Darkness on the Edge of Town

DeletedUser28032

Darkness on the Edge of Town

November 4th 1932, Century City, Maine
A man rushes out of the dark and into his office throwing on the light switch as he went, his dark brown trench coat leaving large puddles of water on the plain wooden floor as he dials the phone, outside the rain is getting faster, hammering against the single small window in the sparsely furnished office.
“Hello? Yes put me through to Assistant Director Brannigan it’s important that I speak to him” he slowly drums his fingers on the surface of his desk, waiting for his superior in Washington to answer his call. He can scarce believe what is happening here, the scale of the operation; if he acted quickly he would be able to strike a major blow to the bootleggers and perhaps even get transferred back to Washington, his past sins forgiven. “Brannigan? Its Jack Bannerman, I need you to send a task force down here as soon as possible, this is big” He quickly related what had been happening in the small coastal town of Century City, sparing no detail as he told him about the large crates being shipped in by the mafia and supplied by an unknown source. There was a quiet pause as the man on the other end considered what to do before finally consenting, a task force would be set up and the operation would be shut down.
Hanging up the phone Jack punched the air in triumph; finally his long banishment would be at an end, he’d spent too long in this deadbeat town.
There was a creak outside his office, as if someone had hit the squeaky floorboard, but who could it possibly be at this hour? Doyle and Hicks were both trailing the crates hoping to trace the final destination, no doubt a distillery out in the woods somewhere and the rest of the staff were at home.
“Hello is anybody out there?” he called over his shoulder nervously, getting no reply, he didn’t like this; he didn’t like this one bit. His mind raced over the recent disappearances that had been taking place bums and hobo’s mainly disappearing from back alleys but as of late they had been getting more noticeable, perhaps the papers were right and it was a serial killer?
Drawing S&W .38 from out of his coat Jack slowly turned the brass handle on the door to his office, his hands trembling with nerves of anticipation as he prepared himself for what may be lurking behind the door. Taking one final gulp of air Jack wrenched the door open in one fluid movement, his gun shooting out to point into the empty corridor beyond, he sighed with relief upon finding the corridor deserted “Your getting Paranoid Jack” the man chuckled to himself, shaking his head in disbelief over his foolishness as he return the gun to its holster. Stepping out into the corridor Jack decided it was time to call it a night he’d gotten the call in to Washington and with any luck the other agents would be here within a few days. Whistling a jaunty little tune Jack walked out into the corridor shutting off the light to his office as he went. Had he bothered to check behind the open door behind him he would have seen what was waiting behind him, but then again that was probably for the best.
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The camera clicked as Doyle took another photograph of the goons loading the crates onto the back of a lorry “Come on Doyle lets get the hell out of here!” Hicks whispered nervously and for good reason as half a dozen of the mobsters were carrying Tommy guns, keeping watch whilst their colleagues loaded the truck.
Doyle and Hicks had parked their car on a heavily wooded hill that overlooked the docks on the far side of town, the tip off had been good a small fishing boat had pulled up just like the man had said it would and then the waiting gangster had begun lugging the heavy looking crates off of the boat and onto the lorry, although by the look of them those crates were far to heavy to be carrying liquor.
Doyle turned to scowl at his partner “What’s a matter Frank scared they’ll see you up here?....oh alright lets get….wait a minute who are those guys?” looking down at the docks two middle eastern men had climbed off of the grimy fishing boat and were now supervising the loading of the crates in an imperious manner.
“Wait here Frank I am going to get a closer look at these pair of jokers” climbing out of the car Doyle ran down the hill at a crouch to stop behind a hedge, the camera raised to take the photographs that would bust this case open and get him that much deserved promotion.
Snapping of a couple of shots of the mysterious foreigners Doyle decided that he’d got enough and turned to walk back up the hill and began walking back to the waiting car, it was high time he and Hicks were back at home, his wife would no doubt bend his ear when he got back tonight.
Three loud shots echoed through the night followed closely by the sound breaking glass as the bullets tore through the windscreen and into his partner.
A man stood by the car a smoking gun in his hands, Horrified Doyle drew his own weapon, a .38 revolver and fired at the man who just murdered his partner of three years and missed by a country mile, he’d never bothered to practise and now it was going to get him killed.
The man by the car casually turned and fired his gun, the bullet whipping passed Doyle’s ear causing him to drop the camera into the undergrowth.
Still cursing the dropped camera Doyle made a run for it as two more bullets were fired his way, one of which hit him in the shoulder like a battering ram, the pain shooting down his arm and back. Falling to the ground with a heavy thump, Doyle clawed his way across the ground in a futile attempt to escape, his shoulder in agony. Behind him he could hear the clicking of brass shells being loaded into a revolver as the man approached, Doyle fumbled for his gun only find it missing, dropped in the undergrowth like the camera “You should have left when you had the chance” the voice heavily accented spoke from above him, the revolver hammer clicking back loudly “Goodnight Mr Doyle”
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November 5th 1932, Washington DC
Assistant Director Howard Brannigan slowly drank from the mug of steaming coffee, he’d been set to go home after an already late night at the office when Special agent Jack Bannerman had demanded to speak with him and what he’d been told was not good news. It seemed that the mob in the Century City, normally a small time outfit of little concern to the bureau had begun shipping large quantities of liquor into the country, from where he didn’t know, but Bannerman had a hunch as to the source but wouldn’t say over the phone.
It had been two years since Bannerman had been transferred to the small town of Century City where the disgraced agent had languished far away from the people he’d upset and as far away from trouble as he could get without leaving the country and yet despite the mans almost unceasing ability to upset people in high places he was a good agent who had brought down more than his fair share of crooks down, it was partly due to this fact that he was only transferred and not kicked out altogether although God knows enough people had pressured him to do so.
Setting down his coffee onto the battered hard wood desk at which he sat, Howard called out of his open office door to his secretary, who was currently typing up the minutes for last weeks meeting “Alice, bring me a short list of available agents in the area please” the incessant clacking of the typewriter ceased as she went search of the appropriate files. Slowly rubbing his temples in an attempt to stem the oncoming headache he wondered why he was going to the trouble of forming a task force on the word of a disgraced agent to send them to a town in the middle of nowhere Because if he’s right and you do find a major liquor source and shut it down the department will reward you for you quickly reacting to the threat and if not…well Bannerman can always be posted to Greenland.
A list of names were placed in front of him by Alice his rather plain but reliable secretary of two years.
Taking another mouthful of coffee, the caffeine already beginning to take effect he quickly began sorting through the names, no point in sending anyone too competent on this, after all how much trouble could Bannerman be in?
Within minutes he had reduced the list down to a selection of screw ups, rookies and trouble makers whom the various departments would be glad to see the back of for a couple of weeks, it would also give the candidates a chance to redeem themselves should Bannerman be right about the perceived importance of this operation.
Picking up the phone from his desk Howard began making the necessary calls required to set things in motion, with any luck they’d be in Maine by tomorrow afternoon playing cops and robbers in sunny Century City, Brannigan briefly chuckled at the thought before making the first call of the day

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Ok here something a little different to the other stuff running at the moment so needless to say it may or may not go according to plan, but here goes.

You’re all FBI agents/Policemen from 1930’s America who have made the shortlist for the task force that’s being sent to Century City, the main purpose of which is to find the source of the bootlegged alcohol and stop it, although there is more going on in Century City than just illegal liquor, strange sightings and missing people abound the small town.

Although women probably weren’t in the bureau during this point (not as agents anyway) in history I am willing to bend history if you should desire to RP a female character.

Normal forum rules apply, if you have any questions or are unsure of something PM me and I’ll try and answer them and if you write something that I feel isn’t in keeping with the story I’ll politely tell you and help come up with an alternative, other than that enjoy.

Name: what you’re called?
Age: how old are you?
Equipment: what stuff have you got in your pockets?
Description: what do you look like?
Bio: your characters back story

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Name: Rick Derringer
Age: 32
Equipment: Colt 1903 Automatic Pistol, M1917 Trench knife, notebook, pencil, Hand cuffs, book of matches, FBI Warrant card
Description: 6’ tall with light brown hair and piercing steel grey eyes. Dressed in a cheap black suit and tie which are kept spotlessly clean with shoes you can see your reflection in. Over the top of his suit he wears an American army trench coat and black fedora.
Bio: Born on the rough streets of Detroit, Rick (Richard to his mother) grew up with his two younger brothers in a crowded apartment overlooking the railway tracks, where they spent much of their days goofing around. Like his brothers Rick did well in school with aspirations to join the Detroit police department like his father, who had died when he was young, he would also later marry his childhood sweet heart Alice, in all things were looking good for Rick and then America entered the war.
Rick signed up to the AEF along with his brothers and many of his friends from school the training was hard but it was nothing compared to the trenches.
By the end of the war Rick was a changed man, he’d become bitter and withdrawn, his survivors guilt causing him to act with near suicidal recklessness, his dark and stony personality making it difficult for others to get close to him.
He signed up for the FBI upon his return quickly gaining an infamous reputation for getting the job done no matter what and a predilection for shooting the guilty out of hand causing him to be feared and respected by the gangs running the streets and hatred from his superiors who saw him as a loose cannon, more vigilante than law man even if he did get results. It is only his unceasing determination to catch the guilty party that has stopped his superiors from banishing him to some backwater town or simply sacking him out of hand, that and some quietly hope that one day his luck will run out and his reckless actions will get him killed.
 
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DeletedUser31931

Name: Ben Andrews
Age: 29
Equipment: Thompson Sub-machine Gun, Medic kit (bandages, clips, etc.), Bowie Knife, Colt M1911, Two belts of throwing knives and two belts of spare ammo for each weapon.
Bio: Born in England Ben was raised by his father as his mother died in child-birth. He was given his throwing knives on his 16th birthday and then went on to serve in the army during WW1, joining with the round the block scheme which meant anyone who walked once round the block automatically became "18". He fought at the Somme and survived by the skin of his teeth. He came to America after WW1 and joined the FBI after a friend was killed by a gangster and Ben took vengeance into his own hands. He was faced with the choice of joining the FBI or a life sentence, unsurprisingly he chose the FBI and became quite a good agent. With a habit of answering back he never rose as high as he should have as he angered the wrong people. He hopes that by completing the mission he can get a promotion to his rightful place.
 
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DeletedUser25825

Name: Nellie Bailey

Age: 25

Equipment: Notepad, Pencils, Leica I 35mm Camera, Folding Knife, Pocket Watch

Description: 5'7", 125 lbs., brunette with her hair in a bun, wears glasses, and smartly dressed.

Biography: Nellie is the only daughter of Harvey John Bailey a.k.a. The Dean of American Bank Robbers. While she does not have contact with her gangster father, she did not turn down his offer of twenty-five thousand dollars ten years ago, in a manner to reconcile with her. She invested it into her education. It's still hard for women to be accepted in universities, but she had money to spend, so she attended The State School of Wisconsin and earned a degree in English.

She tried to land employment in the field of journalism, and was laughed out of every major publication. She eventually got a job as a bit reporter for the podunk daily paper written in Century City, Maine. At first, she found herself regretting earning the job, but lately news has begun to pick up with major twists.
 
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DeletedUser

Name: Stewart Richards
Age: 38
Equipment: Webley Revolver, Knife, Notepad, Pencil, Wrisch.
Description: 5 foot 8, dark brown hair with some strands of grey, wears a black suit, with light brown overcoat and no hat. Webley Holster on right hip, stores spare bullets in right breast pocket (keeps Notepad and Pencil in left) and in other pockets.
Bio: Born 1894 in Norwich, England, joined the British Army in 1912 at the age of 18. at the outbreak of The Great War was sent to France in the BEF. took part in the fight for Mons, The Great Retreat, later on fought at First and Second Ypres.
after the war ended. Stewart travelled to America and joined the FBI. has gained a reputation for having the 'shoot first, ask questions later' state of mind. and has such lost favour with several of his superiors.
 

DeletedUser28032

November 4th Detroit City
The black Packard 833 stood idling at the side of the road, the streetlights making it all but impossible to make out the two men waiting inside, a wisp of cigarette smoke curled out of the passenger side window and into the silent nights sky.
The shrill ring of the pay phone breaks the stillness of the night as it starts to ring a few feet away from the waiting car, the driver’s door is thrown open wide as a tall man in a khaki coloured trench coat rushes out to answer, reaching the phone on the fourth ring “Derringer…..Ok we’ll be right there” returning the phone to its cradle the man jumps back inside of the car, although his face never changes from its stony visage the man is excited finally the hours of waiting were about to pay off “Boats coming in Harry, Fletchers going to meet us down there” gunning the engine he steers the car around in a tight U-turn before racing off down the deserted street “Rick we should wait for uniform to get there first” Harry Conklin, Ricks latest partner stated gripping the dashboard in blind panic as his partner accelerated down the street towards the docks knowing full well that he wouldn’t wait….Rick never waited, he would go in all guns blazing and arrest them all himself or shoot them all in the process.
“You know as well as I do that they’ll never get there in time” besides most of them are probably in the mobs pocket as it is he didn’t say this out loud, Harry got kind of ly when corruption was mentioned, too fond of his rose tinted glasses this one.
Turning away from the city streets and the comforting glow of the street lamps and into the dark of the docks Rick headed for the cannery where his associate and lookout Jack Fletcher would meet them and with any luck show them where the boat had been berthed.
Rick spotted Fletcher long before his partner did, a flare of a cigarette betraying his position in the shadows of the cannery, slowing the car down sufficiently enough for Fletcher to climb into the back they carried on past the rows of rusting warehouse’s and canning plants, the stink of oil and fish was strong in the air.
“Where are they Fletcher and how many?” Rick asked, his eyes never leaving the road ahead “To the left of here…there about four or five of them none of them seem to be packing but that doesn’t mean anything” the weasely looking man replied, as he checked the chambers of his revolver were loaded before returning it to the holster hidden beneath the black raincoat he was wearing “Wait a minute are we not waiting for the cops to get here?” the man asked as Rick took the car around the corner, the small fishing boat now in sight “Why? You said there was only five of them and that they were unarmed I see no reason to wait” Fletcher opened his mouth to say something else but by that point the car screeched to a halt and Rick leapt out of the with Warrant card held high “FBI, stop what you are doing and put your hands up”
The group of men, dressed in a mixture of docker’s attire and business suits looked up in shock, a flicker of movement seen out of the corner of his eye betrayed the mans intentions giving Rick just enough time to react before it was too late.
Diving behind a stack of mouldering crates a man in a black jacket and tie pulled the Tommy gun out from where it had been hidden, the sudden spray of bullets splitting the night. Leaping behind a pair of cable drums, Rick watched as the other two agents dived behind the car, bullets ricocheting wildly of off the bodywork; cry of pain also told him that one of them had been hit.
“Harry on the count of three I want you let him have it got it?” Rick bellowed, a loud sprang echoing next to his ear as a bullet bounced off of the mass of steel cable “What?! Are you crazy!”
“Just do it…one…two…” pulling the automatic from the shoulder holster under his coat Rick scanned the area around him, the other mobster had taken cover so would cause him any trouble all he had to do was take out the man with machine gun.

The two agents opened fire from behind the car, their bullets flying wildly past the machine gunner causing him to duck for a few seconds, precious seconds that Rick used to his advantage. Bursting out from behind the cable drum Rick sprinted out across the open ground to stand by the barnacle ridden boat, the mobsters eyes grew wide as he realised he’d been flanked, swinging the Tommy gun round to bear he was seconds away from cutting the agent in two but too late. Rick fired once the bullet hitting the man between the eyes, the Tommy gun falling to the ground from his lifeless hands with a clatter. Spinning around to face the cowering bootleggers Rick took aim almost daring them to make a move and justify him killing them all, but they saw the look in his eyes and stayed put, they’d heard of him and knew he wasn’t playing. In the distance the screaming of police sirens could be heard as they approached the docks once again too late to be of any real help, He watched as Harry walked out from behind the now bullet riddled car with Fletchers arm around his shoulders and a bullet wound in his leg, a glancing shot Fletcher would live Rick decided, in all he thought the operation had been a success.

Rick’s eyes snapped open upon hearing the phone start to ring; the early morning light was beginning to creep over the top of his living room curtains. Staggering out of the chair in which he’d spent the night Rick walked over picked up the phone already aware of who would be “Derringer…Ok I’ll be right there” the boss wanted to see him no doubt it was about what had happened last night, Fletchers injury had proved to be a little more serious than first thought and he’d been shipped off to the hospital, the car on the other hand had been a complete write off , the engine block had been so riddled with bullets that they hadn’t even bothered to try and repair it.
Checking the clock on the mantelpiece Rick decided he had just enough time for a shave, he’d get something to eat later, today would no doubt be another busy day.
 

DeletedUser

Stewart leapt up onto the trench firing step, he pulled back the bolt on his Enfield rifle, aimed and fired. Jenkins was next to him. the Lewis gun emitting it's defining heavy thump as it repeatedly fired.
it was 1917, and the Germans were attacking the British line. Again.
the Lieutenant ran behind him, shouting out orders.
the Germans were gaining ground, not that far away from the barbed wire entanglements.
Stewart fired again. this time the bullet found it's mark.
suddenly there was a deafening explosion. Stewart was thrown off the firing step and into the excrement, rainwater pools and spent cartridges of the trench bottom.
as he got back to his feet, Stewart saw Walker's mangled body, lying half on the firing step, half on the ground.
"BOMBER! TAKE HIM OUT NOW!' The Lieutenant screamed.
Stewart got back on the firing step, pulled back the rifle bolt and aimed at the stick-grenade wielding German Bomber that was in front of the wire entanglements. he fired and the German collapsed on the ground.
suddenly Stewart heard intense gunfire and shouting coming from the trenches to the left.
the Germans must have broken past the wire and into the trenches.
Stewart leapt down from the firing step and ran left along the trench. heading towards the gunfire.
as he rounded the corner he saw a German rifleman, running towards him.
as they both saw each other they raised their rifles.
Stewart pulled the trigger and heard what he least wanted to hear;
The Dead Man's Click.
his rifle magazine was empty. with horror, he watched as the German pulled back the bolt and was about to fire when The phone rang.

Stewart woke up. the phone was ringing loudly. he rubbed his eyes and yawned.
half-asleep, he rolled out of bed and walked over to the phone. he picked it up. "Hello? Yes, This is Richards. Oh, I'll be there soon." he put the phone down, walked over to his wardrobe and slung on his clothes. his superior wanted to see him. it was probably about that illegal gambling den he'd shot up last night.
as he put on his overcoat, he opened the left breast pocket to check that the notepad and pencil was still there. he checked his right pocket. yup, full with .455 bullets.
he closed the wardrobe, walked over to his bedside table and picked up his Webley Mk VI in it's holster.
he attached the holster to his belt, turned around and walked out of the room. he walked into the kitchen, picked up a slice of bread, stuffed it into his mouth and started chewing.
moving out of the kitchen he opened the front door and stepped outside.
he looked at the sky, there was several dark clouds. rain was coming.
 

DeletedUser28032

Rick sat in the hard wooden chair outside his superiors office, the clacking of his secretaries typewriter filling the silence. The room was painted a cream colour with a plethroa of filing cabinets and desks. The door to the office opened to Ricks right and a large man in a crisp white shirt, navy trousers and braces stepped out "Agent Derringer early as usual I see" the man said gruffly, the agents punctuality had always annoyed him, off of the streets the man was squeaky clean, Mr nice guy yet it didn't mean he was being polite it merely meant he was biding his time.
Stepping into the office, painted in teh same cream coloured paint as the lobby, Director George Harley motioned for Rick to take the brown leather seat opposite his desk, in teh bottom drawer of which Rick knew there was a bottle of Bourbon that in an uncharacteristically cautious move Rick had decided to overlook. "Agent Derringer you have been selected to join the task force being set up in Century City, Collect your things the train leaves in an hour, any questions?" Rick sat momentarily stunned in the comfy leather chair, not that his face showed any such reaction "Will I be meeting Agent Conklin there or..."
"Agent Conklin isn't going, in fact agent Conklin has filed for a transfer...For christ sake Rick how many partners have you had? three four...No its more than four because three of them have been killed in the line of duty" the large man snapped his face had turned and ugly red colour as his anger swelled "This isn't the Marne Damn it! try and keep some of our agents alive!....now you're to meet a pair Limeys on the way, you'll be told whats going once you get there....a man by the name of Bannermans running the show from what i hear...now get out of here"
Leaving the office Rick idly wondered why a pair of Limeys would be working with him? he met a couple whilst in France and they'd seemed ok to him. Leaving the office Rick headed back to his apartment inorder to collect a few clothes before going on to catch the train to Century City.

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November 5th, Century City
Joseph Snow editor of the Podunk Daily listened patiently to the man on the phone before hanging up "Felicity get me a reporter, a pair of coppers were killed down by the docks last night we need to get on this pronto!" he shouted barely hiding his excitment "Joe, Nellie's available should I call her?" Joseph sat and considered teh idea of sending a woman for all of two seconds before dismissing the idea, this was far too important to leave in her hands "No....get her to look into that missing kid...whats her name...Alice Pitt" she wasn't the first to go missing but she was by far the most noticable the rest had been Hobo's and other such down and outs but a little girl that got noticed, that was worthy of some column space.
 
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DeletedUser

Stewart stepped out of his superiors office. he had been told that he was going to Century City as part of some task force. he hadn't been told the details, but hopefully he would be briefed when he got there.
stepping out of the door, Stewart walked through the streets back towards his apartment, he checked his watch; less than an hour until the train left.
soon he was back at his apartment, after opening the door, he moved into his bedroom, pulled out his suitcase from under his bed, opened it and began to pack.
a few spare clothes and a spare box of .455 ammo for the Webley alongside other stuff.
Stewart was just about to close the suitcase when he paused, turned back to the wardrobe, reached inside, and pulled out a shotgun and a box of cartridges. better safe than sorry. he though has he placed them inside.
he closed the suitcase, picked it up and walked back outside, heading in the direction of the train station.
 

DeletedUser31931

Ben received a phone call and picked up. He had stayed the night in a motel just outside of the city. "We want you to go to the scene where the girl Alice Pitt was taken and see it there is anything we could use to find the kidnappers. Boss seems to think that it's connected in some way." Max, a friend of Ben's, said down the phone.
"Thanks Max. Tell the boss I will. I'm going there now." He hung up and walked out unlocking his car. He got in it and began to drive into the city.
 

DeletedUser

Name: Jeffery Bauer
Age: 54
Equipment: 13" Colt Single Action Army .45 (six rounds almost always chambered), cigars, notepad, pencil, wrisch, FBI paperwork, small length of rope (easily pocketed but strong enough to secure an object or person), Cross shaped-letter opener, 24 .45 rounds.
Description: Thick black hair cut short (surprising for a man his age), stands 5' 6", brown duster, brown waist-coat, brown trousers, handlebar mustache.
Bio: He was a lawman in Texas as the last of the Wild West's "Wild" was tamed. When a special task force was formed in 1908 by "Teddy" to enforce the Mann Act he was asked to sign up. He moved east and was there when J. Edgar Hoover walked into the DOI offices.

Jeffery has an illustrious career in the profession of law enforcement from accomplishments with the Texas Rangers, Secret Service, DOI (or FBI as it has been recently renamed and established autonomously), he also has friends in high places. Only one "failure" has tainted Jeffery. From the moment John Hoover stepped into his position as director Jeffrey has fought the man tooth and nail as he watches Hoover cut men from the FBI due to dislike and his drive to establish himself as what appears to be a position as a despot of the Bureau. His friends have protected him from being completely cut and every "dead end" assignment given to Jeffrey has been blasted back into Hoover's office a stunning success. He is relegated to an office job but when he can wreck Hoover's day, he doesn't give up an opportunity.

May of 1899 Montezuma Box Canyon, Texas

"C'mon Roger, no hope for you! Get out from behind that rock and give yourself up! You're trapped and the rest of your gang is gone!" "You thought you'd capture me that easy? Why do you think I'm hiding in a box canyon?" "Shaddup and get-" "Out of time!" "Wha-"

A massive explosion, caused by carefully distributed explosive charges, rocks the canyon and inundates it in dust and rubble. As it settles Roger steps out from behind his rock. The path for him is clear, no living foe stands in his way as he moves to make his escape among the scattered remains of assorted deputies. He doesn't notice the sound of stone crumbling away. Nor does he notice the glistening barrel pointed at him.

"Turn slowly you slimy snake."

He turns, too quick. The gun is already cocked and the first round is fired. Roger's body shakes. He's still up and moves to bring up his lever action rifle. Too slow, a second round strikes him...

November 4th, 1932 FBI Laboratory Quantico, Virginia

A desk job. Paperwork, and more paperwork. Nothing to do really, well no real work anyway. Hoover's newest plan forensics. Bah, what use is it to know what a man's fingerprint is if you can't catch him? Jeffry took his Colt out of his desk. What do the younger folks always call the long Colts now? A Buntline, a fabricated story of the Old West. A time that kids like them can't even think about without filtering it through the ideas of a dime novel. Well, he'd lived it and this gun had shot Western "bad men" and Eastern gangsters. He had no use for the romanticized lies always told in those works of fiction. He thought about it, how long since the gun was fired. He'd practiced yesterday. When was the last time he fired in fury though? Back in 1930 against smugglers who couldn't understand the short range of their automatics. Hah, now that's the kind of job he liked. The phone rang.
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Hoover was up to his tricks again he was sure of it as he boarded the train for Century City. Maine? Really the man was sending him to a backwater to deal with some dumb Frenchie rum runners no doubt. The kind that disappeared like ghosts and took months to nail down. It seemed sad that a respectable man like him get sent on such a low brass jo. Everyone knew that Maine was quite poor for bulk smuggling due to the rough condition of its coast. A lowbrow operation, he was going to make sure Hoover fried for sending a man with "connections" like him onto that work. But, it was better than an office job...
 

DeletedUser28032

Rick sat reading the paper, his trenchcoat neatly folded beside him along with the small travel bag he had hastily packed. He was being sent a way to some one horse town as a punishment he knew that much but for what crime he wasn't quite sure. The train lurched forward suddenly as it beagn to slow down for the next stop on the line, Rick had no idea how long he had been sat on the train reading the paper but judging from the ache in his lower back quite a while.
Steam swirled up around the windows blocking the station from view as teh train came to a halt, the embarking and disemabarking passengers looked like shadows as they filed past him. A man in a brown overcoat entered the carriage, suitcase in hand and judging by the way he carried it there was something heavy inside....a gun perhaps? Rick's own automatic was in its holster nestled by his left armpit.
Raising his arm in the air he wave the man over to join him, he had a suspicion who the mystery man would turn out to be "Are you with the Bureau?" he asked quietly, it never paid to advertise his proffession too loudly. The man nodded his head "My names Rick Derringer, a pleasure to work with you" he said holding out his hand towards the man, the expression on his face never changing from its stony demeanor, it was nothing personal ts was just the way he was.
 
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DeletedUser

"The name is Bauer. Jeffry Bauer," he grabbed the hand offered by the other man and rigorously pumped it while allowing a smile to creep onto his face. Nothing better to throw off those rigid Hoover drones than a touch of humanity. "Pleasure to meet you. Perhaps you've heard of me? Oh wait, that egomaniac Hoover probably made sure you haven't. While we're talking about Hoover, could I ask what that man has sent you to do? He hasn't sent you on a dead end mission has he?"
 

DeletedUser13682

Name: Theodore Wallace Duke
Age: 29
Equipment: Browning Automatic Rifle M1918, .357 Magnum, M1917 knuckle duster, pocket watch, Lucky Strikes
Description: tall, thin, and pale, with bright red hair. Takes to wearing black trousers with white shirt and black waistcoat. Occasionally will wear a black duster.
Bio: Born in the District of Columbia, to a father who was a close friend of J. Edgar Hoover, and a mother who was the daughter of a mafia capo, Theodore was a man who was torn and fought over his entire life. His father had the bigger influence, so he joined the Bureau in its early years, gaining prominence within. But his mother still had enough influence to help lead him down the path of iniquity. Caught one day doing illegal drugs off of a milk soaked red pepper, Theodore was almost kicked out from the Bureau altogether and thrown into jail for years. Luckily, he was on friendly terms with J. Edgar, and he gave Theodore one last chance in Century City, to prove once and for all where his loyalties lay.

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Theodore sat in a small prison cell, buried beneath the Bureau. He had been there for what was is, three days now? It had been way too long for him. Theodore longed to be back in the open, working, or at least doing his new favourite activity, mainly the one involving the same white powder that got him put in this very cell not more than a week ago. Theodore heard the door that led to the cell area open and close, maybe he would get some company down here. Instead, he got a guard, who promptly opened the door, and ordered Theodore to follow him. Theodore complied, and was led to the office of none other than J. Edgar Hoover himself.

"Now, son," Hoover began, "I like your dad, and I like you. I'm willing to give you a second chance to redeem yourself. Something small, but could be important. It's going to test your loyalties between the good side and the bad side. Your choice. Choose right, and you're free. Choose wrong, and well, you know. Understood?" Theodore nodded. "Sure thing, Johnny. I catch your drift. I won't let you down."

Theodore was led to a train station in downtown D.C., his things had already been packed for him, apparently, except for his duster, which he was given upon arrival at the train station, discovering that one of the pockets had his .357 in it. He was placed in the rearmost of the car, where he was told to keep hold of an envelope, that he was to open, upon reaching their final destination, somewhere in Maine. Theodore nodded, and waved the guy away, promptly falling asleep not five minutes later, missing the humans who got in the train car with him, probably not related to anything he was doing, or they were on the same mission, Theodore would find out when he woke.
 

DeletedUser28032

"No I've heard of you, you used to be pretty big out east unless i am mistaken?" Rick replied moving his travel bag onto the floor to allow the ageing to sit down, the train began to lurch forwards once again as it left the station.
"As for the job all i was told was that i am to join a task force up into Century City, guy by the name of Jack Bannerman's heading up the team, you ever heard of him?" Rick asked curious as to whether the other man had heard of this mystery agent "Must of pissed someone off in order to get himself shipped out there though...come to think I've probably gotten the wrong side of someone in order to get this assignment" Rick let the corners of his mouth momentarily creep up at the thought, he was only suprised that it had taken them this long to get rid of him he'd have thought arresting that politician would have been enough.
"Oh that was the only other thing, I was told i would meeting up with a Limey whilst enroute" Rick spoke, increasing the volume of his voice as the man behind him began to snore, he'd been on the train when Rick had gotten on and by the looks of things would be on here for the rest of the journey, Rick just hoped he would stop snoring it was going to be a long enough journey as it was with that noise in his ears
 

DeletedUser25825

Nellie walked up the creaking steps of the Pitt residence. She silently steeled herself, and rapped her knuckles gently on the door. She waited a few moments, before the door opened only a crack, and Nellie saw the untrusting eyes of whom she assumed to be Alice's mother staring out at her. The eyes changed only slightly, as the woman recognized it was Nellie knocking, and not a male. The muffled voice of the woman inquired as to Nellie's business.

Nellie removed her press credentials from within the fashionable jacket she wore, and held them up for the woman to see as she said, "My name is Nellie. I'm a reporter with the Podunk Daily. I was hoping to speak with Mrs. Margaret Pitt?"

She saw the woman slowly nod, though the frown remained ingrained on the woman's brow as she responded, "I already talked with the police, and they know everything I could tell you. Talk to them." Nellie surreptitiously pushed her foot forward, and effectively barred the door from being shut in her face. She said, "Actually Mrs. Pitt, I was hoping to speak to you about your daughter to get her story out, and maybe more people to look for her." Nellie watched the hesitation in the woman, and went for a kill shot as she said, "I can get her picture in the paper with my story. People won't have to be able to read to see what your beautiful daughter looks like."

She smiled as the woman opened the door slowly, and beckoned her inside. She said, "Thank you Mrs. Pitt. We'll find your daughter together", as she entered the apartment.
 

DeletedUser31931

Ben pulled outside the house of the girls mother. First off he needed a photo of the girl. Then he needed to ask her a few questions as he didn't know how detailed the police interview was. After that he was going to go to where she was last seen and look for details of a fight, someone running away, etc. He walked up to the door and knocked on the door. He stood there and awaited it to be opened.
 

DeletedUser28032

Mrs Pitt
Smiling wearily Mrs Pitt let the young woman into her small but neat home, a short drive a away from the docks where her husband Arthur had worked and died when the crane he was operating had failed, crushing him beneath the its load. Ever since that day it had just been her and her young daughter Alice, now it was just her alone in the small house near the docks.
"Can i get you a drink? Tea, Coffee I may even have a slice of cake somewhere" she asked quietly, ushering the young woman into the sitting room in which stood three worn but comfy looking armchairs that sat facing the fireplace, yet it had been a warm november so far so no fire had been lit. "I am not sure what i can tell you that i didn't tell the police the other day" she apologised, wringing her work roughened hands anxiously. Margaret Pitt was around 5'4" with short dark blonde hair, she was rather plain looking the premature death of her husband and her daughters disappearance had caused her to age beyond her thirty four years.
"Please make yourself comfortable, I'll just see if i can find that photograph....I know its around here somewhere" she said motioning for Nellie to take one of the armchairs, in truth she knew exactly where the photograph was but didn't wish to reveal how she had clung to it these past few days hoping that her beautiful daughter would return.
A small carriage clock ticked quietly on the mantle piece breaking the slience as Margaret went in search of a photograph, either side sat a pair of black and white photographs. one was of a young man and a woman obviously Mr and Mrs Pitt getting married, the other was other was of two young men in US army uniforms although neither of them appeared to be the deceased Mr Pitt. "I hope this is alright..." She said holding out a photgraph of a young girl with wavy blonde hair sat on the beach with an ice cream "...She's a little older now but you can still tell its her" she said hopfully.
There was a sudden knock at the door, causing her to jump at the unexpected sound, "I had better see who that is" she said smiling apollogetically once more, pushing the photograph into her apron pocket.
Opening the door only just wide enough for her to see who it was she warily greeted the man on her doorstep "Hello..can i help you?"
 

DeletedUser31931

"Hello madam. My name is Ben Andrews and I'm here about your daughter. I don't know exactly how much the police asked you and I have a few questions I don't think they asked. Is now a bad time? I can always come back later?" He replied to the woman, Mrs Pitt probably, being as polite as possible.
 

DeletedUser13682

Theodore woke up with a semi-startled jump, and started muttering about limes. "Limes? I like them. They're green, and round, and limey." He saw the people stare at him, and realized they said Limey, not limes. "Oh, right, Limeys. Well blimey I say. They're not bad chaps, I should think. Ireland did well by them." After a few moments, when Theodore was done being embarrassed by his earlier blunder, he offered his hand to the guy in front of him. "I'm T.W. Duke, heading toward Century City. You heading there too?"
 

DeletedUser

"Thank you m'boy," Jeffry sat down in the space offered to him and listened to the man's response. "Good thing you've heard of me. I thought you were some kind of Hoover drone. As for this Bannerman, the name does sound familiar. But, Hoover's been shuffling men so much that- Wait, I got it. About 1930, my last shooting match, a fellow named Jack Bannerman was the one who told I, my partner, and two other G-Men where to find some gangsters and corner their shipments. We go out there and went crashing into this shady warehouse. They were ready for us. They killed my partner and the two guys helping us. We'd already managed to shoot a few of them but I was in an untenable position and had to run. They chased me but there were only three of them and they couldn't keep up with me. I knew their aim was awful and took a chance. I stopped, aimed and fired. Shot one, then the other. The third winged my leg, which was later part of the reason I got stuck at a desk, before I dropped him. I limped into that place to see if any of the mangy dogs were left and started opening doors. I broke down one and there was Bannerman curled up in a corner beaten to a mulch. He'd been caught and had squealed we were coming. It was a miracle they hadn't killed him. I considered doing him a favor and fixing the gangsters error. But I relented and called in help and told the story. Not sure what happened to him after that, but I guess he's in Maine now. As for a Limey..."

The man who had been snoring earlier suddenly startled and was muttering about limes and Limeys.Then he could be heard asking the man across from him if he was headed to Century City.

"Hold your horses, I'll go see if that guy is the one you're looking for. Sounds like he must've been drunk or something but I'll see if I can't drag him in here."

Jeffry stood up and walked over to where the man who'd just awoken was.

"I sir am headed to Century City, if you could sit with me and my companion perhaps we could discuss our shared journey?"
 
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