Chapter 2: October 24th

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander doesn't notice anything else.

OOC,Spot Hidden roll (67% skill) at the crime scene: [dice]0[/dice]

[Mephistophilis]

Harry examines the pattern of blood spattering to see if he can determine whether this was a frenzied assault or something more meticulous.

Harry Spot Hidden 66%,[dice]0[/dice] Hard success

[Raiko]

"We wer' asked by 'The East End Citizen’s Committee', Tobias Nash spoke ta us. E'd 'eard how we solved the murder o' Lord Allin'gam in Devon."

She smirks back impishly at the Scot and the men gathered around him, "Solved many murders yersell, 'av yer?"

ooc,[ooc]So Melody's on her own now?[/ooc]

[HoneyDog]

Melody,[ooc]I'm assuming Crozier has gone with the others, unless we hear something different.[/ooc] [color=#0040FF]“So, you’re part of the group [b]Nash[/b] hired, eh?”[/color] says the man, ignoring the barb. He pauses as a severe cough overtakes him. When he finishes, he wipes his mouth with a rag. [color=#0040FF]“Wull before long, ye’ll be reportin’ tae me, lassie. I’ll be heading up the committee. An’ I’ll be makin’ sure thae polis are doin’ thae job, protecting ev’rybody, nae just rich toffs.”[/color] With that, he strides off, his group of men, a rough looking bunch, following behind him.

Everybody else,Searching the alley is not a pleasant or easy business, as there is filth and junk everywhere, but as far as the companions can tell, there is nothing that looks like it might relate to the killing which took place. The blood is splashed around, and seems to form no discernable pattern. [ooc]I think Harry would need some kind of forensic skill if he could really hope to analyse the scene. The inquest should reveal more details about the killing.[/ooc]

[Snapper]

Crozier:

OOC,Crozier went with the group to inspect the site of the vile deed.

Crozier largely ignores the actual scene of the crime, leaving that to the expertise of his new companions in the Seekers. Instead, he focuses on the local environment, looking for people watching the Seekers members, any strange local locations, anything amiss in the area.

Crozier muses out loud, "Imagine if we were a ship afloat, I wonder what other ships might be watching us right now? What reefs are hidden below the surface, what strange currents are at work?"

[aine]

“Indeed, Captain Crozier, that’s a very good point. We should keep an eye out for people taking too much interest in us.” Isolde thinks for a moment. “We might even precipitate some interest if we are quite obvious with the investigation.”

[Mephistophilis]

'Do we have time to ask a few questions of the locals?' asks Harry.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Best get going to Stepney if you want to make the next inquest.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander checks his pocketwatch. "I dinna think so," he says. "We need to head to Stepney now to get there in time."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,I don't want to write a complete account of the inquests, so I'm condensing a lot of what would probably happen down into something more manageable, and concentrating on the most important details.

The investigators hail a carriage and set off to Stepney, to where the inquest is located in a music hall. Melody is already there, having taken the opportunity to get some lunch, unlike her hungry companions.

Again, knowing that this killing could be linked to the first, a large crowd is gathering, although this venue is slightly large and can hold more people. Uniformed police are also in attendance, throwing out the more obviously drunk and troublesome citizens.

The Scottish man who Melody acquainted herself is present too, along with his group of rough-looking friends. He nods evenly at Melody; not smiling, but not with any hostility.

The companions have time to catch up and share information, before the inquest begins.

Partington-White is again presiding, and testimony is again heard from the three policemen: Cleveland, Spaulding and Craig. Another man is in attendance with those giving testimony although he doesn’t speak; he is tall and very pale, immaculately dressed in a black suit and top hat, carrying a black cane. He is introduced as Dr. Lucius Raffin, police surgeon.

This time, most of the police testimony is given over to Inspector Cleveland, and is primarily concerned with the identification of the deceased.

“The deceased has been identified as Paolo Rodrigues, aged possibly 41, of Whitechapel Road. He was a fruit seller, and of Portuguese origin. He is described as being a foul-tempered man, with a habit of trying to cheat his customers.”

“’E woz a real shit, that one!” interrupts a shout from the crowd.

“’An ‘is fruit woz rotten, the fat bastard!” shouts another.

“Silence!” shouts Partington-White. “Any more of that, and you’re out!”

Cleveland seems unruffled by the exchange, and carries on.

“Rodrigues was last seen in the vicinity of Exmouth Market with his cart after 10 o’clock on the night of October 22nd this year. At 10.45 the following morning, PC George Wardley noticed the overturned cart in an alley near the market, and found the body nearby. The deceased’s throat appeared to have been cut.”

During this testimony there is excited whispering among the crowd, the murmur growing in intensity. The companions can hear snippets, but they are all saying the same thing;

“Another body! They found another!”

The Scotsman stands up and addresses the officials.

“Thur’s bin another murda!” He shakes his fist. “Dae your jobs, won’t ye! Or we’ll have to do it for ye!”

The crowd is now getting excited, and the police start to move in to calm things. Partington-White decides to call a halt for the day, announcing the resumption of the Clark inquest in the morning.

[Snapper]

Crozier:

Crozier had been consulting the time on a sturdy-looking pocket-watch. At the announcement of another murder, he confers quietly with the Society team. "Fast heading towards Dog Watch and I haven't had any lunch! Oh well. Is there a chance we might actually get to see this body, do you think? If we're quick. Perhaps confirm the details of these supposed grizzly markings?"

"Perhaps an empty stomach will be an asset..."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Sorry just to confirm, the body isn't on view. It won't be at any of these inquests.

[Raiko]

Melody returns the Scotman's nod, although she smiles as she is generally a friendly sort.

When the mutterings about another body begin, she circulates and asks around to try and find out where the new murder occurred.

Perhaps we can get to the scene before the body is removed.

She keeps an eye on the Scot and his gang.

ooc,[ooc]If the Scotsman looks like departing before she gathers the information that she seeks, then she'll risk moving to speak to him again before he leaves.[/ooc]

[Mephistophilis]

Keen to find out about these markings, Harry wonders about going to see the bodies at source and tries to think if he knows where the post-mortems are likely to be taking place.

Harry Know 55%,[dice]0[/dice]

[Philulhu]

”Is there a way we can find out what this symbol is?” asked Vic. “That would seem to be a pertinent piece of information.”

[aine]

“There’s been no indication of how the murders have been linked; one would naturally just assume they were separate incidents.” Grumbles Isolde, her stomach rumbling; although it can’t be heard above the hubbub. “Look there, that’s the man you want to speak to about viewing the body, the police surgeon. He looks like a tight-lipped halibut though.” She indicates the tall, top-hatted gentleman.
Then, as the rumour spreads she says,
“Do you think we can get to the scene of the third murder before they remove the body?”

[Snapper]

Crozier:

"Does anyone feel they could talk this surgeon chap into letting us view the latest murder? Or the others, I suppose..."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Melody can catch up with the Scotsman before he goes.

There are various rumours flying around, but it seems the murder happened earlier in the day, somewhere in Whitechapel.

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, let us try to get there first," says Alexander. "If the body's still there, we may see the symbol for ourselves."

[Raiko]

ooc,No, the Scotman doesn't seem too likely to be helpful at this stage, and he'll no doubt be heckling at the next inquest session.

Melody re-joins the others, ready to visit Whitechapel. She knows her way around that district, so hopefully she can help them locate the scene quickly.