The Oakley Collection

The 19 th Hole.P2 Conclusion 9am Friday, June 13, 1924 : While Peter was outside at the barn/garage examining the undercarriage of the car he’d seen the groundskeeper working on, the others were still inside finishing breakfast conversation before excusing themselves. Richie said his goodbyes in French to Mrs. McMillan as Lance led the way out to Essie’s protests, “I’m telling you, Arthur McMillan is inside the manor. Why are we going to the clubhouse?!” Lance explained again, “Because that is where he went missing. All these ‘ghostly sightings’ are just hopeful imaginations.” As the others gathered around Bessie, Peter arrived with an oil spot on his shirt, “A millionaire trusting a gardener to do his auto repairs… there’s something not right with that picture. As I’ve always said, if not the butler, then the gardener is the prime suspect.” They paused to unlock the Thistledown Golf Course gate, then drove along the gravel driveway to park beside Arthur McMillan’s blue Humber 144...

The 19 th Hole.P1 10am Thursday, June 12, 1924 : Another Arthur has gone missing from his Thistledown golf course, northeast of Danvers. Dissatisfied that the local police haven’t found him, Arthur’s wife Crystal McMillan tasks the valet Gordon to find Private Investigators. Gordon remembers the newspaper article about a Vance Detective Agency finding another Arthur and thus gives Peter a call. Jimmy Hoplomania: unhealthy obsession with firearms. Demonomania: fear demons behind doors. Peter Pseudomania: compulsion to lie. Apotemnophobia: fear of people with amputations. Essie Basophobia: fear of falling. Geliomania- compulsion to laugh. Riche Hypnophobia: fear of sleep or being hypnotized. Eisoptrophobia: fear of mirrors.  Marina stepped into Peter's office, "Phone call from Mr. Kilburn." "Mr. Graves? I saw your name in the papers, about you finding a missing man. I could use your help in a similar case. My master, Arthur McMillan has gon...

Crack’d and Crook’d Manse.P2 (Essie, Peter, Jimmy, Richie) Saturday noon, April 4th, 1924 : Jimmy had just fired his flaregun which caused the Pseudopod to exit back up the fireplace flue. “What the hell was that?!” As they gathered their senses, Essie caught sight of the saltshaker under the sitting chair inside the room. Richie happened to notice a kitchen canister lying under the divan. Jimmy quickly discarded his cloak as parts of the creatures’ gore dripped from it. [ Sanity check: 1/2 ] As they pondered what next, they jumped at the sight of ripples along the wall: to imply the creature moved within the walls. “No wonder the wallpaper cracked and moisture everywhere. It’s like a slim trail.” Apprehensive, Jimmy reentered the Den to gather the shotgun and emptied shells. That’s when he saw the cannister labeled “Salt”. He quickly began loading the empty shells with gun-powder and salt (2 minutes per shell as a delicate operation). Peter stood guard in the hallway door to the...

Crack’d and Crook’d Manse.P1 (Essie, Peter, Jimmy (Lance), Richie) 10am Friday, April 4th, 1924 : Marina thanked the mailman, then settled into her routine of opening said mail. “Excuse me Mr. Graves, here’s a letter request for your services.”  Peter scanned the letter, “Gamwell, Dodge brothers. Arthur Cornthwaite a mutual friend? Never heard of either nor the town. Why would they contact me? Must be good advertising. Marina, get me a map to find Gamwell while I call the others.” Essie picked up the phone on the 4 th ring. “Cornthwaite? I haven’t heard that name in over ten years. Athur was on the Texas dig with my husband Richard and myself. He was another archaeologist. Seems his fascination was lost civilizations. Indian mounds didn’t hold his interest, but he always pondered searching for the lost Anasazi Indians, who mysteriously disappeared from the four-corners area (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico) after eons of civilization there. Arthur a...