Book Three: Out of Time

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald lets Marius do the talking for now. He does his best to look menacing.

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

David phones Agent Mulder and fills him in on the details and askes him to expedite his release.

In the cell:
David walks over to an open spot on the long bench. He pulls out his handkerchief and dusts the area before he sits down.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

As Frank escorts Edith home, he wonders how David is faring down at the precinct.

[Grognardsw]

Outside Edith Walton’s Flat
Corner of Pickman and Walnut Street
Arkham, Massachusetts
7:50 pm, Oct. 7, 1925



“Thank you David for walking me home,” says Edith. She looks up into the stormy sky. “Things took a nasty turn. Would you like to come in and dry out? We could have some tea.”

Arkham map, where one can see Edith's apartment at the corner of Pickman and Walnut Street, a few blocks from campus.

Arkham Police Station
Arkham, Massachusetts
8:45 pm, Oct. 7, 1925

Dr. Clarke calls Agent William Mulder from prison.


“This is Mulder,” answers the BOI agent when Dr. David Clarke calls him. “Hello Dr. Clarke... jail? Murder! Is this some sick joke?”

Dr. Clarke provides details on the sordid accusations against him.

"What is it with you people, this case!?” Agent Mulder sounds exasperated. “I saw Archer shoot Chertovski. How do I know you didn’t go looney and strangle that girl? Jesus Mary and Joseph!”

Agent Mulder stops talking and Dr. Clarke hears him breathing for several seconds.

“All right. I remember what Joe said after he was caught assaulting Asenaith Waite. I’ll call the Detective and D.A. first thing tomorrow morning, and send a Boston agent over with bail. You'll have to pay that! This Edith woman, if she testifies that will gum up your release. We may have to go through the judicial process.”

Dr. Clarke hangs up and is brought to the holding cell. He brushes off a space on the bench with his hankerchief and sits down. The stocky Irishman unsteadily sidles up, his breath stinking of liquor. “Hey mate, looks like we’ll be bunk buddies tonight. Whad’ya in for mac?”





In his Manhattan Bureau of Investigation office, Agent Mulder hangs up the phone with a slam. Did Clarke do it? Something insidious is effecting my people, he thinks, from Agent Gwen Baines threatening the old man Isiah Bartlett and getting shot; to Sam Archer killing prime suspect Konstantin Chertovski; to one of his own agents raping Asenaith Waite; and now this!

Agent Mulder doesn’t know what to think about Dr. Clarke.





Lower Fones Alley, off Prospect St., College Hill
Providence, Rhode Island
7:39 pm, Oct. 7, 1925


Rain falls more heavily as Marius Albertoni stands over the beaten cultist, holding him by the collar with one hand and ready to punch with the other if the man doesn’t answer his questions. Reginald looms right next to him, fist clenched, glad that they’ve gotten the better of this bully.



"The lady wants to know where you go, who you talk to,” he answers.

Both please make Intimidation, Psychology, or other applicable skill rolls to help determine, in part, more info and other observations.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Frank warmly accepts Edith’s invitation, ”Why, yes; a cup of hot tea sounds superb. Thank you.” ”I need to hear her account of Asenaith’s murder,” he thinks to himself as he wipes the rain from his brow.

”After you.” Frank holds the umbrella aloft and gestures to Edith‘s door.

[SocraticLawyer]

"The lady wants to know where you go, who you talk to,” he answers.

Both please make Intimidation, Psychology, or other applicable skill rolls to help determine, in part, more info and other observations.

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer

Spot Hidden (50) [1d100] = 50

Persuade (41) [1d100] = 11

Assuming Reg doesn't learn anything additional based on these rolls, Reginald addresses the cultist. "You're going to have to do better than that," he says. "Who is this lady? How do you contact her? How many others are watching us? Where are they now?

"Look, it's in your interest to tell us everything. We already know most of it anyways. Other members of your group that have tangled with us have ended up in jail or dead. So just tell us everything, and you can be on your way."

Reginald hopes that he and Marius can keep the cultist detained long enough for the BOI to take charge of him.

[Grognardsw]

Edith Walton's Apartment
Corner of Pickman and Walnut St.
Arkham, Massachusetts
8:00 pm, Oct. 7, 1925

Frank Morgan follows Edith Walton into her second-floor brownstone apartment. It is well appointed.

Edith's Apartment

She puts the tea kettle on the stove and serves crackers and sconces. She sits on the couch and motions for Frank to join her.

"So Frank, tell me how this investigation of yours is going. David was always closed-mouth about it. I think he thought me too sensitive, but you know I traveled a good deal with my late father."

Edith pours Frank the tea.

"Asenaith Waite told me a colleague of David's shot and killed her cousin. And of her terrible experience getting assaulted by a lawman. And then David's terrible act. I don't know who is worst, the alleged criminals or the investigators."





Arkham Police Station
Arkham, Massachusetts
9:30 pm, Oct. 7, 1925



Dr. David Clarke endures an unpleasant and undignified night in the holding cell of the Arkham Police station. The talkative Irishman eventually gives up after Dr. Clarke's taciturn responses.





Reginald and Marius bear down on the battered cultist, their intimidation loosening his tongue.

"I report to my guy Dwayne at McSweeney's on the dock. I ain't never seen the Dark Lady herself."

[Starbeard]

Marius thinks on it for a second, then gets another firm grip on the guy's collar. "Alright, so when's your next meeting with Dwayne? I think we all owe him a visit."

[Mant72]

Francis Morgan:

”What a lovely place you have here, Edith. Quite comfortable and inviting.” Frank looks around at the furnishings, minding his manners by not touching anything.

At Edith’s invitation, he sits beside her on the couch and accepts the tea. He holds the warm cup in both hands and inhales deeply but refrains from immediately drinking. ”Mmm, this smells delightful. Yes, this investigation has muddled almost everyone’s minds. It has been quite taxing. Yes, it is true, Asenaith’s cousin, Konstantin Chertovski, was shot right before our very eyes.” Frank shudders at the memory. ”Edith, can you tell me exactly what happened in the dormitory? What did you see David do? This is all so perplexing. David has been such a close friend of mine, and your...paramour...if I can be so bold to say.”

[DadsAngry]

Dr. David Clarke:

Having been on many archeology expeditions throughout his life he's learned that best way to not communicate with "unspeakables" is to do what the native would do to him, play dumb. Pretend not to understand him or better yet ignore him outright. It would seem this tactic once employed to the "unspeakables" within this cell works just as well. Oh if only he was on expedition right now, how wonderful that would be. The dirty floor and foul odor wafting about would only add to the adventure of it all. But alas here he sits in a cell with two "unspeakables", how dreadful. Where is the dawn? Why does it seem such a long way off?

David closes his eyes and thinks of Edith. Edith my dear, what has happened to you? Why did you say those things about me? I'm not a killer, am I?

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, inquisitive bookdealer

What is Dwayne's last name? Describe him.

Is there a payphone nearby?

[Grognardsw]

Edith Walton's Apartment
Corner of Pickman and Walnut St.
Arkham, Massachusetts
8:10 pm, Oct. 7, 1925


Edith answers Frank's question: "I walked into Asenaith's and Jenny's rooms. From the common room I saw Asenaith's door ajar, and a shadow. I stepped forward quietly and saw a man bending over Asenaith on the bed, his hands around her throat. He stood up and I recognized him as David, which is when I screamed. I couldn't believe it was him, but it was."

Edith's eyes well up and she clutches a handkerchief. She takes another sip of tea. "And yes, he and I had romantic feelings toward each other. I think he cracked Frank, the pressure of this accursed investigation."





Arkham Police Station
Arkham, Massachusetts
The Wee Hours, Oct. 7-8, 1925


Dr. David Clarke looks out the small cell window at the waning moon.

He slips in and out of sleep during the long night. Dream of Asenaith plague him.





Lower Fones Alley, off Prospect St., College Hill
Providence, Rhode Island
7:40 pm, Oct. 7, 1925


Reginald and Marius continue their interrogation of the beaten cultist.

"Dwayne is the big Haitian guy. Hangs out at McSweeney's. I meet him every morning at 10:00."

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni

"Well you're going to meet him now. Take us to where he is." Marius twists the cultist's arm behind his back and applies ample pressure if he claims ignorance, repeating his demand.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, bookdealer
Reginald accompanies Marius and the cultist to Mcsweeney's, or wherever the cultist says Dwayne currently is. He continues to do his best to look menacing.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Frank carefully places his cup of tea down and pats Edith’s shoulder in an attempt to console. ”We’ve all witnessed bizzare and disturbing events of late. We must remain resolute in this threatening darkness. It’s all just so strange...As David and I arrived at the dormitory, the police descended upon the place almost immediately. Something must be amiss here. David is a learned, gentle man. I don’t understand how he could lift a finger to hurt anyone. Of course I believe what you are saying, Edith....It’s just...I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around all of this.”

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Clarke:

The bench is hard and the wall is cold on his body making for sleep difficult. His cellmates are his captive audience to his nightly mumblings.
"Raymond... don't touch... no, no... Edith... you, it's you... pencil's down."

[Grognardsw]

Edith Walton's Apartment
Corner of Pickman and Walnut St.
Arkham, Massachusetts
8:15 pm, Oct. 7, 1925


"You're right Frank, these are dark times," responds Edith. She puts her hand over Frank's as he pats her. "I fear they may get darker still."

Edith's hand lingers. She looks at Frank tenderly. She almost whispers: "You're so level-headed Frank. I need someone like you."

She gently squeezes Frank's hand and leans forward in a manner leaving him with no question as to her intent.





Arkham Police Station
Arkham, Massachusetts
The Wee Hours, Oct. 7-8, 1925


"Don't you like my new ring David?" dreams Dr. Clarke.

Edith Waite shows David a ring inset with a purple trapezohedron gem.

"It's so... dazzlingly different. All my friends will be green with envy! You know, I said yes to his proposal. It was so romantic, how he proposed at the gate."

"Edith Carcosa... it has a nice ring to it don't you think? Oh you will come to the wedding won't you?"

Asenaith Walton smiles at David. "It will be when the stars are right."

"...right... all right... you all right bud?"

Dr. Clarke awakens suddenly. The Irishman is leaning over him, gently shaking him. "You's was screaming. You okay?"





The Waterfront
Providence, Rhode Island
8:00 pm, Oct. 7, 1925

Seemingly emboldened by their successful man-handling and interrogation of the suspected cultist, Reginald Wilkins and Marius Albertoni make their way southwest to the waterfront. As gentlemen of distinction, they have not had occasion to visit the docks but have heard that it is a rough-and-tumble neighborhood.

The beaten cultist morosely leads them. After about 20 minutes of walking through the dark and steady rain, the investigators reach that part of the city which is a water-side warren of warehouses, fish shacks, run-down rooming houses, barely concealed speakeasies and brothels. The rain and a warm-front off the ocean combine to make the streets foggy.



The fog parts and McSweeney's Catch squats in front of Reginald and Marius. A wooden sign creakily swings above the door, showing an ugly leering fisherman holding a large mackerel in one hand and a woman in the other. The investigators enter its smoky confines. The smell of cigarettes, fish and body odor mingles in a unpleasant smell.

The place seems a combination bar, restaurant and social club. It is about half-full with around 30 people, most of whom are locals and fisherman. Against the far wall a group of three apparently drunken men are singing a ditty, or perhaps a sea chantey.

"It was the city I had known before;
The ancient, leprous town where mongrel throngs
Chant to strange gods, and beat unhallowed gongs
In crypts beneath foul alleys near the shore.
The rotting, fish-eyed houses leered at me
From where they leaned, drunk and half-animate,
As edging through the filth I passed the gate
To the black courtyard where the man would be.

The dark walls closed me in, and loud I cursed
That ever I had come to such a den,
When suddenly a score of windows burst
Into wild light, and swarmed with dancing men:
Mad, soundless revels of the dragging dead -
And not a corpse had either hands or head!"

Reginald and Marius take in the scene, looking for the large Haitian man described by the suspected cultist. There he is - sitting with another man at a far table, eating and drinking.

McSweeney's is in the basement of the third building on the left as one walks down the pier.

[SocraticLawyer]

Reginald Wilkins, slightly unhinged bookdealer
Reginald tries to remain outwardly calm, but the song of the drunken revelers fills him with an eldritch dread that he cannot explain.

Had he heard the song before? Why does it remind him, in the most fearful way possible, of his enigmatic prey, Carcosa?

Pushing aside these thoughts, Reginald says to the cultist, Introduce us.

[Starbeard]

Marius Albertoni rolls himself a cigarette and plays cool, scanning the crowd for anyone who might be paying too much attention to them.

[Mant72]

Dr. Francis Morgan:

Startled by Edith’s advances, Frank quickly rises from his seat and stammers, ”E...Edith, I’m sorry but we mustn’t. You’re quite a handsome woman, but we can’t do this. What about David?!”

The bookish professor stands and straightens his shirt in an awkward attempt to maintain dignity.

”I’m sorry, Edith, but I really must be going. Please know that I’m still here for you.”

Frank fumbles for his coat to take his leave.