[Call of Cthulhu] Cyclops - IC

[thumbprince]

Sonder's Jewelry is a store in the diamond district of Jersualem, on Bezalel Street. Each of you is there at the end of the lunch hour.

[buddy]

Frank Goldman eyed the store for anything usual while waiting for his accomplice, Arthur, to analyze the available data garnered in the U.S.

Frank was 6'1", 190 lbs., Jewish with a cinnamon complexion that suggested native birth, blonde hair, brown eyes, dressed in a black collared shirt, black pants & shoes. His expression was always serious and challenging. He sipped from a bottled water as he gazed over the store.

That long flight without a smoke. Arthur's relentless chatter. Customs. It all nearly made him lose focus on his objective: the girl. Based on her parents' information and Arthur's unerring talent, he should find her, Provided the boyfriend didn't muck it up. "Paul". His love for the girl might be a problem. Love always was .... problematic.


No OOC?

[Amaril]

This is it. This is the place.

Standing in the narrow, windy side street, staring at the sign swinging above the door in the light breeze, I couldn't have explained to myself how I knew with such certainty--but I did. After two months--two long, stressful months, full of worry and late nights and constant arguments with mom--I'd finally made it.

Sonder's Jewelry. First floor 476C Bezalel St., Jerusalem.

In spite of my instincts, I forced myself not to get excited (or, more likely, to throw up all over the sidewalk). Swinging my backpack down off my shoulders and kneeling down on the pavement, I found the now-familiar side pocket, digging out the scrap of battered lined paper and unfolding it carefully. I knew I had to be quick here, since someone from the tour group might come looking for me any moment, but I had to check. If I'd somehow gotten the wrong place, I wanted to waste as little time as possible.

When I'd first found the notes that had led me here, seeing Lila's handwriting on the page had made my heart skip. This was the first time in weeks it had had that same effect. Lila had never been the neatest printer, and the stuff on this page was even messier than usual, but still, there was no mistake. This was it. Nervous and relieved simultaneously, I refolded the scrap of paper, replaced it in its pocket, and swung my backpack over my shoulders.

Okay, you've found it...

...now what?

Actually, that was a good point. Now that I'd finally managed to get here, after all this work and stress, it occurred to me that I had absolutely no idea what to do next. Lila's notes hadn't give any information about this place beyond the address itself--no helpful additions scrawled in the margins saying "ask for Frank, he'll help you out" or anything so easy. Until now, I'd had some idea of what I was doing, a trail to follow. It looked as though from here on out, I was on my own.

Well, what the hell. Might as well just go for it.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

[Mr White]

Dieumerci raced through the streets. He knew better than to linger when he just ended his … employment, for lack of better description. The stingy old coot wouldn’t have paid without some decent results anyway. Better to just get an advance and get out. And this ring sure looks like it could pay for at least a few months of carefree living.

There … the jewel store … Dieu had kept his eyes open when passing through the streets these past few days. Always best to plan your escape route well before.
He rushed through the door. His eyes needed to adjust to the indoor light.

[LPlate]

Joshua strolled easily down Bezazel Street. He was moving against the general flow of pedestrian traffic as people made their way back to work. He was dressed in a light brown, inexpensive suit. It suggested that he was a professional, albeit a not very well paid one. He stroked his goatee as he walked - with or without the goatee, he did not receive many compliments on his looks. His skin was a little too lined and worn for his age.
The widow Lorre had refused his "generous" offer for the amulet. Given that her estate was insolvent, she could have used that money. Then again, given that she had died, she probably wouldn't have had the chance to spend it. The lawyers, Sondheim and Sondheim were dealing with her estate. They'd sold the amulet along with all her jewellery to the Sonder jeweller at a quickly agreed price. Joshua hoped to claim that amulet before Sonder discovered there were collectors interested in it.
He bounded up the stairs to the first floor jeweller. His steps were silent as he climbed, so another customer was surprised as Joshua appeared behind them just as they pushed open the upper door.

[Strawberries]

George Harring shifts his weight from one foot to the other. For a city that's not exactly known for being uneventful, he was expecting a bit more excitement. Still, he's come to Jerusalem to lay low, and Don's fixed him this job exactly for this reason, he should be grateful that everything has been quiet so far. He eyes the few customers in the store, keeping an eye out for signs of troubles.

[thumbprince]

In addition to you five, there are three clerks and two other patrons looking at stones and expensive pieces. All of a sudden, two things happen simultaneously. A wealthy looking man comes in the front door while two employees emerge from the back door, which is marked "jewelry workshop."

[OOC You can all try to make a Spot Hidden roll].

[thumbprince]

The first two patrons look like a couple shopping for an engagement ring. Two of the employees are female and the third looks like the owner.

All the newcomers are male.

You see the arriving shopper flip the "open" sign to its "closed sign" as the shop owner notices the men in the employee door.

"I'm sorry, that's not a door-" he begins before one of them pulls out a mini-Uzi. In the silence that follows you hear the click of the front door locking.

[LPlate]

The couple were startled by Joshua but in a good mood and recovered quickly.
Eyeing up the woman, "You're gorgeous." He winked and nodded his head toward her partner. "Don't let him spend less on you than you deserve."
The couple continued in, as did Joshua. There were a couple of store girls apart from the owner. He didn't want to deal with them yet, not until he had assessed where the amulet was and what was close to it. He sauntered around the shop, casually searching for the amulet.
Glancing around he sized up the other shoppers, "...the loving couple, one lost tourist, one shifty customer, hmmn... a little over eager for a quick sale, could be a good time to negotiate after the jeweler gets his high from fleecing him.., a cop?, not to mention a security guard ... definitely not the day for a five finger discount, "honest" haggling it will have to be."
Joshua thought he spotted the amulet in a jewel case when the emergence of two more workmen from the staff area caught his eye, along with the arrival of a gentleman who proceeded to lock the door!
"That's an Uzi. Oh ****, oh ****, oh ****. Calm, Their crisis could be my opportunity. Guard and cop will both have their hands full. Might be able to grab the amulet for free and this heist provides ready-made scapegoats. Hope it's just a store robbery and not a customer shakedown..."
Joshua began to back towards the cabinet where he thought the amulet was. He kept his hands out from his body, so he didn't look like a threat. He kept his face lowered, "Don't look directly in the faces of the robbers and they won't worry about you as a witness."
He did keep watching though to see what would happen and how the others, particularly the cop and guard were going to respond. Opportunity could present itself at any moment.

[Mr White]

Dieumerci finally got his breath under control. "A lot of people in this store," he mutters to himself. He doesn't notice anything special about the actions of others.

[Amaril]

"Whoa, wait, is that guy holding a gun? What the ****? Oh God, what do I do what do I do what do I do? I don't wanna die here!

Struggling to calm down, I was amazed at my luck--of all the days for this to happen, didn't it just have to be today. I forced myself to breathe slowly. "Come on, Paul, pull yourself together. He hasn't actually started shooting or said anything. He probably just wants to rob the store, he won't care about the customers as long as we don't get in his way. Just act calm and go along with whatever he says.

Breathing deeply and slowly, I forced myself to relax and pointedly fixed my gaze on the floor, trying my best not to look like a threat.

[Strawberries]

Fu-ing hell. Apparently, he had been complaining too soon about the lack of excitement. What now?

George Harring wasn't a security guard by vocation by any stretch of imagination, and he doesn't really fancy getting a bullet in the guts for the sake of the job. Far from it - god knows he'd been on the opposite side loads of times. But still, the owner is a friend of a friend...a friend of a friend to whom George owns a massive favour. Still swearing silently to himself, he tries to manoeuvre to put himself in a good position to pull his gun on the armed man.

Hmmm....let's do sneak. [roll0] vs 50. EDIT: Hey, it worked! :smallbiggrin:

Right, so plan is getting as close as possible, pull a gun to his head and tell him to drop the uzi. Which I don't expect will get me anywhere, but hey.:smalltongue:

[thumbprince]

The other two men - one at the store entrance, and one with his accomplice - are also pulling out weapons. They haven't noticed George trying to work his way behind them.

"This is not a robbery. But I will need your help, friends" says the one at the front. "Please raise your hands."

[Amaril]

At the sound of the gunman's voice, I couldn't stop myself from risking a furtive glance upward towards the rest of the shop. When I saw that two other men had pulled guns as well, I almost passed out in fear. The threat of a bullet in the head was all that kept me standing as, moving slowly and carefully, I raised my shaking hands above my head.

"Please, God, let me make it through this..."

[LPlate]

"Not a robbery? Noone here worth kidnapping...unless that tourist is someone special. It sounds like a lie to keep us guessing and disorientated, so noone will call 112. Noone walks into a jewellers with Uzis, if it isn't a robbery."
Joshua's head unconsciously shook slightly as he raised his hands.
"Guards moving to be a hero. I may still have my chance."
When he reached the cabinet, he took a quick glance in to see if he was right about the amulet being in there.

[thumbprince]

The man who came through the front door seems to be in charge.

"You" and "you" - he points to Joshua and Dieu. "I need your help escorting Mr. Sonder into the back room. Everyone else, please accompany us. I'm sorry you are here, but I will not waste an opportunity to show someone the truth."

[Mr White]

Dieumerci hesitated ... kept his head down and pretended he hadn't heard the man.

[LPlate]

Joshua sighed as he saw he was mistaken. The amulet wasn't there. Then the leader? grabbed his attention with his, "You".
He glanced at the African and noticed a hesitation. "Someone needs to act before they get angry."

He stepped over towards Mr. Sonders. He spoke clearly, making sure that the robbers could hear what he was initially saying.
"Its best to stay calm and just do as they ask. Your insurance will cover any losses. Just remember that the most important thing for you to do now is not get yourself hurt or worse. It'll be over soon. Please, step this way."
He lightly placed his left hand on Mr. Sonders back and gestured with the right towards the back room.

"That's it, keep it tranquil and keep the jeweller alive. This could work well - he might give a better deal on the amulet if I seem to befriend him. Close bonds forming in a time of emotional stress and all that. It's time to try to mirror his life so he empathises more with me. Who knows, humanising everyone might make the robbers think twice if things start to turn nasty."

"Focus on the good stuff. Tell me, do you have a wife or children?"

[thumbprince]

"We're here to help him, honestly. But we can't show you here. It has to be in back."

[Strawberries]

George hesitates at the realisation that there are now three armed men. Do you really want to play hero? For a friggin' favour owned? It was a pretty damn big favour, though. Not a life-saving sort of deal, but close.

George mentally sends the whole universe to go **** itself, then takes the last two steps behind the nearest man and pulls out his gun, resting it against the back of the man's head. "If that's ain't a robbery, then there ain't no reason for you not to put your guns down, right?"

((Do you want me to roll something? I'm not sure what's appropriate, here.))

[LPlate]

"Why did there have to be a wannabe hero?"

Joshua quickly whispered to Mr. Sonders.
"In a stand off you're the only guaranteed victim. Keep walking and persuade your guard to lower his weapon. He can't win. Everyone knows it. He'll lose but you'll be the first to die."

OOC

Fasttalk [roll0] Target 65

Edit: oh dear


He gave a final very light push to Mr. Sonder back and then started moving sideways away from this potential target.

[thumbprince]

One of the female employees comes to George with a pleading look on her face.

"I I-called them, sir. It's for his own good. Grandfather is-"

"You %$#@&!" Sonder spits. "I'll pull your spine from your back and show it to your mother, by Azathoth!"

Then he runs for the front door.

[Amaril]

"Azathoth..."

It didn't sound like a word from any language I knew of (it certainly wasn't Hebrew), but for some reason, the term sounded familiar. Wracking my stress-addled brain, I struggled to remember where I'd seen it...

The notes! That was it! I must have read it somewhere in the notes Lila had left. That didn't explain what it meant, but it confirmed one thing--this place was where I needed to be if I was going to find answers. The knowledge was comforting, even in the middle of a scene like this.

"Now I just need to keep my head down and avoid getting shot..."

[LPlate]

Joshua dove away from the jeweller. As he was airborne,
"Uzis at a family intervention? yeah, right. No prize for spotting the insider on this job."

[Mr White]

Dieumerci made use of the confusion to take a step back. No need to make a good target if this situation would explode.

"By Azathoth ... that's something that grandpère could've said." Not that Dieu was ever interested in the ramblings of his senile grandfather.

[Strawberries]

Bugger it all. George hesitates, for a fraction of a second, lowering the gun for a split second and losing contact with his target's head


Wait and see, basically. :smallcool:

[thumbprince]

"Please help bring him in the back. It will be for the best, I assure you."

[LPlate]

Joshua lands on the ground and looks back. The jeweller is still making for the locked door and leader? of the robbers/interventionists?. For the moment Joshua feels safely out of the firing line. He repositions himself into a crouch ready to move.
OOC

Taking no action against the jeweller

[thumbprince]

The larger of the two men at the rear of the store slings his weapon and tries to grab Sonder. The old man is feeble, and cannot resist, but he swears in a mix of Hebrew, German, and even languages none of you recognize.

As they move into the back room, the ringleader says "you may want to protect yourself, even if you are unwilling to help."

"Take him to the drill press, Musab."

[LPlate]

"Protect ourselves from who? The men with the guns or the old man they think they needed the guns for?"

"Okay, situation's crazy but salvagable. This insanity will still cover up the disappearance of the amulet ...once I find it. So, find the amulet and get out."

"It's not out here, must be in that back room. I'm going in but need a way out. The hero seems to be buying into their story, the African was frozen, the tourist has been overlooked...yes, the tourist."

Joshua got to his feet. As he passed Paul, he whispered, "I'm going to see if I can help the old man. Someone should get that door unlocked while they're out back. 112 for cops."

He continued into the back room after the armed men.
"Hey, what are you going to do to him at that drill press? He's just an old man." His voice was all concern but his eyes were taking in the rest of the room, looking for the amulet or a likely location for it.

[Amaril]

The voice of the brown-suited man shook me out of my stunned confusion. He was right--now that the gunmen had left us alone, this was the perfect opportunity to get help. And I'd be damned if I was just going to stand here panicking while that guy Sonder could be in danger.

I'm going to assume the lock on the door requires a key--otherwise anybody could just walk over and open it.

The door was still locked, but I didn't have a key or any other way to open it--short of bashing it down, which would almost certainly alert the gunmen, and I wasn't sure I could manage it anyway. I decided the best thing to do would be to call the cops first. Stepping softly, to avoid making any noise in case the robbers were listening, I moved over to the counter of the store. Next to the cash register was a corded phone. Picking it up, I held the receiver to my ear and dialed the number the other guy had told me--112.

I wasn't sure what the ringleader of the gunmen had meant about protecting ourselves, but something told me I would regret finding out...

[Mr White]

"Protect ourselves? from whom, from what?"
Dieumerci as far away as possible from the gunmen and the old man, getting behind a counter for at least partial cover.

[thumbprince]

"Please don't call anyone yet" asks the female clerk. "Once you see what happens, you can decide for yourself."

The ringleader faces Dieu. "If you are religious man, you may call them demons."

[Strawberries]

George has never been a particularly religious man. And right now, he is a very confused, very uncertain man. He follows the others to the back room, but he doesn't put down his gun. "Somebody needs to start making sense soon" he grumbles.

[Mr White]

"Demons," Diemerci thought 'Maybe there is something to win from this after all". Not that he beleived in any such nonesense but profiting from superstitious people has long been a major part of Dieu's 'income'.

Diemerci stepped forward and proclaimed in his most sincerest voice: "I may be of help with these 'demons'."

[thumbprince]

"You will need to kill it, once it emerges. Getting it into the sunlight will be the most efficient tactic.

The others are holding Sonder's left eye directly under the path of the drill. (http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/machine_sound_effects/electric-drill-1.mp3)

[Amaril]

"Okay," I thought, "these guys must be crazy--they're talking about honest-to-God demons with completely straight faces."

Hastily putting down the phone (apparently dead anyway), I looked up to find the lady clerk watching me. I hadn't realized she knew what I was doing, or cared. If she was helping these people, it wouldn't be safe to do anything else--not when she might alert them to my actions.

"Look, you seem to be the only sane one here who also knows what's going on," I said to her, keeping my voice as quiet as possible. "Can you please explain to me what those guys are doing? Why are they going on about demons? Are they planning to hurt us?"

[LPlate]

Joshua did a double take when he saw what they were doing to the old man.
"Oh God, this is getting out of control."
"Wait, I'm military police. I can get him to tell you what you want without killing him."
"I can't believe I just offered to torture someone as an act of kindness.
He sensed the others arriving in the door behind him, blocking his path of retreat.


"You will need to kill it, once it emerges. Getting it into the sunlight will be the most efficient tactic.

"They're not interrogating him. They're just crazy...crazy and armed. Forget the old man. It's time to save me. Better look like I'm buying into their fantasy."

"Well then, we'd better open the windows and doors."

If there's another door or window,
Joshua walks straight for the other door and starts to open it.
OOC

I've assumed there's another door as the two men arrived from in here. If not, he'll head to which ever window looks most promising as an exit.


If there are no doors or windows,
Joshua will say,
"If you need sunlight, you've picked the wrong place to do this. You should all leave...to protect yourselves?"

[Strawberries]

What the ACTUAL ****? Alright, the damned girl can go to hell, this has gotten VERY out of control very fast. Without thinking too much about what he's possibly getting himself into, George does the only thing that he can think about doing...

The BOOM of the handgun sounds very loud, echoing in the small room, drowning for a moment even the sound of the drill.

"Hands off him, NOW, before I shoot again." he says, very clearly.

:smallsigh: the things I do for the sake of staying IC....

Sorry, thumbprince, I'm aware those are the good guys, probably. Sort of. George, however, is unfortunately not aware of that.

Right. Handgun test, then [roll0] vs 60.
In case I hit (EDIT: hey, it seems I did!) one of the two people holding the crazy old... er, my boss, I mean [roll1].
He won't be shooting to kill, though... if he manages to, the purpose is to incapacitate him.

[thumbprince]

The mam holding Sonder down yells in pain, clutching the ruin of his shoulder. The drill stops - but you can see that a portion of the bit entered his skull through his left tear duct. There is no blood, yet emerges from the hole is even worse.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwp-af0L1wI/TxKMh8q8seI/AAAAAAAAAEU/YDqPsyBErbs/s1600/insectofshaggai96dpi.jpg

"Kill it!" hisses the ringleader.

Paul gets the police on the line.

[Amaril]

"Wha--yes, hello! Can you hear me?" I scrambled to reply, relieved that my call had gone through after all. "Listen, I need the police right away, I'm at 476C Bezalel Street at Sonder's Jewelry, some guys with guns came in here a couple minutes ago and locked the place up and I just heard somebody fire, they're in the back room so I didn't see if anybody got hurt but please come quick!"

As soon as I was done rattling that off as fast as I could, I slammed the receiver back down on the cradle and ducked down behind the counter, alert for any other sounds. "To hell with this lady," I thought, "If somebody's opening fire in here you can be damn sure I'm calling the cops!" I hoped and prayed that nobody had noticed me talking to the emergency operator in the wake of whatever was going on in back.

[Strawberries]

George is too startled to think rationally, to do anything else but act on pure instinct. His gun still out, he points it to What in the hell IS that thing? and pulls the trigger, again.

Aaaand again.

[roll0] vs 60. In case it hits damage is [roll1]

[LPlate]

As a gunshot rang out, Joshua skidded to a stop at the service door. He reached up a hand to pull the handle and tried to open the door.

[thumbprince]

George's shot hits the insect-thing, which is hurled across the room and into the enlarging spot of sunlight as the service door opens. It begins to dissolve with a hiss of foul smoke, beneath which can be heard the sounds of approaching sirens.

Sonder grasps the arm of the man who kidnapped him. A tear of blood has left the wound in his head and fallen onto his smiling face. "Halal, my friend. You have saved me."

"And you all have seen the truth. The real enemy."

[LPlate]

Joshua held his breath as he poked a finger from his left hand at the dissolving thing.

"So, that's a demon. So, they weren't crazy. So, noone will believe this anyway. How'd it fit in? What's happening to it?"

He jerked his finger back.

"Is it contagious?"

His mind whirled and he was too unfocussed to even think about the precious amulet. He looked back into the dark room ... the guard with the smoking gun, the bleeding non-robber and the grateful! jeweller, as well as the others. These were the only people who'd ever accept what they'd just witnessed.

Slowly, the sirens broke into his consciousness. "I hope one of you can explain ... something to the police, 'cause I don't think my brain's up to it at the moment."

[Mr White]

DieuMerci was somewhat amazed at his own ability to accept what just happened.

"So, demons ARE real," he thought, "and this is what they look like. Mybe I can use this in a new scam."

Dieu only then noticed the sirenes and quickly sided with the other customers.

[Strawberries]

George lowers his gun slowly, trying to control the slight trembling of his hands "Will somebody explain... " He suddenly realises that there is a man on the floor he has shot himself. "Sh-, mate, are you....? " alright is the wrong thing to ask, probably.

[thumbprince]

"Please help Avi dress Bassem's wound, then. I did worse when I saw my first.

And now it appears you have a choice. These - things - have infested people in the city. They care not if you are Jewish, Christian or Muslim. I know not what their goal is, but I have sworn to oppose them.

Almost certainly one of the policemen who will come here will have one in his brain."

[LPlate]

"So, what do those things want? And what would send a cop one on his way? ...Can your henchmen get away and can you "sell" them out to the next demon without giving enough info to really sell them out?"

[Strawberries]

"Dammit" George snaps himself out of the astonished state he's in, and rushes to the wounded man's side. "Who are you people, anyway?"

[roll0] vs 60.

[thumbprince]

"We are fighting back against these demons. When one of them wrests control of your mind, you become witness to unspeakable torments.

They have some sinister purpose in mind for humanity. Those of us who have not been rescued outright have seen it happen. As have you all, now.

We are the Army of the Third Eye.

The Cyclops."

[Mr White]

"What would an expert in the occult be paid in this army?" Asked Dieu, never one to let a chance to 'earn' a quick buck pass him by.

[thumbprince]

"This is a fight for the survival of the human race. We do not yet know what these creatures have planned for us, other than servitude."

[Strawberries]

"F-ing hell" George mutters to himself. I didn't need this. Whatever this is.

"Look, now, whatever you people are on about can wait, some damn cops are coming here, and I just shot someone. So, either we come up with some explanation really fast, or we get our asses in jail...which I dun' fancy at all. " And he won't go into the details of exactly WHY he doesn't fancy close contact with the law at all, aside from the controlling demons.

"Only thing to do, is say there were some robbers, and we had to shoot in defence. Which means you" pointing at the wounded man and his companion "need to bugger off, now. We can talk crazy things like demons later." Priorities. George is nothing but a man of priorities.

[LPlate]

"This is a fight for the survival of the human race. We do not yet know what these creatures have planned for us, other than servitude."

"Forget the crazy talk of demons. I grew out of that spiritual mumbo jumbo c*** as a child. This is an alien invasion. I'm now part of the resistance...deluded though the rest of 'em might be."


"Only thing to do, is say there were some robbers, and we had to shoot in defence. Which means you" pointing at the wounded man and his companion "need to bugger off, now."

Joshua went over to the injured man and hoisted his good arm up over his shoulder, while trying to make sure he got no blood on himself.
"On your feet soldier. You need to move, NOW."
He looked at the other gunman,
"I'll bring him down. Get your car to the bottom of the exit stairs."
As he started to shuffle out the exit with the wounded man, he called back,
"If anyone asks, I chased after them."

[thumbprince]

The trio of liberators(?) leaves through the rear exit, but not before you are given a phone number to contact them with. Within 5 minutes, several police vehicles arrive and you are detained for statements for over two hours.

While this is going on, Sonder hands a note to Paul as unobtrusively as he can. The tall policeman has one in his head. I can feel it.

[thumbprince]

The police have no problem believing the story of a conventional robbery, unless one of you wants to add something. None of them show any unease to Sonder's newfound freedom.

[Amaril]

As subtly as I could, so as not to appear to be doing anything suspicious, I read the note Mr. Sonder had slipped me. My curiosity about its contents quickly evaporated when I saw it was just more raving about the mind-controlling head-bugs. It seemed pretty clear to me by this point that both the mysterious gunmen and Sonder himself were completely insane. I didn't know how they'd convinced everybody else to believe their story, but it sounded like exactly the kind of paranoid delusion that could get people institutionalized. Regardless, answering the police's questions honestly was my top priority.

I figured by now, any hope of concealing my true purpose on this trip, or the fact that I'd snuck off from the tour group without permission, hidden from my teachers was pretty much gone, so I didn't bother to keep anything back from the cops. I answered every question they fired at me completely and honestly. As I saw it, pretty much the only thing I had to worry about was my teachers being mad at me for sneaking off--I certainly hadn't done anything illegal by going into that shop. At least, that was what I kept telling myself throughout the process--it did very little to alleviate my compulsive nervousness around law enforcement officials.

[LPlate]

Joshua makes sure the men get down to street level and lost in the crowd. He takes off his jacket to make sure there's no blood on it before returning up to the back room.

With the adrenaline of the initial encounter over he potters around the back room til the police arrive. The amulet is back on his mind. "I may be resistance now but I've still got to eat." He is once again casually looking for the amulet.

Joshua is extremely helpful to the cops while trying to spot if any of them acts strangely. He sticks to the story of the robbery with the guard driving them away. He talks like a machine gun, not seeming to breathe, while he staccatos out his version of events.
...
"It was a pressure situation, some just can't handle that, hysteria kicks in but the guard kept his head and drove 'em out."
...
"I think they were after a safe in the back room, didn't spend long out front. Don't think they got anything in the end."
...
"Two shots. I didn't see 'em. First was a warning. I couldn't say if it hit. Guard was shouting to them. I don't think they paid enough attention. Second shot clipped one. I think it was the second shot. At least, one guy was supported when they fled."
...
"I ran after them when they went...no, I'm unarmed but I'm military police, ex-military police. They were armed. I wasn't going to challenge them.
They got in a car at Bloomberg. Dark Audi with tinted windows. I only got a partial plate."

Joshua gives them the bit of a number plate that indicates his home region so he's fairly sure it will throw up a few hits if the police pursue that lead. His descriptions of the men are mostly accurate. He throws something in the mix for each, which is a plausibly deniable error for a witness, to misdirect the investigation.

[Strawberries]

George keeps his answers short, on the principle that the less words he says, the less likely he is to contradict himself. Yes, he had been on duty and armed people had come in. Yes, he had shot, twice. Yes, he was pretty sure that he had wounded one of them.

He grits his teeth during the entire interrogation hoping they wouldn't go more in detail than that No, he doesn't remember their faces in detail... sorta big men, though.

At the end of it, he is almost surprised that he's being let go. He continues to wait for the other shoe to drop, somehow.

[Mr White]

Diemerci was less than thrilled to be interogated by the police. Not that he hadn't been in this situation before. At least his former employer hasn't been mentioned yet. Just keep friendly, helpful but noninteresting and you'll be out of here in a bit.

[LPlate]

While the police were talking to the others, Joshua took another look around the work room to see if the amulet was visible anywhere. After the police, headed on their way he went over to Mr. Sonders.

"I bet you're glad that's all over."
...
"You should celebrate tonight. Do something with your family. After all, today is the day that you were saved."
...
"Looks like that bug was in total control of you. Can't be nice not being able to control what our body does. Could you do anything or were you even aware of what was happening?"
...
"You must be glad to have it out. Sounds like your life was effectively over with it inside you. How'd it get in, anyway?"
...
"Just to think, if I hadn't opened that door to the outside, that creature would still be buzzing around...or maybe it would have crawled back inside you."
...
"You know, you could be a life-saver yourself. My fiancee's aunt promised her some jewellery but then went and died in debt. I'd get major kudos if I could bring her one of the old lady's necklaces."
...
"I didn't see any piece I recognised in the shop but I was told the lawyers sent the family jewels here to be sold."
...
"Her name? Jessica...oh sorry, her aunt, her name was Lorre, Rebecca Lorre. Did you get the family's jewels?"
...
"It would mean a lot to Jessica, if I could bring her one of the necklaces."