Andrew Keetling is Missing.P2

Jimmy (Graham), Peter (Jordan), Essie (Whitney), Riche (Jon)

9:30pm, 17 Sept, 1924: Indecision whether to take Andrea to the police station or the Keetling mansion till Riche mentioned, “Two cultists inexplicably burned up in the police cell; we’d best take her to the mansion since we’re going there anyway for our tailored clothing.” Riche opened his medical bag to treat Peter’s wounds, but the PI declined, “I’m alright.”  [To be so cavalier about a third of his hit-points] During the ride, without letting her know he had it, Jimmy asked Andrea some questions pertaining to the diary he found in her purse. “So, you’re an artist, ever done any work in Pittsburgh or that area of Pennsylvania?” Andrea pondered the question, “I was born and raised right here in Boston. Strange that you should ask; Josephine was from that area.” It took awhile for Jimmy to realize the diary was Josephine's; what was Andrea doing with it? But he never asked.

11pm: Riche approached the doorman to the Sailor’s Club hoping his French accent would be enough for the password, “Bonjour, have you seen our friend Andrew Keetling? No?” At least the two Jackson’s ($20 bills) he offered opened the door. The interior was a drab take on the waterfront with its torn fish netting hanging from the ceiling, a large ship’s wheel just inside the door, a small portion of a ship sail with roping tied to belaying pins for ambience. The bouncer (Albert ‘Wriggles’ Pantucci) welcomed them to the fine establishment with its strict “no weapons (firearms/knives)” policy. Riche strolled in with his cane. Jimmy was surprised when Peter laid down brass-knuckles and a garrote. Wriggles wasn’t amused by Peter trying to keep his armpit holstered pistol. Riche intervened by handing over one of Peter’s business cards, “You’ll have to forgive by bodyguard and confidant.” Essie opened her purse to show no weapons… without mentioning her pistol secured by her garter-belt under her dress.

Even the bartender (Randolph Smith) didn’t recognize the name but did the description of Andrew, “You must be talking about the rich John Josephine brought in a couple of times. Ain’t seen either one of them for about a month; same time the boss took ill.” As the trio (Riche, Peter, Essie) made small-talk at the bar, almost having to yell over the loud jazz music flowing from the stage band, Jimmy stepped to the dance floor to ‘cut the rug’ with one of the flappers. 

Bobbie leaned in close, “Ain’t seen you here before. I hear your friend has a thick wallet he wants to empty. Me and my gals (Millie and Toots) are always looking for fun. With Zeek back, maybe he’ll throw more parties. Got to warn ya, he gets kinda kinky cutting heads off chickens and pouring their blood over a stone he always carried around. Wild parties! Your friend, Andrew Keetling? Say, was that Jose’s nice-looking date who dressed weird and acted European rich? Didn’t take him long to get some zoot threads. Ain’t seen them in a while.”

Riche put a Hamilton ($10) on the bar-counter, “Any chance we can talk to your boss about Andrew who was last seen here with Josephine?” Randolph perked up at her name, “Boss was just asking about her. She has something of his. Wait here.” Almost 5 minutes before the bartender returned. Riche nudged Peter, “Checkout the guy who followed Randolph out of the room.” Peter could only see the back of the man who walked past Wriggle’s desk without even retrieving any weapons. Peter followed him out the door, also without stopping for his weapons.

Thus, only Riche/Essie/Jimmy followed Randolph thru the empty kitchen and into the back room. Zeek Crater [Build 2] was a large man who sat at a large desk covered with scraps of paper and ledgers, reading from a large book he closed. “I hear you are asking about Jose. Andrew? That must be the boy-toy she led around. I tell you what, you find her, you find him. But more important, I’ll offer you $250 reward if you’ll return the stone the witch stole from me. It’s about 6” long carved from a brown translucent crystal. Best I can tell you, she returned home to Pennsylvania. Someplace called Muskrat Rapids.”

Jimmy stood back at the door with Randolph (didn’t trust the setup) as his partners confronted the boss. Riche only half listened as he was distracted by the book Zeek closed. [Occult] He recognized the flourished penmanship and some symbols which hinted at occult material. Which got him straining to read the title on the spine of the book: Kingdom of the Shadows. From what he’d read in the Orne library, items such as (stones, daggers, amulets) were used as a focus on many spells. Meanwhile, Essie was equally distracted by Zeek’s smooth, unblemished complexion. His motions were quick but oddly stiff and a bit clumsy as he was also a little round in the belly. [Sanity check] Did his belly just twitch?! Almost writhe?! “Eek.” Essie stifled a squeal, but Zeek caught her staring at his exposed wrist. Zeek smiled and teased, “If you’re interested in seeing more, come out to one of my parties. It’s been too long since I hosted.”

11:30pm: Meanwhile, outside, Peter quickened his pace to catch-up and placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, “Say buddy, got a light?” Who was surprised more: Peter or Detective Dave Flannigan?! Peter jumped at the chance, “So, what were you doing in a crime-lord’s den? Yeah, I saw you in the Sailor’s Club.” Dave was a lousy liar, “I’m just a beat-cop patrolling the streets. Don’t tell me, you’ve on the prowl for a hooker.” Peter only laughed, Yeah, hook, line, and sinker that you work for Zeek. Let me guess: you couldn’t wait to tell him we are on his trail.” Peter’s mind raced with the idea Zeek was involved with Jose’s cult and had Flannigan kill the two prisoners held in the police cell. He thought about pressing the matter more but realized his weapons were back on Wriggle’s table.

Peter returned to the club to find his friends sitting at a desk as Essie quietly described Zeek, “Maybe my eyes were playing tricks, but I swear his smooth skin had a shine almost like a crab’s carapace armor. And something was moving under his coat around his waist.” Peter stepped to the bar, even more intrigued, “Randolph, do you mind taking me to your boss. Riche here says your boss offered a reward, and considering I’m the lead investigator, I have my own questions to ask him.” Riche and Peter stood before Zeek. Short introduction before Peter leaned across the desk to use Zeek’s lighter for his own cigar. [Sanity check] Close enough to confirm Essie’s suspicions, “Her description didn’t do justice.”

Zeek stretched out his arms to reveal more of his forearms, “Like I said, Jose is a witch! She put a curse on me then stole my stone. I’ve been doing research and believe the stone is my cure to her curse. Get it back. Where did I get the stone? I have my sources but didn’t realize what it truly was till she used it against me.” Flannigan? Doesn’t every gang have a copper on their payroll? Yeah, he told me your names and purpose. What of it? Just get my dark stone from her cold-dead hands before she uses it against your friend.” Zeek ignored Peter’s offered handshake goodbye.

Meanwhile, Jimmy had his own parley with gang members sitting at a corner table. Their pinstriped suits and fedoras the giveaway as Jimmy delivered drinks. “Thought I’d check in considering I’m out of my element. Run my own speakeasy up in Arkham, called the Two Sparrows (spirit of adventure and exploration).” They turned out to be members of a rival gang checking up on Crater: making sure he’s doing business by the rules. “He’s got his own men sitting in our speakeasy. Figured we’d come out here considering Zeek has returned from wherever he’s been hiding this last month. Him and his freaky parties at his mansion.”

It was midnight when they gathered their weapons and left. Peter jokingly called Zeek the Beetleman. While the others were ready to call it a night and go home, Jimmy protested, “The other mobster’s say Zeek comes in at 11pm and leaves at 3am. I saw we stick around and steal that book you saw.” Riche scoffed, “There is a library full of books about the rituals Zeek is interested in. Let’s find Andrew first. Pennsylvania… we have a long road ahead of us.”

Thursday, 8am, Sept 18th: They talked about flying to Muskrat Rapids but considering the layovers and speeds barely better than a train, they opted for the rail. Andrew’s valet dropped them off at the station. Riche couldn’t wait to get aboard and crash in the sleeper car considering he had had a fitful night (hypnophobia-fear of sleep). Essie checked into her own sleeper berth nearby with plans to nap and journal what they learned so far. Peter: coffee and cigars would keep him awake for the 15-hour trek. He could sleep in Muskrat Rapids. It was his duty to watch their backs; see if Flannigan tailed them. Jimmy figured he’d keep Peter company for a while, before finding sleep on a bench in the passenger car.

Riche tossed and turned as the nightmare of the Andrew ghoul outside Andrea’s apartment haunted his dreams. So vivid, as if he could smell the foul charnel reek of the undead within his sleeper cabin. Riche sat up to clear his head. And that’s when he realized someone stood at the side of his bunk. Riche looked from shoes to head, recognizing the distorted face of Andrew with his ghoulish sneer. [Sanity check] No more peaceful dialog as this ghoul reached with claws to attack! Riche rolled out of the bunk to escape (97) but managed to get tangled in the sheets. Lucky for him the ghoul’s claw (97) snared the upper-bunk sheets. “HELP!!”

Riche moved as if he was stuck in molasses… half the speed of the ghoul swinging two claws. Riche found his cane and unsheathed the blade to thrust it upwards into the ghoul’s gut. [Rapid Attack-81] He tried to withdraw the blade for a 2^nd strike, but the ghoul leaned into the blade to pin it as it swung its claws. Riche let go the blade as he rolled out of the way of the first claw. But was cut deeply by the 2^nd (9 damage to his 8 HP= death).

It was pure luck Peter was on patrol in Riche’s sleeper car. He heard Riche’s plea for help. He put a boot to the locked door and faced the ghoul standing over the unmoving prone body. At point-blank-range, he fired 3 shots. The ghoul was already advancing on the first hit. It dissolved into a silvery mist that faded into the carpeted floor.

Essie mostly heard the gunshots over Peter’s frantic call. She jumped from her bed and wailed at the sight of Riche lying dead. The sheets soaked in crimson blood as Peter tried to compress the deepest cut [failed First Aid- 96]. Essie quickly knelt beside Riche to perform CPR [failed First Aid- 95], ignoring the blood leaking from the man’s mouth. She sobbed between breaths. Peter took off running, calling for a doctor, when he met Jimmy roused from his bench.

They returned with a doctor in tow, having to push past other passengers drawn to the scene. They stepped into the sleeper cabin to find Essie collapsed in tears and soaked in blood. The doctor was almost reluctant to pull out his stethoscope to confirm death. But then, “I have a heartbeat!” Elation! Except for Essie who remembered the Bolton dead (https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2023/11/truth-or-consequences.html) who rose from death as zombies. She was already handling one of her ash arrows to stake the zombie dead.

 But Riche sat up and spoke in a confused state of mind, “What happened?”

[What happened was part dreamworld of a real attack that did half damage. The killing blow of 9 points was only 4 points. [failed CONsave] Riche convinced himself he was dead and slowed his heartbeat to equal his belief. But the takeaway: the Andrew ghoul seems to be getting stronger and deadly the closer they get to Muskrat Rapids. Will they be ready to face him and Josephine if she is there?!]

TO BE CONTINUED: https://wjr5oakley.blogspot.com/2024/05/andrew-keetling-is-missingp3.html