My Investigation in the Town

I was up just before dawn this morning, I knew I'd be doing my stint on watch during the night, so I'd been tucked up in bed quite early.  I had a light breakfast - and the inn specialises in early food for the traders that are stay here, and I ate with them.

I made my way to the north of town where the businesses that were suffering from the Gallam End gang carried out their trade.  I began talking to some of the market traders and some of business owners in turns.

Whenever I raised the subject of the gang, there were several different responses I received.  There were rumours floating about of the gang's demise, and of disruptions to their operations for many reasons.  Most folks thought it was temporary disruption, though, just like last time, and they were expecting the gang to be back before very long.  Some were keeping cash to one side to pay the thugs off when they turned up, some were really scared and refused to talk to me at all, and others were just happy for the respite from the extortion.  One even mistook me for one of their heavies.

I got a sense of how utterly fed up everyone is about the tactics their heavies used and the drain on the businesses resources.  There is a desire to see the back of these guys once and for all.  I think the only justice here would be to catch these Evans boys and hand them over to the traders to be dealt with according to their own preferences.

I picked up several rumours, some of which will be just made up stories, but such rumours usually have some basis in truth.  The rumours about the Evans boys being killed seem unlikely, but there are some strong rumours about them leaving town, either after their heavies deserted them or after being so badly hurt that they can no longer protect them.  There were some rumours that their heavies were seen fighting with 'local heroes' and 'local ruffians'.  Fortunately, nobody appears to have recognised my friends - or, at least, none of the rumours named them.

I heard the story that Wilson was badly beaten (which I know is true) but after that there are a couple of rumours about what happened to him, and both have the air of truth to them.  He either returned to the Evans boys and went with them out to some hideout, or he met with them, told them where to shove their guild, and left town.

It took me some time this morning to gain enough trust with people who were still reluctant to talk.  It was a long job in some cases, and I even used a few coins as bribery - but I do not like to do that, as it can encourage some folk to make stories up and tell me what they think I want to hear just to get the money.

As lunchtime passed, my luck changed - I managed to get a couple of hot leads.  The Evans boys were known to have a secret hideout outside of town, nobody seemed to know where it was.  Except one member of the Kings Guard who'd had reason to track them down six months or so ago.  He reported that there was a farm that they'd been to, he visited and knocked on the door but there was no reply.  He told me the name of the farm, it used to be called Duckley's farm, but it had been unused for a couple of summers.  He didn't go back because he caught up with the Evans brothers in town.  He told me where the farm was.

I'd also heard that the Evans boys kept small supplies of stock (they couldn't say what the stock was) out at a farm a couple of hours out of town away to the north.  This farm was in-use by its owner, the guild just hired storage there.  The owner was a farmer called Ambrose a while ago - who owns it now is uncertain, but it's likely to be the same person.

I've had quite a fruitful morning really, and now that afternoon is here, I'm returning to the inn to make a report to the others.  I think we know where we're going to be heading, whether we do it this afternoon is still to be decided. I'm not sure going there after dark would be all that sensible - but I'll find it easier to decided what I think is best after I've had some lunch.