system
You are the dungeon master of a text adventure game. The game should involve the following genres and tags:
Mystery, chandler,cover art,detective,goal-seeking characters,hard-boiled,House,mystery,noir,on Jay Is Games,parser,replay puzzle,Xyzzy Awards 2009
gpt
"Word is: if you don't crack this one, you're
out of a job."

at No 15 Brokentop Boulevard. A man lies dead, and unfortunately, they called you. Now either you can get the evidence together to make a conviction - or you'll be out for good.

ever written: Stu Galley's Witness. A tightly-focused game it
was smart enough to use a few characters with interesting lives rather than several characters with nothing at all, and told its story in a series of gripping set-pieces.

merits of text gaming over graphical adventures. Intended as quick demo project in 2000 it took seven years to reach the THE END text, and another year to finish filling the spaces in-between. He hopes you will finish it more easily, and find the inevitable lapses of consistency in the narrative voice are compensated for by the extensive testing the first six moves have received.

Should you find any bugs - and there will be bugs - please send details to the author at jon.ingold@gmail.com.

The call comes through. Of all the dicks; you get the call, sitting in the front seat of your car, hands shaking on the steering wheel. An urgent call; but all you were thinking of was the bottle in the liquor store and so that's where you went first.

Now you're pulled up outside the house. The rear mirror's showing two steely eyes. You adjust your hat, stiffen up your collar and grab your badge off the dash. Here goes. You've one last chance to...

The boulevard through the windscreen is lined with ash trees, thick trunks casting shadows and gnarled roots mangling up the sidewalk. You're sat in your car, parked too high up the kerb; just outside the gate to No. 15. Just an ordinary house. With a body inside.

"Homicide. One Jack Draginam, accountant. Married, no kids.
Stabbed. Yadda yadda, blah blah. We got the call from the maid - geez, who has a maid? Apparently she wanted to stress there's a lot of blood."

"Oh, Inspector. Word is, if you don't crack this one, you're out
of a job."

The glove compartment is closed. Sat on the passenger seat is a whiskey bottle.
human
Open glove
gpt
(unlocking it first - with the car key)
You pull open the compartment, and it catches after only opening a tiny crack. Stupid thing.
human
Open glove
gpt
The catch is pretty firmly stuck.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
In your trenchcoat pockets are your badge and a car key, and in your hands you hold some black leather gloves.

In addition to your trenchcoat, you are wearing your wide-brimmed hat and your scuffed black shoes.
human
You hit the glove
gpt
Leaning up in the seat, you give the thing a smack with both feet and it clicks shut.
human
Open glove
gpt
(unlocking it first - with the car key)
You pull open the compartment, and it catches again.
human
You look at the bottle
gpt
"Uncle Stan's Golden Malt"; yeah, it's bargain bin liquor at 80% proof and 80% off. Your body's crying out for it. To slip back, let the whole goddamn world ride all the way to the glass at the bottom. Oh yeah.
human
You take the bottle
gpt
Your fingers shiver on the glass as you lift it.
human
You examine gloves
gpt
You've had them all your years in the force; though you're always forgetting to use them. For example, this morning you left them on the table back home; had to stop off for them just before you took this call, right after you bought the booze. Priorities all straight, oh yeah.
human
You drink the whiskey
gpt
The bottle's not open. You can suck the cap all you like, it won't do you no good.
human
You wear gloves
gpt
You pull the gloves onto your hands.
human
You examine the badge
gpt
Your police badge - oh yeah, this proves you're an upstanding, honest, officer of the goddamn law. It has a small pin on the back.
human
You go outside
gpt
(opening the black chevy first)
You open the car door.
You clamber out of the driving seat.

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15
The boulevard is lined with ash trees, thick trunks casting shadows and gnarled roots mangling up the sidewalk. Your car is parked too high up the kerb; just outside the gate to No. 15. Just an ordinary house. With a body inside.

There'd better be some faces too: you need the slam. What did the peep at the station say? Inspector, the only case you cracked open last year was the Michaelmas liquor. He has a point. If you come up
blank (or facedown in a gutter) you'll be off the payroll. And then you'd really have a problem.

Down the street there's a dog, running about.
human
You examine the dog
gpt
The dog's somewhere else down the road. You can hear its damn yapping.

You hear a loud barking in the distance.
human
You go to 15
gpt
(opening the front gate first)
The gate swings creakily.

You step into the porch.

A tasteful little porch; white painted wood strapped onto red-brick building. The front door is north, and through a small diamond of frosted glass you can make out nothing of the wood-panelled hallway inside. Your neck is sweating; sunlight hides behind the trees to the south.

A hanging basket with a couple of petunias in is attached just to the left of the door.
human
You look at the basket
gpt
The basket is small and wicker, and hangs on a rough twine from a screw in the ceiling, just out of the sunlight from the door. It's about as high up as your head. Inside the basket a couple of petunias are growing limp in the shade.
human
Search basket
gpt
The hanging basket has got some petunias in it.
human
You knock on the door
gpt
You knock a smart rap on the door.

After a short wait the door opens, Angela's face appears, then the rest of her. She looks just like she should considering, no time to do her face. "Yes, hello? Oh - " and you follow her eyes, which have noticed the whiskey bottle in your grubby paws. "I've no time for drunks now. Goodbye." The door is slammed.
human
You drop the bottle
gpt
You set the bottle down carefully. Don't want to break it now.
human
You knock on the door
gpt
You knock a smart rap on the door. Perhaps a face appears behind the red glass, but there's no answer.
human
You knock on the door
gpt
You knock a smart rap on the door. Perhaps a face appears behind the red glass, but there's no answer. Somehow, it seems like you've managed to screw up the entire investigation before even starting. Impressive.
human
You kick the door
gpt
The door's such a hard-wood that even trying to kick it down comes out as nothing but a smart little knock. Perhaps a face appears behind the red glass, but there's no answer. Somehow, it seems like you've managed to screw up the entire investigation before even starting. Impressive.
human
You show the badge to the door
gpt
Inanimate. Give up.
human
You show the badge to the face
gpt
-- You referred to something that can't be interacted with at present.

-- You referred to something that can't be interacted with at present.
human
You look at the door
gpt
The front door is closed and locked, green, kind of cheery in a backwater way. Screwed into the front are two brass numbers. They say "15". Set into it is a diamond of red-frosted glass.
human
Talk
gpt
The call comes through. Of all the dicks; you get the call, sitting in the front seat of your car, hands shaking on the steering wheel. An urgent call; but all you were thinking of was the bottle in the liquor store and so that's where you went first.

Now you're pulled up outside the house. The rear mirror's showing two steely eyes. You adjust your hat, stiffen up your collar and grab your badge off the dash. Here goes. You've one last chance so...

*  *  *  *  *
MAKE IT GOOD

-- 

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15 (in the black chevy)
The boulevard through the windscreen is lined with ash trees, thick trunks casting shadows and gnarled roots mangling up the sidewalk. You're sat in your car, parked too high up the kerb; just outside the gate to No. 15. Just an ordinary house. With a body inside.

"Homicide. One Jack Draginam, accountant. Married, no kids.
Stabbed. Yadda yadda, blah blah. We got the call from the maid - geez, who has a maid? Apparently she wanted to stress there's a lot of blood."

"Oh, Inspector. Word is, if you don't crack this one, you're out
of a job."

The glove compartment is closed. Sat on the passenger seat is a whiskey bottle.
human
You wear gloves
gpt
You pull the gloves onto your hands.
human
You knock on door
gpt
You knock a smart rap on the door.

After a short wait the door opens, Angela's face appears, then the rest of her. She looks just like she should considering, no time to do her face. "Yes? What do you want?" she says uncertainly.
human
You look at Angela
gpt
Thirty-something, maybe forty on a bad day; Angela is housewife through and through. From her thick black ball of hair down through her one piece long dress, she's sophistication via mail-order. Sure, maybe she could be pretty, if you'd lost all your teeth and were three notches out in the belt, and she wasn't pinched and blotchy, like she is today. Yeah, today is not a day to be sizing her up, that's true enough.

"Can I help you?"
human
You show the badge to Angela
gpt
"Oh, Inspector! I'm sorry.. do come in, I'm glad you came so quickly." You follow her into the house. It has a smell you recognise, all right.

A wood-panelled hallway, with the front door to the south next to which is a dark polished roll-top desk. Stairs in the northeast corner of the room lead to the upstairs landing where the bedrooms are, and a passage northwest runs through to the kitchen and blue wallpapered living room, which you can't quite see from here.

In the lefthand corner is a hat stand. Hanging off the stand is Jack's hat.

Mrs. Draginam closes the door shut behind you.

"The man on the phone told me to make sure nothing was touched. They told me you were coming, but they said there'd be more of you." She fusses a little. "Shall I take your hat?"
human
Yes
gpt
You remove your hat, and Angela hangs it on the stand.

"And your coat, Inspector?"
human
You ask Angela about Jack
gpt
"In the bedroom," she replies. "That's where it happened. I was downstairs and... oh." She raises one hand to her mouth. "Maybe you should just see."
human
You go to the bedroom
gpt
-- What do you want to go: the Maid's Bedroom, the Guest Bedroom or the Master Bedroom?
human
You go to the master bedroom
gpt
You make your way upstairs around the curve of the staircase.

Upstairs Hallway, North End
A neat little corridor, running with the stairwell to the east down the length of the house. The carpet is a worn-down brown pattern; the wallpaper a lurid yellow colour, like flowers stuck in another guy's wedding cake. The closed doorway to the bedroom lies north of here, another door is open to the west; by the look of it a guest bedroom.

"Through there, Inspector," Angela says to you, pointing to the north door; hanging back herself though.
human
You look at the north door
gpt
The master bedroom door is closed.
human
You go to master bedroom
gpt
(opening the master bedroom door first)
You open the door. And catch a glimpse of the corpse - a crumpled heap of dead human, nothing but the knife wounds in its back between him and you. Stabbed in the back - oh yeah, stabbed in the back.

Angela follows you in, and looks uncertainly at the body, her eyes a little cold. "I'll be in the living room if you want to ask me any questions, Inspector," she say thickly, before stepping out the room and closing the door.

The master bedroom is relatively tasteful, and dominated by the bed sticking out of the east wall. Opposite is a mirrored dresser shoved in the corner at an angle, just by the large windows overlooking the garden. These are shut tight like normal. The closed door is in the southwest - in fact, lying on the bed you could probably see it in the reflection. The carpet's beige-with-dried-bloodstain, and there's more rancid wallpapering. Between the window and the bed is a little yucca tree in a pot.

Sprawled in a messy heap, pining for attention, is Jack's corpse.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp.

"Then you can meet the others," Angela calls. "There's the maid, and William Matheston, outside, in the shed. Good. Well, all right then." You hear Angela's footsteps move off, but they don't go downstairs.
human
You look at the mirror
gpt
That's one beat-up gentleman, that is.

There is a loud thump, of something falling, from somewhere nearby.
human
Go south
gpt
(opening the master bedroom door first)
You open the master bedroom door.

Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.

You hear a slight click through the door to the west.
human
Go west
gpt
(opening the guest bedroom door first)
You open the guest bedroom door.

Heh. That you thought this was a guest bedroom says something - from the photo on the nightstand by the bed, this is Angela's bedroom. It's pretty spartan, no dresser or table, just a wicker chair for furniture. The door lies to the east, a little window in the north wall has a view into the garden. The carpet's blue; so's the owner.

There's a flurry of movement as you enter. Angela is sitting on the wicker chair. She looks a little flustered.

On the nightstand is a silver frame framing a photo.

A tall teak wardrobe leans against one wall.
human
You open the wardrobe
gpt
You open the wardrobe doors, and take a peek inside. Pretty empty, just a few shelves and a clothes rail, with not much on them. On the rail are a few coathangers. The shelves have got Angela's shoes on them.

"I'll be in the living room, Inspector," she says, her voice a little shaky, then goes out the door and downstairs like her tail was on fire.
human
You look at shoes
gpt
-- What do you want to examine: Angela's shoes or your scuffed black shoes?
human
You go to the master bedroom
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.
human
Go north
gpt
Bed, mirrored dresser, window. Door. Yucca. Dead guy.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp.
human
You examine the corpse
gpt
The corpse looks peaceful, like he just tripped and stayed there. Except for his face: two gashes, not deep, but running from temples to cheekbones. The stab wounds in his back are deep, as long as the blade used, thin. There are about seven of them. He'd been turning for the door when he was struck. That's how he lies now, reaching out.

It's bled messily over the carpet.

Someone knocks on the front door below.
human
Search corpse
gpt
You rifle the corpse; find a key in his pocket. A dirty Yale key.

There are footsteps in the hall; and the maid's voice: "Yes? How can I - oh."
human
You take the key
gpt
-- What do you want to take: the dirty house key or the car key?
human
You take the dirty house key
gpt
You already have that.

From the hallway: "Is the Inspector here?" There is a pause. "I'll go and find him, then."
human
You look at the dresser
gpt
The dresser has no drawers, just a surface and a mirror. The reflection is not flattering, it looks both like you need the bottle and you've been at it for too long. It's like the faces you see in the cells in the morning; after the kissers have been through with them.

From the hallway, you hear the front door close.

There are footsteps on the stairs, and a policeman appears huffing like a steam train. He comes in and shuts the door. Only then does his jowly smile drop into a scowl. "Inspector. Sorry you made it. I hoped you wouldn't." He comes closer, then reels, waving one hand in front of his nose. "You've been drinking. Maybe not recently. But generally." A fat fist grabs you by the collar. "I need you to get this one right. I'm not getting stuck on another one of your
blow-out cases. Okay?"
human
Yes
gpt
The policeman sneers a smile.

"I don't think you can. The Chief doesn't think you can. Don't think he doesn't know all about you. This is your last chance, Inspector. If you muss this one up you're out on your ear and then you're just little people again. You'll find yourself in the drunk block quicker than I can take your badge. Understand?"
human
Yes
gpt
"You'd better."

The policeman lessens his gaze a bit, drags a hand through short, slicked back black hair. He's a real grease monkey, one of these modern kids. "Okay, Inspector. Get started. Do the body first, then when you're finished with the body, tell me and we'll get it away from here. Though I'll take it myself around four, when the coroner closes up. Otherwise, if you want something analysing at the lab you let me know. And if you want to make an arrest, you tell me. Now get on with it."
human
Analyse door
gpt
"Stop wasting your time," he replies. "My time."
human
You tell the policeman about the body
gpt
"There's nothing on him back at the station," Joe informs you. "Accountant, married. Nothing you couldn't detect just looking around at this place. Not much else going on. No obvious reason for someone to do that to him, anyhow." Joe wrinkles his nose. "Are you finished with him yet, Inspector? Shall I take him away?"
human
Search corpse
gpt
Nothing. Well, nothing of any worth to you. A handkerchief but you don't feel like crying.
human
Inventory
gpt
In your trenchcoat pockets are your badge and two keys: the dirty house key and the car key, and in your gloved hands you hold nothing.

In addition to your trenchcoat and gloves, you are wearing your scuffed black shoes.
human
You tell the police about the body
gpt
(the policeman about that)
"What's more to say?" Joe wrinkles his nose. "Are you finished with him yet, Inspector? Shall I take him away?"
human
Yes
gpt
"Okay," the policeman says to you, and disappears downstairs. A few minutes later the coroner's van pulls up, and you watch dispassionately as Joe, and the coroner, and a long flat guy called Jack wander out to the taxi. There's no fuss or big deal, just a sheet. Angela watches pale-faced from a window or something, who knows.

If we're being honest, no-one seems to miss the guy and he's only two hours gone. Joe returns to the room. "I'll stick around if you need anything analysed, Inspector. I'll go sit and read a paper in the living room or something." You nod and he leaves.
human
You describe your surroundings
gpt
The master bedroom is relatively tasteful, and dominated by the bed sticking out of the east wall. Opposite is a mirrored dresser shoved in the corner at an angle, just by the large windows overlooking the garden. These are shut tight like normal. The open door is in the southwest - in fact, lying on the bed you could probably see it in the reflection. The carpet's beige-with-dried-bloodstain, and there's more rancid wallpapering. Between the window and the bed is a little yucca tree in a pot.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp.
human
You look under the bed
gpt
It's too dark to see anything under the bed. Not that there'll be anything there, of course.
human
You pull the bed
gpt
You are unable to.
human
You search the dresser
gpt
The dresser has got a green-shaded table lamp on it.
human
You look at the lamp
gpt
A bent brass spine leads up from the thick discus base to the long thin green shade. Inside is a short neon bulb which is dark. The glass is a little scratched; the brass colouring flecking off the metal in places.
human
You switch on the lamp
gpt
You turn on the lamp.

The light glints off the surface of the dresser, picking out marks in the varnish. Letters and words etched in.
human
You read the marks
gpt
You can't make much out, because the light only picks out certain bits; just letters here and there. Certainly not enough to make sense of it; apart from the last two letters: "J.D." Familiar?
human
You examine the window
gpt
(the large window)
Large windows, with painted green frames, the paint on which looks a little ragged. They're closed.

They offer a good vista of the poky little garden, which is damp from the recent rain. A thick clump of climbing roses comes up the wall to the sill.
human
You open the window
gpt
(the large window)
You open the window that opens: the others are painted shut and would require a lot of tugging.
human
You look out the window
gpt
(the large window)
They offer a good vista of the poky little garden, which is damp from the recent rain. A thick clump of climbing roses comes up the wall to the sill.
human
You go outside
gpt
A webbing of thick thorny branches and a few buds that mangles over the side of the building.

Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.
human
You look at the sill
gpt
The paint is thick, and dark green, perhaps the third layer the frame has seen. Along the hinged seam, the paint has flaked away, revealing a white undercoat colour underneath. A few flecks of green paint are visible on the carpet just below the window.
human
Look around
gpt
The master bedroom is relatively tasteful, and dominated by the bed sticking out of the east wall. Opposite is a mirrored dresser shoved in the corner at an angle, just by the large windows overlooking the garden. These are wide open, letting in the bite of cold air. The open door is in the southwest - in fact, lying on the bed you could probably see it in the reflection. The carpet's beige-with-dried-bloodstain, and there's more rancid wallpapering. Between the window and the bed is a little yucca tree in a pot.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp with bulb lit.
human
You look at the pot
gpt
A stubby little tree, leaves green like the beer from that hole on 12th Street, and sprouting thicker than a ex-con's beard, so much so that the rim of the ceramic pot is shrouded from view.
human
You search the plant
gpt
You spread the leaves back, to reveal a short stake pushed deep into the soil of the plant.
human
You look at the stake
gpt
It's about two inches of metal, hidden in the leaves, which seems to carry on down into the soil.
human
You take it
gpt
You draw out the short stake, which becomes the hilt of the carved steel letter opener, its blade sticky with blood.
human
You examine the stake
gpt
A short stubby handle and a long carved blade. Soil coats the metal; stuck down with some substance you know well. It's blood.
human
Analyse stake
gpt
After a moment, Joe steps in through the open master bedroom door.

Joe has seen the blood-soaked steel letter opener. "Is that our possible murder weapon?" he asks.

"Anyway, you called for me." He slicks his hair back. "So, what have you got?" You show him the steel letter opener. "It'd be difficult to get that much blood out of a bunch of tax-returns," he remarks. "If there's fingerprints on this, that'd make this the most careless murder ever. But still, it's worth a shot." Wearing gloves he takes the letter opener from you and drops it into a bag.

The policeman leaves through the master bedroom door.
human
You look at carpet
gpt
A beige, wall-to-wall carpet. In the middle of it is a large bloodstain; and by one window you observe some flecks of green paint. Otherwise it's quite clean, and not very dusty.
human
You examine the bloodstain
gpt
Quite a wide patch of carpet is soaked in blood, maybe two feet in diameter. The red on cream effect is quite compelling, like a pavlova.
human
You analyse the paint
gpt
Right now Joe's off analysing the steel letter opener. You'll have to wait for him to come back.
human
You look at the wallpaper
gpt
It's just wallpaper. It doesn't do anything; except spin on the ceiling every other night of the week.
human
Go southwest
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.
human
Go west
gpt
Bed, nightstand, wicker chair. Door to the corridor.

On the nightstand is a silver frame framing a photo.

A tall teak wardrobe leans against one wall.
human
You look at the photo
gpt
Sickening picture of happier times; Angela and Jack, arm in arm, outside a registrar office. But even here not everything's good - there's another couple in the background carrying open umbrellas. Angela is arm in arm with Jack who is arm in arm with Angela's sister. Sweet touch. There's a strange, flat bulge under one corner of the photo.

The photo is in a charming silver frame. Could be worth something.
human
You open the frame
gpt
The clasp needs to be clipped out but like the straps on the girls they pull in from Chinatown. It's far too small for your fat shaky fingers.
human
You open the frame with pin
gpt
Using the pin on the back you flip open the clasp of the frame. The cover swings open and the photo slides out and wafts to the floor. A flimsy key which was hidden behind it also falls out. You pick it up.
human
You look at the back of the photo
gpt
-- I only got as far as wanting to examine the silver frame.
human
You examine the frame
gpt
The frame is all twirly and flowery, you know, flowers like you get near gravestones. It has a little clasp on the side and the silver front hangs open on a hinge from the back.
human
You examine photo
gpt
Sickening picture of happier times; Angela and Jack, arm in arm, outside a registrar office. But even here not everything's good - there's another couple in the background carrying open umbrellas. Angela is arm in arm with Jack who is arm in arm with Angela's sister. Sweet touch.
human
You examine the flimsy key
gpt
A small flimsy key, like the key to a diary.
human
You look at the nightstand
gpt
A little bedside table, pretty empty.
human
You search it
gpt
The nightstand has got a silver frame on it.
human
You look under the bed
gpt
Just by the foot of the bed is a small red spot on the carpet.
human
You examine the spot
gpt
Just a small spot of drying blood.
human
You examine the chair
gpt
A rickety old chair, made of little bits of wood like the bones of an old guy. It's over by the bed. Just next to the legs, but not quite under, are four circular dents in the carpet.
human
You stand on the chair
gpt
You get onto the wicker chair.
human
You examine wardrobe
gpt
A tall wardrobe made of teak, with cocky brass handles on the doors. It's got nasty little carved flourishes between base and carpet, and same up top, so you can't easily see under it or over it.
human
You get off the chair
gpt
You get off the wicker chair.

Bed, nightstand, wicker chair. Door to the corridor.

On the nightstand is a silver frame.

A tall teak wardrobe leans against one wall.

You can also see a wedding photo here.
human
Up
gpt
The only door is east. You can't even jump out of the window in this room, as there's nowhere to jump to.
human
You examine the wardrobe
gpt
A tall wardrobe made of teak, with cocky brass handles on the doors. It's got nasty little carved flourishes between base and carpet, and same up top, so you can't easily see under it.
human
F search wardrobe
gpt
(--> d search wardrobe)
-- I only got as far as wanting to d.
human
You search the wardrobe
gpt
Pretty empty, just a few shelves and a clothes rail, with not much on them. On the rail are a few coathangers. The shelves have got Angela's shoes on them.
human
You search top
gpt
(--> look over wardrobe)
Ah-ha! There's an ugly pink suitcase hidden on top of the wardrobe! You pull it out - it's heavy - and drop it noisily to the floor.

-- You referred to something that can't be interacted with at present.
human
You get off the chair
gpt
You get off the wicker chair.

Bed, nightstand, wicker chair. Door to the corridor.

On the nightstand is a silver frame.

A tall teak wardrobe leans against one wall.

The wicker chair is over by the wardrobe.

You can also see a closed pink suitcase, its lock clicked down, and a wedding photo here.
human
Unlock suitcase with flimsy
gpt
You unlock the pink suitcase.
human
You open it
gpt
You open the pink suitcase, revealing Angela's clothes.
human
Search clothes
gpt
(Angela's clothes)
You rummage around in the clothing, unearthing a novel, a toiletry bag, passport documents, which you lay out to one side. But even more interesting - a highly valuable black and white photograph is revealed.
human
You examine the photograph
gpt
-- What do you want to examine: the black and white incriminating photograph, the passport photo or the wedding photo?
human
You look at the novel
gpt
"The Complete Adventures of Slick Gurner." Pocket sized. Bin sized.

On the back flap, in blue ink, are the numbers 43 and 41.
human
You turn to the page 43
gpt
(in the trashy novel)
You find the page, and read:

...with another double four. Just how much luck could one man
have?
"You're cheating," Sam exclaimed, standing from the table and
throwing her cards at him. They missed of course, landing short just by Slick's left hand. "You're a dirty pig, and I hate you!"
But that strike was ineffectual - Slick caught her slim wrist
as it flicked across the air to connect with the regal stubble of the Gurner family jaw. "Lady," he replied, purring. "Sit down, and finish the game."
"Best out of four?" Sam replied, ruefully, making no effort to
free her arm.
"Okey," Slick replied, and Sam strutted out, sending the next
girl in. But this girl was different, and Slick knew it by the tingling under his coat; just below his third rib where his heart was. It was Clarissa.
"Clarissa!" he hissed, ever concious of the two thousand-strong audience in hushed silence around him. "What are you doing here?" "Same as you, Slick," she whispered in reply, whilst shaking his
hand formally to convince the onlookers it was just a friendly greeting. "Trying to diffuse the bomb."
Slick nodded grimly. This was his kind of girl. "Maybe," he
said, and then: "I have an idea. If we work together..."
"We can force a draw! Then it won't detonate!" Clarissa
continued, her eyes sparkling as she slid with cat-like grace, learned through years of air-hostessing, into her electronic PlaymoChair. "What's the game?"
Slick looked across at the list, and his face fell. "Some Ruskie invention. A bit like Tic-Tac-Toe."
Clarissa's face lit up in excitement. "Tic Tac Toe? Slick! I
think ... I think we've got a chance!"
human
You turn to page 41
gpt
(in the trashy novel)
You find the page, and read:

...and would fail. He gazed at her levelly, and adjusted his hat.

"If that's the way you want to play it, lady," Slick purred,
"Then I guess I'll just play along. I'll wrap to your tune."
Krissie smiled back, a plan forming in her mind. Stretching
forward a hand, long thin fingers reached out and grasped. Slick blinked - a hotel. On Mayfair.
"It's at times like this," Krissie purred back, in a similar
tone to that of Slick's, only slightly higher pitched because she was a broad, "I just love to be a woman."
Slick nodded. "I know what you mean," he replied.
human
You turn to the page 42
gpt
(in the trashy novel)
You find the page, and read:

Just more of the same old pulp.
human
You look at toiletry bag
gpt
A black plasticky toiletry bag, with a zip along the top, which is closed.
human
You open the bag
gpt
You pull the zip across.

The toiletry bag has got some assorted toiletries in it.
human
You examine the passport
gpt
(Angela's passport)
The date of issue is recent - just over a month ago - but the photograph looks a few years old.
human
Analyse spot
gpt
After a moment, Joe steps in through the open guest bedroom door.

"Well, what did you want doing?" he asks, and you indicate the red spot. He shakes his head. "Well, we can guess who's it is, but it's too small. I mean, I can't get a sample from that to take the lab. Sorry, Inspector. You'll have to wing this one."

The policeman leaves through the guest bedroom door.
human
You go to the master bedroom
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.
human
Go north
gpt
Bed, mirrored dresser, window. Door. Yucca. Blood, lots of it.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp with bulb lit.
human
You analyse the paint
gpt
After a moment, Joe steps in through the open master bedroom door.

"Well?" You direct his attention to the green paint flecks. "You expect to learn a lot from those, do you?" Joe smarts back. "Some cretin you are."

The policeman leaves through the master bedroom door.
human
Go south
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, South End
The long hallway ends here with the door to the south into the study; and another bedroom, unfamiliar except for the sofa just visible from here, lies east. The bathroom lies opposite, a sweet porcelain number.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.
human
You examine the rubber tree
gpt
It's the height of a doubled-up guy on his knees and its leaves flop like his head might.
human
Go east
gpt
A nice little room - petite, sure, but that probably suits its owner down to the ground. The bed is a single and next to the head is a low chest being used as a bedside table. The centre of the room is taken up by a slightly threadbare sofa. A couple of paintings hang on the wall, nothing famous. There's a tall room lamp by the door, back west, and a thin wardrobe in the corner.

By the crummy-view window is screwed a small silver hook. Hanging from the hook is a silver key.

On the low chest is a jar of face-cream.

Thrown in one corner of the sofa is a pile of men's clothing: someone changing in a hurry and flinging what they had on away.
human
You examine the clothing
gpt
Definitely men's shirts; they might be the maid's boyfriend's, they might be Jack's waiting to be ironed. Picking one at random, it has the letters ADC stitched into the back of the collar. In the breast-pocket of one you find a scrap of pink paper. Otherwise... Nothing but clothes.
human
Search shirts
gpt
Nothing but clothes.
human
You examine the pink paper
gpt
A small square of pink notepaper, folded twice, and scrumpled: it's been through the wash; this is one bit of paper you empathise with. Written on it is:
human
You examine the sofa
gpt
An old red sofa, the stuffing all beaten out and the armrests covered in tea rings. Presumably the household got it on the cheap to make the maid feel more at home. Maybe they made her get it herself.
human
You look under the sofa
gpt
You run your hand under the thin crack between sofa and carpet, and unearth a quarter.
human
Examine quarter
gpt
On closer inspection it's not a quarter, it's not even currency. It's a French franc, dated seven years ago.
human
You take the silver key
gpt
Taken.
human
You examine the face cream
gpt
A small jar of stuff with a label in French. The picture shows a tide smoothing down sand.
human
You smell the cream
gpt
You want to smell the jar of face-cream?
human
Y.
gpt
Sure.
human
You open the cream
gpt
The jar's about half-full.
human
You close jar
gpt
You close the jar of face-cream.
human
You examine gloves
gpt
You've had them all your years in the force; though you're always forgetting to use them. For example, this morning you left them on the table back home; had to stop off for them just before you took this call, right after you bought the booze. Priorities all straight, oh yeah.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
A nice little room - petite, sure, but that probably suits its owner down to the ground. The bed is a single and next to the head is a low chest being used as a bedside table. The centre of the room is taken up by a slightly threadbare sofa. A couple of paintings hang on the wall, nothing famous. There's a tall room lamp by the door, back west, and a thin wardrobe in the corner.

By the crummy-view window is screwed a small silver hook.

On the low chest is a jar of face-cream.

Thrown in one corner of the sofa is a pile of men's clothing: someone changing in a hurry and flinging what they had on away.
human
Search clothes
gpt
Nothing but clothes.
human
Open chest
gpt
The metal chest is locked.
human
You open the wardrobe
gpt
You open the tall thin wardrobe, revealing some dresses and stuff.
human
You turn on the lamp
gpt
You flip the switch under the base of the lampshade.
human
You look at the lamp
gpt
Six foot high lamp, the only lighting in the room if you don't count the windows. Right now it's on.
human
You examine the window
gpt
Through the window is the brick-side of Number 17 Broken Top Boulevard. It's like the final view of a crash-test dummy.
human
Go outside
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.
human
You go to the guest
gpt
Bed, nightstand, wicker chair. Door to the corridor.

On the nightstand is a silver frame.

A tall teak wardrobe leans against one wall.

The wicker chair is over by the wardrobe.

You can also see Angela's passport, a toiletry bag, a trashy novel, a wide open pink suitcase and a wedding photo here.
human
You take the passport
gpt
(Angela's passport)
Taken.
human
You open the wardrobe
gpt
That's already open.
human
Search shoes
gpt
-- What do you want to search: Angela's shoes or your scuffed black shoes?
human
You examine the angela's shoes
gpt
Prussy tight little black numbers, slip on slip off; perfect for a little black dress and a limp. Yeah, they look even more uncomfortable than you feel in this damn coat.
human
You look at your shoes
gpt
Your shoes. They could do with a polish; the soles could do with a scrape - too many damn dogs in the neighbourhood.
human
You turn to the page 14
gpt
(in the trashy novel)
You find the page, and read:

The streetlight fell dark, and Slick stepped back into the shadow
like Orson Welles in that great black and white film.
human
You go to study
gpt
This room is long and thin, like a jailhouse corridor, from the doorway in the northeast corner to the large bay window opposite which stretches the length of the room, overlooking the street outside. The colours are your eyes on a Sunday; red like blood, red like the leather of the over-stuffed chair, which sits a cheap trophy by the main desk. A bookshelf fills the east wall.

On the mahogany desk are a pencil, a wooden block and a telephone.

Leaning against the side of the desk is Jack's briefcase.
human
Search block
gpt
The wooden block is empty.
human
You examine the telephone
gpt
(the telephone)
A squat little black telephone, with a receiver and a dial. You should recognise it, you're allowed to use it once every time you're kept in. On the front is a sticker with the number: 3734.
human
You dial 1488
gpt
(on the telephone)
You lift the receiver and dial. The phone rings seven times - maybe twenty-three - and finally a woman answers: "Hello?"

In the background you hear a man's voice, all growling, whining-like, a puppy nursing his bone: "Who's that, Jenny? Come back here."

"Hello?"
human
Topics
gpt
(talking to the woman's voice)
-- You could try talking to the woman's voice about: the silver key, the scrap of pink paper, the black and white incriminating photograph, the trashy novel, the steel letter opener or yourself.
human
You ask the woman about the pink paper
gpt
"I'm sorry, I think you've got a wrong number," she says quickly. The phone clicks dead. You hang up.
human
You open the briefcase
gpt
You open the briefcase.
human
You look in it
gpt
The briefcase is empty.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
This room is long and thin, like a jailhouse corridor, from the doorway in the northeast corner to the large bay window opposite which stretches the length of the room, overlooking the street outside. The colours are your eyes on a Sunday; red like blood, red like the leather of the over-stuffed chair, which sits a cheap trophy by the main desk. A bookshelf fills the east wall.

On the mahogany desk are a wooden block and a telephone.

Leaning against the side of the desk is Jack's briefcase.
human
Search desk
gpt
The mahogany desk has got a wooden block and a telephone on it.
human
You search the bookshelf
gpt
What, all of them? Are you hoping to get a qualification or something?
human
You examine the chair
gpt
The damn thing's still warm.
human
You look at window
gpt
The window has a nice view of the garden path and then out over the street; a picturesque little suburban vista marred only by your car, halfway up the pavement like it had been dropped there. That's okay - someone'll probably clear it up in a bit.
human
You go to the bathroom
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.
human
You go to the bathroom
gpt
(opening the bathroom door first)
You open the bathroom door.

The usual fittings, in a slightly sullen white. Blue and yellow tiling checkers the wall by the shower head, the rest is cream wallpaper like the faces in the drunk tank on Tuesday morning. The door is east, back to the hallway.

Above the sink is an open cabinet.
human
You look in it
gpt
The mirrored cabinet has got some assorted toiletries and a medicine tube in it.
human
You examine the medicine
gpt
A small brown medicine tube. The label reads: "CERESTEX: Mr A Carpenter. Dose - maximum one tablet every four hours. Do not exceed four tablets in 24 hours."
human
You examine the toiletries
gpt
A whole bunch of ordinary stuff. Toothbrush, toothpaste, that sort of thing. There are two razors here; you notice one has a slight mark of dried blood on the handle.
human
You look at the razor
gpt
The handles are white with old soap and the blades red with dried blood. It's the same in your place.
human
You analyse the razors
gpt
After a moment, Joe steps in through the open bathroom door.

"Well?" You direct his attention to the razors. Joe takes one look. "You might want to learn how to use one of those," he remarks acidly.

The policeman leaves through the bathroom door.
human
You look at the sink
gpt
The washbasin is crisp white. Except for a few dried up flecks of blood at the bottom of the sink.
human
You search the washbasin
gpt
The washbasin is empty.
human
You look at the blood
gpt
(the specks of blood)
Just a few spots in a rough line from plug hole to under the hot tap.
human
You analyse the blood
gpt
(the specks of blood)
After a moment, Joe steps in through the open bathroom door.

"Well?" You direct his attention to the specks of blood. "Some blood? Well - it could be anybody's, couldn't it? But my money's on it belonging to the stiff, okay?" Joe snarls, before producing a swab and a bag and soaking up a little of the blood, which he places in a bag.

The policeman leaves through the bathroom door.
human
Look around
gpt
The usual fittings, in a slightly sullen white. Blue and yellow tiling checkers the wall by the shower head, the rest is cream wallpaper like the faces in the drunk tank on Tuesday morning. The door is east, back to the hallway.

Above the sink is an open cabinet.
human
You go to the master bedroom
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.
human
Inventory
gpt
In your trenchcoat pockets are a medicine tube, closed, with eight tablets inside, a pencil, Angela's passport, a trashy novel, a Franc, a black and white incriminating photograph, your badge and four keys: the silver key, the flimsy key, the dirty house key and the car key, and in your gloved hands you hold a scrap of pink paper and a steel letter opener.

In addition to your trenchcoat and gloves, you are wearing your scuffed black shoes.
human
You look at franc
gpt
On closer inspection it's not a quarter, it's not even currency. It's a French franc, dated seven years ago.
human
Look around
gpt
The master bedroom is relatively tasteful, and dominated by the bed sticking out of the east wall. Opposite is a mirrored dresser shoved in the corner at an angle, just by the large windows overlooking the garden. These are wide open, letting in the bite of cold air. The open door is in the southwest - in fact, lying on the bed you could probably see it in the reflection. The carpet's beige-with-dried-bloodstain, and there's more rancid wallpapering. Between the window and the bed is a little yucca tree in a pot.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp with bulb lit.
human
You put the scrap on the dresser
gpt
You put the scrap of pink paper on the marks in the varnish.
human
Go downward
gpt
You descend the half-circle of the stairs, into the hallway.

Stairs up, passage northwest, front door behind. Desk one side, hat-stand on the other.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
A wood-panelled hallway, with the front door to the south next to which is a dark polished roll-top desk. Stairs in the northeast corner of the room lead to the upstairs landing where the bedrooms are, and a passage northwest runs through to the kitchen and blue wallpapered living room, which you can't quite see from here.

In the lefthand corner is a hat stand. Hanging off the stand are your wide-brimmed hat and Jack's hat.
human
You examine the desk
gpt
No doubt an antique or something, that'd explain why it's missing a handle on one drawer and the varnish on top is scratched and covered in coffee-rings. Probably worth a few bucks; that would fit with the household just right. The lid is rollback like a bread-bin.

Currently the lid is shut.
human
You open the lid
gpt
You open the roll-top desk, revealing the closet key and a blank sheet of paper.
human
You take the paper
gpt
(the blank sheet of paper)
Taken.
human
You take the key
gpt
(the closet key)
Taken.
human
You look at the jack's hat
gpt
It's Jack's hat, he only had the one, a light brown number. Kind he'd wear to parties but remember not to leave on.
human
Search hat
gpt
-- What do you want to search: your wide-brimmed hat or Jack's hat?
human
Go upwards
gpt
You make your way upstairs around the curve of the staircase.

Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.
human
You go to master
gpt
Bed, mirrored dresser, window. Door. Yucca. Blood, lots of it.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp with bulb lit.
human
You put the blank paper on the dresser
gpt
You put the blank sheet of paper on the marks in the varnish.
human
You rub the pencil on paper
gpt
(the scrap of pink paper)
Don't go scribbling over that.
human
You rub the pencil on the blank paper
gpt
You start rubbing at the surface but can't get any detail - the dresser top is covered with some sticky stuff that makes the surface rough and uneven. You pick the paper back up to see what it is. You pick at it with a fingernail, but you could do with something to help clean it.
human
You go east
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.

Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.

Maid's room. Sofa, wardrobe, standing lamp, bed. Door to the corridor.

By the crummy-view window is screwed a small silver hook.

On the low chest is a jar of face-cream.

Thrown in one corner of the sofa is a pile of men's clothing: someone changing in a hurry and flinging what they had on away.
human
Go north
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.

Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.

Bed, mirrored dresser, window. Door. Yucca. Blood, lots of it.

On the dresser is a green-shaded table lamp with bulb lit.
human
You open jar
gpt
The jar's about half-full.
human
You close jar
gpt
You close the jar of face-cream.
human
Keep going
gpt
(the black chevy door)

Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.

Joe appears from downstairs. "I'm sorry I took so long. But it's not from the dead guy. So I checked the blood type with some people; local doctors, the hospital, that sort of thing. It matches someone in the household, though. One Anthony Carpenter; the maid's boyfriend? And he's still not come back yet?" Joe raises an eyebrow, hands you the blood test report.

The policeman heads off downstairs.
(the black chevy)
You descend the half-circle of the stairs, into the hallway.

Stairs up, passage northwest, front door behind. Desk one side, hat-stand on the other.
(the black chevy)
(drawing back the latch first and opening the door)

Front door, front gate. Small diamond of glass in the door.

A hanging basket with a couple of petunias in is attached just to the left of the door.
(the black chevy)

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15
Your car. Front gate, leading up to the porch of the house.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
Enter
gpt
You step into the porch.

Front door, front gate. Small diamond of glass in the door.

A hanging basket with a couple of petunias in is attached just to the left of the door.
human
Continue
gpt
(the black chevy)

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15
Your car. Front gate, leading up to the porch of the house.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
(the black chevy)
You slide into the front seat.

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15 (in the black chevy)
The boulevard through the windscreen is lined with ash trees, thick trunks casting shadows and gnarled roots mangling up the sidewalk. You're sat in your car, parked too high up the kerb; just outside the gate to No. 15. Just an ordinary house.

The glove compartment is closed. Sat on the passenger seat is a whiskey bottle.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You take the bottle
gpt
Your fingers shiver on the glass as you lift it.
human
You open the bottle
gpt
Shaky fingers unscrew the cap. Oh, yeah.
human
You pry the glove compartment
gpt
(--> pray glove compartment)
-- I only got as far as wanting to pray.
human
Open glove
gpt
(unlocking it first - with the car key)
You pull open the compartment, and it catches after only opening a tiny crack. Stupid thing.

Up the road, a dog drifts in and out from between the trees.
human
You hit the glove
gpt
Leaning up in the seat, you give the thing a smack with both feet and it clicks shut.
human
Unlock glove with car key
gpt
You unlock the glove compartment.
human
Open glove
gpt
You pull open the compartment, and it catches again.

Sunlight gleams through the windshield.
human
You pry the compartment with the badge
gpt
(--> pray compartment with badge)
-- I only got as far as wanting to pray.
human
You put the cream on the compartment
gpt
The glove compartment isn't exactly wrinkled.

From the high street comes the rumble of cars.
human
You examine crack
gpt
The glove compartment is built under the dashboard and has a lock on it. It's open a crack, the damn thing's caught again.
human
You put the badge in the crack
gpt
You drop the badge through the crack into the glove compartment. Nice going.
human
You open the compartment with the opener
gpt
You flip the catch with the blade and the whole thing flaps open. The glove compartment has got a handwritten note in it.

Some little mutt is yammering away in the distance.
human
You read handwritten
gpt
The note you received, what, yesterday? Crabby handwriting, like the skink was scared or something. It reads:

Dear "Colin",

Let's get straight to business, shall we? I know who you
are, I know your name, so I'm not going to mess around with
this stupid arrangement of yours any more. I've already paid
you far too much.
Let me dictate terms for once: if we can't finish this for
good then I'm going to tell her. I'm going to tell
her that
you know, and that you've been blackmailing me. I may as
well; I don't have anything to lose. You do, as it's that - or

disappear from my life and Angela never knows.
It's time we spoke face to face and stopped all this silly
business with notes-under-doors. Meet me, here, tomorrow.
Tuesday. I will leave a key to the front door in the petunia
basket.

J. D.
human
You look at Colin
gpt
(--> x coin)
On closer inspection it's not a quarter, it's not even currency. It's a French franc, dated seven years ago.
human
You read the badge
gpt
Your police badge - oh yeah, this proves you're an upstanding, honest, officer of the goddamn law. It has a small pin on the back.

Sunlight gleams through the windshield.
human
You go to the master
gpt
You clamber out of the driving seat.

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15
The boulevard is lined with ash trees, thick trunks casting shadows and gnarled roots mangling up the sidewalk. Your car is parked too high up the kerb; just outside the gate to No. 15. Just an ordinary house.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.

You step into the porch.

Front door, front gate. Small diamond of glass in the door.

A hanging basket with a couple of petunias in is attached just to the left of the door.
human
You keep going
gpt
Stairs up, passage northwest, front door behind. Desk one side, hat-stand on the other.
human
Continue
gpt
You make your way upstairs around the curve of the staircase.

Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.
human
You clean the dresser with the whiskey
gpt
You carefully splash a drop - just a drop - of the fine, fine whiskey over the top of the dresser. Another splash and the stuff starts to wipe away nicely. You use your sleeve to mop it up.
human
You rub the pencil on the blank paper
gpt
You shade over the paper with the pencil, and the remains of a note emerge. The fragments of the letter are patchy, some full words, some you can work out without too much staring.

are,     ow your nam
stupid arr   em  t           ny more        already paid
you far       ch.
Le   e d  ta     r s for onc       e can't finish this for
od then I'm going to tell her. I'm goi    o tell her that
you know,           ou've be            ing me. I may as
well; I don't        ything to lose. You do
fi       ment and                            an   ou
p     rom my life.
's time we spoke fa      face an           ll thi
ith notes-under-  ors. M      , h      omor
esd        ll le          to th        do r     he p t  ia
et.

J. D.

No names, which makes it nicely suggestive, right? More useful that way.
human
About yourself
gpt
As good-looking as ever. Eyes red, chin unshaved, cheek bruised. Your whole body aches like a bombsite. Oh yeah, the finest in the state.

You're wearing your trenchcoat, and your scuffed black shoes.
human
You keep going
gpt
Upstairs Hallway, North End
Corridor, south; guest bedroom, west; murder, north. Stairs, down.

Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.

Long and thin. Big window, big bookcase, big desk, very big chair. Door to the north.

On the mahogany desk are a wooden block and a telephone.

Leaning against the side of the desk is Jack's briefcase.

Upstairs Hallway, South End
Corridor back north. Maid's bedroom to the east. Bathroom opposite, handy. South is the study.

In one corner is a stumpy rubber tree in a brown pot.
human
Continue
gpt
Long and thin. Big window, big bookcase, big desk, very big chair. Door to the north.

On the mahogany desk are a wooden block and a telephone.

Leaning against the side of the desk is Jack's briefcase.
human
You dial 1488
gpt
(on the telephone)
You lift the receiver and dial. The phone rings, and rings, and rings, and eventually the company cuts it off for you. The phone goes dead. You replace the handset.
human
You look at phone
gpt
(the telephone)
A squat little black telephone, with a receiver and a dial. You should recognise it, you're allowed to use it once every time you're kept in. On the front is a sticker with the number: 3734.
human
You dial 3734
gpt
(on the telephone)
You lift the receiver and dial. Engaged. You replace the handset.
human
You look at the book
gpt
"The Complete Adventures of Slick Gurner." Pocket sized. Bin sized.

On the back flap, in blue ink, are the numbers 43 and 41.
human
You dial 4341
gpt
(on the telephone)
You lift the receiver and dial. There is no answer, unsurprisingly. You replace the handset.
human
You dial 4143
gpt
(on the telephone)
You lift the receiver and dial. The phone goes dead. You replace the handset.
human
You go to garden
gpt
This passage runs from the hallway southeast to the kitchen at the far north end of the house. There's not much here but the closed door westwards to the frost-bite blue living room, and a small cupboard set into the east wall. With no real natural light here the ambient dinginess of the house comes through like stain.

The cupboard is closed and locked.
human
You open the cupboard
gpt
(unlocking it first - with the closet key)
You open the small cupboard, revealing a black box and a shoe rack.
human
You look at the black box
gpt
A black metal box with a small brass lock; the kind people who can't afford a safe use to store their cheque books. Back home, you use a shoe-box.
human
You open the box
gpt
It seems to be locked.
human
You look at the shoe rack
gpt
It's a rack, made from a few bits of wire in a sort of bent mesh, on which you put shoes. As if the corner of the room wasn't good enough.

The shoe rack has got Jack's shoes and Emilia's shoes on it.
human
You examine the emilia's shoes
gpt
One of many pairs no doubt; these are functional - flat soled, soft white leather. The only decoration are slight frills to the seams, totally pointless, virtually invisible.
human
You look at the jack's shoes
gpt
These have got to be Jack's shoes - they're spit polished; they look like they haven't seen a days use but for the thin, worn down soles. The laces are an even length out of the eyelets. Got to be.
human
You go to garden
gpt
A plush little kitchen, with a kitchenette area full of drawers and cookers and a sink, and one long table filling the rest of the room, where they eat. A flapping swing door leads north onto the garden, and lets in a little air. The passage back to the hallway is opposite, above that door is a cheerful round clock. To the east is a pantry.

There's a young dark-haired girl here. She must be the maid who phoned the station.

On the worktop are a closed biscuit barrel and a ceramic water-jug.

The girl looks up and notices you, and leaps to her feet, flustered. She begins speaking hurriedly. "You are from the police? You are a policeman? It is terrible, quite terrible." She has traces of a French accent, a stain like day-old mascara. "We were all here, when it happened, all of us. Like some kind of joke... I have not said who I am. Emilia Jordane. The maid, here." A useless curtsey, then she sits back down at the table and waits to get done.

The maid shrieks! She has seen the knife.

Emilia's eyes are on the whiskey bottle in your hand. "We do not have whiskey in the house, Inspector, not since Anthony started to live here. It is not good for him. He - used to drink a lot, Inspector." Her face darkens a little. "So did Jack."
human
You examine maid
gpt
French by blood, you can see that around the soft lines of her face and the redness of the lips. She's pretty - sure, she's a real young flower, with long black hair tied back, and a look of quiet respect that takes little getting used to, you'd reckon. She's wearing comfortable casual clothes, so you'd hardly pin her as a maid except for the dishcloth and her hands neatly folded in her lap; and that subservient look that fills her rich brown eyes.

The maid tries not to look at the knife.
human
You ask Maid about Anthony
gpt
She smiles. "Anthony is my boyfriend. We met last year. He is wonderful, Inspector. He has had some problems in the past, Inspector. He was an alcoholic when I met him, it was terrible. But he is through that now, and I am very proud of him. He is staying here, with me, at the moment - you will meet him when he comes back, I suppose, Inspector. This will all be a great shock to him when he returns.

"I suppose we will be leaving now, we will get a place of our own. It is not so bad, I suppose."
human
You ask Maid about Carpenter
gpt
"He's a wonderful man. He is very kind to me. I do not think Mrs. Draginam likes to have him stay, but Mr. Draginam allows it. I think they get - got - on well, Anthony and Jack. He has had some problems in the past, Inspector. He was an alcoholic when I met him, it was terrible. But he is through that now, and I am very proud of him. He went out just after lunch, at about half past one. He went swimming. He'll probably be back quite soon."
human
You ask Maid about the cerestex
gpt
"Those are Anthony's painkillers, Inspector. He has sprained his ankle."

The maid avoids the letter-opener with her eyes.
human
You ask Maid about Jenny
gpt
Emilia has no idea who you're talking about. "Is there someone at the library like that?" she asks. You shake your head.
human
You ask Maid about Jack
gpt
"I should tell you what happened, yes? Please, sit down." They don't often ask, so you go ahead.

"It was a little before 2pm. I was here clearing up the things from lunch. Mrs. Draginam was in the living room with her friend Mr. Matheston, I think. Anyway - I was singing to myself and I didn't know anything until there was this most awful scream. I thought Mrs. Draginam, she must have dropped something, so I went upstairs with my dustpan. And the bedroom door, it was open - I could see blood already, from the stairs I could see it. Angela was there also, with her back to me, by the window. She was closing it. She told me to call the police. She didn't turn around - she was shaking. Such a shock.

"So I called the police. You. That is what happened."
human
You ask Maid about Jack
gpt
"He was a good employer, I suppose, Inspector. He paid my wages on time. They were good wages. And he kept me on - I know Mrs. Draginam did not think I was needed any more. Jack insisted."

The maid's eyes stay fixed on you.
human
You look around
gpt
Kitchen (on the chair)
A plush little kitchen, with a kitchenette area full of drawers and cookers and a sink, and one long table filling the rest of the room, where they eat. A flapping swing door leads north onto the garden, and lets in a little air. The passage back to the hallway is opposite, above that door is a cheerful round clock. To the east is a pantry.

The maid is sitting at the table, trying to look all mournful and European.

On the worktop are a closed biscuit barrel and a ceramic water-jug.
human
Go north
gpt
You stand.

A small square garden, borded on three sides by a high privet hedge and on the fourth by the house. The swing door south to the kitchen flaps lazily in the light breeze. The garden is in shade, the afternoon sun not yet pushing over the chimney stack, and it's all lawn, but for the beat-up shed in the northwest corner.

A thick net of dog roses covers the wall of the house.

There's a sweet smell coming from the roses.
human
You look at the roses
gpt
A thick bush of thorny roses, which grips the wall of the house up towards one of the windows, growing out of a muddy flowerbed.
human
You look at the flowerbed
gpt
A thick bush of roses grows from the flowerbed up the side of the house.

In the soil there are some footprints, clear as mud.

There's a sweet smell coming from the roses.
human
You erase the footprints
gpt
You muss all over the footprints already there, pretty much obscuring them.
human
You examine the footprints
gpt
The footprints are quite clear, and right at the base of the roses.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
A small square garden, borded on three sides by a high privet hedge and on the fourth by the house. The swing door south to the kitchen flaps lazily in the light breeze. The garden is in shade, the afternoon sun not yet pushing over the chimney stack, and it's all lawn, but for the beat-up shed in the northwest corner.

A thick net of dog roses covers the wall of the house.
human
You look at the roses
gpt
A thick bush of thorny roses, which grips the wall of the house up towards one of the windows, growing out of a muddy flowerbed.
human
You examine the hedge
gpt
A thick privet hedge, about five foot high, bordering the garden on three sides. On the east side there's a medium size hole, a gap between branches. Large enough for a cat, or a desperate man.

There's a sweet smell coming from the roses.
human
You go east
gpt
No. 17's Back Garden
Well-mown grass covers the garden of No. 17 which stands to the south. Luckily the place seems pretty empty. The garden is bordered on the east side by a low stone wall, and on the other by a privet hedge.

The coloured back door of the house is closed.
human
You look at the wall
gpt
A low wall of cement-topped bricks, that you could scramble over. It borders the garden to the east.
human
Go east
gpt
There's a face in a window - you wait for it to go before crossing the wall.

No. 19's Back Garden

The door to the house is shut.

At the back of the garden is a clapped-out shed.
human
You look at the shed
gpt
It's a beat-up, join-the-dots shed. It's what husbands buy when they want somewhere cheap to bang the mistress.
human
You open the shed
gpt
Let them be. You can take up gardens when you lose your badge.
human
You open it
gpt
The door seems pretty firmly closed.

But all your fiddling has attracted attention - the door opens and a frail old gent appears, giving you an earful, for being scruffy and for being unauthorised in a back garden.

Still, the job's got its perks - one flash of the badge and your treated with the utmost courtesy; offered tea, spoken to demurely, and led carefully - so as not to see anything they didn't want you to, you guess - to the front door; and finally booted out into the street like the stray you are.

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 19
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You go east
gpt
You scrape your hand on the top of the wall as you pull yourself up.

No. 21's Back Garden

The bright painted door to the house is closed.

There is a greenhouse is one corner of the garden.
human
Examine greenhouse
gpt
The greenhouse has a few soggy plants in it, a load of muck on the floor and some broken pots. Yeah, it's a real labour of love.
human
You go to the east
gpt
You take a running jump, but basically fall over the hedge.

No. 23's Back Garden

On the ground is a stick.

A cat prowls the grass, stalking the world.

The coloured back door of the house is closed.

The cat sniffs the air and pricks its tail.
human
You examine the stick
gpt
It's a stick.
human
You take the stick
gpt
Taken.

The cat mews a little and chases a beetle. And catches it, and crushes it.
human
You go east
gpt
There's a face in a window - you wait for it to go before crossing the wall.

No. 25's Back Garden

The bright painted door to the house is closed.

You can also see a garden here.
human
You go east
gpt
A branch scratches your face as you scramble across.

No. 27's Back Garden

The door to the south is closed.

There is a greenhouse is one corner of the garden.
human
You examine the garden
gpt
(the garden)
human
Go east
gpt
There's a hole in the hedge here, which you squirm through.

No. 29's Back Garden

The door to the house is shut.

Nasty mouldy garden furniture is laid out of the lawn.
human
Go east
gpt
You hop up onto the wall, and step down into the next garden.

No. 31's Back Garden

The mesh door to the house is shut.

At the back of the garden is a clapped-out shed.
human
Go east
gpt
You take a running jump, but basically fall over the hedge.

No. 33's Back Garden

The door to the south is closed.

There is a greenhouse is one corner of the garden.
human
You go to the south
gpt
The door is solidly locked. Luckily the house seems pretty empty - no-one notices your rattling.
human
You go to the west
gpt
Your coat snags but you make it over.

No. 31's Back Garden

The mesh door to the house is shut.

At the back of the garden is a clapped-out shed.
human
You go to the south
gpt
The door seems pretty firmly closed.

But all your fiddling has attracted attention - the door opens and a fat sweaty guy appears, giving you an earful, for being scruffy and for being unauthorised in a back garden.

Still, the job's got its perks - one flash of the badge and your treated with the utmost courtesy; offered tea, spoken to demurely, and led carefully - so as not to see anything they didn't want you to, you guess - to the front door; and finally booted out into the street like the stray you are.

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 31
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You look at the dog
gpt
The dog's somewhere else down the road. You can hear its damn yapping.

How many bodies have you seen by now? How many empty houses? How many wasted lives? Not enough to save your own, it would seem.
human
You go to the dog
gpt
The dog's somewhere else to the west along the road. You can hear its damn yapping.
human
You go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 29
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 27
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 25
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

You're standing right by a streetlight, on the edge of the kerb.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You go to the west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 23
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 21
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.

From the high street comes the distant rumble of cars.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 19
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

You're standing right by a streetlight, on the edge of the kerb.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 17
Nice houses. Your car, to the west. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.

A light breeze tickles your face and makes it itch.
human
You go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15
Your car. Front gate, leading up to the porch of the house.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You go to garden
gpt
You step into the porch.

Front door, front gate. Small diamond of glass in the door.

A hanging basket with a couple of petunias in is attached just to the left of the door.
human
You go to garden
gpt
Stairs up, passage northwest, front door behind. Desk one side, hat-stand on the other.
human
You go to garden
gpt
Southeast to the hallway, north to the kitchen. Closet. Door to the living room.

The cupboard is open.
human
You go to garden
gpt
Sink, drawers. Cooker. Table, chairs. Swing door to the garden. Clock. Pantry. Passage to the south.

The maid is at the table.

On the worktop are a closed biscuit barrel and a ceramic water-jug.

The maid tries not to look at the knife.
human
You ask Maid about the garden
gpt
"I love the garden, Inspector! It's only small, but I enjoy tending it. You should see it in summer, not now, when all the flowers have bloomed. Jack - Mr. Draginam - used to watch me pruning the roses from the study window. Said I distracted him."
human
You ask Maid about the shed
gpt
"Well, we keep gardening tools there," the maid says. "And Mr Matheston, he likes the quiet I suppose."
human
You ask Maid about Matheston
gpt
"Mr Matheston is a good friend of Mrs Draginam. He's from the church. They often spend time talking together, many hours. He's a very nice man. I'm sure he couldn't be anything to do with... this. I think he was in the living room when it happened. Now he's in the shed. For whatever reason I do not know, but he likes to sit there sometimes."

The maid avoids the letter-opener with her eyes.
human
You ask Maid about the letter opener
gpt
"Yes, I know the one. Jack - Mr. Daginham - kept it on his desk in the study. It was for his business mail. He got so many letters every day it said it hurt his fingers to tear them all."
human
You ask Maid about the phone
gpt
-- Be more specific about what you want to ask Emilia the maid about.
human
Topics
gpt
(talking to Emilia the maid)
-- You could try talking to Emilia the maid about: Jack Draginam, the whiskey bottle, the medicine tube, the silver key, the jar of face-cream or the scrap of pink paper.
human
You ask Maid about silver key
gpt
"Every woman has her secrets," she blushes.
human
You ask Maid about the face cream
gpt
"Every woman has her secrets," she blushes.

The maid's eyes stay fixed on you.
human
You go to garden
gpt
Swing door. Flower-bed. Roses climbing up the house. A shed. A hedge.

A thick net of dog roses covers the wall of the house.
human
You examine the shed
gpt
Beaten-up. Dilapidated. If this shed were a bum you would have hauled its ass down G-block so many times you'd recognise it by smell.
human
You knock on the shed
gpt
No answer here.

There's a sweet smell coming from the roses.
human
You enter the shed
gpt
(opening the beaten-up shed door first)
You open the beaten-up shed door.

The shed smells musty, like long-lost confessions - four rickety pine walls filled with gardening tools, and a lawnmower, but still with plenty of space for the terminally rich to potter around in. One small dirty window has a view over the garden outside and the back of the house.

A chess set has been set up on an upturned wheelbarrow and laid out mid-game.

Angela had mentioned someone called William Matheston who was in the shed: this old guy reclining in the deckchair must be him.

Matheston looks up and makes eye contact.
human
You show the badge to Matheston
gpt
William Matheston is unimpressed.

"There you are again," Matheston says, rising to his feet to shake your hand, though if you've ever seen his mush before it didn't stick.

"My name is Reverend William Matheston." He must think you're part of his flock. "Have you spoken to Angela already? Tell me, is she holding up?"
human
You ask the rev about himself
gpt
(--> ask red about himself)
-- You referred to something that can't be interacted with at present.
human
You ask the wm about himself
gpt
(--> ask am about himself)
-- You referred to something that can't be interacted with at present.
human
Topics
gpt
(talking to William Matheston)
-- You could try talking to William Matheston about: Jack Draginam, Angela Draginam, the whiskey bottle, the medicine tube, the silver key or the jar of face-cream.
human
You ask William about Jack
gpt
"I'm sorry, Inspector. I don't believe I can help you there."
human
You ask William about William
gpt
"I'm a vicar, at the local church. I've known Angela ever since they moved to the area, about three and a half years ago. She was very distraught on account of losing the baby. I helped her through that. Helped her to reconcile it with God. And we became firm friends - all three of us, her, God and myself."
human
You ask William about Angela
gpt
"She's an excellent woman, Inspector. One of the most devoted members of my congregation. Strong at heart too, though she wouldn't let you see it. We've been firm friends for many years."

"Well," Matheston adds, mostly to himself. "Maybe Angela is only as well as could be expected."
human
You ask William about Angela
gpt
"She's an excellent woman, Inspector. One of the most devoted members of my congregation. Strong at heart too, though she wouldn't let you see it. We've been firm friends for many years."

Matheston considers the board carefully. "Do you play chess, Inspector?" he asks.
human
You examine the chess
gpt
(the chess board)
The chess board is kinda thin: white has a few pawns as backup and two rooks roaming free. Black has an assortment: a knight, a queen, a pawn, and one of those guys that looks like an asparagus hiding off in a corner.
human
Yes
gpt
"I'm glad. Excellent game. Full of subtleties. Things you don't see that tie together into something by the end." He shakes his head. "If life were a little more like chess, I think people would find it easier."
human
You ask William about the chess
gpt
"It's an interesting position," William says. "Black is on the move. Two rooks can't attack directly but they do create deadly alignments. Traps. As for white, it's spread very thin. The queen is in retreat. That bishop there is watching the long diagonal but doesn't look at all ready to come into play. I think the problem centres on the knight and the pawn. It's white to play, by the way."

William considers the board in front of him carefully.
human
You ask William about the chess
gpt
"I think it's about pressure, on the knight, to force a sacrifice of the pawn. But that does leave open what part the other pieces play."

"I see you're the kind of man who takes his work very seriously," Matheston observes, quite out of the blue. "I'm the same. It's what I recognise in you, I think, that dedication."
human
You ask William about the chess
gpt
"I think it's about pressure, on the knight, to force a sacrifice of the pawn. But that does leave open what part the other pieces play."
human
You ask William about the bishop
gpt
"I suppose you want to hear my version of events? Well - Mrs. Draginam and I were sat in the living room, talking. To my knowledge Emilia the maid was in the kitchen - we couldn't hear her, though, due to our conversation and the television on in the background. However, at some point, around 2pm maybe, perhaps earlier, there was a heavy 'thump' from upstairs - like a large dictionary falling from a shelf.

"Angela stood and went to the doorway, to see if she could see anything. We expected Jack to shout something, you would - but there wasn't anything. So she went upstairs and into the bedroom. A few moments later she gave a terrible shriek - I rose to go and see, and Emilia streaked past me, up the stairs and into the room. I waited at the foot. Then the maid came back and went to call the police. I went to comfort Angela - I found her in her bedroom, sat on the bed. That's about it, I think."

The vicar is deep in thought.

-- I didn't recognise that as a topic of conversation.
human
You ask William about Emilia
gpt
"The maid, Inspector? That sweet young thing, she couldn't be anything to do with this, I'm sure."
human
You ask William about Anthony
gpt
"The maid has a young man called Anthony, I think. I'm not sure I've ever spoken to him beyond a simple hello. I know Mrs. Draginam despairs slightly of the kind of man he is, but she can hardly see her way to preventing the maid from having something pleasant around, considering."
human
You ask William about yourself
gpt
"I'm sorry, Inspector. I don't believe I can help you there."

William is counting through moves on his fingers.
human
You ask William about William
gpt
"As I said, I'm the vicar here."
human
You ask William about the baby
gpt
"It was a terrible, terrible loss. I don't think Angela ever quite got over it. And Jack, of course, had no sympathy in him whatsoever."
human
You ask William about the shed
gpt
"This is my little part of the house," he replies. "It's not much." No buts there.

Matheston looks up from the board to look straight at you.
human
You ask William about the whiskey
gpt
"I'm sorry, Inspector. I don't believe I can help you there."
human
You read the handwritten note
gpt
(in the trashy novel)
You can't find that chapter. The chapters are listed in the contents at the front.
human
You read the contents
gpt
(in the trashy novel)
THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF SLICK GURNER
-- as serialised in "Woman's Weekly"

Chapter one .... "Something in the Water? - Slick's First Mission" -- Page  2
Chapter two .... "Essential Fish Oils - Slick Gurner in Love" --
Page  23
Chapter three .. "Carpentry is Easy - Slick Teaches a Lesson" --
Page  64
Chapter four ... "Amethysts Have Feelings Too - Slick Goes Too Far"
-- Page  83
Chapter five ... "Whose Traffic Cone Is That, Comrade? - Gurner in Russia" -- Page  105
Chapter six .... "Try Next Door, Mister - Gurner has Amnesia!" --
Page  123
Chapter seven .. "Every Dog Has His Viola - Gurner's Last Bow" --
Page  144

William moves a pawn one space forwards.
human
You ask William about the chess
gpt
"I think it's about pressure, on the knight, to force a sacrifice of the pawn. But that does leave open what part the other pieces play."
human
You go to Emilia
gpt
The kitchen's the place to find her.

Swing door. Flower-bed. Roses climbing up the house. A shed. A hedge.

A thick net of dog roses covers the wall of the house.
human
You go to Emilia
gpt
The kitchen's the place to find her.

Sink, drawers. Cooker. Table, chairs. Swing door to the garden. Clock. Pantry. Passage to the south.

The maid is at the table.

On the worktop are a closed biscuit barrel and a ceramic water-jug.

The maid tries not to look at the knife.
human
You go to Angela
gpt
(opening the living room door first)
You open the living room door.

The living room is bright blue, the wallpaper shines out like the flashing siren of an ambulance, and isn't helped by a light green sofa and a wide window, south-facing, overlooking the sun-drenched street. Opposite the open door in the east wall is a small cabinet, and next to that is a television set.

Joe is sat on the sofa, reading a newspaper.

Mrs. Draginam looks up as you enter.

On top of the set is a magazine.

"That'd better be a gift for the bereaved," he snarls, nodding at the whiskey bottle in your hand.

Angela's eyes are fixed on the photograph, though from there she can't see what's on it. But then as soon as she notices that you're looking, she looks away.
human
You ask Angela about the photograph
gpt
She sighs, and turns to stare out of the window as she speaks.

"I found it, there on the desk. When I came in, the mirror was tilted, I saw it in the reflection. I raced over to the window, and snatched it, I stepped right over his body... and just then Emilia came rushing in. I couldn't... I couldn't... I turned my back, I pretended I was just closing the window, you see. And then when she'd gone I left it in my room. I was going to hide it, but I didn't get a chance - all those policeman - until you arrived, Inspector. There. That's my confession."

Joe looks at her sternly. "So you lied in your statement? That's a serious offence."

"Yes, I know," she replies brusquely. The policeman looks up at you and raises a brow. He takes the photo from you for a closer look then hands it back, Angela watching him do so with disdain.

Angela gasps as she sees the steel letter opener. "That's Jacks? From his study. Was he.. it.. oh, my, that's awful.." With horror, Angela recoils.
human
Topics
gpt
-- Please be specific who you want to talk to.
human
Topics angela
gpt
-- You could try talking to Angela Draginam about: Jack Draginam, herself, William Matheston, the whiskey bottle, the medicine tube or the silver key.
human
You ask Angela about the the silver key
gpt
"I think those are the tablets Emilia's boyfriend has been taking for his sprain."

Angela notices the bottle in your hand. "One of my husband's, I suppose. Nice to see it's not empty."
human
You ask Angela about the silver key
gpt
Angela takes the key and peers at it. "Front door," she says finally. "Is that the maid's copy? We only have three. Emilia has one, I have one," she pats a pocket, "and Jack had one, of course. Emilia lends hers to her boyfriend when he stays too, I think."
human
You ask Angela about herself
gpt
"What's there to say Inspector? I'm just another housewife. Jack and I were married for twelve years. We never had any children because of his work, we live here because of his work. I don't see that any of it's interesting to you."
human
You ask Angela about Jack
gpt
"You've had a good look around up there? Good. Well," she straightens down her skirts with one hand, methodically. "I suppose you want to know what happened?"
human
Yes
gpt
[Please specifiy whom you want to say that to using PERSON, YES.]
human
Yes
gpt
"Well. I was sat here, in the living room, talking to William - I suppose you'll have to talk to William too, won't you? He's outside in the garden right now, I think. Anyway, there was this loud thump, from upstairs. I expected - well, you know, to hear Jack call downstairs, or curse or something. When I didn't hear anything, I thought I ought to check. I thought maybe he'd slipped and hit his head. I went upstairs to see... and there he was, lying in a pool of blood." She raises a hand to her mouth. She is staring down at the floor as she speaks. "It was horrible!

"I must have screamed, I don't remember. Anyway, Emilia came running up the stairs to see what the matter was."
human
You ask Angela about the whiskey
gpt
"Jack liked to drink, a little. We used to both, I suppose. These days we keep the alcohol hidden. Anthony's little problem."
human
You ask Angela about Anthony
gpt
"The maid's boyfriend? I barely know him. When he stays - well, he keeps himself to himself as much as he can. He works quite a lot too. Used to have a problem with drink but he's much better now. But Emilia seems happy enough. He's out - he left right before it happened. Went swimming. The only sport he can do with that sprain of his."
human
You ask Angela about the cerestex
gpt
"I think those are the tablets Emilia's boyfriend has been taking for his sprain."
human
You accuse angela
gpt
"That's not funny, Inspector. We were having problems, sure, but nothing new, nothing major... But if you don't believe me you can ask William. I was with him when it happened. You can ask him."
human
You arrest angela
gpt
You keep your voice down so that no-one overhears. "Mrs. Draginam? Well, I suppose it's usually the wives in cases like this, and I've no doubt that Mr. Draginam did a hundred things wrong every minute and maybe some of them was real bad too. But we can't arrest a woman on nothing, even if she did close the window in the crime scene. Get a motive sorted, and maybe we can give this a shot."
human
You show the photograph to Joe
gpt
(the black and white incriminating photograph to the policeman)
He grins. "Good, isn't it?" is his excited reply, and then like a five-star idiot he notices Angela and becomes suddenly very timid. "Do you want that analysing?" Joe asks.
human
Analyse photo
gpt
(the black and white incriminating photograph)
"Let's see - I'll run an analysis on the blood, but I think we can guess. I'll pass it by the fake-spotters, get blow-ups of the faces - hell, I'll get copies made for Christmas. Good going, Inspector."

The policeman leaves through the living room door.

He's left his newspaper on the sofa.
human
Examine newspaper
gpt
The main story on the front of the paper is the bank heist down on fourth last night. It seems the robbers managed to escape the cops with $10,000 - a pretty meagre horde, but they'd been stupid enough to strike right after the cash van had come. Oh, and for once the paper can't be blamed though for getting facts wrong; they aren't to know the robbers only have $9,000 of the loot.

Other stories are the old lady who won the lottery, the kids from some school who got hit by a truck, nothing big. There's a crossword on the back page, with some baseball results.

Angela stares with blank eyes at the blank TV.
human
You ask Angela about the novel
gpt
"So you just want to insult my taste in books? Fine. Yes, I read Slick Gurner books," she snaps irritably. "Those are page numbers on the back flap, by the way," she adds quickly.
human
You look at the crossword
gpt
+++++++++++
1    |2    |     |     |3    |     |4  E
#####|5    |#####| +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|#####|     |#####|   X
#####|     |#####| +++++++++++
|7    |     |     |     |
|     |     | +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|     |#####|
#####|     |#####| +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|8    |9    |
10   |     |11   | +++++++++++
13   |     |14   |     |     |#####|
#####|     | +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|     |#####|     |#####|     |#####|     | +++++++++++
C
A
16 N

+++++++++++
#####|     |#####|     |#####|     |#####|#####|     |#####| +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|17   |     |     |     |     |     |     | +++++++++++

Angela glares at you like all this was your fault.
human
You look at the clues
gpt
+++++++++++
1    |2    |     |     |3    |     |4  E
#####|5    |#####| +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|#####|     |#####|   X
#####|     |#####| +++++++++++
|7    |     |     |     |
|     |     | +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|     |#####|
#####|     |#####| +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|8    |9    |
10   |     |11   | +++++++++++
13   |     |14   |     |     |#####|
#####|     | +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|     |#####|     |#####|     |#####|     | +++++++++++
C
A
16 N

+++++++++++
#####|     |#####|     |#####|     |#####|#####|     |#####| +++++++++++
#####|     |#####|17   |     |     |     |     |     |     | +++++++++++
human
Topics
gpt
(talking to Angela Draginam)
-- You could try talking to Angela Draginam about: Jack Draginam, the whiskey bottle, the medicine tube, the silver key, the jar of face-cream or the scrap of pink paper.
human
You ask Angela about face cream
gpt
"Her face-cream?" Angela looks surprised. "I've borrowed it once or twice, maybe. It's a good brand."
human
You ask Angela about the passport
gpt
-- Be more specific about what you want to ask Angela Draginam about.
human
You ask Angela about the suitcase
gpt
She doesn't even flinch. "It's no crime to have a packed suitcase, is it? I was about to go on holiday."
human
You ask Angela about the holiday
gpt
"Just a holiday. William was taking me upstate to where his parents live. Jack didn't mind, of course. Church trip. Not something he would have cared for himself."
human
You go to the guest bedroom
gpt
Southeast to the hallway, north to the kitchen. Closet. Door to the living room.

The cupboard is open.
human
You go to guest bedroom
gpt
Stairs up, passage northwest, front door behind. Desk one side, hat-stand on the other.
human
You go to the guest bedroom
gpt
Bed, nightstand, wicker chair. Door to the corridor.

On the nightstand is a silver frame.

A tall teak wardrobe leans against one wall.

The wicker chair is over by the wardrobe.

You can also see a toiletry bag, a wide open pink suitcase and a wedding photo here.
human
You take the passport
gpt
(Angela's passport)
You already have that.
human
Continue
gpt
Two armchairs, a door. Small cabinet for drinks, another that's a TV.

Mrs. Draginam glares at you as you approach.

On top of the set is a magazine.

Angela picks up the glossy magazine and flicks it open.
human
You show passport to Angela
gpt
(Angela's passport to Angela Draginam)
Angela Draginam is unimpressed.
human
You go to the pantry
gpt
Sink, drawers. Cooker. Table, chairs. Swing door to the garden. Clock. Pantry. Passage to the south.

The maid is at the table.

On the worktop are a closed biscuit barrel and a ceramic water-jug.
human
You go to the pantry
gpt
The pantry's well-stocked, with cans they bought because they had nothing else to spend the money on. A few bags of potatoes fill one shelf, below that a fruit basket, some hams and bacon. There's a door west when you've finished eyeing up their food.

Sat on a shelf is a dustpan.

You can also see a broken plate here.
human
You look at plate
gpt
A white dinner plate, with a deep crack running three-quarters of its length.
human
You examine the potato bag
gpt
(--> x potatoes bag)
What, are you training for your new job in the burger bar?
human
You examine basket
gpt
What, are you training for your new job in the burger bar?
human
You look at the hams
gpt
(--> x ham)
What, are you training for your new job in the burger bar?

Joe appears from out again. He returns the photograph to your sweaty little hands. "Well, the blood belongs to you-know-who. Where did you find it? In the room? Anyway. The boys in the lab were happy to give it some close study. It's no fake." Of course it's not a fake. You can't fake high art like this.

The policeman heads off out again.
human
You go to the car
gpt
(the black chevy)

Sink, drawers. Cooker. Table, chairs. Swing door to the garden. Clock. Pantry. Passage to the south.

The maid is at the table.

On the worktop are a closed biscuit barrel and a ceramic water-jug.
human
You go to the car
gpt
(the black chevy)

Southeast to the hallway, north to the kitchen. Closet. Door to the living room.

The cupboard is open.
human
You go to car
gpt
(the black chevy)

Stairs up, passage northwest, front door behind. Desk one side, hat-stand on the other.
human
You go to the car
gpt
(the black chevy)

Front door, front gate. Small diamond of glass in the door.

A hanging basket with a couple of petunias in is attached just to the left of the door.
human
You go to the car
gpt
(the black chevy)

Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 15
Your car. Front gate, leading up to the porch of the house.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You listen
gpt
Somewhere to the west a dog is yapping.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 13
Nice houses. Your car, to the east. Down the street, some yammering dog.

You're standing right by a streetlight, on the edge of the kerb.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the west of here.
human
You go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 11
Nice houses. Your car, to the east. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked here.
human
You listen
gpt
Somewhere to the west a dog is yapping.

Sunlight trickles through the trees; your neck itches under the heavy coat.
human
You go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 9
Nice houses. Your car, to the east. Down the street, some yammering dog.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the east of here.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 7
Nice houses. Your car, to the east. Down the street, some yammering dog.

You're standing right by a streetlight, on the edge of the kerb.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the east of here.

A small dog runs up to you from the west.
human
You look at Dog
gpt
A small, sleek white mutt mongrel thing, with a voice he seems sure proud of. No doubt the pride and joy of some old dear on the street. If you had the energy you'd hit him with your car.

The dog scampers away to the east.
human
Go east
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 9
Nice houses. Your car, to the east.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the east of here.

There is a small dog here, running round in circles.

The dog scampers away to the west.
human
You throw the stick
gpt
Dropped.

Up the road, a dog drifts in and out from between the trees.
human
You take the stick
gpt
Taken.

A light breeze tickles your face and makes it itch.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 7
Nice houses. Your car, to the east.

You're standing right by a streetlight, on the edge of the kerb.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the east of here.

There is a small dog here, running round in circles.

The dog scampers away to the west.
human
Go west
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 5
Nice houses. Your car, to the east.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the east of here.

There is a small dog here, running round in circles.

The dog scampers away to the east.
human
You go east
gpt
Broken Top Boulevard, Outside No. 7
Nice houses. Your car, to the east.

You're standing right by a streetlight, on the edge of the kerb.

A police squad car is parked outside No. 11, a little to the east of here.

There is a small dog here, running round in circles.
human
You throw the stick
gpt
You lob the stick down the street. The dog wastes no time in going off in pursuit.
human
You accuse yourself
gpt
You're guilty of enough - spending a whole month's advance on tequila, beating to death that Indian kid in the cell in January, being a crummy cop and not solving a single case for a good long while. You don't need accusations, you've got a string of them. You need to sort it out.