Sydnie was so angry she flung tables into walls. "Another dead end." Then she nodded to Billy.l so he knew she hald him no annimosity. "How? How were they going to use you? This could be a clue. We're you invited here? If so by whom?"

Billy just shakes his head. "I don't get invited nowhere. I was going on the road, man. Like Kerouac and Cassady, trying to find the wonder I lost; hoping the wandering would lead to me. I came in here to get a drink and these guys said I should ride with them, all for fun."

Justicar walked over to Billy, "Hey. I believe you.  And you are not the first person gifted with meta-human powers I've meet finding it hard to find happiness living with their talents. I'm trying to help poeple with your gifts find some level of peace and happiness living with their gift.  Find a way t make their powers make life for them livable for them and offer opportunity for legitimate employment using their powers in ways socially constructive as they want.  A super power Temp agency that helps you find employers for legitimate high paying work as your powers/talents should demand.  I'm already helping one meta find legitimate work for his skills that don't even require his powers!"

Hikari hands him a burner phone, "Here, give me a call tomorrow and I'll get you in contact with my Public Relations and Lawyer Team.. and I'll make in my business to help you find something you can get paid for for legal legitimate use of you power... maybe even find venues where you can get back to your dream of singing again? I'm rich, I don't have any needs and I want to help! Its what HEROES Do."

Justicar listening also to the interchange between Crusader and the thugs ~ spoke up, "..Wait. They call you?  So on who's cell phone?  To regular investigators this might not be traceable... but I have resources most don't."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:18, Tue 14 June 2022.

One of the bikers, watching Crusader's tirade, glances at Hikari and points to a wall phone behind the bar.

Justicar snorted, laughing, "They call you on a pay phone, HA ~ idiots! Excellent.. that's even Easier to track. Contrary to what everyone thinks the phone system is digital... even the analogue hardwired systems are monitored by digital command and control.  There is ALWAYS a record of a call both caller and receiver!"

Hikari looked to Crusader, "I might be able to get you if not the id of the caller or at least close to the neighborhood they called from...Might.  But seriously... this is illegal, privacy invasion and all that ~ the means I would use to do so. Are you cool with that?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Wed 15 June 2022.

Crusader thought about it. "Laws should protect children not perverts. Do it."

Yes, a pay phone wouldn't be secure, on this end. However, if the call originated from a burner phone as some guy walked around Times Square (which it did) the security of the pay phone would be a moot point. Even if you follow the money you eventually run into some anonymous guy buying a bunch of no contract phones with gift cards at a busy Walmart (in Tuscaloosa) and the phones being activated with other gift cards at a later date (in various locations). ALL of the phones could be linked back to anonymous accounts (ocbpXXXXX@gmail.com, XXXXX are numeric digits). Even if you track the phones for every ocbpXXXXX@gmail.com (which would be hundreds of thousands, the accounts have been used multiple times) you just get less than a dozen calls from each individual phone from and to locations all over North America.

Justicar gets on his cell phone and calls 'Karl'... to do some questionable data searching and computer hacking, where as people use and monitor data, 'Karl' IS data and such intel is his bitch.  They have several minutes of conversation while Hikari has 'Karl' trace IMEI numbers that made contact with the pay phone in the FIR zone the phone calls of the pay phone are associated with; breaching the phone provider's computer systems and bypassing the required warrant for such inquires... spoofing Detective Broyko's permission.  He can narrow it down to a Cell Tower where the phone call originated giving an approximate neighborhood but little else.

"Yeah, if they are using a burner and only use it twice and then never again... can't find them until they turn it on again..IF they turn it on again. Sorry Crusader, I can have 'Karl' monitor to see if they ever try to use it again... but its unlikely."

09:42, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 24 using 1d100.  Karl - Computer Hacking [45%]. – [roll=1655300535.40924.355584]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Wed 15 June 2022.

Unfortunately, the phone used to call the bar isn't used again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Wed 15 June 2022.

Hikari chuckled as 'Karl' related the last bit of his intel.

He turned to smile at Crusader, "We're in luck, they got careless."

Addressing bikers, "One of you spoke to the person on the phone call.. could you tell if it was a man or a woman?"

Turning back to Crusader, once answered, "...It doesn't really matter, but could simplify our search a little.  You see it is Very hard in our society to totally erase your digital footprint, even when you think your being cleaver.  We know when whoever made the call ~ we have the time of the call from the Phone Company Provider records, and we also know where he was in Times Square walking around on a cell phone.  Which was fatally foolish of him/her."

He smiled again, "Do you know how many cameras watch Times Square all the time?  Quite a few actually.  All we need do is secure the best complete footage from the many sources that monitor Times Square.  We do not need to know all the people who were in Times Square on the day of the call; only those people who were there during the time he made his call.  We eliminate anyone not on a cell phone obviously, and run facial recognition software on the remaining few... if the caller was a he and not a she that cuts the number in half again.  I'll bet we have only a list of maybe 30 or 40 potential callers?  Once we have them all identified we check for criminal records... I'll bet if this scum is running a child trafficking ring.. he's got a record for other criminal activity as well.  We WILL find him."

Speaking on his cell to 'Karl', "Karl, you know what to do... make it so... But do try to cover our tracks a bit... less uncomfortable questions."

19:46, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 17 using 1d100. Karl - Computer Hacking [45%] – [roll=1655336808.07618.355584]

{Gah, hit the roll button too soon. Sorry}
This message was last edited by the player at 23:49, Wed 15 June 2022.

Crusader nodded, "I guess all roads lead too Times Square."

In reply to Crusader (msg # 27):

Hikari nods, "This... is going to take a little time.  Fast as 'Karl' is that is a lot of systems to infiltrate and a lot of data to parse through."

Jerking his thumb over his shoulder to gesture at the Bikers he steps close to whisper to Crusader, "...in the meantime what are we going to do with these bozos? We have records indicating a phone call was sent here...acquired through 'questionable means'... but no proof any of them answered other than hearsay.  Do you have any evidence that we can connect these guys with a child-trafficker when we call the police to take these guys into custody?  We honestly don't have much legally right now... unless you have something solid. I can stay to deal with the police if you want to be scarce, but I need something to tell them!"

While talking to Crusader, Hikari will send the pictures he took of all the biker's faces to the Online FBI Most Wanted to see if there are any outstanding Warrants or Bounties on any of the Bikers.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Thu 16 June 2022.

Shaking her head, "Nothing solid. A lot of geographic profiling and narrowing down. This bar is a choke point. I was hoping some would be stashed here."

Hikari grimaces whispering, "I was hoping you would not say that.  We may just have to let these guys go... until we nail the Trafficker. I have their pictures and can take pics of their id's... but the police will not be happy if we bring them in on this.  We might just be best to vanish ourselves."

Standing, Billy walks over to Crusader and Hikari. Then he whispers, "I can hear the tip-tap of tiny cockroach feet on the linoleum under the refrigerator in the back of the bar."
"So, anyway, why don't we step outside and talk about what to do, next?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:45, Thu 16 June 2022.

In reply to Billy Klang (msg # 31):

Catching the que, Justicar looks at Crusader nodding to her to use her stealth to take a peek at what might be hiding under the fridge and he speaks up loudly, "Sure thing Mr Klang... I'd like to hear more about your singing plans.. to see if I can get something set up to get you back on tour doing what you do best!"

As he walks beside Billy Klang in friendly banter back and forth out the front doors of the bar to make a convincing distraction for Crusader...

Outside, Hikari keep talking loudly... but moves around to cover any back door exit drawing his Stun Gun {Blaster}... ready to zap any runners...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Thu 16 June 2022.

He waits till they're all outside, then speaks quietly. "The dudes on those bikes? They're about as sharp as a  sack of wet mice. We just beat the tar outta those guys, but not one of them is dialing 911. They probably won't even turn the damage in to the insurance, if they have any."
"The point is, once we leave they'll go right back to business as usual. You maintain ears on that phone and the next time some guy calls and wants them to 'escort' a couple trucks, you'll be there to stop those trucks and 'confiscate' the cargo. That'll get you closer to the top of this 'ring'."
"In the meantime, I'm going to take one of their bikes and head on. There's a few people in Missouri I should see. Besides, I can catch ol' 66 if I head north for an hour. Maybe that'll be the America I'm lookin' for."

In reply to Billy Klang (msg # 33):

Justicar pauses grimaces slightly, "I... suppose.  We can indeed monitor this pay-phone and continue search for the identity of their caller at the same time."

He glanced over at Crusader, "... but it is, undeniably non-optimal.  But in the lack of ... more concrete evidence of law-breaking... it is our distasteful but best option at this point.  Chimp Man Z does have a point about his dedication to procedural protocol."

Turning back to Billy, Hikari offers his hand, "I truly hope you find what your looking for Mr Klang, but my offer still stands if you're ever interested. I meant every word! I think, I could help you restart your career on your terms!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Fri 17 June 2022.

Crusader will go move the fridge and check for secret doors or hatches.


10:10, Today: Crusader rolled 69 using 1d100.  /70 Forensics

This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Fri 17 June 2022.

Justicar will seek out Crusader...

"Hey, these thugs don't know much of what we need to bust them..we need to catch them red-handed getting the hand off... I got my electronic feelers looking for their caller ~ we'll get him... but these bottom feeders will likely be stupid enough that if we leave they will think they got away with it.. but I'm electronically monitoring all of them.. I have their id's and when they slip up... and they will; We'll bust them and make it Stick!"

He sighs, "I know its not optimal.. but it will work with time.. and I know those poor kids their abusing don't have time.. but we don't have any other choice to catch these crooks.  We must be patient.  Let's get out of here!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Sun 26 June 2022.

There are no secrets in the bar.

Sydnie will go with Hikari.

Hikari leads Sydnie back to his bike in silence... the end of this clearly not 'settled'!

Back on the road again traveling as the racing bikes engine hums beneath them and the hurricane winds buffeting them at high cruising speed... Hikari asks his tone tinged with care, "You ok Sydnie?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:28, Tue 28 June 2022.

Sydnie was not very talkative. "I expected more. My information said that a delivery of children would happen today. I am troubled at my error, or the error of my informant. I am not troubled by our time at the beach."

Hikari knew sometimes he talked too much so he did not want to spoil the moment and simply rested his hand upon Sydnie's around his waist giving her a hand a tender squeeze of warm affection and remained silent... savoring the moment.

All too soon they were back in the city limits and Hikari greatly reduced his speed returning them to the Parking Garage roof.

Coming to a stop he regarded Crusader over his shoulder and nodded. He did not raise his helmet visor...

"Today was a good day... enjoy the helmet ~ I'll get on tracking those Trafficker's phone calls and the facial recognition search of Times Square.  WE WILL find those guilty! See you soon... 'Heroine'!"