The café’s front door opens, and Tommy steps in from Lamplight Tavern with a small folder tucked beneath one arm. Claire remains beside Alex, while Dev watches from behind the counter.
Tommy
I know dinner was planned for tonight, boyo, but I’m not waiting. These are public business records tied to Roland Mercer’s shell company, lease, and registered agent.
Tommy places the folder on the counter without opening it. The pages bear ordinary registry and property-record markings, with no sealed material or unexplained device among them.
Dev
Then we handle it as controlled activity, mate. No café-wide search, no chasing names, and nothing leaves this counter until the chain is documented.
Tommy
Fair. The lead is Suite 4B’s maintenance vendor. The company still bills the property, but its registered address changed two weeks after Mercer disappeared from the lease.
Dev’s gaze drops briefly to Alex’s healed shoulder, then returns to the folder. Claire keeps close without speaking, leaving the decision and the next lawful step open to Alex.
Alex Mishyma's turn“"Interesting.... same time I did that contract work for Rourke on his systems," you smirk without mirth. Shaking your head, you drag a long puff of your menthol in thought. Sounds like this is more a physical investigation, though. And, as you can see? I ain't exactly peak form right now." Claire raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Well, you don’t have to be at peak form to spot the obvious. Maybe let me handle the heavier legwork this round." Dev chuckles from behind the counter. "And I’ll keep an eye on the paperwork. Someone’s got to make sure Mercer’s mess doesn’t get worse while you’re nursing that shoulder." You roll your eyes gently. "I CAN still type you know, all. Speaking of that, you pull your phone out to open your bank app. "While I gotcha here, Tommy," you smile, securing a wire of 10,000 dollars to his account. "Tonight, will just be about dinner." You chuckle.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled -1)
Alex Mishyma
Interesting. That lines up with the contract work I did for Rourke on his systems. This looks more physical, though, and I’m not exactly at peak form right now.
Claire
You don’t have to be at peak form to spot the obvious. Maybe let me handle the heavier legwork this round.
Dev
And I’ll keep an eye on the paperwork. Someone has to make sure Mercer’s mess doesn’t get worse while you’re nursing that shoulder.
You roll your eyes gently and pull out your phone. The shoulder is healed, but the records still need careful handling, and Tommy’s folder remains on Dev’s counter.
Alex Mishyma
I can still type, you know. Speaking of that, Tommy, tonight will just be about dinner.
The personal laptop opens beside the counter, and Tech Savant verifies the banking details against the saved recipient information before you authorize the transfer. The bank confirms ten thousand dollars sent to Tommy’s account, with the receipt saved locally.
Tommy
Dinner only, boyo. I’ll accept the ten grand, but the folder still gets handled properly. Tonight, we eat and leave Mercer’s ghosts outside.
✓ Quest Accepted
Agree on a lawful plan with Tommy for Mercer’s records.
✓ Quest Accepted
Determine who controls Suite 4B’s maintenance operation.
Director's note
Storyteller, that means like his profile picture, please.
Alex Mishyma's turn“Before anything else, you need to go change. Now that your shoulder is healed, it's time to dress back in your style. A few minutes later, you come back to the cafe. Rounding the counter, you clap Tommy' shoulder. "Agreed. The money was merely a thank you for services rendered for the impromptu taxi services." You pour yourself, him and Claire a coffee. Tommy chuckles, shaking his head at your formality, while Claire raises an eyebrow, smirking as she stirs her cup. You take a slow sip, savoring the warmth, and notice Dev leaning back, arms crossed, watching the interaction with amusement. Tommy leans forward slightly, tapping the folder on the counter, his eyes flicking between you and Claire, as if weighing whether to speak or wait. Claire nudges him gently, prompting a small grin, while you set your cup down, ready to listen and respond. "Alright then, spill what you can in public, bruv. Suspense is killing' me her..."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Alex steps away to change, then returns to the café in his familiar style, shoulder fully healed and unencumbered. He rounds the counter and claps Tommy’s shoulder.
Alex Mishyma
Agreed. The money was merely a thank you for services rendered for the impromptu taxi services.
Alex pours coffee for himself, Tommy, and Claire, then takes a slow sip. Tommy chuckles at the formality, while Claire raises an eyebrow and stirs her cup.
Dev leans back with folded arms, amused. Tommy taps the folder and glances between Alex and Claire, weighing his words until Claire’s gentle nudge earns a small grin.
Alex Mishyma
Alright then, spill what you can in public, bruv. Suspense is killing me here.
Meeting Coordination gives Tommy a clear opening, while Diplomacy keeps the request relaxed and public-facing. Dev remains attentive, and Claire’s hand settles near Alex’s cup.
Tommy
The maintenance vendor is still billing Suite 4B through Mercer’s shell company. Its registered address changed two weeks after Mercer vanished, and the new address belongs to a small industrial property in Charlestown. Public records show no ownership change, but the vendor’s service contract was renewed yesterday. That is what I can share here, and it gives us a lawful lead without opening anything sealed.
Alex Mishyma's turn“"Fair deal." You walk towards the table where your laptop sits with your PHLAK drive. "That's enough to start with" you say quietly, launching programs to do deep dives for the less-than-public records. Your AI glasses charge nearby as you tap rapidly on the keyboard. "How's yer Da, by the way, Tommy?" "He’s doing better, thanks for asking," Tommy says with a small smile. "Still stubborn as ever, but the old man’s his own. Keeps me busy making sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble." You smirk, your eyes locked to the screen. "And to be sure you ain't getting into too much trouble as well, right?" "These records are messy, but I can see the patterns starting to emerge—Mercer really covered his tracks, yet there’s a trail if you know where to look."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +2)
Alex Mishyma
Fair deal. That’s enough to start with.
Alex walks to the table, opens his personal laptop, and slots in the PHLAK drive. The drive mounts forensic tools while his AI glasses charge nearby, untouched.
Alex Mishyma
How’s yer Da, by the way, Tommy?
Tommy
He’s doing better, thanks for asking. Still stubborn as ever, but the old man’s his own. Keeps me busy making sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.
Alex Mishyma
And to be sure you ain’t getting into too much trouble as well, right?
Tech Savant coordinates the laptop’s isolated workspace while Advanced Forensic Audit Reading compares vendor invoices, lease references, address changes, and renewal timestamps. PHLAK preserves the originals and exposes a repeated route through Mercer’s shell company.
Tommy
These records are messy, but I can see the patterns starting to emerge. Mercer really covered his tracks, yet there’s a trail if you know where to look.
Quest Complete
Alex MishymaAgree on a lawful plan with Tommy for Mercer’s records.
New Gift: Advanced Meeting Coordination
✓ Quest Accepted
Protect Tommy’s father from further intimidation.
undefined / undefined
The laptop highlights a repeated invoice number, then Tommy’s phone vibrates sharply against the counter. The incoming call is labeled Tommy's father, and Tommy’s grin disappears.
Tommy
That’s my Da. He doesn’t call during work unless something’s wrong.
Claire
Answer it, Tommy. We can keep the records exactly where they are while you find out what happened.
Tommy
Da? Talk to me. Are you safe?
Tommy's father
I’m safe, son, but two men came by asking whether you still work with Alex. They knew about Mercer’s company and the Charlestown property.
Tommy goes still beside the folder. Dev reaches toward the café’s incident log without touching the records, while Claire shifts closer to Alex and listens to every word.
Tommy's father
They left when I told them the police were on their way. One carried a photograph of the industrial property, and the other mentioned tonight’s dinner.
Alex Mishyma's turn“"Tommy, does your Da's apartment have any kind of CCTV, or camera system? If so, are the feeds accessible remotely, or would someone need physical access to view them?" Tommy frowns, glancing at his phone before responding. “Yeah, he’s got a few cameras in the common areas mostly for security. The feeds can be accessed remotely, but only with the right login and two-factor verification. No one can just walk in and watch them without permission.” You turn back to the screen, the deep emerald almost glimmering with mirth. "Challenge accepted." Tommy raises an eyebrow, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You really don’t back down from anything, do you, boyo?” He shakes his head, amused but slightly wary. “Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got.””
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
Tommy, does your Da’s apartment have CCTV, and can the feeds be accessed remotely, or would someone need physical access to view them?
Tommy
Yeah, he’s got a few cameras in the common areas. Remote access needs the right login and two-factor verification. Nobody just walks in and watches them.
Alex turns back to the personal laptop as Tommy’s father remains on the call. Tech Savant builds an isolated camera-access workspace, while the PHLAK drive mounts forensic tools to preserve every request and response.
Alex Mishyma
Challenge accepted.
Tommy
You really don’t back down from anything, do you, boyo? Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got.
The laptop submits the documented login and two-factor exchange through the isolated workspace. Tech Savant handles the current authentication flow, while PHLAK records the transaction without changing the apartment system.
The apartment’s common-area feeds open on screen: lobby, elevator, and front entrance. Live video confirms the cameras are functioning, and the archive is available for Alex’s controlled review.
Alex Mishyma's turn“You sigh, unplugging Jarvis from charging, slipping on the AI glasses. You tap the power button. "Sorry buddy, but I kinda need your help. I need to get into the backlog recordings of these feeds, please." Jarvis hums to life, his interface flickering across your vision. "Understood, Alex. Accessing backlog recordings now. Estimated retrieval time: three minutes. Shall I prioritize the lobby and front entrance feeds first?" You think a moment. "No. Start with the front door, and work backwards, please." Tommy, Claire, Dev, and some of the closer elites all raise eyebrows and exchange glances, some whispering if this might be a sign of your return to active hacker duty, as it were. Tommy leans back slightly, arms crossed, a mix of amusement and concern on his face. Claire bites her lip, trying to hide a smirk, her eyes flicking between you and the AI interface. Dev chuckles quietly, shaking his head, clearly entertained by your sudden dive into hacking mode.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +1)
You sigh, unplug Jarvis from charging, and slip on the AI glasses. Their interface flickers across your vision as the personal laptop opens the isolated camera workspace.
Alex Mishyma
Sorry, buddy, but I need your help. Get into the backlog recordings of these feeds, please.
Jarvis
Understood, Alex. Accessing backlog recordings now. Estimated retrieval time is three minutes. Shall I prioritize the lobby and front entrance feeds?
Alex Mishyma
No. Start with the front door and work backward, please.
Tech Savant directs Jarvis through the authenticated archive while the laptop keeps the camera system isolated. The AI glasses map each request and display the front-door timeline in reverse order.
Tommy leans back with crossed arms, amused but concerned. Claire bites back a smile, and Dev shakes his head as the nearby café regulars exchange curious glances.
Jarvis
Front-door backlog retrieved and indexed, sir. The recordings are available from the present moment backward, with timestamps, access logs, and synchronized video ready for review.
The front-door archive opens across the glasses and laptop, beginning with the latest recording and stepping backward through the apartment’s entrance history. Every retrieved file remains preserved for controlled review.
Alex Mishyma's turn“'Alright, next I need to map the likely entry points and review the past three days’ footage for any unusual activity. I’ll mark timestamps where deliveries or unknown visitors appear, then set alerts for repeated patterns. Once I have that, I can cross-reference with Mercer’s known contacts and flag anything that seems out of place,' you think, and nod. "Now Jarvis, would you search the last 5 days of backlog footage, clipping anything other than Tommy's father, or Tommy himself please?" Tommy looks at you, dumbfounded. Tommy blinks, his mouth slightly open, clearly caught off guard. “Uh… you really want me out of the picture completely? Just me and my old man, huh?” He leans back in his chair, a mix of disbelief and amusement on his face. “That’s… bold, even for you, Alex.” You turn to look him in the face. "Why would either of you be suspects in this, mate?" You laugh gently, shaking your head.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Investigation, rolled +0)
Alex Mishyma
I need the entry points, five days of footage, and timestamps for visitors or deliveries that do not fit the household pattern.
Alex Mishyma
Now, Jarvis, search the last five days of backlog footage and clip anything other than Tommy or his father, please.
Tommy
Uh... you really want me out of the picture completely? Just me and my old man, huh? That’s bold, even for you, Alex.
Alex Mishyma
Why would either of you be suspects in this, mate?
Jarvis searches backward through five days of authenticated footage. Tech Savant indexes the feeds, the personal laptop preserves the originals, and the AI glasses map doors, sightlines, and timestamps while PHLAK records every request.
Advanced Forensic Audit Reading compares access logs with the video and marks every delivery, unknown visitor, and unusual pause. The clips separate cleanly from Tommy and his father, with hashes and source times attached.
Jarvis
Search complete, sir. I found seven clips involving visitors or deliveries outside the household pattern, plus three repeated entry points. Alerts are set for matching faces, vehicles, and timing patterns.
The laptop displays the clipped sequence and a map of the lobby, elevator, and front entrance. Mercer-linked contacts appear beside two timestamps, giving Alex a documented comparison set for Nina and Tommy.