Gotham Memoirs: 3-4 An Unexpected Gain

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Mrs. Ivanova's story brings me closer to the truth. But without concrete evidence, hasty actions only disempower us.

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Transcript

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• White and I bury ourselves in newspaper for the rest of the afternoon.
• When we finally find any useful reports, our fingers are already covered with ink.

• Newspaper: New York City's first welfare school opens today: Councilman Harris gives speech at Gotham Charity School's opening ceremony.
• Gotham Charity School supports education for girls: We fight for women's rights to education.
• Have You Seen her? Lucy Schmidt, lost on her way home from school on 25 March 1915. Last seen at the entrance of Gotham Charity School.

• You: (Although we've only uncovered three clues that are somewhat related, these seem sufficient.)

• I call for White to stop, and place the other newspapers back in the store room.
• You: Finally, a chance to rest after a busy afternoon!

• I get up to give myself a good stretch.
• As I sit back down, Jack's letter catches my eye.
• You: Oh no, I forgot to call Jack!

• You: Yesterday, Davis and I had agreed to get in touch with Jack. It's slipped my mind completely!

• I straighten up and grab the phone.
• You: Jack, it's me, Colvin.

• Jack: Miss Colvin, I guess you've received my letter, then.

• You: I did, but that's not why I'm calling.

• Jack: So, you have a new job for me?

• Jack: Considering what happened, I can give you an even better discount this time round.

• Jack: What do you want to know?

• You: Two things - Firstly, everything about Bob Wilson...

• You: And secondly, everything about Gotham Charity School. And I mean everything.

• Jack: ...I can get you the information on Bob Wilson in a couple of days. But I'll need more time for the school.

• You: That's fine. Contact me the instant you find something.

• After ending the call, a wave of guilt washes over me.
• Davis and I are in deep, and now we're about to drag Wilson into it too.
• White: Elizabeth! Elizabeth?

• You: What is it, White? Slow down.

• Panting, White informs me that there's a lady at the front door asking to see me.

• Guarded, I make my way to the entrance. Mrs. Ivanova's face is in shadow, but I recognise her anyway.
• I invite her to my room at once. After some hesitation, she agrees.

• You: Have you found your daughter yet?

• Ivanova: ...Not yet. Miss, what you said about the free notice, does the offer still stand?

• You: Of course. You've got to give me some details first.

• You: Then I'll use these details to publish a missing person ad.

• Mrs. Ivanova takes a deep breath. She looks tired and haggard.
• Ivanova: I am a single mother, and all I have is my daughter.

• Ivanova: My daughter's name is Lilia. She's 12 this year, and has been studying at Gotham Charity School for 5 years.

• You: Wait, your daughter studies at Gotham Charity School?

• Ivanova: Yes. I cannot afford to send her elsewhere.

• You: (What a coincidence! This ties in with our speculations.)

• Ivanova: I don't want my daughter to slave the way I do when she's all grown up...

• Ivanova: My colleague recommended the school to me. So I sent her there.

• Ivanova: If I knew she'd go missing... I'd rather have...

• She sobs bitterly, unable to suppress her emotions.
• Ivanova: I'm sorry, Miss Colvin, I got too worked up.

• You: It's alright, this is your daughter after all. So - when did your daughter go missing?

• Mrs. Ivanova produces a handkerchief from her pocket, dabs at her eyes, and pulls herself together before replying.
• Ivanova: Last month, on the 5th... It was a perfectly normal day.

• Ivanova: After work, when I got home, I couldn't find her.

• Ivanova: She always comes home right after school. I panicked.

• You: And then?

• Ivanova: I searched high and low along the path she takes to school, countless times... But to no avail.

• Ivanova: My neighbors and colleagues all helped to search, but it was fruitless.

• Her hoarse voice speaks volumes about her despair. Her sorrow is heart wrenching.
• You: Did you ask the teachers at the school?

• Ivanova: The teachers all said she went home after school, so they weren't much help.

• You: Did you go to the police?

• Ivanova: I did, but all they did was make a few notes and I haven't heard from them since.

• Ivanova: One policeman even said that my daughter might have eloped with someone.

• Agitated, Mrs. Ivanova clenches her fists.
• Ivanova: Ridiculous! She's just a child and such a good girl at that.

• Ivanova: Something happened to her! I went to a medium, and she told me Lilia is still alive...

• I do everything I can to comfort this heartbroken mother.
• Then I gently probe her for more details until I get a thorough understanding of the matter.
• Ivanova: I'm counting on you, Miss Colvin.

• You: Don't worry. If anyone turns in any info after the notice is published, I'll get in touch at once.

• I begin drafting a missing person ad right after I see Mrs. Ivanova out.
• Right then, Davis rushes into the office.

• Edmund Davis: Elizabeth, I've got something...

• You: I've got some clues too.

• Edmund Davis: Alright, come to my room so we can exchange intel.

• You: You have a room here? Don't you sit right there by the corner?

• Edmund Davis: Elizabeth, you silly girl! I own this place, of course I have my own room!

• You: Don't call me silly! You've never mentioned it, how am I supposed to know?

• Edmund Davis: I'll show it to you at once, Miss Colvin.

• You: I've been working here for the past few months but I had no idea there was another office.

• Edmund Davis: Obviously! If it weren't well hidden, how could I possibly go undercover?

• Edmund Davis: Ah, here we are. After you, Miss Colvin.

• You: Your office looks similar to Mr. Kane's...

• Edmund Davis: It's just an office, it can't look that special.

• Edmund Davis: Let's not waste time. I'll begin. I found a friend, and got insider news from him about the school.

• Edmund Davis: Gotham Charity School is a welfare school sponsored by the Tiger Charity Association.

• You: "Tiger Charity Association"?

• Edmund Davis: Exactly, and the main sponsor of this organisation is Councilman Harris.

• You: Councilman Harris! It's him again!

• You: I've also just found a report about him giving a speech at the school's opening ceremony more than a decade ago.

• Edmund Davis: If he's the charity's main sponsor, that would explain why.

• You: And what about Rossi's accusation?

• We simultaneously fall silent for a moment.
• Edmund Davis: ...Anyway, my friend told me that Tiger Charity Association is a very mysterious organisation.

• Edmund Davis: It's been established for more than a decade, but hardly anyone knows about it.

• Edmund Davis: And that's odd, because rich personalities and politicians usually make sure that everyone hears about it whenever they do "charity".

• Edmund Davis: Right! Harris is also contesting in the upcoming election.

• You: Yeah, and I've seen reports claiming that he has the support of many voters.

• Davis suddenly looks kinda worried.
• I can understand why.
• He's afraid that we might falsely accuse an innocent man, but he's also afraid of letting a villain get away scot-free.
• You: ... Edmund, do you think Councilman Harris has anything to do with the missing girls?

• Edmund Davis: There's no evidence...but it's possible. After all, he has ties with both organisations.

• Edmund Davis: Elizabeth, if he's really involved with the missing girls...

• Edmund Davis: What do you think will happen if he gets elected?

• You: If he's guilty of something...we can't let him get elected!

• Edmund Davis: That's exactly what I'm thinking.

• You: It's just that we don't have any evidence that could incriminate him.

• You: We're just guessing it all.

• Edmund Davis: Rossi's accusation, the school with all the missing girls, and his relationship with the Mafia...

• Edmund Davis: That's not enough to prove that he's in the know, or that he's involved...

• Edmund Davis: Elizabeth, remember our news reporter principles?

• You: Of course... We must be truthful...and objective...

• Edmund Davis: Without any evidence, would our report have any objective truth in it?

• You: I don't know... But I know that the public has the right to know about this!

• You: They have the right to know what kind of person they're voting for.

• You: Who they cote for will represent their voices, make decisions for them, and fight for their rights.

• Edmund Davis: We're neither judge nor jury, and we can't pass judgement on the crimes of others.

• Edmund Davis: The media needs to stand by the people and protect their rights.

• Edmund Davis: And that means we must present the facts objectively, even if it means endangering the newspaper's reputation.

• Edmund Davis: I'll think of a way to verify this, so go back and get some rest first. We'll talk tomorrow.

• At home, I lay in bed ruminating about all that's happened today, unable to fall asleep.

• Waking up in the morning, I have a premonition. No matter what sort of decision we come to today, it's likely to cause a furore.
• A whole host of other people, not just Davis and I, will be implicated in this...
• You: It's late, I should meet with Edmund at the office.

• After changing, I dash down to the office. While commuting, I keep thinking about how to verify these things.
• Sadly, I couldn't think of a solution at all.

• You: Edmund, how's it going?

• Edmund Davis: I've asked a friend to make some inquiries. He'll call me later.

• You: So now we...

• Edmund Davis: We'll pen down everything we know, but keep in mind that nothing has been verified yet.

• You: Edmund, you don't have to...

• Edmund Davis: Hold that gratitude first, I'm merely doing my part for the public.

• Edmund Davis: After all, they have a right to know.

• You: Alright, I'll write the part about Rossi, and you can...

• Edmund Davis: I'll write it myself, you can just assist me.

• Edmund Davis: If anything happens, I'm the only one who's responsible.

• You: I brought this thing up! I should write it!

• You: Besides, we're a team. This responsibility isn't yours to should as you see fit!

• Edmund Davis: Shh, listen to me. I haven't had much to do with this matter in the first place, and I'm rich and powerful.

• Edmund Davis: If anything really happens, I can get out of it. You... Perhaps not.

• Edmund Davis: And I'm an obvious target. We could even interfere with some of their spying.

• You: I know you're concerned, but I'm not scared! Even if you write, you'll have to get an editor and proofreader, right?

• Edmund Davis: ... Alright, you can be my editor and proofreader.

• Time slips by, and Davis finishes the article in no time.
• I suddenly recall something crucial.
• You: Edmund, did you keep Taylor's file?

• Edmund Davis: Of course, it's in my drawer. But seeing how important it is...

• Edmund Davis: Let's lock it in the safe together with our notes.

• I open the safe with Edmund's guidance, and place Taylor's file and today's notes inside.
• You: Is it safe now?

• Edmund Davis: Of course. Nobody can open it, apart form us and Kane.

• After I lock the safe, Davis' phone finally rings.
• Edmund Davis: Hello, it's Davis. What've you got?

• ???: ...

• Edmund Davis: If you'e got something, knock twice on the receiver. Otherwise, say nothing.

• A rather muffled knock sounds from the receiver. Once, twice. No more no less, exactly twice.
• Edmund Davis: Is he really involved?

• ???: ...

• Edmund Davis: If he is, hang up within 10 seconds. Otherwise, stay on the line.

• Edmund Davis: Ten, nine, eight, seven...

• As Edmund's trembling voice counts to seven, the call is cut off.
• You: Edmund, this means that...

• Edmund Davis: Elizabeth, send this for printing.

• You: Alright...

• I send the report for printing at once. I even forget to inform Mr. Kane about it.
• We expected the report to cause an uproar...
• But we never thought that it would result in more than just danger and trouble...