Episode Transcript
Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale
“All That Glitters,” Part 5
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
There has always been a gray area between the just and the unjust. The lawful and the lawless. A nebulous region where the trappings of authority share little crossover with the course of justice. And where those who attempt to shine light into the dark recesses of power are often the least expected.
(BEAT)
July 2012. After earning a seat at the most exclusive private poker game in Los Angeles, professional player Jimmy Harmon has taken on an unusual assignment from one of the game’s key players, venture capitalist Anton Kreitzer. Harmon, hustler Ken Ford, and performance driver Eleanor Wallis must each keep an enigmatic puzzle box safe until Kreitzer asks for its return.
(THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS ARE REPLAYS OF THE SCENES FROM PREVIOUS EPISODES)
ELEANOR
And… how long did you need these items… carried?
KREITZER
A few days, Ms. Wallis… At which point you will return the items and, if all goes well, I provide each of you fifteen thousand dollars by way of compensation.
ANNOUNCER
But events take an unexpected turn when ill-intentioned pursuers go after each of them — ransacking Jimmy’s apartment and catching up to the unfortunate Mr. Ford.
SOUND: DOOR CREAKING OPEN
ELEANOR
Door wide open… not the most promising of signs.
JIMMY
Doesn’t look like he’s here, though.
ELEANOR
No, but the item in his charge is… The box, anyway. Whatever treasure it concealed is long gone.
SOUND: BATHROOM DOOR CREAKING OPEN
JIMMY
Whoa. Looks like I spoke too soon. Ford is here after all. Or a highly perforated version of him, anyway.
ANNOUNCER
Narrowly escaping the police thanks to Wallis’s driving skills, the remaining duo part ways until they can hear back from Kreitzer on their course of action. But Harmon has larger concerns, as his former girlfriend, Robin Freeman, suspects she is in danger after looking into a mysterious real estate investing group.
ROBIN
I got this call… Said to look into the White Bluff Restoration Trust… I bring this tip to the investigations team. Next day the person I give it to and the branch director and my boss get… whatever.
JIMMY
It’s safest to head back to work. Act like nothing’s going on, or at least you don’t know about it. The only way to find anything out is with you in that office… Just… relax, go in as usual in the morning. We can meet for lunch, once you get the lay of the land… And then when we meet, we’ll figure out next steps.
ANNOUNCER
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale. Tonight’s presentation: “All That Glitters,” episode five.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
HAHN HALL OF ADMINSITRATION – OUTSIDE
(BUSY CITY SOUNDS, DAYTIME CROWDS MILLING)
JIMMY (V.O.)
Finding somewhere to sleep in your car — somewhere safe, anyway — is harder than it seems. Drove around a good two hours before I gave up and grabbed a room in a reasonably cheap chain motel. Paid cash, in case the bad guys could track my credit cards. Resources that killer cop Malone likely had available, I figured it was a better-than-even chance. But bright side, between the blackout curtains and working AC, I got a better rest than I would have cramped in my POS two-door.
SOUND: FOOTSEPS ON CONCRETE
JIMMY (V.O.)
Woke up around ten and no killer goons breathing down my neck, so probably the right call. Went to the bank — not my usual branch, one I’d never gone to — deposited my check from the weekend’s game, took out enough cash to stay afloat a few days at least. A few grand, force of habit — not that I expected much playing in the immediate future. After that I went downtown in time to meet Robin. Left my bolt bag in the car, but kept Kreitzer’s box with me.
SOUND: OFFICE DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
Hey, Robin. Was starting to char-broil out here.
ROBIN
Jimmy? What’s with the baseball cap and sunglasses? You… oh, crap. This is a disguise, isn’t it?
JIMMY
Nothing to worry about. I’ve just got… some things of my own going on, and didn’t want to bring them on you. You’re safe. And you’ve got your little sidearm, right?
ROBIN
(QUIETLY)
What? I can’t bring a gun to work! I left it at Anna’s.
JIMMY
Oh, right. Anyway… let’s not just stand here, okay?
ROBIN
Right, right. Um, there’s usually a Korean fusion food truck just a block down Hill Mondays. Assuming they didn’t give up because of the heat. God, I can’t imagine how scorching it must be in that thing…
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON CONCRETE
ROBIN
So what’s with the man-purse? New look for you.
JIMMY
Something I need to keep with me until I get a call saying what to do with it. Was supposed to be a game. Long story. So… how did everything go this morning?
ROBIN
Right down to business. No small talk? So much for a charming lunch date between… friends, you said.
JIMMY
Robin, I… I just want to make sure you’re okay.
ROBIN
Fine… Anyway, today was weird, but not… too weird. I didn’t go over to Roll Services, so I don’t know how things are there, but not like Karen came to see me. My boss, Jesse, is MIA. Everyone’s scrambling to cover his meetings, so I don’t think he called in. The Major Appraisals director, Burt Waters, is out with us, trying to handle things. But… nothing to make me think anyone’s tied me to any of it.
JIMMY
Good. Were you able to figure out how to find those records? About that White Bluff group?
ROBIN
Yeah… but I don’t see how it’ll happen. What’s there is hidden. My boss’s login wasn’t enough to see it. Probably need a full director’s credentials.
JIMMY
I’m assuming you don’t trust this… Burt Waters guy?
ROBIN
I barely know him. For all I know he’s in on it. Unless… I don’t know, you have some way to hack in?
JIMMY
Why does everybody assume I know how to hack computers? No, I can’t “hack in.” Computer security is actually… well, secure. We’d need his user ID and password.
ROBIN
Excuse me. Didn’t know that was a sore spot.
JIMMY
It’s not a… okay, maybe it is. A bit. Though come to think of it… don’t suppose you can get his password?
ROBIN
I kind of doubt it’s written on a big Post-It note next to his computer monitor, like in one of your old eighties movies.
JIMMY
Dammit. No other way to get the records?
ROBIN
That’s it. Well, other than the physical copies in the land registry secure stacks, but that’s the same problem. Need a director to get those.
JIMMY
Wait, physical copies?
ROBIN
The physical records are technically the masters. Was all supposed to be computerized by now, since the Office Digital 2000 initiative. Really since the “reinventing government” thing in the nineties. Two decades later they’re still trying to transfer things over. Until they do, it’s still paper records first.
JIMMY
So there are actual physical records?
ROBIN
In the Hall of Records, across the street there. The public Registrar material moved to Norwalk in the nineties, but private land records are still there. There’s tunnels from the Hahn building right under Hill Street. Land registry area’s not public, but my office staff can get in, being Major Appraisals. But restricted files still need director-level access.
JIMMY
So… let’s say some director wants to get in. Is there a security screening? Where they check actual IDs?
ROBIN
Um… there’s one at the entrance to the registry office area itself, but not past that. They’d just need to swipe their badge to get into the secure room.
JIMMY
Their ID badge. Like that one, yours?
ROBIN
Yeah. But we can’t get a director badge. They’d notice it missing right away. Need to swipe to get anywhere. Go out to pee and you have to swipe to get back in.
JIMMY
So you swipe it, like a credit card?
ROBIN
No, I mean you wave it in front of the sensor.
JIMMY
What about visitors? Do they get… temporary badges?
ROBIN
My building’s public, except the work areas. The Hall of Records building… parts are, like the archives. The records floors… I guess if they’re accompanied, check in at security, show ID… What’s that look?
JIMMY
What look?
ROBIN
You have a look.
JIMMY
I don’t have a look.
ROBIN
You definitely have a look.
JIMMY
Okay, maybe I have a look. I’m just… thinking. I can’t believe what I’m thinking, but I might have an idea. Or know someone who might have an idea. Look, I need to go make a couple of calls.
ROBIN
We’re not going to have lunch?
JIMMY
I need to move quick, make sure the person I’m thinking of is still in LA. You go back, same as this morning. I’ll check in this afternoon. I find this guy, I may have you come meet us after work.
ROBIN
Jimmy… Have to say, I’m not used to seeing this side of you. All take-charge, detective mode. Wish I’d seen more of that before… Well, before. But still…
JIMMY
Trust me. I think you may have hit on our solution. We just need someone… sketchy to actually implement it.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
SKITCH’S APARTMENT
(CLATTERING NOISES, AS IF SO PACKED WITH JUNK THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSES PIECES TO FALL)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
MUSIC: LOUD ROCK MUSIC
JIMMY (V.O.)
I’ve partaken in more than my share of shady activity, when I didn’t have an alternative. But when you’re knowingly venturing into questionable territory, it’s best to bring in an expert.
SOUND: DOOR KNOCKING
JIMMY (V.O.)
In this case, Skitch was the closest option on hand. Dodgier member of the poker community. A loose acquaintance, through my friend Rachael. Or “Peeps,” as she’s more widely known. Hadn’t seen her in a year, but she was up for passing on Skitch’s contact info.
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
SKITCH
Gathering you’d be Robin. Welcome to the bat cave!
ROBIN
What?
JIMMY
Skitch, can you turn the music down?
SKITCH
What? Oh, yeah, sure.
(THE MUSIC LOWERS)
JIMMY
Robin, this is Skitch, the… expert I told you about.
ROBIN
Skitch? Really? That’s your name?
SKITCH
More like a nom de guerre. All the fashion.
JIMMY
I ran into Skitch at the Inglewood Park Casino a few days ago. He got caught using a faked member ID card —
SKITCH
No way, man, I told you, it just got demagnetized.
JIMMY
Cut the crap, Skitch.
SKITCH
(CHUCKLING)
Okay, maybe I cloned another card. Keep table winnings on the down-low. Mag-stripe tech’s a joke. Just didn’t figure they’d come and do card swipes at the tables…
JIMMY
We don’t need details. Point is that reminded me you had… expertise. Tell Robin what you were telling me.
SKITCH
Hm? Oh, yeah. Your office IDs, kind you wave at the sensor to get doors open and stuff? They don’t use magnetic strips. They’re on RFID. Radio frequency identification. Lemme see your card.
ROBIN
What? Um… sure, I guess. Here it is.
SKITCH
Yeah. An HID ProxCard. Low frequency, one twenty-five kilohertz. Run-of-the-mill prox standard.
ROBIN
So what, they’re… radio transmitters?
SKITCH
Kind of, but no power of its own. Single function. Readers send out a radio signal, constantly. When they catch a transmitter, like in that card, they beam power to it, it sends back all its little secrets.
ROBIN
What kind of… secrets?
SKITCH
Anything up to about two K. But office IDs just have a numeric code. Card itself doesn’t hold passwords. System behind the sensor keeps track of permissions.
JIMMY
So with a director’s card, like this Waters guy in your office, system lets us into the secure records area.
ROBIN
You mean it’ll let me in.
JIMMY
It’d have to be you, since you said there’s a security check at the land registry entrance. But you also said guests could come in accompanied. So I’ll be with you.
ROBIN
I told you, we can’t get a director’s card. Even if I could, which I can’t, he’ll notice it’s missing.
JIMMY
Sure. But thanks to Skitch here, we just need the information on the card. Not the card itself. Skitch?
SKITCH
Look. This here’s a reprogrammable RFID card. Blank right now. But with the wares on this laptop and a USB Proxmark sniffer, I can take the info from any other card and pass it on over to this baby.
ROBIN
So you want me to go in, steal his card, and bring it to you so you can copy it? Which part of noticing it missing did you not get?
JIMMY
That’s just it. I don’t think we need the card itself. Show her the next part, Skitch.
SKITCH
Here. This little chip’s the hot stuff. Credential skimmer and eight-oh-two-eleven transmitter. Out of China, not on the market. Get this inside the reader, chip sends the info from any card the sensor sees. Over regular Wi-Fi. Here, let me break out my binder…
SOUND: FOLDER PAGES FLIPPING
SKITCH
I just need you to tell me… which of these pictures do the scanners in your office look like?
ROBIN
I am not doing this. This has to be completely illegal.
SKITCH
What? No… It’s… kind of a gray area.
ROBIN
This is not a gray area! Jesus, Jimmy. I know I said the whole… private-eye thing was… kind of hot.
JIMMY
Did you say hot? I don’t remember hot.
ROBIN
Whatever. But this… this is getting really serious.
JIMMY
Robin… we’re running out of options. The head of the investigations branch is dead. Your friend Karen and your boss Jesse are both missing. It does look like they haven’t connected anything to you, which is good. I hate to say it out loud, but that could change. We don’t have enough to go to the police, even if they could start investigating. This is government we’re talking about. It’ll take days, weeks for them to get the paperwork officially. Besides, LA cops aren’t exactly upstanding citizens, or at least enough of them aren’t. As soon as you go to them…
ROBIN
I’m definitely a target.
JIMMY
Right. This… this isn’t ideal. But if we can get something concrete on this White Bluff Restoration group, or whatever it’s called, then the powers that be at least have grounds to offer some kind of protection.
ROBIN
I don’t… I didn’t want any of this.
JIMMY
I know. None of us did. But it’s where we are now.
ROBIN
(BEAT)
That one. That’s it there.
SOUND: TAPPING ON PAPER
SKITCH
Ah. Citadel EntryPoint Plus. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Has a tamper alarm, but that’s strictly amateur hour.
ROBIN
So… what do we do now?
JIMMY
Okay, this part’s a bit… tricky. So… hot?
ROBIN
I’m really gonna regret I said that.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
SKITCH’S APARTMENT
JIMMY (V.O.)
Robin spent the night back at her friend’s place. Skitch and I picked up a few more items for the plan, and I crashed at his place. Appropriate term, crashed, given the voluminous stacks of precariously balanced junk. Like lying insisde a Jenga puzzle. Not exactly helping my already screwed-up sleep patterns.
SOUND: EQUIPMENT FALLING
JIMMY
Oh, son of a bitch…
HAHN HALL OF ADMINSITRATION – LOBBY
(MARBLE ECHOES, CROWD OF PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOOR PING
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOOR OPENING
JIMMY (V.O.)
Skitch and I went into Robin’s office building soon as they opened, seven thirty. Mercury on the thermometer was already pushing high eighties. Even so, place was already packed with glazed-eyed drones taking care of soul-crushing government business before starting their own work days. Nobody gave us a second glance.
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSING
JIMMY (V.O.)
Thinking was that the crowds’d give us cover, but we’d be in and out before most of the regular office staff arrived. Assessor’s offices are just on the second floor, so we got there pretty quick.
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
Excuse me. Getting off. Thanks.
LA COUNTY ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
(MORE SUBDUED CROWD NOISES, OFFICE SOUNDS)
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSING
SKITCH
So… where’s the door to the staff offices?
JIMMY
There, at the end. Past the customer service windows.
SKITCH
Gotcha. No security guard, least not out here. Cameras, but we’ll be clear before anyone watching catches wise.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
JIMMY
How long did you say this’ll take you?
SKITCH
Sixty seconds. Tops. Relax. Just hold that clipboard up, make notes. Like you’re supervising, evaluating my work. Nobody thinks twice about two guys in matching polo shirts carrying a toolbox and a clipboard. Give people a familiar pattern, brain fills in the details.
JIMMY
Huh. Someone else told me that the other day. Similar, anyway, brain filling in details. Course, that time it didn’t work as planned. Here’s hoping we do better.
SOUND: TOOLBOX CLATTERING
SKITCH
Yep. Citadel EntryPoint. Means I’ll need this little super-high-tech miracle worker…
JIMMY
What’s that?
SOUND: METALLIC CLICK
SKITCH
Garden-variety magnet. The scanner’s tamper alarm’s magnetic, trips if you remove the face panel. Unless…
SOUND: SCREWDRIVER
JIMMY
You hold another magnet up to the metal sensor plate.
SKITCH
Bingo-bango.
SOUND: PLASTIC PANEL OPENING
SKITCH
Panel open… stick the magnet on the sensor plate so I have both hands free again… and we’re in business.
SOUND: METALLIC CLICK
JIMMY
You sure you know what you’re doing?
SKITCH
Of course. Good thing, ’cause the wire colors aren’t standard. Black and red are power and ground. Blue’s just the LED control. Then green and white are data zero and data one. They connect to the door controller.
JIMMY
So that’s where you connect the chip?
SKITCH
That and the power, since it’ll need juice. Just… chill. Let me work. Make notes on your clipboard. Nod.
JIMMY
Okay, okay… Sorry. Doing a good job there, son.
SKITCH
You’re no Best Actor contender. Don’t overdo it.
SOUND: PEN ON PAPER
SOUND: WIRE CUTTERS
SOUND: ELECTRICAL SPARK
SKITCH
Ow!
JIMMY
Dammit… not filling me with confidence here.
SKITCH
I’m fine. Low-power circuit. But… I’ll be careful.
JIMMY
Please do… Oh, crap… There, inside the office. I know that guy.
SKITCH
What? Who?
JIMMY
One on the left. He was at a poker game I was dealing at a few nights back. Um… name of Glen Chambers. Real estate guy, or so I was told.
SKITCH
He gonna remember you?
JIMMY
I doubt it.
SKITCH
Better be sure. He does, this whole thing’s shot. Not to mention the whole massively illegal part.
JIMMY
I thought you said it was a gray area.
SKITCH
Well, that was a lie. Clearly. Thought you knew that.
JIMMY
We’ll… we’ll be okay. People never notice the hired help. Especially not rich people. Same principle keeping us under the radar right now. Still… hurry.
SKITCH
Working on it.
JIMMY
It’s been more than sixty seconds.
SKITCH
I said working on it.
JIMMY
Guy Chambers is talking to looks familiar, but I can’t place him. Oh, crap. They’re coming this way. Hurry!
SKITCH
Fast as I can. Door won’t open at all until I can get this back together. An impediment which will definitely make them notice us.
JIMMY
Seriously, hurry!
SKITCH
Almost done… okay. Just need to reattach the plate.
SOUND: PLASTIC PANEL CLOSING
SOUND: SCREWDRIVER
SKITCH
And we are clear.
SOUND: TOOLS CLATTERING
SOUND: TOOLBOX CLOSING
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
SANTORO
What the hell is he thinking? I don’t like being kept out of the loop, not on this. Not now.
CHAMBERS
Don’t know what it’s about. Doing his own thing. I’m trying to find out, but can’t use his people, clearly. Mine proved less than reliable. Now we have… issues.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY
SANTORO
(MOVING AWAY)
I just want to make sure we’re not splitting resources.
CHAMBERS
(DISTANT)
Just make sure your house is in order, Santoro.
SANTORO
(DISTANT)
I’m not the one putting everything at risk. My neck’s on the line. You’d better get this resolved. Fast.
CHAMBERS
(DISTANT)
I’m working on it. I just said.
JIMMY
That was uncomfortable. What’s the range on that thing?
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
SKITCH
Thirty, forty feet. Meters, whatever.
JIMMY
Wait… which is it?
SKITCH
Feet, meters… same thing, or close enough.
JIMMY
What? No, not the same thing. Not at all! Meters are more like… yards. I think.
SKITCH
We’ll be fine. Just on the second floor here, and next to the window. Should be able to read it from outside.
SOUND: ELEVATOR PING
JIMMY
I sure hope so. After that experience, I’d rather brave the heat out there than the heat in here.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
CIVIC CENTER – GRAND PARK
(PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT, CONSTRUCTION NOISES)
JIMMY (V.O.)
Thankfully, no trouble getting clear. Out of our oh-so-clever security worker disguises and into a couple nondescript “aspiring screenwriter” ones. Standard LA dime-a-dozen background character. Then back to the Civic Center by eight thirty, when Robin would be showing up for work. Managed to grab an open bench, few feet from her building, in what’s gonna be the new Grand Park. Park’s still under construction — supposed to open later this month — but enough people around we didn’t draw attention. Temperature rising, but still bearable at this hour. Now all we had to do was plop down, open up Skitch’s laptop… and wait.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
SOUND: KEYBOARD CLICKING
JIMMY
Is it working? You have the signal?
SKITCH
Give me a second… Software’s open source, kinda janky… Yeah. There. Someone just swiped in.
JIMMY
Is it the director?
SKITCH
I don’t know. Just a string of numbers.
JIMMY
But can’t you tell what security level it is?
SKITCH
String… of… numbers. Security’s done by the system. Need to wait for our inside woman Robin to let us know when our guy uses the door. There goes another one.
JIMMY
Okay… okay.
SOUND: CELL PHONE RINGING
SKITCH
That her? Is that last one our guy? Need to tag it…
JIMMY
No, Robin said she was going to text, so nobody’d notice. This is… something else. I have to take this.
SKITCH
Jimmy, we’re on the clock here…
SOUND: CELL PHONE CONNECTING
JIMMY
Farah! Good to hear from you. Any news from Anton?
FARAH
(FILTERED, ON PHONE)
Yes, there is. This wasn’t at all what he intended. After what happened to Mr. Ford, Mr. Kreitzer wants to call the whole thing off. You’ll be paid in full, of course, and he’ll also make sure you’re compensated for the damage to your apartment. I’m so sorry.
JIMMY
No need for you to apologize. But I will be glad to get this job finished. Does he want to meet soon?
FARAH
Can you come to the Inglewood Park Racetrack tonight? It’s the closing week of the spring-summer season. Mr. Kreitzer has a private suite.
JIMMY
Sure. Spent plenty of time on the casino side there.
FARAH
Great. Shall we say eight o’clock? I’ll make sure they know to expect you.
JIMMY
That’s fine. Some things I need to finish up here, but should be done in plenty of time. Thanks!
SOUND: CELL PHONE DISCONNECTING
JIMMY
Anything?
SKITCH
You’re the one Robin’s gonna text, not me. She didn’t seem to want my digits.
JIMMY
Right, right… Then I guess nothing yet.
(BEAT)
Hey, how’s Peeps been? We couldn’t chat when I called. Apparently she made it into the next round of the Main Event, and they were about to start for the day.
SKITCH
She didn’t tell you? Just won her first bracelet. Twenty-five hundred, ten-game six-handed. Took it with the nuts on a deuce-seven limit triple draw round.
JIMMY
An open event? That’s huge. Haven’t been following the Series this year. Second year I haven’t played at all.
SKITCH
Blasphemy.
JIMMY
Vegas has been… a little hot for me. And I’ve been busy trying to work my way into something here.
SKITCH
You said you didn’t have any juicy action going on.
JIMMY
I never said… it’s complicated. Ultimately, I’m trying to find out more about who killed Will Archer.
SKITCH
Will Archer? What, that big guy, floor man at the Limelight? Nearly throttled Peeps after the whole food-truck thing, with the zebra? But he’s —
SOUND: PHONE TEXT PING
SKITCH
That her?
JIMMY
Yeah. Director just swiped in. You see it?
SOUND: KEYBOARD CLICKING
SKITCH
Got it. Yeah. Okay, connect my little Proxmark three…
SOUND: CONNECTING COMPUTER DEVICE
SOUND: KEYBOARD CLICKING
SKITCH
Transferring the credential… okay, here, hold the blank up to the Proxmark.
JIMMY
Proxmark? What, this little doohickey?
SKITCH
Yeah. Quick.
SOUND: RUSTLING
SOUND: KEYBOARD CLICKING
SKITCH
Reprogramming. And… done. You are now the proud owner of an exact clone of the director’s ID badge. Well, the RFID part of it. Maybe he’s got a photo on his, or a Post-It with his grocery list. But this part you got.
SOUND: KEYBOARD CLOSING
JIMMY
That was like… ten seconds. Unbelievable.
SOUND: CLOTH RUSTLING
SKITCH
My work here’s done. Just the issue of my expenses…
JIMMY
Here we go… So what do I owe you?
SKITCH
Blank RFID card, Proxmark scanner, tools, Wi-Fi chip we left in the scanner, ’less you want to go take it out.
JIMMY
Preferably not. Unless… there’s some way for them to trace it to us if they find it.
SKITCH
Nah, it’s clean. And hell, they’ll probably never even notice it. Then there’s our pro-level disguises…
JIMMY
Whoa, I already paid for the disguises last night.
SKITCH
Oh, right. Slipped my mind. My bad.
JIMMY
And you still have your device there. And your tools.
SKITCH
Yeah, for just this kind of job. Who knows if I find a use for ’em again? Opportunity like this don’t come up every day. You really want to get cheap now?
JIMMY
Okay, okay. Fine. What’s the damage?
SKITCH
Call it… five C total and we’re clear on expenses.
JIMMY
That’s… not as bad as I thought. Though that actually scares me a bit, that you can do all this that cheap.
SKITCH
Then there’s the small matter of my fee…
JIMMY
I knew it.
SKITCH
I’m providing a valuable service here. Specialized skill. But relax. My price is you owe me a game.
JIMMY
What do you mean, I owe you a game?
SKITCH
I mean you get me into something good. Don’t have to be your game, but something with real dead-money fish. I know you can dig one up if you put your mind to it.
JIMMY
I’ll… fine. I’ll find something. But it’ll probably be at least a couple of weeks before I can get to it.
SOUND: HANDSHAKE
SKITCH
Then we are copacetic. Pleasure doing business with you, Jimbo. Look forward to next time our paths cross.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
JIMMY (V.O.)
Plan was to wait until the end of the workday to hit the registry office, so Robin could head straight out after. And when people are less attentive to anything that’d delay their own departures for home. Meant I had more waiting to do. Drove around a while, in case that Malone goon who ripped up my apartment, crooked cop who likely killed Ford, caught up to me. And since now I knew where I’d be meeting Kreitzer, I took a detour to stash my package before heading back to meet Robin.
LAND REGISTRY OFFICE
(OFFICE BUSY WORK SOUNDS)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
REGISTRY SECURITY GUARD
Ms. Freeman, you’re set. Sir, I need your license… can I have you just stand there, look straight ahead…
SOUND: DIGITAL CAMERA CLICK
REGISTRY SECURITY GUARD
ID scan is… clear. Here’s your license back. Be advised Ms. Freeman must accompany you at all times.
JIMMY
Good thing I took a shower this morning. Thanks!
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
JIMMY
That wasn’t so bad.
ROBIN
Other than they now have a definite record of both of us being here. So much for covering our tracks.
JIMMY
Remember, you’re totally allowed to be here. And as far as they know, I’m just some random name.
ROBIN
Except the caller who tipped me off probably knew you were connected to this… somehow.
JIMMY
We’ll… cross that bridge when we come to it. Now, is there an information desk or anything?
ROBIN
You have to look up what you need in the database. Used to be organized alphabetically, or at least by plot numbers. Now everything’s sorted by a record ID number.
JIMMY
And… please tell me you’ve done that already.
ROBIN
Give me some credit. I do know how to do my job. The secure entry’s all the way at the back, through the stacks here. You have the card?
SOUND: FABRIC RUSTLING
JIMMY
Right here. Nobody around… no direct line of sight to the security desk. Couldn’t ask for a better chance.
ROBIN
You sure this’ll work? You trust this Skitch guy?
JIMMY
Trust may be a bit strong… Wait… that scanner’s different. It’s not the same one as in your office.
ROBIN
I never… Does it matter? We just use our regular badges to swipe in… or I assume. Haven’t done it here myself, but that’s what the process is supposed to be.
JIMMY
Okay, then it should be connected to the same system… Hopefully just a different model. One way to find out.
SOUND: ELECTRONIC BEEP
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
ROBIN
Whew. It worked. Have to thank your friend after all.
JIMMY
Friend is definitely a bit strong.
SOUND: DOOR CLOSING
LAND REGISTRY OFFICE – SECURE WING
(TENSE, NEAR-TOTAL QUIET)
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
JIMMY
Damn. How do you even get around in here?
ROBIN
The shelves are on movable tracks. Controls at the front end of each row here. Okay, so file number… TC3263827… Should be three rows in. All the way at the back. Have to move a few stacks aside to get there.
SOUND: HEAVY MECHANIAL WHIRRING
ROBIN
There. Now we should be able to get back.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
JIMMY
Guess this is so they can pack more in here.
ROBIN
Like I said, none of this is open to the public. This is one of the only floors that still has records in the quote-unquote Hall of Records. It’s mostly crappy office space now, for the DA’s office staff. Working inside a big cement block, no windows… no, thank you.
SOUND: DRAWERS OPENING
SOUND: FLIPPING THROUGH FILES
ROBIN
Here it is! Yes, White Bluff Restoration Trust. Trustees, shareholders… looks like they’ve amended the file with property purchases. Everything.
JIMMY
All right, grab the file and let’s get out of here.
ROBIN
We can’t take it out with us. This isn’t a library.
JIMMY
Well, can we make copies then?
ROBIN
Of course. I don’t see a copy machine in here, but I know there’s one out in the —
SOUND: MUFFLED ELECTRONIC BEEP
SOUND: FAR DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
(WHISPERING)
Quick! Get down!
ROBIN
(WHISPERING)
What is it?
JIMMY
Two guys just came in. Son of a bitch. I don’t know who that guy in front is. Saw him earlier today, but —
ROBIN
That’s Joe Santoro. The LA County Assessor. My boss. As in the big boss. Do you know the other one?
JIMMY
We’ve met. His name’s Malone. He kills people.
MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. Tonight’s production: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale — “All That Glitters,” episode five of ten. Produced by Jabberwocky Audio Theater, in association with WERA-LP: Radio Arlington, ninety-six point seven FM, Arlington, Virginia.
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Featured in the cast were Cameron McNary as Jimmy Harmon, Emily H. Gilson as Robin Freeman, Mike Bernal as Skitch, Kevin Murray as Glen Chambers, Tony Quinn as Joe Santoro, Liz Christmas as Farah, Tom Kramer as Tom, James Whalen as Paul, Bob Hurley as the racing announcer, and James E. Lewis as the land registry security guard.
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Recorded at Tulgey Wood Studios in Springfield, Virginia, with supplemental recording at a variety of independent studios across the region.
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Music by Brooks Tegler. For specific music information, see our show notes at jabber audio dot com.
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This week’s episode was produced by Bjorn Munson, and written and directed by William R. Coughlan.
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For all the latest episodes and information on Jabberwocky Audio Theater, visit jabber audio dot com.
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If you’re enjoying Quorum and the other yarns we spin at Jabberwocky Audio Theater, be sure to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice. Check out our Patreon page at Patreon dot com slash Team Jabberwocky for exclusive content, and to help us continue to bring you further tales of mysterious suspense and high adventure.
(BEAT)
Until next time, this is Marsha Rehns, saying thanks for listening… and tune in next week for the next episode of Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale!
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC ENDS
INGLEWOOD PARK CASINO – RACETRACK
(RACETRACK AMBIENCE, BUSY CROWDS)
RACING ANNOUNCER
(FILTERED, OVER LOUDSPEAKER)
Night racing continues at Fairwager Inglewood Park. Next post time coming up at the top of the hour!
SOUND: PAPER SHUFFLING
TOM
(APPROACHING)
Hey, Paul! Glad I caught you. Almost post time.
PAUL
Take it easy, Tom, take it easy. I don’t want everyone getting in on this action.
TOM
No, no, sorry. Just… a little frantic is all.
PAUL
No worries. Besides, you may want to hold off a bit. In race one, the one horse, Mr. Kismet, had one-to-three odds. One-to-three! Even the next favorite on the tote, Mighty Quinn, was five-to-three. No bargains to be had. Steer clear.
TOM
Wow. Thanks for the warning.
PAUL
Now, race two, four-dollar exacta wheel… using four, three… with one, five. That’s where you want to be.
TOM
Thanks, Paul. You’re a lifesaver.
Text © William R. Coughlan, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.