Log:Money on Arno

Here Comes the Judge 2020/07/16 	 Night Marshal|Carpenter Grimm

3

It's near the end of Carpenter's shift when his smartphone rings. The Caller ID is Gabrielle's.

Carpenter answers his phone, "Hello? Gabrielle?"

"Hello, Detective," Gabrielle says sweetly. Buttering him up, of course. "I'm not sure if this will get you in trouble, but I was working with that mutual friend with the cowboy hat, and we've been working a case and--wait. Has he already contacted you?" she suddenly suspects.

Carpenter chuckles. "Is this about the Judge guy? He didn't go into a ton of detail."

"Damn, he's fast. Or I'm slow. I've been...occupied," Gabrielle comments. "Yeah, it's about him. He's been using cape-killers, which is a potential lead. We thought maybe CBPD had some suspected or known dealers."

Carpenter nods. "Hang on. I can do a quick check in the database. I know there's at least one in Harrisburg who might deal in that kind of thing off the top of my head. Simms." He starts to check the database for other potential weapons dealers who might fit the profile.

"Thanks, Jack," Gabrielle says in appreciation. "Simms?" she asks, unfamiliar with the name. "Who's that?"

A few other potential options come up. Manny Cortez, arms dealer to the Cartel and lesser players in the city. Lu Yibo, in association with the Triads, though it's not certain he sells Capekillers. And then Vin Arno, former ACRO member, now freelancer in arms dealing.

Carpenter reads off the names that came up for Grimm, listing all three of them. "Whoever this person is that's selling the ammo...they're probably not a direct seller to primarily the criminal element. I think that means Cortez and Yibo are less likely. My money would be on Arno."

Grimm sounds like she's making notes, as she's repeating some of the info under her breath slowly. "They're not? Why's that?" she asks, sounding intrigued and like she's trying to learn from him.

Carpenter thinsk about it. "If this guy is as unbending as the report mentioned, he would likely take out the arms dealer in question if they work for the elements he hates. He'd be likely to kill them. Hmm. Or...he could coerce them, I suppose. But I'd still try Arno first."

Grimm gasps at that thought. "Could be...hmmm. I don't suppose any dead dealers have turned up? Or criminals that were shot? Maybe he didn't buy them. Maybe he stole them!"

Carpenter nods. "That's possible. Let me see..." He checks to see if any dealers turned up as a victim.

Grimm suggests, "It could be recent if this is the first meta that's been killed. But it could have been a while ago, too?"

Checking the database, there were a man found dead in the back of an alley with a van that had been looted. There was also two deaths in a shootout. No one was arrested. Those two dead men had no known ties to local organized crime. No evidence to ascertain what the shootout was over.

Carpenter nods. "Found a potential case that might match what we're looking for." He gives her the details of where it was and who the victims were.

The single victim has a record. Drunk and disorderly conduct. Drug possession. Possession of a concealed weapon without a permit.

That's Roderick Spencer's record.

The other two have assault and battery on their record. Trespassing. Vernon Washington and Oscar Lane.

Carpenter relates all of that to Grimm. "It's possible that all of that is related. But it would mean that Spencer got a hold of that ammo someplace else. The question is where."

Carpenter says, "Assuming that's where Judge got them."

"Okay. Hmm." Gabrielle has to think for a bit. "And you suspected Arno? I trust your gut. Maybe they work for him. The question is finding him. Do you think this Simms guy would know?"

Carpenter nods. "I think...it's worth talking to Simms. He might know something. But I should probably do the talking."

"Oh? So that means you'll help?" Gabrielle asks, sounding enticed by that prospect.

Carpenter nods. "Yeah, I'll see what I can find out from him. And for the record, my gut is sometimes wrong. We might end up having to check all of them."

"Oh? I don't recall it ever being wrong," Gabrielle comments in amusement. Maybe flattery. "Thank you for this, Jack. I owe you. Do you need backup dealing with this Simms guy, or do you think I'd just spook him?"

Carpenter chuckles, "I don't think you'd spook him, as long as you don't use powers aorund him."