Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 30, 2021

Sigh, this story has quickly used up all the good vibes from the explosion!

Ah, she’s an entrepreneur! Hey, Ace, don’t take what happened to that cigar in Panel 2 personally. Not yet anyway.

But she can have all the cigars she wants.

I wonder if Doubleup takes jobs like this so he can listen in on high-level discussions and use the info for himself.

I like the look on Briar’s face in panel 2. It’s easy to see how angry she is.

The police must’ve alerted the media about its search for Rose. I can imagine TVs all over the city with Rose’s picture and a news anchor saying, “If you see this woman, contact the authorities.”

“A woman scorned”. And no doubt feel her work needs the woman’s touch.

The Apparatus HQ must have accommodations for members who are in trouble like Rose is. Or maybe she’ll sleep on a cot in the break room. It could go either way.

Good morning™, everyone!

Briar Rose is confirmed as the #1 suspect of the police. I wonder what her “business” is. Breaking a cigar in half is a very effective way of showing how upset she is by this “verdict.”

in re: the new artist, the transition has been seamless

Briar is in derious trouble. She could face charges of multiple manslaughter if not murder, destruction of property, sabotage, unless the police finds proofs of Sterling’s guilt. Surely Mumbles isn’t going to confide his suspects to Tracy.

In Briar’s favor is the fact that she has no conceivable motive nor for that matter means

Good morning™, killed potential escapees !

I can’t see Rose sitting still for this confinement malarky for long. Doubleup will show her as much “mercy” as that other lady long ago. Ace is right about her laying low. She will need to change her appearance drastically if she wants to walk as a free woman again. Sprocket could give her some tips.

“You’re MANDATING that I QUARRENTINE??? I’m an AMERICAN crook, dammit! I DEMAND MY RIGHTS!!!”

“All right, all right! You don’t have to work from home. But you will have to wear this mask.”

“Gr.”

Briar Rose seems to me as the type of person if you tell her not to do something, or to stay in one place, she will be more determined to do the opposite!

I’m sure the Apparatus has nice accommodations accommodations.

As a parent I can tell you that grounding without taking away the cell phone and computer isn’t much of a grounding.

She’s lucky that he didn’t decide that she was a loose end that needed to be disposed of.

Grounding? Do criminals actually use that term?

Ace is thinking “Grounding?! What you really deserve is a spanking… new laptop so you can manage your business remotely from here.“

“Who do you think you are?!?! How old do you think I am?!?!? You’re not my father!!!”

Hogtied

Eventually I hope they get back to what Diet Smith was doing with the time drone related to Mr. Bribery and Ugly Christine, and how it might give Crystal an opportunity to view her deceased mom.

1-RATFACE: HA! YOU LIT THE WRONG END OF YOUR CIGAR! WHAT A ROOKIE!

2-SUKI: YOU TAKE THAT BACK! I AM NOT A ROOKIE! AND BESIDES…

3-…how can you even tell which end of these El Cheapos to light when you take all the bands off and use them as “rings” when you play dress up???

RATFACE: Who told you about that? If that ever got out of this room I’d be FINISHED as leader of The Apparatus!

WHIPPY: hmmmmm, hmmmmm

As always, Ace and the Apparatus know what Tracy‘s doing before he does.

Maybe the time drone is still around, after all.

Or the guy with the whip goes into action.

The Apparatus has one heck of a grapevine….to know that the police are looking for her.

This has to be a blow to Rose….the “tough love” policy which the Apparatus has. Like being sent to one’s room without supper.

Hope her business is a sole proprietor ship. She would run into challenges paying her employees while being confined.

Not only grounded, you need a good spanking, young lady.

Since there’s no evidence tying Briar Rose to the explosion then the next likely suspect is Eliot.

So, Doubleup Doubleup overhears the exchange between frustrated “business woman” (drug dealer?) Briar Rose and Ace of Spades. Will he enforce Ace’s mandate, as part of his job? Or will he feel such sympathy for the cute but evil redhead that he will help her get out of this House Arrest? Which way he flips (or whips) will be interesting to see and possibly important to the progress of the story….

Rose will still get all the cigars she can eat.