Amidst the Ancient Trees.P1

Kidnap and Killers

Essie Vance [Whitney]: suffers from Ablutomania (compulsion to washing/cleanliness) and Taphephobia (fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries). She recently picked up Insane Constitution (spend 10 Luck to gain a CON bonus die).

Peter Graves [Jordan]: suffers from Phasmo-Psychosis (loss of contact with reality in which the person cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined. In this case: he sees his dead parents). Also, Onomatomania (irresistible desire to repeat certain words).

Phillip Vance [Aaron]: suffers from Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) and frayed nerves that require Liquid Courage (suffers penalties when his flask of alcohol runs dry). Then there is his Insane Vision (bonus die yet failure results in delusions). And just recently, Geotomania: (obsession with witches and witchcraft).

4pm, Friday, July 14^th, 1922: Peter sat up in his office chair as he read the evening paper and heard his mother’s voice in his head, “Petey, why is that man wearing my pinky ring?” Phillip cocked his head when he heard Peter crumble the evening paper and storm off to the back room. Phillip unfolded the paper and tried to find what set his partner off in a huff. He could hear Peter rummaging thru boxes to then call out, “Call Essie and tell her to pack her bags. We’re going to Bennington. Know what I mean?”

Peter tossed Phillip the car keys as he loaded boxes into the trunk, “We need to pick up Essie.” They swung by the MU Historical Society building. Essie climbed in, “What’s this all about?” Peter was busy scanning one of his folders, “I have a lead on my parents’ killers. Know what I mean?” It was 5pm before they finally got on the road, with a 5-hour drive ahead of them. Essie’s stomach was grumbling as they gassed up in Fitchburg, “I’m starved. Anyone else want a hotdog or whatever they serve?” But Peter was too tense and on edge as he reviewed his files. Phillip drove in silence.

10pm, Bennington, VT: Betty appeared at the hotel desk with rollers in her hair and in a nightgown, “Kinda late. How many rooms?” She offered them the ledger, “Arkham? You’re not here by chance for the kidnapping? Sheriff Jenkins specially said no outsiders. Oh? More police. I’m sure he can use all the help you can offer, what with 4 of his deputies shot. At least that’s what I read. Shootout with the Harris gang, at least that’s what they’re calling the five of them. Mr. Strong couldn’t come up with the gold demand and paid off the ransom in cash. Except, he never got his daughter back.”

Essie offered a grease-stained brown bag of gas-station food for Peter before she retired to her room. Phillip followed Peter’s lead and helped clean and oil their weapons before calling it a night.

7am, Saturday, July 15^th: Phillip had no choice but to wake up at the sound of Peter packing the weapons. Essie offered them coffee before driving to the Police Station. They followed Peter’s lead as he approached the front desk, “Good morning. [Persuade-92] We’re Private Investigators from Arkham with pertinent info regarding your kidnappers.” The sergeant not impressed. [Persuade/Push- 09] Peter plopped a folder on the counter, “Here’s the police records of the case. They are wanted murderers.” The sergeant NOW impressed, “The Sheriff will want to see this.”

Sheriff Roscoe Jenkins scanned the folders, “From the police records we have, the two men are Sidney Harris and Eugene Clayton. Don't know the names of the others. Can you give me a synopsis of your files? I’ve got a very sketchy description per Mrs. Strong who was at home when the men abducted her daughter.” Roscoe called a sketch artist into his office. Peter described the men from memory even though the murder of his parents was 30 years ago. Essie realized the description needed aging, “I’m sure by now they have greying hair and probably receding too.” Phillip offered, “They could be fatter in the cheeks too.” The artist erased and redrew various aspects of the suspects till Peter exclaimed, “That’s them! Know what I mean?” As the artist closed his notepad, Roscoe directed, “Get it to the paper for noon print.” He then turned to the trio, “I hope you men are available to join the manhunt.” Essie spoke up, “Oh, I’m coming too!” Peter backed her, “She’s a valuable asset to our team.” Roscoe conceded, “Then I’ll need you to sign a 1164 release of cause form in case you are wounded or killed in the line of duty. I’m preparing a formal brief at 10am to deputize local volunteers.”

Essie borrowed the car keys and drove off to Betsy’s Bakery to order 3 dozen donuts “for all the men.” Betsy was surprised at the order and heartfelt when she learned the cause, “My Herbert plans to be at the briefing and volunteer. Let me offer a couple carafes of coffee too. Free. I’ll deliver. I can’t thank you enough for being so thoughtful. And you an outsider. Are you in town for a show? I didn’t read anything about ‘Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show’ coming to town. I mean, what’s with the bow and arrows? Are you supposed to be an injun? You know, Iroquois lived in the area. Fought in the American revolution: some with the British and some with us Americans. Not many of them around, although there are plenty of stories and legends of them out there in the Green Mountain woods where them kidnappers are.”

10am Brief: Sheriff Jenkins had already pre-briefed the trio; so, they mostly listened and watched the locals’ reactions. Essie was keen to listen to what Mr. Lucas Strong had to say. It was a crowded little room filled with 16+ locals feeding their faces with donuts and coffee. Roscoe began, “As you know, Sidney Harris and his gang kidnapped Jane Strong. We had coordinated the exchange of ransom money for the girl last night on the edge of town. But one of the gang panicked and began shooting. Despite what the papers incorrectly report, only two of my deputies were wounded. And we think we wounded one of them.” Lucas jumped up, “You could have killed my little girl! For all of you here, my offer stands: $25 a day to anyone who joins the hunt. Another $50 for whoever brings me Sidney Harris, dead or alive.”

The sheriff tried to regain order, “Sit down Mr. Strong! We don’t need vigilantes only interested in money. I need them focused on safety and justice. Anyone I deputize will get the standard $2 a day. And if I hear they collected from you, they’ll get jail time too.” Lucas sat down in a huff as Roscoe continued, “Whoever volunteers to be sworn in must sign paperwork. But let me introduce my first search team, all the way from Arkham. Investigators who have been pursuing Harris and his men for 30 years as primary suspects in a brutal slaying.” Half the crowd who planned to volunteer quickly lowered their hands when they realized the kidnappers ruthless killers. Phillip overheard one particular man whisper to his neighbor, “Not for me. Scary shit out there already what with them Civil War blue-belly ghosts and Indian burial grounds. Headaches and nightmares last time I went hunting out there. No siree, $25 a day and the risk of being killed. Nope.”

Roscoe continued, “Mr. Graves here gave an accurate description of the men which are to be published in the noon paper. Take a copy with you on the hunt. Unless there are further questions, gather your supplies and equipment and meet back here at noon to form search parties.” As the crowd dispersed, Phillip followed the ghost-story man, “Excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear. What’s this about the woods?” The man taken by surprise, “Them woods have a history of ghosts. Old Indian burial grounds. Why the Green Mountains were the escape route into Canada for blue-belly deserters. Most famous is old Joseph Turner’s gang. Got lost and died and now haunt the place. Plenty of hunters come back reporting their sighting.”

Meanwhile, Essie and Peter cornered Mr. Strong, “We were hoping you could provide more information about the men.” But Lucas thought otherwise, “Come to seek my offer? Like I said, $25 a day. Hell, I’ll even give you half the ransom money if you bring Jane home alive.” Essie kicked Peter when he replied, “We didn’t come for your money. We were hoping you had more information. Maybe overheard them say something. Know what I mean?” Lucas scoffed, “I wasn’t there when they took Jane. And my wife is too hysterical to be of use. I just hope you find them and bring Jane home alive. As for Sidney, a body bag will be fine.” Peter remembered, “I heard you in charge of a water project out near Summerset. Something about heavy metal discovery delaying your project and Harris’ gang taking that as discovery of gold. What I’m interested in: do you have any dynamite we can use?” Peter stuffed the authorization letter in his pocket, “Now all we have to do is find that construction site.” Essie countered, “What, all your weapons aren’t enough?!”

Supplies: They regrouped and headed for the local Arthur Spencer’s Hardware Store where they gathered supplies: outdoor clothing, matches, sleeping bags and small tent, toilet paper, food. Arthur looked over their items as he rang them up, “Headed off to the woods are you? Might I suggest bear spray? Sorry, I sold my last compass to those Yale hippy art students who headed out into the woods 5-6 days ago. Which reminds me, be on the lookout for two teams of father/son hunters. Right-of-passage thing. Sold them ammo and supplies… 4 days ago?”

Noon Departure: While the other teams piled into the police paddy-wagons, Peter drove his own car. “Only way we can bring our own heavy weapons. Cops wouldn’t take kindly to your submachine gun.” They followed the wagon as it dropped off the other teams, then led them to their starting spot, where the botched ransom exchanged happened just last night. A 100yard clearing of logged trees thus all the stumps the police and kidnappers hid behind in their shootout. They easily found bullet casings that marked where the police took cover. And 20 yards away, the bullet-ridden stump cover for Harris and his men. Bullet casings near one stump and shotgun shells near another. With blood. “Someone was wounded. Looks like only 2 men. So much for the reported gang of 5.”

They divvied up the gear before heading out: Phillip in steel-toed boots, heavy pants, long sleeve shirt and light jacket, and hat. Peter dressed mostly in brown head to toe without a hat. Essie in simple slacks, short feminine heels, white blouse and satchel slung over her shoulder. Phillip provided tracking, “From their stride, looks like they took off running. One is dragging his foot so he must be injured providing the blood trail. His partner is by his side probably dragging him along. No sign of the girl. At least she wasn’t exposed to the shootout.” They moved out slow and careful, especially when they entered the thick woods. Already thick with foliage blocking much of the sunlight.

A gnarled tree offered dark foreboding. The blood trail continued for another 2-hours as the stride shrunk to a walking pace. They moved slow enough that they actually startled a couple of deer that went bounding off.

4pm: Another hour plus of walking, now only following partial prints of 2 men tired and dragging their feet. [Listen-extreme] Essie suddenly heard someone whisper at a distance, “Quiet, I think I see the whites of a deer.” Peter realized she had stopped and looked to see why… he followed her eyeline… [Spot- extreme] … and saw the glint [gun barrel] of something out in the trees. “Get Down!” He yelled out, “George, Alistair?” Suddenly, from the trees, “Whose out there?! Oh my God! Saw the girl’s white blouse and thought you a deer.” Alistair already had his gun slung and helped his son safety his rifle. As Essie leaned against a tree, hyperventilating, Peter explained their presence, “Did you happen to see anyone else out here? Men and a teenage girl? We are part of a manhunt for some kidnappers out here in the woods.”

Alistair explained their hunt, “Came out 4 days ago with Brian and Arthur Hall. Can’t miss Brian; wears a big ol’ Texan hat. We left them days ago as George here is ready to get home. There is also a bunch of hippy artists out there. Had coffee with them days ago. Pretty weird drawings if you ask me. Reminded me of my drea…dear wife’s paintings.” [Psychology-hard] Peter caught the man’s stuttered change of words, “Is something wrong?” George tugged at his father’s shoulder, “Can we please go?!” Essie saw the fright in the boy’s expression. Peter pressed, “What’s going on?” Alistair finally admitted, “I’ve been having strange dreams. And George had one too about drowning. So when we saw the artists’ paintings that had similar themes, it freaked George out. That’s why we’re headed home.”

Phillip warned, “There are other search parties out here. I’d suggest you call out every now and then to be safe.” Essie dug out some candy for George as Peter happened to notice the compass in Alistair’s hand. He thought about asking for it. As they left, Alistair added, “We left Brian and Arthur on the other side of a dirt road. Some kind of construction to the northeast. Be safe out there.” Peter replied, “We will. Know what I mean?”

7:20pm, Camp: By now, their trail was harder to follow. Not only did they have to deal with Alistair and George’s tracks, but the kidnappers’ trail also split. It looked like the healthy one took off on his own, leaving the injured behind. Thus, it was slow going as dusk began to settle. They set up camp with a fire and watch order: Peter till 11pm, Essie, then Phillip. [POW: Phillip-hard, Peter-97, Essie-regular] Peter tagged Essie awake around 11pm and tried to get sleep. Tried: fitful toss and turn as a troubling dream interrupted his sleep. [dark trees closing in, yellowing leaves littered the ground, a terrible foreboding. Something… watching… waiting.]

Sunday, 1am: Peter climbed out of the tent in a cold sweat. He couldn’t remember his dream, but he felt exhausted. A noise startled him. He startled Essie when he spoke up, “Sounds like a truck rumbling along a road. I wonder if that’s the construction road Alistair mentioned. But why drive at night?” Essie also heard it, “Sounds like it’s going west to east.” And that’s when all of them, even snoring Phillip, hear gunshots. A flurry of shots! Too far away to pinpoint, but that didn’t matter, “Pack up! We need to find out what that’s about!”

They stumbled through the woods in the general direction of the gunshots, last heard an hour ago. Peter finally collapsed, exhausted against a tree. Essie also exhausted trying to avoid tripping on roots or brushing against poison ivy. Thus, Phillip was left to do the majority of the work setting up a new camp. “Who knows, we could walk off a cliff or stumble down a gully.” Peter seconded the notion, “Yeah. I know what you mean. Know what I mean?”

TO BE CONTINUED: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/01/amidst-ancient-treesp2.html