The Ju Ju House
1 Ransom Court, New York, NY
January 19, 1925; 2:00 a.m.

In the small hours of the next morning, two vehicles departed the Elias home on the Upper East Side, making their way to Harlem. Based on a route planned out by Bishop, they cut across the park to eliminate the possibility of being followed. The streets were quiet at that hour, and not many cars were out, making any possible cars following them easy to spot. With little difficulty, they arrived at Harlem without having even seen the slightest hint of anyone following them on the nearly empty roads of New York City.

They came up Lenox Avenue, keeping a designated distance between the two vehicles. At the corner with 139th, the cars pulled over for a moment outside of a closed business called Fat Maybelle's, Vincent getting out of one of them so he could better make a discreet approach to check the area out on foot.

The night was quiet, and the streets were empty, low light cast down from a clear sky by a moon that had only recently been full and twinkling stars that seemed to hold far off secrets. As Vincent approached the area on foot, he came up to the place the way Walter described its location to him and as they had seen on the map. One Ransom Court was a dirty alley off of 137th street, east of Lenox Avenue. The short alley opened into a 20-foot-square court. The only doors from the court are those of a placed denoted with a sign as the Ju-Ju House, and of the back door of an abandoned pawn shop, which had its front side on 138th Street that he had noticed on the approach. Crumbling tenements surrounded the court, with numerous darkened windows overlooking the area like a mythological creature with so many dark eyes.

From a distance, the Ju Ju House appeared to be closed, as did most other buildings in the area. There was a curtained door, and a curtained window on the front side of the shop, but no lights were on behind those curtains.

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OOC:

01:01, Today: The Keeper, on behalf of Vincent Moretti, rolled 13 using 1d100 with rolls of 13.  Spot Hidden (60).
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Sun 23 Aug 2015.

Tommy couldn't help but grin mischievously as he waited, full of nervous energy beside the solid figure of Bishop. The low hum of the engine soothed the background noise of the sleeping city and they lurked, waiting for Moretti to return.

"Ready when you are big guy.".

PM

PM:

After getting as much sleep as he could, Leo joined the others after doing a few last minute checks on the things in the house. All the evidence that they had gathered that they weren't leaving behind was put into his safe. He gathered his doctor's bag in case anyone was wounded during their foray into Harlem. Leo made certain the house was locked up as they exited, and he handed the keys to his car to Avery.

Leo was mostly quiet on the journey, though responded to any chatter in a businesslike manner. He had never expected to get involved in something like this, and wasn't looking forward to any potential use of his revolver. He had dedicated much of his life to helping people, not hurting them. Still, the thought of getting back at Jackson's killers - there was some thrill in that thought.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Tue 25 Aug 2015.

Bishop sat in the car waiting, his Tommy gun ready, but concealed. The last time they had battled these killers, it had been a surprise this time they would be as ready as possible.

When Tommy spoke up, Bishop looked over "You'll do fine. Just remember this is likely to be kill or be killed."

Moretti sauntered down the alley, trying to take in all of the details of the small, dimly lit court. He paused to study the dark store, committing its features to memory even as he tried to affect the demeanor of a wandering pedestrian who had just realized he had stumbled down the wrong path.

Retreating from the alleyway, Moretti made his way back to the parked cars, careful to return by a different route, watchful for anyone that might follow him.

When he reached the vehicles, he kept his voice low as he explained the situation. "I didn't see any activity back there. The store's dark. Quiet. No one moving around."

He cleared his throat and frowned. "I got a good look. The front door's the only way in. No rear entrance. I don't like it much, but it's our only option."

Bishop nodded. He would have preferred the police to have done their job and deal with these killers, but clearly this was not an option. Instead he and the others would have to take matters in their own hands.

"Well at least they wont be able to slip away. I want to make sure that pawn store is not a front either."

"Let's do this." Bishop said climbing on the cars running board, and motioning the others to do the same and for the two cars to move to the end of the alley.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:42, Thu 27 Aug 2015.

It was the dead of night in Harlem, past the time when both decent and indecent people were usually awake and about. The clubs, music halls, and speakeasies in this part of the city would have closed by now, so they didn't attract the wrong type of attention from the police, who always seemed to be keeping an eye on them at the worst possible times.

If it were not the dead of night, the sight of a group of white folks approaching a closed African curio shop would have been noted. Now, all that bore witness to their approach were the quiet streets, the derelict tenements, the dark night, the waning moon, and the ancient and distant stars that if contemplated painted a picture of a universe so vast that it made the immediate seem immaterial. Very likely, few in that group were concerned with stargazing and philosophy this night.

The shop front, decked with a sign designating it as the "Ju-Ju House," consisted of a display window and a glass door. Both were curtained, so that the dark interior of the shop could not be seen from without. In the display window were pieces of African art: very large decorated wooden pots, masks, carvings, and other items that looked properly primitive.

   Annabel stifled a small yawn, not surprising at this early hour. There was finally some action being taken to deal with this JuJu place and she was thrilled to actually be part of it. Well, as a driver only, but hey, it was better than staying home.

  She watched from afar in the relative safety of one of the cars the group had brought. The motor was running and she was ready in case the others had to make a quick getaway. She could make out the others as they approached the shop with its odd assortment of trinkets on display in its windows. She so wished she could have seen the inside for herself, but it was not to be.

  "Oh, I do hope they will be alright," she said to no one in particular.

Stepping off the running board, Bishop kept the Thompson close so it was hard to spot. Turning back the drivers "Kill the lights but keep the engines purring."

Bishop moved to the corner of the building until the others were ready to go. Then Tommy gun in hand he moved down the alley toward the Juju House. As he moved Bishop looked for anyone that might be watching them.

Rosalie hooked her kit over her shoulder and rested her pistol against her leg.  Pausing before sliding out of the car, she put a hand on Annabel's shoulder.  "We'll be fine.  You know how to use that gun they gave you?  Have it loaded and everything?"  She was more worried about leaving Annabel behind than sneaking into the building with the boys.

Tommy slipped out of the car with the others. Seeing Annabel's nervousness he leaned forward to merrily reassure her out of earshot of all but she and Rosa. "Dont worry Ms Ashcroft. Stanley is just playing it safe, these guns are overkill.
I've peeked in plenty of places over night, its an adventure. Probably wont be anyone in there and we'll be out before you know it.".

Ducking low against the shadowed wall the reporter hurried to catch up with Bishop.
His eyes scanned the overlooking windows before falling on the closed door ahead. In a low whisper he asked "Want me to see if I can get it open? The quicker we get inside the better.".

  Annabel felt Rosalie's hand on her and gave a reassuring nod. "I..I'm sure your right. Can't help but worry after what we've seen so far from those men." She pulled out the gun given given to her by Bishop. "I have shot some, enough to be dangerous at least. I do hope it won't have to be used." She placed the weapon down beside her ready to grab if needed.

  "Do you wish you were going with them? It's probably dangerous to do so but kind of exciting too in kind of a pulp novel way."