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.
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?
Oh, Elendil, that was PERFECT! Blackmail, abortion…most excellent.
Okee dokeee…off to think…
“Ben Abbott.” 
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.”
Found that out when looking for a “proper” name combination for one of the partners. “Malcolm” was derived from the actor’s name.
BTW: Mickey Chambers is a reference to Mike Hammer. 
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!
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. 
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.
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?
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.
'Course, that would be up to the next person who writes, wouldn’t it?
I posted a chapter three days ago… it’s somebody else’s turn!
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8690823#post8690823
There we go.
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…
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.
Seems we had similar ideas.
“They’re called fingerprints, Sweetheart.”
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?