Case File MO70

Matilda: Alright, coil’s warmed up, wirehook’s extended. Please work this time. I don’t want to lose this chance before I even finished training.

[clank]

Matilda: This is Matilda Walstead, identification code 2-4-5-9-1-2-1-5-8-8, stop. Are you reading me?

Marshal: Identification code recognized. We were starting to worry, Special Assistant. We expected your first broadcast days ago.

Matilda: This device you left me gave me some trouble. I suppose most of your assistants get more training on the government contraptions than I did. First time I tried to put it together, nearly burnt my arm off.

Marshal: Odd, I made sure to tell Beiersdorf that you may need help with assembley. My apologies, you might have gotten lost in the shuffle as we departed.

Matilda: [scoffs] Or he disagrees with my sense of humor. Still, now that this ‘audiograph’ isn’t sparking all over the place, I’m kind of amazed by it? I’m really talking to someone miles away!

Marshal: Quite. Brand new, fresh out of the Auburn laboratories. They do fast work there; the patent they developed this from is only three years old.

Matilda: Incredible. How long until us normal folk get access to this?

Marshal: You are not part of the hoi polloi anymore. You’re part of the New Marshal Initiative; remember that.

Matilda: Oh, yes, of course. How silly of me.

Marshal: Now, we can discuss technological advancement at a later date. How has your stay in Henshaw been?

Matilda: I can’t say I prefer it over Boston or Philadelphia, but it has a quiet sort of charm once you get used to it. It helps that I’m no longer sharing a wagon with the most judgmental woman alive. Still, my temporary lodgings nonetheless have a bad reputation, and it’s affected my ability to get on with the locals; I don’t think it was wise to put me here.

Marshal: It was within our rights. The Edwards had no heirs, and their homestead would have been abandoned if we didn’t buy it. I understand your reluctance; staying in the rooms of a recently-killed couple would cause most of my staff to balk. But given the time constraints-

Matilda: Yes, I understand. It’s just for a few months anyways.

Marshal: Of course. Anything to report regarding official duties?

Matilda: No sign of any wizard activity. Law enforcement in St. Louis detained two Kentuckians a week ago, but with the whole state keeping an eye out, I doubt we’ll be seeing any reprisals from the Lily-White League.

Marshal: Excellent. Keep up the good work there. And about your…tentative duties?

Matilda: We still don’t have a case on Freestone. He’s been reclusive since you left. I’ve caught him at the funerals and church but that’s it. Every time I try to talk to him, he finds a reason to excuse himself within ten minutes. I got lucky with the technical issues; the burn gave me an excuse to go see him, and a longer conversation. But even then, he got Geraldine to treat me rather than touch me himself.

Marshal: According to Macy and Bean, he rarely socializes, at least not in Henshaw. Might be a result of the local demographics. I suspect he was more sociable in Lousiana. I assume you were able to profile him regardless.

Matilda: Polite, well-spoken, intelligent for a Negro. He is hiding something though. If you ask him anything about his education or his background, he’ll turn you right back around. He’ll do it kindly but but with a will of iron.

Marshal: That lines up with our assessment. His performance is very effective but he can’t keep it up when pressed.

Matilda: I wouldn’t call it a performance. I’ve done enough time in the theaters to know when someone’s pretending to be polite because they want something out of you. Mr. Freestone’s persona is truthful. I don’t think he’s trying to hide who he is, just what he’s doing.

Marshal: I see. Well, I trust your profiling skills. I also trust that you’llfind out what he’s hiding. Have you progressed with Geraldine?

Matilda: She’s easier to talk to at least. She comes by every other day. Mrs. Macy worries about me staying alone in the former Edwards home, especially with winter coming, so she’s always sending her over with food or knitwear. More than I can say for my own parents.

Marshal: Does she trust you?

Matilda: She wants to listen to me. She’s deeply curious about the East and the show business and every bit about myself she can think to ask. She drinks in words like a horse. As long as I have new stories for her, she’ll listen to what I have to say. I haven’t pressed her on Freestone yet, taking my time.

Marshal: Excellent work, Special Assistant. She likely won’t say anything that’ll incriminate Freestone directly, so get her on the topic of him and listen for anything potentially compromising. Any contacts he has outside of Henshaw, any plans he has in store, and the like. If she’s drawn by knowledge, see if anything from your initiation chest will grab her attention. I give you permission to share restricted information that she’ll find interesting but won’t compromise your operations of the NMI’s operations as a whole.

Matilda: Hah, maybe she’ll be able to help me set some of this equipment up. Don’t worry, I can take this forward, Marshal. I think I know something about how to charm a woman.

[silence]

Marshal: As you’ve mentioned before. Speaking of which, has the Mayor caused you any trouble?

Matilda: Not a wit. I haven’t had to speak to him once. At this point, I’m sure he’s avoiding me.

Marshal: Then that’ll be all for now. Report back in a week. A pleasure, Special Assistant Walstead.

Matilda: Got it.

[silence]

Matilda: So, this is what respect feels like. I’ve always wondered.

[silence, shuffling]

Matilda: [singing, quietly] By the blue Alsatian mountains dwelt a maiden young and fair. Like the careless flowing fountains were the ripples of her hair, were the ripples of [speaking] oh is that damn fool thing still on.

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