The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[Magz from Oz]

Well with my aging eyesight, I read 'Olivia' Benson.  So immediately I heard the distinctive Law and Order 'du-dum' tone in my head.    Then I picked up my mistake and thought as Audren did, that the name can't be coincidental.  But Schipperke is the master of misdirection, so maybe she means us to focus on the name and miss a clue.  I'm sure things will get clearer soon.

[RainBeau]

I am full of suspicions of all shapes and sizes. 

[Schipperke]

In the Valley of Dragons, Part IV

Diary Entry

Lady Olive invited me to come over for supper that evening to discuss how to deal with the blackmailer.  I arrived at her "cottage" as the maid was taking out the garbage.



From the way she had spoken of her house, I had been picturing a tiny place.  Not this large house.  And how was it that someone with "no money at all" could afford a maid?



I remembered someone once saying "the rich are different from you and me,"* and I guessed that must be true, if this large house and maid service was Lady Olive's idea of deprivation.  She kept me waiting in the living room.



When she finally arrived, there was no apology or explanation of why she had kept me cooling my heels for so long.



She told me the blackmailer had called again just before my arrival.  I asked her to tell me just what the blackmailer had said on the phone.  Was the blackmailer male or female?

"I couldn't tell," she said. "The voice seemed strange - rather metallic-sounding, as if the person was speaking through a tunnel or something."



Or using a mechanical voice distorter, I thought. 

"My husband would never tell me anything about the blackmailer," she said.  "He wanted to keep me out of it.  He used to meet the person someplace else.   When this person called just now, they told me that I should go to Tome Traders Books in the morning.  I'm supposed to buy a book and sit outside reading it.  I'll be contacted again for further instructions."

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I told her what I intended to do.

"But -" she said.

I was really getting tired of this rich woman and her controlling, domineering ways.  "No arguments!"  I exclaimed.  "If you want my help, you need to let me do it my way."  She broke down crying again.  "Look," I said, "I know this is hard for you.  I'm sure I can catch this blackmailer.  But you need to trust me."



She nodded.  "I know.  It's just that this is all so difficult.  Fforbes used to handle all the business and financial dealings - he shielded me and protected me.  Now I'm alone in the world and having this horrible blackmail to deal with.  I know I sometimes seem bossy.  But I am grateful for your help, really."

Dinner was tasty but we didn't really have much to say to each other and I left as soon as the meal was over.



Diary Entry Ends.

*Quote attributed to F.Scott Fitzgerald.

[RainBeau]

I have no doubt that Ben's way will be the best way and that bossy rich lady better be quiet and listen to the man she asked for help!

[ladybug53]

Poor deprived woman , that's quite the cottage !  I really hope she listens to Ben and takes his advice . After all , she did ask for his help . 

[RaiaDraconis]

I suspect the ice cream truck. Nothing good can ever come from an ice cream truck that stalks you everywhere you go.

[Swirl-Girl]

Gah! Ice cream truck! It's everywhere! Fellow watchers, I think we're getting a run for our money.
Okay, on the update, on the update.
That is hardly small, it is nice and roomy. And highly luxurious it seems!

[Audren]

I suspect the ice cream truck. Nothing good can ever come from an ice cream truck that stalks you everywhere you go.

My theory is that the ice cream man is blackmailing Olive and Fforbes so he can fund his increasingly expensive campaign to ruin diet plans. 

[Magz from Oz]

Why do we always suspect the ice cream trucks?  Could it be because they stalk our Sims everywhere they go!  Those ice cream trucks are evil!

[Swirl-Girl]

We need to start a council of omnipotency. At the first meeting, we'll ban Mister Ice Cream from using his powers!

[Blayzen]

"Olive Benson?" "Ben Oliver?" Why do I get the sense that the similarities between their names is not coincedental?

You read my mind...and my guess would be that with Schip, nothing is a coincidence!

[Schipperke]

In the Valley of Dragons, Part V

Diary Entry

Next morning Lady Olive Benson arose before sunrise.  As instructed, she went to the bookstore, purchased a book and sat outside reading by lamplight, waiting for the blackmailer to contact her.



Lady Olive's phone rang.  The robotic-sounding voice told her to to to Miser McCann's restaurant.  As she waited in the restaurant's outside courtyard, a stranger in striped stockings came and stared at her before leaving. 



Nobody approached her.  Finally the phone rang again and she was instructed to go to McCafferty's Pub.





The haughty Lady Olive drinking in a pub?  Thank goodness no-one of her social class frequented such places so they weren't likely to see her there.  She was left to kick her heels in the pub for some time.  The next call instructed her to walk to the Diner. 





The phone rang again almost immediately.  The voice sounded angry.  "I told you, NO POLICE!"  Lady Olive protested that the police car just happened to be there, it had nothing to do with her.  The blackmailer refused to listen.  "You will go to the swimming pool," the voice said.  "And there had better not be a police car following you."



The next call sent her to the spa.



We met late that evening.  Lady Olive was frustrated.  "What was the purpose of all that?" she exclaimed.  "All those phone calls, running here and there - why?"



I told her that maybe they were just trying to make sure she wasn't being followed, or making sure she would follow instructions.  Or trying to create tension so she'd be willing to do whatever they wanted just to get it over with.  Or, I thought, maybe they were just enjoying the spectacle of the high-and-mighty Lady Olive running around town at their bidding, but I didn't say that to her.  "Be strong," I told her.  "They'll make their move soon and when they do, I'll be ready for them."

Diary Entry Ends.

Dear Readers:  If you think you know who the blackmailer is, or have any other clues as to the unfolding of this story, I'll ask you to kindly practice your top-hush protocol and not share your suspicions in this thread at this point.  Thank you!

[Audren]

Oh, you won't have to worry about that from me. Besides my name musings, I haven't the slightest concerning the blackmailer, though I can't help but wonder if the true reason for the round-a-bout is to show off a pretty new world. 

[ladybug53]

I really don't have any idea either who the blackmailer might be . I think I will have to review all the chapters and see if I can somehow pick up a clue . I doubt though , Schipperky is too good with her mysteries . Great chapter ! 

[Dextra2]

The butler did it. It's all his fault! (I really have no idea, but the butler is always the right answer.)