Going by the Matchbook/Playing With

Basic Trope: A promotional matchbook serves as a clue to a suspect's movements.

• Straight: P.I. Dirk Bullett rifled through the pockets of the rapidly cooling stiff. Now what's this? A matchbook from Lucy's Cathouse. Now there's a name he thought he'd never see again. An old flame - but a new lead...
• Exaggerated: Bullett was surprised, despite himself. He never woulda though that matchbook in his pocket would be enough evidence to convict the guy in court...
• Downplayed: By itself, he'd have dismissed the matchbook - anyone could pick one of those up. But with a receipt for three hours' worth of drinks, it looked like this guy had taken his time at Lucy's.
• Justified: The matchbook didn't prove anything, sure... but it had opened the door to a whole new avenue of investigation. Dirk was back in the game.
• Inverted: "I see there's a matchbook missing from the display there, Luce. The guy I'm after, he smokes like a factory chimney, and I know he stopped by here. If you can remember the guy took that 'book, you might blow this case wide open for me..."
• Subverted: Dirk cursed. No-one at Lucy's had seen the guy, so it looked like he'd spent two days chasing a wild goose and all he'd caught was a red herring.
• Double Subverted: ...but just as he turned the corner, a notebook hit the pavement in front of him. Looking up, he saw an upstairs window slam and a hooker duck out of view. Fishing the note offa the rain-slick pavement, he read, "Someone's been blowing smoke. Meet me midnight tonight, Le Cafe Noir. A friend."
• Parodied: Dirk had first thought, when he found 16 matchbooks on one guy, all from different dives, that the guy was a heavy smooker with a taste for call-girls. What a dunce, he thought, as he slugged down another bourbon. Who'd'a thought the stiff was a matchbook salesman?
• Zig Zagged: ???
• Enforced: Dirk's unflappable facade cracked a faint smile. He'd known he was in a Noir Parody the moment the dame with the cigarette holder stepped through his office door. He'd been counting the seconds til he'd find a significant matchbook.
• Lampshaded: "Oh look, Slim. You got a matchbook. What's the odds this insignificant detail is going to break the case open for me?"
• Invoked: A smart bunch, Dirk mused. They'd put a false matchbook on their guy just in case he bought the farm, and it'd led the P.I. straight into an ambush.
• Exploited: ???
• Defied: Dirk had chased too many matchbooks as a rookie, and they never led anywhere. So the guy was at a bar sometime, what's that gonna prove?
• Discussed: Let's see what's in those pockets, Slim. A dime to a dollar says you got a matchbook in there'll tell me where you been hidin' out."
• Conversed: Dirk rolled his eyes. If only it was as easy as it was in the pulps - mobsters never came with handy matchbooks in real life.

---

Now what's this? A matchbook from Going by the Matchbook, huh? Better check it out.