Warrant CYOA

“We actually found a couple of interesting things here”
>”Do tell”
>Garnet speaks up, holding out the files
>“The business records are all months old. I couldn’t find anything younger than six months”
>She gingerly hands them over, the cops scrolling through them for a few seconds
“And there's a scrap of a picture in the fireplace”
>You point into the ornate hearth dutifully
“I left it where I found it”
>”Goody two paws…”
>Velvet snickers, elbowing Umbra gently in the side a couple times
>One cop motions to the other, both joining you by the fireplace as you bend over, carefully removing the scrap of paper
>Turning it, the police look at it intently for a minute
>”That’s… odd”
“What’s that?”
>”We have a stallion with a similar mark wanted back at the station, had a warrant on him for a while. Racketeering mostly”
>”Yeah, but we can’t really be sure, considering we can’t really tell what this pony’s colors are by a picture”
>Someone really needs to invent colored photography one of these days
>”Sure does look similar though”

>>29584553
From what the maid said and what we found here, he probably started going somewhere else after work around the time we believe this mess started..

>>29584553
I guess he might be part of this little crime gang they have going.

“I guess he might be part of this little crime gang they have going”
>He shrugs
>”Maybe. Awfully suspicious that he’d be burning photographs”
“Well from what the maid said and what we found here, he probably started going somewhere else after work around the time we believe this mess started”
>”We can’t make arrests on hunches alone. We’d have to find something more concrete”
>Walking back to the door, one turns his head over his shoulder
>”From what the maid told us, the next two floors are mostly storage, but there is a smoking and exercise room on the next level. You two can go ahead and look wherever you want, and we’ll uh… supervise this one”
>”Hey!”
>Velvet scrunches up, but nonetheless follows them with Umbra at her heels

>>29584916
Smoking room. It's a more likely place for him to relax.

>>29584916
Velvet, remember to be on your best behaviour.

Let's go up and check the smoking room first. Wonder what do they store up there.

>>29584916
Probably for the best. We can peak at some of the storage at least before we give the two rooms a proper search.

“Velvet, remember to be on your best behavior”
>”Bite me.”
>If this was ancient times, she’d have to be wary of that statement
>The four ponies turn the corner, the hooves gently pattering down the carpeted hallway
>Probably for the best she has a police escort
“So, time to head upstairs?”
>”Sure. The smoking room seems like our best bet”
>Waiting for Garnet to head into the hallway you flick off the light, following her to the staircase
>Going up it the décor remains the same, although a little less dense in regards to the paintings in the hallways
>A door opens along the wall, four ponies casually strolling out before opening the one right across room it, heading inside
>Walking on past the rooms they’ve you assume have checked, you eventually find a much more ornate looking wooden door near the end of the hallway
>Gently pushing it open and flicking on the light, a smaller room than the office greets you, but short on commodities it is not
>Leather furniture is plentiful, art adorning the walls

>”This the place?”
“Yeah, pretty sur-“
>You nearly leap back in fear, a pair of lifeless paws catching your eye
>But blinking a couple times you realize they belong to a stylish tiger skin rug, and not to a griffon
>”I know what you’re thinking, at its pretty amusing”
“S-shut up. He’s a criminal, how am I supposed to know that he’s not above skinning griffons?”
>She scoffs playfully, brushing up against you as she works her way inside, heading for a wine cabinet
“Hey, no drinking on the job”
>”Relax, I’m only into traditional griffon beverages”
>As the opens it up and mills about you yourself make your way over to some wort of display case, various plaques and trophies inside
>Eye darting around, your feathers fall a bit in disappointment that there’s no #1 arsonist award
>”Hey Guri, check these out”
>Turning, Garnet holds out her hand, several lighters in its grasp
>”These look familiar?”
“Yeah… didn’t Flame come to the warehouse with something similar?”
>”I think so. Although, I’m not really sure if this is a clue or anything, there’s probably thousands of this particular brand out there”

>>29585264
Any missing?

>>29585264
>she doesn't like strawberry daiquiris
Still worth noting. Check behind the pictures for a safe.

Pausing

beb

>>29585264
If these lighters are here, then there may be something else in the room to connect to Flame.

pep

>>29586158

>>29588158

>>29588618

>>29589184

rip in warrants

bef

“Any missing?”
>”I’m not really sure. They were just in a drawer, so it’s not like they had individual cases”
“Eh, still worth noting… maybe there’s something else in the room we can connect to Flame”
>She nods, retuning to searching on the far side of the room
>You begin to walk over to the wall, studying the paintings
>Maybe…
>Pulling down a picture of a sunset, you only find empty wall behind it
>Gently, you return it to its spot, taking a moment to straighten it out
>Moving to the next one, a portrait of some random stallion, you repeat the process
>However, this time a metal door greets you, numbered dial in the center with a keyhole present
>This stuff is just too easy
“Hey Garnet, I hit the jackpot!”
>Grabbing hold of the latch you give it a wriggle before pulling with all your might
>But it resists, obviously having no intention of opening
>”Yeah, good luck getting that open. Unless you want to stay here for the next five years trying every number combination”

>>29591556
Well, you never know. It might be something simple. Like his birthday, or when the first building got burnt down. Just don't let Velvet see it. She'll start talking about satchel charges.

“Well, you never know. It might be something simple”
>Looking back to the dial, you study it intently
“Like his birthday, or when the first building got burnt down”
>”I don’t know about that last one”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. But still, it might be easier than we think”
>Giving it a spin just for the heck of it you turn to her
“Just don't let Velvet see it. She'll start talking about satchel charges”
>”What’s that about charges?”
>A unicorn peers around the doorway, eyes full of curiosity
>”Ah, see? I told you that stuff at the pawn shop would have been a good investment! But no, Velvet never has good ideas, right?”

>>29591862
Please, having a warrant doesn't mean that we can start blowing up stuff in here. Plus, it might break whatever that's inside.

Maybe the maid knows the code?

>>29591862
If you call blowing up whatever is inside a good idea then sure. Unless the maid knows the code I doubt we're getting this open.

>>29591862
I wonder if the cops know anything about safe cracking?

“Please, having a warrant doesn't mean that we can start blowing up stuff in here”
>”Well it should!”
“If you call blowing up whatever is inside a good idea then sure, it should be”
>Looking back to it, you give the cold metal a knock with your knuckles, dull thuds indicating that it’s definitely thick
“Unless the maid knows the code, I doubt we’re getting in this thing”
>Garnet comes up next to you, shrugging
>”I wouldn’t count on it. But if you wanna go track her down, we can finish up searching this level”

>>29592122
We should track down the cops to. Weren't they keeping an eye on Velvet?

>>29592122
Yeah, there was the exercise room next.

“I suppose, there was just the exercise room left really”
>Looking back to the mare, she idly smacks around the dial on the safe
“Hey Velvet, weren’t those cops supposed to be keeping an eye on you?”
>”I was too quick for them. They should be coming though”
>Rolling your eyes you head towards the exit, poking your head into the hallway
>Sure enough the two police trot on down, Umbra following them
>”You see that mare go by?”
“Uh, yeah. She’s in here”
>”Oh thank god. It’ll be our asses if she destroys anything”
>Umbra slips on by them, heading into the room
“Say, do either of you have any save cracking skills? I found one behind a painting in here?”
>One scoffs, amused
>”Are you serious? We’re just cops, man. Not spies or anything”
>"Yeah, unless you got a key or something, we can't help you"

>>29592374
We'll check if the maid can be of any help.

“Well, I’ll check if the maid can be of any help”
>They nod, walking past you into the room
>”Let us know what she says”
“Will do!”
>Leaping out into the hallway, you strut on down to the staircase, winding around as you descend
>Talons clicking on the marble as you reach the first floor, you look both ways, pondering
>Where could she have gone?
>Your head cocks to one side, a faint, but recognizable tune being hummed
>Well that answers that
>Pursuing the song, you head into one of the front rooms, eyes falling upon a mare milling about, readjusting her maid outfit before dusting off some bookcases
>Coughing once, her attention is quickly turned towards you, the little pegasus peering back
>”Oh! Didn’t see you there Mr. Guri”
>Chuckling you walk on in, the mare placing the feather duster down before looking up to you with a tiny grin
“Cleaning I see?”
>”Heh, yeah. Getting rid of dust seems to be all I’m doing these days…”
>Her ears droop for just a second before perking back up again
>”But anyway, did you need help with anything?”
“Uh, actually yes. Listen Star, we found a safe upstairs in your boss’s smoking room. We were wondering if you might know the code?”
>She opens her mouth, but quickly shuts it, pausing
>”O-oh geez, I’d really like to help you, but I can’t. Mr. Broker said to never open up his safes unless he personally told me to”

>>29592790
We are here under warrant and that comment implies some knowledge about how to open it. Also, did you say safes as in multiple ones?

Pausing

>>29592790
I understand that, but we're here to ensure that there's no evidence of criminal activity being hidden here. If Mr. Broker was here himself he could be compelled under law to reveal the contents of the safe. If it makes you feel better we can just close it back up and not mention it was touched, so long as there's nothing actually bad in there.

beb

>>29594338

>>29595246

>>29596109

“I understand that, but we're here to ensure that there's no evidence of criminal activity being hidden here”
>”I-I know, but he’d fire me if he found out!”
“If Mr. Broker was here himself he could be compelled under law to reveal the contents of the safe. We are here under warrant and that comment implies some knowledge about how to open it”
>She looks down at the floor, scuffing her hoof on the tiles out of nervousness
>”I-I mean, I guess so…”
“If it makes you feel better we can just close it back up and not mention it was touched, so long as there's nothing actually bad in there”
>She meekly nods, starting to walk back to the stair case with you
>Going up, you two hit the second floor and keep going, Star silent about her disposition
“So uh, did you say safes as in multiple ones?”
>That seems to have caught her off guard, the mare looking a bit surprised for some reason
>”Well, yeah he’s got a real big one on the top floor. Never opened it up before, but he told me to stay away from that one specifically. Guess I really don’t have a choice on opening that one up either though…”

>>29597518
Lets take her to the cops so we can get those safes opened.

>You nod, continuing to move up the stairs
“Just talk to the cops, they’ll tell you what they need you to do”
>Finally making your way into the smoking room you find all of them milling about, still looking around
>Except for Velvet, who lazily lays upside down on a chair, head barely off the ground
>”Ugh, finally!”
>You shoot her look, the mare taking no notice
“Alright Star, we just need you to open up this right over here”
>She gives the safe a look, studying the dial
>But with quick movements her hooves work the combination, the lock spinning this way and that
>With a final turn, you hear the tumblers unlock, door creaking open as she pulls the handle
>Five sets of heads all converge, attempting to look inside
“It’s… a sheet of paper”
>Velvet scoffs as you pull it out gently
>”All that for some paper?”
>Giving it a quick glance, you hand it over to the police, since technically they should be the only ones handling this stuff
>”Well, I guess this is relevant. Don’t know why he had it locked up so tightly”
“Why? What is it?”
>”It’s his insurance policy. A maxed out insurance policy”
>The other one turns the paper, chiming in
>”Suspicious yeah, but hardly illegal”

>>29598777
Anything about hen it was maxed out? Also, she mentioned another safe.

>>29598777
It's nice to know at least.

“Anything about when it was maxed out?”
>”Uh, about six months ago?”
>Well at least he’s consistent
“It’s nice to know at least”
>As they look it over further you glance over to star, the mare not really paying attention
“She mentioned another safe”
>The paper lowers
>”Is that so?”
>Star reluctantly nods, sighing a bit
>”On the top floor”
>”Would you mind showing us it?”
>”Of course officers”
>Without another word she walks out into the hallway, police and Garnet following
>Velvet manages to peel herself out of the chair, Umbra waiting patiently for her
>Turning out the light, you follow the group up the last set of stairs, soon finding yourselves on the next floor
>Immediately you notice the plain walls are bare of much artwork, in stark contrast with the almost gaudy look of the other floors
>”Right in here”
>Star pushes open a door, all of you piling inside as she turns on the light
>Compared to the other rooms, it’s outright small
>In fact there’s nothing inside
>Save for the giant ass safe of course

>It easily stands 10 feet tall, Star having to stand on her hind hooves just to reach the dial
>Once more her hooves begin to work away at the code, this one appearing much more intricate
>”I hope there’s buried treasure inside”
“Velv, it aint buried if it’s in a safe”
>”Are you kidding? That sucker’s big enough to hold plenty of dirt!”
>Your conversation is cut short as the safe unlocks, the massive handle being pulled downwards by Star
>With a grunt she arches her back, hooves digging into the floor as she pulls back with all her might
>With a final tug the door opens, you nearly covering your ears as it creeks
>You blink, unsure if you are registering what you’re seeing
>But Velvet’s growing eyes say it all
>Rows of firearms line the gigantic safe, going all the way up to the top, and back at least 15 feet
>Rifles, shotguns, pistols, it’s all there
>Each one gently tucked into a slot in the rack it rests on, boxes of ammunition stacked in crates on the floor
>To top it off, a large machine gun rests in the center of the safe, mounted on a tripod
>It’s water jacketed barrel points slightly upwards, huge ammunition box locked into the side
>Velvet’s legs begin to quiver, the mare looking like she’s about to pass out

>>29599060
HOLD HER BACK!

>>29599060
Woah. He expecting a war sometime soon?

Pausing

beb

jub

>>29600324

>>29599060
VELVET NO! BAD MARE

>>29600324

>>29601348

>>29603324

beep

>>29603930

bek