Florence nods gravely. "Raymond knocked on the door a little over a month ago. It was after afternoon tea, probably 3:30 or so. He was wearing his field clothes and yes they were dirty. The most shocking thing was his age - he looked to be in his seventies!" Her eyes begin to well with the pain of the memory.DadsAngry wrote:Dr. Clarke:
"Florence, I don't know how this could be. You must tell me everything. Every single detail you have from the first time you notice Raymond appeared home. I need you to be exact as possible. What was the date, the time, what was he wearing, the clothes were they dirty, anything like that. The smallest detail, the most insignificant detail could be a clue into understanding of what happened. Because in truth Florence, I cannot explain what has befell Raymond."
"He was babbling and in shock, muttering about a crystal. I called the doctor, who was mystified. We brought Raymond to the hospital and they were equally dumb-founded. They said he had the physiology of an old man, despite being 45 year old the last time I saw him, before he departed on the Turkey expedition."
The wife takes several sips of tea before continuing. "Several days later his mind seemed to settle. He hesitated telling me anything about the expedition, but over the course of the week he did tell me about the voyage on the White Ship, Paris, the Orient Express, and a little of the caves explored. Something terrible must have happened in those caves David, because Raymond refused to tell me details. He did not want "them" to come. And the crystal, what is this crystal? He would talk in his sleep, wake up screaming about it. But when I pressed him, Raymond would say nothing. And he did not want Miskatonic, or anyone, to know of his return! I know he took to book shops seeking volumes about mystic travel, because one dealer called upon the house and I happen to answer and learned of Raymond's search."
"Then, three weeks after his return, Raymond fell into further physical decline. The doctors said his body was developing complications from old age. He was somehow aging more! I prayed for him, David, oh how I prayed. But it wouldn't stop. I myself became ill from the stress of the situation and hired a social worker helper, for Raymond required constant care. His decline continued. I tried to find out more, and had Claire the social worker tell me where he went and who he talked to. Last week he went into a coma. I fear for the worst now."
P.I. Archer talks with a Boston Museum of Fine Arts curator.
"I assume it was the President, in agreement with the Board, that decided to join the museum consortium effort to supplement local law enforcement efforts with private investigation. Given thefts occurred at multiple museums, the consortium felt it an issue to be addressed at that level."
As the curator talks Archer recalls the Boston Police detective he met on the White Ship.
Later Archer calls Agent Watson at the Providence office of the national Bureau of Investigation. "Agent Watson here. Mr. Archer? Yes, Detective Sipowicz in New York mentioned you. It seems we may have common goals in this investigation. Can you come to my office?"
