text: [Themes: Mystery, detective]
  
  > look around
  Your office is on the fifth floor of a crummy old office building in the lower east side.
  
  There is a single dingy window in the west wall, directly opposite the only door.
  
  The sun streaming throught the Venetian blinds traces bars across the desk that sits in the middle of the room. Bars like the bars of a prison cell.
  
  On the wooden desk are a bottle of whiskey and a telephone.
  
  A battered old filing cabinet stands in the corner.
  
  An old desk chair sits behind the desk.
  
  A plain guest chair is strategically placed in front of the desk.
  
  > unlock the drawer with the key
  (the desk drawer with the small key)
  You unlock the desk drawer.
  
  > open the drawer
  (the desk drawer)
  You open the desk drawer, revealing a revolver.
  
  > look at the revolver
  Your best friend. It's just a shame that you don't actually have any bullets. Still, it's amazing how people can react to the mere sight of a heater.
  
  > take it
  Just as soon as you pick up the revolver there is a quiet rap at the door. You quickly put the revolver in your pocket.
  
  "Yeah. Come on in. The door's unlocked."
  
  The door opens and in walks a tall redhead with a knockout figure in the kind of outfit that shouts class.
  
  "Are you Sam Fortune?"
  
  "That's what it says on my birth certificate, doll. And just who might you be?"
  
  "My name is Irene Scarlet."
  
  "It's a pleasure, sweetheart. Why don't you have a seat?"
  
  "Thank you, Mr. Fortune."
  
  > examine irene
  Irene Scarlet is quite a dish. Her red hair cascades about her shoulders in gentle waves. She wears a fashionably cut dress which shows off her delicious figure in a most delightful way.
  
  > sit on the desk chair
  You get onto the desk chair.
  
  > close the door
  That's already closed.
  
  > ask Irene about Irene
  [Use TALK TO to interact with characters.]
  
  > talk to Irene
  Turning to Irene you say, "Hello there."
  
  She gives you one of those looks that makes you think she likes what she sees.
  
  Self-consciously you slide the bottle inside the desk drawer before getting down to business.
  
  [1] Ask her to have dinner with you.
  [2] Ask her what she wants.
  
  > 1
  "So, sweetheart, I hope I'm not being too forward but perhaps sometime you and I could get together over a nice hot meal. You interested?"
  
  Irene smiles just a little and says, "Perhaps some other time, Mr. Fortune, but just now I'm afraid that I'm here on business."
  
  [1] Ask her what she wants.
  
  > 1
  "So what brings a nice up-class dame like you to my little office?"
  
  "You're a private investigator aren't you?"
  
  "That's what it says on my license."
  
  "Well, I was hoping that I might use your services. You see, a friend of mine has gone missing."
  
  [1] Ask Irene about herself.
  [2] Ask about her friend.
  [3] Tell Irene your rates.
  
  > 1
  "So tell me a little about yourself. How do you fit into this picture."
  
  "Well, Mr. Fortune, my father is James Scarlet, the founder of Scarlet Herring, one of the more successful fishing operations in this town."
  
  "Oh THAT Irene Scarlet!"
  
  "Yes. That Irene Scarlet. Anyway, I've been friends with Bob for a very long time and when he didn't show up for our lunch appointment today I got worried. That's why I came to see you."
  
  [1] Ask about her friend.
  [2] Tell Irene your rates.
  
  > 1
  "Well, Red, tell me about this missing friend of yours."
  
  "His name is Bob Watterson. He and I go way back. He's one of the local society set. Anyway, we were out dancing at the Top Cat Club last night with some of our friends. Toward the end of the evening it looked as if something was bothering him but he wouldn't say what it was. I didn't think much of it until today. We had agreed to meet for lunch but," stifling the merest hint of a sob, "but he never showed up!
  
  "Oh, Sam, I know you think I'm probably being silly but I'm worried about him. He never misses a lunch date and I'm just sure something has heppend to him. Say you'll help me find him."
  
  [1] Ask if she's gone to the police.
  [2] Tell Irene your rates.
  [3] Agree to take the case.
  [4] Decline the case.
  
  > 2
  "I charge $25 a day plus expenses. But I don't suppose that would be a problem for a dame like you."
  
  Irene says rather gravely, "No. That will be fine."
  
  [1] Ask if she's gone to the police.
  [2] Agree to take the case.
  [3] Decline the case.
  
  > 1
  "So, sister, something's puzzling me. Why come to me? Why not just go to the cops?"
  
  "Well, Mr. Fortune, first of all, it's only been a few hours and I was afraid that they wouldn't take me seriously with him only being missing for such a short time."
  
  "Yeah, I guess that figures. Go on."
  
  "And I was hoping to keep this kind of quiet. My family gets enough exposure as it is. That's what comes from having money. If I were to go to the police, well, I was afraid that the papers might catch wind of it."
  
  "And you'd find your name plastered all over the society pages... again."
  
  "Precisely."
  
  [1] Agree to take the case.
  [2] Decline the case.
  
  > 2
  After considering the matter you decide that you'd rather not get mixed up in all of this. "No dice, Red. I'm afraid that I'm just too busy to get mixed up with the upper crust these days. You see, I'm strictly a meat and potatoes kind of guy and all that champagne and caviar just doesn't agree with me. So if you'll kindly close the door on your way out, I'll return to my business."
  
  Irene looks shocked and for a minute a look of panic crosses her face before she...
  
  Your mother reaches over and switches off the radio. "I think that's enough radio for today. It's bed time and besides, all of that junk just rots your brain anyway."