Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Case 1 Begins!

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Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Case 1 Begins!

Post Post #0 (isolation #0) » Thu May 30, 2019 3:21 pm

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Modnote: Anybody may post ideas/theories/votes in this thread. There is no cap on players or anything like that, and you're not obligated to vote for every single lead. This is a casual mystery.


Who is ready to solve a mystery?

I'm going to be running a game from the 80's called
Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective
. Strange things are afoot in Victorian England, and it's up to all of you collectively to solve the case!

Instead of being Sherlock himself, you all have been inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars! For those of you who haven't read the Arthur Conan Doyle stories, the Baker Street Irregulars are a motley crew of street urchins who gather intelligence for Holmes. Led by an older boy named Wiggins, all of you are going to be racing to solve the cases faster than Holmes himself can.

Here's how this will work. London has been divided into five regions, as seen in the map below:
Image

Spoiler: NW
Image

Spoiler: SW
Image

Spoiler: WC
Image

Spoiler: EC
Image

Spoiler: SE
Image


Each clue or lead is indexed to a number and location on the map. For example, 17 SE would refer to location 17 in the SE region. That number also counts as the street address; if somebody said they lived at 47 Hastings Street you might look at the map, see that Hastings Street is in the West Central region, and then go to 47 WC.

I will read to you all what you find at each location, and then as a thread you will collectively vote in
bold
for where you want to investigate next. This will continue until a majority of people vote to
solve the case
.

To solve the case, I will give a quiz consisting of two parts. The first part is worth 100 points total and focuses on the main facts of the case. The second part of the quiz is all bonus questions about things that you may have discovered along the way.

We will then subtract the number of leads you followed from the number of leads it took Sherlock Holmes to solve the case himself and multiply that number by 5 to get your Sleuth Adjustment. Your total score is your quiz points plus or minus (usually minus) your adjustment.

The Directory


How will you know where all these people and places are? By consulting the Directory. The Directory has practically everybody relevant and even more people who are irrelevant. In the game, you would be given a book like this. As you can see, even zoomed in to the most I can make Tabletop Simulator zoom in it is a pain in the ass to read. As such, if you want to look up a name, just post it in this thread and I will list the relevant names for you. There is no score penalty for looking up too many things.

In addition to people, there are also businesses listed by category. Here are categories you can look up:
Spoiler: Directory Categories
Auction Houses
Banks
Barristers
Baths
Boardinghouses
Booksellers
Booksellers (Used and Rare)
Carpets
Charities
Chemists
Churches
Cocoa Manufacturers
Coroner's Office
Cycles
Dentists
Department Stores
Detective Agencies
Docks
Doctors
Embassies
Furriers
Government Offices
Guides
Gunsmiths
Hospitals
Hotels
Inns
Inns of Court
Insurance Companies
Jewellers
Libraries
Map Sellers
Music Halls
Newspapers
Parks
Pawnbrokers
Police Stations
Post Offices
Printers
Public Houses
Restaurants
Settlement Houses
Shoemakers
Solicitors
Somerset House
Sports Clubs
Stables
Stationers
Stations
Steamship Companies
Synagogues
Tailors
Tea Merchants
Tea Rooms
Theatres
Tobacconists
Watchmakers
Wine Merchants


Please only request directory lookups that you think are relevant to the case; don't make me type up a list of cocoa manufacturers unless a cocoa manufacturer is involved in the case.

Resources


You will always have access to The Times. Articles in The Times may or may not be useful. Any newspapers from previous cases are also fair game!

Sherlock Holmes also has a lot of resources that have served him well in the past:
Holmes' Resources
These people are not guaranteed to help in every case, but they may be worth checking out.

Anyway, those are the rules. The first case will begin shortly.
Last edited by Haschel Cedricson on Fri May 31, 2019 7:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Post Post #1 (isolation #1) » Thu May 30, 2019 3:29 pm

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Case 1: The Murdered Munitions Magnate

March 12, 1888


Spoiler: Newspaper #1, March 12
Image
Image


Despite the lateness of the winter, March is still roaring like a lion. In fact, just as we alight from our cab in front of 221B Baker, a derby hat skitters by propelled by the fierce wind. In close pursuit is none other than Wiggins, chief of the Baker Street Irregulars and, after Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes' most able assistant. Before we can join in the chase, Wiggins manages to halt the flying bit of finery with a deft stroke of his umbrella. Cramming it squarely on his head, he saunters back towards us.

"Hello," he says cheerily. "It would appear that Mr. Holmes is summoning the troops. Shall we?"

With the point of his umbrella, a very versatile tool it appears, Wiggins stabs the doorbell. It is several moments before Mrs. Hudson answers. After a brief exchange of greetings, she sends us on our way to Holmes' apartment.

Above, we find Holmes and Dr. Watson sitting at a table engaged in earnest conversation with a gentleman in his late forties, expensively dressed yet somewhat rumpled in appearance.

"Warm yourselves," says Holmes, "and I will explain my reasons for calling you out on such a bitter morning."

Coats and hats are immediately shed – there is a distinct 'pop' as Wiggins removes his derby - and a rush is made for the fireplace. In due course introductions are made, and the gentlemen is identified as Mr. Richard Allen, brother of the late Courtney Allen, president of the Grant Arms Company.

"It is the recent death of Mr. Allen's late brother," says Holmes, "that occasions his visit to us. Briefly, Courtney Allen was found shot to death in an alley behind his office on the evening of March 9th at approximately 7:00 p.m. by the constable on patrol. Scotland Yard has put the crime down as a simple robbery 'by person or persons unknown,' largely due to the fact that the victim's wallet was found empty near the body and his gold pocket watch was missing. Mr. Allen was just telling us a bit about his brother when you arrived. Please continue, Mr. Allen."

"Well, Courtney was a dynamic individual. Always busy, forever on the move. Yet he had the unique ability to make ten minutes spent with you seem like an hour, so complete was his attention to you. Of course, his charm worked like a magic potion on the ladies."

"You said he was married?" asks Watson with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, yes ... poor Beatrice."

"Was he involved in an, ah, in an affair at the time of his death?" asks Wiggins.

"Yes, I believe he was, but I have no clue as to who the lady might have been. You see, the night before he was killed, I popped 'round to his office at about half-past five and managed to coax him to supper at Keen's. We were there but a short while when Courtney begged leave. He indicated that he had an important meeting, said 'Auf Wiedersehen,' and winked. That wink meant a woman."

"Is the company financially sound?" asks Watson.

"Oh, quite. A fine investment for anyone's portfolio. You see, the company was founded as a small gun shop some seventy-odd years ago by our great-uncle Thaddeus Grant. It catered to a very elite clientele."

"Most of the chaps in the regiment were equipped with pistols from Grant's," nods Watson. "Why, Braxton -- you've heard me speak of Braxton, Holmes -- he had a pair of the finest duelling pistols--"

"Yes, Watson. Pray continue, Mr. Allen."

"Courtney, always fascinated by firearms, apprenticed himself to Uncle Thaddeus. When Thaddeus died in 1873, he bequeathed the business to Courtney. While maintaining the original shop and its tradition, Courtney expanded into the international arms trade. With loans and the sale of public stock, he was able to build a plant at 12 Deverell-street for the manufacture of heavy ordnance. Today the firm is debt-free and very profitable. Of course, a drop in the share price occurred with the news of my brother's death."

"Who has ascended to the presidency?" asks Watson.

"Courtney's picked successor, Phillip Marlowe, the 2nd vice-president."

"And why not the senior vice-president?"

"Young Lord Ragland, who runs the Deverell-street plant is a brilliant technician but a most inept businessman."

"Who inherits your brother's stock?"

"His wife, Beatrice."

"Now I think we might examine the effects found with your brother." So saying, Holmes turns his attention to a briefcase and a large, brown envelope.

"It looks as if some sharp object has been used on it," comments Watson, referring to a long gouge on the leather of the briefcase.

"Yes, and it's practically brand-new. I gave it to Courtney for his last birthday, January 6th. As you can see, it is locked. The police found it that way. Courtney kept the key on a chain attached to his watch fob. The watch, of course, was stolen."

Holmes retrieves a long piece of wire from the coal scuttle. After gaining Allen's permission, he inserts it into the lock and, with a quick flick of the wrist, springs the lock open.

He pulls out several folders for our examination. Each is filled with company papers and is coded to indicate its contents. One marked ML-C, for instance, concerns various coal mine leases. Another, marked S-87-R, contains a listing of sales to the Russian Government during the preceding year. One folder is empty. It is marked SP#10-A.

Holmes then empties the contents of the envelope onto the table. The inventory includes: spectacles and case, a ruby ring, a gold wedding band, a key chain with keys, an empty wallet, a small notebook and a note which reads: "Meet me tonight at Spaniard's - 10 - A.M."

Seizing on the notebook, Holmes observes, "There are two entries on the day of your brother's death. 'Capt. Egan -- 8:30 p.m.!!!' Can you tell us who Captain Egan might be, Mr. Allen?"

"I've never heard the name."

"The other entry is, 'Plant -- 8 a.m. -- surprise!'.... The previous day's entry is 'Bishop's F -- 8:30 p.m.' and a notation that it's 'Billy's Mother's Birthday.'"

"'Billy' is Courtney's secretary, William Linhart."

Holmes compares the writing in the notebook with that of the note. They appear to be identical. He nods and says, "I believe we have enough to begin our investigation."

After Allen has gone, Wiggins comments that his hand gestures were most intriguing. "Combining infinite subtlety with tremendous force, it is easy to imagine that he has no trouble making his wishes known on the floor of the London Stock Exchange."

"I don't recall Allen giving out his occupation," says Watson, puzzled.

"No," replies Wiggins, "but certain phrases he spoke, coupled with the penciled notations on his left shirt cuff, stock prices surely, led me to conclude that he was a stockbroker."

"Bravo, Wiggins! Well, Watson, our young man has come a long way since the days when you described him as 'a dirty, little street urchin', eh?"

"Thank you, Mr. Holmes, but, after all, I was taught by the master."

"True," says Holmes matter-of-factly. "Quite true."

So where should we start?
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Post Post #4 (isolation #2) » Thu May 30, 2019 5:01 pm

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

None whatsoever!

EDIT: Expected, that is. If you want to RP then go for it!
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Post Post #7 (isolation #3) » Thu May 30, 2019 8:30 pm

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Directory wrote:Mariner's House ....... 41S
Marlett, Steven ........ 86 SE
Marlowe, Phillip ........ 32 NW

Marroneaux, Ursala .. 26 NW
Marsh, August ........... 88 NW
So if you want to talk to Phillip Marlow, you would post something like "Let's talk to
Phillip Marlow, 32 NW
!"
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Post Post #10 (isolation #4) » Fri May 31, 2019 7:55 am

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Well the booklet I'm going out off is the Ystari reprint but my understanding is that it contains the same cases as the original, just reordered.

The map posted in the OP is from the original edition because I found somebody online who had already made close-up images of it.
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Post Post #11 (isolation #5) » Fri May 31, 2019 9:42 am

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Even though technically nobody has voted if nobody does anything by the time I get home from work I'll just assume that you want to visit Marlowe.
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Post Post #12 (isolation #6) » Fri May 31, 2019 11:55 am

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Phillip Marlowe, 32 NW


We make our way past the stacked luggage in the hallway to find Phillip Marlowe in the center of the parlour swinging a golf club, a mashie-niblick by the look of it. He is a brisk man in his mid-forties. He informs us that he is on his way to the country estate of Sir Clayton Partridge and so brevity on our part would be appreciated. We ask him about his ascendancy to the presidency of the company.

"Allen and I had an understanding on that score. Upon his retirement, I would take the office. In fact, it was the key reason I joined the company three years ago."
"Mr. Allen was close to retirement then?"
"Not by any means. Look, I cannot deny that I have mixed feelings about Allen's untimely death. It was tragic and I feel outraged as any decent, right-thinking man would. But we were not personally close and I do relish the chance to run the company."
"Where were you on the evening of the 9th?"
"I played golf with Sir Clayton in the afternoon and went home with him to dine. Stayed until almost midnight."

The butler enters the room with a valise in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

"Ready, Swinson? Well, I'm off."

Leads followed: 32 NW
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Post Post #15 (isolation #7) » Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:42 pm

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Directory wrote:Allardyce’s............ 52NW
Allegro Theatre.......... 94WC
Allen, Courtney.......... 14NW
Allen, Richard............ 1WC
Allgood, Johnny......... 10SE
Directory wrote:Keefer, Andrew..... 97EC
Keeler & Co........... 43S
Keen’s Chop House.... 37WC
Keenan, Mallory......... 31WC
Keene & Ashwell........ 87SW
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Post Post #17 (isolation #8) » Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:35 pm

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Courtney Allen, 14 NW


Our interview with Mrs. Allen is mercifully short. She answers our indelicate questions with a quiet, calm dignity that convinces us she knows nothing of her husband's murder that would be any help to us.

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW
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Post Post #20 (isolation #9) » Sun Jun 02, 2019 7:06 am

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Directory wrote: Rafferty, Diana......... 83NW
Rafferty, Michae...l.... 54NW
Ragland, Lord Henry.. 56SW
Ragsdale, Elbert........ 56S
Raike, Filbert............ 34EC
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Post Post #22 (isolation #10) » Sun Jun 02, 2019 8:08 am

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Lord Henry Ragland, 56 SW


Lord Ragland's man, Bunting, admits us to the residence and shows us into the study to wait. We are almost as impressed by Lord Ragland's establishment as we are with Lord Ragland himself when he arrives. At 30, he is the picture of the English gentleman, impeccably groomed, with a style and grace at once attractive and forbidding. The instructions completed, he separates himself from us by walking to the other side of his desk. Seating himself, he asks us to begin.

Before we can, however, he notices an envelope on the desk and immediately calls for Bunting. "Drummond's has slipped up again. See that this is posted immediately... Excuse me, gentlemen. Debit where a credit should be or some such. Please begin."

"On the night of Mr. Allen's murder he had an appointment, with Captain Egan..."
"Yes, the purchasing officer for naval ordinance at the Admiralty. We were working on a secret project for the Admiralty, and Courtney was concerned about one of the engineers, Richard Camp, being a security risk. We discussed it that morning. I gave no credence to the idea."

Lord Ragland pauses to reach into a small silver box. From it, he draws forth a cigarette which has a "B & H" printed on it in gold leaf. He inserts it into an ebony cigarette holder, lights it, and leans back. Without our prompting he continues.

"No, no, Camp is a fine fellow. But as a concession to Egan, I removed him from the project and assigned him elsewhere... Tragic, Courtney's death. To think that I had intended to stop by the offices that evening but was forced to work late at the plant. If I had, perhaps the thief would have thought twice about tackling two of us."

"Were you disappointed about not being named president? After all, you were the senior vice-president."

"Not a bit of it. I am quite happy with my work in the technical areas. Administrative matters do not interest me. Besides, one of Marlowe's conditions of employment was that he succeeds Courtney when Courtney retired. Of course, that would not have been for many years."

"Thank you, Lord Ragland."

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW, 56 SW
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Post Post #25 (isolation #11) » Mon Jun 03, 2019 7:57 am

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Directory wrote:Edwards, Marcy........ 26SE
Edwards, Owen........ 62NW
Egan, John.............. 47NW
Egelhoff, Ivan........... 2S
Eggering, Lisa.......... 19WC
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Post Post #27 (isolation #12) » Mon Jun 03, 2019 7:08 pm

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Captain Egan, 47 NW


We are told by Captain Egan's landlady, whom we suspect was once a bosun's mate on a man-o-war, that he is at the Admiralty.

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW, 56 SW

How do you all want me to handle leads like this where somebody tells you the person is somewhere else? Should I auto-go to the next location, or just give you all a directory lookup? I'll do the latter this time.

Directory wrote: Adams, Harmon......... 43NW
Adelaide-Southampton Line........ 15E
Admiralty, The.......... 10SW
Adrian, Adrian.......... 41E
Agar, Dr. Moore........ 43NW
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Post Post #29 (isolation #13) » Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:22 pm

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The Admiralty, 10 SW


Captain Egan is a small, bulldog of a man. He paces back and forth behind a massive oak desk as if it were a quarterdeck railing.

"Eight months ago, Allen came to this office with the designs for a new naval gun. Revolutionary in concept. Can't say much about it, most secret, don't you know. The design was approved and monies advanced for its development."

"Can you tell us anything about the meeting Mr. Allen was to have had with you on the evening of his murder?"

The captain barks out a name, unintelligible to us, and an aging Lieutenant, long since beached upon the promotionless shores of paperwork, scurries into the room.

"Bring me the Grant Arms Company file... Allen sent me a wire this morning. Quite vague. Close-mouthed fellow when all is said and done. He was worried about security for Project #10, I know, but wouldn't say much about it; his responsibility, he'd take care of it. Of course, I put some of my men on it anyway."

The lieutenant returns with the file and is dismissed, for the time being, back into oblivion. The captain shows us the wire first. It reads:
Meet tonight
8:30 your office
Call out the guard
Pounce at 10!
- C. Allen
He then shows us a detailed list of the activities of Richard Camp, a development engineer on Project #10.

"As you can see, he was always bringing boxes and bundles to the French Embassy. Emile Zobar, French Military Attache, has his offices at the Embassy."

"So you believe that Mr. Allen's wire implied he had information implicating Camp in a security breach of Project #10?"

"I did. Still do. But Lord Ragland, head of the project, assured me that Allen's security fears were unfounded. We met two days after Allen's unfortunate death. As a precaution, he told me he would remove Camp from the project. Since the conversation, I've concentrated my efforts on Zobar, von Schulenberg, Del Guerra, and Meshkoff. Their governments would all have great interest in our new gun. So far my men have uncovered nothing."

"Thank you, Captain."

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW, 56 SW, 47 NW, 10 SW
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Post Post #31 (isolation #14) » Tue Jun 04, 2019 5:55 pm

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The directory wrote:Cameron, Veronica.......... 88EC
Cammack, Waldo............ 58SW
Camp, Richard................ 23NW
Canaday, Calvern............ 71SW
Canetti, Gabriel............... 4S
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Post Post #33 (isolation #15) » Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:19 pm

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Richard Camp, 23 NW


We find Richard Camp in the sitting room of his bachelor apartment nursing a cold and looking thoroughly miserable. As he pours a spoonful of Dr. Saari's Magic Elixir, he is seized with a fit of sneezing causing the liquid to spill down his shirt front.

"Blast!" he curses. He flings the spoon across the room and takes a slug straight from the bottle. "Ill health puts me in ill temper," he says by way of apology.

"We're sorry to inconvenience you, but we would like to ask you a few questions. Would you tell us why you were removed from Project #10?"

"Lord Ragland simply assigned me elsewhere. Since Project #10 was well along, he felt I would be more useful in other areas. He also mentioned that my visits to the French embassy had been misinterpreted in some quarters and perhaps it would be a politic move."

"Your visits to the French embassy?"

"I am secretly engaged to the daughter of the Vice Consul. Her father is a most difficult man. Her uncle, Emile Zobar, is sympathetic to us. Since I work for an arms company and he is the military attache, my visits there were ostensibly to see him. Both Mr. Allen and Lord Ragland were well aware of the real reasons for my visits."

"Did you ever discuss Project #10 with Monseur Zobar?"

"No, I would would never!"

"And where were you the night of the 9th?"

"I met Annette, my fiancée, at Rule's. We took several hours to dine and then I brought her home to the Embassy."

"Just one more question, Mr. Camp. Do you smoke Benson & Hedges Imperials?"

"No I don't. They are a favorite of Emile Zobar's, though, and I gave him some for his last birthday. Why do you ask?"

"Just following up our leads. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Camp. Hope you're feeling better soon."

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW, 56 SW, 47 NW, 10 SW, 23 NW
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Post Post #35 (isolation #16) » Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:38 am

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

This game is good 90% of the time of knowing the general order in which you learn things and visit places. Sometimes it's possible to "skip ahead", so to speak.
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Post Post #37 (isolation #17) » Thu Jun 06, 2019 9:55 am

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The Directory wrote:
Gunsmiths

Colt’s Fire Arms Co.......... 12NW
Grant Arms Co................ 5EC
Rigby & Co..................... 1SW
S. Goff.......................... 28WC
Westley, Richards............ 31NW
Winchester Arms Co........ 21EC
The Directory wrote:DeVecchio, Dominic.......... 15E
Devendorf, Heinz............. 83NW
Devine, Andrew............... 2WC
Devoe, Hacken................ 22S
Dew, Sammy.................. 1SE
The Directory wrote:
Embassies

American Embassy............ 18SW
China Legation................. 38NW
French Embassy............... 59SW
German Embassy............. 9SW
Russian Embassy............. 54SW
Spanish Embassy............. 38SW
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Post Post #39 (isolation #18) » Thu Jun 06, 2019 3:22 pm

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Grant Arms Company, 5 EC


By prearrangement we meet Constable Beadle behind the Grant Arms Company in the alley parallel to Leonard Street.

"I noticed a strange lump in the alley. I knew right then something was amiss - my instinct for the out-of-place, you might say. Watch your step there! The cobbling hereabouts is in a bad way. Many a jagged edge just made for tripping a man."

We have strolled 30 or so feet from the base of the stairway that leads to the offices of Grant Arms to arrive at the juncture of a T formed with another alley that leads to Old-Street.

"It was right here and, sad to say, it was not a lump at all. Now the victim was lying on his back, the force of the bullet having thrown him backwards. The briefcase was lying right beside the body, waist-high. The wallet was lying a few feet away. The victim's overcoat was thrown open and his pocketwatch was missing, but part of the chain was still attached to the vest. He was quite dead but there was still some warmth in his bare hands so I couldn't have missed the blighter by much.

"Now, I figure the perpetrator must have hid in that shed just up this second alley. When the victim approached, he jumped out and fired point-blank. As you can see, it's but five feet from the shed to where the body lay."

We thank Constable Beadle for his time and trouble. He goes back on patrol but we linger a moment longer at the scene. From the shed Wiggins calls to us.

"Seems both Scotland Yard and our perpetrator have been quite careless." His open palm reveals the remains of a cigarette. On it are the letters "B & H" in gold leaf. The tip is pinched evenly all around.

Beaming, Wiggins suggests that we adjourn to the offices of the Grant Arms Company to interview Allen's private secretary.

Our unorthodox means of entry via the back stairway startles a young man we meet in the corridor. Fair-haired and pleasant-featured, he turns out to be William Linhart. After introductions are made and we are seated in Linhart's office, Wiggins asks him a question that has been nagging at all of us since the beginning. "What was Mr. Allen doing in the alley?"

"Any time he worked after hours, which was often, he would leave by the back way. It was a short walk to Oldstreet where the traffic was heavier and a cab more likely to be hailed."

"So anyone who had a passing knowledge of Mr. Allen's habits, company employees, or even business acquaintances would certainly have been aware of that practice?"

"Yes, that's so."

"That evening Mr. Allen was scheduled to meet with a Captain Egan at 8:30. Can you tell us who Captain Egan is?"

"He is the ordnance officer in charge of purchasing for the Admiralty."

"Do you know what the meeting was about?"

"He and Mr. Allen met often to discuss the special project undertaken for the Admiralty several months ago, but I was unaware of that particular meeting. Mr. Allen regularly delivered progress reports but always during the day, and I always made the appointments. I remember that Mr. Allen asked me to put the SP#10-A folder into his briefcase. It surprised me because I was not aware of an appointment with Captain Egan."

"Could you tell us about the special project?"

"It is very secret, but I suppose I can say that it involves the development of a new type of naval gun."

"Were there problems with the project?"

"None that I am aware of. Mr. Allen was very concerned about security, though. While we do sell arms to foreign powers, there are certain weapons that are reserved exclusively for our own Government. Special Project #10-A was such a one."

"Was Mr. Allen concerned over security based on a specific incident or centered on a specific person?"

"The existence of the project was common knowledge so I'm sure he expected a certain amount of, well, spying. He called in Lord Ragland to discuss the matter after several strange people were seen banging around the Deverell Street plant."

"Why would the plant be under surveillance?"

"All the technical data, blueprints, formulas, that type of thing are housed there. Our offices here are entirely administrative."

"Mr. Allen's brother believes he was having an affair at the time of his death. Realizing that this is a delicate matter, do you know who the lady might have been?"

"No, I don't. Over the years I have always known about Mr. Allen's peccadillos but only in the most general way. We would be working and something would trigger a cryptic remark that obviously had to do with his personal life. For example, after the International Arms Fair opened he received a scented letter on pink stationary. Later that day he was dictating a memo to Lord Ragland when he stopped and picked it up. He took a full whiff of it and said aloud 'Women often marry for a title but they won't necessarily fall in love for one.' Then he laughed and went on with the memo."

"You're now secretary of the new president Mr. Marlowe?"

"Yes. He was Mr. Allen's hand-picked successor which perfectly illustrates the kind of man Mr. Allen was. There was no love lost between them and yet, recognizing Marlowe's outstanding business acumen, he named him as his heir, so to speak."

"Thank you, Mr. Linhart. You've been very helpful."

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW, 56 SW, 47 NW, 10 SW, 23 NW, 5 EC
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Post Post #43 (isolation #19) » Sat Jun 08, 2019 12:34 pm

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Since Aura is the only one giving me addresses we'll go to the French Embassy but I'll interpret Mitillos's post as a request for a directory lookup as well.
The Directory wrote: Schiller, Mark................... 62E
Schindler, Reginald........... 71NW
Schulenberg, Count von..... 51SW
Schwartz, Irving............... 39E
Schwerthofer, Maximilian.......... 43SW
French Embassy, 59 SW


We are shown into the office of a busy little man who twirls the end of his moustache with one hand while he shuffles papers with the other. He barely looks up to inform us that Emile Zobar is not in his office today, but starts violently at the mention of Richard Camp.

"Do I know Mr. Rich... who?"

As he hems and haws a moment or two, a compact man of medium height enters. He breaks off in mid-sentence as he sees us.

"Pardon me, " he says in English. "I am Paul Zobar, Vice Consul. May I be of service to you?"

Before we can reply, the little man explains in a flustered mixture of English and French that we are on our way out and that the matter was a trifling one anyway, unworthy of the Vice Consul's attention. Satisfied, Zobar drops some papers on the desk and leaves the room.

"I'm afraid I have no more time for you. If you wish to see Emile Zobar, I suggest that you call at his home. Good day."

As we are about to leave, a lovely young lady enters. Wiggins bows low to her, sweeping his derby across his body. He is immediately rewarded with a wide, dimpled smile and a curtsy. Before he can advance his cause, however, the young woman calls out "Papa!" and races down the hallway toward Paul Zobar.

Leads followed: 32 NW, 14 NW, 56 SW, 47 NW, 10 SW, 23 NW, 5 EC, 59 SW
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Post Post #44 (isolation #20) » Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:19 am

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

Bumping this. Where are we going next?
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Post Post #46 (isolation #21) » Wed Jun 12, 2019 9:48 am

Post by Haschel Cedricson »

The directory wrote: Zeller, Jarvis............ 42E
Ziber, Matilda........... 82E
Zobar, Emile............ 41WC
Zoological Gardens.... 99NW
Zubin, Michael.......... 81EC
The directory wrote: Parsons & Sons......... 18NW
Parsons, Newton....... 62NW
Partridge, Sir Clayton. 60SW
Partridge, Nate......... 3SE
Paschal: Investigations. 78WC
Locked

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