Small's Paradise

[Rex]

Charles

"I think we need to be at the funeral tomorrow and see if we can learn something."

[Grognardsw]

Thurston nods in greeting at Calvin and Charlie. He takes note of the funeral.

"Let's compare notes as we find a taxi," he says. "I have the hitman's get-away car license plate number. Anyone have any connections that could find out who owns that car?"

"We tried to follow the get-away car. Didn't find it, but we did see a heavily guarded building that looked suspicious. Perhaps we could check that on the way home. We were thinking of telling the police about the get-away car license plate and that building address after we check it out."

Thurston shows the others the crumpled letter from Mancuso, and mentions Mancuso's uttering of "Joey."

"Think that signee letter is a "J" for Joseph, Joe or Joey?"

"Maybe we get in touch with Mancuso’s business associates and family to see if he had any enemies or new acquaintances. Perhaps someone named Joey."

"The funeral is a good place to talk to the band members."

From the notebook of Howard Thurston:

Investigation Notes

1. Zombie related to my magic awareness surge from two weeks ago?
2. Mancuso corpse muttering "Joey"
3. Mob and Mancuso connection?
4. Note on Mancuso - what letter is signee? It looks like a backward 'C', but maybe its a 'J' (for Joey) with the top horizatonal line not crossing completely across.

5. Get in touch with Mancuso’s business associates and family to see if he had any enemies or new acquaintances. Perhaps someone named Joey.
6. Track down get-away car license plate through any connections?
7. Check out building with suspicious characters loitering about
8. Mr. Johnson, club band leader
9. Leroy Turner, new horn-man who bumped into Mancuso
10. Johnson's band playing at old Freddy's funeral tomorrow

[Bluetongue]

Calvin Beauregard

Can't really add much to the notes. He has some film to develop (I am thinking he has as darkroom cupboard at his apartment) so would like to do that.

Plus follow up on any other reports of the incident at Smalls. Anything on the radio about it?

Do we plan a meetup tomorrow or all go crash at someone's apartment?

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie want to go over the scene one more time in case anything was missed. Then get some rest and get ready for the funeral.

[Ashuaps]

René Vézina

"Impressing notebook you got there. I have to get myself one of these. I think going to go over the scene inside while we are here is a good idea, Charlie. Afterwards, I am wondering if we should go a see if we could discretely approach that building where we think the killer went. There were armed men standing guard earlier but they may have relaxed by now or even left and we might be able to take a look"

[OGRE MAGE]

The unconventional party of four is reunited temporarily in the back alley of Small’s Paradise, the scene of the recent and grizzly murder with the rather unnatural ending. The returning larcenists tell Calvin and Charlie about the building they found, while Thurston pulls out an impressive book of notes and possible connections he has been keeping.

It is agreed upon that the funeral should definitely be checked out, as well as any possible ties to either Manusco or a hit man named Joey. When the building is entered again, and the steps through their chaotic evening retraced, no new ties or interesting clues are found. However, when the police detectives and federal investigators spot the part time security guard and his three friends looking around the place and discussing possibilities, they swoop in with more intense and lengthy questioning of their own.

After several more hours of a grueling question and answer session that gets neither group any closer to revealing the truth about why a dead man was somehow brought back to life momentarily, you are finally allowed to leave the scene. The bar is trashed and any liquor is taken as evidence before the doors are chained and padlocked shut. It is already early morning by the time you exit the former speakeasy, the 11am funeral lead you wish to check out now only about 6 or 7 hours away. The early morning streets are empty, but Charlie’s manager offers a ride home to anyone who needs transportation.

Actions?

[Grognardsw]

Thurston asks Calvin privately: “Calvin, you’re a reporter. Do you have any contacts at the Registry of Motor Vehicles or police who could tell us whose license plate number this is?”

“Rene, let’s share a cab and swing by that building again where we saw the men lurking.”

Thurston wouldn't go in to Small's if the police were still there, given the point was to avoid them to begin with.

If its easier though to go with what you set up, Thurston at least wouldn't waste several hours at Small's. After giving police his account, one time, he leaves and will take a taxi. They have no cause to keep him there if he doesn't want to. Preferably he leaves with the others. And swing by the building we saw the men loitering about. If there is anything of interest, we can play it out. Otherwise he'll return to his New York brownstone.

I'm going to play out the latter scenario below, but if he didn't go in to begin with than I'll edit it out.

"And that, officer, is what happened..." Thurston finishes his factual account of what happened in the bar. He hands the officer a business card. "Now I have to go."

When out of sight of the police, Thurston discretely gives his business card to Charlie, as the others know his New York address and phone number. Out of earshot of police, he says to the others: "Let's meet tomorrow morning at 9:00 for breakfast at my place, determine next steps, and the funeral."

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlies takes the card, "My place is close by if anyone needs a place to crash, otherwise I will see you in the morning."

[Bluetongue]

Calvin Beauregard

Will try to follow up on the police file angle later. For now he crashes on his sofa after prepping any film in the dark room cubicle he has.

He probably only gets a couple hours sleep by time all is done.

[Ashuaps]

René Vézina

As it might has become obvious by now, Rene is not particularly keen to talk with the police so he'll join Thurston attempts to avoid police within reason.

"Agree" he tells Thurston about getting a cab "It's now been a few hours. Hopefully by now the guards have relaxed and we can approach. Let's take get the taxi to drive down on the street below and stop one block before.

Assuming that we were in NY grid map, Rene would look to ask the taxi to drive down say the 134th street and drop them at a junction a bit before rather than the 135th street to avoid the approaching car being spotted by a watcher if any are left. If the area is particularly deserted, he'll ask the taxi to wait if possible.

[OGRE MAGE]

Okay, a little housekeeping here.

I should have addressed this sooner……but can you tell me what the license plate number was? I don’t see it in your amazing notes. This is why. (first sentence, size emphasis mine) viewtopic.php?p=559060#p559060


Regarding my last update, Thurston took no action, there was only dialogue in the post. And Calvins action was for something he would do once he got home.

These were the stated actions I went off of.

Charlie wants to go over the scene one more time in case anything was missed.

René Vézina
"I think going to go over the scene inside while we are here is a good idea, Charlie."

So the update will stand and the investigators will be delayed by the cops intensive questioning. The feds obviously do not tolerate any “tricks”, so walking away from them will most definitely land you in serious hot water. You can take solace in the fact that a Hard Luck roll was the only thing that kept you from being tied to the grand larceny that took place outside. If this all seems like railroading, you can thank me later.

From here on, I will honor your desire to avoid the police at all costs to the best of my ability.

Thanks for understanding!

[OGRE MAGE]

Pressed by his boss to get to the bottom of this mess, Charles agrees to meet at Thurston’s address at 9:00, two hours before the funeral they wish to attend, to discuss possible next steps. Barely sleeping after a night of horrifying oddities, he awakens to find his entire neighborhood abuzz with murmurings of what happened at Smalls.

Calvin gets home and immediately goes to work developing his film, catching quick naps as the pictures hang in his closet darkroom. Also agreeing to meet the others for a nice breakfast in a much nicer part of town, the hack reporters motivations are clear. Breaking a story about a band who uses voodoo to enthrall listeners to the point of turning them into zombies is something that could really elevate his career. His pictures turn out better than he hoped and are sure to bring in a few bucks at least if his story doesn’t pan out.

Thurston and René are visibly upset after leaving their lengthy interrogation session, but at least they weren’t apprehended for stealing a car earlier. Though over 3 hours have passed since they spied on a dangerous group surely associated with ruthless mobsters, their temptation to go back for another look is palpable. With only a few hours left before their scheduled breakfast at 9:00, they miraculously flag down a passing late night cab, but the driver flat out refuses to take them anywhere near that end of town at this hour.

Actions?

[Ashuaps]

René Vézina

I am convinced that Rene and Thurston think they are in a Scoobydoo cartoon and that splitting up is the greatest bestest idea in the world in an dangerous situation albeit neither of them have yet said the famous words "Let's split up!"

"Hmm, inconvenient", he says to Thurston as they fail to convince the driver to take them to their favourite destination. "Maybe we should grab a few hours of sleep, see if that funeral has any interesting information and go back have a look at the place tomorrow... euh well later today actually" as he check the time on his watch.

If Thurston agrees Rene will ask the driver to go to Thurston place and as we arrive he will asks:

"So we are supposed to meet her in a few hours at nine? Would you mind if I'd borrow your sofa for a nap, I don't need to go back to my hotel as I got everything I needed earlier and it would save me another trip?"

Next time Rene goes to his hotel, he intends to approach very carefully and get info from friendly staff about the police visit

[Bluetongue]

Calvin Beauregard

Stuffs a couple of pics in his briefcase, leaving most to be distributed to editors later.

He showers, irons a rough crease in his trouser and jacket and leaves sporting his favourite trilby.

After going down the steps he considers the previous nights irregularities. He goes back to his apartment. Not owning a gun, why would he? He still would like a bit of extra in case someone or something needs a cosh on the back of the head. Deciding a tin of tuna in a woolly sock probably not up to hit, he fiddles with the sash window pane and takes the lead piping weight of the running cord to use as an impromptu cudgel if needed. He sticks it down a trouser leg hoping the others won't be as pleased to see him as he may appear to them.

He goes to the breakfast bar.

[Grognardsw]

"It seems the Fates are against us seeing that building again," Thurston says to Rene. "You can certaintly stay at my place."

Later at his brownstone, Thurston's trained simian Darwin enjoys the company, and gets down to monkey business.

At 9:00 am the next day Thurston greets his colleagues and offers a fortifying breakfast of oat cereal, ham, a bananna, juice and coffee. He reviews his notes; in the whirlwind of the shocking murder and walking corpse, Thurston can't seem to locate the license plate number for Calvin. He then remembers the car did not have one.

"Shall we go to the funeral now? Sorry Darwin, you have to stay," Thurston says to the chimp, who is dressed to go out.

Knowing that mobsters could be tangled up in this mystery, Thurston brings his revolver and his cane (which conceals a rapier.)

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie gets up, dressed in his best clothes and heads for Thurston’s place. He arrives just before 9:00am.

Knocking on the door, "Its Charlie from last night."

[OGRE MAGE]

The next morning, the four men are reunited once again at Thurston’s apartment downtown. Over a quaint yet very good breakfast, they discuss the future of their investigation. Calvin arrives with an ingeniously simple makeshift weapon salvaged from a window in his apartment. Charlie shows up respectfully dressed for the funeral, grabbing up the morning paper from the decorative stoop.

The Herald spins the story of the murder in its usual skewed direction, touting Manusco’s determination and sheer will to indomitably remain alive long enough to seek help, despite his mortal wound, only to be cut down in the street by the very aid he sought. Nowhere is there any mention of walking dead or the word zombie. The self-employed accountant’s record being spotless, the police now believe that, in a moment of weakness, Manusco entered the illegal booze joint, only to be mistaken as some criminal foe. Small’s Paradise is chained and padlocked, the manager, a Mr. Roland Marlow, is arraigned on several petty charges.

Despite Darwin’s enthusiasm, the well dressed stage monkey is told he won’t be invited to the funeral. Knowing full well that they may now be in the sights of real mobsters, the group arms themselves accordingly before heading back into Harlem.

Any further discussion or preparations before hitting the funeral home?

[Bluetongue]

Calvin Beauregard

Not sure I can prepare much further. Go with the flow and see what we can unearth.

[Grognardsw]

"Rene, you are a business associate of Mancuso?" Thurston asks while sipping orange juice at breakfast. "Can you get in touch with Mancuso’s business associates and family to see if he had any enemies or new acquaintances. Perhaps someone named Joey?"

[Rex]

Charlie

"I am set to go now, excellent breakfast. Thanks."