Chapter 2: The Police

[HoneyDog]

Once the working day is ended and their evening meal consumed, the companions are able to reconvene at the fairly small headquarters of Arkham’s police in East Armitage St. Their appointment with Detective Harden is confirmed with the desk officer, and they are shown to an interview room, whereby they are reintroduced to that worthy peace officer.

After cordial greetings are exchanged and some coffee procured, Harden gets to business. He reports that there has been no talk or rumour connected to the Owen affair of the previous winter, thankfully. He is obviously curious as to why the investigators are here.

“I was surprised to learn of your interest in this case” he begins, addressing everyone. “I take it you know Margaret Hannigan from her employment at the University?”

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Yes, we know her through the University, and Mrs Carmichael here has become a close friend. Ladies lunches and all that. Now obviously the law must take its course and I'm sure there will be a thorough investigation but something doesn't ring true about the suspect and the crime - perhaps you've had that feeling yourself Detective? We'd be much obliged if you'd share with us the circumstances of the case ..."

[Mr. Handy]

"Margaret and I were in the secretarial pool together at Miskatonic," says Alice. "This seems extremely out of character for her. I still can't believe that she did it. She must not have been herself."

[HoneyDog]

Harden shrugs his shoulders and spreads his hands apologetically.

“I’m sorry everyone” he says, “but she killed her husband. All the physical evidence confirms it, not to mention that she herself admits to it. Her sister-in-law Elizabeth was in the house at the time, and while she didn’t witness the murder, she heard her brother cry out, and when she got there, Mrs. Hannigan was standing over his body holding a knife”.

He stops and lights a cigarette. “If you know her, than you might be aware that she had been suffering from psychological difficulties over the past few months, and her condition seemed to have worsened. Both her sister-in-law and her doctor confirm that. So she most definitely wasn’t herself.”

OOC,Just to confirm, Isadora and Margaret were friendly, but not close. Isadora won't be aware of many of the details about Margaret's life.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Well it certainly seems there is little doubt in the case. Has Margaret offered an explanation as to her actions?"

[Starspawn338]

"You say she admitted it herself? What exactly did she say?" Harrison says. "Would it be possible to read her statement and Elizabeth's statements or better yet, talk to her directly? I know you say that she did it but you know as well as I that not everything is always as it seems and because she is a friend, we owe it to her to make sure that this was nothing more that it seems."

[HoneyDog]

“Now slow down just a minute” says Harden sternly to Harrison. “This is an ongoing investigation. I’m doing you all a favour by talking to you on account of that Owen thing. I know I can trust you. But ordinarily you wouldn’t be anywhere near here. There’s no way you get to look at statements, and you won’t go anywhere near Margaret Hannigan, at least for now. She’s being held at the sanatorium pending a doctor’s report on her fitness to stand trial, and she’s under constant supervision. She's a danger to herself and possibly to others.”

He turns to Henry. “The reason she’s being held there, and not here, is because she’s obviously under extreme mental duress. The reason she gave for killing her husband is because he’d been unfaithful. With the woman in the walls.”

[Mr. Handy]

"The woman in the walls?" asks Alice. "Did she explain what she meant by that?"

[HoneyDog]

“No” replies Harden. “I’m sorry, I know she’s your friend, but basically she’s crazy. She’s had what seems to be a long mental decline, and she suddenly snapped. Of course, we searched the house, but there’s no way anyone could be inside the walls. But she obviously thinks that someone is there.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Do the doctors have any idea yet what might have caused her mental decline?" asks Alice.

[HoneyDog]

“It seems that she was on a downward trajectory since the birth of her daughter. It also seems that perhaps her husband’s approach to her condition only made things worse.” Harden flicks ash off his cigarette and regards the glowing tip.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"Can you tell us anything about the house where they lived? Anything about it or it's history that might have contributed to Margaret!s delusions or decline?"

[HoneyDog]

“It does have a reputation apparently” admits Harden. “One of the patrolmen told me that it’s the kind of place that kids tell stories about; you know. But did it contribute to her decline? Damned if I know. Maybe living there depressed her, but what does it matter now? I have to deal with things as they are, and Margaret Hannigan is locked up in a padded room, with her husband laying in the morgue.” He stubs out his cigarette.

“You folks are looking to see some sense in this” he continues. “But there isn’t. These folks were dealt a bad hand, and circumstances and the decisions that they made led to this. It’s horrible, but it's life. If I were you, I’d get yourself a stiff drink, and move on.”

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

"What if there was a woman in the wall?"

[HoneyDog]

“There wasn’t any woman in the wall!” Harden snaps. “I told you, we searched the place, and it’s not possible anyway! Look, I’m sorry, but why don’t you just forget this whole thing, huh? I know you folks like your mysteries, but there’s nothing to see here. It’s just people making bad choices, that’s all.”

[Mr. Handy]

"What was it about her husband's approach that made it worse?" asks Alice.

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

When the detective starts talking about the house's reputation, Isadora gets flashbacks to the event that started her down the deadly road of occult investigations. The case of the Corbitt house... She knows just what kind of an influence a haunted space can have on families.

She shivers.

"And was there a woman... you know, outside the walls? A real, flesh and blood woman? Was Margaret's husband unfaithful? "

[HoneyDog]

“From what I’ve gathered he thought that by keeping her secluded and her distractions to a minimum, she would recover and be able to bond with the child. Doesn’t look like it worked, does it? The feeling is, it made her worse.” Harden says to Alice.

“As for another woman, the sister Elizabeth doesn’t think so, but we might never know. It makes no difference now anyway.”

[Mr. Handy]

"How is the baby doing?" asks Alice.

[HoneyDog]

“She’s fine, being cared for by the grandparents and Elizabeth” replies Harden. “Look, if you really want to look into this thing, then go ahead. But you need to tread carefully. Obviously the family has been devastated by these events, and the goodwill of Arkham PD will be stretched if you start upsetting people with insensitive questions. Perhaps Elizabeth will talk to you, but I doubt Margaret’s parents will”.

He consults his file and writes a number on a notepad, tearing out the paper and handing it to Alice.

“I would give it a few more days if you decide to call, perhaps wait until the weekend. Maybe we might learn something more in the meantime. The report on Margaret Hannigan should be completed by then anyway.”