Statement 3b: The Short Residence

[Mr. Handy]

"Agreed," says Jordan. "Remember, you were found worthy. Otherwise, you wouldn't still be here."

[Trivun]

Was she? She isn't sure. She feels more like she just had a stronger will to resist it... an advantage of already understanding magic and its power. No less guilty than those others who fell into its maw. But she says nothing of that, as Izzy silently nods and uses the key to open up Short's house for searching. Latex gloves on in case of evidence contamination.

[Philulhu]

Des took a pair of gloves and followed Izzy into the house, craning her neck and looking around.

Observation (60) 1d100

[Trivun]

Sense Vestigia: 60%

1d100

Observation: 60%

1d100

Hard Success on one, reg. Success on t'other!

[Mr. Handy]

Jordan enters and takes a look around, but he doesn't see anything out of the ordinary.

Observation roll (70% skill) in the Short residence:
d%

[jp1885]

The interior of the house is furnished in an expensive, if gaudy, fashion. An expensive kitchen leads to a hallway. Carved oak sideboards bear faded framed photographs of grandchildren, which have been shoved back in favour of snaps of a young blonde woman, smile straining under Botox, posing in various exotic locations.

Dyfed-Powys Police have already searched the house for incriminating evidence and a search uncovers nothing unusual

For her part, Izzy detects no discernible vestigia, but does notice something in a side room. Obviously a study or office of some kind (although all electronic devices and files have already been confiscated), the police detective notices a crumpled up piece of paper, tossed under a desk and resting against the skirting board.

[Trivun]

Of course the place has already been searched, it would be standard routine. If anything, Izzy is glad that they haven't found anything new, because it means the local plod have been doing their job right. Except...

She notices the crumpled paper, and wonders why it was missed. She picks it up, smooths it out, and takes a look to see what was missed...

[SaintMeerkat]

DC Leo Dansby.jpg (16.73 KiB) Viewed 324 times

Leo follows Izzy into the room off to the side, "Well, what have you found here? Did the locals miss something? I would hate to be the person who missed something important after Miss Stick-Up-Her-Ass finds out..."

[Mr. Handy]

"It's possible they didn't," says Jordan. "Someone could have dropped - or planted - it here after the search."

[jp1885]

Unwrapping the paper, you discover what appears to be a printout of an email from the trustees of the Cwmllyn Museum and Library, responding to an enquiry from Councillor Short.
It states that the building cannot be sold by the local council for development, as it was bequeathed to the people of the town in perpetuity by it’s former owner in 1936.

[Trivun]

Even with her recent misery and trauma overwhelming her mood, Izzy can't avoid a laugh of surprise and incredulity at the email. She reads it and then passes it to the others for the rest to see.

"Fucker was trying to sell the museum building... does he even own it? Or did he just assume the council did and he could do what he wanted with it?"

As the others read she hears her phone from her satchel bag, the TARDIS noise slightly muffled inside. Taking it out, she spots the group chat notification and catches up on the findings of the others at the museum, conveniently enough.

"Oi, might all want to read what Skipper and Eli have found. We still need to interview any witnesses, that doesn't change but the lollipop lady is now top of the queue."

As she reads on, however, her blood freezes as she spots the discussion of "sending enemies to the Underworld". Izzy replies quickly to the text, that no, she doesn't know of any Underworld in real life... but her sighting of the portal at the crossing has chilled her to the bone. Is that where she's headed? Sooner rather than later?

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe Skipper and Eli can find out more about this attempt to sell the Museum and Library while they're there," suggests Jordan.

[Philulhu]

”An’ find out how not to be such an arse’ole,” muttered Des, as she typed her reply to the group chat.

[SaintMeerkat]

DC Leo Dansby.jpg (16.73 KiB) Viewed 290 times

Leo reads the email and chuckles. "It could have been worse for the city." He started singing, "He left River City the library building, but he left all the books to her... I just love a good musical..."

"While I am mildly disappointed we didn't find any vestigia, I am glad to have this one checked off. The sooner we're done with her, the better."

[jp1885]

So what are your plans folks?

[Mr. Handy]

I think we were going to talk to the lollipop lady.

[Philulhu]

Have we checked all the rooms here?

[SaintMeerkat]

Check anything that's left of the rest of the house and property, and then got to the lollipop lady.

[jp1885]

Continuing your search, you discover nothing else of interest in the house, save perhaps the expensive model 3 Tesla in the garage and the tacky king-size bed with velveteen, heart-shaped headboard and satin sheets.

Outside it continues to drizzle, casting a dull grey pall over the hills that surround the town.

[Philulhu]

”Tink we done,” said Des, shaking her head at the dreadful bedroom. He was obviously trying to impress someone but had missed by a mile and ended up with the dream bedroom of a nine year old girl…