Alphonso, you see many people and many cars as you look around, none of which match the description you are looking for.
"Your brother may indeed have been intending to refuse to go, but that's still how I knew him," Stanley says, shrugging. "You're right that it's something best for the police, and we have called them about it, but it's a big city and by the time anyone finds them it might be too late. I don't mind interfering in an investigation a little if it helps stop someone else from being killed." He sighs, deeply, turning back to the others.
"It would seem that Sothcott has either changed the pattern, or we've got the wrong pier," he says. "Hopefully the others and the police will have had better luck. We can try to keep searching the area, but if they've already managed to become hidden, it'll probably be extremely difficult to spot them."
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - On the Waterfront
The Captain's brother continues, "My brother saw that place drive men crazy, I would suggest you follow his lead and refuse to go yourselves".
"What place? and I don't think he really "refused", right?"
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - On the Waterfront
"I was surprised to see my brother's connection with the expedition. My brother frequently swore over and over that he would never return to the Ice.
Commander Douglas, as he liked to refer to himself in the third person from time to time, came to stay with me for several months after his trip aboard the Arkham with the Miskatonic Expedition. En route from the Ice, he had to have two fingers amputated due to frostbite. He returned
from the journey a much-changed man, somber, introspective, and given to spells of brooding in which he would drink to excess". He sighs seemingly embarrassed for the deceased.
"During these drinking bouts my brother would ramble in a disconnected fashion about some of the things he experienced while he was at the South Pole. Afterwards he would fall asleep, and often
waken in a sweating panic from some dream. When Philip asked him what the dreams were about. He always insisted that he could not recall what he said while in his cups, and often denied outright that any of the events mentioned had occurred. But I remember the stories clearly enough".
"It's quite unfortunate that your brother was so harmfully affected by that trip," Stanley says, commiserating. "It's quite unconscionable for Starkweather to brow-beat him about this trip in the manner he did. When he told me that he was only here to tell Starkweather to leave him out of it once and for all I didn't fully understand why, but this paints a much clearer picture of it. I wish I had gotten the chance to know your brother before that ill-fated expedition." He sighs, wistfully.
"Anyway, when he mentioned that he only intended to stay for a day or two to force Starkweather to accept his refusal, he let slip that he was following some personal effects he'd sent on to Philip by rail ahead of himself. One of our associates is close with the police, and he mentioned that your brother's hotel room had been ransacked, and I wonder if the man we believe to be responsible had been looking for those things. Do you have any idea what they might be? It might help us understand the why of his murder, and the other attempted murders by the man we strongly suspect is behind it. Also, I'd be extremely curious to hear what stories your brother told about what he experienced. As far as I can tell, there isn't much down there to worry about beyond the climate, but this isn't the first time I've heard people trying to warn me off taking this trip. So far, though, nobody has given me anything more to go on than vague hints and riddles. As a man of numbers and figures, I need data to make a proper case for backing out of this commitment."
Shifting at little in her seat, "Actually history was my worse subject in school. I have never been very good at keeping the dates straight."
Glancing out the window before continuing, "I am on the expedition for a lot of reasons. They need someone with medical knowledge and an understanding of the mind. That is my work and I am already accustom to working with individuals who have been isolated. I am here because the opportunity to do something I never thought I would be able to do presented itself and I simply could not let the opportunity slip away."
Shaking her head slightly, "You want to bring back artifacts and that is a good thing. Sort of the point of the expedition as I understand it. But I want to bring back a crew of fully functioning people...I also want to being back change. Until that reporter I was the only woman on this voyage and there were issues with that though there should not be."
Sighing in a self depreciating way, "My apologizes. I did not mean to go off an a tangent like that. I am told I have a wondering mind."
Looking back over at Arnault, "Are these artifacts you want to being home worth all the trouble? Everything that has happened? I know my curiosity is, at least for me. But what if you find nothing?"
" Oh no, don't apologise Ms Barrett. I zink your cause is vorthy. Vhy should zere be any issues vith a smart voman such as you comeink on an expedition like zis..."
" I hope it is all vorth zee trouble. Zee Commanders death and zat poor young man's near drownink..." Arnault lapses into silence for a few seconds, looking grim. " but I doubt vee vill find nozink, I'm sure it vill be hard vork. All zee artifacts at Lake's camp must hafe been buried by zee storm zat happened zere, but zey must be zere somevhere. Zey can't hafe just, you know, valked avay... "
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - On the Waterfront
The man smiles sadly, "I am Philip, do you have the letter? Whatever he sent to me I did not receive, perhaps it crossed with my travels here for his funeral".
He pauses, "Certainly I will share the tales with you, perhaps they can shine light on his mysterious and tragic death.
I pieced together a more complete picture after listening many times to his fragmented tales.
In one of these stories, three men went snow-crazy and attempted violence on their fellow crew mates. Two were restrained and finally recovered, but the third ran off into the snow and was never found.
In another, he spoke of some icy black stones found on the ice, and how cold they were. I had the vague impression that these stones were somehow linked to his loss of two fingers.
The name Danforth came up frequently. He would often shake his head and say, 'That poor, poor devil Danforth.' At other times he would demand, 'Blast you, Dyer, police your crew!' and 'Make him stop that damned screaming!'
Six months after his return from the Ice, the bouts seemed to stop and he left the farm to take up his duties once more. Afterward, aside from
infrequent letters, I had no direct contact with my brother until a telegram arrived saying he would be up to visit sometime early this month.
Unfortunately, that will now never happen".
"I am sorry for your loss. Any idea who might have wanted to kill him? Why did he sign up to go back to Antarctica?"
Stanley steps in to answer one of the reporter's two questions. "In point of fact, he didn't sign up. Starkweather wanted him so badly he went ahead and told people he was coming along even though the man repeatedly said no. He had come to New York the get Starkweather to stop badgering him once and for all." He sighs a bit. "Which makes his death all the more tragic if he was targeted by people in order to damage the expedition's chances." He turns back to Philip.
"Oh, I'm sorry for the confusion, Philip," he adds, a little embarrassed. "When you said 'When Philip asked him what the dreams were about' and then followed that up by saying 'but I remember' I drew the conclusion that they were two different people." He coughs a little, clearing his throat.
"I don't recall mentioning a letter," he continues, raising his eyebrow and rubbing at his forehead a moment. "But it's certainly possible that he sent one and you crossed it, like with the personal effects."
"I've never heard of the term 'snow-crazy' before, but it sounds terrible, especially if it can cause people to turn violent or just scream continuously. What could bring such a dramatic change on a man? Isolation? Boredom? The combination of both, I suppose. It's probably a lot like cabin fever, now that I think of it. Perhaps our expedition will be helped by bringing a psychologist along. Thank you for your help, though, Philip. It's been nice to meet you, even if the circumstances that allowed it are quite terrible."
Meeley looks at Stanley, like thinking "I wanted to hear what he had to say..."
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - On the Waterfront
Philip grins, "Sorry, sometimes I refer to myself in the third person, I am a writer and it often bleeds out into my speech.
Well ma'am, as your friend stated, my Brother did not sign up the second time. The first time he signed up for the money, he never was comfortable going someplace so far away from any aid. Even in the middle of the ocean there is a chance for rescue, down there, no such chance exists as nothing is there except for the cold and the snow".
Philip shakes the hand of Stanley and Meeley, "Keep your wits about you. The cabin fever you spoke of is a real thing when so isolated, speak with this mind doctor if you need to, I think much like the desert, such a desolate place can have your mind play tricks on you!"
He waves as you step back into the can with Alphonso.
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - A Bronx Warehouse
The warehouse is a rectangular two story building of concrete and iron sheeting on a quiet street by the river. There are small alleys on either side, and a decaying wooden pier extends into the river from the back. The windows are stained and grimy.
There is no sign of life about the place.
The cabbie turns back to the two of you, "Are you sure this is where you want to go?"
" I zink so, zis is zee address. Could you er, leafe zee meter runnink? And vait for us in case it is not? Phoebe, vould you like to vait in zee cab vhile I look around quickly? " Arnault says, opening the door to hop out.
September 11th, 1933 - Evening -
" Listen, please, vee vere supposed to meet our friend here, just vait for fife minutes vhile I look about for him. I'll put in extra on zee tip even. "
September 11th, 1933 - Evening -
You step away from the car and walk towards the building as you come close to the front door three men step out of the alleyway. You recognize them as Seamus, Mickey, and Father Garrity. They wave you towards the alley.
Seamus calls to you without trying to raise his voice, "I would not go knocking on that door if I were you my friend. How the heck did you know to come here anyway?"
" Seamus, good vee hafe came to zee right place. Let me get Phoebe and pay zee cab driver, you hafe a car here? "
Arnault will hurry quietly back to the cab, pay, " This is zee right spot sorry about zat, "
Then hurry back to the alley with Phoebe. He hurriedly explains in a hushed voice." A reporter vee know rang us, said he vitnessed a kidnapping. Vee got zee registration details of zee car from him. Phoebe rang zee police and managed to get zis address... zee ozzers vent to zee scene to meet vith zee reporter. Can vee help here? "
Smiling at the driver, "Thank you sir."
Quickly following Arnault back to Seamus, "Thank God you are here" Nodding along with Arnault's explanation.
September 11th, 1933 - Evening -
Where are the rest of the eggheads?"
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - On the Waterfront
" Special skill? I am familiar viz firearms, I am best viz a pistol, but I don't have vone on me... zee ozzers vent to help zee reporter contact at zee Lexington property. I don't know how long zey vill be zere, but vee left a somevhat criptic message viz zee concierge so zey could follow us here. "
Phoebe'e eyes widen, "This is going to turn violent you think?"
Aphonso thinks over all that has gone on and then will have the cab drive up to the captains brother and will wind down the window and say would your brother have anything from the first expedition or some private possessions or logs that you could allow us to see? I promise that for mt part I will not rest til you have an answer to what happened and I believe these things may help us find thise answers
Stanley considers the new information that they have, and also considers that the time spent going to the wrong pier and talking with Philip has probably made it impossible to catch up to Sothcott before he has a chance to complete his dark deeds. After Alphonso's question, he'll suggest packing it in and returning to the hotel from whence they came and see if the others have had any better fortune.
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - On the Waterfront
Philip nods to Alphonso, "Indeed I do though it'll take me a day to get home and another day to find them in the attic. When do you leave for this trip?"
When you arrive back at the hotel, the concierge flags you down to hand your group a note.
It states that they went to a warehouse in the Bronx to follow up on a lead regarding Sothcott.
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - A Bronx Warehouse
Seamus grunts, "See I told ya Mick, we shoulda' brought an extra".
Mickey simply shrugs as the Father take s swig out of what looks to e some sort of liquor container.
"Phoebe, they went through alla this trouble to kidnap this Joe, whoever he is, I don't think they'll hand him back just cause we ask nicely.
Do you think they'll show up Arnault? It's always better to have more then less people. I think there's four o' them in there and only me and the Father have a gun".
Alphonso will head to this warehouse if no one else is on the double!
Stanley will definitely go as well, making sure he has his gun on hand.
Glaring at Mickey, "I am not a violent person and I felt it better to ask. Nor am I skilled in a gun fight. And the others should follow but I do not know how long it would take them."
" Yes, how long it might take vee don't know... "
Arnault nods as Phoebe says that the others should follow.
September 11th, 1933 - Evening - A Bronx Warehouse
Seamus shrugs, "Alright, we'll wait. Just keep your eyes and ears glued to that building. Mickey you stand here with the Father and Arnault, Phoebe, you and I will cross the street to see the building from a different angle".
Alphonso leaves a note with the concierge before the three Investigators head outside and into yet another cab to head uptown.
September 11th, 1933 - Night - A Bronx Warehouse -
Phoebe and Arnault you both see a cab pull up, the back contains three familiar figures.
Meeley, Alphonso and Stanley, as the three of you step out of the cab in front of the seedy warehouse, you see Father Garrity step out of an alley and gesture for you all to head to his location.
Alphonso steps out of the vehicle hands in his pockets as if to keep warm and moves out of the street after paying the cab amd out of amy lamps and against the wall looking around to get a better idea of the area from a not so well lit vantage point.
Stanley gets out of the cab, and then immediately starts scanning for those they came here to meet. Spotting Arnault and Mickey waiting for them, he heads over directly.
"What's the scene?" he asks, furtively in a stage whisper. "Where are the others? Inside, already?"
September 11th, 1933 - Night -
Seamus shrugs as the others arrive, "Come on Phoebe, let's join the others".
As Stanley walks up to Arnault and Mickey, Mickey points behind him and Stanley can see Phoebe and Seamus step out of a dark alley across the street and quickly join you all. The cab takes off and the streets are once more silent and dark with the exception of the few lampposts that dot the street.
Seamus grimaces, "Alright, if we are going in we should go in now. Two cabs stopping here may have gotten their attention if they have a look out. Hopefully the few of us that have guns will get them to stay peaceful. If they have guns too, let's hope they all want to live as much as we do. Are you all ready to do this?"
" Does zis varehouse back onto a dock? I zink I hear a boat engine, vee had better hurry. " Arnault starts moving to the warehouse door, swinging it open while standing to one side. Then he leans, peeking in, trying to expose as little of himself as possible.
"Are you sure? asks Stanley in hushed tones. "I don't hear anything, myself." Still, since it's better in the long run to assume that he's the one that's wrong, he draws his gun and follows the professor.
Quietly following Seamus. Turning her head and then looking back at Arnault. "I heard it too. We need to hurry. Should we circle round to find the boat?"
Seamus nods to Phoebe, "Father, Mickey head round back, the rest of us will head inside!"
Alphonso heads inside with the group hand in his pocket holding the hidden weapon.
Stanley follows along inside with gun actively drawn, unless someone pulls him along elsewhere. Having not heard any signs of anything else, he'll continue to assume that inside is the first, best course of action, though he is worried about the boat sounds that Arnault and Phoebe said they heard.
September 11th, 1933 - Night -
September 11th, 1933 - Night -
"Damn it all! Running a hand though her hair and twisting around full circle.
Alphonso dashes to a fire escape and climbs up using the trash containers to climb on and reach the ladder