Detectives, you’ve got it all wrong. My son’s a saint, not some perp. LOL, ever heard of DNA?
They must have mixed up my fingerprints or something. It’s not possible that it’s mine.
That’s what I’m saying! slams her hand lightly on the table They’ve got to double-check their evidence.
And consider any other possibilities. Maybe someone set me up.
Now that’s what I’m talking about! leans in, eyes shining with determination Someone’s trying to frame my son.
We need to find out who and why.
Absolutely! stands up, pacing back and forth We need to look into anyone who might have a grudge against Hall.
And check the security footage from around the time the evidence was planted.
Good call! snaps her fingers And don’t forget to interview potential witnesses – anyone who might’ve seen or heard something suspicious.
Let’s start with my coworkers. They might’ve seen something or someone acting shady.
Excellent suggestion! grabs a notebook and pen I’ll make a list and get us an appointment with them first thing tomorrow morning.
Sounds like a plan. Let’s get to the bottom of this quick.
Agreed! quickly scribbles down names and contact information Alright, first up – John from accounting.
Let’s pay him a visit right away then.
stands up, grabbing her coat Lead the way, John’s office is just down the hall.
Leads the way, with Margaret close behind, ready with her notebook
As they approach John’s office, she notices something unusual on his desk. What’s that badge pinned to his desk?
Peers closer Looks like some sort of symbol... might be significant.
As Margaret and Hall examine the badge, John enters the room unexpectedly
John, we need to ask you about this badge. What’s it for?
John: Startled, quickly hides the badge under a stack of papers Uh, it’s nothing... just a little memento.
A memento? That symbol looks more like a logo for a secret organization.
raises an eyebrow A secret organization? Now that’s intriguing. leans in closer John, has anyone approached you recently with strange requests?
Cautiously Well, there was this man in a dark suit who came by last week. He asked about my work here and... mentioned knowing ‘things’ about my past.
Her eyes widen That sounds ominous. Did he say what he wanted from you?
Shifting uneasily He hinted that he needed my help with something ‘important’. But when I asked for more details, he left in a hurry.
Gently places a hand on Hall’s arm We need to find out who this man is and what he’s involved in. Can you remember anything distinctive about his appearance or mannerisms?
Thinking hard He had a scar on his neck that looked like a snake bite, and he walked with a slight limp. And he often glanced over his shoulder as if he was worried someone was following him.
Makes a note of the details A scar on his neck, a limp, and constantly looking over his shoulder – we have a profile to work with now.
Pauses And there was something else... he slipped me a business card with just a phone number on it. Might be our first lead.
Excitedly opens her bag and pulls out her phone Let’s track down this number immediately. Starts typing the number into her phone
Notices a calls coming from the same number on John’s call log The number’s already called once before. Might be connected to all this.
As Margaret finds the recent call log, she notices a name associated with the number: "Marcus Blackwood". Both Margaret and Hall exchange a look of concern.
Low voice Marcus Blackwood... That name rings a bell. He’s been linked to some shady dealings before.
Eyes widen, flipping through her notes Marcus Blackwood... Quickly searches the database on her laptop Sure enough, he’s popped up in several cases involving bribery and corporate espionage.
Looks like we’ve hit a jackpot here. This guy’s definitely involved in something big.
Type rapidly on her laptop, finding articles linking Marcus to a major corruption scandal And it seems he has connections within the city’s government. Gasps softly This gets worse by the second. We need to bring this to the attention of the chief of police immediately.
Agreed. But first, we need to gather more evidence to strengthen our case against Blackwood. Any idea how we can get in touch with him quickly?
Quickly scans through online directories and found Blackwood’s private office number I found his direct line! Shared the number with Hall Let’s call him now and set up a meeting. Time is of the essence.
Dials the number, his expression tense but determined After a few rings, someone picks up Hello, Mr. Blackwood, this is Hall from the finance department. We need to discuss an urgent matter regarding some recent developments. Can we meet today?
As Hall speaks on the phone, Marcus Blackwood’s voice on the other end sounds calm and slightly mocking. Marcus Blackwood: Meet me at the old warehouse by the docks in half an hour. But be warned, I prefer my privacy. Try anything funny, and we might not leave that warehouse without consequences.
Exchanges a concerned glance with Margaret after hanging up That warning wasn’t exactly reassuring. But we’ve got no choice but to show up. The warehouse is not too far from here. We can split up and keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
Grabs her coat and prepares her notebook Agreed. We need to stay vigilant. Quickly looks for the most efficient route to the warehouse The backstreets will give us better cover. And remember, we need to watch for any signs of security or potential traps.
Checks his own equipment, making sure he has a record of the conversation with Blackwood and anything else that might be useful Ready when you are. Lead the way, Margaret.
As they cautiously make their way towards the warehouse, they notice an unusual amount of activity in the area. Several unmarked vehicles are parked nearby, and there is a general air of secrecy. As they approach the warehouse, they spot a group of men in dark clothing loitering around the entrance. They quickly duck behind a stack of crates to avoid being seen. QFont: Whispering Looks like we’re not the only ones expecting Marcus. Those guys give me the creeps.
Peeking out from behind the crate, notices a large shipment crate with the same logo we saw on Blackwood’s badge That symbol again… it can’t be a coincidence.
Suddenly, one of the men spots them and whispers to the others, pointing in their direction. Margaret and Hall realize they’ve been made and need to come up with a plan fast.