Puppet Shows and Shadow Plays

[Mr. Handy]

"I wouldn't want to put anyone else at risk," says Vanessa, "but it seems harmless enough. It probably just contains papers. I'll open it, but the rest of you might want to stand back just in case."

[Silver Priest]

Holding her breath, Vanessa opens the package. Inside is a see through folder that contains what looks to be several news clippings. They are dated early July of 1998, and the top one reads as follows:

Morgan County, West Virginia- Folks in Morgan County have an extra reason to celebrate the Forth of July this year. That's because the sky itself will be providing the fireworks.

A spectacular meteor shower is due to light up the sky forth weekend. "It's going to be an incredible sight,' says Professor Harold Fenton of West Virginia University. "For an astronomer like myself, this is really a once in the lifetime opportunity.And what's really great is that it will happen in our own back yard." Professor Fenton went on to say that this shower was only detected just recently. "We had no idea it was coming, but thankfully we detected it in time."

It's sure to be a spectacular sight, and local residents are already making plans to observe the show. Many have gone so far to say they'll collect some of the falling rocks, as a souvenir of the once in a lifetime event. The best place to see the shower will be July 3rd just after midnight, in Morgan and Berkeley Counties. Says Professor Fenton, "We're going to have a lot of astrologers come on down and join the fun. And the University itself will be hosting a little field trip. Regardless, it's sure to be quite the treat."


Aside from articles pertaining to the Meteor Shower, there's no other news to be found in the bag.

[HoneyDog]

“What the hell is this?” says Nik, as he scans through the clippings.

Then he remembers. “Hey, wasn’t there a meteor shower or something here not so long ago?”

[Dave Syrinx]

"So, who delivered the box? Is there a note? This sounds like something that X-files show would be in to." Stanyard asks. While the others look through the box, he calls up FBI HQ and takes a step away from the browsing. "Stanyard here. Did my request of phone records get bumped?"

[Silver Priest]

There is no identification on the box.

Stanyard calls the FBI in an attempt to trace who had been calling the police station. The news he receives is mixed.

"Unfortunately without a warrant there's not much we can do on that front. However, after doing some digging, It seems like the source covering these stories the most is Phenomen-X, that weird paranormal 'news' show. They've been broadcasting about 'The Devil's Highway' for weeks now, and have interviewed several locals as to their theories on what is happening. We don't suspect the station is leaking anything to the TV show, but they're still a nuisance, and undoubtedly they have a few reporters in the area. Be prepared if you run into them to stonewall."

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm not sure what if any relevance the meteor shower would have," says Vanessa. "There's nothing else in here. Someone clearly wanted to pass this information to us anonymously. I can check for prints, but unless we get lucky with a cold hit from someone whose prints are already in the system, we're not going to find out who left it here that way. However, there are probably security cameras around, at least in the casino area. We might want to review the footage to see if anyone came through carrying this box or a container big enough to hold it."

[HoneyDog]

Nik

“Okay, I’ll check out the surveillance cameras and see if we can get anything for anyone who might have accessed this area”. Nik is doubtful though – plenty of casino customers must have had bags big enough to hold the box. And it might be an employee anyway.

OOC:   Should I roll Search on this SP?

Waiting to see the security manager, and remembering the Sheriff's comment at the briefing earlier, Nik borrows reception's computer and searches on the net for reports on meteor showers or related phenomena in the area over the last month.

OOC:   Does this need a Search SP? Sorry for all the questions

[Silver Priest]

OOC:   No worries. Yeah go ahead and make one Search roll. And while you're at it, Nik can make an Idea roll as well.

[HoneyDog]

Nik

OOC:   Roll Search 40% Search: 1d100 97 Nik had too much vodka it seems - don't tell the boss. Roll Idea 60% Idea: 1d100 51

[Silver Priest]

It only takes a flash of the badge for the hotel staff to become very cooperative with Nik. He is instantly offered access to the security footage.

Unfortunately, it soon becomes apparent that the only area of the hotel that has coverage is the casino floor. One does not need to cross it to get to the elevator leading to the hotel rooms, so its usefulness is limited. Nik and the other agents can examine the footage, but it will take some time, and they soon have a meeting with Colorados and Garrett to go over their leads. And there's no guarantee they'd find anything anyway. Still, if they were truly curious about their delivery it could be worth pursuing.

Nik's search for meteor showers is more straight forward. There have been none in the area this last month, or at least none documented. He's about to give up when something from the clippings hits him. Berkeley County and July 3rd had both been underlined. On a lark he searches for events transpiring in the county on that day. He finds little aside from more articles pertaining to the shower, but events that started taking place a few days later catch his eye.

July 6th: Cattle mutilations stun county...
July 8th: Are aliens behind the recent cattle mutilations?
July 9th: Rancher missing along with herd...
July 15th: Hunter missing...
July 17th: Satanic cult activity behind recent disappearances, preacher declares...
July 18th: Ninth person missing, police believe connected...
July 21st: Shock as cannibalized body found hanging from a tree...
July 22nd: Police close to a break?
July 24th: An attempt to arrest the man behind the string of kidnappings and murders recently ended tragically. Police say Mack Tooley, 34, shot himself...
July 26th: Traces of human blood and tissue were found today in Mack Tooley's digestive track, all but confirming him as the killer. Sources tell this paper that the scene so devastated autopsy performer Dr. Brenton Clark, a twenty year veteran at the county morgue, that he immediately announced his resignation...

At this point it's almost time for their meeting with the authorities. The agents will need to leave now if they don't want to be late.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,Did I have enough time to dust the box for fingerprints?

[Silver Priest]

OOC:   Yep, but it's clean. Whoever handled this was very careful not to leave anything behind.

[HoneyDog]

Nik

“Jesus Christ” Nik mutters. He starts to print out the articles. “I need to make a phone call. Colorados and Garrett will have to wait.”

He calls the Phoenix office and speaks to the agent on duty. “This is Siilasvuo. I need to you to find out about some murders in Berkeley County, West Virginia in July this year. The perp was a ‘Mack Tooley’, it seems he cannibalized his victims. I want to know if the victims had been injected with an unknown drug into their hearts and lungs. You can call me back at the Sheriff’s station on the San Carlos Reservation.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Well, I'd better head over there, at least," says Vanessa as Nik walks away. "You'll have to catch up with the rest of us." She gathers the others and heads for the meeting.

[Silver Priest]

OOC:   Nik can do this, and the Feds will get back to him when they can. Unless he has any other leads he'd like to pursue instead of attending the meeting, he can join with the others.

[HoneyDog]

OOC:   Nik will catch up with the other agents when he finishes his call. It wouldn't take long. The Field office will contact him at the Sheriff's office

[Silver Priest]

The Phoenix Field Office assures Nik they'll look into the matter, and should be able to get back to him by that afternoon.

And so,t he team heads back to the Reservation police station.

The first thing that's noticeable is a large crowd is now gathered outside the front of the police station. They seem to be reporters, everything from local to national and all over the respectability spectrum. Evidently the unearthing of the Begays had turned this story redhot.

As soon as the first reporter spies the team heading towards the station, they call out and rush towards them. The rest of the reporters quickly follow, shouting questions over one another(especially if any of the agents are dressed in their FBI blazers.)

"Is the FBI now involved in the case?"

"Is this a serial homicide investigation?"

"Are the other missing people presumed dead as well?"

"Do you have any suspects?"

They continue to shout questions, doing everything they can to get answers from the fresh meat. Do any of the agents wish to provide a statement?

[HoneyDog]

Nik

"Better let the team leader deal with that mob" thinks Nik, as he scuttles into the station.

[Dave Syrinx]

At the casino-
Stanyard gets off the phone with a, "Stonewall it is. Stanyard out!" To the others he reports, "We're advised to keep the lid on should any reporters from Phenomen-X ask questions. They seem to have reporters in the area."

Outside the Police Station-
Stepping out of the car, Stanyard elbows his way through the hyenas and looks for a tag labeled 'Phenomen-X'. If he spots one, he'll continue inside making a note of their presence.

[Mr. Handy]

"We can't comment on anything at this time," says Vanessa as she breezes past. "I'm sure the local authorities will hold a press conference when they're ready to release information to the public."