Being an around-the-clock manned establishment the cigar store and coffee lounge in the foyer were still open, albeit a little quiet at this time. People were still coming and going in dribs and drabs for their night caps and late night bookings, the types who were mostly more interested in the company on their arm and not being noticed themselves.

There's a single receptionist working the front desk who moves between the other store fronts as is needed. She has tan skin and blue eyes and has her wavy blond hair tied in a long braid. She's pottering between the tables wearing an apron, clearing empty cups onto a tray as a couple make their way towards and up a staircase that elevates and wraps behind the ground floor area in a rectangular spiral. She's quite tall and bends at the waist with each effort. She stands in front of a table rubbing her lower back and hyper extending a stretch.

Runa took a deep breath as she prepared herself for her biggest job yet. If she could pull it off, then she'd hopefully impress Nick and Jack. If she failed, well... she didn't want to think about what would happen there. Runa, usually attired in a leather jacket and slacks, was wearing a dress for the first time in the States. It was a low cut black number, something that would made her look like the other women here for an evening rendezvous. Hopefully Runa could simply ask for the room number and make her way up. If not, she hoped to charm the receptionist. And if that failed... well, she had stashed an outfit more suitable for climbing the fire escape out in the alley. 

If she got in trouble, she had her switchblade in her purse, but no gun, and no real chance in a fight. The only other things in her purse were her lockpick and some drugs in a very well hidden pocket.

Runa was lucky that she was a good liar; seeing the gigantic receptionist could have made her eyebrows pop off her head, but Runa managed to cover her surprise as she strolled into the lobby.

"Good evening, Miss. I was hoping you could help direct me to my room. It's under the name of Walter Miller."

She flashed a small smile, hoping to so perfectly inhabit the role of a woman whose like Miss Hawick had seen dozens of times checking in in the evening that it would be easier to just give her the information she wants. 

Hearing yet another voice requesting something, a shake of the head and an ill-mannered attitude turned to meet Runa. She was a customer or two away from metaphorically breaking the back she was feeling the pangs in. It wasn't just that she was a six foot, decently weighted women needing to bend and stretch towards smaller tables and desks. She'd had enough of the job, the industry and certain individuals many moons ago.

Heiley stood with one hand on her hip and the other holding a cloth she had just slapped over the left of her broad shoulders. She glared at Runa and huffed as she gave her an intimidating look over.

"You another who're up to collect a paycheck or somethin'? I'm about sick of you flappers. Just go back to his house, would ya? Maybe wave at his wife while you're there. May aswell tuck the kids in before you leave."

Runa looked at the woman for a moment, then seemed to transform. She stood straighter, held her chin higher, and her voice took on an imperial air, conveying both authority and pride in finding a kindred spirit.

"Based on your file, I didn't expect it to be that easy. Well done, Miss Hawick- perhaps you are the right person to help me with this. I think I have an offer for you that you might find enticing. You see, I work for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and I've been working on a story with the new management there. I'm about to become one of the best known columnists in the city, and I'd be happy to have you as a partner to expose this lying sack of-"

She halted and glanced toward the entrance.

"Perhaps we could speak somewhere with a little more privacy?"

"You are? You would? Well I.. Let's go over here!"

Heiley straightened her hair and ripped off her apron, nearly tearing it at the strings. She seemed renewed with energy as she lead Runa away from the tables and towards the main receptionist area. She tossed the cleaner's garb without looking and began primping herself as she took a seat on the side of the desk. There were various papers and items strewn across it.

"Philadelphia Inquirer, you said?"

She was usually a little more perceptive yet the combination of the opportunity to make the paper and Runa's convincing display had her totally wrapped up in her own ego. She always wished she were in the city of Angels making it big, maybe this investigative reporter could be her ticket.

Runa strolled with her hands behind her back, continuing to project an air of calm command.

"Yes, the Inquirer. My preliminary investigation told me you'd be well informed, so I'm sure you're familiar with the growth of the paper. Just built a brand new building for itself over on Broad and Callowhill Streets? Eighteen stories high and, as you can imagine, they need plenty of stories in their paper as well. How else are they going to stand out against all the other competition?"

She leaned against the wall, looking down patiently at Heiley.

"Well, my name is Rachel Kearns. You won't know the name, because I wouldn't be very good at my job if you had. I'm an undercover reporter for The Inquirer. I've cracked some of the biggest stories of the past year, but I've handed off the bylines to other writers so people wouldn't know. me. Except now, I've been chasing a story big enough to add another floor to the building. I've found one city official who thinks he's above the law, but I feel like I'm close to something bigger."

Runa dropped her voice.

"Drugs, Heiley. You wouldn't believe the stories I've heard. Powerful men ignoring their jobs, sitting around a giant pile of coke while half-naked women..."

Runa shook her head. 

"Well, that's what I'm hearing, at least. If the stories are true, then I can put together an article that's going to blow the roof of that scandal and make me- and whoever partners with me- a household name all across the country. A story big enough for me to go public with my name, understand? Be a real reporter and not have to skulk around undercover, checking in secretly with the editor-in-chief. Well, I have reason to believe that this hotel is a popular meeting place for the men involved. If you help me, well I'll make you an equal partner in the story. I'm not going to lie to you: maybe it's all made up. But if I'm right? Well, they might be making a movie about us next year."

She grinned.

"Here's what I'd need from you. I know how observant you are, so I need you to start keeping track of a few guys. I'll give you some sketches of men that you might recognize. Give me a couple room keys tonight and again if one of our suspects show up, make sure you don't tell anyone about me, and I'll make sure you get half the credit and none of the blame if things go south. In the meantime, I can reimburse you for your trouble from my expense account at the paper. What do you say?"

At the mention of the scandalous men being dishonest in their daily workings she almost leaped off the desk.

"That's what I've been saying all along!"

Heiley then looked around and leaned in as she lowered her voice too.

"Drugs. Who'res. And that ain't half of it!"

She looked like a conspiracy theorist speaking about the illuminaty and secret societies, slouching forward with her eyes wide and her head on a swivel, constantly checking for people trying to listen in. She was a tall women though so she wouldn't be hard to miss no matter how hard she'd try to keep a low profile.

She had to really contain herself from peppering Runa with examples of the truth at the hint that it could all be made up. Her face scrunched and with it a fist. She wasn't prone to fighting but she had a thing for honesty and until this point Runa had her eating out of the palm of her hand. 

Then there was the mention of a movie and the balled fist eased. Things were starting to seem a little suspicious. Because that's what she truly wanted, to be famous and in all the high profile movies. Her stature made it hard. There weren't any roles for an overbearing women. Maybe some leaner eye and arm candy for the taller lead men of the day. And when the gold of her dream had been struck, with it the emotions and doubt began to surface.

And there it was. A possible scam. Heiley folded her arms and sat up straight, her chin raised as she looked down her nose at Runa.

"So you want to get into their rooms? What makes you think I'm going to just hand over keys to a stranger? You think I'm that stupid, do you?"

All that had been said was now being looked at with caution and suspicion. She wanted what was being offered, it was her dream to be famous, even to just taste it a little so she could tell her parents she wasn't such a failure. But she also didn't like dishonesty. She hated it and the people who carried big ol' bags of it.

Runa looked steadily at Heiley.

"Look, if I thought you were stupid, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and I definitely wouldn't be trying to persuade you. I looked at a few hotels, and this one seemed to have the best combination of shady activity and someone at the front desk who I could trust to keep an eye out. I'm good at what I do because I've got a good knack for people, and I think you'd be a good partner for this."

She checked the clock on the wall.

"So, yes, I think you'll hand over the keys. But no, I don't think you're stupid. Because, God's honest truth, I was in your shoes a few years ago, working the front desk at a hotel. I remember the long nights, helping people check in from sundown to sunup. Good people, bad people... but at the end of the day, all those people were going somewhere. Doing something. And there I was, at the same spot at the same desk as always, running through my checklist at the end of the shift, getting yelled at by some skirt with delusions of grandeur. Life was happening to those other people, and I was... well, an accessory to their story, with no shot of telling my own."

Runa's green eyes continued to steadily look into Heiley's.

"I'm not promising you anything. But I'm not asking you to risk anything, either. You're not stupid- you're smart enough to recognize that just like most of your guests, and opportunity like this walks out of your door and is gone forever."

Runa dug into her purse and removed some money left over from the roll Nick had given her on her first job, placing it on the counter. 

"There's a few hundred there that I can't afford to lose, because that's just about everything I've got. Let me borrow the key for a while, call the room phone if either of the guests come back, and keep that cash as collateral to make sure I return the keys. I can't force you to trust me, Heiley, and I don't have time to talk to you all night, although I certainly could once this investigation is done. If there's something else that would make you feel more comfortable, just say so, but I'm running low on time here."

"Okay."

That's all she said before turning to the mess that was the desk and opening the cabinet. The metal draw slid open nice and easy, stopping with a little clunk about halfway. She ruffled through some dividers and eyed a piece of paper on the desk, turning it for a better look. Matching up the name Runa had said earlier with the room number, she reached into that section and removed a spare key to the room.

Handing the key ring over she gave a solid nod.

"I'll call the room and let it ring three times if he returns."

She'd done this before but under different circumstances. Men would sometimes want to be alerted to people coming up to their rooms. Women, for example, but the types that dressed a little more proper than those that frequented after dark. And of course federal types looking for guests they suspected matched certain criteria to their case files.

Runa's words struck home, all of them, and no matter what would unfold next she'd have an ally waiting on high alert in the lobby should anything go sideways.

"Room one eleven. First floor, turn right and it's the one at the end of the hall on the right."

Runa accepted the key with a nod and a friendly smile. She hustled out of the lobby, glad that things were going so smoothly.

There was, of course, a complication. As she made her way down the hall, she noticed a couple outside a room. It was a scene she was familiar with: a handsy guy and a girl who'd rather be somewhere else. Setting her face, she walked by. 

It was hard to walk by, although her face didn't show it. But she had a job to do for Nick, for Jack... and she kept walking. She spared a glance at the room number to note it, in case a situation presented itself later.

Not knowing what else she could do, Runa slipped her key into the door and entered Room 111.

It was a simple room with a decent view that overlooked the street. A bed, a desk with a chair and an armchair were the immediately obvious main furniture it had. They were all wood and polished but the main feature was the large window that had a set of curtains blowing from the slightly open window.

There were draws to be found at the desk and a stand-alone clothes wardrobe angled towards the small study slash office area, set diagonally in one of the corners. The bed was still made and hadn't yet been slept in and had a night stand on either side. As Runa stood there, a voice could be heard down the hall. It wasn't from the couple. It sounded off prior to a knock on a door. Both were faint.

Runa first locked the door behind her to make sure she wouldn't have someone just walking in, then she moved to search the room. As she'd expected, the target had been in a hustle to get out the door to the burlesque lounge. Instead of unpacking, they'd just slipped their bag under the bed. Runa noted where it was so she could return it, then placed the bag on top of the bed, opened it, and scoured through what was inside. 

As she continued her search, she could hear the knocking in the hall get closer, but she tuned it out for now. They still sounded several doors down.

Glancing through the bag, Runa first uncovered a letter from Toby Darry addressing all guards stating they have to keep to their routes and minimize the chit-chat. Good to know, she supposed, but of more interest to her was the attached guard schedule for the upcoming Friday and Saturday. She had the address to the farm, including an alternate entrance to the property from the rear where the guards could park their cars. Good to know about for infiltration... and avoidance. 

Pausing for a moment, Runa removed the cocaine from her purse and tucked it away inside the man's luggage. Maybe she could get this guy arrested, forcing the Darrys to hire another guard. Maybe Jack or Scarfo could either impersonate him or get hired to replace him? She returned the luggage to its previous location.

Runa moved to the desk where an opened letter was resting- this guard, who'd been hired by the Darrys, was apparently meeting up with a potential sweetheart that he'd been writing to for months. For a moment, she considered having someone try to infiltrate the party... but that seemed like a lot of risk for no known reward. But at least she knew the guard's real name: Joseph Mortimer. She took the letter anyway.

Pulling open the desk drawer, Runa froze. She shouldn't have been surprised, since Mortimer was a guard for hire, but she still wasn't used to seeing guns. It was a black Colt M1911 with a brown grip and two spare clips. Swallowing, she took the gun and ammunition. She didn't trust herself to hit anything, but maybe she could use it to intimidate someone if she had to.

The knocking was getting closer, and Runa moved quickly to the jacket hanging on the wardrobe. There was a business card inside of a horse owner and trainer- someone who wasn't Toby and Eve Darry. There was a four digit number on the card. Runa's hadn't seen a phone until a couple months ago, and she had no idea how they worked in America... but this seemed important, so she pocketed it to give to Nick, trusting him to figure out how to use the information.

There didn't seem to be anything else, which was fortunate, since the knocking had finally reached the door- just as the phone rang.

A muffled yet clearly audible voice could be heard from outside the hotel room door just after it had been knocked on and just as the rotary phone started ringing.

"This is the police. Please open the door."

There were three more quick rhythmic thuds, the knocking playing a baseline to the succession of shrill tones from the Western Electric which was on the desk inside the room and which had now rung twice.

"It won't take a minute. We just want to talk..."

Another voice from further down the hall started up just as the officer finished.

"Is everything okay?"

It was a male voice. The phone rang a third time.

"Is this your room?"

The first voice seemed to be projecting back down the hallway, away from the door. There was a slight pause before the other man answered.

"Yes, sir. What's the matter?"

The phone rang again.

"Are you Fordwin Matthews?"

"No, sir. Never heard that name before."

His voice was getting closer and the shuffling of feet against carpet could be discerned as he slowly approached. He wasn't the guy in question but he sure as hell knew who it was. The phone sounded off once more in the background.

"You sure? We have reason to suspect he's staying here and this is the last room we need to check."

He was partially telling the truth. Him and his partner who was on the floor above had started at the top and were working their way down to the bottom separately, hoping to not arouse too much suspicion that'll trigger their perpetrator to flee. There was no way they'd be able to check all rooms and this was the second of three hotels they were to visit. It was a bluff to see how this guy would react.

"Yeah, positive. I'm Walter Miller."

He wasn't but he too had some run-ins with the law and needed to use a pseudonym to avoid sticky situations like these while in town. Everyone employed as a private guard at the Darry Farm were similar in that respect and for good reason.

"Mind showing me some identification to confirm you are who you say you are?"

There was something about the way Joseph was acting that had the federal officer not entirely convinced. He didn't think too much of it given the time and the place but just wanted to be sure, as in his line of work it paid to be.

"Sure, it's just inside the room with my luggage."

Joseph's voice was now as close as the other man's and the sound of keys rattling could be clearly heard just beyond the wooden divider.

"You might want to get that, too."

BRRRING! BRRRING!

Runa glanced at the door, the luggage, then started to move toward the window. Based on the conversation outside, Runa was optimistic that this guard would get arrested. Maybe Nick could get an ally hired as a replacement guard?

But there was no time now; Runa moved toward the open window to climb out. The dress made it a little tougher- thank God she was on the first floor. If she could make it out the window clean, she could head out to deliver what she'd learned to Nick.

The key scratched at the lock. Then hit the floor.

"Sorry."

"Had a few to drink Walter?"

"No, no. It's late. I'm just tired," he said as he bent down to pick up the key.

He was definitely tipsy. He was also tired though. The burlesque lounge made him feel right as rain and until now the diversion had done its job.

With Runa now most of the way out the window, Joseph managed to slip the key into the lock and turn it. The bolt snapped back and the door popped open a little.

"After you, Walter," officer McNealy prompted with an outstretched hand towards the door.

Runa was now propped up on the window sill on the outside looking in, the curtains hiding her for the most part as she held her bodyweight up with straight arms, locked at the elbows. From here there was only one way down and hopefully the fall wouldn't break something. She was newish to Race Street and keen as mustard, it would be a shame if she were to be out of commission before she really began to hit her stride.

"Thank you," Joseph replied with a nervous smile and pushed on the door, causing Runa to drop down and hang above the street.

As the well-dressed officer followed the Darry Farm private guard into the room, a lowly voice called out from below the window. It was Heiley. Runa had won the receptionist over with her uber persuasive character. After dialing the room number to give her investigative partner enough time to organise a retreat, she immediately made tracks to where she figured the reporter would be.

"Psssst. Hey, down here!"

Looking down, Runa would find a Dempster dumpster, a newly designed large portable garbage receptacle that could fit onto the back of trucks for easy transport. Heiley had moved it to below where Runa was hanging and had flipped the lids open.

Looking down, Runa cursed to herself, then dropped. She was so focused on not rolling an ankle that she crunched her left hand again the dumpster when she landed. Wincing in pain, she bit her lip to keep from crying out and alerting the men in the room above.

Holding her hand and smirking, Runa disappeared into the shadows. Nick would be interested to see everything she'd gained- and more than that, she was hoping that this job had earned her some respect as well.