Play@YSDC

Posted: **Thu Feb 14, 2019 10:20 pm**

The next few months pass quietly for the agents of S-Cell. There's no further manifestations of the murderous equation. But both of them find they have nightmares of being back in OUTLOOK custody. And there are times they are with their loved ones and really do wonder if they are real or if this is just part of another sick simulation of Dr. Yrjo.

Perhaps because of this, both of their relationships with their loved ones suffer. Nik finds himself growing impatient with his girlfriend, resenting her very presence. The fact that she did not like all the new cooking he had been doing only furthered his resentment. He's doing a decent job of hiding his anger with her, but Debbie seems to understand that something has changed between them, and is a little distant.

Vanessa may have it even worse. The horrors of the equation combined with being experimented on at OUTLOOK has left her shattered and her relationships in tatters. For a few weeks it looks as though Malcolm may just move out; even worse, he may take their dog with him, as Vanessa is skipping more and more of their walks and leaving him to take care of the animal. But something inside of her rebels, and she is not willing to give into despair yet. She takes Malcolm out for a few date nights and offers him an edited version of her last case being difficult, and it seems to satisfy him. He tells her once again he's there for her, but only she knows if she believes him. As for Rex, Vanessa makes herself walk and play with him more often, even when she finds it daunting, and gradually, her relationship improves with him as well. However, it's not a perfect fix in either case; Malcolm has stopped dropping hints of marriage, and Rex now seems to go to him more for comfort. The wounds she suffered in the last opera may never fully heal, but she tries her best to go on.

May 3rd, 2000

The agents are called into McRay's office early in the day.

"You've got another assignment. I won't be part of it this time, however; Your handler will be from another cell. This is likely for operational security reasons. After your last op, they probably don't want us tied together too closely.

"All I have been told is for you to head to Meadowbrook, New York. It's a modest suburban community about an hour upstate. You're to grab a coffee at Joe's Java a local eatery in the heart of the town. Once there, your handler will brief you. I'm not to know anything about this assignment; however, I've been informed that I will be pulling strings to get you assigned up there in an official capacity. Other than that, I can't help you.

"One final thing. According to the report I received, you'll be getting two new members to your cell, perhaps permanently. I don't know anything about them or their history in the organization, so you'll have to figure that out for yourselves. But if A-Cell is sending them in they're reasonably certain they're trustworthy. And they're also sure this operation needs some additional support, whatever it is, so be cautious. This assignment may be very dangerous."

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 3:14 am**

Nik nods. “Sounds like fun” he says without humour. “I can drive, Marchand” he tells Vanessa.

He goes off to fetch his travel bag.

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:47 am**

"Sure," says Vanessa, knowing at Nik is the better driver. "I'll ride shotgun. Speaking of shotguns, it sounds like we might need one. Or two."

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 5:14 am**

"Hell, I'll take a rifle or SMG if they'll give me one" Nik replies, bag in hand. "I'll probably use it on myself" he adds, pathetically. He is feeling sorry for himself.

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:45 am**

Equipped and ready(in as much as they can ever be) the agents head off.

Meadowbrook is a nice community, a perfectly captured postcard image of suburbia. It seems to be middle to upper middle class,and it is hard to imagine what sort of incident could bring them to this tranquil place. But the agents have been in towns like this before, and now know they are just as infected with the unnatural as anywhere else.

Joe's Java is a modest coffee shop down the middle of Meadowbrook's busiest street. It's bordered on one side by a bank; on the other, by a hair salon.

It's still early afternoon when they arrive there,and the place is only sparsely filled, mostly with what look to be college students from the local university, but one or two professionals are enjoying coffee and a bagel and quietly reading the morning paper. No one seems to pay them any attention, or stands out as being part of Delta Green.

It occurs to both agents that they would likely be meeting with the rest of their team here, and it might be best to wait for them to arrive.

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:02 am**

Nik has selected an H&K MP5 for himself, which he wisely locks in the trunk of the car with its spare clips. His pessimistic mood lifts a little as they drive through the countryside, as he wonders what these new agents will be like. It’s not often he gets to meet other DG people.

In the café he orders a latte and a sandwich, wondering how Marchand is holding up lately.

Posted: **Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:07 am**

I walk in dressed like a tourist with a camera too nice for a tourist. Hawaiian shirt with loud colors, khaki shorts, white new balance "dad sneakers" with parted brown hair and brown eyes. Body type of an athletic 29 year old. I go by Charley (only my uncle calls me Chaz) I'm walking the line between hiding in plain sight and sticking out like a sore thumb and it's hard to decide which side of that line I'm on at any given minute.

Posted: **Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:10 am**

Vanessa took a shotgun, which she also stored in the trunk along with a box of ammo. She also took a Kevlar vest if one was available.

She orders a grilled cheese and coffee. She's doing better, all things considered, though she'll never be the same again. She groans inwardly when she sees the man in the Hawaiian shirt. "Somebody's trying too hard," she whispers to Nik. "Or not hard enough."

Posted: **Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:22 am**

Nik tries not to laugh. "I get the feeling he's with us. This'll be a riot".

He watches the man to see what he will do.

Posted: **Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:00 am**

Taking a quick look around the room I don't try too hard to spot my contacts right away. Walking up to the counter I'll take a minute looking at the menu, order a large capucinno before leaning on a counter to wait and taking another quick glance around, more to gauge any interest focused on me and the general layout of the room, exits and people who could be a threat. After picking up my order I'll look around more obviously, trying to emulate someone meeting old friends.

Posted: **Mon Feb 18, 2019 11:07 pm**

OOC: Going to update now; Lwunder, if still interested, I'll be happy to retcon you in.

After a few more minutes a newcomer enters the coffee shop. He's wearing an expensive suit and tie, but his fashion sense seems to have frozen sometime in the mid 80's, and he looks more comical than suave. He calmly heads to the counter and buys a latte, then makes his way over to Nik and Vanessa. If Chaz is still keeping his distance, he shoots him a look and expects him to come over.

Close up, its apparent the man is in his 40's but looks much older. Wrinkles and heavy bags form under his eyes, and he has a distant look in his eyes. Then he seems to come to life, and his eyes become more focused.

"Right, you're my team? No names from either end. Call me CHARLIE. "

"You'll all been assigned to this particular Opera. Your mission is to investigate the recent death of FBI Special Agent Arthur Donnelley. Agent Donnelley had a storied career, most recently working for our office in Trenton, New Jersey. He was also a veteran agent of our group. It is alleged that he killed himself two weeks ago. We wish for you to investigate this, and confirm or deny Unnatural involvement with it.Your investigation in particular should focus on 1206
Spooner Avenue, the house where Agent Donnelley was found. Evidence seems to suggest that he was also obsessed with this house, and we need to know if it poses an active threat."

He takes a sip of his drink, grimaces and continues. "A little over two weeks ago, Agent Donnelley was reported missing by his ex-wife. A mundane FBI investigation by his colleagues led them to 1206 Spooner. They found his body in the master bedroom on the second floor. His throat had been cut cleanly, as with a straight razor. Though no weapon was found, the coroner ruled it a suicide. It would end there... except that just over a year ago the house's last owner was found dead in the same exact room, under the same exact circumstances." He lets this hang in the air for a moment.

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:07 am**

“Why was he so interested in this house?” asks Nik, casting a sidelong glance at their new companion. “Because of that one death? Or is there more to it?”

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 3:55 am**

"Did Agent Donnellley keep notes on it?" asks Vanessa.

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 4:03 am**

I'll pick up on the hint and make my way over with a smile "There you guys are!" Snapping a picture. After listening to everyone- "Not to mention a suicide with no weapon found? Does the fbi get alot of stiffs hiding thier own weapons after the fact? Seems fishy."

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 6:48 am**

"The house has been suspected in the past of influencing people's behavior. I don't know much more than that. From what I've gathered, it has something of a reputation. I suggest you both employ extreme caution and do some research before jumping into anything.

To Chaz he replies, "Thankfully the FBI itself helped us here. No one wants the embarrassment of having one of their agents have a bizarre mental breakdown that ends with their death. Some pressure was put on the locals to declare this a suicide. Apparently Agent Donnelley had a history of being anti social and aloof for awhile before his death. We don't know how much of this was due to the influence of the house or the normal hazards of the job." It's not clear which job he is referring to here. "You'll all be assigned to this case by your respective offices, as a routine procedure to ensure everything is above board and nothing was amiss with the agent's death..

"As for notes, we sent in a team of Friendlies to search his place, and they found nothing related to the house there. We do know that Agent Donnelley has used a Store-It box for past operations. We've not been able to examine it, but it might prove useful. Exercise caution, however. We don't have a full inventory of what objects are in this unit. Some may possess unnatural hypergeometric properties.

"Lastly, we have two friendlies in the area who may be able to assist you. Neither of them are agents, and both are kept on a need to know basis, so tell them as little as possible. The first is Dr. Emil Yarrow ,a professor of abnormal psychology and parapsychologist. He teaches at Fulton College a few towns over. Second is Elizabeth Tucker. She's an antiques dealer who lives right here in Meadowbrook. I don't have knowledge on either of their past operations, and neither of them know a thing about this opera. Bring them in if and only if you feel they may be useful in some way."

CHARLIE rises to his feet, finishing the rest of his drink. " Here's a card with all the pertinent information." He slides the contact info for the two friendlies as well as the address for the storage unit, along with a final unmarked number. "That last one is my direct line. Call when you've determined the cause of Agent Donnelley's death and what, if anything, is going on at 1206 Spooner. Be seeing you." Without another word he turns to leave, though the agents may be able to still say something to him before he walks out.

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:49 pm**

“Great!” says Nik, watching the man leave. “More fun to be had. I hope it’s not like the last time we cleared up after a dead agent, Marchand.” he says, thinking back to the horror in the desert. “Why don’t we go and check out this storage unit?”

He turns to the newcomer and extends his hand. “I’m Agent Stanley, but you can call me Nik. It’s easier to pronounce than my last name.”

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 3:39 pm**

"Hi Im uh Charley too." Shaking Niks hand a bit awkwardly. "What happened last time there was a dead agent?"

Posted: **Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:49 pm**

"You don't want to know," says Vanessa. "He actually died of natural causes, but it was what he left behind that was problematic. That's why we'll have to very careful with whatever we find in that storage unit, but that's our logical first step. I'm Agent SALLY, but you can call me Vanessa." She shakes hands too.

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:34 am**

More curious now I decide not to push the issue. "Nice to meet you Vanessa. Shall we?"

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:59 am**

“Yes” says Nik, rising to his feet. “Why don’t you follow us in your car, Charley”.

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:11 am**

"Will do." Im a fast driver so keeping up shouldn't be a problem.

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 5:33 am**

The Meadowbrook Store-It is a short car drive away. It includes about 50 large storage sheds, visible and surrounded by a four-meter fence topped with razor wire. A single, two-room trailer stands at the entrance of the lot, and looks to be the only entrance into the place.

Looking down at the notes they were given, the agents learn that the storage unit was not in Donnelley's name but a Mr. Felix Greene.

The insides of the trailer are cramped, and there's little in the way of furnishings for guests. A large counter takes up most of the room, and a balding, slightly overweight man sits on a chair behind the counter, his feet up on it as he watches a small overhead TV to the left of the the entrance. (Judge Judy is currently berating a plaintiff on it). A side door leads out to the storage units.

The man only reluctantly pulls his attention from the TV and back to the agents. "Help you folks?" He asks with barely concealed disinterest.

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 5:48 am**

“Hi” says Nik. “Storage unit of Felix Greene please.”

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:59 am**

The man-- his name tag reads Brian-- looks at them and gives them a smile that resembles a used car salesman.

"Really? Unit 2230, then? Well I'm afraid we have a bit of a problem. Mr. Greene is nine months behind on his rent, and the number and address he provided are no longer valid, so I haven't been able to get in touch with him. I've never met Greene either. The only person who's accessed that unit that I can recall is an..." he makes a show of looking through papers, "Here we are, Mr. Arthur Donnelley. Oh right, I know him, fellow who killed himself a few weeks ago. Tragic."

"Anyway, if you want access to the unit, you're going to have to pay the late fees. Along with the renewal fee and interest for all the back pay I'm owed. That comes to about... $1,500." The grin gets wider. "And I'll need that in cash."

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 1:59 pm**

Nik folds his arms across his chest.

“Out of interest, what did you charge Mr. Donnelley to access Mr. Greene’s things?” he asks. “I mean, you’re willing to let us have them for a price. Are you like that with every storage unit in this place?”

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 9:41 pm**

"I didn't give him access," Brian replies. "The night employee did. New to the job, he did not realize you don't just let anyone who shows up and asks access a storage unit, especially when their name's not on the lease and said unit is nine months back on rent.

"And please don't mistake my intentions; you knew Greene's name is on the unit, so I assumed you know the man himself. Are you implying otherwise? Because if you know the man, I assume you're here to pay the balance he owes me. I'm happy to square it up with you if that's the case. Otherwise, I can't help you."

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 10:35 pm**

"If you've heard about Arthur Donnelley's tragic passing," says Vanessa, "you know that he worked for the FBI." She produces her identification and shows it to him. "So do we. It's our job to follow up on this."

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 11:16 pm**

Brian's smile dips slightly, but he quickly catches himself.

"While I of course want am a friend to a law enforcement, the fact of the matter is Mr. Greene has used my premises without pay for going on nine months now. I assume the bureau is willing to compensate me for all this? Please, give me your supervisor's number, if you would."

"Or maybe, if the FBI's alright with cheating a hard working small business owner out of his payment, maybe the media should be involved."

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2019 11:54 pm**

"And you'll be able to follow the story from your jail cell if you continue to obstruct our investigation. Hell they probably even have Judge Judy." Changing my tone I walk forward and put a hand on his desk. "Or you can help us now and we'll male sure you get whats owed to you."

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 6:24 am**

OOC: I think this is a good time for a persuade roll Borderline

.

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 6:42 am**

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:55 am**

The man looks deep into Chaz's eyes, clearly attempting to gauge how serious he is. Finally, he breaks first, and his smile drops completely.

"Fine." He grabs a key. "Unit 2230, fourth row on the right. But I mean what I said. If I don't get payment, I'm going to the media with this.." he looks at Vanessa as he says this, who he has seen the identification of.

The agents can proceed onward to the unit. The key works, and they find themselves in the large storage unit. Much was here, and it might takes hours to go through it all. But they catch sight of several things:

Several pieces of furniture, including two twin sized mattresses and a sofa bed, are piled into a corner.

Three containers marked with the yellow bio hazard warning, along with two gallons of gasoline. All of these appear empty.

Two bags of quicklime along with two shovels.

Four pairs of work gloves.

Three keys taped together in a piece of cardboard, unlabeled.

A box loaded with dozens if not hundreds of rounds of 12-gauge shotgun buckshot. Another box holds two new shotguns with the serial numbers filed off.

A set of various fake ID's, all of which are made out to Arthur Donnelley. Everything from medical examiner to an inspector for the local gas company, and all featuring the same unsmiling picture of the man.

A telephoto lens and camera, along with a set of 24 photos of a home at various times of the day. In some of them the house is completely visible; in others, it's so dark only the outline can be seen.

Several books on a table, standard notebooks of some sort.

A vintage fireman's axe from the 1900, worn down but still apparently quite sharp.

And lastly, a crumbling, four-foot-long wooden coffin, covered
in recent dirt.

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 9:03 am**

“This is pretty much what I expected. Standard DG collectibles” Nik says looking around.

“I hope to Christ there’s no vampire in here” he adds, eyeing the coffin warily. He looks at it more closely to see if he can open it.

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:15 am**

I give an uneasy laugh looking at Nik and hoping he's joking. As I move into position to help him "I could hold onto the camera, maybe theres more on the roll. I always develop all my own film."

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 7:09 pm**

"I wouldn't open that coffin," says Vanessa. "You never know. I think it's the notebooks we really want anyway." She picks them up and begins to leaf through them.

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 9:51 pm**

The coffin lid looks heavy but it should be easily openable with a bit of exertion. A plaque on the front of the coffin reads ANTON TURÉ, 1957–1966

As for the camera, Chaz finds no further film. But the camera itself is top notch, and a new model. It's likely it was purchased within the last year or so.

Ever the investigator, Vanessa looks over the notebooks. There are several here, and in a sloppy penmanship that seems to get worse as they go along:

I'm putting this down for anyone who may come after me, who uses this green box for their own ops. Let's be honest; every agent eventually leaves notes like this. The unlucky ones, at any rate.

1206 Spooner Avenue has haunted my mind for many years. I grew up in Meadowbrooke, and we kids all told spooky stories about the “witch's house.” It was kid bullshit, none of us believed it as we grew older and became accountants and lawyers. Even when I entered into Delta Green and came face to face with things that would have frightened my very nightmares, I never considered it as anything more than folklore.

Tycroft's death changed that. Something about it did not ring right. I investigated the house, pretending to be a buyer to see if I found something strange. But instead, I found myself actually considering buying the Spooner house. These thoughts were so seductive, so alien,and yet coming from within me. For a few months I had to give all my banking information over to my ex-wife, so that she could prevent me from doing anything rash. Yet, like a cold, I was able to eventually shake it off. Things returned to normal, at least as much as they ever do. This has inspired me to write this journal, to transcribe my investigations into the matter:

A space indicates a new entry:

Sent word to A-Cell a few weeks ago about Spooner. They've yet to reply.

How much longer must I wait?

Someone else is buying the house. The UAE woman. I tried to warn her, but the look in her eyes was that of a zealot. It was my look. Could not be convinced, and I could not bring myself to do worse. I'll keep watch.

She rarely leaves the house. Spends a lot of money in local antique shops. Is she looking for something?

Dead. Suicide they say, but I know the house did it. I could have prevented this. I should have. A-Cell won't answer my calls, I'm going to investigate myself.

Can feel it's pull on me once again, but I need to resist. Cannot let the mirrors in.

The writing is now nearly ineligible, and Vanessa has to strain to read the last pages of notes:

Ture= not dead! Roaming the house? Lonely at night/Grave.

Shovel, gloves, cash?

Burn it? Crease tried, didn't work. Others.

Talk to survivors/ Canadian mental health laws??

Music from dining room/ laughter from (illegible) upstairs.

Someone else in house/ not returning calls

Tycroft death? Coroner?

Wheeler furniture/books, letters? Estate?

AX MAKES NO SENSE

Spoke to it tonight. It knows my name that I'm WATCHING it. Taunting.

Open house next week, must take action. Buy it/Burn it?

Posted: **Thu Feb 21, 2019 11:38 pm**

As I roll the diary around in my head I look at Nik with a nod as if to say "Are we really not going to open the coffin?" I steel myself for something horrible still wondering about different passages of the odd writing.

Posted: **Fri Feb 22, 2019 1:29 am**

"No, we should open the coffin after all," says Vanessa. "It turns out to be relevant to this case. Otherwise, it would be better to let sleeping corpses lie. If there's even a corpse in there. It may very well be empty."

Posted: **Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:00 am**

"Looks like I'm right about the vampire" Nik says. He grimaces when he looks at the dates on the coffin, but takes out a pair of latex gloves, and a spare for Charley.

"Give me a hand, Charley. Marchand, weapon ready. Better be safe."

He starts to prise the lid from the coffin.

Posted: **Fri Feb 22, 2019 7:17 am**

I glove up. "So" as I give a test pull on the lid "what do you think of the diary?"

Posted: **Fri Feb 22, 2019 8:34 am**

The men find it puzzling, but Vanessa can tell that Donnelley suffered a rapid lose of sanity as he began to focus on the house, and seemed to have developed some sort of obsession with it. By the end he seemed very nearly psychotic. He did not date any of the entries, so It's a little hard to determine just how rapid this mental collapse was, but it still seems concerning.

The agents take a deep breath and force open the lid, attempting to brace themselves for what they may find. Inside are the skeletal remains of what looks to be a small child, rotted to the point of near disintegration. Thankfully, it is unmoving.

Posted: **Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:38 am**

My name is Walter Archibald unremarkable appearance; brown, lightly graying hair worn short. His time outdoors has given him a deep tan and a somewhat weathered appearance. In daily life he wears a business suit, although his clothes are in very goof condition they are obviously not recent purchases.
Hello all my name is Walter Archibald I've been just watching for a while sorry I haven't spoken up. Pleased to join the team

Posted: **Sat Feb 23, 2019 5:35 am**

OOC: Eh?

Nik looks down at the body. The sight depresses him.

“This is the kid who’s roaming the house at night? Mind you, Donnelly just mentions ‘Ture’, doesn’t he? Maybe there’s more family members in the town. We’ll have to find out something about him. Check the town records if there’s nothing in the system. Best leave him here for now.”

He begins to carefully search the coffin. As he does so, he addresses Charley without looking up.

“I would take the standpoint of believing everything in that diary for now, Charley” he says. “It’ll be safer that way.”

Posted: **Sat Feb 23, 2019 8:25 am**

"Understood. I'll definitely want to take a closer look at that book. If we want to come back here we better make sure the owner gets paid, maybe even have us put us in touch with the worker he mentioned. Might gain some insight from knowing when Agent Donelly came and went along with any other strange behavior he may have exhibited." As I speak I work my way to the other corner of the unit looking behind and under a few things."Anyone object to me cutting into that mattress?"

Posted: **Sat Feb 23, 2019 8:59 am**

OOC: Lwunder is our new player, he did not see the thread earlier so I had to bring him in late. Assume you guys met his agent at the coffee shop but he said few words until now for whatever reason. And yes Nik can make a search. In future, feel free to make any roll you guys like. Unless it is completely unplazable I'll probably allow it.

From a cursory inspection, there seems to be no hidden switches or anything else of note in the child's coffin, save the remains and an outfit that once probably fit them.

The mattress itself looks as though it has seen some use. None of you would feel comfortable on taking a rest on it before it underwent a thorough cleaning.

Posted: **Sat Feb 23, 2019 1:56 pm**

Silver Priest wrote:
OOC: Lwunder is our new player, he did not see the thread earlier so I had to bring him in late. Assume you guys met his agent at the coffee shop but he said few words until now for whatever reason. And yes Nik can make a search. In future, feel free to make any roll you guys like. Unless it is completely unplazable I'll probably allow it.

OOC: Yes thank you Silver Priest sorry I didn't see the thread earlier, because I didn't subscribe to it somehow I didn't. Hope i can catch up.
From a cursory inspection, there seems to be no hidden switches or anything else of note in the child's coffin, save the remains and an outfit that once probably fit them.

The mattress itself looks as though it has seen some use. None of you would feel comfortable on taking a rest on it before it underwent a thorough cleaning.

Posted: **Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:59 pm**

Nik

“Knock yourself out, Charley” says Nik. He’s satisfied there is nothing with the body and replaces the lid of the coffin.

He looks over the notebooks again and starts compiling a list of names to check with the field office, and to see if there are any local listings.

Tycroft
Ture, Anton
Crease
Wheeler

“What does he mean by ‘UAE woman”? wonders Nik, aloud. “United Arab Emirates? I can’t think of any other acronyms. She was checking the antique stores, we might be able to find out what she was looking for if we can get more information on her. Didn’t our contact mention a local name for us? Elizabeth Tucker? We might have to go see her.”

“We should also find out what the situation is regarding ownership of the house. If it really is that dangerous we might have to persuade DG to buy it. I’m gonna run the address through the computers too, see if anything comes up. If it’s still on the market, I’ll find the realtor.”

He gets out his phone and starts making calls.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 3:07 am**

I get out my knife akd cut into the matress and begin digging around to see if anything is hidden inside.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 6:21 am**

Charley cuts into the mattress, and discovers nothing out of the ordinary within. It seems likely Donnelley, or somebody, was just using this to sleep on.

Nik makes a few calls to the field office, but finds limited help. Seems the bureau is finding themselves tied up with other cases,and investigating the apparent suicide of an agent from another office is a low priority. He is given an address for the County Seat building of MeadowBrooke. Any records relating to the town - and 1206 Spooner- would likely be found there. In addition, while they don't have the address for a realtor,a town this size is not likely to have more than a few, so it should be fairly easy to track down whoever is responsible for the house and see if it's still on market.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:29 am**

Nik finishes the calls and informs the others of the results.

“Looks like the town records is a place to start. Do the rest of you want to search around this stuff some more? I think we’ve seen all there is to see for now.”

He grabs the notebooks and looks for something to put them in.

“We should take that ax too. It seems significant. And forget paying that prick out front. I’ll get the crime scene tape from the car and let’s seal this place off. It’s an active scene until we say otherwise so we have jurisdiction. But don’t say anything about the body. Yet. We all good with this?”

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:16 pm**

I take a picture of the unit and give the I.D.s to Nik to include with the notebooks. "You've been quiet Walter, any thoughts?"

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2019 5:24 pm**

I stand by watching not really sure what's going on.

Posted: **Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:13 am**

Nik leaves to go out to the car for the tape. As he passes the reception area, he tells the employee that the unit is now a crime scene and is not to be disturbed.

Posted: **Tue Feb 26, 2019 5:40 am**

"Sounds like a plan," says Vanessa as Nik leaves. While she waits, she takes a good look around to make sure she didn't miss anything.

Posted: **Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:50 am**

OOC: Nik, please give me an Int roll*5

Nik finds a few shopping bags from the local grocery. There's a receipt in one of them; apparently Donnelley was drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages.

The axe is well worn, but looks sharp enough to still be used. The most noteworthy thing about it is strange writings on the side of it.

OOC: occult role from anyone examining the axe

As Nik leaves, The rest of the team searches the unit but cannot find anything they may have missed.

Posted: **Tue Feb 26, 2019 11:38 am**

Posted: **Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:41 pm**

There's something in the back of Nik's mind, but he can't quite figure it out. It was probably nothing. He heads out and talks to Brian. The man's eyes widen as Nik tells him the news.

"What do you mean it's a crime scene? I'm still getting paid, right?"

He's able to bring the tape back and seal off the scene.

Charley meanwhile examines the axe. The writings seem to be runes of some sort, and he recognizes them as warding and protection runes of some sort. As he picks it up, he feels a sense of calm and inner focus. But he also feels a strange and alien presence in his mind. It says nothing, but is slightly disturbing nonetheless.

OOC: Your first san roll Borderline! Please roll san 0/1 lose if you fail.

Everyone else can make an unnatural roll, if you have the skill to try and ascertain more information about the axe.

Posted: **Wed Feb 27, 2019 4:24 am**

Vanessa can't tell much about the unnatural axe. "I don't know anything about that axe," she says, "but it looks dangerous. If you feel the strange urge to do a Jack Nicholson impression, resist it."

Posted: **Wed Feb 27, 2019 6:31 am**

Posted: **Wed Feb 27, 2019 6:33 am**

"I dont know about urge to do a Jack Nicholson impression but definitely an urge to take it with me everywhere I go."

Posted: **Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:30 pm**

Nik
“Look, Brian” Nik says, testily. “Speaking as a lawyer, you have to make a claim against your client’s estate for your money, or take it out with your insurance. You want to demand money from Feds to enter a crime scene? How’s that going to look having a crime scene at your business? How many people need to know about it? Ease off a little, hey?”

He returns to the lock-up.

Nik is preoccupied about thinking about the strange ax.

"Why did Donnelly say this ax made no sense when it is obviously the most important artifact here? Why did he write about it in capitals?" he wonders aloud to the others.

Posted: **Wed Feb 27, 2019 5:56 pm**

OOC: have fun guys

Posted: **Wed Feb 27, 2019 8:55 pm**

Brian sulks and mutters to himself, but makes no move to stop Nik , who returns to the unit and proceeds to place tape around it.

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 3:27 am**

Vanessa thinks she knows exactly why the axe didn't make sense to Donnelly.

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 3:45 am**

Nik is still thinking about the ax.

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:19 am**

Thinking about it more critically, it seems likely to the agents that Donnelley had some form of fear or paranoia regarding the axe. Vanessa in particular examines the handwriting and finds Donnelley's letters more stressed and sloppy than other parts of his notes. It seems to be the same handwriting, but something about the axe seems to have almost frightened him and caused him great distress; in some way, stress that seemed even worse than his fear of the house.

OOC: town hall next? It's about 3 in the afternoon.

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:24 am**

OOC: Sure. I think we've done all we can here for now.

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:32 am**

OOC: Great, will move us on then. Let me know if you guys take anything with you from the storage area.

The town records building was located a few blocks away. It was a two-story marble building that could most charitably be described as having plenty of character. There is parking just out front, but no other cars here, suggesting the building received little in the ways of guests. As soon as the agents enter, they come to the attention of the desk clerk, a twenty-something fellow in disheveled clothing and with unkempt hair. He gives them a dopey grin.

"Hey folks. How can I help you today?'

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:49 am**

OOC: Nik brings the ax and the notes.

“Hi there!” says Nik cheerfully. “Can I ask you where you keep property records? Also, I’d like to see birth and death records if I may? Plus local phone listings too, if you happen to have them.”

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 6:02 am**

"Sure thing! We have records of purchase, records of sale, zoning records and death certificates going all the way back to 1940. Were you guys looking for anything in particular? I'll go fetch it for you and bring it out for you to review. You can't leave with the records unfortunately, but we don't close for two hours so you should hopefully be able to find what you need by then."

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:07 am**

“Wow, that’s great!” Nik tells the clerk. “Well, first we’d like to see the records for 1206 Spooner Avenue. I’d like the birth and death certificates for an Anton Ture, born 1957 died 1966, and any listings for the following family names; Tycroft, Ture, Crease and Wheeler. This is really helpful, man! Say, what’s your name?”

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:59 pm**

"Anthony Freeman. You can just call me Tony though. Everyone does."

"He writes down Nik's requests, giving no apparent reaction to the mention of the Spooner house.

"Wow, That's a lot of files. You folks doing a genealogy project or something?" He leans in close and his voice falls to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, I'm not supposed to be doing this, but to be honest you guys are the first people to show up this week asking for anything other than 'where's the bathroom?' If you'd like to come back to the file room you can look for yourselves. Would probably save time.."

If agreed, he leads them back to the storage area of the town's records. The record room is a barely controlled mishmash of water-stained boxes, photo sheets, and 28 huge pre-World War II filing cabinets. Papers do not seem to be filed here so much as abandoned.

"Most of our funds have been diverted to the new library going up on Palmtree," Tony explains. "So the records have fallen a bit into disrepair. Still, everything since 1940 should be here. And since I'm not doing anything else I'll be happy to help you dig up those things you were looking for."

Posted: **Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:26 am**

Nik’s heart sinks when he sees the mess.

“Don’t these assholes give a shit about their town?” he thinks.

“Sure Tony” he says. “Can you help me look up the Spooner address?”

Posted: **Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:19 am**

With Tony's help, Vanessa has better luck finding the information they need.

Posted: **Fri Mar 01, 2019 7:58 am**

Tony gamely assists Nik and Vanessa, both of whom take to looking up information on 1206 Spooner. Vanessa gets the feeling he's a genuinely helpful person. But she also thinks this is probably the most exciting thing that's happened this month for him, at least on the job, which is one reason he's so eager to assist.

Nik is unable to find anything, and all the home applications begin to bleed together pretty quickly for him. Vanessa however has more luck, and with Tony's assistance finds information on 1206 Spooner after about an hour. The house is from the turn of the last century, built in 1907 by a Michael Weaver, who moved into it with his wife Isabelle.

The house next exchanged hands in 1956, when George Crease moved in. In 1959 it was purchased by a Michael Dougherty, but was sold once again to Adam Ture and his family in 1960. The house went on the market again in 1963, when a Jonathon Reese purchased it.

In 1967 Dr. George Weaver purchased the property. In 1970, Thomas Greeley and his family moved in. 1974 saw Peter Diaz buy the house; 1978, Gareth Gedjos. 1980, Jason Aiken. 1984, John Tyler. 1988, Louis Tycroft. 1992, Amanda Braintree. 1994, Andrea Falcone. 1999, Yamilla Isari. And presently in 2000 the house is listed as up for sale by Ryan Realty Services.

None of the fates of the homeowners are described in these particular records, but this seems like a remarkable amount of turnover for one house.

Posted: **Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:30 pm**

Nik's heart starts to quicken as he looks at the list of names. Things are starting to connect. He wants to talk with the others, but it will have to wait until they are clear of Tony. He starts to make notes, and as he does so, he makes a new request.

“This is great Tony. But actually, I changed my mind for now. Can we have a look for any records relating to Michael and Isabelle Weaver, the original owners of the house?

Posted: **Sat Mar 02, 2019 5:39 am**

"I'll look up the second name on the list, George Crease," says Vanessa. That was one of the ones on Donnelley's list.

Posted: **Sat Mar 02, 2019 12:53 pm**

I hesitate a minute before leaving the storage unit. Caressing the wooden handle of the axe slightly I'm snapped back to attention by the call to leave. I pack the axe and camera in my trunk and follow in my car. Once in the file room I make friendly conversation with Charlie asking when he works, since he's sich a rockstar and we may need his help again. If he's available during the time I'm looking I will also enlist him to help. "Guess I'll start at the other end and check out Yamilla Isari. Who came before her? Andrea Falcone?"

Posted: **Sun Mar 03, 2019 5:55 am**

Tony frowns. "I really wish I could, but according to the files here the Weavers first moved in in 1906, right? We only keep files going back to 1940. Finding anything before then is just plain not possible.

Nik however proves persuasive, and after a few moments the clerk relents. "I'll tell you what. If you buy me lunch I'll see about digging up what I can on them. I have a few things I should be able to check. I'll try to have them for you folks by tomorrow, but no promises. Depends how busy I get."

Vanessa and Charles get to work on what they can find on some of the names.

Vanessa researches George Crease. It's not too hard to find information on him, and she soon discovers why. He and his wife Margaret moved into the house in 1956. They soon set about remodeling the home, turning it from a early century home to a modern one for the time, with a water heater,a modern refrigerator, and improved wiring. Margaret apparently then spent an exorbitant sum to restore huge wall mirrors in the master bedroom, and then allowed a local home magazine to take pictures of it. They were included in the article, and reveal a room in which every surface is covered in full length mirrors. It looks a bit disconcerting just looking at pictures of it. The Creases are positioned in front of the mirrors, both staring at the camera with a blank expression on their faces.

The next article Vanessa finds reveals that in mid 1959, George Crease drove to a sporting
goods shop, bought a double-barrel shotgun and a box of 20 shells, drove home, and shot his wife and then himself. Margaret had been shot in front of the a mirror in the master bedroom, and most of her head was embedded in the broken glass. George had set fire to the house before shooting himself, but a neighbor, Afred Uleski, extinguished the fire before it could spread.

In the days after the murder-suicide, friends mentioned that the couple had seemed off for quite awhile. Margaret had become rude and pushy, while George, never a very religious man, had taken a keen interest in church in the months before his crime. Still, nothing prepared the community for the violent act, and it seems to have shaken the town.

Charley learns that Tony works weekdays at the office, from 8 to 6. Then he does some research of his own.

He finds limited information on Andrea Falcone, save that she had purchased the home in 1994 after moving to the area with her young son. She lived in the home for five years, and was regarded by most neighbors as quiet from the very start. In early January of 1999 she was found suffocated in her bedroom by her son; the cause of death was ruled a previously undiagonosed medical condition.

There's a little more on Yamilla Isari. An exchange student from the United Arab Emirates, she had apparently seen the house while in town one weekend and fallen in love with it. Reports indicate that she had made Andrea Falcone an offer to buy it, but this was apparently not taken. Within a week of the house being on the market after Falcone's passing, she had purchased it from Ryan Realty Services. She spent a few months decorating the home to her liking, and was seen frequently in many local antique and furniture stores. Then as soon as she started purchasing she stopped, and became something of a recluse.

In late December of 1999, she was discovered dead, her throat cut in a manner consistent with a straight razor. The coroner estimated the death had occurred a few days before. But the weapon itself was apparently never found.

Posted: **Sun Mar 03, 2019 1:17 pm**

I'll continue right up the list and check on Amanda Braintree.

Posted: **Sun Mar 03, 2019 3:39 pm**

“It's okay, Tony” says Nik reassuringly. “It doesn’t need to go that far back. Any records on them will do. And sure, I’ll be happy to get you lunch. Say, does this town have a local paper?”

He scans his list of names. “The next name we really need to look into now” he says, with heavy emphasis, “is Ture.”

Posted: **Sun Mar 03, 2019 9:56 pm**

Vanessa searches for information on Louis Tycroft next, one of the other names on Donnelley's list.

Posted: **Mon Mar 04, 2019 5:16 am**

Neither Charley or Vanessa can find much on the names they look up, though they do find death certificates; both Braintree and Tycroft are deceased, both causes of death are listed as being suicide. Both death certificates are signed by the same coroner, Elmer Perkin.

"Oh yes, the Meadowbrooke Examiner. That's probably your best bet to find information about the Wheelers; I believe they have all their old editions available on Microfilm.

Nik finds several documents on the Tures. Apparently they were a family of transplants from Montreal, Quebec. Husband Adam, wife Rebecca, and their two children Elise and Anton. They moved into the Spooner house in 1960. Things seemed to have been more or less normal until 1962, when Rebecca was briefly hospitalized with mental exhaustion. She returned to the home and lived there another year. In 1963 she discovered her nine year old son Anton Ture drowned in the toilet of the master bedroom. Records indicate that soon after, Adam sold the house and left with his wife and daughter back to Montreal.

Posted: **Mon Mar 04, 2019 6:15 am**

“Drowned in the toilet?” Nik says, aghast. “How the fuck does that happen at that age? Man, that’s awful.”

He looks around at the piles of boxes, depressed.

“I think I’m about done for today. I can leave whenever you’re all ready. Tony, I’m buying you lunch tomorrow so we’ll stop by on your break.”

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:47 am**

"Thank you for all your help, Tony," adds Vanessa. "We'll see you tomorrow."

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:00 am**

"Sure thing," says Tony. "Stop by around 1 or so in the afternoon and I should have something for you."

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:15 am**

"We need to talk about what we have so far" Nik tells the others once they have left. "Let's find somewhere quiet."

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:39 am**

OOC: Two rooms have been registered for the team at a local hotel. There's also any number of cafes and the like.

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:04 am**

"Let's go to the hotel," says Vanessa. "We can plan what we'll do tomorrow morning. One thing's for sure, we don't want to go to the house until we're good and ready, and that means exhausting all of our other leads first."

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:24 am**

"Agreed" At the hotel I draw the shades and peer out the window for a moment. "It seems to me the surviving Ture family members and Coroner Perkins are our best bet for direct witnesses to the goings on. What do you two think though? You saw into the beggining s of this madness. We might very well have to trace it back to it's start."

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 2:28 pm**

Nik takes a slice of take-out pizza as he reviews his notes.

“We don’t want to set foot in that house at all” he says to Vanessa, firmly. “The place is a goddam deathtrap. If we look back through all of those names, I bet you we’ll find that every one of them supposedly killed themselves. I agree with you though, we need to find out as much as we possibly can about the place. Honestly, I think we should go to DG as soon as feasible with what we have, and get them to buy the place. We can’t let anyone else move in there.”

He turns to Charley.

“It might be worth talking to the Ture’s” he acknowledges, “but it’s a long trip. I get the mention of Canadian mental health laws in Donnelly’s notes now. I think he tried to talk to the Ture’s. The mother perhaps? Still, it’s a consideration. The coroner could be a good source of information too. But there are a lot of questions that I think we need to answer”.

He looks at his notes.

“The thing seems to start with the original owners, the Weavers. They lived there a long time, no problems. But then the Creases’ move in and go nuts. And every single owner since. Why did nothing happen to the Weaver’s? Donnelly mentions their estate, and their books, and furniture. Is it their furniture in the lock-up?”

He puts the pizza down and opens a pint bottle of vodka he picked up. “Excuse me, I think I need this more”.

After a drink he continues.

“The Crease’s had a neighbor, Alfred Uleski. I wonder if he’s still around to talk to? Yamilla Isari is the UAE woman. But what was she searching for in the antique shops? We should ask our local contact”.

He summarises. “So perhaps the coroner, the local paper for some more background too. Hopefully Tony can dig up more about the Weavers. And find out what Yamilla Isari was looking for. And for chrissakes, we want to find out what the situation is with real estate agent. I can’t believe this thing is still getting sold.”

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:41 pm**

"Could always try to get the Tures on the phone and hope they'll talk. I was thinking they were more recent but they do seem to be the only survivors so far that we've been able to look into. We really need to milk the Tony connection but you're right we've got a lot of items demanding our attention and getting that house off the market is probably number one...unless we want to let some poor shmuck move in and watch what happens..hehheh" I chuckle awkwardly and take a bite of pizza, before I finish chewing: "seriously though do either of you have any experience on cases involving curses or cursed land?" I raise an eyebrow and look back amd forth between the agents, pausing momentarily on the vodka.

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:42 pm**

Borderline wrote:"Could always try to get the Tures on the phone and hope they'll talk. I was thinking they were more recent but they do seem to be the only survivors so far that we've been able to look into. We really need to milk the Tony connection but you're right we've got a lot of items demanding our attention and getting that house off the market is probably number one...unless we want to let some poor shmuck move in and watch what happens..hehheh" I chuckle awkwardly and take a bite of pizza, before I finish chewing: "seriously though do either of you have any experience on cases involving curses or cursed land?" I raise an eyebrow and look back and forth between the agents, pausing momentarily on the vodka.

Posted: **Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:40 pm**

OOC: Sorry yeah, it's Wheeler.

Keep going, I'm enjoying seeing you guys figure out what your next move will be.

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2019 1:29 am**

“No” says Nik. “Curses are a new one. If that is in fact what this is. It could be the result of some kind of dark magic.” He feels silly saying this, but only a little.

“Sure, you could give the Ture’s a try. I think it must have started with the Wheeler’s. I want to find out as much as possible about them and the early history of the house."

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:43 am**

"I'd like to talk to our friendly antique dealer," says Vanessa. "She's likely to know Yamilla Isari, who has almost certainly been a customer in her store. Talking to the coroner and the neighbor are good ideas too."

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2019 4:22 am**

"Okay then" says Nik. "I'll look at the local paper's archives and then we can meet Tony for lunch and see if he found anything else."

Posted: **Wed Mar 06, 2019 10:31 pm**

OOC: Okay, just to confirm everyone's plans for the next morning.

Charley will try to talk to the Ture's via phone. If so, make a Bureaucracy roll, and if that fails Int*5 to locate their information.

Nik will head to the local paper and look up the Wheelers? ( Tony made his research check and so will bring you the info about them, so if you want to look up something else instead, let me know.)

Vanessa will head to the Friendlies antique shop?

Will have a post up later today, sorry for the wait.

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2019 12:45 am**

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2019 2:24 am**

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:17 am**

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2019 5:39 am**

And with their plans for tomorrow finalized, the agents retire to bed. No nightmares haunt their dreams tonight.

May 4th, 2000

Charley begins looking up information on the Tures. His efforts to shift through various records soon bear fruit, and he finds two addresses for what look to be the family members. Adam Ture lives back in Montreal, and is apparently a retired engineer. Daughter Elise apparently stayed in America, and now is an attorney out in California. Charley's able to find phone numbers for both of them. Who did he want to call first, and what did he intend to say?
***

Nik goes to the local paper and does some research on both the history of the home and property listings.

***
Vanessa heads to the antique shop of Elizabeth Tucker. She was apparently a DG Friendly and may be able to help.

Her store is modestly sized, but absolutely packed with various pieces of furniture carefully separated by age and theme. A few customers browse the store looking at this or that, but Vanessa soon attracts the interest of the owner. Tucker is a young and attractive woman with flowing blonde hair and designer glasses. She smiles warmly at the FBI Agent.

"Good morning, and welcome to Tucker's Antiques. Are you looking for anything in particular today?"

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2019 2:45 pm**

Nik trawls through the paper's archives but frustratingly comes up short.

Posted: **Fri Mar 08, 2019 5:08 am**

"Thank you, it's good to see a friendly face," says Vanessa with a smile. She uses a code phrase to let Elizabeth Tucker know she's with Delta Green.

Posted: **Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:32 am**

I first dial the daughter Elise, "Hello maam, my name is Charles Switzer. I'm conducting an investigation and as I understand it you went through a terrible ordeal some years back when your brother passed. If you would be willing to speak on that, I believe others maybe threatened by a danger that os connected to how your brother died. If you're willing, any help you provode could quite literally save lives."

Posted: **Fri Mar 08, 2019 9:25 pm**

Nik gets to work researching 1206 Spooner Avenue. It's tedious work, not helped by the fact that most of the back issues of the paper are on Microfilm, and there's no way to look through them any way but one at a time. Most of the time is spent scrolling though old editions of the paper trying to find anything that fits.

He finds a few articles about the house and its residents, largely by chasing down the dates he does have. The vast majority of articles about the house are announcing a death in a tenet there. The Ture family was covered, and it's mentioned that Rebecca was apparently inconsolable after the death of her young son. The article was written as if it was some sort of terrible accident; he had been playing near the toilet, hit his head, and lose consciousness and drowned.

He also finds a few other articles. One covered the murder-suicide of George and Margaret Crease. George had shot his wife and then tried to burn down the house, but thankfully a neighbor had smelled smoke and intervened. Another covered the death of George Weaver. A local doctor, he had purchased the house and lived there from the late 60's to 1970 before he was evidently electrocuted due to faulty wiring. Neighbors described him as a well liked figure in the community. The article ends with depressing statistics about accidental electrocution and how to avoid it.

In addition to these articles, Nik finds one covering the initial tenets, the Wheelers. In may 1907, local stonemason Michael Wheeler had begun construction on a small house at the then vacant Spooner lot. It was noted that Isabella Wheeler suffered from a strange wasting disease and needed around the clock care.

Other than that, he finds nothing else that mentions the house before his eyes begin to burn from fatigue.

***

Elizabeth gives a slight nod, and says loudly “Why don't we talk in my office?” She leads Vanessa there after making sure no one else requires her help at the moment.

“I'm always happy to assist,” she assures the FBI Agent. “How can I be of service?”

**

Elise is all business when first reached, but her tone quickly becomes more guarded when the house is brought up.

“Are you doing a story or something? Trying to capitalize on my grief?” She sighs but agrees to talk to him.

“Things were strange in that house since the moment we arrived. We would see things.... an old woman in the mirror of my parents bedroom. Just a glimpse, and then she'd be gone.” her understated French-Canadian accent becomes more prominent. “I would hear a piano play at night in the living room. But we never had a piano, and none of us knew how to play one.
My mother, she was particularly affected. She collapsed on the floor of the kitchen one day, claiming to have seen a man shot himself. My father did not believe her, he never did, but he sent her to a sanitarium to a time so that she could recover. A few weeks later she came home, and things seemed calm for a time. Then Adam died, and her mind shattered. Last I heard she and my father have moved back to Montreal, and she lives in an asylum now. I do not think she will ever recover.

“I don't talk to my parents. My father refuses to believe anything happened in that house, and of the four of us he was the least affected by whatever was haunting it. My mother.... when I look at her I see a victim, and I do not like being reminded of that. You want my advice, Mr. Switzer? Stop looking into this. The house is alive and it is evil. It killed my brother, and I suspect it is still killing. I just want to forget. Some things you are better off not knowing.”

Posted: **Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:12 am**

"Elise thank you so much, I assure you I'm not looking to profit off of this. Believe me I wish I could leave that house behind and never look back but the fact is as far as I can tell every single person involved with that house has suffered greatly. If you don't mind, you mentioned the mirror, to your knowledge was that or any other item included with the house when you moved in or where there any other physical items significantly involved? My next questions are going to be more difficult and we don't have to do all of this at once. I'd like to get an idea of what your mother was like before the house and what other experiences in the house you may know of that taxed her mind so heavily. Lastly and again I'm sorry to have to ask, do you think your brothers death was strictly due to the madness of the house or could another family member have been pulled in and somehow involved? I know it's terrible but I haven't been able to find much information so anything to give me some context would greatly help. You should know I'm working to get the house off the market and I'd love to have your permission to call on you again if you could be of more assistance and ultimately, hopefully, to tell you that an end has been put to this unholy saga."

Posted: **Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:47 am**

"Do you know a woman named Yamilla Isari?" asks Vanessa. "She's known to shop for antiques, and I'd be very surprised if she never visited your store."

Posted: **Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:37 pm**

Rubbing his eyes, Nik feels he was right to theorise that every previous owner or resident had met an untimely end in the house. The deaths cannot be coincidental.

He leaves the newspaper with his notes and goes in search of Ryan Realty.

Posted: **Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:55 pm**

Charlie

Elise thinks for a moment.

"I don't really think my parents did any remodeling when they moved in. The house was up to date. The mirrors were already there; my parents bedroom was full of them, wall to wall, it was very odd, and there was nothing like that in the other rooms. I always felt a little disoriented in there.

"My mother was a kind woman, before. She had a history of what we'd now classify as postpartum depression, but had improved a few years before we moved into Spooner. Once we moved in she started going downhill, became very frightened, paranoid that someone was out to hurt her or us. She was right. I don't remember much, but she spoke of the dreams and the old Italian crone. This was near the end of our stay however, so I don't know how much of it was real or her feverish imagination. By the end she was certainly delusional.

Her tone grows a bit harsh. "No, none of us murdered my brother. I am positive it was the house in someway. I realize that sounds crazy, but living there, I began to feel like the house was its own malevolent force of nature. I do not know how my brother really died, but I am positive it killed him.

"I just want to forget, and I think what you are doing is a fools errand that will get you killed, Mr. Switzer. My father never believed any of the things we told him, and he still does not. But he hired a priest to come and exorcism the home for my mother's piece of mind. It did not work. I am not sure anything will. But you're going to do what you will, I suppose. I hope you do not suffer for it."

She ends the call.

Vanessa

"Yamilla... yes, the name does ring a bell. Pretty young Arabic woman. She stopped in a few times. Wanted to refurnish her home. She had a fair budget and purchased several items. Though truth be told, and I probably should not be telling you this... she had no idea of taste. Most of the pieces she bought were mismatched, and there was no universal theme. She seemed very manic, she'd lay her eyes on a desk she liked and then when I was ringing it up she decided to buy a table from a contrasting style. Of course I was not about to complain," Tucker smiles. "But she stuck me as the type with an excess of money and little in the way of a vision of what she really wanted.

"Come to think of it, I believe I read she passed about a year or so ago? Tragic story. I'm not a psychologist, but her behavior did strike me as unhinged. I hope she's at peace now.."

Nik

Ryan Realty is a charming little office space in the heart of downtown. Nik finds a receptionist and asks to speak with the agent in charge of the Spooner address. Shortly thereafter he is met by a forthyish (emphasis on the ish) woman. She's dressed sharply and her hair is pulled into a conservative bun style. She holds out her hand and smiles with well practiced ease.

"Hello there! I'm Barbara Turner I've been told you were interested in 1206 Spooner? Why don't we talk in my office?'

She leads him back there and begins to go through a drawer. "It's a lovely property, and as luck would have it is still on the market. We're about to do another open house for it later in the week, actually! Here we go." She shows Nik a picture of the exterior of the home. It's a small green house on a block full of them. Vibrant ivy growth scales the north face of the house. It has a porch, a simple stone affair enclosed by iron bars, three steps up. A single lamp hangs above the red door. It seems like a nice place, if a bit smaller than the average home he's seen in Meadowbrooke.

"Two story home, first constructed in 1907, I believe. Very cozy and with a lot of character! A great starter home for raising a family. Do you have a family, Mr..." she paused for a name if Nik's not yet given one.

Posted: **Sun Mar 10, 2019 2:06 am**

"I hope so too," says Vanessa. "Can you remember where you read about her passing?"

Posted: **Sun Mar 10, 2019 5:21 am**

“Oh please, call me Nik” says Nik. “We’re thinking of starting one. It really is a lovely looking place.”

He suppresses a shudder.

“Has it been on the market long?”

Posted: **Sun Mar 10, 2019 5:52 am**

Vanessa

"It would have had to have been in the local paper, though I can't recall for certain. About a year or so ago, I think she killed herself in her house? Sorry I can't be of more help. Is there anything else I can do for you? I should be able to get you a list of what she purchased, but as I've said it all seemed very random and spontaneous."

Nik

Ms. Turner gives a surprised blink, but the smile remains.

"Well, alright then. So, Nik, you and your significant other wish to start a family? Meadowbrooke is a lovely little community, with plenty of small town charm while still possessing many of the modern amenities of the big city. I think you'll find you fit right in here.

"It's been on the market about a year. The previous owner unfortunately passed rather suddenly. But the silver lining from that is the price for the home is less expensive than homes of similar construction, so you'll get a lot of value for the cost. Most of the units of this type go for the high 100k's, but here you can expect to pay around 120 to 125, so it's very reasonably priced. Now, I have had a few preliminary inquires, and with the open house later this week I expect it will not be on the market for much longer, so I really would encourage you to make an offer soon. Perhaps you would like an appointment for me to show the home to you and your wife?" She inquires.

Posted: **Sun Mar 10, 2019 7:35 am**

“Oh, I see” Nik says. “I’m sure my fiancée would love to see it. We should set this up.”

He is silent for a time as he looks through the photographs and notes about the house.

“The price is lower than average, though? Because of the death of the previous owner? Did something bad happen there?”

He looks at Turner directly as he asks this last question.

Posted: **Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:56 pm**

"Thank you, I would like that list," says Vanessa. Then she thinks of something else to ask.

Posted: **Sun Mar 10, 2019 10:39 pm**

Nik

As he's looking through the pictures, Nik discovers a floor plan of the house:
Turner hesitates. "Well, the previous owner unfortunately took her own life. Inside the, ah, house. But rest assured, it's been thoroughly cleaned since!" The smile is back in full force.

"Yes, we've unfortunately had a few issues selling the house. There was another disturbed individual that attempted to sabotage anyone purchasing the house, so that's why it's been on the market for so long. But said individual died not too long ago, so there's really no problems.

"But enough about all that. I assure you that this home is a really good value and I believe you'll be quite happy there. When can I put you and your fiancee down for a viewing?"

OOC: Nik can make a HUMINT roll if he likes.

Vanessa

"I'll go and get it for you." Elizabeth says.

While she's waiting, Vanessa thinks back to something she read in Agent Donnelley's notes. Wheeler furniture/books, letters? Estate? It occurs to her that a house as old as 1206 Spooner should have had furniture sold over the years, especially if its most recent owners had been buying new furniture. If there had been any estate sales in the past, those should be documented. Maybe Elizabeth could look into that, if the team decided they wanted to pursue the furniture angle and see if any of it was possessed with the same malevolent force that seemed to haunt the house.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:37 am**

"Well, quite soon, I hope. She's here in town too, on another errand. This house has something of a history, then?"

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 3:49 am**

"Has Yamilla Isari sold you any antiques?" asks Vanessa when Elizabeth returns. "What about other previous residents of her home? I have a list of people who used to live there."

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:53 am**

Nik

"Oh, it's an old house," Tucker says with a wave. "They all have history to one degree or another. But the important thing is that it's a great place and i'm sure you can make it your own, start a family."

Nik gets the impression the realtor is attempting to downplay the house's dark past and get a sale.

Vanessa

"No, I don't believe she sold me anything," Elizabeth says. "Just purchased items. "I'd be happy to take a look at the list you have, though my store is less than a decade old, so I'm not sure I have."

She thinks for a moment. "This home, though... I can look through old records, see if there were any estate sales. Any items sold there would have some sort of paper trail, and I could track down any antiques they may have been sold from Spooner and see where they are now. Would you like me to? It may take a day or two though, these things take time unfortunately.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 7:01 am**

Nik

“I have a feeling that this house has more of a history than most, Ms. Turner. In fact, that’s what appeals to me. My fiancée and I have a passion for places with an unusual past. I’d appreciate if you’d be able to tell me if you know any more.”

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 8:04 am**

Nik

"I see. Well, this is a bit unusual...but I suppose you're not the first. Some people find a murder or suicide taking place in a house a selling point.

She folds her manicured hands across the desk. "Yes, 1206 Spooner has had its share of deaths in its history. Several suicides, a murder-suicide, an accidental death and an electrocution. It really sounds worse than it actually is, let me assure you. Every house has its fair share of trouble, especially one as old as Spooner. It has a certain history around the town as being haunted. I don't know or care as to the full details, but I'm sure you could ask a local if you really cared.

If you want my honest impression, it's all nonsense. I've been in the house several times and never noticed anything off."

"So when should I put you down for a viewing?'

Nik recalls that Donnelley had had a set of keys in the storage unit that probably went to the house, so he did not need to view the house to gain access to it. But then again, having someone else there might make a visit to 1206 Spooner safer.

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 10:40 am**

Next I dial Adam Ture. "Mr. Ture my name is Charles Switzer I'm an investigative agent and an old house you used to live in has become part of an invstigation I'm doing. Quite frankly I think it's going nowhere as my boss seems to think there may be supernatural activity. To me it's all mumbo jumbo but can't leave any stone unturned amd all that. Would you mind answeing a few questions?"

Posted: **Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:05 pm**

OOC: Please make a persuade role, Ture is not as willing to talk.

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:22 am**

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2019 3:28 am**

"Thank you, please do check the estate sales," says Vanessa. "The other people who lived there in the last decade were Louis Tycroft, Amanda Braintree, and Andrea Falcone."

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2019 6:01 am**

Nik makes an appointment for later in the week, and asks if he can have a copy of the plan of the house. It’s time to meet Tony for lunch.

Posted: **Tue Mar 12, 2019 7:04 am**

Charley

"No, leave me alone!" says a man with a thick French accent. " What happened to my son and wife was a tragedy, nothing to do with this supernatural nonsense. Don't contact me again. I am not interested in your gossip."

He hangs up before another word can be exchanged.

Vanessa

"I'll get right on it," Elizabeth says. "And move as fast as possible. Give me your number and I will give you a call when I have something."

She consults her list. "Braintree came in here once or twice, though honestly I don't really remember her. She also bought nothing too out of the ordinary."

Nik

Turner says yes and gives Nik the plans.

OOC: I think you three can meet up and debrief one another now. Feel free to do so, and I'll move us forward tomorrow.

Posted: **Wed Mar 13, 2019 2:11 am**

I would also like to make an appointment to meet up with the coroner some time this week if possible.

Posted: **Wed Mar 13, 2019 3:18 am**

Vanessa gives Elizabeth her number. "Thanks again," she says. After she leaves the shop, she regroups with the rest of her team.

Posted: **Wed Mar 13, 2019 7:06 am**

OOC: You all can meet with the coroner later today if you like. But I'll go ahead and give you what Tony found now.

The agents reunite and head back to town hall( allowing a brief stop so Nik could buy Tony lunch) and find the clerk waiting for them.

"Welcome back. i did some digging about the Wheelers. I'm not sure if it will be useful to you all but I found it pretty interesting myself." He shows a news article to them.

Michael Wheeler and Isabelle Nacht got married in May of 1905. Wheeler was 30, Isabelle 18. Says here that he was a self made man and stone mason, while she was the daughter of one of the town's richest families. I think I heard of the Nachts, they have a building or two named after them, though I don't believe any are left."

A few more articles are shown, and pictures are included. Michael was a handsome man with dashing movie star looks. Isabelle was also quite beautiful, and bore a slight resemblance to Jacqueline Kennedy. The pair seemed to be invited to every event high society threw.

Then the articles begin to change. Isabelle falls ill later that year, with an unknown illness that robs her of the use of her legs. Doctors are consulted throughout the eastern coast, but none seem able to help. The general prognosis seems to think she'll be an invalid for the rest of her life.

In November of 1907 they construct a home at 1206 Spooner.

Three years later, Michael Wheeler dies in a freak accident when a falling slab of marble strikes him at a construction sight. It is mentioned that he is survived by his sick wife.

There's little mention of the Wheelers for another 16 years, but then an article appears celebrating Isabelle's return to society. A picture of her is included, and she still looks beautiful, if a little older. The story mentions she had been waylaid with an incurable illness for the last two decades but seemed to have made a miraculous recovery. A throwaway line mentions "Rumors of Adele DiVetello moving into Wheeler's home and becoming her nurse seem to be true. Despite the reputation that name holds within Meadowbrooke, this reporter can not help but attest to the effectiveness of her treatments. A few more articles note her continued good health, but it's not long before she drops off the society pages once again.

The next mention of her Tony found was in a 1936 article. Matthew Harrigan son of the mayor of Meadowbrooke and a few other locals attacked a Antonio DiVettelo, who the article refers to as a known troublemaker. Only Antonio was arrested, and his bond was paid by Isabelle Wheeler of 1206 Spooner Avenue later that evening.

The final article is from August of 1956. It is Isabelle Wheeler's obituary. The obituary details her struggles with a still unknown illness for much of her life, then notes her recovery and brief return to society before becoming a recluse who rarely left her house. Apparently she had caused a brief scandal by inviting a family of Italians of ill repute to live with her. It is mentioned that the Italians all seemed to leave a year ago, and they apparently left town. Wheeler soon fell ill again and died. She was 69.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:13 am**

"We're going to need to find out about the DiVitellos next," says Vanessa.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:02 am**

"Yeah sounds like you were right about the Wheelers Nik, something about that story seems like to mich to be coincidence. I was hoping to get a floor plan from Mr. Ture to compare to the one we got to see if the lay out was changed. Anyways that coroner's also available today if you two wanna go with me. Not sure what to ask him but lord knows there are plenty of coroners happy enough to call something a suicode and move along. Could be nothing, then again you don't hear about too many suicides where no weapon is recovered."

Posted: **Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:37 am**

"Yeah, I'd like to talk to the coroner too," says Vanessa. "I have a lot of medical and forensic knowledge, which will help."

Posted: **Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:07 am**

OOC: So you guys seem to want to pursue two leads: Investigate the DiVitellos and talk to the coroner. Do you have a preference for which you do first, or would you like to split up?

Posted: **Fri Mar 15, 2019 6:33 am**

OOC: Im all for staying together if it wont put us at a hige time disadvantage

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:09 am**

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2019 4:32 am**

OOC: Okay, someone please make me a persuade roll. Standard if you show the coroner your badge, at -20 if you're trying to keep that hidden. In order to move us along I'll probably info dump whatever you learn from Perkins in one post, though you guys are of course free to ask questions if you have any.

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2019 6:00 am**

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:27 am**

OOC: That's a fail with the penalty, but a pass on a straight roll. Since you already said you'd pull out your badge if needed Borderline, I'm going to say you did.

The team next head to meet with the coroner in his office. Dr. Elmer Perkins is a jovial man in his mid 50's, though his bifocals and wisps of white hair serve to make him look older. Still, he is very professional and does not seem surprised to see the team. At first he is reluctant to speak of the Spooner autopsies, citing patient confidentiality; but when Charlie identifies them as being from the FBI, he relaxes.

“I expected you'd want a report on Special Agent Donnelley's death. Well it's just as I put down, he committed suicide. There's been quite a few of them in 1206 Spooner.

“Ah, but you're from out of town, you probably don't know the rumors. The house has a reputation of being haunted. Goes back to the 1960 murder-suicide that took place there. Now, I've been coroner here since 1983. In that time, I've done 6 autopsies related to the home. That's mighty strange.

“But I don't think it was a ghost or anything like that. Folks around here know the history of the home. It attracts a certain type of... breed, as it were. You have to already be wired a certain way to want to live in a place that's felt such tragedy. So the people who move into Spooner are already the types to be more predisposed to suicide and mental illness. Take Agent Donnelley, for example. Off the record, the police have had reports for a few years now that he was harassing people interested in the home and had a sort of obsession with it. So he goes and kills himself in the home? Well I'm no psychologist, but it was not exactly a surprise. Especially since he perfectly mirrored the suicide of Yamilla Isari a year or so ago, almost as though it was some kind of twisted tribute to her.”

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2019 4:17 pm**

"But you're not entirely certain, are you, Doctor?" says Vanessa. It's not really a question. "You still have some doubts."

Posted: **Sat Mar 16, 2019 9:38 pm**

Perkins hesitates, then sighs. "Young lady, I see why you are with the FBI. Nothing escapes you."

"I'm not ready to say I believe in ghosts or any of that nonsense, but there are some unusual things about the cases I have observed in Spooner. The first autopsy I conducted related to the home was John Tyler's. Mr. Tyler was a strange little fellow, kept to himself. He was found dead in the master bedroom, after he did not show up to work for a few days. No signs of a struggle, so I ruled it a suicide. Thing is, his lungs were filled with water. He drowned. But the tub was dry, had apparently not been used for days. To this day, I don't know how he did it.

Then there was the case of Mr. Tycroft. I knew him, he handled my estate planning a few years before his death. He began to act erratically a few months. Paperboy came to his house one day and he brandished a gun, said the voices were keeping him up at night and he was sick of it. A few days later he shot himself. Twice in the chest. Rather amazing. I've never seen or read anything like that. Besides, the first shot was damn instantly fatal. Still, the human body has some incredible abilities at points, and again, there were no signs of a struggle.

Isari and Donnelley's deaths were damn strange as well. The cuts on the throat were identical. Exactly the same. That should be near impossible. Even if Donnelley obsessively studied the photos. There were no hesitation marks, and for a female suicide in particular that is highly unusual. The blood spray patterns were nearly identical as well, though Isari, being smaller, had less of it.

"Then there was the mirror." He shows them the photos. In both cases, the shape of blood on the wall mirror behind the victim looks like something was
blocking spray.

OOC: Make an alertness roll. On a success, the blood spray almost looks like it forms the shape of a person. Very unnerving, though not to the extent it costs you san.

"The oddest thing,though? In neither case did we find a suicide weapon. The police searched that house from top to bottom; there was nothing there. But given I found no evidence that anyone else had been at the scene, I ruled both deaths suicides and moved on. At some point you just learn that sometimes no good can come from digging deeper."

Posted: **Sun Mar 17, 2019 12:18 am**

"No good has come of doing nothing," says Vanessa. "People keep moving into the house, and they keep dying. If the house could be condemned as unsafe and demolished, that would put a stop to it. These deaths could have been attributed to a gas leak or something of the sort, which caused those who inhaled it to have suicidal behavior. That makes at least as much sense as a suicide where no weapon is found." She shivers when she notices the spray pattern on the mirror.

Posted: **Sun Mar 17, 2019 5:51 am**

Perkins sighs. "Yes. I know. but I can't just fabricate a reason to shut down the house. It's prime real estate, and there would be investigations.

"I hope you all can get to the bottom of this, if you keep digging. But I also hope you know enough to let this go." Unless they have further questions, he sees the agents out.

Posted: **Sun Mar 17, 2019 4:58 pm**

Nik is mulling over all the information collected so far. He describes his thoughts to the others.

“It seems that there is something in the house which is malevolent, picking people in particular to work on and destroy. It doesn’t affect everyone. It chooses people, I’m guessing those who might be susceptible to whatever power this thing has. I think there’s something there.”

Rubbing his scalp, he continues.

“It’s obviously in the mirrors. If we do go in, and for my part it’s a big maybe, we need to cover up the mirrors. I still maintain – this shit started with the Wheelers. Which means these DiVetello’s. Or maybe Nachts? I’ll run the names, maybe something contemporary will come up.”

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2019 1:03 am**

"We can also see what we can find out about them on the Internet," suggests Vanessa.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2019 1:47 am**

OOC: If you're going to look someone up online, specify who and roll search with a -10 penalty to represent the internet not being as all encompassing as it will be twenty years later, and the general obscurity of the information.

Posted: **Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:03 am**

Vanessa searches for information on Adele DiVetello.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:26 am**

Musing aloud "So there doesn't seem to be an obvious thread with the suicides but there are recurring methods. Two identical throat slashes, two drowning s and a self inflicted double gunshot wound to the chest, am I missing anything?" I call information and ask for any listings matching Divetello. After that if there's time or we have two computers I try to find info on Adele DiVetello and run a search on mirrors involvement with the occult throughout history some keywords I might add would be "suicide", "spectre", "ghost" "curse" and "figure". Im willing to stay up late into the night researching.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:47 am**

The agents spend some time researching Adele Divetello and the Divetello's in general. Vanessa finds little, but Charley has a little more luck. He stumbles upon an article from May 1926. Apparently Ms. Divetello had been a nurse at the Meadowbrooke Sanatorium, but was dismissed for "Improper behavior." Patients and coworkers alike accuse her of practicing witchcraft. Several coworkers claim that she murdered a beloved pet cat and drank its blood. She was labeled a woman of loose morals and dismissed from service. No photo is included.

As for mirrors, Charley finds a few tales of them being connected to the spirit world; others attest that they are bad luck. Ghostly figures are often associated with spirits that have for whatever reason been unable to move on and remain behind, tormented. But these figures are rarely associated with causing misfortune to others.

It's about nine at night now, and the team are just finishing up their research when Vanessa gets a call. It's Elizabeth Tucker the antiquarian.

"Agent Marchand? I did some digging, and it turns out 1206 Spooner did have a few items sold over the years in Estate sales. three of them remain in Meadowbrooke: An End Table, a Piano, and an Armoire." She gives you the addresses for all three. "I'll keep digging and see if I can find anything else, and I'll let you know if I do."

The call with Tucker barely ends before Nik's phone rings. When he answers it,a panicked voice comes off the other end. "It's Anthony. Freeman. I went into Spooner and now I can't get out. All the doors are locked and there's music and I don't know from where! I think someone is watching me, please..."

The call cuts out.

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2019 3:02 pm**

“Shit!” shouts Nik. He addresses the others, his eyes wide and his heart racing. “Tony’s at the goddam house! He’s trapped in there! We gotta go get him. Goddam it!”

Posted: **Tue Mar 19, 2019 8:57 pm**

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2019 1:19 am**

"Damn it! I'll take my car meet me there!" I throw on a black jacket over a white button up shirt and check that my sidearm is loaded and ready to go. I hop in the car and drive like a bat out of hell.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:32 am**

"Let's roll," says Vanessa, grabbing her things. It occurs to her that the piano may be very relevant, given the unexplained music, but there's no time to worry about that now.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:45 am**

With a flexible interpretation of speed limits, The agents make it to 1206 Spooner in just under 10 minutes. The neighborhood seems remarkably quiet,a picture perfect snapshot of suburban living. 1206 Spooner itself sits unremarkably silent, giving off no hint of the malice the agents are now certain dwells within.
The only entrance into the house seems to be from a small front porch. It's a simple stone affair enclosed by iron bars, three steps up. A single lamp hangs above the red door. The door itself is locked, but the agents have the keys from Agent Donnelley.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:11 pm**

Nik really doesn’t want to enter this house, but there’s no choice. They involved Tony in this, and they need to help him.

He grips a bag containing bedsheets and towels take from the hotel rooms in his left hand, and his flashlight is in his pocket. He looks around at the others to see that they're ready, and grimaces as he inserts the key into the lock and opens the door.

Posted: **Wed Mar 20, 2019 8:47 pm**

The porch opens into a small foyer. It looks cozy, if dusty and dated in its decor. The foyer has a closet and leads off into the dining room and the den. The closet door has a full-length mirror facing the foyer. Unlike the rest of the foyer, there seems to be not a speck of dust on it.

There's no light, but if any of the agents feel for a switch they find one that works, and light soon illuminates the front of the house.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:46 am**

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:49 am**

"There's a light on, second floor. Tony! Can you hear me?!" I take a quick glance around inside and form up opposite Nik ready to enter. I draw my jacket back from my hip for quick access to my holster.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:33 am**

Nik takes out a bedsheet from the bag and attempts to drape it over the mirror.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:52 am**

"We need to prop the door open to make sure that we don't get trapped in here too," says Vanessa, standing in the doorway and holding it open. "See if you can find something, maybe a chair."

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:06 am**

Charley's call goes unanswered. The house is deafly silent.

Nik moves towards the mirror and is able to drape the sheet over it without issue.

There's nothing in the foyer that looks like it can hold the door open. For now it rests open, clearly showing the quiet night outside. If the agents want to find something to block it they'll probably need to go further into the house.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:16 am**

Nik steps into the dining room on the right to get a chair.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:00 am**

I'll step in further half way between Nik and Vanessa peering into the next room hand now on my gun.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:31 am**

The agents enters the dining room. It's a retro looking room that looks through a three-paned gable window onto shrubbery and the front yard. Doorways lead to
the foyer and kitchen. A gaudy 1950s chandelier hangs above the large table in the center of the room. There are several chairs here, along with a few dozen boxes that are haphazardly scattered throughout the floor. Non English text is written on the side of each. It looks like it would take some time to go through all of this.
The light also comes on in this room if the switch is pressed. However the chandelier seems to flicker, suggesting its light could go out at any time. Even if it did though the light from the foyer would prevent the agents from being in total darkness.

Nik goes to pick up one of the chairs.

Charley and Vanessa see Nik heading to get a chair. Suddenly, he falls to his knees.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:38 am**

"Nik! What happened?" Looking back at Vanessa briefly, I rush over to help Nik up still being carful to be aware of my surroundings.

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:21 pm**

Nik takes in the boxes with the Arabic writing, but after touching the chair, he falls to his knees, retching, his mind clouded with the vision he just saw.

Clutching his stomach, he holds on to Charley’s arm.

“I saw something… and old woman. She was naked, kneeling before a huge man. There was something about him. He looked at me…”

He shakes his head to clear his mind. “I think it’s in the furniture too, not just the mirrors. That’s why Donelley was so interested in it. It happened when I touched the chair. Try not to touch anything! Let’s get Tony and get the hell out of here!”

Posted: **Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:18 pm**

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 2:27 am**

Nik groans as he clutches his stomach tighter. He sits back down and sweat breaks out on his forehead. He closes his eyes.

"Ugh, I'm gonna puke if I move. Guys, just help get me to the front door and then go upstairs. I'll just slow you down."

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 4:32 am**

Vanessa hasn't moved from the door, holding it open herself until someone comes back with something to keep it open. She isn't going to take a chance on them all getting trapped here.

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 4:56 am**

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:22 am**

I'll do my best to drag Nik by myself so that we always have one person in the door.

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:51 am**

Charley(With Nik's help) can help the ill agent to the front door and out of the house if he so chooses.

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:57 am**

"Why don't you sit outside the door here and get some air" putting my keys in his pocket "if anything happens that axe is in my trunk. Let's go."

Posted: **Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:21 am**

Nik nods weakly, and lowers himself to the floor where his legs will prevent the door from closing.

"Holler and I'll come" he tells the others.

Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:28 am**

"All right," says Vanessa. "Take care." She heads into the dining room. "That writing's Arabic. Those boxes must have belonged to Yamilla Isari."

Posted: **Sat Mar 23, 2019 8:32 pm**

OOC: Investigating the boxes or moving on? Make a search roll if you want to investigate. Be advised though that this will take 15-20 minutes, since there are so many boxes and you have no immediate idea what's important.

Posted: **Sun Mar 24, 2019 12:06 am**

"Let's keep going and find Tony first," says Vanessa. "He should be upstairs."

Posted: **Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:18 am**

Recalling the floor plan, Vanessa heads into the Kitchen. It's another dated room, perhaps cutting edge and modern in the 1950's, but now showing its age. The stick-on tile is peeling. The Formica counters are cracked and yellowed with age. The stove is dirty and ancient. The room is filled with a subtle, rotten odor like old eggs. It looks recently rifled-through; many of the cabinets are half opened. A half-filled garbage bag on the floor is filled with rotting foodstuffs.

The look (and smell) is not pleasant.

To the south is the Dining Room. West is the Den. To the East is a hallway that leads to the Master Bedroom, Garage, Utility Closet, and the Stairs Upstairs.

Posted: **Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:09 pm**

"That way," says Vanessa, pointing to the east and wrinkling her nose.

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2019 1:40 am**

"Check your corners, we still don't know what we're up against. We have to consider that fact that Tony could be a threat now."

Posted: **Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:50 am**

The agents have no trouble making it through the kitchen, and up the stairs to the upstairs bonus room. The light is still on here, illuminating everything nicely.

The bonus room is a small sitting room with recessed window benches. It’s filled with more small boxes, an old rocking
chair, and some house repair supplies. It feels claustrophobic and cramped. The ceiling slopes severely on the sides, and if either agent are taller than an average adult man, they find it hard to get about without occasionally bumping their head.

The room also smells of paint and something subtler, almost spice-like.

As Vanessa reaches the top of the stairs,a body becomes evident. It's laying splayed, face down on the floor right in front of the rocking chair, and is wearing the same clothes as Tony had been last time they saw him.

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2019 1:38 am**

Vanessa has nothing to worry about in terms of bumping her head, as she is not very tall. She cautiously enters the room, taking care not to contaminate or disturb the scene. She checks to make sure that the body is in fact Tony, to see whether or not he is dead, and to determine the cause of his death if he is.

Posted: **Tue Mar 26, 2019 5:27 am**

Vanessa turns the body over. It's Tony, all right; by the looks of things his throat has been slashed, but there is no weapon immediately present. His eyes gaze lifelessly up at her.

Posted: **Wed Mar 27, 2019 2:44 am**

"We're getting out of here," says Vanessa, heading back to the stairs. "Now. Then we can call it in."

Posted: **Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:16 pm**

"What are you talking about? Call what in? We still have to find Tony."

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 2:52 am**

"I found him," says Vanessa, gesturing back at the room. "He's in there, dead. His throat's been slashed, but there's no blade. It's the house's MO. Now let's get out of here before we become the next victims."

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 2:57 am**

But when Vanessa looks back into the room, she sees that it is empty of corpses. Tony is nowhere to be found.

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 3:04 am**

Vanessa does a double take. "It's messing with my head," she says, shaking it. "Okay, let's try this. Listen for the ring." She takes out her cell phone and calls Tony's number.

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 3:42 am**

The phone rings. Once. Twice. On the third ring, someone answers.

"Hello?" Comes a voice, half awake.

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:05 am**

"Tony, it's Vanessa," says Vanessa. "I'm sorry if I woke you? Are you at home? Nik got a call that seemed to come from you saying you were in the house in Spooner Street."

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:44 am**

"Um, yeah, but it's fine. Just dozed off... Yeah, I'm at home. Spooner? Well, other than looking up the information on the Wheeler's, I've never been there.

"Funny you should mention Spooner though. Ms. Turner came by, said you guys had stopped in and wanted to know more about what exactly you were in town for. "

***

Nik continues to wait at the entrance, the queasiness gradually disappearing as the minutes pass by. He still feels a little ill, but is at least confident he can walk now if needs to.

Sound begins to emerge from the Foyer's closet. A man and a woman seem to be arguing, their voices gradually raising as they do so. It's hard to make out what they're saying from here; almost as though they're under water or muffled. Nik is able to make out one phrase the man says, however: "Thousand-Face Moon." It's as clear as day, unlike the rest of the speech.

Nik is confident he can hear the voices better if he gets closer to the closet. Did he want to?

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:13 am**

"Thanks, Tony," says Vanessa. "I'll let you get back to sleep." She nods to Charley, already heading back downstairs. "Let's get out of here while we still can. He's safe at home."

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 6:01 am**

Nik gets up but he gives the closet a wide berth as he heads to the staircase.

“Marchand! Charley! Are you guys okay?” he calls out.

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 6:25 am**

The voices within the closet grow louder, and someone starts banging on its door. Almost as though they're trying to get out.

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:51 am**

Nik calls out more urgently.

”Marchand! Charley!”

Suddenly remembering that he needs to keep the front door open, he rushes back. He takes out his phone and dials Vanessa’s number.

Posted: **Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:43 am**

"We're coming!" calls Vanessa, quickening her pace. "Tony's not here at all! The phone call was a trick! He was safe, asleep in his own bed until my phone call woke him up!"

Posted: **Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:40 am**

Nik runs for the door, but in the split second he took his eyes off of it it had somehow closed on its own. He tries the handle, only to find it locked. And there no longer seems to be a lock on this side of the door, either! And now he gets a whiff of the smell of natural gas. Meanwhile, the noise from the closet continues.

As he makes his way back to the door, Charley also begins to smell gas.

As Vanessa reenters the kitchen, her eyes fall upon the dirty dishes in the sink. They really bother her. She needed to clean up. What if company came over? She begins to walk towards them, her only intention to wash the dishes in the sink.

Posted: **Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:03 am**

Vanessa begins to wash the dirty dishes...and keeps washing them.

Posted: **Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:14 am**

“Fuck!” shouts Nik.

He runs into the dining room and towards the window to see if he can open it.

Posted: **Fri Apr 05, 2019 2:50 am**

Nik rushes into the dining room at the same time as Charley is heading into it through the kitchen. He tries the window but finds it to be firmly closed and apparently now locked from the other side. The agents could try and force it, or look for something to break it. Meanwhile, the smell of gas is getting stronger, and it's getting more difficult for both of them to breathe.

Vanessa is aware of none of this. She remains in the kitchen, the water on as she washes the dishes in the sink. It was a good thing she was here; no one wanted a dirty house. And surely the mission could wait a few minutes until everything was clean?

Play@YSDC

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