Welcome to Choteau, Montana, in 2018. What was once only a small city focused on fossils, has now started to turn into an equestrian mecca. Everyone still knows everyone, so the question remains, what will you become?
06/04 - Site opened 18/04 - Update log #01 including new features! 27/04 - A New skin has been released!
Another day, another dollar. To most individuals Justice, in his pressed trousers (black), plain white shirt (immaculately ironed, sleeves crisp), and suit jacket (also black), would appear just another business man, even as he checked his mobile. No message, either to say there was a body or otherwise, and he was meant to be meeting Owen. In an unusual choice - or at least one that may seem unusual to some, the meeting wasn't to be in the office, or over a coffee shop. No it was at Justice's apartment.
So it was he found himself waiting the officer. Oh he could have easily held the meeting in the office, but he didn't particularly want others knowing of 'his' informant. Even if it was one that wasn't originally his, but had been passed onto him by a uniformed officer. The fact the criminal hadn't turned to court to testify, even though it was only going to be to the judge, and from a seperate room, hardly surprised the detective. In his mind, at least to his point of view, he'd got cold feet, decided to go back to his usual life of crime. Either way, he was expecting to find him back causing mischief, apparently getting a rival drug lord or whatever it was off his back wasn't good enough. [break][break] Another glance of his mobile, where was the officer who'd been assigned to help him. Just his luck, he'd get some no show officer, and he'd get to do all the leg work himself. Not something he was totally opposed to... but it was the principal of the matter. While he was on the clock himself, he'd got the time out the office okayed to arrange this meeting. Though he was doing his best to keep himself appearing like a business man meeting a business associate.
full plate had landed on Owen's table this week, stacking on top of another remotely fresh platter that was still trying to kick him out at the kneecaps. What began with finding his wonderful miscreant of a cousin taking up free board on his couch to this morning's rumor of a second babysitting job, this one a fresh academy graduate, Owen had walked out the department wondering just exactly who it was he'd pissed off lately. Granted he had to leave Kid back at the department's stable for yet one more task, Owen was at least grateful for a case that, in his eyes, could potentially benefit his promotion statement. Once it was solved. Not a presumptuous thought, just the insurance in the badge on his chest. Even ghosts couldn't go undetected for very long these days.
Though Owen was still relatively new to Choteau, it was plenty small enough to track down this set meeting spot between he and the Detective. Not too far from Owen's apartment. Searching out a man who fit the detective's description, Owen pulled his marked yellow bronco into a spot curbside and climbed out, thumbs hooked in the pit of his lightweight tactical vest. He gave a glance around as he rounded the cruiser to the sidewalk, then extended a handshake to the waiting man. "Detective Dickson." Owen nodded in greeting, his tone placid. "So, this the last known location, sighting, or..?" He asked curiously, regarding their street-side location's relation to the case.
Justice nodded to Owen as he stepped out the cruiser. "Not quite. This is close to the location he was last seen in, and it's close to his known patch, but equally," he glanced at him. "I don't have informants. Not criminal ones at least. This is one that was passed onto me, and well confidentiality and my own reputation," he glanced at him. "It's cleared to have a meeting in my apartment, which," he nodded to the plain black door sandwiched between two shop fronts. "If you'd follow me," he added on simply.
Easily he turned on his heel walking back to the building, pulling out a small bundle of keys, selecting a brass one and slotting it into the door, holding it open for Owen, closing the door, and heading upstairs, unlocking the door on the right and holding it open to allow his fellow officer to walk in, the apartment a one bedroom affair, not that such was obvious, the main living area open plan, and kept immaculate. A wooden table was the dominating feature, dark oak. There was a small manilla folder set on it ready. Easily the detective moved over to take a seat "Please, take a seat, we can at least go over what information I have on the perp before we start the search. No doubt he got cold feet - decided rather than becoming a rat, he'd move. Avoid a lot of heat on the street. Even getting a rival dealer knocked up wasn't enough. Doesn't surprise me," naturally this was Justice's view point.
As far as the detective was concerned it made the most sense to him. "Coffee?" he added on easily. He was more than willing to offer a brew to the officer working with him.
I'll assume he won't be getting too far, then." Owen commented easily, regarding the detective's credibility and his own assistance in the manhunt. Giving a nod, Owen followed Justice into to the building and up to the apartment.
Claiming a chair opposite of the detective, Owen's attention was brought to the envelope sitting on the oak table before him. He glanced up when coffee was offered. "Please. And cream, if you have it." Owen nodded in thanks as he hiked an ankle onto his knee and got comfortable. He noted how untouched the place seemed. The kitchen could sparkle enough to blind him in the right light. It put Owen's bachelor pad to shame. "Is this rival dealer one with enough rats of their own to push him out of town?" Owen asked, musing over the information as it came.
From what Owen had gathered in the first handful of weeks moving here that Choteau was a town of few roads but many, many trails and open land. Places that required off-road vehicles or alternate, usually four-hoofed, methods of transportation if not going at it on foot. It was one reason the department mainly used cruisers with four-by-four capabilities instead of the typical Dodge Charger you'd see in the metropolitan areas. Then not to mention using horses like Kidd who had already been on a couple of search and rescue operations back in the mountains of Colorado. However transportation was just one of a handful of keys you needed to navigate the mazes of the woods.