IC: Herb goes back to your hotel (CH4)

[G-Returner]

At the moment, the arm is just in a bag.

[Black Goat]

Herb will wait to see what happens, keeping his ears tuned for any more sounds.

[G-Returner]

A few minutes later, you hear people near that door once again. They are speaking in Italian, in hushed, nervous tones. You hear the sound of the door being opened, then closed. It sounds as though a couple of people entered that room.

[Black Goat]

Herb lies on the bed, listening.

[G-Returner]

Several minutes later, you hear the door again, and the sound of people leaving. Then things become quiet again.

[Black Goat]

Herb waits, hoping the others will return soon.

Spoiler:

OOC: Hope I'm not boring you G-R.

[G-Returner]

OOC: I should be saying that... Sorry that there isn't a whole lot to do while waiting.

[Black Goat]

Spoiler:

OOC: That's all right, you're keeping me entertained. Herb has a plan about what to do, but he can't execute it just yet.

[G-Returner]

After about 20 minutes, you hear once again people in the hallway, talking in Italian, and stopping in front of the next room's door. The tones are no longer hushed.

You hear once again the door being opened, then closed.

Some of the group must have stayed out of the room as you still hear at least two people conversing in Italian in the hallway.

[Black Goat]

Spoiler:

What time is it now, sorry?

[G-Returner]

You have a look at your watch: it is now 11:30pm.

[Black Goat]

The others should be back before much longer, thinks Herb. Unless something's gone wrong...

He gets off the bed, ruffles his hair a bit, unlocks the door, opens it a little and looks round with a sleepy, irritated air as if having been woken from rest.

[G-Returner]

You open your door and see two Italian policemen waiting in front of the next room's door, which is closed.

They do not pay any attention to you.

[Black Goat]

Herb shrugs, closes and locks the door and lies back down on the bed.

[G-Returner]

OOC : I hope you're not dying of boredom here. Hopefully you should receive news from the others soon.

[Black Goat]

[OOC: Don't worry about it. This was always going to be a possible consequence of staying behind. You did your best to keep me amused, but I decided not to take the bait this time!]

[G-Returner]

Hotel room
12:15am - Wednesday January 17th, 1923

Midnight passes and everything is quiet...

Finally, you hear the secret door knock as you were nearly falling asleep.

You get up and cautiously open the door... It's Frank, by himself. He looks very weak and his clothes are stained with blood.

[Black Goat]

Herb is shocked.

My God, man, what on earth's happened?

He ushers Frank into the room as quickly as possible, checking to see if anyone in the corridor is watching. He pulls over a chair for Frank to sit in.

[OOC: I hope this is worth the wait!]

[Tabs]

Frank smiles ruefully, "It's all been a cock-up, we haven't got the torso - Howard is still staking out La Scala, George and I were nearly killed, Luigi suffered a terrible disability, people are dead...
"We needed a cool head, Herb, and some extra muscle. That bloody arm needs to be stashed somewhere safe.
"Firstly, do you know where George and Luigi are? Secondly, fetch me a drink!"


[ooc: I'm out 'til Thursday, Frank 'll finish his story then.]

[Black Goat]

A drink, yes, of course. Herb scrabbles among his stuff and finds his hip flask. Handing it over to Frank, he watches his friend take a much-needed swig.

No, I don't know where George and Luigi are. I'm relieved to hear no one's dead, at least, but this disability of Luigi sounds awful. The arm's here, it's quite safe as far as I know. He glances at the wall of his room. There was a bit of a to-do in the room next door - sounds like someone dropped dead - but I didn't go and investigate because I didn't want to leave the arm. Look, get your breath back and tell me more about what happened. I wasn't there, remember, you'll need to give me as much detail as you have energy for.