The mission is unlocked as soon as Niko Bellic receives a text message from an anonymous sender asking him to meet him on a pier at the south end of Algonquin. In the opening cutscene, Niko is surprised to discover Deputy Police Commissioner Francis McReary leaning against the parapet, whom he'd met before at the West Bohan Community Center with Manny Escuela. Francis says that he knows a lot about Niko, including him murdering Mikhail Faustin, and that the Russian mafiya want him dead. In spite of Niko's denial of the facts, Francis metaphorically solicits his services: "You look out for me, and I don't look out for you. You know that I mean?" Niko chuckles approvingly. "I think so," he says. Francis reveals that he is being blackmailed by an informer who threatens to divulge evidence of Francis' corruption. Francis wants Niko to eliminate the blackmailer and retrieve the incriminating photos he has of Francis.
Mission Objectives[]
In order to complete the mission the player must:
Go to the viewpoint off Union Drive East.
Look out for the blackmailer, he's using his cell phone.
That's the blackmailer. Take him down.
Pick up the storage device.
Lose your wanted level.
Take the photographs on the storage device to Francis.
Walkthrough[]
The player must go find the blackmailer, who will be waiting in a park on the Humboldt River off Union Drive East. Francis will send a text message containing the phone number of the blackmailer as soon as the player arrives. The player must then dial the number and look out for anyone answering their phone, so that the player knows who to eliminate.
The player can call the blackmailer twice and have two long conversations to identify him. His ringtone is also unique and can be used to track him down. If the player gets close to the blackmailer, they will hear his voice reverberate through the air and through the phone, so the player must listen for the double echo to identify the blackmailer. At the end of the second conversation, the blackmailer will try to escape, so the player must eliminate him before he gets too far. He will always try to escape by running to the right side of the park.
Ultimately, once the player has found and killed the blackmailer, they must collect the storage device that he will drop and lose the inevitable two-star wanted level. After that, the player must bring the photos back to Francis in North Holland.
Transcript[]
This section/page depicts all cutscenes and dialogues in the mission Call and Collect in Grand Theft Auto IV.
I don't know. Thinks he's getting paid though. The guy's smart. He arranged to do the exchange by the Humboldt River off Silicon Street. Said to call him from the viewpoint there.
Niko:
Okay.
Francis:
Listen... I did what I did... I made a mistake. That don't make me the devil. Now obviously I can't go, cause then he gets a picture of me giving him money, and I'm admitting guilt. I ain't guilty of nothing, other than being a man.
Niko:
To be honest, I don't really care one way or another.
Francis:
Well... I'm a good man.
Niko:
No doubt.
Francis:
Call me when you get to the spot.
Niko leaves.
Middle Park East
As Niko approaches the viewpoint near Union Drive East and Silicon Street, he calls Francis.
Niko:
I'm in the park, now what?
Francis:
Alright. This guy told me to bring the money there and call him. That means he's somewhere close and he's got a phone. I'm gonna text you his number. You've got to call him and keep a lookout for someone answering a phone. He won't be far.
After a moment, Niko receives the promised text message.
Francis:
(text message) The blackmailer's phone number is 843-555-0124. - Francis
This phone number is automatically added to Niko's contacts list. Niko calls him.
A friend. I'm calling about your exchange with McReary.
Blackmailer:
Yeah, he better have my paper. I ain't fucking around.
Niko:
I'm sure he's got your money. Have you got the stuff he wants?
Blackmailer:
Yeah. I got it. We're gonna make this shit happen. I don't mess around, you know? Push me and this shit is all over Weazel News. I got them on speed dial.
Niko:
Really?
Blackmailer:
Yeah, and there's a lawyer called Tom Goldberg who's real interested. He's hungry for McReary's blood and shit. Yeah.
Niko:
Good thing Francis is paying then.
Blackmailer:
Call me when this exchange is going down. I don't like all the talking. Yeah.
If Niko hasn't located the Blackmailer with the first call, he can try a second time.
Blackmailer:
Shit, it's you again. Money best be the topic of this conversation.
Niko:
Yeah, yeah. We're talking about how you ain't getting no money, but you're still giving up the photos.
Blackmailer:
I told McReary I wasn't giving up them photos unless he paid me. He was gonna have to take 'em from my cold, dead hand.
Niko:
You know what? He thought that that wasn't such a bad idea. Looks like you've been fucking with the wrong cop.
Blackmailer:
You know what? Fuck this. I'm getting out of here. The meet's off, buddy.
If Niko locates the Blackmailer during a phone call, Niko delivers a non-lethal attack on the Blackmailer after calling Francis, or if Niko hasn't located the Blackmailer with the second call, he runs away. If Niko chases him, he says the following lines at random.
Niko kills the Blackmailer, collects the Storage Device he was carrying, then loses a 2-star Wanted Level. He then meets with Francis in North Holland, where he hands him the Storage Device.
Niko:
Here. He's dead.
Francis:
Great, I can get rid of these now. I feel like a new man. Not many people get a second chance like this. It's my redemption.
Niko:
Your sins are absolved, I guess.
Niko calls Francis.
Francis:
Tell me you got the stuff.
Niko:
I don't, but no one else does either. They're under the water along with the guy that had them.
Francis:
That's a weight off my mind. You don't need to be worrying about me knocking on your door in the middle of the night. At least not tomorrow night that is. I'm watching you.
You might want to think about paying the man. He got away.
Francis:
What? Did he know I had something to do with it? Shit, I got to call him. Don't fuck up again.
Video Walkthrough[]
Gallery[]
The information Niko has to pick up in the mission.
Trivia[]
The mission name is a play on the term "collect call" (known as a reverse charge call in the UK), a telephone call in which the called party must pay rather than the calling party.
During the conversations with the blackmailer, he will mention Tom Goldberg, the lawyer Niko must assassinate in the next mission for Francis.
The blackmailer may randomly spawn within the location each time the mission is played. It's possible to kill him first without calling his number.
Regardless of any weapon the player used to kill the blackmailer, the player will still receive a two-star wanted level.
If the blackmailer is killed while in the water, the mission will be completed and Niko will not gain a wanted level. Niko will call Francis to inform him that the evidence is underwater, with Francis assuring him that it won't be found.
The blackmailer's phone number is 843-555-0124. Area code 843 serves eastern South Carolina (Hilton Head Island, Charleston, Florence, and Myrtle Beach).
