Chapter 1: New York City

[RonaHattingh]

Marga feels for her friend, Amy. "Yes, we will help where we can." With Amy starting to cry again, Marga can only hold her until the bout of crying subsides. "We need to be strong for Jackson and our friends, Amy, they are going to need us now."

[DrPeterson]

"See if you can find a diary or his notes, there must be something he wrote down about all this."

Horatio then retrieves his hat and puts it back on and then frowns deeply as he looks at Jackson.

"Sorry about this, old boy."

He leans close to his friend's dead body and goes through his pockets, looking for anything that might help.

[Mr. Handy]

Amy nods, sniffling again. "I'll try," she says to Marga. "This is the only way I can still help Jackson." She begins searching the room, checking the nightstands and the dresser, looking inside the drawers for anything that might be important.

[Dave Syrinx]

Gerald checks for a travel log or tickets from Jackson's travels. If they can track his movements, they just might know who these thugs are working for. Even maps might tell something about where he's been.

[Overlord87]

Roger inspects Elias' luggage, trying to determine where he was traveling. Did he pack for a warm climate? A cold one? Did he expect to deal with humidity and rain? Did he bring something back from his travels?

[Dave Syrinx]

Wrapping up the quick search, Gerald pulls Marga out the room. "Let us greet the officers when they arrive." In the corridor, he adds. "I doubt it will look as we're all innocent up there. Might be good to just scrape by as bystanders." In the elevator down, he asks. "How are you, Dove?"

[Quatermass]

Searching the room, you find these items of interest.

A folded photograph



A business card with a name written on the back.




And a letter



Symbol Carved into Jackson's Forehead

[Quatermass]

The police arrive at the hotel room after Gerald and Margo met them in the lobby. Soon a police detective Poole comes on the scene and takes control of the situation.


Detective Poole

Your group is questioned and statements are taken. Detective Poole gets your names, addresses, and phone numbers. The two men that you captured are taken into custody and leave in a paddy wagon. Artemis's wound is treated and he goes to the hospital to get some stiches and is released. It is late in the evening when you are finally allowed to go. Your group stands on the street outside the Chelsea as Elias's body is taken out.

[DrPeterson]

Horatio had spoken truthfully about Elias's whereabouts and what might have gotten him into his current predicament, theorising a run-in with an overzealous religious group and pointing out Jackson's past and publications. Of the clues they'd found, he'd made no mention.

Later, outside the hotel, Horatio takes off his hat in salute as Jackson's corpse is evacuated and he puts a hand on Amy's shoulder.

"He was truly one of the finest men I'd ever had the privilege of knowing, Miss Lawrence. The world is a darker place without him."

[Ritterton]

"I agree Horatio, he was especially kind to those of us where were just minor acquaintances in his life," he bowed his head as he held his hat in his hands as the body was taken away from the hospital. His jacket had a stain, and a hole in it, but it also had in its pockets the clues he had taken from the one man that he and Anderson had stopped. "I suggest we find a quiet room to have a drink, eat if anyone can even do so, and talk about what we know at this point."

Artemis gave Horatio a nod and wink.

[kabukiman]

-Yes, we may not help him now, but maybe we can discover the reasons for this madness.- says Anderson.

[RonaHattingh]

Marga holds onto Gerald's hand. She is in shock. Marga dimly hears Artemis talk about meeting somewhere to talk about what happened.

"Yes, I think it is a good idea and the drink a better idea."

[Dave Syrinx]

Having just glanced at the documents briefly, Gerald says. "What I gleaned, this is most certainly having something to do with books found at Harvard Uni Library. Knowing Jackson, I'd bet my pipe on it." He gather the others in the corridor. "Ladies and gents, why not converge at Prospero House? We do need to bring the fact to Jonah Kensington speedily. Then he'd most probably let us have a room to shed some light on what's occurred."

[DrPeterson]

"Jonah Kensington wasn't in town when I called earlier today. It might be more proper to go to a place where we get some refreshments and fortify our bodies as well as our minds."


Horatio put on his hat and muttered.

"I, for one, could sure use a stiff drink."


He then cleared his throat and looked up.

"Perhaps a refreshing walk to clear our noses while we talk? We can send a telegram to Prospero House once we've got our bearings straight."

[Dave Syrinx]

"I know a Blind Tiger on 25th Street. Ol' Joe's Trattoria. They have a mean a lá carte." Gerald suggests.

[Ritterton]

"Sounds great, lead the way," Artemis motioned with his walking stick as if to open the way forward towards Gerald and his proffered dressmaker.

[Mr. Handy]

Amy had tearfully answered the police's questions, telling them what little she had seen and knew. She walks along, feeling numb and lightheaded. "That sounds good to me too," she manages. "I think some good food will help. I've never had a drink in my life - Prohibition went into effect before I was old enough - but I could sure use one now, even if it's not exactly legal."

[Overlord87]

"Well, I sure would like a drink right now. Then we've got to decide our next move. Whoever did this has to pay".

[Quatermass]

Gerald leads you the restaurant that he knows and you get a table in the back. It is late and it is not very busy. A few bills are passed to the waiter and a couple of wine bottles in brown paper bags appear at your table.

[Mr. Handy]

Amy slides into her seat, completely drained. She folds her arms on the table, lowers her head onto them, and weeps.