Who do we have here?
The above picture is related to both the characters present, as you might guess who the host is.
A tailorshop, huh? Think they have anything my size?
A lost soul in need of saving, and you want to rob its place of business?
Look at this dress I'm wearing, it's ruined. I figure I'm owed.
Duty first, my host. Petty theft later.
Looks like it's been shut down for a while. The windows are covered with gunk, I can't see through them.
Hey, Madeline
Yes, my host?
Could you stop calling me that?
Stop calling you what, my host?
That. I'm no host.
I am sorry, my host. That is what you are.
It's raining buckets.
Indeed. Most fortuitous.
Fortuitous?
It enables us to perform our duty unperceived. And we can converse without any... awkwardness.
As sporting as always.
Great, I wouldn't want this to be awkward... Just think, I coulda been dancing at the Supper Club tonight.
SUPER CLUB!
If these contortions could be referred to as "dancing", then you are correct.
I'm not gonna apologise, you know.
For what? Trying to transfer our link to that Joe Gould fellow?
Like I said, I'm not gonna apologise. I didn't ask for this.
Neither did I, my host. Neither did I.
You're not mad?
After centuries of this existence, I have learnt to put my personal feelings aside.
Yeah, well, I ain't got centuries. Well, see you.
Certainly, my host.
Switching to Madeline, inspecting the other womyn.
My host, Jocelyn Contis. I have been her guide for two months.
Indeed. We now get to control our favourite crazy antagonist from parts 2 and 3!!!!
Commencing infiltration.
If you could just wait here, my host?
Uh-huh, it's not like I got anything else to do.
Hello? Is anyone about? I am a friend.
Nobody's there? Can we go? Sousa's playing tonight. If we hurry, we can catch him.
Patience, my host. I sense a lost spirit here. We cannot leave our duty unfinished.
[perception] bloody murder!
I believe these were caused by a pistol.
The notice reads, "please ring bell for service". I am incorporeal and unable to ring the bell.
Screw you, Madeline, you're useless.
Time to take X-TREME measures.
My host?!
Certainly nothing that matters any longer.
Huh, some kinda band. Danny and Linda Marconi...? Never heard of them.
You press a button
Something awesome has to happen!
WHOA! D:
Danny, someone's out front. Danny, where the hell are you? Sorry for the wait, ladies. My assistant seems to be... out. What can I do for you?
Much conspiracy.
Such spooky!
How long are you gonna stare at that thing? It's getting dark.
Just one more. It has to be there.
What are you doing, anyway?
A man was murdered last night. In the middle of a major blizzard.
Believe me, I remember.
Right. So how come nobody else has? I've been checking on every local news site all day. There's not a single mention of it. I called the police myself. We know they know about it. They must have suppressed the news. But why?
I'm sure the cops got their reasons. And they can keep them. I don't care who plugged the guy. I only care about what happened... after.
I know. So, the victim didn't have any identification on him. I was hoping a news report would give us his name, but it looks like we're on our own.
Well, something familiar at least. Let's go talk to our pet cop. I'm sure he knows something.
As always, the flat is a trip down memory lane concerning the previous games. Most of these mementos we've seen countless times already, like the photos of auntie Lauren et al, but some are new.
It's a picture of me and a former co-worker of mine. Jeremy was... a friend. Kind of. I never got to know him well. Not when he was alive, anyway.
This man's name is Danny Marconi. I only met him briefly, as a very old man.
For months I expected the police to come breaking down my door. But it's been a year and nothing.
Also some loot.
We saw this in a flea market, and Joey bugged me until I bought it. He still won't tell me why.
... I doubt it's the same one, but it's nice to think so.
That's obviously a reference to Lauren's constant dictaphoning in Unbound.
And one last thing before we move on
I don't need to do anything with it. My phone's fully charged.
Perkele!
Well, let's gtfo.
Let us move!
Sup
Oh, it's you. I had a feeling you'd swing by.
You found a Jane Doe at the Karth House, right?
Yeah, what about her?
Her name was Marry Meehan. She was an actress with the Gotham Collective theater company.
You sure about that?
Yes
I won't ask how you know that, but we'll check out that name and see if you're right. At the very least, we can locate the family and tell them what happened. Thanks. I guess I owe you another one.
Can we talk inside? It's freezing out here.
Can't smoke inside. Thanks to our friend, the mayor.
LIBRULS
So you couldn't maybe... I don't know, not smoke for a while?
*glare*
Right. I caught the evening news today. There wasn't one mention of the murdered man in Chelsea.
That program hasn't been the same ever since they replaced the blonde anchorwoman.
Nobody else talked about it either. Not online. Not any other news program. Nobody. You must have suppressed the news. Why?
MUH FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Because we're cops, that's why. Look, before we take this any further, why are you so interested in this one? What makes this murder more important than any other?
He was killed right in front of me!
And what? Suddenly that makes it personal?
Well, kinda. It might have something to do with me.
Uh-huh. And why is that? What makes it so important?
You've trusted me before, why can't you trust me again?
Trust has nothing to do with it. Look, I don't know what your deal is. I've never asked and, frankly, I don't wanna know. But I DO know that you've helped me clear a few cases. And once in a while, in return, I answer some of your questions. That's fine. Quid pro quo. It's not in the rulebook, but it's how we get things done. But this case? It goes way up, we can't get anyone in from the outside. Not without a good reason. So give me one. Why is this murder so important?
CONSPIRACY
I couldn't begin to explain it. It's... more than just a murder. More horrible than just a killing.
Uh-huh. Any details on what that could be?
It needs to be stopped. That's all.
Sorry. I know we got an arrangement, but my hands are tied.
Fine, if that's the way it is.
For what it's worth, it's nothing personal. You got other questions, I'm here. Just don't ask about the case. You get me?
Yeah. I get you. Well, see you around.
Uh-huh.
Durrkin stops Rosa from entering the police station, but that's never stopped Joey before.
Fuk da polees
Keep your friend busy, I'll sniff around.
Oh, um... I was just admiring the brickwork.
The brickwork.
Sure. When was this building built? 1950?
Rosa's doing one heck of a jerb.
Nothing of worth in this place. The picture is of one Alex Silva, the commissioner, and there's also a NO ADMITTANCE BEYOND ZHIS POINT!1 note on the wall.
No reaction. That's cops for you
(((
Surging forward!
Aha. There's our guy, his name's George Ostin according to this note. Looks like he lived on the Upper West Side.
Nothing in those two interrogations rooms nor in the elevator.
And two cop desks.
Wonder if "Disher" is a reference to the TV series Mr Monk
Well, that was all to be done here.
The map screen's background is very pretty, even if the location blurbs are kinda half-arsed.
Sup
This is some lobby. Careful you don't break anything, or we'll be in hock for life. Well, your life, anyway.
Let's chat up the doorman.
Hi.
I'm looking for George Ostin. Is he in?
No, he's not, sorry.
Is there any way I can look inside George's appartment? It's really important.
Sorry, unless you've been authorised, I can't let you in.
FFS
not being let anywhere is starting to get cliche
Do you know where George Ostin is?
I really couldn't say, sorry.
Does the name "Grace" mean anything to you?
Sorry, nobody named Grace lives here.
Fuck you bro I'm going in anyway
I WONT LET YOU STOP ME
Bawkses!
Looks like it's full of old clothes.
And noteses on the wallses!
It's signed by George Ostin.
I, uh, heard that George Ostin was having a clothing drive here.
Oh yes, George does it every year. He brings the bawks to Grace himself
@_@
You said George takes the bawks to Grace?
Yes he does. He has an attachment to the place, even though we've got a fine church in this area.
Church? So by "Grace" you meant Grace Church?
Yeah, the one downtown. What did you think I meant?
Hue.
Nothing, nevermind. Thanks.
Sure
Why did George go to Grace Church instead of a local one?
I couldn't say, sorry.
Couldn't.... OR WOULDN'T?!
conspiracy!
HERESY!
Off to the House of God then!
Huh. A church. Of all the places.
Really? Ghosts don't like churches?
Being a ghost has nothing to do with it.
Poor Joey probably got molested as a child.
Two entrances, but both lead into the same place.
This place!
Not much stuff to interact with here, except this book in the middle.
They are all anonymous, and they are all written by hand.
Let's browse through people's joys and fears and perils
"Get exactly what he deserves", huh. Some prayer.
These prayers just go on and on. There must be dozens of them. I don't have time to read them all.
I'm sure this will become highly significant soon! Still,
Oh, uhm. Sorry. Is this better?
Yes. What can I do for you?
I'm Rosangela Blackwell.
Father Gabriel Ullman.
Why the whispers? There isn't anybody around.
That makes no difference. The tranquillity of this place must be maintained, whether anybody is here or not. Especially on a night like tonight.
Could you tell me about that book over there?
For some, silent prayer isn't enough. They want to write it down and make it real. That is what the book is for.
Do you know a man named George Ostin?
I'm afraid not.
He was a member of this church. Are you sure?
It is quite a large church, as you can see. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with George Ostin.
He was holding a clothing drive that brought clothes to the church. Are you sure you haven't heard of him?
Miss ,we deal with hundreds of clothing drives around this time of the year. Some we arrange ourselves, while most are volunteers. t is not possible to keep track of every single one.
Well, thanks. I'll be going.
Stay safe.
So I was running around for like half an hour across every screen looking for a pen so I could write "dickbutt" down in the book, but I couldn't find any. I was also looking for any notes or whatever the hell and scanning every page for something to interact with or for hidden content or something, and frankly I was starting to get pretty annoyed when I remembered one more thing...
hurrrrrrrr
because blowing down a pinned-up notice is the most obvious course of action
Down and away!
Whatever Joey did, the doorman doesn't seem to have noticed.
yoink!
With the sample of George's handwriting, I might be able to find something written by him.
Gotcha!
What? No scanning and comparing puzzle? Lame.
"Lia's" name was mentioned in the prayer at Grace Church. Was she a member?
Do you know a woman named Lia? I think she was a member of this church.
Even if she was, I'm afraid the name eludes me, I'm sorry.
YOU ARE USELESS, PADRE
Always bet on the doorman.
Did George know someone named Lia?
Lia? You mean the police officer?
!!!
Police officer?
Yeah. Haven't seen her around for a while, though. Did they break up or something?
I have no idea.
Too bad, if so. I liked her. She was good for George.
What do you mean?
Er... yeah, I probably shouldn't have said any of that. You're not a cop or anything yourself, are you?
Well...
No, you're not. You would have shown me your badge if you were. Forget it. Sorry.
Now I've got you at the wall, Durrkin!
Sigh.
That's it, isn't it? All the secrecy. It's because the police are involved.
*glare* You wanna get us both in trouble?
Of course not! I want to help you! Look what I discovered already.
Look, I keep my distance from you for a reason. I know you got your sources. I don't know who they are, but you... have a way. That goes without saying. Lia Pierro was... IS a fine detective. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Maybe you can help, maybe you can't. But I know you're gonna stick your nose in no matter what I say.
Sorry, but I have to.
Yeah, I get that. I can't stop you, but I can't get you either. You're on your own.
... believe me, detective, if there's anything I'm not, it's on my own.
D:
Hello there, desk.
You shall show me all your secrets!
Also a folder full of expense reports and a "midtown jaywalking citations" journal. Nothing important.
However!
I don't know where you're going
and I don't know why
BUT LISTEN TO YOUR HEART!
Just don't step on my toes, okay? We cops can get pretty touchy when it concerns one of our own.
Yeah. So do I.
What did you mean by that?
Exactly what it sounded like. Whoever George was, he was one of us.
"Us"?
Yeah. Come on. It's a long way to Astoria.
Or is it? All I can see is that it's just another blurb in a row
So this is what a cop's salary gets you, huh? A two story in Astoria.
It's not bad. Nicer than some of the foster homes I grew up in. Anyway, shall we?
Yeah, yeah, we both know the drill by now.
And that would be enough for today. Stay tuned, for next time, we shall... do fuck if I know, but it'll definitely be something inside this here house!
ALSO MYSTERY
AND CONSPIRACY!
.
