Chapter 1: Tragic News

[HoneyDog]

OOC:   Please read the note in the Chat before you read this.

Monday, September 9th 1929
Arkham, Massachusetts

Those opening the Arkham Advertiser on this fine morning would be greeted by this shocking news:

What will the companions make of this?

OOC:   Isadora is probably in Boston and wouldn't see it, but one of the others can inform her.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

Henry looks up from his notes at Alice who is sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.

"Say Alice, the camels they have in Mongolia - are they the one hump or the two hump kind? Say is everything alright - you look quite pale?"

[Mr. Handy]

Alice shows Henry the newspaper article, clutched in her trembling hand. She has known Margaret Hannigan for some time from the secretarial pool. "I can scarcely believe Margaret would do such a thing!" she exclaims.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Yes, there's something not quite right here. The woman didn't seem like she'd hurt a fly. Still I don't suppose there's much we can do to help. Isadora will be most upset though. I wonder if she's heard?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I don't know," says Alice, "but it's better that she hear it from us than that she read it in the newspaper first. She and Margaret had been close friends. I'll give her a call."

[HoneyDog]

Isadora is stunned at the news, and decides to travel to Arkham at once. They agree to meet at 12pm in the Garden Cafe, W College St., during Alice's lunch hour.

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora shows up 15 minutes late. Her eyes are red from crying. She's dressed in black. She puts down a heavy suitcase... which seems too heavy to contain just a couple days worth of fresh clothes.

"I can't believe this..." she whispers.

"Poor Thomas, poor Margaret! And little Tabitha!"

She dries her eyes with a black silk handkerchief.

"I talked to her on the phone, about three months ago. She wasn't very talkative... She said she was very tired and had to go. "

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Let's get Harrison involved at some point too!

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"i suppose Tabitha will go to Elizabeth." muses Henry.

"Are you considering visiting Margaret, at the Sanatorium I mean?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, I think we should," says Alice. "Elizabeth will have to take Tabitha, I suppose. At least she's probably too little to remember any of this later." She gives Isadora a hug. "It's good to see you again, though I wish the circumstances were better. Have you got what I think you do in there?" she adds with a glance at the suitcase.

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

"It's good to see you again, though I wish the circumstances were better. Have you got what I think you do in there?" she adds with a glance at the suitcase.

Isadora nods.

"There is a fatal pattern to our investigations... I'm prepared for the worst. Hope for the best - whatever the best might be in these circumstances. I hope Margaret recovers."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"How is George?" enquires Henry.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Could we assume that Harrison has been invited to this meeting too? Or will he get involved some other way?

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Say isn't that Harrison at the corner table with the young lady?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I believe you're right," says Alice. "I'm curious who she is. Shall we go over and see?"

[Starspawn338]

OOC,Listen 25 [dice]0[/dice]

Harrison seems intent on his conversation with his lunch companion.
"I assure you Georgia, your husband will love it. Boudoir photography is something that all the flappers are doing. It's empowering to show him that you are a creature of desires. I am very discreet."

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn
"Let's have them join us."

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

"How is George?" enquires Henry.

"He's fine: for a change, he isn't busy working... He is at a Theosophist retreat near Lake Michigan."

She too notices Harrison.

"What a coincidence! Yes, let's invite him to our table!"

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"That will be very pleasant for him."

"Did you read by new book - The Music of Dr Cazlab? Very few people did - the publisher folded."

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

"Henry did! Thank you so much for the autographed copy. He liked it very much... Me... Well, I started reading it, but it brought back some bad memories, and I couldn't go on. Sorry..."