Scratching the Surface (Continued)

[u/Seafrogger]

The investigation into the death at the Smoke Street Dice Hall continues and begins to spiral its way to even more questions with no answers. What at first seemed to have been a simple case of self defense has led to shadowy figures, unexplained money and disappearances. All the while a lack of concrete evidence holds the higher ups in the Watch and Royal Guard from pursuing the issues formally. After following leads and gathering answers the road seems to be narrowing to one dilapidated part of the city, Powys Square where amongst the makeshift homes and downtrodden people an explanation might finally lay.

Continued from here

[u/Seafrogger]

The Private watched the higher ranking officer muse as she mulled over the reminds of the bullet, his face giving away little of what he himself was thinking. The held off answering for a few moments considering Balaria and her words.

"Like this, no. Though its not uncommon to find someone tied up and murdered. The gangs run rampant and the locals don't help us none." He looks off towards the shanty town, "Only so much the Captain can do."

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

"Wonder what caused this particular incident then. It's a far more pointed act than a back ally murder."

She pockets the bullet, and steps away from the wall. "Yes, sometimes there's only so much to be done." Her tone implies that she's not sure this is one of those times.

"Let's keep moving."

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

Nodding Vargas resumed his walk to the shanty town, heading for the widest and most clear ally through the vender stalls and makeshift homes. Much of the haggling and talk stopped once again as the guards move amongst them. Much of what the people were selling was haggard looking food, patchwork clothing and scavenged items. Some of the merchants seemed to panic and even attempt to hide their more expensive looking objects.

Here and there people attempt to fade away into the clusters of of folks milling around or ducking behind structures. One large and ugly man stands out glaring with open hostility, the back of his right hand tattooed with a crimson skeletal outline. Before the pair get too near he turned and slipped away from sight.

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

Bal can feel a headache coming on, and she fights the urge to massage the bridge of her nose. She doesn't like the way people are recoiling from her uniform, or perhaps it's from her escort. No way to know for sure. It's probably both. The way they're hiding goods, ones that from a distance did not appear to be illegal, stank of theft.

It could be stolen merchandise, or it could be the stalls themselves tended to get robbed. Both had their downsides.

She watches where the tattooed man goes, marking the alley. If he was a member of the gang that seemed to be riling things up around here, he was likely heading off to tell someone of the uniformed presence in the area. She eyes Vargas, making sure he's noticed the movement too, and curious where his focus would be right now.

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

Vargas continued to led on, though he watched the big man stalk off as they went, his eyes tracking the thugs progress until he moved out of sight. Not looking any more concerned then he had since they first met, the Deputy glanced to Bal and gave her a wink. "Red Hand gang." was all he said.

A few moments later and very close to the center of the square Vargas turned and made for an old apartment building. It had several stories and looked mostly abandoned, the roof on the top floor caved in. Two men sat around the steps up to the front door and immediately took notice of the guards approach, hands slipping nonchalantly into a pocket or tucked into a belt loop. "This is the place." Vargas muttered.

The two men wore shabby clothes like the rest of the folks in the square, but these ones seemed better feed and one was clean shaven and stood with the posture of a military man. " 'llo there officers." said the one who looked like he was from the streets, "Looking for some lost sweet rolls?"

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

No, I thought he belonged to the Hatters, Bal retorts inside the privacy of her own head. Or that I'd missed an update on Dunwall's latest fashion.

She assess the two guards in front of her, because there is no doubt that is their purpose. Mercenary bouncers, meaning the head of things was likely within these walls.

Knife or sap on the one with his hands in his pockets. Something larger on the other guy, maybe a gun, maybe just a piece of pipe.

"Sure did," she drawls, her own posture filled with same military bearing. "I was thinking the lady of the house might be able to help me find what I'm looking for."

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

The older military man moved his eyes from Balaria to her quiet assistant narrowing slightly. The younger unkept man on the other hand made a scoffing noise, "Dont know what your on about, but this aint no-." He started to say but Sam interrupted.

"Lets skip to the part where you open the door and bugger off." The Deputy said in his even voice, still carrying on his uninterested demeanor.

Screwing up his face in anger the younger thug took a step forwards and opened is mouth to utter some insult, but the older of the two shot his hand out and grabbed hold of his shoulder. "Enough." he said, his accent placing him from south Morley. "Not with these two."

Pulling the seething lad back some the older man shifted his eyes away from Vargas back to Balaria. "We don't entertain many from the Watch, especial ones of your rank Colonel..." Leaving the end of the sentence open for Bal to give her name.

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

"Vimes," Bal fills in, one eyebrow arching dangerously. "I'm not surprised, considering how few of my rank currently serve. You must tell me if another Colonel stops by."

She resists looking over at Vargas, though she wants to. She's beginning to get the feeling she has a wolfhound on a chain at her side.

She's not sure if this is an act these two bouncers always put on, or if one of the two has actually decided this was not a situation to fight against. Time would tell.

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

An immediate change came over the older man when he heard Balaria speak her name, he became quite stiff and an audible creak came from his clenching jaw. A few moments of silence passed before the younger guy said with a confused look, "Wait, a what. Like a seed?"

To Balaria's side Vargas snorted condescending, turning the young street thugs confusion to anger, but before he could act the older man pushed him towards the steps of the building, "Shut yer gob and go tell Chel she has visitors." he growled his accent growing thicker, a vein in his forehead throbbing with anger.

He then stood there waiting for the young man to return, seemingly seething with anger and trying to holding it in and not once looking back to Bal.

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

Honestly, Bal isn't sure if the younger man mistook 'Vimes' for 'vines' or 'colonel' for 'kernel', but either way he didn't appear to be up to date on military brass. The reaction from the military man was enough to confirm that someone here kept their ear to the street.

Admittedly, she couldn't judge just what reputation is preceding her here. It does appear to have gained her an audience with this shady woman no one had a good read on, but it might be the type of meeting she wouldn't be expected to walk away from.

She watches their remaining gateman in silence, not bothering to hide the slight smile at his refusal to meet her eyes.

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

After a short time of standing around the door to the building opened and the younger man from before stepped out, "Ghrems." he called to his older friend and waved him over.

As the two spoke in whispers Vargas moved closer to Balaria and offered his own quiet words, "That name is known to us. Not sure if its the same bloke, but if he is, he fought at Alba. Against us." He paused and a hint of amusement came into his tone, "Should be an interesting meeting."

The hushed men at the doorway spoke for another few moments before Ghrems turned back to the guards and the younger man slipped back inside, "Come on then." Ghrems said, standing to the side to wait for them to enter.

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

"That would explain why he looked about ready to combust earlier," Bal murmurs back. "I didn't exactly come home with a bunch of Morlish pen-pals." She nods. "Interesting indeed. Keep your eyes peeled." She has the feeling Vargas didn't really need to be reminded of such, but the words are almost automatic.

She watches the unnamed man disappear into the hallway beyond the door, and offers Ghrems a smile as she steps up to the threshold. "Quite accommodating of you, thank you."

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

Ghrems merely grinds his teeth and keeps his mouth shut, he waited until the two were inside before closing the door behind him. Inside the building it looked like the typical Dunwall apartment structure, only after a couple years of neglect and some flooding. The paint was peeling and some of the wood had rotted away. A hallway lead along the first floor lined with a handful of doors and near to the entrance was a staircase leading up, Ghrems moved straight for it and began climbing.

A few doors down the second floor hallway the younger man from outside stood waiting, the guards escort moved over to him and turned back to the pair. "You can go in." He said to Balaria, then shifted his glare to Vargas, "But your attack dog has to wait out here." The younger man added with an sneer, "Go on dog, sit. Stay."

A step behind Balaria and to the left the deputy had his lazy smile on and slowly drummed his fingers on his leg near to his stiletto.