TAT.P2

Beginning of TAT: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/11/tatp1.html

TAT.P2 Shadows on the Atlantic

Essie Vance [Whitney], Peter Graves [Jordan], Phillip Vance [Aaron], the Beaumonts (grandfather Pierre, Marina, 3 yo Anna)

Recap: Aboard the HMS Adriatic bound for America. Mistakenly seated at the Captain’s table where they encounter a rude Joseph Taft, nephew to the current 10^th Chief Justice, William Taft. And a pitiful Elizabeth Dodd, rejected by her long-time traveling friend, Joanna Ostermann. Conversation about this the 10-year anniversary of the Titanic disaster brings concern of possible repeat. The famed dilettante and big-game hunter, Augustus Vanderbilt, intercedes on their behalf, offering skeet-shooting. But Taft makes an appearance and another ass of himself.

14 April, Day 2 at Sea: Tuxedos delivered; Phillip’s too large. Peter offered his to Phillip (same size) as he dressed in his Private Eye garb complete with Trilby Fedora hat. Marina declined joining, “Father is off wandering the ship. I must stay with Anna.” Thus, the trio headed for dinner when they came upon Joanna in conversation with the waiters, Kelly and Shaw. And overheard whispers, some hard to make out, “You need to watch the other waiters and mimic their actions.” The conversation stopped when Joanna realized they had company, “Ah, so glad you are not letting Joseph run you off. He can be a bit of a loose cannon. Hopefully, he will control himself today.”

Dinner: Surprising Elizabeth Dodd was not at the table. As for Joseph: he started off with normal pestering at Peter, “Everyone else came properly dressed. Are you supposed to be an undertaker?” To which Peter rebuffed, “One might be needed if you keep running your mouth.” Essie tried to break the tension per charming words, but it was actually Joanna who seemed to best have control of the situation as she whispered in Taft’s ear while ordering him another high-ball. Yet it was Peter who intercepted Kelly, offering a sawbuck ($10), “Make it a Shirley Temple.” With the drink delivered, Taft downed it in one gulp, “What the hell?!” Peter mocked, “It will last longer to make you more entertaining through the evening.” Joanna took Taft’s side, “Don’t pay attention to these commoners. You are better than them.” As for Augustus, “Act your status Joseph. You did start it. Now be man enough to take what’s deserved.”

And that’s when Essie noticed Elizabeth (Liz) at another table and pardoned herself to go make conversation. “Come now dear, why not join us?” But Liz declined, “You won’t believe the cruel things she said to me yesterday. And to think we’ve been friends so long. Years of traveling together. Such as this picture of us in Paris 10 years ago. But look closer. See how she hasn’t aged?! I know the picture faded and wrinkled, but…THAT woman at the table is NOT Joanna. She’s an imposter. I don’t know why; Joanna is not that rich or important.” Essie tried to console her, “Well, it is an old photo. And Paris is known as the City of Love. I imagine you two were quite a couple, but lovers do fall out of love sometimes.” It took Liz a few moments to realize, “You think we’re lesbians?! Please leave.”

Essie returned to the table a little embarrassed. After salad and dinner, and muted conversations, Jonathan surprisingly tapped his wine glass with his butterknife to make a wedding announcement, “Capt Barclay, could you do us the honors of wedding Judith and I aboard ship?” Cheers and applause. Judith asked Felicity to be her bridesmaid while Augustus asked to be best man. Augustus stood to make a toast. From a seated position, Joseph adds his own advice, “Better get a prenuptial so she can’t get her hands on your diamond fortune.” Gasps of shock. Joanna interceded, “I think Mr. Graves had the steward put something in Joseph’s drink. And I with a headache…if you’ll excuse us, Joseph, be a dear and please escort me to my room. Mr. Kelly and Mr. Shaw, if you’ll please help Mr. Taft.”

Once Joanna gone, Liz approached the table to ask for Essie’s ear, “Just so you understand, Joanna and I were just good friends. Widows. My Donald and her Arthur fought and died on that Cuban hill with Teddy’s Rough Riders. But I’m telling you, that woman is NOT Joanna. Look at this ten-year-old picture. Yet the Joanna you see hasn’t aged a day. No grey hair nor facial wrinkles. Why, this is the second day in a row she’s worn the same dress. The Joanna I knew was a meticulous dresser. A wardrobe of the latest fashions.” Essie promised to look into it, “It could just be facial cream. I hear Paris was quite the city of fashion and glamour. As for her rudeness towards you… perhaps she just wants to distance herself as she seems to be making moves on Mr. Taft. She acts as if they are lovers.”

8pm: With dinner over, the dining room was converted to a dance floor. Phillip excused himself to go ask Marina if she wanted to dance. And that’s when Joanna returned. And when Liz confronted her! “IMPOSTER!” Liz grabbed Joanna’s hair and tugged as if trying to remove a wig. And scratched at her face. Joanna easily defended herself. Peter remained out of it, as if watching a cat-fight. Essie intervened, “Where are those stewards when you need them! Peter, please take Mrs. Dodd to her cabin. Joanna, if you’ll please join me in the powder room to freshen up and relax.” But Essie had other intensions and concerns. Such as silently swearing and wondering what she just witnessed. For when Liz attacked, Essie could have sworn she saw Joanna’s hair messed up yet suddenly look normal. And her face scratched with red streaks yet now none visible! She blinked and angled for a better view as the two entered the Powder Room. “I hope you are alright. She didn’t scratch you did she? What was that all about? Liz told me about her late husband Donald. What was your husband’s name? John? Oh, you divorced.”

Essie couldn’t get back to the others fast enough, AFTER ordering a hard drink (scotch). “You’ll never believe what I saw and just learned. Something fishy is going on…” Phillip was there without Marina since Pierre still gone. Peter returned from escorting Liz to her room, “We’re in luck that Liz told me Joanna’s and Taft’s room numbers.”

Taft’s Room: Essie stood near the elevators as lookout. Peter removed the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. He knocked loudly, such that another cabin door 2 down opened and a man stepped out. Peter glared as he flashed his PI badge, “Police business. Return to your room.” As for Taft’s room: no answer. Phillip tried to pick the lock; Peter tried too. They thought about shouldering it open till Essie offered, “Perhaps we can find a housemaid with a master key.” Indeed, just down the long hall. Essie tried to Fast-Talk [96], “Please be a dear, and open my friend’s room. He had too much to drink… and the man has health issues. I’m afraid he may be passed out in his own vomit or worse.” But the lowly maid didn’t want to get involved, “You best get the ship doctor or detective to help.” The maid busied herself in another room. They were just about to track down the ship doctor, when Phillip realized the maid was in another room and had left her keys on her cart outside the room. He snuck over and stole it.

Soon they were inside Joseph’s room. Beds made. Empty. Obvious signs this the correct room per his luggage. “Joanna did ask him to escort her to HER room.”

Joanna’s Room: Remembering Joanna still downstairs in the dancehall, they opened her room. It also empty. But not just no one there; nothing there! No suitcases in the closet. No closet full of clothing nor dresser of undergarments. Just a briefcase under the bed. Unable to lockpick it, Phillip pried it open with his penknife. Inside: 2 vials- one blue liquid, the other clear liquid. Per Essie’s needling, Phillip taste-tested each. “The blue has a sweet apricot taste. Don’t feel anything. The clear… odorless and tasteless.” As they left the room, they returned the master key to the maid’s cart. Outside the cabins, Peter tossed the brief case over the railing and into the sea.

They returned to the dance floor to confront Joanna but she nowhere in sight. Nor the stewards either. Essie confronted another steward, “Excuse me, do you happen to know where Mr. Kelly or Mr. Shaw are?” But the steward of little help, “Those two are new to the ship. Just boarded in England. Came with the Ostermann woman who got them hired. They don’t stay with us regular crewmembers. Don’t toss their laundry in with ours’ either. Best guess: they are staying somewhere in the cargo hold. Or 3^rd class.”

Cargo Hold: No one had taken the time to really tour the ship. So, they quickly got lost. Luck that Essie noticed the ship-diagram placard beside the firehose and fireaxe. [No one thought to grab it as a weapon.] Peter pried the placard off to use as a handheld map. Soon they were at the cargo door. The same cargo hold where Stanley’s casket was loaded along with many crates of food and supplies and even personal cars driven aboard. “Uggh!” They recoiled in disgust at the stench when they opened it. Not the expected normal ship smells of oils, grease, diesel fumes, salt-air. “Almost animal stench.”

A faint grunt sound caused them to go stealthy. [Phillip- regular, Peter- extreme, Essie- 87 fail] Peter and Phillip stayed in the shadows behind the crates as Essie strode down the middle of the hold, under the dim overheard lamps. She accidently kicked a loose crowbar that clattered across the metal decking. Tense moments, till Joanna stepped out of the shadows near the cars ahead, “Essie my dear, what are you doing here? Have you too come to sneak a smoke? Those men and their disgusting cigars.” Essie tried to make the excuse, “I thought I’d come visit poor Stanley. That’s his casket over there. Poor man; we’re escorting his body to his mother in Arkham.”

Joanna convinced Essie to return topside, “It’s getting late, and you shouldn’t be down here all alone. Come, let’s find a bar and get ourselves a drink.” Essie insisted Joanna lead the way. They were just at the cargo door, when all heard a loud human grunt from behind the cars. Essie spun around, “Did you hear that?!” [POW-failure: amnesia] She suddenly became confused, “What are we doing down here?” Joanna convinced her, “You naughty girl and your cigarettes. Come, we were just going topside for a drink.” It would have worked, had the men not been there too. Peter and Phillip heard the grunt and bust from hiding and ran toward the sound. Joanna huffed “And here I thought you were all alone.” Essie turned to confront the woman with a quizzical look.

She burst into fright with a loud scream… when she saw the lizard face looking back at her!

Phillip too busy to come to her aid as he was confronted by a spectral blade that suddenly appeared and slashed at him. Phillip flinched as the blade drew blood on his bicep. Peter suspected an invisible wielder and lashed out with his brass-knuckles. A solid hit… had there been a body there. Nothing but air. 

As for Essie: the lizard face became a full serpent person that brought Essie back to the now. Maybe she didn’t remember why she was down here, but she heard her associates and knew them in danger as well. She uncoiled her whip and lashed out. Joanna dodged out of the way.

And that’s when they all heard the faltering plead, “Help me, please!” Weak but unmistakable voice of Joseph Taft.

Phillip was just about to grab for the spectral handle when he noticed Kelly standing behind the first car as he wove his right hand in the air as if HE controlled the spectral blade. Phillip recoiled when he saw Kelly notice him notice… for Kelly transformed into a serpent-person too!

Peter rush toward the sound of Taft and rounded the car to witness… Joseph held tight in the coils of a serpent about to devour him!

Essie and Peter had flashback memories... that shadow topside on deck with the sun out? Kelly must have stepped out of the shadows momentarily to put Taft’s drinks on the table. It must have been his serpent-shadow they saw! And now realization all three (Joanna, Kelly, Shaw) serpent people! And them without weapons!

[A little insight… Joanna and the stewards were adding something to Taft’s drinks, a little at a time, that allowed Joanna to gain control of his actions. Thus, Joseph willingly joining her. Peter swapping his order with a Shirley-Temple allowed them to add more to his drink since it sweet tasting already. The fact he guzzled the whole thing… yeah, thanks Peter for the assist. $>)]

CONCLUSION: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2022/12/tatp3-conclusion.html