IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

The Big Apple - a booming city in the grip of a bitter winter and the excitement of an upcoming eclipse.
A close friend returns home a changed man; the fate of the world is now in his hands, but it may already be too late.

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IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Chapter One - New York City, January 1925

It is the City That Never Sleeps. During the day ships, barges, tugs and pleasure boats ply New York’s bay and rivers, dashing beneath bridges and disgorging thousands of people upon the city’s shores. Each brings hope and dreams of a new life. At night the city blazes with myriad lights, diamonds dazzling in buildings that scrape the sky. Music, food, dance, dark rituals, and clandestine cults flourish beneath the mantle of New York City – Secrets of New York (Chaosium 2005)
New York snow on rooftops, Jan 1925
New York snow on rooftops, Jan 1925
Columbia University - West 114th Street, New York
3:35pm - Wednesday 14th January, 1925

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Low Memorial Library, Columbia University

The icy start to 1925 has done little to lift Amy's disappointment that Jackson did not after all make it back to New York in time for Christmas. There have been two heavy snowstorms in the last two weeks, and the newspapers warn of more to come. The last storm saw over ten thousand men mobilized to clear the streets, and deep piles of snow still cover many of the cities sidewalks. The skies above Manhattan are clear today, but the low winter sun cannot hope to bring the temperature above freezing.

It's a worse winter than most New Yorkers can remember, but the talk of the city in every university campus, coffee shop and speakeasy is the total solar eclipse in ten days time. Street parties are planned to celebrate the momentous occasion and the Navy are even sending an airship to observe the eclipse more closely.

Amy is concentrating on her studies when the news the she's been longing for finally arrives; a maritime telegram addressed to her:

Code: Select all

DEAREST AMY STOP HAVE INCREDIBLE INFORMATION REGARDING CARLYLE
EXPEDITION STOP MEET ME AT THE COFFEE POT 7 PM JANUARY 15 STOP 
BRING THE OTHERS STOP JE
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Amy Lawrence leaps for joy when she reads the telegram, squealing with delight. She twirls around, clutching the piece of paper to her chest in both hands and grinning wide. Finally, Jackson is coming back! The astounding story he has promised interests her too, but not as much as the man himself. She begins to telephone their other friends to tell them about the telegram and the planned meeting at the Coffee Pot, starting with Michael Anderson.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Anderson is surprised to hear Amy.
"So, he is finally returning? It was time! And as usually, I bet he will bring some incredible news! Of course I will go to the meeting."
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Thank you miss Lawrence. I will be there on time.
Clark says. The Jazz musician hangs the phone of the "blue bar" in Boston where he works in. It is the afternoon when Amy reached him and the kind owner was letting Clark to take the call. After the show tonight he will return back home to pack ... luckily, he does not have a show in the "blue bar" till the next week and he can always cancel the "Mistress" bar prior the show informing that he is sick, the owner over there is an easy one.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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"Marko Investigations, this is James Marko. Whaddya need?" James rattles off his standard greeting as he boredly pokes at a couple photos and makes another drink... work had been pretty slow and of the uninteresting kind for months on end.

"Oh, Miss Lawrence! What a pleasant surprise...is that so? Tomorrow? That is pretty short notice... No no, I can be there, not a problem... Yep, tomorrow at 7pm, I'll be there with bells on, girl." James hangs of the receiver and is in a noticeably better mood. Maybe seeing Jackson will get him out of this funk - better still if Jackson has one of those weird jobs that pays well.


James Marko began to lay out some things he might need and began making up stories of exciting investigations he worked on in the six months since they had last gotten together - though there was no doubt his fiction would pale in comparison to Jackson's reality.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Amy sighs after she finishes calling everyone, wishing it were tomorrow evening already. She knows she won't be able to wait, so she resolves to keep herself busy. Perhaps some research on the Carlyle Expedition is in order. That will let her keep her mind occupied and allow her to go into the meeting with a basic understanding of the background. Also, she knows Jackson would be proud of her for taking the initiative.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Jordan wasn't at home when Amy called, but a friendly housekeeper told her she'd relay the message as "Mr. Jordan is out fishing on the ice".
"He said we were all cooked but we were all right as long as we did not know it. We were all cooked. The thing was not to recognize it."
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Amy bundles herself up against the cold and sets out for Columbia University's library to do some research on the Carlyle Expedition. The sight of snow still covering the ground makes her smile wistfully. When she was a little girl, she would have made snow angels. Now that she's older, the impulse is still there, but she is able to resist it. She has more important things to do. She trudges through the white-blanketed campus to the library, which has always been an excellent resource. She wipes her boots off before entering, stowing her coat in the cloak room and proceeding to the periodicals section to begin her research. It takes her some time, but she eventually finds what she wants.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Low Memorial Library, Columbia University - New York
3pm - Thursday 15th January, 1925

The Carlyle Expedition certainly sounds familiar to Amy, although she's not exactly sure why. A produtive morning and part of an afternoon in the library reveals a wealth of information about the ill fated expedition, led most suprisingly by the flamboyant New York playboy Roger Carlyle and famous English Archaeologist Sir Aubrey Pewhew, and massacred by native tribesmen in the forests of Kenya in late 1919.
New York Evening Post wrote: Big Apple Dateline
ROGER CARLYLE, the playboy whom everybody knows - or knows about - is quietly leaving New Yawk tomorrow to check out the tombs of Egypt! You've seen the cuties ROGER has found in the nightspots. Who can doubt he'll dig up someone - er, something - equally fabulous from the Egyptian sands?
-New York Evening Post - April 4, 1919

New York Evening Post wrote: CARLYLE EXPEDITION EMBARKS FOR ENGLAND

Led by the fabulously-wealthy playboy Roger Carlyle, the Carlyle Expedition departed this morning for Southampton aboard the crack British steamship Imperial Standard.
Contrary to earlier reports, the expedition will perform researches in London under the auspices of the Penhew Foundation before continuing to Egypt next month.
Readers may recall the enormous party which Mr. Carlyle, now 24, gave at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel upon reaching his majority. Since then, scandals and indelicate behavior have become Carlyle's trademark, but he never has become tarnished in the eyes of Manhattanites.
Members of the expedition have been reluctant to reveal their purpose in Egypt.

OTHER EXPEDITION MEMBERS

Renowned Egyptologist Sir Aubrey Penhew is assistant leader of the team, and in charge of excavations.
Dr. Robert Huston, a fashionable 'Freudian' psychologist, accompanies the expedition to pursue parallel researches into ancient pictographs.
Miss Hypatia Masters, linked in the past to Carlyle, will act as photographer and archivist.
Mr. Jack Brady, intimate to Mr. Carlyle, accompanies the group as general factotum.
Additional members may be secured while in London.
-New York Evening Post - April 5, 1919

New York Evening Post wrote: CARLYLE DEPARTS EGYPT

CAIRO(AP) - Sir Aubrey Penhew, temporary spokesman for the Carlyle Expedition, indicated Monday that the leaders are taking ship to East Africa for a 'well-earned rest.'
Sir Aubrey debunked rumors that the expedition had discovered clues to the legendary wealth of the lost mines of King Solomon, maintaining that the party was going on safari "in respite from our sandy labors."
Roger Carlyle, wealthy New York leader of the expedition, was unavailable for comment, still suffering from his recent sunstroke.
Discussing that unfortunate incident, local experts declared Egypt entirely too hot for Anglo-Saxons at this time of year, and suggested that the young American had not been well-served by his democratic enthusiasm, rumored to have led him to personally wield pick and shovel.
-New York Evening Post - July 3, 1919

New York Evening Post wrote: IMPORTANT-VISITORS

MOMBASA (Reuters) - Leading members of an American archaeological expedition arrived here on holiday from digs in Egypt's Nile Valley.
Our Under-Secretary, Mr. Royston Whittingdon, held a welcoming dinner for them at Collingswood House, where the wit of Sir Aubrey Penhew expedition co-leader, was much in evidence.
Accompanying Sir Aubrey are two Americans youthful financier Roger Carlyle and medical doctor Robert Huston.
The party leaves inland tomorrow, for Nairobi and hunting.
-New York Evening Post, July 24, 1919

New York Evening Post wrote: CARLYLE EXPEDITION FEARED LOST

MOMBASA (Reuters) - Uplands police representatives today asked for public assistance concerning the disappearance of the Carlyle Expedition. No word of the party has been received in nearly two months.
The group includes wealthy playboy Roger Carlyle and three other American citizens, as well as respected Egyptologist Sir Aubrey Penhew of the United Kingdom.
The expedition left Nairobi on August 3, ostensibly on camera safari, but rumor insisted that they actually were after legendary Biblical treasures.
Carlyle and his party reportedly intended to explore portions of the Great Rift Valley, to the northwest of Nairobi.
-New York Evening Post - Oct 15, 1919

New York Evening Post wrote: ERICA CARLYLE ARRIVES IN AFRICA

MOMBASA (Reuters) - In response to clues, Miss Erica Carlyle, sister to the American leader of the lost Carlyle Expedition, arrived in port today aboard the Egyptian vessel Fount of Life.
Several Kikuyu-villager reports recently have been received concerning the putative massacre of unnamed whites near Aberdare Forest.
Miss Carlyle declared her intention to find her brother, regardless of the effort needed. She brought with her the nucleus of a large expedition.
Detailing agents to coordinate supply and other activities with Colony representatives, Miss Carlyle and the remainder of her party depart for Nairobi tomorrow.
Her companion, Mrs. Victoria Post indirectly emphasized Miss Carlyle's purposefulness by recounting the rigors of the voyage aboard the Semite ship.
-New York Evening Post March 11, 1920

New York Evening Post wrote: CARLYLE MASSACRE CONFIRMED

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The massacre of the long-missing Carlyle Expedition was confirmed today by district police representatives.
Roger Carlyle, New York's rollicking playboy, is counted among the missing.
Authorities blame hostile Nandi tribesmen for the shocking murders. Remains of at least two dozen expedition members and bearers are thought found in several concealed grave sites.
Erica Carlyle, Roger Carlyle's sister and apparent heiress to the Carlyle family fortune, led the dangerous search for her brother and his party. She credited Kikuyu tribesmen for the discovery, though police actually found the Site.
Among other expedition members believed lost are Sir Aubrey Penhew noted Egyptologist; New York socialite Hypatia Masters, and Dr. Robert Huston. Many bearers also are reported dead.
-New York Evening Post - May 24, 1920

New York Evening Post wrote: MURDERERS HANGED

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Five Nandi tribesmen, convicted ringleaders of the vicious Carlyle Expedition massacre, were executed this morning after a short, expertly-conducted trial.
To the end, the tribesmen steadfastly refused to reveal where they had hidden the bodies of the white leaders of the expedition. Mr. Harvis, acting for the Colony, cleverly implied throughout the trial that the massacre was racial in motivation, and that the fair-skinned victims were taken to a secret location, there to suffer the most savage treatment.
Miss Erica Carlyle, defeated in her efforts to rescue her brother, left several weeks ago, but is surely comforted now by the triumph of justice.
-New York Evening Post - June 19, 1920
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3:15pm - Thursday 15th January, 1925

As Amy is leaving the library, James is about to set off for Manhattan, the bad weather means it'll take a while to get there. He considers not picking up the phone when it rings, but he can ill afford to turn away work.

"Marko Investigations, this is James Marko. Whaddya need?"

For a few seconds no one speaks at the other end of the line, and even when the silence is eventually broken James barely recognises his friend's voice.

<<James, it's Jackson. Bring your gun tonight, and take care in case they're watching>>
<<I thought it would be safe in New York, I should have known they'd be here too. Damn it, I'm sorry!>>


The phone line goes dead before James can even speak, leaving the detective holding the receiver, shocked at the stress in Elias' voice. In all the time that he's known the author James has never known anything to scare Jackson Elias.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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James thinks in stunned silence for a moment after the phone call. "Who could be after him this time and how serious is it if Jackson is this scared?"

He grimly gathers his things. Taking Elias' warning to heart he slips a knuckleduster into his pocket and his M1911 into its snug fitting shoulder holster. "Seven in the magazine, two spares: one in the jacket and one in the sock." James makes a mental note of his protection as he heads out the door. He'll take his car into Manhattan and get to the Coffee Pot as early as he can to scope the place out. He is careful to park the Model T close to the Coffee Pot, but out of sight. The isn't anything flashy, but if some one is keeping an eye out, James didn't want them to know he had a quick getaway available.

James leaves for Manhattan and as he drives tries to think back to before Jackson left - "Had he said anything about who he was looking into this time? He went to Africa didn't he?"
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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After Amy returns from the library, she gets ready for the meeting at the Coffee Pot. While it's far too cold to wear her red dress, she wears a lovely black sequined dress under her fleece overcoat. Her hair and makeup are as good as she is able to prepare them, for she wants to look her best when Jackson sees her. She can hardly wait to see him again after all these months.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Anderson finishes reading his papers and decides to go to the place that Amy told him.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Placing his trumpet and a cold weather outfit in a small hand suitcase Clark embark a bus to New York. He takes the rear sit and enjoys the early morning ride from Massasuchets across Providence, Rhode island to New York city. Luckily the weather was fair and it was a good time to exit Boston since forecast said a snow storm is coming.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Archie Tremayne had, after Oregon, found himself an elegant little garret in bohemian Greenwich Village. The hope had been that the artistic congregation of the Village would inspire his writing. Although, the cold winter, after so many hot years in India, was a serious shock. Fortunately, a friend in the Royal Navy had found a way to regularly supply Tremayne with decent Scotch through the Port of NY.

In any event, Tremayne was very pleased to learn of Jackson’s return. With any luck, Jackson would have some good stories of exploration.
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Re: Back at the Coffee Pot, 15th January 1925

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The weather remains fine and so Clark's bus isn't delayed too much, although at many points in the journey the bus slows to a crawl as it slivers perilously along roads only partially cleared of snow. Inside the city limits it's somewhat better, the edges of the street - sometimes including the entire sidewalk - have mounds of snow piled high, but most roads have been cleared enough for motor vehicles to travel in both directions.

Looking though the window of the bus Clark can see that the sidewalks are still bustling with busy New-Yorkers wrapped in overcoats and scarves, their breath clearly visible in the freezing January air.

Despite the poor road conditions, he's arrived safely in New York City and should be able to make it to the Coffee Pot with time to spare.


The Coffee Pot - Corner of 8th Avenue and West 23rd Street, New York City

James is the first to arrive at the Coffee Pot; he parks his Ford on 8th Avenue, close by, but safely out of sight of both the Coffee Pot and the Hotel Chelsea, where Jackson is likely to be staying as usual. Walking carefully from his parked car around to West 23rd Street nothing seems out of the ordinary. Other than the icy sidewalk and the heaped mounds of snow at the roadside, everything is exactly as it was back in June when the friends last met Jackson Elias. Yet the sun is already setting, and the temperature is dipping sharply. The streetlights illuminate the snow and the hustling pedestrians in a way that feels strangely eerie as James looks out for whoever it is that has so spooked his fearless friend Jackson Elias.

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The Coffee Pot

Inside the cafe it's business as usual, the proprietors Jimmy and Nel O'Healy are working behind the counter, while waitress Jenny serves the tables. Half the tables are taken and the atmosphere is a friendly mix of chatter, laughter, clinking cups and music from the radio set. The air is thick with the smell of coffee, cigarette smoke and damp wool; it is warm and cosy inside and it feels great to step in from the chilly evening.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Amy is the first to enter the Coffee Pot, barely able to contain her excitement. She is so eager to see Jackson that she arrives early, no longer able to wait. She looks around, but not surprisingly, none of the others is here yet.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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James sees Miss Lawrence enter The Coffee Pot early, "She must be eager to see her crush" he thinks. He steps aside into a nearby alleyway mouth and huddles up for warmth, though the cold metal of his gun on his side is ever present. He lights a cigarette and tried to inconspicuously watch The Coffee Pot and its entrance - a strange feeling in the air eats at him and he isn't quite sure what to make of Jackson's warning, but James wasn't ready to go in and bear the brunt of Miss Lawrence's prattle about Jackson all alone.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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William Jordan had gotten up early to go for a brisk walk in Central Park. The rush of his latest book launch had taken its toll and he needed something to take his mind of things, Elias' return would surely help distract him.
After a hearty breakfast and a short writing session, not working on anything big, just a few short stories, he grabbed his coat and hat and left his hotel.

On the way to the Coffee Pot, Jordan bought a fresh pack of cigarettes and smoked one in the cold air of 8th Avenue, before making his way inside. He didn't care about arriving too early, he'd have a cream coffee and write a few more lines before the party arrived.
"He said we were all cooked but we were all right as long as we did not know it. We were all cooked. The thing was not to recognize it."
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Relieved to be in the warmth inside the coffee shop, Amy unbuttons her coat. She turns to watch the entrance so that she can see when others arrive. She tries not to look disappointed when she sees that William Jordan is the next one through the door rather than Jackson. "Oh, hello, Mr. Jordan!" she calls with a smile and a wave, her eyes and her dress sparkling.
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Re: IC - Chapter 1 - New York, January 1925

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Seeing Mr. Jordan enter The Coffee Pot gave James a little more reason to head in. The man was smart, quick with a joke or story, and had a taste for the drink - James' kind of guy. He stamped out his cigarette, crossed the street and headed into cafe and out of the cold. He gave a quick order to a server "Coffee, black." he pointed to the table with Ms. Lawrence and Mr. Jordan, gave the server a smile, and headed over to greet his friends.


"Ice cold out there isn't it?" James smiled and extends his hand to William. "Good to see you Will, hope you're thirsty, I could use something to warm my bones."
He then gave Amy a smile, "Miss Lawrence, I hope school is treating you well."
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