Log:Jogging Simms' Memory

Here Comes the Judge 2020/07/20 	 Night Marshal|Carpenter Grimm

4

Don "Killer" Simms is behind a glass display counter filled with ammo and display guns. There's a whole wall large storage area behind him. Don's a thin, unassuming man, wearing a button-down shirt, slacks, and a sport coat. He's starting to bald, and has a thin mustache. A bullet proof sheet of plexi glass separates him from the customers as he takes a gun apart to clean it. The shop is empty at the moment besides Don.

Carpenter steps into the shop, causing the bell on the door to ring. He lets the door close and he looks around as he heads to the counter. "Hey there, Don. Got a couple of minutes?"

Don looks up from his work as he removes the slide off a pistol. "Well, well. What can I do for you, Detective?" he asks with a veneer of civility as he sets down the slide and the rest of the gun.

Carpenter smiles. "I thought your expertise might be able to help me." He rubs his chin, "We've had a vigilante on the streets, armed with 'cape-killer' ammunition. Do you have any idea where he might have gotten it from?"

Don lets out a low whistle. "I don't sell those, if that's what you're asking. This is a legitimate business," he keeps to his story. He looks over Carpenter's shoulder to check to store is empty and lowers his voice, "But there's a few places one can get one if they got the scratch. In fact, I hear there's an 'entrepreneur' who lost out big when he had some of his product stolen."

Carpenter nods to Don, "I figured it wasn't you. Who's the guy who had his stuff stolen?"

Don offers a sly smile. "I don't know if I remember. Y'know, dealing with customers day in and day out. You hear all sorts of names," he says, implying he wants something for the information.

Carpenter pulls out a twenty and slides it under the glass. "All kinds of names, huh?"

Don smiles greedily and reaches to pull the twenty the rest of the way. "Y'know, I think I do remember. A guy mentioned one of Vin Arno's deals got busted up by some vigilante. Messy business."

Carpenter nods. "Arno's the guy who had his product stolen?"

"Yeah. One of his guys was killed. The vigilante didn't even try to arrest him or turn his stuff over to the police. I hear he took all the product," Simms confirms. "Arno's furious. That cost him a lot of cash."

Don leans in. "They say it was some wild west looking vigilante. Arno's offering a hefty reward for his head."

Carpenter nods. "Probably the same vigilante I'm looking for. That matches his M.O. and look. The guy goes by 'Judge'."

Don nods and files that name away for the chance someone may pay for that information. "Well, this Judge guy got ahold of 'cape-killers' and some other stuff. I'd be careful if I was you. Cape-killers kill cops just fine."

Carpenter nods. "Yeah, I'm sure. Probably right through any kevlar I can get my hands on." He shakes his head, "Any idea what else the guy got away with?"

"And most kevlar or crazy stuff them rich eccentric hero-types come up with. It'd be a waste of money to use it against a normal target, though," Simms comments as he slides the twenty in his back pocket. "I didn't get the full details, but some grenades of some sort," he shrugs.

Carpenter nods. "Hrm. Well, maybe Arno will tell me. But...let's be honest: Probably not." He smirks, "Thanks, Don. Anything else worth noting that I should know about?"

Don smooths his mustache over. "If you can find him. All I know is he's not dumb enough to operate in Harrisburg."

Carpenter nods. "Arno's trying to avoid the Watch?"

"It ain't the Watch he's worried about. It's their Mistress," Simms chuckles. "Most of the criminal elements moved to the northern part of this area."

Carpenter nods. "That figures." He gives Don a small wave. "Thanks for the help. I appreciate it."

Don smiles and waves back. "Any time, Detective." Especially when he brings a little extra to help jog his memory.

Carpenter smiles and makes his way back outside, causing the bell to ring on the door again.

Don goes back to cleaning the gun he was working on.

Gabrielle's waiting outside, leaning against the brick exterior and out of sight of the windows. "So? Did you win the bet on who it was?" she asks as she looks his way.

Carpenter nods to Grimm, "Arno had some of his 'product' stolen. Ammo and some grenades of some kind."

Grimm smiles and shakes her head. "Damn, you're good." She pushes off the wall. "Grenades? Great," she groans.

Carpenter nods. "Grenades could be deadly...or not. The guy used a smoke bomb of some kind. But it could be...a flash bang. Or...concussive. Or fragmentation. Or even some kind of plasma grenade."

"And you can't usually be sure which until they go off," Gabrielle chuckles darkly.

Carpenter nods. "Right. There in lies the problem." He shakes his head, "Arno also doesn't operate in Harrisburg. So tracking him down to ask further questions might be more difficult."

Carpenter says, "But...I can see what I can come up with."

"You going to arrest him?" Gabrielle asks. She thinks a moment. "Next time I see the Cowboy, I better warn him what we're up against."

Carpenter shakes his head, "I don't have proof that the guy is selling illegal weapons. So I won't be able to hold him. All I have is heresay. And that means he likely won't give me solid info, either."

Grimm groans at that dose of truth. "Right. He's not about to talk to you about a deal and incriminate himself unless he's -real- stupid."

Carpenter chuckles. "I'm not sure how bright he is. But he's not THAT stupid."

Carpenter nods. "So it might be a good time for you and our mutual friend to look into it further. He might talk to you two."

"I figure he can't operate in this city if he were," Gabrielle smirks. She raises an eyebrow as Carpenter suggests that. "Wow. So you're giving me your, gasp, blessing to handle this the vigilante slash meta way?" she asks in playful surprise.

Carpenter nods and smiles. "Yeah. Just...keep me in the loop."

Grimm smiles at Carpenter, a little suggestively. "I'll be sure to keep you in the loop. IF we can find where he's hiding out. I'm sure one of us can ask around enough to find something."