Score!
Now, who the hell is rabbi Zelig?
Right, we have background on the people running the place, and the synagogue itself. Time for a rabbinical visit.
Oh my, that's one fancy synagogue.
Services must have ended, as they hadn't gotten around to putting the Torah away yet
I can't believe they're just leaving it for anyone to come in and take it They must have dozens of them in a back room somewhere.
Oh, btw, did I mention already that the music in this game is awesome? Very Arcanum-ish, mostly using very somber-sounding violins.
The cantor's lectern was an elegant affair made from lacquered oak. It looked brand new.
Meh, I've seen better
A large, tasteful, stained glass window surveyed the synagogue from its high vantage point
I suppose it's okay...
Ethan Goldberg, eh? Perhaps this could be our Ethan G. This is worth looking into later. Let's get into the local rabbi's office.
That's a veteran rabbi.
Rabbi, actually. Rabbi Stone.
Well, fancy that. I can always spare time for a fellow rabbi. What brings you to our humble synagogue?
Do you know mr Jack Lauder?
Should I know mr Jack Lauder?
Don't you think you SHOULD know mr Jack Lauder?
Why do you think so?
This is going nowhere fast...
Wasn't he a member of your congregation?
Was he?
Don't you know your own congregation?
Am I supposed to know everybody?
Well...
Amos broke out into an angelic smile
Are you finished?
I guess...
Wonderful!
Well, snap. Guess we just got...
outrabbied :shock:
He was a member of your congregation. He died a few days ago.
That's right, the funeral service was yesterday. I honestly don't know where my head is these days.
This guy has as Jewish voiceacting as you can imagine.
You conducted the ceremony?
Yes, his wife insisted on it.
Did she now?
If I may ask you, what is your interest with mr Lauder?
Let's try being rabbinical again
Aren't all matters of our flock our concern?
Well, not ALL matters. But we still do what we can, don't we?
Is there anything you can tell me about mr Jack Lauder?
I'm afraid not, rabbi Stone. My congregation is rather large, and mr Lauder seldom attented services. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what that's like.
So, first he says he barely remembers him at all, even though he did the funeral service
yesterday and now he says that he remembers him not attending services too often? Can you spell 'Jewish conspiracy'?
You certainly don't
Ethan Gee...? Is that his name?
Just an initial, as far as I know.
Ah, well, nothing leaps to mind, I'm afraid.
Does the name Joe DeMarco mean anything to you?
DeMarco? Sounds Italian. Other than that, it means nothing, sorry.
Did a Joe DeMarco belong to this temple?
That's hardly a Jewish name. Although it's difficult to say, as I told you, it's difficult to keep track of individual congregation members.
He was an investor in Jack Lauder's company. Does that mean anything to you?
I don't know, should it?
I suppose not. Good night to you, Rabbi Zelig.
Good night to you, Rabbi Stone.
Well then, let's see if we can find anything about this Ethan Goldberg fellow.
Score!
Another deader. Hmmm...
Time to visit the crime scene.
Whoa. This sure is a high quality restaurant.
The man in the corner seemed to be concentrating on his dart game.
Excuse me?
The man ignored me. This was getting old
The woman seemed to be having an animated conversation with someone who wasn't there. Welcome to New York
Excuse me? Hello?
She ignored me. She seemed to be staring into space, at something that wasn't there. In another place, another time, I might have stopped to help her. But people like her are a dime a dozen in this city.
The bartender surveyed his domain with the expression of one hoping something better will come along.
Excuse me
The bartender glared at me with vague disinterest
I'm looking for information about Ethan Goldberg. He was killed outside this bar.
The bartender shrugged
Do you know anything about it?
He gave me a glare that told me everything I needed to know about asking more questions
Do you know a mr Jack Lauder?
The bartender rolled his eyes and began eyeing the other customers. It seemed that he wasn't a very talkative fellow.
I'm looking for information on Joe DeMarco.
He narrowed his eyes and glared daggers at me. I wasn't going to get any information about him. But was there a flicker of recognition in his eyes?
It would appear that mr DeMarco is not someone you'd want to know.
Time to return to Zelig and confront him about Goldberg.
I know he used to work here.
Ethan? Ooooh. What a tragedy. The man did wonders for this community, a shame what happened to him.
You know about his death?
Of course. I conducted the funeral service myself.
I recently found out that Jack Lauder and Ethan did business together.
Really? I'm not surprised. Ethan offered his services to many people. He was a whiz with an adding machine, so I heard (Truly Jewish
).
Doesn't any of this strike you as odd?
Should it?
Two Jewish men, both in business together and both belonging to the same synagogue, are killed within two weeks of eachother?
A third man, who may or may not be Jewish, is nowhere to be found. There are only two connections between these men: One is Jack's business, the other this synagogue.
Rabbi Stone, I hope you're not suggesting anything.
I'm not.
Let me finish. People all over the world use religious communities to network and conduct business (religious communities? More like jewish communities, amirite?). This is nothing new. If there IS a connection, it has to do with their business dealings and nothing with Beth Tikvah. I won't stand for our reputation being tarnished, do I make myself clear?
As crystal.
I'm glad we understand eachother. Now if you'll excuse me, it IS rather late.
I understand, I'll see myself out.
Now, we have his card... and on it, we have his ravnet login...
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
COMMENCE 1337 RABBI HAXXUNG.
Now, what could be the password?
The clue gives us 'PET'. If you remember what the background info about Zelig, the one that we dug out before visiting him, said, he had a dog named Dodger. Let's try it.
Pffff, so obvious.
Time to read though his mail.
Okay, what the hell, there are several emails addressed from joedemarco... but Zelig said he doesn't have any idea who he is?
So the old Jew was lying? Colour me surprised.
Seems people like Zelig a little bit more than Stone.
Uh... these are pretty much right after Joe's mail. Hm.
So, he's also corresponding actively with Jack... but doesn't really remember him when we ask about him. Trust no1.
Stupid useless mail.
ICEBURN!
'It's done'? Wonder what this means...
Oh...
A silly coincidence that after every email from Joe DeMarco someone dies, eh?
Another silly coincidence that Zelig seems to be a good acquaintance of his, since he recommended him to Jack as an 'investor'.
Not to mention that he's a Jew. And a rabbi at that, too. Apparently, also greedy and rich by the looks of his synagogue.
THE PLOT THICKENS!