Meeley smiles.
"You got yourself a new member of your expedition. I'll make the arrangements."
She departs quickly, thinking in how to explain it to her old boss.
Stanley breathes a sigh of relief as Phoebe and her medical training save Christopher's life. He's quite glad that his hesitation didn't doom the boy, and resolves to not let such a thing happen to him again, if possible. Odd choice of time and place for the boy to go swimming, though. As crew cart the recovering Christopher onto the ship, Stanley stays standing there at the soaking edge of the pier, thinking about premonitions and eavesdropping on the conversations going on around him.
Sitting in your private office your receptionist buzzes you on the intercom, "Dr. Roman, I have received a call from a Dr. Greene. He was referred to you by the city examiners office, do wish to come take the call or shall I tell him you are busy?"
Meeley you take a cab back to the paper to meet with your editor, "What's the word from that presser Doll? Anything to report?"
You and a few of the crew head with Christopher to the medical bay of the Gabriele. Dr. Greene is there checking on the knee of a crewman who seems to be injured when you all rush in.
"Good grief", he exclaims and rushes over to where Christopher is placed in a bed. He begins to do an examination of the teenaged boy and when he comes to the back of his head he turns to you Phoebe, " See beneath the hairline some discoloration, it looks like he was struck on the back of the head. Why is he all wet? Did he fall off of the ship?"
Professor Moore makes his way over to the two of you, "I don't like the look of that at all. Can you two gentlemen do me a favor and retrieve the Captain from his hotel? I would like him to stay at the Amherst Hotel wit the rest of the crew. We will now be leaving a in a few days and I don't wish to see any ore accidents befall any crew members".
"Sure, no problem," Stanley agrees, sort of half-shrugging. They sort of built a semblance of a rapport with the captain the last time they met, so he presumes that's the reason why they've been tagged for this favor. He glances at Arnault and starts making his way through the mass of people to get off the docks and, if possible, flag down a taxi to take them to the captain's hotel.
"Bit of an odd day, today, isn't it?" he says to Arnault, trying to make some sort of small talk to keep the trip from being an even more awkward silence.
Sitting in your private office your receptionist buzzes you on the intercom, "Dr. Roman, I have received a call from a Dr. Greene. He was referred to you by the city examiners office, do wish to come take the call or shall I tell him you are busy?"
"Yes, go ahead and patch him through, thank you.
Meeley you take a cab back to the paper to meet with your editor, "What's the word from that presser Doll? Anything to report?"
Meeley answers.
"Quite a lot. Most interestingly that the are taking with them three women. Phoebe Barrett, a brave and capable nurse, which saved a life today at the pier and Gretchen von Hammersmark, a scientist that seems more than capable to handle her own in the antarctica."When she is asked who the third woman is, she smiles.
"Right! The third woman is Josephine Stanton, aviator and reporter. I quit."
You and a few of the crew head with Christopher to the medical bay of the Gabriele. Dr. Greene is there checking on the knee of a crewman who seems to be injured when you all rush in.
"Good grief", he exclaims and rushes over to where Christopher is placed in a bed. He begins to do an examination of the teenaged boy and when he comes to the back of his head he turns to you Phoebe, " See beneath the hairline some discoloration, it looks like he was struck on the back of the head. Why is he all wet? Did he fall off of the ship?"
Ignoring the shaking in her hands Phoebe hover nearby. I pulled him out of the water. Do you have any idea what he was hit with and if it had enough force to knock him over the edge?
Your Editor looks shocked, "You are quitting? Why the hell would you do that???"
As Stanley and Arnault hop in a can back downtown, Arnault nods n response to Stanley's question seemingly lost in thought.
You both arrive at the Captain's hotel and leave the fare on the tab of the Expedition and head into the Hotel.
Dr. Greene shakes his head, "I am more of an internist than a trauma Dr. I do know someone we can call but we will have to head to the office on the docks, come with me Mrs. Barrett".
Dr. Greene instructs the crew to stay and keep an eye on Christopher.
The operator forwards the call to Dr. Roman's office and the voice of Dr. Greene barks through the receiver.
"Dr. Roman, Dr. Greene here. I have a situation down at the docks, a man has a head trauma, any way you can make your way down here and take a look at the boy? If you want further explanation as to what happened I can put Nurse Barrett on the line, she is the one that fished the boy out of the bay".
Stanley remembers following the Captain up to his room the last time he was here, and figures things will be easier to skip asking at the front desk and just head up and knock on the door. Hopefully he's inside and in a position to answer.
"Commander Douglas?" he calls out as he knocks. "It's Stanley Chastain and Professor Arnault from the expedition. We're here on behalf of Professor Moore. May we come in?"
Your Editor looks shocked, "You are quitting? Why the hell would you do that???"
"It's time for me to move on! I will write a book, become famous. And I won't be doing that here, doing this."
" An efil day I call it... Zat young Christopher's room vas ransacked and zen he ends up in zee vater some how almost drowned? " Arnault says after a while in the cab...
At the Captains door Arnault bounces on the balls of his feet nervously only waiting a couple of heart beats from the time Stanley knocks before trying the door handle.
There is no response from the Captain when Stanley calls out. As Arnault tries the door he finds that it is locked.
"You write that book for the paper and we can split the proceeds 50/50, I'll keep paying you while you are away on this trip? How does that sound for a deal Jo?"
"You got a deal, boss!"
Arnault frowns. " Vee had better head down to reception and find out if zee Captain is out... "
Arnault hurries back down to reception to the front desk.
" Ah excuse me sir? Vould you know if zee Captain Douglas is in, or if he has gone out somevhere? "
"Yeah," Stanley agrees. "It was worth a shot to cut out the middle-man, though, if he'd been in."
As Arnault heads downstairs, he takes a moment to put his ear against the door and listen for any sounds coming from inside the room before following. Once downstairs, and while Arnault is asking at the front desk, Stanley checks the lounge area for signs of the Captain. If he's not there either, he'll check for a hotel bar, or something similar, where a person might be if not in their room, but still in the building.
"I'll have legal draft the papers which you'll need to sign before you go. Now get down there and see what other dirt you can dig up before you leave!"
Stanley hears no noise behind the door nor is there any sign of the Captain in the lobby or the restaurant next door to the Hotel.
The clerk at the front desk smiles at Arnault, he is not the same one you aw here yesterday, "No I have not seen the Commander since this morning. I believe he went out for breakfast, if you wish I can leave a note for hims to contact him when he returns, who should I say is inquiring?"
Meeley goes to prepare to join the expedition.
Regretting not taking a moment to change into dry clothing Phoebe rubs her arms. Taking the phone once it is offered to her, Hello Dr. Roman I am Phoebe Barrett. I unfortunately do not have a lot of information to give you. The young man, Christopher St. Claire, had gone missing and someone on the ship saw a body in the water. Once I had him out of the water I preformed CPR and then he was rushed to Dr. Greene.
While Arnault talks to the front desk, and after his own search of the vicinity turns up nothing, Stanley returns to the lounge area and grabs a current newspaper to see what the headlines are like today. The last time he had business with the Captain, the papers had figured strongly in someone's attempt to accomplish something by leaving them out and about in plain sight and it's worth checking to see if something like that is happening once again.
The papers offer little in the way of explanation for what is taking place related to the Expedition.
---Bad headlines regarding the state of the economy (but that is nothing new).
---A revolt in Cuba continues prompting action from the US Navy.
---King Faisal I of Iraq died in the Swiss City of Bern.
---The Miss America pageant in Atlantic City New Jersey will resume tomorrow after a hiatus of six years.
You head home to pack for the trip.
Once you are done will you head back to the ship at port?
Yes. Does she embarks her plane?
By the time Stanley has finished taking a careful look around and a check through the newspaper headlines, Arnault has probably finished talking with the front desk. Stanley assumes, based on the fact that he hasn't been found, that the front desk has confirmed the Captains lack of presence.
"You can feel free to head out if you want," he suggests. "I've had a long day already, so I think I'll grab a seat in the lounge and see if I can catch him when he returns."
Whether or not Arnault takes him up on the offer, Stanley takes the newspaper he picked up to a seat from which he can see the hotel's main entrance and begins reading the story about the revolt in Cuba, glancing up every few lines or whenever movement suggests someone coming inside.
I envision Meeley having her own airplane. Do she takes it out with her?
Arnault nods to Stanley, " Good idea, I'll head out and see if I can find him. "
Then he heads out onto the street and starts checking out the local cafes for any sign of the captain. Checking with the Maître d' of each cafe giving the captains description to see if he had stopped there.
** spoiler omitted **
Stanley reads the cover story which gives him the gist of what is going on.
NAVAL MINISTER REACHES HAVAVA IN NEW CRUISER
Ready to Protect American Lives and Property
'CHAOTIC OUTLOOK'
HAVANA,
The Republic of Cuba, the largest of the West Indies Islands, 120 miles south of Florida, is surrounded by American warships this week-end. The United States Secretary of State (Mr. Hull) arrived at Havana today in a battleship, and the Secretary of the Navy (Mr. Swanson) followed him past the grim walls of Morro Castle two hours later in the Indianapolis, one of Uncle Sam's latest cruisers. American destroyers and seaplanes lie at anchor in every Cuban port.
Faced by this proof of America's intention to protect the lives and property interests of her citizens, representatives of all Cuban political factions decided last night to appoint a commission representing all groups to study the nation's problems. The commission will sit in Havana immediately.
Arnault discovers that the Captain did indeed break his fast in a local eatery but that was three ours ago and no one has seen him since.
Well, my specialty is working with the dead. Sounds like the boy is still breathing. But maybe I'll be able to find some answers of my own. Which vessel should I be looking for?
Meeley tries to call Moore or Starkweather on the phone, to deal with the preparations of the journey.
If she get hold of them, she will tell them about her plane.
"I have my own plane, and I am comfortable with it. Might I take it with us on the trip. I can work in the needed adaptations on the way. I am a capable mechanic."
Arnault takes the Maître D's hand slipping him some money a little awkwardly. " Listen, I am fery vorried about my friend he has a tendency to er, vonder off and I need to track him down before he gets lost, or somezink else vorse happens. You hafe been my best lead so far, are you sure you don't know vhich vay he vent after he left? "
Persuade
Unfortunately, both Moore and Starkweather are not at the Hotel but at the ship which has no phone line. The Hotel clerk sighs, "I will leave your message for them but they will likely be back late this evening".
Dr. Greene yells aloud, "Come to the SS Gabriele!"
The Maître D looks around and nods, "He was going to the dock to check out the ship he would be taking command of for his trip".
Leaving his office for the evening, Adrian locks up gets in his car. Remembering the recent files, he goes back to retrieve the odd ones, bringing them for possible comparison with the boy. He drives to the docks. Parking his car, Adrian quickly boards the ship and begins asking around.
Is there a Dr. Greene aboard this vessel? I was told it was urgent.
Heading back to the ship and completely chilled at this point. Peaking in on Christopher to see if anything has changed since she left. Dr. Greene is there something I can change into that isn't soaked?
Stanley continues reading slowly through the newspaper while checking occasionally to see if the Captain has returned. If that hasn't happened by dinner time, and if nobody contacts him otherwise, he'll get a quick meal at a nearby diner before returning to his spot until evening at which time he'll give up on waiting, leave a message at the front desk asking Commander Douglas to meet Professor Moore at the Amherst hotel and then catch a taxi back to the Amherst hotel himself to call it a night. He hopes it won't come to that, but communication isn't always easy.
If only we all had radios, he thinks to himself.
" ah Zank you, zank you! " Arnault shakes the mans hand again and then rushes off, frowning, to hail a cab back to the docks, keeping an eye out along the way for any sign of Captain Douglas.
Once back at the ship, he'll board if he can and start searching the for the captain at the bridge and work his way through the ship.
You make your way back to the ship in the afternoon and begin inquiring about the Commander. It seems none of the crew or dock workers remember seeing him at all today.
You wait all day but to no avail, your message left in the early evening you head back to the hotel.
Dr. Greene directs Phoebe to some dry clothing and a spot with some privacy to change.
Christopher is unconscious but stable when Dr. Roman arrives much later in the day.
"Yes, you are expected Dr. Roman". Security quickly escorts you to the Gabriele and into the medical ward of the ship. There you see Dr. Greene a middle aged Dr. you have met before in the city at different conferences and a fetching young nurse.
Dr. Greene shakes your hand, "Good to see you again Dr. Roman. This is Nurse Barret our resident hero of the day". He directs you to where Christopher is lying unconscious on a cot, "Ad there is your patient".