Dead in the Water

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Possible homicide reported early this morning. The headless body of a man washed up on a beach in the city of Lakeport in Northern Michigan. The body was discovered by a man known locally as "the Captain," a drunk, retired sailor, and teller of tall tales. Lakeport was a manufacturing hub through the 19th and 20th centuries before its decline in the 1990s. In the decades since, immigration has changed the town's population demographics from about 90 percent white to more than 50 percent Latino, doubled its population, and revitalized its economy. Incumbant residents have mixed feelings about this, but many agree it's nice to finally have options for Mexican food other than Taco Bell. I came here out of college a few months ago, Summer 2017, hired as a reporter for the local newspaper. [[I was sent to report on the possible homicide.|I park my car here.]] <<set $TalkedToAgent to false>> <<set $TalkedToOfficer to false>> <<set $TalkedToCaptain to false>> <<set $PickedUpStone to false>> <<set $ThrowStone to false>> <<set $RetrieveStone to false>> <<set $TalkedToCop to false>>

I drive deep into the woods to a dirt road, an old boating entrance to the Grand Traverse Bay and the beach that is the crime scene. I take the dirt road to a clearing where I see parked a police car with it's lights on; a dark-colored sedan; and an old, red pickup truck. I park there too. [[I inspect the cars.]] Past this clearing, the dirt road continues, descending to the crime scene at the beach. [[I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]] <<if $RetrieveStone or $PickedUpStone is true>>[[I show the stone to the captain.|I tap again. Harder.]] <<else>> <</if>> <<if $RetrieveStone is false and $ThrowStone is true>> [[I pick up the stone I threw.|I pick up the stone.]] <<else>> <</if>> <<if $RetrieveStone is true>>[[I go to throw it at the agent's car. Can't miss when I'm this close.]] <<else>> <</if>>

The path leads to a spot that overlooks everything from the entrance to the crime scene, but the trees make it impossible to see most of it clearly. I take pictures of the cars and the bay. <<if $PickedUpStone is false>>There's an interesting stone on the ground. [[I inspect the stone.]] <<else>> <</if>> <<if $TalkedToOfficer and $PickedUpStone is true>> [[I throw the stone at the agent's car.]] <<else>> <</if>> [[I go back.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

The crime scene is taped off at the end of the road, a discontent local police officer stands around like he's waiting for something, and a natural path to my right leads up an incline. [[I talk to the local cop.]] [[I go to the crime scene.]] [[I take the path to my right.]] [[I go back to where I parked.|I park my car here.]]

<<set $TalkedToAgent to true>>Past the crime scene tape, the FBI agent, Latino, female, 30s, investigates the crime scene on the beach. The headless body of a man, possibly Latino, stripped to his underwear lies by the water's edge. "Morning!" I said. "I'm a reporter with the local paper." I show her my press ID. "Can I get an official statement? Do you think it's a hate crime" "I'm sorry, but the FBI cannot issue a statement at this time," she said. It's strange that the FBI is already involved. "Can I see the crime scene?" I said. "No." <<if$TalkedToCop is true>>[["That cop seems pissed at you," I said. "What'd you do? Steal his donuts?"]] <<else>> <</if>> <<if $PickedUpStone is true>>[["Check out this stone." I said.|Agent tells me to eff off]] <<else>> <</if>> [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

<<set $TalkedToCop to true>>I ask the officer, white, male, 40s, for the police report. "I need to see the body before I can give you a report," he said. "Something isn't right. That agent got here first and won't let me anywhere near the crime scene. Would you let me know if you can get anything out of her?" "You'll have to buy a paper just like everyone else." I said. "Look. I'd like to know just what the hell is going on. That's all. Small town. Things like this happen, people expect the police to have an answer." "Ok. I'll try talking to her." [["What do you think happened?"|"Any theories?"]] <<if $TalkedToCaptain is true>>[["So what's up with the Captain?" I said.]] <<else>> <</if>> <<if $TalkedToAgent is true>>[["I couldn't learn anything," I said.]] <<else>> <</if>> <<if $RetrieveStone or $PickedUpStone is true>>[["Check out this stone." I said.]] <<else>> <</if>> [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

It's a Petokey stone. I used to collect these as a kid. The markings on it are coral fossils. <<set $PickedUpStone to true>> <<if $TalkedToOfficer and $PickedUpStone is true>> [[I throw the stone at the agent's car.]] <<else>> <</if>> [[I put the stone in my pocket.|I take the path to my right.]] [[I go back to the dirt road.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

The person stirs but really doesn't want to wake up. [[I tap again. Harder.]] [[I leave him alone.|I park my car here.]]

"Stop that," he said. "Captain's orders." [["Aye aye, Captain."|I park my car here.]] [[I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]] <<set $TalkedToCaptain to true>>

<<set $RetrieveStone to true>> <<set $PickedUpStone to true>> [[I go to throw it at the agent's car. Can't miss when I'm this close.]] [[I show the stone to the Captain.|I tap again. Harder.]] [[I put it in my pocket and do something else.|I park my car here.]] [[I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

"Shoot! If you can find a way to get her away from the crime scene I bet we could get a look. I'll say I asked you to come with me," he said. "I'll see what I can do."<<set $TalkedToOfficer to true>> [[I want to talk about something else.|I talk to the local cop.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

"Who?" he said. "The drunk, old guy." "Oh, him. Found him stumbling out of the woods rambling about g-men and lights on the water." "Do you think he did it?" "Probably not," he said, then loud enough for the agent to hear it, "but I haven't got a look at the body. Either way, he's in no shape to drive. A few hours in the drunk tank should be enough." "Catch and release?" He chuckles. "Catch and release." [[I want to talk about something else.|I talk to the local cop.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

"Fuck!" I missed. <<set $ThrowStone to true>> <<set $PickedUpStone to false>> [[I go down to the cars to get the stone.|I park my car here.]]

"Hey!" said the agent. "Are you throwing stones at my car?" "No." "Really. Then why are you holding a stone?" "Petoskey stones are cool." I said. I see smoke rising from behind her. "There's a fire." "What?" "Well, there's at least smoke." She turns around and sees the smoke. "Stay here," she said and bolts to the beach. I follow her. I hear someone run into the woods. "FBI!" she said to the person fleeing, but they're gone before she can spot them. We continue to the crime scene. "God--fuck!" she said. The body is burning. Why was this man be stripped and beheaded? Was this why the officer wanted to see the crime scene? Could I be implicated in this? "Oh no," I said. "Oh no?" she said. I didn't mean to say "oh no" that outloud. "Oh no," I said. TO BE CONTINUED.

"Is that a Petoskey stone?" he said. "I haven't seen one of those since I was ten." "Yep. I found it over there." "Cool." [[I want to talk about something else.|I talk to the local cop.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

"Petoskey stone," she said. "Those are pretty common around here." [[I want to talk about something else.|I go to the crime scene.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

"Don't quote me on this, but maybe he was beheaded as part of a satanic ritual." "Spooky." "Very." <<if $TalkedToAgent is true>>[["Tell that to Scully over there?"]] <<else>> <</if>> [[I want to talk about something else.|I talk to the local cop.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

He laughs. "Why bother? She won't believe me until the end of the episode." [[I want to talk about something else.|I talk to the local cop.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

"Close. His crime scene." she said. "He also worried about how the locals will react to this if they don't know anything. Can you say anything that might help?" "Remind him the FBI is investigating. That should be enough." [[I want to talk about something else.|I go to the crime scene.]] [[I leave.|I go down the dirt road leading to the beach.]]

The dark sedan is a rental, empty beer cans litter the red truck, and there is a man passed out in the back of the police car. [[I tap on the police car window.]] [[I leave him alone.|I park my car here.]]

Dead in the Water [[Start]]