Reminds me of someone I know. Right, let's see what's in that warehouse.

Happy birthday Hinck and Corvus! Have a great day! And Hinck, huge thanks for all your contributions to EB during the last year, you are certainly helping in making this community a unique place in the Lego online universe!

Good work Amber. In addition to this, I would like to ask both McHenry and Johnson if they have noticed anything about the activities of a man named Richard Branhauser, black-haired, who was found here yesterday. Also, did they ever see Chief McGovern come around these parts either during the day or night?

Well so much for investigating here. Let's move on back to the docks, maybe we'll be more lucky.

The problem is we don't even know if this shooting is in any way related to the Chief's murder. Though two people were involved in both murders. Alex is dead, but clearly the murderers were after Officer Jackson. Is this some sort of vendetta going on against the police force of Lexington? I would like to have a look at the Grocery Store CCTV tapes from last night.

Well let's go then!

What an eventful night! I also look forward to the conclusion. Thanks for having me in your game Hinck, it was certainly great fun and quite a challenge!

I agree we should finish the docks before anything else. However, one thing doesn't make sense to me. How/why did Jackson's couch end up in front of his door? I don't understand the sequence of events. Someone, probably not Jackson, brought this couch outside the house and used it to prop the door so that Jackson wouldn't come out. But then why did they need a hostage if they could gain access to the house in the first place? Or is there something I'm missing? Can we have a look inside Jackson's house for signs of objects moved or missing since our last visit?

Whew, let me catch my breath. So much blood, how did this come to happen? All this to get to Officer Jackson... why? He was one of the brown-haired suspects who might have been following the Chief to the Fire Station, but I don't know if it's even relevant. Is that Jackson's gun lying in the street? This is a crime scene, please everybody step away until a proper investigation team examines the evidence. In the meantime, we should decide what we are to do today. We had unfinished business over at the docks, but perhaps someone has more information about what happened during the night? Does anyone recognise the couch that has been pulled in front of Jackson's door?

I must add, I cracked up at the closing picture with the camper! Very funny! Things are looking up for my horse and I!

This is getting stressful. I hope food in the hospital is good. Let me guess, another building crashed down on us?

Urgh. (This already happened, so it's likely it will happen again. And a scenario with two equal teams and no kill actions is just impossible to achieve. Just tell me how you plan to get there and I will listen.)

Urgh. (You're obviously being told fairy tales by the Venus boys, Kiloopio. Do you want to tell me what will happen if you ever manage to take all the weapons out of the game? Which is unlikely by the way, as I'm sure more will be smuggled in one way or another. And how do you plan to do it anyway? You need a weapon to kill a weapon. It's a never-ending circle. Perhaps you think you can lynch the weapon wielders? Then what if Pluton and Saturn choose not to pick weapon meals? Will you lynch your own, or Venus scum to get rid of the weapons? So even if you manage to do it, there will be two teams left and a neutral, and it will be up to the neutral to decide which team is to win. Do you think that anyone will settle for a draw when victory is at hand? Don't you see that your plan doesn't make any sense, and that Venus is just using you to trim down the minor teams until they have a chance to cut your own throat? If you don't understand this, then there's nothing else I can do for you.)

Urgh. Vote: Kiloopio Daylight (Kieldaman)

Urgh. (I'd like to have a word with the cook, this meal doesn't taste like I expected it to. Oh, I see you're discussing the lynch. Our friend the Werewolf is quite confident about the chances of his team against an equally numerous scum gang. Me thinks he had a lucky draw in the meal cart today. )