# Finish the Hardboiled Detective story: Control Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182 "2007-05-31T13:38:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/41 "2007-06-11T13:24:46Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] My only contribution; is the James Thompson named after the pulp author Jim Thompson? [/QUOTE] Absolutely. And the capacity of the ship is around 1280, a reference to Jim Thompson’s classic novel _Pop. 1280_. Many people don’t like the novel, because it gets a bit corny and over-the-top, but a lot of pulp and noir aficionados seem to love it. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/42 "2007-06-11T19:26:32Z")
Mickey’s line would work better if he said “One of the many things I picked up but one of the few I actually learned…” indicating he did more partying than studying. Any guesses as to the origins of his name? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/43 "2007-06-12T18:09:11Z")
Oh, **Elendil** , that was PERFECT! Blackmail, abortion…most excellent. Okee dokeee…off to think… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/44 "2007-06-13T18:43:40Z")
“Ben Abbott.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/45 "2007-06-14T04:01:53Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Oh, **Elendil** , that was PERFECT! Blackmail, abortion…most excellent… [/QUOTE] Thank you. It was fun to write. I like what everyone’s doing with the story! And since no one’s guessed yet, the law firm’s name is the same as the names of the four _Enterprise_ redshirts killed in ST:TOS “The Apple.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/46 "2007-06-14T14:29:12Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] And since no one’s guessed yet, the law firm’s name is the same as the names of the four Enterprise redshirts killed in ST:TOS “The Apple.” [/QUOTE] Found that out when looking for a “proper” name combination for one of the partners. “Malcolm” was derived from the actor’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/47 "2007-06-14T15:23:28Z")
BTW: Mickey Chambers is a reference to Mike Hammer. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/48 "2007-06-14T16:50:17Z")
I’m going to be back in the thread, hopefully this evening. It’s been kind of wierd, here at home, sorry. I like it all too! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/49 "2007-06-15T17:36:35Z")
I’m looking forward to more contributions, **Baker**! Both here and in the other thread. And a big thanks to **ivylass** for getting them out of the club. I’ve been sitting on the “hiding in the bank’s parking garage” idea for a while now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/50 "2007-06-15T19:28:05Z")
Oh, and finding ways to include the SDMB naming in-jokes is fun! There really is a Lynn Street around here (as well as an Eisenhower Avenue). Ben Abbott is a play on the name of a certain little troll from our days on AOL. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/51 "2007-06-17T15:11:52Z")
Nice, **ivy**! You just prompted a series of questions: did they see a body? The Doc’s body? How long had it been there? Before the letter was written? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/52 "2007-06-17T15:30:51Z")
There doesn’t necessarily have to be a body. Mind you, Linda didn’t freak, she just gasped. Maybe she saw something there that’s not supposed to be there…enough to call in the cops, but not enough for them _not_ to call the cops, if you get my drift. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/53 "2007-06-17T23:58:31Z")
'Course, that would be up to the next person who writes, wouldn’t it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/54 "2007-06-21T17:50:06Z")
I posted a chapter three days ago… it’s somebody else’s turn! [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8690823#post8690823](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8690823#post8690823) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/55 "2007-06-21T18:28:51Z")
There we go. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/56 "2007-06-22T16:49:40Z")
Well, I didn’t want all the suspects killed off right off the bat…I was leaning toward Wells tied up and gagged, but we’ll run with this. That’s half the fun…having to adjust your idea of where the story is going. Anyhoo, I have thrown our hero and heroine into the boiling pot. Have fun pulling them out! 😃 I also have an idea for a big twist…so as soon as we get everyone meeting back up at the Owl Club tonight… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/57 "2007-06-22T18:04:18Z")
Well, thanks to **Lute** , I didn’t have to wait for the meet-up at the Owl Club. And just so everyone knows, no Violet has not returned from the dead. I wouldn’t do that to you guys. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/58 "2007-06-22T19:36:59Z")
Seems we had similar ideas. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/59 "2007-06-23T16:37:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe they just misidentified her, whoever it was. Shot in the face, you know? That doesn’t leave the M.E. much to work with." “They’re called _fingerprints,_ Sweetheart.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182/60 "2007-06-23T18:02:25Z")
Okay, I revealed that little mystery of how Violet Collins showed up at the doctor’s. Just a bit of my thinking (feel free to disregard or incorporate into your own story line) Violet has a twin sister whom she hasn’t heard from in awhile. She goes to her sister’s apartment, finds some info as to what her sister had been up to (Dr. Wells’ address, diner menus, maybe a movie theater playbill, definitely a paystub from the Owl Club, so she’ll end up there eventually) and she’s trying to find her sister. Ah, but how did Violet’s sister have a key to Dr. Wells’ office? Did she find it at her sister’s apartment, or maybe… And did she call the cops upon finding Wells’ body, or did she leave him there to continue the hunt for her sister? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finish-the-hardboiled-detective-story-control-thread/406182.md?page=4)