When we last left our heroine, she had just solved the case of the pizzeria fire, and was pounding the streets looking for another case.
ROOK: So like I said, Shirley looked like she needed help.
ROOK: What's wrong, Shirley?
SHIRLEY: Somebody left me some mysterious flowers...will ya help me out, 'hon?
ROOK: Yes, I'm on the case!
SHIRLEY: Wonderful hon, I have something I want to show you...
ROOK: You mean those entirely conspicuous flowers a couple of yards away, don't you?
SHIRLEY: Yes. Here's what I wanted to show you. Someone knocked on the door, but when I opened it I just found these flowers!
ROOK: Looks like you have a secret admirer, Shirley!
SHIRLEY: We gotta find out who it is, hon! In case ya ain't noticed, I usually don't like to do things subtle.
ROOK: Alright, I'll see what I can find out.
ROOK: I noticed Poppy, who had gone up to the nearby fruit stand while I was talking to Shirley. If anyone could identify flowers...
ROOK: Hey, Poppy!
POPPY: Hiya, Rook!
ROOK: Do you recognize this bouquet?
POPPY: Of course! That's the Number 27 — the Secret Love Bouquet!
SHIRLEY: Well, who did you sell it too, hon?
POPPY: Today? Umm...Gino. And Patrick. And Mayor Skip.
ROOK: They all bought the Secret Love Bouquet?
POPPY: It's a popular bouquet.
ROOK: She left. I turned to Shirley.
ROOK: Alright. Looks like I need to investigate Gino, Patrick, and Skip.
SHIRLEY: Eh, I'd be fine with any of 'em.
ROOK: I figured I could check for evidence around the storefront, or ask them about their flowers. I picked up the flowers and started looking for footprints. The first noteworthy set I found led from her bushes all the way to Patrick's trailer in the construction site! Before I confronted him about it, however, I noticed something strange under his trailer... medical garb? I took it with me in case I needed to infiltrate a hospital or something. Then I went inside and talked to Patrick.
ROOK: Were you hiding in the salon's bushes?
PATRICK: I wasn't hiding. I fell off the roof into those bushes.
ROOK: Why were you on the salon's roof?
PATRICK: Fixing the air conditioning! My tool chest should still be up there if you need proof.
ROOK: I decided to look into Patrick's claim. I didn't see a direct way of getting up there, but I noticed some wires hanging between the buildings, so maybe... bingo! I saw some crates between the site and a house. I jumped up there and crossed a power line. This roof had a nice place to sit and watch the train go by... as long as the wind wasn't blowing sunflower pollen my way. I crossed some boards. This roof had a sunroof which I declined to peek in. I used the unit to get onto a higher roof with another nice place to sit... and a chest? It had street clothes in it, perfect for both a bright spring day or a crisp fall afternoon. Also, some paints. I had no idea where I was going to use them, but eh, I'd find something. Besides, they made me feel like a real detective. I crossed another wire and found... Patrick's tool chest. Okay. So I went to Gino's.
ROOK: Gino, did you buy any flowers from Poppy?
GINO: Yes I did! Roses!
ROOK: Oh really? Why did you buy them? Some...romantic interest, perhaps?
GINO: Yes, it was very romantic... I use the rose petals to decorate my newest pizza experiment — The Paris Pizza!
ROOK: Oh...ok...nevermind.
ROOK: I hoped by "romantic" he was referring to the tomatoes
, but rose pizza?
I've had rose-flavored cake before. It was good.
ROOK: ...Okay. I decided to look around for this pizza. I found it. Next stop: Town Hall.
ROOK: Did you buy any flowers from Poppy, Mr. Mayor?
SKIP: I sure did! They're right over there in that vase.
ROOK: I looked at the vase, and there they were. I asked him what he thought of her.
ROOK: Hey Skip, what do you think of Shirley?
SKIP: Um... she's um...
ROOK: Yes?
SKIP: Um... she does a really great job with my hair!
ROOK: Okay. He seems like he was hiding admiration, but nothing I could really trace to the flowers in question. I left the hall, and happened upon Poppy.
ROOK: Hi, Poppy. Do you remember anything else about the flowers you sold yesterday?
POPPY: Sorry, no, Rook.
ROOK: Did anyone say anything about Shirley?
POPPY: I think Patrick mentioned he was doing some work for her. That's all I remember though, Rook.
ROOK: She left. I already confirmed that, but her mention of him reminded me to ask him directly about the flowers he ordered.
ROOK: Hey Patrick! I found your tools on Shirley's roof.
PATRICK: Yeah, I have to go back and finish up, but I got hungry.
ROOK: Oh, and Patrick, did you buy flowers?
PATRICK: Sure did! I ordered them yesterday.
ROOK: Ordered them? For delivery?
PATRICK: Yup, but they never came! All I got was a form from the City Board of Flower Requisition. Whatever that is!
ROOK: What? A flower requisition form? Can I see it?
PATRICK: Sure, if you can find it. I didn't open it. Just tossed it somewhere in my trailer.
ROOK: I had to see this letter. I found it in the trash can after a careful search. I decided to talk to Skip, but as I passed the salon, something on a bush caught my eye.
ROOK: *blink*
Carry on.
ROOK: Okay. I headed back to Patrick's trailer.
You were going to Town Hall, were you not?
ROOK: I want to be thorough.
ROOK: Can I get a sample of your handwriting?
PATRICK: I have to write all sorts of stuff on my blueprints. You might want to check there.
ROOK: Thanks, Patrick.
ROOK: I looked at the blueprints. The handwriting was not a match. I went to Gino's.
ROOK: Can I get a sample of your handwriting?
GINO: Handwriting? Like my handwritten daily specials list I use to advertise outside my restaurant?
ROOK: That would work. I'll go check it out. Thanks Gino!
ROOK: Once outside, I looked at the sign. Not only did Gino misspell "prosciutto", but the handwriting didn't match. On to Town Hall!
ROOK: Skip, tell me about this "City Board of Flower Requisition".
SKIP: What? Yes! That's totally a branch of our government.
ROOK: So...you requisitioned Patrick's flowers? For the city?
SKIP: I never said any such thing! No, the CBFR has nothing to do with me.''
ROOK: ...Indeed.
ROOK: I decided to check the computer, but the files were encrypted! No biggie. I could just use my mad hacking skills—
To navigate a scrolling maze.
ROOK: —yes, to navigate a scrolling maze. Under a time limit. Which depleted more rapidly if I got stuck off the lit path. And, as I discovered, the CBFR was formed by Skip in the first place, just to requisition Patrick's flowers! But I knew this wouldn't be enough to go on.
ROOK: Can I see some of your handwriting?
SKIP: Why, I keep all of my forms in my safe, but you are not allowed in there...
ROOK: I saw no safe in his office. I knew I'd have to poke around. Finally, as I was looking at some books that looked like they'd never been taken off the shelf, I activated a panel which slid up, revealing the safe! But, unlike Gino's, it was locked.
ROOK: I'd like the combination to your safe, please.
SKIP: Certainly not! That combination is a secret! I only open it in private!
ROOK: He wanted privacy, so I decided to give him some... or appear to. I left the office. I saw a window that I could use to see it, but first, I'd have to cross some awnings and ledges. I went all the way to the end of the street, where there was a service station. I saw a ladder, but I also saw a crate. Crowbar time! I found a jack-in-the-box—
Jack-in-the-Box. 1 point of Paranormal.
ROOK: Wait, what?
I'll explain later.
ROOK: Whatever. I also found some paints in lively patterns. I climbed the ladder.
Wait. Stop.
ROOK: What? I'm climbing a ladder here!
The station's logo is an orange triceratops?
ROOK: ...That's the Simclair station.
Oh, no...
ROOK: ...What?
Never mind...
ROOK: Well. Across a couple of ledges and awnings, I finally got to Skip's window and peeked in. He opened the safe, looked at his papers, put them back, and closed it up again. 12-34-22. Got it. Before I went down to try it, however, I spotted another chest! Inside were some paints ranging from brick to wood to... cow? Anyway, down I went, and from there, I went inside and opened the safe. Inside was... a letter thanking Morcubus for a donation, and assuring him that he will not close down Morcubus's evil factory? Interesting info, but for now, his handwriting is the key. It's a match. With this evidence, I decided to report to Shirley.
ROOK: Hi! Shirley, I know who your admirer is!
SHIRLEY: So, what's the deal, hon? Who's my loverboy?
ROOK: Looks like Mayor Skip is the one who left the flowers!
SHIRLEY: Really? Ooh, a man with money and looks. I like it! But, how did you find out it was him?
ROOK: Well, he made it tough. Matching his handwriting to a love note was key.
SHIRLEY: A love note came, too? Can I see it?
ROOK: Sure. It had blown into the bushes.
ROOK: I gave it to her.
SHIRLEY: He says my eyes are deeper than the moon! I like this guy's style!
ROOK: Well, his style was tough to track down. He certainly didn't want anybody to know it was him.
SHIRLEY: He's shy! Aww, how cute!
ROOK: Well, cute's a relative term. I mean, he formed a puppet department of our government to cover up his flower purchases, and he...
SHIRLEY: Thanks, Rook!!! I'm gonna go invite that hunk out on a hot date!
ROOK: She ran off...
ROOK: But...he's also corrupt...and he's working with Morcubus...
What's that they say about multiple exclamation marks?
ROOK: Normally, I'd call three about the limit, but in this case, I'd agree they're right. Oh well. Good luck, Shirley!
ROOK: I got some hairstyles out of the deal. And I uncovered some more over by the hair dryers. Don't think I'll use 'em, but hey.
Next time: A new HQ!
