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"In the Marine Corps you deal with the chain of command. Mistakes get made but you deal with them. You know what you're fighting for, and that you're on the same team. But dealing with corruption is like chasing shadows. You never know whether the guy you're talking to is on the pad or whether it's your partner or maybe even the Watch Commander. So who do you trust, Cole? I made up my mind a long time ago."
Herschel Biggs

Upon Reflection is a Patrol case in L.A. Noire. This is the first case Cole Phelps takes on during his time as an LAPD Patrolman, as well as the first case in the original L.A. Noire. In L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, this is the second case after "Armed and Dangerous".

Walkthrough[]

"Here we go again. They don't request uniforms for an evidence search unless there's some kind of catch."
―Ralph Dunn

While on patrol through the streets of Los Angeles, Officer Cole Phelps and his partner, Ralph Dunn, receive a call from KGPL for their car, Unit 14 Adam, which Dunn answers immediately. The dispatcher informs them of a shooting at 6th and Industrial Street, with Unit 16 William requesting uniformed assistance for an evidence search. Dunn responds, letting the dispatcher know they are enroute, and Cole begins driving towards the location.

Crime Scene[]

Floyd Rose

Detective Floyd Rose briefing Phelps and Dunn

"Give it your best shot, guys. The dead guy is a lowlife. I'm not expecting any miracles here."
―Floyd Rose

As they arrive, a body is being placed in a coroner's vehicle. A man approaches, introducing himself as Homicide Detective Floyd Rose and accompanied by his partner Rusty Galloway. Rose asks if they're his backup. Cole introduces himself and Dunn as officers from Wilshire Police Station, then Floyd briefs them on the situation. The victim was a black male named Scooter Peyton, who was just found shot to death in the alleyway and whose body is currently being transported to Central Morgue. Rose states that he has a witness who saw a Caucasian male shoot the victim twice in the head and toss his weapon before fleeing the scene. Before leaving with Galloway, Rose makes it clear that he couldn't care less if they actually find anything, given that the victim was a "lowlife".

"It's not my job to pick through other people's trash."
―Ralph Dunn

As you search the alley, you will first find one of the game's thirteen readable newspapers lying on a row of crates to the right. At the end of the alley, you discover your first clue. All clues and other important information are recorded in your notebook.

Stencil Details
Bloodstain
On the door at the end of the alleyway.
Description Blood splatter stains in recessed doorway, on alleyway floor.
Clue White Clues Bloodstain


Walk a few feet to the left of the bloodstain, and you'll find the second clue - an open windowpane showing the reflection of a gun on the rooftop of the adjacent building. Walk around the corner of the building to find a drainpipe that you can climb to the roof. Once on the roof, you will find the following.

Stencil Details
S7Wrevolver
On the rooftop of the adjacent building to the bloodstain.
Description Smith & Wesson Model 27, nickel plated with pearl grips, serial number S71893.
Clue White Clues Smith & Wesson revolver


After climbing back down the drainpipe, Dunn wants to return to the station and turn in the gun as evidence, but Cole insists that they can figure that part out on their own. He asks Dunn if there are any nearby gun stores. Dunn informs him that there's one a couple blocks away. Return to the patrol car and set the gun store as your destination.

Central Guns[]

LANgunshop-1-

Officers Phelps and Dunn talking to the storekeeper about the gun

"I ought to. I sold it. You know, this piece will stop a rhino."
Chuck Hadley

Upon arriving at Central Guns, the owner states that the gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 27, .357 Magnum with nickel plating and pearl grips. He also explains that he knows the details of the gun intimately because such weapons are only available via special order. The storekeeper then shows his Smith & Wesson order book to the officers. Locate the gun in the order book with serial number S71893 to discover that it was sold to Errol Schroeder, who lives at 203 South Gless Street.

Stencil Details
Gun store ledger
Provided by the storekeeper at Central Guns.
Description Smith & Wesson special order and registration book.
Clue White Clues Gun store ledger
POI White P.O.I.'s Errol Schroeder
Objective White Objectives Investigate Schroeder's Apartment


If you have not yet unlocked the Buick Eight Convertible, one can be found parked to the right of the gun shop. Return to the car and drive to Schroeder's apartment.

Schroeder's apartment[]

SchroedersApartment

Outside Schroeder's apartment

"No way! You're not taking me down for this."
―Errol Schroeder

Upon arriving at the complex, Phelps checks the mailboxes to find Schroeder's apartment number and makes his way up the stairs with Dunn. The two officers knock on the door and Schroeder will answer with a cocky attitude, apparently annoyed because he was about to sit down to dinner. They ask if he owns a Smith & Wesson Model 27 with nickel plating and pearl grips; Schroeder says that he has one, but only for home defense and that he always leaves it in his sock drawer. Phelps then informs him of Scooter's murder, but Schroeder seems surprised at the suggestion that he was responsible for shooting a man who works for him.

He heads to his drawer to verify that his gun is there, but finds it missing, prompting Phelps to place him under arrest. Schroeder sucker-punches Dunn, putting him on the floor, and brawls with Phelps before getting beaten down by the more experienced officer and cuffed.

"Phelps, we can come out of this all bright and shiny with a commendation, or stick our schlongs in a hornet's nest. Call it in partner, and leave the book where you found it."
―Ralph Dunn

After dealing with Schroeder, Phelps investigates his apartment while Dunn stands guard. There are several useless items, but in the dresser, Phelps finds a green notebook. Opening the notebook reveals a list of names with numbers written underneath, one of which is that of Detective Rose, whom they had just met earlier at the crime scene. Dunn tells Phelps to call it in and leave the book where he found it, reminding him that Rose is not someone they want to piss off. Phelps silently agrees and places the notebook back on top of the dresser.

Stencil Details
Schroeders notebook
In the dresser at Schroeder's apartment.
Description Notebook containing list of recorded names and corresponding numbers.
Clue White Clues Schroeder's notebook


Case Briefing[]

"Ambulance shooting at Sixth and Industrial, the warehouse district by the river. KGPL called 16 William requesting an evidence search - 16 William is a detective car out of Central. The Homicide Squad are in attendance. Must be a dead-end call, or they would never pass on it."

Trivia[]

  • Neither Rose nor Galloway can be interacted with after the cutscene since they drive away after speaking to Phelps and Dunn.
  • It is unknown what happened to Schroeder after the case. However, he is taken into custody moments after the case ends.
  • Based on subsequent developments in the game, it seems very likely that Rose, with or without his partner's help, stole Schroeder's gun, used it to kill Peyton, and then invented a "witness" to frame Schroeder for the murder. Based on the notebook, it appears that Schroeder is a bookmaker, and Rose owed him a large debt that he didn't want to pay. When Phelps is first promoted to Detective, Rose is seen working the Traffic desk (perhaps on probation, similar to Phelps later working Arson), and six months later Capt. Donnelly announces that Rose has taken "early retirement." Galloway is the very picture of troubled self-reflection upon hearing this announced in the briefing room. Later, when Phelps asks Rusty, "What happened to Rose?", Galloway sidesteps the question by obscurely linking Rose's retirement to a coming power struggle in the upper echelons of the LAPD.
  • The gun store owner erroneously states that General Patton carried a pearl handled revolver. Patton carried a Colt single-action .45 on his right hip, and a Smith & Wesson .357 on his left hip, both of which were ivory handled guns. Patton is quoted to have said "Only a pimp in a Louisiana whore house carries pearl handled revolvers. These are ivory." The gun in this case was the exact kind carried by Patton, a Smith & Wesson Model 27, .357 Magnum, except for the pearl handles.

Video Walkthroughs[]

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