Rita gives a "I'm not very bright" giggle and squnits at her notepad "Oh, yes, sorry, I can't read my own writing. Anyway, we'd like to do a piece about them, heroic officers lost in the line of duty, that sort of thing. It'd be nice for the families to have a tribute to tthem don;t you think ? I don't suppose you'd have anything ? If there's anything about the case that would be so helpful"
She kind of gives a nod, " Well there were certainly a few articles written back in September. You can have a look in our "morgue" if you wish. However, nothing leaves the building."
She leads you behind her desk, past the cubicles to back of the offices. Beside the door to the editor's office is the door to the "morgue". She opens it for you, and inside is a table and some chairs. The walls are lined with filing cabinets. She points you to one, and says, "That one will have everything from this year."
Here's three articles you easily locate from September's papers. Similar stories made the Arkham papers as well, since all of these events were pretty big news in the state.
Aylesbury Transcript, Sept. 15, 1928
Five State Police Officers Missing
It was learned today that five Massachusetts State Police officers who had been dispatched to Dunwich have failed to return. Additional officers were sent to investigate and although they found the abandoned car, no trace of the missing policeman was discovered. Listed as missing are officers Crawford Hoover, Tuttle woodbine, Peter Starck, Bradford Gamble, and Roger Axwater.
Aylesbury Transcript, Sept. 17, 1928
Five Missing Officers Believed Dead
An unverified report today claims that the bodies of the five missing police officers have been recovered and delivered to the morgue at Aylesbury Hospital. There is no word on the cause of their deaths. The officers have been missing for two days.
Aylesbury Transcript, Sept. 21, 1928
Missing Officers Confirmed Dead
It was announced today that the five missing state police officers are dead. Killed in the line of duty were officers: Roger Axwater, Bradford Gamble, Crawford Hoover, Peter Starck, and Sergeant Tuttle Woodbine. As first reported in this paper, the officers’ bodies were discovered four days ago in Dunwich and secretly returned to Aylesbury. The bodies were found at the bottom of Cold Spring Glen, located just west of Dunwich.
Assistant Coroner, Dr. Houghton, stated that the bodies were badly burned and has ruled that the cause of the officer’s deaths was a massive stroke of lightning, which apparently struck the bottom of the glen. Dr. Houghton declined to explain the delay in announcing the deaths of the officers.
You also happen to notice another article that catches your eye. It is from only a month or so ago.
Aylesbury Transcript, Feb. 7, 1928
Dunwich Man Arrested After Standoff With Police
Police yesterday took into custody Mr. Temple Potter after a brief standoff at the man’s home in Dunwich Township. Potter was wanted in connection with the supposed abduction of Linda Perkins, a twelve year old girl who lives near the Potter farm. Witnesses say that Potter, armed with a shotgun, held off four State Police officers for nearly an hour before he was finally persuaded to give himself up. Potter’s two cousins were also in the house at the time but apparently took no part in the standoff. After questioning, the two were released. Temple Potter was taken into custody.
The Perkins girl, it may be remembered, disappeared six days ago, while walking to town on an errand. Both the Perkins and Potter farms are located southeast of the village of Dunwich in the vicinity of Indian Hill. Massive search efforts were made but to no avail. Two days ago the girl was found wandering in a field, apparently not too worse for wear. However, when questioned, she was unresponsive and seemed unable to speak. She has since been released from the hospital and allowed to return home but has yet to utter a word.
It is theorized by police that Potter held the girl captive in his home until releasing her on the 24th. Police believe she had been freed only hours before she was discovered in the field. A witness is rumored to have seen the girl at the house during the period of her disappearance but his identity is being kept secret.
"Well, that at least proves part of what the kook told us - someone is out there killing cops."
Yeah,someone....or something, she thought suddenly.Rita shivered, despite the warm of the room
"Whaddya think, boss ?"
Fergus is disturbed by the latest news story. He is well aware that sometimes when you think you've defeated evil, it finds a way to keep itself alive.
He decides while they have access to attempt to find any news stories which might involve the Whatley family.
OOC: Sorry about the slow posting. Work has been very busy. It will return to normal about halfway through October, so if you guys can carry me for a bit...
"Where would you two like to head next? The police station?" Why was she here? This whole thing was sounding more and more creepy by the minute. Thinking about her areas of expertise she just shakes her head, What in God's name am I going to be doing in some miserable backwater cultureless town full of inbred ax-murderers? She sighs as she already knows the answer, Work is work and it often picks you instead of you picking it. Look on the brightside, at least you are away from town and........ She is brought back from her thoughts by the sudden need to keep moving and investigating.
"Lets see if we can find anything about Amos here first. Maybe he's got something nasty in his past."
Rita has a look to see if *any* of the Whateleys are mentioned in the files.
You drudge up one more article that mentions the Whatley's it is dated December 1924.
Murder Suspect found Guilty.
A long and confusing murder trial was brought to an end today when Judge Orrin Crockett sentenced Matthew Potter to life imprisonment for the cold-blooded murder of Abner Brown, both residents of Dunwich township. Potter stood silent as the sentence was read, but members of his family hooted and jeered the Honorable Judge Crockett, interrupting the proceedings. Temple Potter, the convicted man's son, had to forcibly escorted from the courtroom before sentencing could be finished.
It will be remembered that Matthew Potter had been accused of murdering the elderly Brown while the latter was walking in the road near his home in Dunwich on last March 14th. Potter had apparently hidden behind some trees while awaiting his victim. As Brown passed by, Potter leapt upon him from behind, striking him repeatedly with a rock. Brown's body was found the following morning, lying in the road, left where he had been slain.
The irony of the story is that it appears that Brown was a victim of mistaken identity. Testimony from various witnesses seemed to establish that there had been a long running feud between Potter and one Noah Whateley, also of the township of Dunwhich, and since deceased. It is generally believed that Whateley had been Potter's intended victim. According to one witness, Potter had recently, while trespassing on Whateley's property, been shot at by the owner. Witnesses interviewed by this reporter claimed that Potter was searching for a treasure long rumored to be kept by this same Noah Whateley. Potter denied these allegations. The family of the deceased Noah Whateley declined to comment.
You don't find anything specifically mentioning Amos Whateley.
All this browsing takes about an hour and a half. It's late afternoon on that mid March Friday of 1928, when you leave Newspaper and head for the police station.
The Aylesbury county police station isn't too far away. A couple of squad cars are parked in the small lot in front of the building. The American flag hangs limply on a pole out front. It is currently at full mast.
As you enter the building, you can almost feel a palor death and gloom hanging over the place. Like the paper, there is a reception desk, and an older officer sits behind it reading a paper. A few other officers are milling about the office area further back in the station. They speak quietly. An old police dog is curled up near the door. It raises its head as you enter, looks you over and then puts its head back down. Your foot steps creak on the wooden planks of the floor. The officers in the back area stop their chat and glance your way, but don't say anything. The one at the desk continues to read his paper.
Walking up to the desk, "Excuse me is Captain Miller in and available to speak with? My name is Evelyn and this is Rita and Fergus. We have been directed to speak with him regarding an investigation."
He looks up from his paper, "I'm going to need to know who you are."
"We are from Garrity and Associates Private Investigations in Arkham. My name is Evelyn Carnarvon."
He briefly scans your ID, and then gets himself up from his chair. He drags himself to a nearby office that says "C. Millar, Police Captain," on the door, and he knocks. The door opens and the police captain drags himself out. He's holding a mug of coffee and he wanders over to the desk. He gives you a quick look over. His face is haggard and forlorn. He's probably in his mid forties, but appears much older. His hair has prematurely grayed.
"How can I help you?" he asks, bluntly.
On the way over to the station Rita comments:
"The Whateleys certainly don't seem to like anyone looking into their private business. Touchy bunch of guys. We'd better be careful if we gotta deal with them."
On arrival at the station,Rita contrives to look as harmless as possible, and when she's not talking, she carefully watches peoples reactions.
Evelyn nudges Rita on the way over to the captains office, "Would you talk to the Captian, your better with this kind of thing."
Rita smiles "Captain, we've been asked to look into some inheritance issues relating to a family who died earlier this year.
I understand it was all very tragic, and we're looking to establish the bona-fides of potential inheritors of the estate. We've reason to believe that a few false claimants might be inclined to apply.
I wonder if there's anything you could tell us about the Whateley family tradegy ? "
The Captain gives you all a rather dark look and says, "I think we had best talk about these matters in my office." He leads you into his office and offers you seats. He then takes a seat at his own desk.
"Now the only Whateleys I know of are from Dunwich, and Dunwich is a pretty sensitive topic around here, and if you've done any research at all then you already know why. I don't know a great deal about the Whateleys, but they have a certain reputation, and it isn't a good one. The only decent Whateley I know of is Sawyer Whateley, and even him I'm not so sure about.
I'm not sure exactly what tragedy you are are referring to. I'm guessing you're talking about the fellow who tried to break into the Miskatonic university library last summer and was killed by the guard dog. I suppose some might call that a tragedy, but he was engaged in unlawful activity, so I can't say I feel like it was some unfortunate tragic accident or that I feel particularly sorry for the fellow. When I hear the word tragedy, I think of the five good men that died in Cold Spring Glen. That was a tragedy.
I'm not sure exactly what you want to know. After Wilbur Whateley's death we confiscated various books and papers from the Whateley residence. That was about the extent of the estate. It was handed over to the Miskatonic university until a proper heir could be determined for it. I didn't get a look at any of it, but from my understanding it was a lot of strange occult mumbo jumbo. I don't know anything about claiments to this so called "estate." From my understanding the main house on the Whateley farm is in very bad condition, and had a terrible smell. I can't see any one wanting to lay claim to any of it. Though I have heard the odd rumor about Whateley gold. It is said that old Noah Whateley used to buy cattle with gold coins. However, I didn't hear anything about any gold being recovered from the Whateley farm, which is the only thing I could really imagine anyone wanting from the Whateleys."
Evelyn chimes in, "Well see sir, there is a man by the name of Amos Whateley who has put forth a lawsuite to recover for himself those very documents and books you just mentioned. We are investigating in hopes to stop the lawsuite and retain possession of the articles in question at Miskatonic University. I tell you this in hopes you can perhaps enlighten us further on the Whateley's as obviously and understandably people around here have no love for them."
Rita nods, and takes notes.
" Oh geez, thats awful... I'm sorry for the loss of your officers, Captain.. " , Rita feigns surprise " - was it connected ?"
The Captain shakes his head a little muttering to himself "Was it connected, was it connected, was it connected..."
He then looks up at the three of you again. "There must be some connection. I just don't know exactly how it all fits together. There were three professors from Miskatonic in Dunwich around the time the officers were killed. They haven't said much about what they were doing there or what happened during those strange, dark days last September. In fact, no one is saying much of anything. All I know is that those uppity scholars know something, and they aren't telling us, and that pisses me right off.
So are they the ones that hired you to look into all this?"
"cough, cough, cough". Father Garrity fakes strangling. "Oh I'm sorry". "Excuse me do you have a fountain where I might...cough,cough...find a drink"? "cough,cough,cough".
Rita shakes her head
"We've yet to talk to most of the professors, although obviously if they know something we'll try and find out for you.
What we have heard is that its all very peculiar. Was there anything else strange aobut the case that you could tell us? I understand the coroner didn't release bodies until quite late"
The Captain seems to be getting a little grouchy. "I thought your interest was in claiments to the Whateley's estate. What do you care about dead police men for? And by the way, you haven't answered my question. Are you working for those professors?"
You are just about to respond to the captain, when suddenly the door to the Captain's office bursts open. The desk officer is standing in the doorway. He seems distraught.
"Captain, Jacob's wife is on the phone. She says Jacob's locked himself in the bedroom, and is threatening to kill himself."
Captain Millar gets up.
"Jesus Christ, Martin!"
He grabs his coat off a nearby stand, and turns to you as he puts it on.
"We're going to have to cut this conversation short. I have some urgent business to take care of.
Martin see these folks out. I'm heading over to Jacob's place. Hopefully, I can talk him out of it."
Martin the desk clerk looks at Rita and Evelyn (Fergus had stepped out for water).
"Let's go ladies. You need to be on your way. We've got more pressing things to deal with right now."
Evelyn appears frustrated at Captain Miller blowing off her inquiry about Amos. She looks to Rita and sighs, "Unless you can think of another place we need to visit lets go get something to eat and we'll head up to Dunwich tomorrow." She walks out of Miller's office following the others.
Rita is unsually quiet as they get outside. She pulls the collar of her coat up against the chill wind, and looks at her feet in an embaressed fashion.
"I guess I distracted him from your question with mine - sorry."
She thinks for a minute.
"Yes, sure boss, if you think going to Dunwich is the next step, sounds fine to me. The Doc mentioned Squire Whateley and Joe Osburne as bein' good people to ask.. "
"No, no, don't blame yourself. Just unfortunate timing of that crisis that drew him away. Your questions are always welcome." She gives Rita a smile. "I think your very right about not talking to the lawyer until later." Pulling her coat around her more tightly as they head outside, "Let's get something warm to eat and talk over what we have found so far."
Just had a thought - Before we leave Aylesbury, I'd like to check up on where Dr. Houghton, the coroner, is based.
She says, "I thought about the autopsy reports also but it seems kind of pointless unless we are going to try an corroborate Professor Armitage's story." She seems a little uneasy talking about that and doesn't seem eager to corroborate anything he said. "I think we should stay on track with finding out what Amos wants with the books and documents and undermine his lawsuite." Just the thought of reading the autopsy reports on those policemen made her a little anxious and unsettled let alone imagining what the bodies must of looked like.
"Youse the boss, boss"
The next morning after breakfast you head north on an old rural road towards Dunwich. It is curious and lonely country. The ground gets higher. The road is damp and filled with ruts and puddles from the melted snow. The trees of the frequent forest belts seem too large, and the wild weeds, brambles, and grasses attain a luxuriance not normally found in settled regions. The few fields you see seem barren, and the sparsely scattered houses wear a surprisingly uniform aspect of age, squalor and dilapidation. Every now and then you see a solitary, furtive gnarled figure standing in a doorway or in a meadow. You can’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
As you come over a rise in the road, the great hills come into view above the forests. Your sense of uneasiness increases. The summits of the hills seem too rounded, too uniform, and sometimes the sky silhouettes with especially clearness the queer circles of stone pillars with which most of them are crowned.
You have been driving for some time now (nearly an hour). The distance to Dunwich is probably only 8 or so miles (as the crow flies), but the road has been windy and the conditions have been bad. Evelyn has been taking it easy with her car, and for good reason. Some of the puddles and ruts are much deeper than they appear, and hitting them with any real speed could easily damage the vehicle. You are pretty certain that you are getting very near to Dunwich when your car descends into a valley, and as you round a corner you see a samp not far ahead. It looks like the road is slightly elevated enabling it to cut through the swamp. However, due to the spring melts, the road ahead appears very muddy. You have your doubts that the car could drive through it without getting completely bogged down. Unfortunately, you know of no other route to the village.
Evelyn looks very unhappy about the road conditions and frowns with each and every bump and muddy splash. Upon seeing the road worsen and go through a swamp she pulls off to the driest place she can find and loses it a bit, "It's not worth it. Look at that road! It's all but impassable and even if we do get through than we might be stuck all the way out here! I don't even think I can walk through that!" She looks to the two others to see what their reactions are going to be.
Rita looks from Evelyn, to the road, and back again.
"I didn't exactly pack a boat, boss. Maybe we could rig some sort of board for the wheels ? I mean - walking ? Jeez Louise ! Don't ,like, Alligators and stuff live in swamps ? Aint that" she waves her fingers exageratedly, with wide, staring eyes. "dane-gerr-ous ?"
Then, off of their stares, she gives a giggle. "Aw, you guys are just soooo straight, y'know. I figured we'd haff ta wailk at some point. Thats why I bought the spare shoes."
She pulls out her handbag and opens the door, then pauses as she prepares to get out of the car.
"Eww...you coulda found a smaller puddle though"
Fergus watches Rita get out of the car, and under his breath he starts reciting a popular song
Masculine women, feminine men
Which is the rooster, which is the hen?
It's hard to tell 'em apart today! And, say!
Sister is busy learning to shave,
Brother just loves his permanent wave,
It's hard to tell 'em apart today! Hey, hey!
Girls were girls and boys were boys when I was a tot,
Now we don't know who is who, or even what's what!
Knickers and trousers, baggy and wide,
Nobody knows who's walking inside,
Those masculine women and feminine men!
Giving Fergus an angry look, "Rita get in! I'm not walking with alligators and apparently Fergus is still confused on whether we are guys or gals." As soon as Rita is back in the car Evelyn starts moving the car fairly quickly and her passengers hang on to anything they can.
Evelyn revs the engine and tries to plow through the mucky road. Her attempts are futile, and soon the vehicle is thoroughly bogged down in the mire.
Evelyn keeps spinning the tires until both Rita and Fergus yell at her to "STOP!" They suddenly notice that her face is wet with tears and angry, "THERE! YOU HAPPY?!?!" She takes off one of her shoes and smacks at Fergus ineffectually, "GET.....OUT.....OF....MY....CAR!!!"
Rita tries to find a relatively clean spot to hop out onto, then moves to the back of the car to get the spare kit out.
So I assume you will be walking the rest of the way...
Evelyn at first refuses to budge and it's not until Fergus and Rita start walking off that she realizes she is out in the middle of nowhere. She quickly gathers as much of her "necessities" as she can into her bag and grabs her spare shoes. She steps out of the car and "splortches" into the mud losing her shoe as the mud holds on to it. She manages to fish her shoe out and get it back on, streaking mud on her dress in the process. Crying out in frustration she takes several more steps before losing the same shoe as her foot sinks deeply into the mud again. Seeing the shoe as lost, with an angry shout pulls off the other one and flings it off into the swamp going barefoot from here on.
You trudge along the muddy road through the swamp. Evelyn's description is pretty much dead on. You find that your shoes easily get sucked into the slurping mud, often getting caught and pulled right off your feet. It is very slow going, and the puddles and water from the spring melt water are cold on your feet, causing them to soon go numb. Fortunately, it is still too early in the spring for biting insects to be an issue. However, by the time you get through the sludgy swamp and clean your shoes off, you can no longer feel your feet.
The remainder of the walk to Dunwich is quite grueling. The land continues to rise and fall, and the road continues to wind. You pass only a couple of decrepit farm houses, which are all set back from the road. You are tempted to seek shelter and try to get your feet warmed up, but there is something so unwelcoming about them that you figure it best to just press on and get to the village.
Finally you round a bend in the road and up ahead you see an old covered bridge that crosses over what you believe to be the Miskatonic river. On the other side of the bridge you see what you can only assume is the village of Dunwich. You are all shivering at this point, and you suspect that mild hypothermia is setting in. It is early afternoon.
Evelyn numbly just keeps trudging toward town, shivering the whole way. The cold and elements having dowsed her earlier fire.
You tromp over the covered bridge shivering all the way. When you get to the other side you find yourselves in Dunwich. The road continues and just up ahead you can see what appears to be an sagging old church. However, it is clear that this is no longer a place of worship. A sign has been posted above the front doors that says, "Osborn's General Store". Behind the church is a small hill, and on the hillside is a small overgrown cemetery that must have been associated with the church. A small group of Dunwich folk mill about outside the general store, and even more so than before you feel as though you've left the modern world and traveled back in time. The villagers are dressed in clothes from the previous century and everything about them seems old fashioned.