Case No. 32
CAFE & DINER TESTAMENT · LAS VEGAS, NV · ALL DEBTS COME DUE
BARISTA: AUDITOR
CAFE: ALL
DATE: EARLY APRIL
RECEIPT ID: TEST-03
I am delighted to have Ms. Wilkes' tab more or less paid off… for now. I must say it is a bit anticlimactic how it all ended. Though, on the other hand, it's certainly not a tab paid in full. She is there, in Fernley, waiting. Thankfully, she is incapable of scheming her way out of there, but I'm sure at some point the biggest Secret in all of Nevada will be free once more. But no time to dwell on prior customers, as we have a V.I.P. coming in, or should I say, V.I.C.?
Doris O'Neal.
She's elevated beyond the standard customer naming conventions and we do tend to say her name with quite a bit of hushed reverence. That is because she is… dangerous. Jack, I suppose, likes a bit of danger. He believes Doris could be a boon to the Cafe and Diner Network. I suppose if she can be controlled, he may be right. On the other hand, my dear friend Malachi may have quite different feelings about how well Doris O'Neal can ever be "controlled." It seems to me that over and over again, Doris O'Neal shows up just when things are about to come to an end.
Interestingly enough, I've never met her. I've never even seen her. I know that in my long and checkered past we have been around at the same time before, though I've either been working against her or already out the door and into the next opportunity, so to speak. Not only that, but I have no idea what she is like, and as far as I know, Amber and Alex haven't met her face-to-face either, as their last chance to do so was interrupted by the Daggers. Perhaps we are making a big fuss over a sweet old granny who is more than willing to help us—help the Jack and the Cafe and Diner Network—end Behram's destructive inevitability.
Caffeinated Report: C-DOA-05
"(1-1)5."
Cartoon Trivia | 2 Words
Caffeinated Report: C-DOA-06
"Everything in A-line: from Marshall, to Richmond, to Charleston, to Moultrie, and DeWitt."
True Crime Trivia | 4 Words
BARISTA: JETHRO & LAZARUS LANGLEY
CAFE: TESTAMENT
DATE: MID APRIL
RECEIPT ID: DOA-07
Brother, why do you suppose we've been asked to "sit this one out?" Surely two fearsome and fabulous Langleys would be a boon to any plot or scheme to entrap and ensnare an old lady. Hell, I've entranced more than a dozen old ladies just for the fun of it. Ladies simply love me!
Oh, you know how the "rest" of Testament is, Jet. They love to keep us on the bench. I like to think of us as being "break in case of emergency," baristas. We're likely far too talented to be wasted on convincing an old lady to join the Cafe and Diner. Besides, you might be too much of a flirt for this operation. Testament is trying to have Doris join the Cafe not your bedroom.
It's because we do the freaky sibling back and forth, isn't it?
I don't believe so.
That's why they hate us! It must be! Why else would we not be included on such an important mission!
They all find it charming.
Amber said we're like the Shining twins but worse!
Well, first off, we're not twins—
—REGARDLESS! What could be ever so secretive about this "Doris O'Neal" that no one—NO ONE—will deign to discuss it with us?
I suspect it's likely one of Alex's little… "extracurricular projects." You know how he is. I would wager that he knows something about Doris that we simply do not, and it's better for us not to know. We can't tear apart our family so recklessly by doing everything Alex asks of us, can we?
…I suppose you're right. Agh! It is maddening though, isn't it? To be part of a team, a family, as close as Testament but still be left out because of our other familial obligations. Well… I guess this'll just have to be another one we sit out on. Surely the next customer to come through Testament's doors won't somehow be inexplicitly tied to Alex's ever-expanding madness.
BARISTA: AMBER INGRAM
CAFE: TESTAMENT
DATE: MID APRIL
RECEIPT ID: DOA-08
Hey… wait… the Langleys are right. Not about the not being twins thing, I still haven't seen any proof that Jet didn't just stay in their mom's womb for an extra year or so.
…Why haven't I been looped in on… well… ANYTHING to do with Doris O'Neal? I mean, sure, I've been keeping up the best I can with the receipts and notes. I get what the general plan is… but why wasn't I asked about how to clear the casino floor? Why wasn't I consulted on ways to lure her to us? Heck, I think I'm a pretty persuasive lady! I could totally bag this biddy for the Cafe. And unlike Jet, I'm not gonna try and sleep with her. Maybe. I don't actually know what she looks like, so I guess I'll table that for now.
Sorry.
I'm using humor to deflect. I'm… kinda hurt. I guess. I'm the co-owner of Testament, right? Like, sure, Alex can make the call to leave the Langley brothers in the dark. And it seems like Laz kinda… "Got it." He got why Alex cut him out of this. But I'm so fucking in the dark, and I don't even know why they aren't allowed to help on this! Why am I not allowed to help on this? It's not the first time I've felt like there's some big stupid secret looming over all of us. Looming over Alex. And not just the Secret that wanted him dead.
Look… I… really, really care about Alex. He's always been there for me ever since he showed up in my life. It's like he knew me better than I know myself. I know he is a strange guy. I know he sees things differently than we do. And I know he's got thousands and thousands of secrets weighing on his mind. But… he asked me to be his co-owner. He demanded Jack to make me co-owner even though I had no idea what I'm doing. And… I don't know. I guess it just feels like more and more I don't get it... Why me?
Caffeinated Report: C-DOA-09
"Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria—Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is—oh dear! Even the Duchess sneezed occasionally; and as for the baby, it was sneezing and howling alternately without a moment’s pause. Game, or any other dish? You must have meant some mischief, or else you’d have signed your name like an honest man."
Comic Book Trivia | 2 Words
Caffeinated Report: CD-DOA-10
"Doris O'Neal Arrives… Or, uh…"
CaD Knowledge | 3 Words