Ray Bannister was finishing up his day at the office, filing away legal documents for a pre-trial hearing. The case was taken by his employers two weeks prior. Bannister has been interning as a para legal the past year for Cromwell & Ellis LLC, a position set up for him by his professor at Mega City University of Law. Bannister is finishing up his third and final year, working as an intern twice a week on average. To make extra money in his spare time, he's been moonlighting as a private investigator.
As Ray finished filing the last stack of documents, he took a deep breath and quickly pulled the left sleeve of his shirt to check the time on his watch. It was half past five, and Bannister has a meeting with a client in 15 minutes. Ray grabbed his coat, and began walking quickly out of the office, through the hall and towards the rotating glass doors.
"Have a good evening Mr. Bannister," the security guard gave Bannister a nod.
"Goodnight Charlie."
Bannister made his way across the plaza, when reaching the curb he began waving a hand to hail down a cab. Immediately, a taxi stopped in front of him. After jumping into the backseat of the cab he asked the driver, "Can you get me to the coffee shop at Mara in 15 minutes?"
"Traffic's pretty bad this time of day, but I might be able to take a few side streets to avoid the congestion, hop on the expressway and maybe we'll get you there."
The congestion was bad throughout the Center Park neighborhood of Downtown, bumper to bumper traffic, cabs blowing their horns. The driver was able to navigate through most of the congestion taking side streets and driving along alleyways. Eventually he got to the toll at Reeves Bridge, dropped a few coins, and slammed on the gas, blazing across the bridge into Richland District. When the cab had reached the Mara neighborhood, the driver let up on the brakes a bit, and cruised for the next minute, finally stopping in front of a coffee shop.
The driver reached over and pressed the red button to stop the meter. "Well, we made it with 3 minutes to spare. That'll be twenty one bucks mister, and maybe a little extra for my troubles," the driver said with a grin.
Bannister pulled out two bills from his wallet, a twenty and a ten, and handed both to the driver. He got out, shut the door, and walked into the coffee shop. After looking around at the different patrons, he made his way to the counter and sat next to a well dressed gentleman, silver straight hair, well manicured hands, jet black suit and black dress shoes so brightly polished someone could see their own reflection if they stared at them.
"Mr. Albright?"
"Yes, and I presume you are Bannister."
"At your service," Ray replied with a forced smile. "How can I help you?"
"I need you to follow someone for me, tell me who she's been in contact with, follow her daily activities. Her name, residence, and a photograph of her is inside this envelop." Albright slide a brown paper 8X10 envelop across the counter to Bannister.
"Think your wife is cheating on you huh?"
Albright began tapping his fingers on the counter. "Wife? Umm. Yeah, ex wife that is. Just get me some dirt on her and don't ask too many question. I've left a generous deposit in the envelop as well, it should cover all expenses and then some. You'll get the rest of the payment after the job's completed." Albright got off the stool and walked out of the coffee shop.
Around ten o'clock the same evening Bannister ended up in the Westview District, walking down a street with dilapidated buildings. Trash was littered everywhere. Winos either huddling around a fire can in the alleyways, the bottle of cheap wine passed from hand to hand, each taking his little snort, or some others passed out for the night on bus benches, blankets wrapped around tightly. Bannister finally stopped in front of Showgirls Gentlemen's Club. He walked up to the door, where a well muscled black man was sitting on a stool. His arms were the size of most men's thighs. The behemoths face was like a pit bull with a 5 o'clock shadow. There was a scar over on his left eyebrow, and the bridge of his nose was slightly crooked with a lump.
"How ya doing Ray my man!"
"Hey champ. Busy night?" Every time Bannister referred to the bouncer as champ, the big guy's face would brighten up instantly, a smile from cheek to cheek. Early on in his professional boxing career, Tiger Walcott was a top heavyweight contender. Walcott never got his shot at the heavyweight crown, and during the last few years his career is fading, heading into a downward spiral with the losses piling on more frequently. But his face still lights up when someone calls him champ.
"Naw, not too busy boss. Kinda slow, but the gals are still busting their cute little tushes on stage, trying to hustle for that dollar."
"Is Diamond dancing tonight?"
"Yeah, she's around tonight. Want me to head down and call her to your table?" Walcott gave Bannister a wink.
Shaking his head, "I'll just get a drink first and wait until she gets up on stage."
Walcott nodded, placed his enormous hand on the red entrance door, pushed it open and held it there until Bannister made his way in. Ray saw a familiar dancer on stage who looked his way as he entered, gave her a wink and a wave, and made his way to his regular table. The table was away from the stage, the black sofa placed against the wall. While waiting for the waitress to come around and take his order, a blond had caught his eye. She was making her rounds, flirting with men after men to sway them into buying a private dance. After seeing how low she was behaving with one customer, jumping on his lap, giving him kisses on both his cheeks, all to persuade him into buying a dance, Ray lost all interest in the blond.
Time passed, the empty glasses that held whiskey at one time were now cluttered around his table. As Bannister looked up on the stage with blurry eyes, he saw Diamond climbing up the few steps to the stage. Ray couldn't take his eyes off of her. He began to loosen his tie and undo the top button on his neck. She had long jet black hair, plump lips colored with dark red lipstick, heavy eyeliner, green tint on her eyelids, a flat stomach, curvy hips, and long silky legs. The tattoo of a spider on her left lower front hip, and the black rose on the back of her right shoulder nailed it for him. This woman was just dangerous. She could rip a guy's heart out, throw it on the ground and pierce her high heels through it without flinching in front of the poor sucker. And Bannister wanted that poor sucker to be him for a night, a week, or even for an infinite second.
As her music faded, she began to gather the dollar bills thrown onto the stage, walking by all the men in the front row, thanking them each with a deadly smile. Diamond gathered her clothes, put on her black lace bra, and walked off the stage. She was headed toward Bannister. Upon arriving at Bannister's table, she bent over and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Hi Ray, been a couple months since I've seen you around."
"Been busy, juggling classes at law school, interning at a firm and got some work on the side for pocket change," replied Bannister while loosening his tie some more.
"Busy boy. So, some of that pocket change coming my way?" Diamond sat down on the sofa beside Ray, leaning against his shoulder.
"Uh..."
"I'm just messing with ya sugar," Diamond said with a grin. "I wanted to talk to you about something though. I know you mentioned before how you're some sort of private eye or something. I need some help Ray. I've gotten myself into a jam, and in the worst way. I want to hire you Ray."
"And pay me with what? Lap dances?"
Diamond's upper lip tightened, and gave him a scornful look.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I was just joking, being an idiot." Bannister looked embarrassed, and reached out to hold her hand. "What's the matter? I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Not here Ray. Let's blow this dump and go somewhere to talk. Let me go to the back and change. Also need to get something in my car, then I'll come back around and fetch you to leave." She gave him another kiss on the cheek, got up and started walking back to the dresser room.
Twenty minutes had passed since Diamond had left to change. Bannister was constantly moving his head to the side to get a look at the dressing room door, anticipating Diamond to come out of it whenever it opened.
The cops came instead. Sirens began blazing outside the club. Five police officers bursted into the club and began shouting at the dancers and customers to stay calm and seated. They began asking everyone questions about Diamond.
Bannister knew one of the cops, Sgt. Lorenzo. Lorenzo would help out Bannister with his cases, for a small fee, pulling up records on individuals, missing person reports.
"Hey buddy, what's going on? Why are your people asking about the dancer?" asked Bannister.
"She's dead. Someone killed her in the alley by the parking lot. Know her? Speak with her tonight or get a dance from her?
Bannister gave a full detailed account from the moment he stepped through the door into the club until to the moment the police had arrived.
"She needed help huh? Better come out back with me."
Bannister and Sgt Lorenzo made their way out of the club, passing the paying customers and dancers who were being questioned by the cops, and finally making it to the alleyway. There was a white sheet placed over a body laying on the ground. The area was cordoned off with yellow tap at the two ends of the alley.
"Her name was Samantha Monroe," said Lorenzo.
There was a loud screech from the brakes of a car at the end of the alley. A black Suburban SUV had parked in front of the entrance to the alleyway. Both the passenger and driver door opened simultaneously, and two men got out and began walking toward Bannister and Lorenzo. The two men were both dressed in a black suit, black tie white shirt and wore dark sunglasses.
"This is my partner, Agent Brown. I'm Agent Jones. We've received orders to take the lead in this murder investigation. Vacate the premises and have your men seal off all entry to this alley." Agent Jones pointed Bannister and Lorenzo to the end of the alley.
"Now wait a minute, what authority..."
Sgt Lorenzo cut off Bannister, "Yes sir. I'll have my men seal off the area."
Agent Brown reached up to the side of his head, adjusting his earpiece. Agent Brown turned to Agent Jones, informing him "Target is still active within the system."
Walking down the alley, Bannister turned to Lorenzo and asked "Who's the suits? Are they both Feds?"
"Don't really know. I see their type from time to time, and if you don't move out of their way, you'll usually have a higher up chewing your butt out over the phone within minutes. I've learned to stay out of their way and do as they say."
(I'm going to have this as an Open RP for all, feel free to add as you like, create a side story to it, whether it be some bluepill/redpill seeking the help of Bannister to solve a case, or maybe a side story with a character, or maybe just a detective story completely your own. More will come)
As Ray finished filing the last stack of documents, he took a deep breath and quickly pulled the left sleeve of his shirt to check the time on his watch. It was half past five, and Bannister has a meeting with a client in 15 minutes. Ray grabbed his coat, and began walking quickly out of the office, through the hall and towards the rotating glass doors.
"Have a good evening Mr. Bannister," the security guard gave Bannister a nod.
"Goodnight Charlie."
Bannister made his way across the plaza, when reaching the curb he began waving a hand to hail down a cab. Immediately, a taxi stopped in front of him. After jumping into the backseat of the cab he asked the driver, "Can you get me to the coffee shop at Mara in 15 minutes?"
"Traffic's pretty bad this time of day, but I might be able to take a few side streets to avoid the congestion, hop on the expressway and maybe we'll get you there."
The congestion was bad throughout the Center Park neighborhood of Downtown, bumper to bumper traffic, cabs blowing their horns. The driver was able to navigate through most of the congestion taking side streets and driving along alleyways. Eventually he got to the toll at Reeves Bridge, dropped a few coins, and slammed on the gas, blazing across the bridge into Richland District. When the cab had reached the Mara neighborhood, the driver let up on the brakes a bit, and cruised for the next minute, finally stopping in front of a coffee shop.
The driver reached over and pressed the red button to stop the meter. "Well, we made it with 3 minutes to spare. That'll be twenty one bucks mister, and maybe a little extra for my troubles," the driver said with a grin.
Bannister pulled out two bills from his wallet, a twenty and a ten, and handed both to the driver. He got out, shut the door, and walked into the coffee shop. After looking around at the different patrons, he made his way to the counter and sat next to a well dressed gentleman, silver straight hair, well manicured hands, jet black suit and black dress shoes so brightly polished someone could see their own reflection if they stared at them.
"Mr. Albright?"
"Yes, and I presume you are Bannister."
"At your service," Ray replied with a forced smile. "How can I help you?"
"I need you to follow someone for me, tell me who she's been in contact with, follow her daily activities. Her name, residence, and a photograph of her is inside this envelop." Albright slide a brown paper 8X10 envelop across the counter to Bannister.
"Think your wife is cheating on you huh?"
Albright began tapping his fingers on the counter. "Wife? Umm. Yeah, ex wife that is. Just get me some dirt on her and don't ask too many question. I've left a generous deposit in the envelop as well, it should cover all expenses and then some. You'll get the rest of the payment after the job's completed." Albright got off the stool and walked out of the coffee shop.
Around ten o'clock the same evening Bannister ended up in the Westview District, walking down a street with dilapidated buildings. Trash was littered everywhere. Winos either huddling around a fire can in the alleyways, the bottle of cheap wine passed from hand to hand, each taking his little snort, or some others passed out for the night on bus benches, blankets wrapped around tightly. Bannister finally stopped in front of Showgirls Gentlemen's Club. He walked up to the door, where a well muscled black man was sitting on a stool. His arms were the size of most men's thighs. The behemoths face was like a pit bull with a 5 o'clock shadow. There was a scar over on his left eyebrow, and the bridge of his nose was slightly crooked with a lump.
"How ya doing Ray my man!"
"Hey champ. Busy night?" Every time Bannister referred to the bouncer as champ, the big guy's face would brighten up instantly, a smile from cheek to cheek. Early on in his professional boxing career, Tiger Walcott was a top heavyweight contender. Walcott never got his shot at the heavyweight crown, and during the last few years his career is fading, heading into a downward spiral with the losses piling on more frequently. But his face still lights up when someone calls him champ.
"Naw, not too busy boss. Kinda slow, but the gals are still busting their cute little tushes on stage, trying to hustle for that dollar."
"Is Diamond dancing tonight?"
"Yeah, she's around tonight. Want me to head down and call her to your table?" Walcott gave Bannister a wink.
Shaking his head, "I'll just get a drink first and wait until she gets up on stage."
Walcott nodded, placed his enormous hand on the red entrance door, pushed it open and held it there until Bannister made his way in. Ray saw a familiar dancer on stage who looked his way as he entered, gave her a wink and a wave, and made his way to his regular table. The table was away from the stage, the black sofa placed against the wall. While waiting for the waitress to come around and take his order, a blond had caught his eye. She was making her rounds, flirting with men after men to sway them into buying a private dance. After seeing how low she was behaving with one customer, jumping on his lap, giving him kisses on both his cheeks, all to persuade him into buying a dance, Ray lost all interest in the blond.
Time passed, the empty glasses that held whiskey at one time were now cluttered around his table. As Bannister looked up on the stage with blurry eyes, he saw Diamond climbing up the few steps to the stage. Ray couldn't take his eyes off of her. He began to loosen his tie and undo the top button on his neck. She had long jet black hair, plump lips colored with dark red lipstick, heavy eyeliner, green tint on her eyelids, a flat stomach, curvy hips, and long silky legs. The tattoo of a spider on her left lower front hip, and the black rose on the back of her right shoulder nailed it for him. This woman was just dangerous. She could rip a guy's heart out, throw it on the ground and pierce her high heels through it without flinching in front of the poor sucker. And Bannister wanted that poor sucker to be him for a night, a week, or even for an infinite second.
As her music faded, she began to gather the dollar bills thrown onto the stage, walking by all the men in the front row, thanking them each with a deadly smile. Diamond gathered her clothes, put on her black lace bra, and walked off the stage. She was headed toward Bannister. Upon arriving at Bannister's table, she bent over and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Hi Ray, been a couple months since I've seen you around."
"Been busy, juggling classes at law school, interning at a firm and got some work on the side for pocket change," replied Bannister while loosening his tie some more.
"Busy boy. So, some of that pocket change coming my way?" Diamond sat down on the sofa beside Ray, leaning against his shoulder.
"Uh..."
"I'm just messing with ya sugar," Diamond said with a grin. "I wanted to talk to you about something though. I know you mentioned before how you're some sort of private eye or something. I need some help Ray. I've gotten myself into a jam, and in the worst way. I want to hire you Ray."
"And pay me with what? Lap dances?"
Diamond's upper lip tightened, and gave him a scornful look.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I was just joking, being an idiot." Bannister looked embarrassed, and reached out to hold her hand. "What's the matter? I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Not here Ray. Let's blow this dump and go somewhere to talk. Let me go to the back and change. Also need to get something in my car, then I'll come back around and fetch you to leave." She gave him another kiss on the cheek, got up and started walking back to the dresser room.
Twenty minutes had passed since Diamond had left to change. Bannister was constantly moving his head to the side to get a look at the dressing room door, anticipating Diamond to come out of it whenever it opened.
The cops came instead. Sirens began blazing outside the club. Five police officers bursted into the club and began shouting at the dancers and customers to stay calm and seated. They began asking everyone questions about Diamond.
Bannister knew one of the cops, Sgt. Lorenzo. Lorenzo would help out Bannister with his cases, for a small fee, pulling up records on individuals, missing person reports.
"Hey buddy, what's going on? Why are your people asking about the dancer?" asked Bannister.
"She's dead. Someone killed her in the alley by the parking lot. Know her? Speak with her tonight or get a dance from her?
Bannister gave a full detailed account from the moment he stepped through the door into the club until to the moment the police had arrived.
"She needed help huh? Better come out back with me."
Bannister and Sgt Lorenzo made their way out of the club, passing the paying customers and dancers who were being questioned by the cops, and finally making it to the alleyway. There was a white sheet placed over a body laying on the ground. The area was cordoned off with yellow tap at the two ends of the alley.
"Her name was Samantha Monroe," said Lorenzo.
There was a loud screech from the brakes of a car at the end of the alley. A black Suburban SUV had parked in front of the entrance to the alleyway. Both the passenger and driver door opened simultaneously, and two men got out and began walking toward Bannister and Lorenzo. The two men were both dressed in a black suit, black tie white shirt and wore dark sunglasses.
"This is my partner, Agent Brown. I'm Agent Jones. We've received orders to take the lead in this murder investigation. Vacate the premises and have your men seal off all entry to this alley." Agent Jones pointed Bannister and Lorenzo to the end of the alley.
"Now wait a minute, what authority..."
Sgt Lorenzo cut off Bannister, "Yes sir. I'll have my men seal off the area."
Agent Brown reached up to the side of his head, adjusting his earpiece. Agent Brown turned to Agent Jones, informing him "Target is still active within the system."
Walking down the alley, Bannister turned to Lorenzo and asked "Who's the suits? Are they both Feds?"
"Don't really know. I see their type from time to time, and if you don't move out of their way, you'll usually have a higher up chewing your butt out over the phone within minutes. I've learned to stay out of their way and do as they say."
(I'm going to have this as an Open RP for all, feel free to add as you like, create a side story to it, whether it be some bluepill/redpill seeking the help of Bannister to solve a case, or maybe a side story with a character, or maybe just a detective story completely your own. More will come)
