(Gossip) Tell Linda about your meeting with Tallula

You didn't think that interrogating your old friend was strictly necessary. Instead, you thought she might offer some insight on another meeting from earlier in the day. You and Linda had discussed Wanda already, but in that, you neglected to mention your impressions of Tallula Quinn, the sole maid in charge of the third floor. You asked if Linda had met the woman yet.

"Yes, although only with the briefest of introductions. Skittish sort, not the type to linger anywhere if she doesn't have to. Quite a curious case for such an unassuming woman, isn't it? Her Scottish accent means she can't be from too close around here, yet she's apparently spent enough time despite her young age to be the only one allowed to upkeep the third floor. It's awfully peculiar!" Linda mused. You could practically hear the gears turning in her head. She lived for this kind of thing-- an unsolved mystery with no easy explanation.

You told her that even with everything going on, Tallula had been insistent that she take care of Wanda herself without calling Eric or the others up to the third floor.

"A strong sense of responsibility... or reason for suspicion?" your old friend questioned, raising one finger with a gossipy grin on her face.

You told her that it could easily be both.

Linda deflated just a bit, then pursued the topic from another avenue. "You'll find many culprits here with many different opinions about Wanda Croft, I'm sure, but Tallula has one thing that the rest of them don't have-- persistent and ready access to the lady of the house, along with most of her things! If anyone wanted to nick an artifact they could use to embarrass Wanda with that dog and pony show in the study you described, it would be Tallula, right?"

You crossed your arms and shook your head. Any of the servants could do it, right?

"Wrong! They're not allowed onto the third floor. That means that among the servants, Tallula really is the suspicious one, yes? Her access is as exclusive as it gets."

After hesitating a moment, considering carefully, you asked Linda if she felt any sort of sympathy for Tallula's position. Linda was practically throwing the poor girl under the bus and it must be said, she was already in a very panicked natural state when you met her. She seemed like the type with a lot of day-to-day troubles.

Your conversation partner adjusted her glasses, then gave an unreadable smile. "Every murderer has a lot on their mind, Malcolm. Or ninety-nine percent of them do, anyway. No one does things unprompted. You mustn't let Tallula off the hook just because she's got those big puppy-dog eyes."

You corrected her: there was no murderer in play here. Just some game-master with a mind control artifact. A criminal, but not a killer.

"Ha, you're right about that! Call it habit. But the same still applies. Suspect her, okay? It's the cute ones you've got to keep an eye on."

She had a point. You made a mental note of what she said... and remembered not to count her out as a suspect, either. After bidding Linda farewell for now and handing off her coat to the nearest servant, you went off to the lounge, hoping to lay eyes on some of the others.

--A new clue has been obtained!--

--Check notes in the game tab--