Leo was glad that Bradley had brought up the negro priestess as it would have been awkward to explain questions about her without giving up his source of information. "Do you know anything about this woman with whom Roger had become obsessed? This priestess? If it was her idea, did she accompany the expedition? The papers didn't name her if so."

"Of course you are right Mr Grey. All I meant to highlight was how far apart those places were. Sure, Egypt is part of continental Africa. But it must be what, nearly 4000 kilometers between Cairo and Mombassa, no short distance?

As you say, if their final destination was always Mombassa then Egypt might indeed make a better port than around the horn. Still it took them months didn't it to make the journey? So either they had reasons to stop over for a time in those places, or they had no need to get to Mombassa quickly and enjoyed the excursions en-route.".

He shrugged apologetically.
"Anyway forgive me, I'm just thinking aloud.
What of this negro woman, do we know any more of her?".

"The official expedition itinerary was of course, to go to Egypt. Officially, the Kenya trip was only a detour," he told Cotton.

"I can't say I know much more about the Negro woman other than what Erica has mentioned in passing, though she did accompany the expedition, Dr. Elias. I don't properly know her name. I believe Roger referred to her as Anastasia at one point, only to conceal from Erica for a time that she was a negress. I think it started with an M. Something African. I would know it if I heard it, but I never wrote it down and it escapes me at the moment."
This message was last updated by the player at 15:46, Wed 22 July 2015.

Her name is M'Weru, Leo thought to himself as Mister Grey struggled to remember. "Jackson speculated that the expedition discovered something in Egypt that led them to Kenya. Not that it was merely someplace they just happened to be passing through - which reminds me of something Jackson mentioned. Do you know what the itinerary was for the expedition in Egypt?" Leo paused a moment, then added a few more questions to the mix. "Jackson also mentioned Anastasia, guessing that she is Roger's lover. His high level book outline includes Masters, Penhew, Brady, and Anastasia in addition to Roger and Doctor Huston. Did you discover whether any others went on the expedition with those six?" It seemed likely that Doctor Huston's daughter was also with them, though if Anastasia is another name for the negress M'Weru, then she couldn't also be Huston's daughter.

"I'm afraid I don't know their itinerary in Egypt, other than they set out for Cairo with the intention to make contact with Besart and Najir. I would imagine that they went to begin an investgiation. Sir Aubrey Penhew was a renowned Egyptologist, highly regarded by his peers. I'm sure he knew what he was about in that respect. From what I understand, you travel out from Cairo on camels or other vehicles particularly well suited for that terrain, find your site, set up a camp, and begin a dig," he said.

"As far as other members of the expedition, I would imagine they would hire local help in terms of diggers and porters and such people, and that they would begin an excavation. I don't know anyone by name, save perhaps for that Frenchman, Besart, though I know precious little about him - nothing that I haven't already told you."

Bishop stood by and listened to the exchange. While he was familiar with Jack's notes, it appeared that the others were doing a fine job in questioning Grey. That suited Bishop fine, because he planned to step in when they were finished and discuss matters closer to home.

Much of what Grey and Leo mentioned was still new to Tommy. Sure he'd cast his eyes over the notes laid out by Annabel, but talking about it was really helping to piece things together.

"Wasn't Penhew an Egyptologist? Perhaps he was the reason for stopping Cairo then. We even reported on rumors they'd found King Solomon's mines; though I figure that was probably just local jealousy of a well funded expedition.".
Tommy mused openly, incase his words would trigger an idea in someone more knowledgeable than himself.
He turned to Mr Grey again, his expression concerned and words gentle.
"So the expedition left Egypt and eventually arrived in Mombassa where...they met their fate. It must have been terrible for Ms Carlyle to hear the news...very brave of her to visit Kenya. Did you go with her?".

  As Annabel listened, she was not surprised that once again there was another mention of Harlem and some connection to it; this time of Carlyle's mistress. They really were going to have to make some effort to go there. Too many clues were pointing in that direction.

   Listening to Mr. Cotton's question, she added. "If you did Mr. Grey, would you happen to have the names of anyone we could contact in case we end up going to Africa to pursue this matter further? From all that you are telling us, it sounds like we may need to in order to get a clearer idea of what this is all about."

Bishop did his best to keep his expression neutral. The others were talking about trips around the globe, meanwhile a nest of villains in Harlem needed to be wiped off the face of the earth.

"Yes, Mr. Cotton. Sir Aubrey Penhew is in fact an Egyptologist, as I mentioned just now. Please do try to keep up. Also, they did not meet their fates in Mombasa. They traveled from Mombasa to Nairobi, from where they presumably set upon a safari, and subsequently met their fates," he said, correcting the young reporter.

"I did not go with her on her mission of discovery there, and I'm afraid I have little in the way of contacts in Africa. I have given Dr. Elias what I do have," he said to Annabel.

"Now, Dr. Elias, you wanted to know more about the expedition members. I believe I've told you what I know of consequence with respect to Roger and Hypatia. That leaves Sir Aubrey, Dr. Huston, and Jack Brady."

"Since we were most recently discussing Penhew, once more for Mr. Cotton's benefit, he was a renowned Egyptologist. Penhew graduated from Oxford and is credited with having founded several branches of Egyptology and has several important archaeological discoveries under his belt. His foundation underwrites that sort of thing both at home and abroad. Aside from that, a wealthy man like Roger. A real blue blood - the sort of man you'd find in Burke's Peerage. I believe he served in the Great War until he was injured. He is old money and has continued to prosper from holdings here and in Europe. That's about all I was able to find out about him without going to England myself to poke about more."
This message was last updated by the player at 13:31, Fri 24 July 2015.

Leo nodded as Mister Grey provided some information about Penhew. "Do you know how Mister Carlyle originally connected with Sir Penhew? The reason for Roger Carlyle contacting Penhew seem apparent on the surface - did he simply know of Penhew's abilities and place a call, or were there other avenues used to make that connection?"

Moretti was silent during the discussion with Grey. He remained standing, his arms crossed, listening attentively to the questions and answers. As he considered all that he had read, and the information Grey was providing about the doomed Carlyle Expedition, he couldn't keep his mind from reeling.

When he had sat down with Masseria earlier in the day, he had become convinced that Jackson had been targeted by the group at the JuJu House because Jackson's research had threatened to expose their ilicit activities. Now, he felt certain that Jackson had uncovered something much larger. Some kind of terrible cult whose influence stretched across continents. Not unlike how Masseria's authority tied back to the old country.

But it all led back to Harlem. It was where the men that had sought Jackson's life, and for that matter, Ritchie Cederecci's, had come from. And it was where Carlyle had found this mysterious woman, this "Anastasia" who had fed his obsession to travel to Africa.

All here in New York. Within walking distance of the neighborhood he'd grown up in.

"I'm afraid that neither myself nor Ms. Carlyle know anything about how Penhew became involved. My guess is as good as yours. I would surmise that he wanted a proper expert for the expedition. Neither himself, Master, Huston, nor Brady had any experience in that field. It stands to reason they wanted at least one person who knew what he was about," he said.

"All we know is that they stopped in London, picked up Penhew, and went on to Egypt."

Leo nodded at Grey's response and made a mental note to look into that a bit more, as they had acquired a few phone numbers already. "What about Mister Brady? I don't think I know much more about him than the fellow's name." Even Hypatia Masters had been noted for her photography skills.

"Jack Brady. He was a standout in that group - a different sort. He was in the Marines during the war, awarded a Bronze Star and some other commendations. Served in China and on the Western Front in France. He is rumored to have been a mercenary in Turkey just after the war, and to know Turkish and Arabic as well as several Chinese dialects. After he got back, I suppose he didn't know how to occupy himself. He had a police record a mile long: assaults and barroom brawls, petty theft, loitering, gambling, mopery, public drunkenness, and an acquitted murder charge. That's where Roger comes in," he said.

"You see, Roger befriended him when Roger was attending the University of Southern California," he said. "Roger didn't make many true friends, but he and Jack were particularly close. Around that time, Brady got into a fight and apparently throttled his opponent to death before onlookers could pull him off. Roger summoned the best legal minds in the country for the defense, who proceeded to blow to pieces a seemingly open-and-shut case offered by the county prosecutor, eclipsing the testimony of seven eye-witnesses. Brady was ultimately acquitted on a variety of technical grounds. From that time, Jack Brady and Roger Carlyle rarely were separated. Brady served as Carlyle's bodyguard, and he went on the expedition in that capacity. I'm sure his knack for languages, expertise in weapons, and talent for violence could all serve as assets in that part of the world,"

"He had a nickname - 'Brass.' Roger told me about it once. Brady apparently wore a four inch square brass plate that was covered with strange signs and inscriptions over his heart. He said he got it from his mother, a recluse in Upper Michigan, who had 'the Eye'. I don't know exactly what that is, but presumably some type of witchcraft. That thing had been dented twice by bullets, so I guess it was good for something."

"Wasn't sure until now but I served along side Brady in China, and during the Great War I was his company commander."

"He was a good man. Tough, charming and brave. never gave much credit to that brass plate, but Brady had the devil's own luck alright. Saw him come out of more tight scrapes than any man has a right. If anyone good have survived a massacre, it would be Jack "Brass" Brady." Bishop said.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Fri 31 July 2015.

Rosalie listened intently, but had very little to add that her uncle had not already covered.  Bradley's insight sparked certain ideas and tied various clues together, but she was not inclined to speak of them in his presence.  While he seemed like an upstanding young man, his loyalties lay with his employer and she knew he wouldn't hesitate to report back to her anything of interest he might have overheard.  Though she doubted it would go beyond their intimate circle, the fewer people that knew the details of their investigation the better.

She threw a glance at Vincent, but found his expression unreadable -- but that wasn't anything new.  She knew from experience that he was a tough nut to crack.  While she didn't want any more of her family or friends throwing themselves into danger, she knew that Vincent could handle himself.  As her gaze shifted to the others, she realized that they could all handle themselves quite well in one way or another.  They might be unaccustomed to the horrors of murder and the rough streets, but each had a valuable skill that had already proven useful in the investigation.

He very slightly quirked an eyebrow at Bishop. "Oh? Quite the coincidence, you knowing Brady, being family to Jackson, and everything coming together as it has." He didn't spend too long lingering on it, moving on to the subject of their inquiries.

"I guess Dr. Huston's the only one I haven't spoken of much yet," he said, looking at his notebook. "He graduated from Johns Hopkins with honors and had a circulatory ailments practice for a few years. He left that practice, and his wife at the time, and went to Vienna to study under Dr. Sigmund Freud and also Dr. Karl Jung, who as Dr. Elias surely knows are noted names in the field of psychiatry. He was one of the first Americans to engage in this study. He returned and opened a lucrative practice that catered to the wealthy, charging exorbitant amounts for his therapy. Roger was one of his patients. Roger must have paid him a handsome some indeed to convince him to put aside that practice and travel with him on that expedition." He closed the book and recrossed his legs.

"I think that's everyone, other than the Negro woman that went along with them, and I don't know much about her."

"Not really. The Corps is smaller than most  folks think. Tw o old leather necks are likely to have crossed paths a time or two." Bishop replied.

"It was a curious bunch to take on an archeological expedition. I don't know too much about it, but I know it requires expertise. With one exception they had none."

Tommy had been listening carefully, intrigued by Bishop's relationship to Brady.
"I dont suppose Jack mentioned a wife, or siblings to you? Might be he has relatives he spoke to about the expedition.". The mother in Michigan might be another option, but if she was some kind of recluse disturbing her might not be welcome.

He went silent for a moment while Grey continued, then piped up alongside Stanley's words.
"Some of them were strange I guess...Roger was the money, and Jack his man so they dont seem too out of place. Penhew makes sense, and Masters, well maybe she wanted to get away from scandal and it seems plausible you'd want a photographer or linguist on the trip.
It's Huston and the negro woman that dont fit at all.".

The reporter glanced toward Dr Elias who surely knew more of such things.
"Why would Carlyle fund his head doctor to go on some playboys adventure? How bad can a few dreams be?".

Leo soaked up the new information, nodding time and again as the others chimed in. At the question from Thomas, Leo looked at the young reporter. His serious expression slowly changed to a smirk. "Psychiatrists are by far the most useful physicians." Leo smiled, then returned his face to neutrality. "As Mister Grey mentioned, not only had Huston studied psychology, but also knew medicine well enough to have a successful circulatory ailments practice. Which means that should anyone get injured during their travels, Doctor Huston would also be able to patch them up quite efficiently."

Leo returned his attention to Mister Grey. "What of Doctor Huston's family? Do you know anything about his wife or if they had children?"

"He was no longer married at the last, I'm afraid. At least not that I know of. I presumed that he had divorced his first wife. She went to live in the country with her family in Minnesota," Grey responded. "He didn't have any children that I know of," he said.
This message was last updated by the player at 13:20, Mon 03 Aug 2015.

Tommy chuckled gently at Leo's insistence that shrinks were the best of doctors, he'd know for sure.
Grey's words remained serious however and the young reporter returned to the subject at hand.
"Do you know when Huston split from his wife? I mean, did it coincide with the expedition or working with Roger?".

He frowned, thinking back to the negro woman.
"Quite the riddle that the one woman who seems most out of place in this whole thing, is the same woman we know the least about. I suppose it wouldn't be a puzzle otherwise eh?
And that she was from Harlem too...
Do we know anything more of her? A religion? Her family?  Anyone else who knew her better?".
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Tue 04 Aug 2015.

He fixed the reporter with a flat stare. Was the man really not paying attention?

"I've said this once before, but I don't suppose there's any harm in me repeating myself...again," he responded dryly. "Dr. Huston left his wife at the same time that he left his circulatory ailments practice, before he left for Europe to study under Freud and Jung." He didn't bother asking who Robert was.

"The negro woman, she wasn't from Harlem," he corrected the reporter. "I'm not sure who 'we' are, but I personally know very little about her, beyond what I've told you so far, I'm afraid. I'd not hold anything back."

Bishop had started to jot down notes so that he and the others would be able to add the valuable information which Grey was providing.

Despite Cotton's rejection of his observation that they seemed an odd bunch for such an expedition, Bishop felt his instincts were correct. Another thing that struck Bishop as odd, was that each time Grey pointed out Tommy's frustrating habit of not listening, Bishop found himself getting a bit rankled and wanting to tell Grey to lay off.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Tue 04 Aug 2015.