to find ourselves dishonorable graves

MAGISTRATE: “I have been informed you made contact with our killer.” HOUSEKEEPER: “Yes, I think I ran into him in the laundry room. He was exiting just as I was entering. I thought it was strange, because only staff members can get to this part of the hotel, so he had to have really snuck his way in here--” MAGISTRATE: “So the killer was a man?” HOUSEKEEPER: “Yes. He looked unwell, though-- sweating, bloodshot eyes, like he had the flu, you know? He was wearing a suit without the jacket, and I remember it looked a little big on him. I come from a family of seamstresses, so we can recognize that kind of thing. The sleeves were too long, and--” MAGISTRATE: “Did you find anything in the laundry room?” HOUSEKEEPER: “He left some bloody clothing in one of the hampers. Blood’s a nasty stain to get out, he ruined a dozen pillowcases. The Hotelier won’t be pleased about that, she’d just ordered them from Milan--” MAGISTRATE: “Anything else?” HOUSEKEEPER: “We found a gun at the bottom of one of the laundry baskets. Must’ve fallen to the bottom, being heavier than a bedsheet and all. An Armoury, Inc. machine. I heard there’s a bullet missing, but the man wasn’t shot, was he? I didn’t see the body. I don’t fare well with blood, see--” MAGISTRATE: “That’s enough. Thank you.”

MAGISTRATE: “I have been informed that you were the one who discovered the victim’s body.” CONCIERGE: “Yes, that is correct. I went to check in on the guest, and found him dead on the floor.” MAGISTRATE: “Why were you checking on guests?” CONCIERGE: “I was instructed to, by The Hotelier.” MAGISTRATE: “Hm. Please explain how a person could enter the Continental, murder a guest in cold blood, and leave without being noticed. As you are aware, this is a direct violation of The Triumvirate’s rules.” CONCIERGE: “We are just as confused as you are, Magistrate. Nobody can use the hotel elevators without a key card, even the guests. The killer had to have checked in here first, and if that’s the case, we do have a record of names. Or they had a staff card to use the service elevator.” MAGISTRATE: “Are any key cards missing?” CONCIERGE: “No staff members have reported a missing card, and all of our current guests can account for theirs, as well.” MAGISTRATE: “So how could the killer have entered Room 334? CONCIERGE: “We don’t know. Security footage shows someone entering Room 334 right after the victim, but it’s hard to say who it is from the back of their head. They must’ve used the service entrance, but again, we don’t know how. We don’t have any footage of that.” MAGISTRATE: “How entirely unhelpful.”

MAGISTRATE: “Please explain what you saw at the bar on the night of the murder. Speak clearly into the microphone, and remember, lying is a direct violation of The Triumvirate’s rules.” BARTENDER: “I was workin’ the night shift, so it was pretty dead in here. Only, like, four people in the whole place. This one guy-- the dead guy, I guess-- was talkin’ real loud on the phone, about some kinda deal. I didn’t really hear the details. Mostly ‘cause I don’t usually give a shit. I try to stay outta all this, so I don’t turn up dead. But he was goin’ on about a deal, a job.” MAGISTRATE: “Can you describe what the man on the phone looked like?” BARTENDER: “He was kinda old, I guess. Wearin’ a real nice suit, but that ain’t outta place here.” MAGISTRATE: “Did anyone else in the bar take notice of this call?” BARTENDER: “I dunno. Probably, but like I said, I was workin’. I don’t have time to eavesdrop on every motherfucker that comes in here.” MAGISTRATE: “Right. Can you describe what the other patrons looked like?” BARTENDER: “If I could memorize the face of every fuckin’ person who came into this bar, d’you think I’d be working here still? I don’t know. They were all wearin’ business clothes. Two men, one lady. I can show ya what they ordered, but you know everyone pays in cash ‘round here.” MAGISTRATE: “Were they all together?” BARTENDER: “Nah. Sittin’ by themselves. Don’t see a lotta family vacations here.” MAGISTRATE: “And you saw nothing out of the ordinary?” BARTENDER: “One of ‘em left, right after the dead guy did. Knocked the bar stool over on the way out. Damn things are heavy, so he must’ve been in a hurry.” MAGISTRATE: “Is that all?” BARTENDER: “Guess so.“

Members of The Continental Hotel staff have already begun providing their testimony to the Magistrate. Witness testimonies will be released periodically as each member completes their investigations. The first witness, THE BARTENDER, will be posted shortly.