In reply to Dr. Leonardo Elias (msg # 20):

Bo lets out a long sigh.

"Not so good. After the rest of you left, I kept hidden for a while, then tried to get close enough to find a way in. Warehouse looks like it's pretty buttoned up and that work gang went back inside and sounded wide awake. Couldn't see any way to get to the roof.

"I was working my way around the back when a bunch of sailors came up the hill. Started to get out of sight, but-- I... ahhh... Oh, hell! I knocked over an ashcan and it went rolling down toward the sailors."

He chuckles. "It made a heck of a racket!"

He glances at the car.

"Stan's got the keys, huh?"

He sighs and rubs his freezing nose.

Leo nodded at Walter's report and patted the younger man on the shoulder and looked him in the eyes. "You tried, Walter, thanks for that. Maybe best you didn't get in, as that place is likely to be rather dangerous."

Leo looked down at the car then back to Walter with a shrug. "Neither of us have the keys. I certainly hope Stan has them."

   Millicent listened to Walter's story, cringing as he told about the trashcan. "Wow, that was some bad luck, it's lucky you weren't caught." She gave out a rather loud, disappointed groan when Walter told them he also didn't have the keys. "Ok, gentlemen, next time we do anything like this, bring multiple sets of keys, alright?"

  She looked at her reflection through the car windows for a few moments, then said; "I bet there's some kind of dive around here, you know, to keep warm and all. You think Stanley will be awhile? Maybe we could leave him a note or something."

From somewhere in the distance, towards the docks, a gunshot reports into the night, followed in short succession by another.

Walter straightens up and looks toward the sound.

"I guess it might not be Stan. Wait here, I'll have a look. If Stan gets back in a hurry, just go. I'll find a bus."

He begins striding purposefully toward the sound.

Leo shook his head as he placed his hand on the sea bag. "No, we need to stick together, Walter. If Stan comes back in a hurry, he can still go. If he's in trouble with a larger number of people, you'll need the backup." Leo went after Walter and waved at Millicent to follow. As they moved, he unzipped the sea bag to allow for easier access of its contents.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

If Walter hears Leo, he gives no sign of it and picks up his pace a bit.

It took them a few minutes to walk through the neighborhood towards the docks, taking the route they were most familiar with. As they approached, they slowed and took a look at the warehouse from a distant vantage point. There was as little lighting as before, just the barest hint at the front, though it was sufficient to show them that there didn't appear to be anyone standing in front of the building. There was no commotion they could observe here, though a guess would have indicated that the sound they had heard would have come from somewhere in this direction.

OOC:

Just a quick FYI, I'm case it helps add some priority to this:

This is the only active thread in the game at the moment. The other players are waiting on the resolution of this before we can move on.

OOC: I was giving clearance to Walter to react first as he will be the first one to get to the 'vantage point' having not waited for the other two to catch up.

Walter halts when he sees the warehouse and steps back into the shadows. He waits for Leo and Millicent to catch up.

"Either Stan got away and probably went back to the car," he whispers to them, "Or he got caught and is in there.

"Let's go back to the car. We can break into it and hot-wire it and drive back here. With the shotguns."

Leo pointed to the sea bag he was still carrying. "I've got the shotguns. But we can still go back to the car to check if Stan's there. If he fled, he might be looking for us. If he's smart, he took off and we can all catch a bus. If not, he'll be wringing his hands, fretting."

"If we get in there and find Stan, I'd rather not have to run back to the car and then hot-wire it, if Stan doesn't have the keys."

Walter starts back to the car.

Leo nodded his agreement. "Agreed. Let's head back."

The trio soon returned to the car, which sat where it had been before, unaccompanied.

---

OOC:
Based on what has been suggested, you can use Locksmith to pick the lock on the car, or smash a window if you want Leo to have to shell out some cash.

To hotwire the car, take the higher of the higher of Electrical Repair + 20 or Mechanical Repair + 20, then roll a d100.

OOC: How close can we drive to the warehouse, if that is indeed our new plan?

Rolling her eyes, Millicent reluctantly followed the 2 men as the dashed to the warehouse and changed their minds and dashed back to the car. "You know," she said sarcastically, "if you wanted to keep warm, this is a tiring way to do it. I would much prefer to sit in somewhere indoors."

  Back at the car where their situation had not much improved other than being out of breath, Millicent looked in the window, so wishing she was staring out the other side.

"Well boys, are we going to try to jimmy the car or not? You know we can always use a more 'forceful' method to get in. I'm sure ol Leo here could cover the damages."

Leo nodded. "Cost is not an issue. Leaving Stan without a way to escape if he's heading back this way while being pursued is. As he has the keys, he would rightfully expect to find the car here if he's taking a long way back to it."

In reply to Dr. Leonardo Elias (msg # 36):

OOC:

There's a streetside loading zone in front of the warehouse (where you all were earlier), and also one behind the warehouse, from what you can tell.

"I expect Stan would be here by now, if he was coming. If he's free, he may not want to lead pursuers to us.

"Milly, does your checkered past include jimmying car doors and hot-wiring ignitions? Mine doesn't."

[Is there any kind of pub or canteen open nearby? Leo could call Avery and see if Stan's checked in. What time is it?]

OOC:

You can absolutely find a nearby pub with great ease. There are several of varying quality in the area. You may recall that Walter and Stanley stopped at one earlier called The Grapes, slightly nearer the docks.

Closer by to the car, you've seen The Red Lion and the King's Arms.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:57, Thu 02 Mar 2017.

She shook her head at Walter's inquiry. "No, I'm afraid it doesn't. Not a proper thing for a lady to be doing, is it? I don't think the good doctor's does either. If none of the three of us can do this thing, I don't know what the plan might be."

She looked to Leo and Walter, almost waiting for one of them to take leadership. "Mr. Gray sent me to be an agent in this matter, but I think this paths turnin' a bit dangerous. I reckon we should see about gettin' Mr. Bishop out of whatever pickle he's got himself into, and then move on with the night's plan."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:14, Fri 03 Mar 2017.

Bo nods grimly, then puts his elbow through the wing panel on the driver's side. He reaches through to pull up the door handle.

"Leo, why don't you go over to the King's Arms there and call Avery. I'll see about starting the car.

"Milly, you keep a lookout for cops or trouble."

Bo reaches under the dash and pulls out the electric starter. He's never done this before, but he's seen it done. Once.

Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 74 using 1d100 with rolls of 74.  Mech Repair 20%+20. Hmmmm...

Leo nodded. "Good idea, Walter. Be back shortly."

Leo did as Walter suggested, moving with haste toward either the nearest public phone booth or a business where he could beg use of their phone.

While Bo struggles outside with attempting to hot wire the car, Leo finds himself inside a warm pub, the type of place Millicent had been agitating to go all night.

Securing the use of a telephone, he places a call to Avery.

"Good evening sir, how are things proceeding on your end?" the valet asked, sounding concerned.