"As to how I came to hear of your cousin's unfortunate fate, it was by another set of his relatives of his that came to see me about something just a few days ago. As it's highly unlikely that multiple relatives of his have journeyed here independently to London and ended up in Scotland Yard to speak with me, I can only presume it's related to the same matter," he said to Rosalie, taking in Leo and Harry while he spoke as well.

"Yes, let us repair to my office and we can discuss this further." He lead the group to his office, and took a seat behind his desk while he addressed them.

"So, what's this matter you wish to discuss with me?"

---

OOC: Sorry, I actually composed a post for this and thought I posted it yesterday. Oh well!
This message was last updated by the player at 17:47, Mon 18 Sept 2017.

Rosalie took a seat and nodded sadly.  "Ah, yes.  That is the reason why we have come.  We were here in search of clues related to Jackson's death and have discovered several distressing things.  First, there were rumors of a certain cult in London, which we wished to dismiss as ridiculous fancy, but now believe them to be true.  We have also uncovered that they may be meeting secretly, tonight, in fact, to undergo a ritual that involves human sacrifice."

Price watched Barrington's reaction to help weigh when he might need to step in and try to keep the discussion from going off the rails. Barrington was no doubt to bring the Thames River killings to an end, hopefully, he would seize on this lead.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Mon 18 Sept 2017.

Barrington leaned back in his chair and exhaled a heavy sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. The dark circles underneath his eyes belied a lack of sleep, and despite being well groomed, he seemed to have a bit of a haggard look to him. It lasted only a moment before he regained his composure.

"Your late cousin came to me with a similar tale. Cults and the like. I dismissed it as folly, as you might imagine that I would. I'm sure that your other relatives have told you as much. I have come to consider the matter differently, however, and perhaps wish that had considered his words more seriously at the time," he said.

"As you're likely to read about it in the papers, you might as well know it's wrapped up with all those crates you saw us hauling in earlier. We received an alert rather late last night that there was a car that apparently drunkenly crashed into a warehouse in Limehouse and then drove away. When we went to investigate, we found that some kind of illegal shipping operation had been going on there. The place was filled with guns and ammunition of every shape and caliber, or so it seemed. We haven't cataloged everything quite yet. But more than that, there were various items of likely occult orientation. That, and a variety of other telling signs and indications. We seized a ship too, with more occult items bound for the orient. Nothing, though about a gathering or human sacrifice, however."

He drummed his fingers on the desk. "So, what all information can you provide me about this gathering?"
This message was last updated by the player at 17:59, Mon 18 Sept 2017.

Harry was not sure if the Inspector's response was good or bad news. Certainly, it was good that Barrington was cooperating, but the details he offered only seemed to confirm the unbelievable events that had been outlined by the Elias family. Up till that moment, Price had hoped all the mad talk would turn out to be just that madness, but now even the very steady Barrington appeared to believe it to a degree.

Pleased that matters had changed his opinion, Rosalie continued.  "We have done our own bit of investigating and think this ritual will happen at a place called Misr House.  Misr means Egypt in Arabic.  Though we have yet to visit this place, we heard that it was on the coast on an island in a place called the Naze.  The previous owners were Jim Barton and Samantha Riley.  Does any of that mean something to you?  Ring any bells?"

"No, those names don't have any significance to me. You've said they are the previous owners...who is the current owner? And...what proof can you offer?" he asked.

Leo nodded at what Rosalie mentioned. "We discovered the name of the place on a calendar on today's date, at a place we believe to be a gathering spot for the group that has been causing the disappearances and murders here in London."

Leo put a hand out to forestall immediate response. "Now, we're not here to ask you to jump in and arrest anyone based on what we've discovered. However, we believe that some surveillance might help you break open your case."

Barrington had been looking for Rosalie to an answer, though when Leo stepped in to provide his answer, he listened patiently, before shooting a glance in Price's direction. He spoke respectfully to his guest, but he didn't mince words, seeking instead a focus on clarity in his request.

"Dr. Elias, let me be frank. I'm meeting with you at this moment because I think that the matter you and your family members seem interested in may be one and the same as the matter I'm currently investigating. I'm hoping that there are particular pieces of information that you have which may match information I've discovered through above board investigations, and which thus might give credence to additional leads you are able to provide. But, to be clear, the information you've provided me thus far is vague at best.

"Now, please understand that I do not mean to impugn your character, but it seems as if you and your relatives and associates may have obtained information by sources and methods, that by your vagueness, I can only assume you are less than eager to reveal. Let's leave those questions aside for the moment. Right now, I don't need to know how you came about information. I do need to know what that information is specifically. If it's useful to me, we can then visit the question of whether I will be after anything more and you can have time to speak with Mr. Price in private before revealing anything further," he said.

He smiled amiably. "Despite what Mr. Price might have told you, I'm not here to trap you into an admission of wrongdoing. But if you don't have anything more than what you've told me so far. If you don't have names or addresses and more specifics on the shocking nature of the claims you all have made, then I'm afraid there's simply not really any merit to our having a discussion. So...I leave the ball in your court."

Price turned to Dr. Elias and his niece "While the Inspector and I are normally working at cross purposes he is an honorable man. If what you told me is true, I think it would be best to lay out your suspicions and the evidence that supports them."

"Lives are at stake." Price said.

19:23, Today: Harry Price rolled 39 using 1d100 with rolls of 39.  Law 75%.

"Chief Inspector, thank you for your candor.  We only wished to not bias your investigation.  We devoutly wish to see the people responsible for Jackson's murder brought to justice.  Our purpose for being here is rather personal, as you can imagine, and that sometimes colors our opinion.  Please, forgive us the vagueness of our queries.  It is sometimes difficult to know whom to trust... even among law enforcement."

Reaching into her bag, she produced the evidence they'd brought with them, placing it on Barrington's desk.  "In most cases, much of this would be considered circumstantial or coincidental, but we could not accept that.  The card that led us to the Penhew Foundation belonged to Jackson, which brought us to Edward Gavigan.  That letter was found in his private study, alluding to Jackson's murder and our visit to his office.  In that letter, he said he means to deal with us.  Perhaps not by name, but the threat is there, nonetheless.  He is the current owner of Misr House, which we discovered after we heard the rumors that there was to be a cultic meeting and sacrifice there."

"We hoped that you would send your forces there to corroborate our suspicion. If there is no activity, then we have merely wasted your time.  But if our information is correct, your forces might very well save lives tonight."

Barrington quietly listened to her tale and accepted the proferred evidence. He stroked his chin an he considered what he had been given, saying mostly to himself "I see...Penhew Foundation, eh?" and other things that mostly remained under his breath. After a few moments during which he had presumably forgot there were others in the room he abruptly looked up.

"As I'm sure you all understand, I'm not at liberty to share names and details pertaining to my investigation, but I think the information you've provided me is helpful and will generate a few leads that I can follow up on. It may even prove that this Misr House you speak of is fertile ground for investigation, but as I've mentioned that's outside of my jurisdiction, strictly speaking. That having been said, I do plan to make inquiries in both Colchester and Harwich to see whether or not I might operate there with some assistance therein. If I'm to make any meaningful progress in the timeline you've outlined, I need to begin that work immediately."

After making a few notes on a pad he held, he handed the information back to her with a tight-lipped smile. "Well, I'm certainly glad that an anonymous source has provided us with so much information to go on today. I will look into taking action tonight if I'm able to get the proper approvals in time, but there's no guarantee. That said, I do plan to make the attempt."

"Thank you, Chief Inspector," Rosalie said with all sincerity.  "I do hope that your investigation proves worthwhile."  She collected their body of evidence and tucked everything back into her satchel.  Taking that as his dismissal, she looked to her companions to see if they had anything further to add before rising.

Leo nodded at the response from the inspector. "Yes, thank you for your time and your consideration, Inspector. Best of luck with your inquiries today - we would be glad of any help you can provide."

Leo looked to Rosie with a nod then glanced over at Harry to see if he had anything to add.

"Where might I be able to reach you all? I can leave word at your hotel if I make progress in the case, or send word back to America if you all plan on returning there afterwards," he said as he rose, tearing off a page and proferring a blank pencil and pad to either one of the Elias's.

"Or should I simply send word to Mr. Price's firm?" he asked.

Leo nodded at the last suggestion. "Sending word to Mister Price's firm would be the surest way of contacting us. I expect he regularly picks up messages from them."

"Very well then. My sincere thanks at bringing this information to me. It may be the lead I need to catch these devils," he said, putting down the pencil and pad, and extending his hand to Dr. Elias and Harry Price in turn.

"As far as I'm able within the confines of the laws which bind me, I'll do my best to keep you informed. I'll inform my secretary that if any of you call, she is to pass the message along to me."

Leo shook the inspector's hand with a nod and a smile. "We will keep you posted if we discover anything else as well."

Unless there was anything else added by Harry or Rosalie, Leo would head directly out.

Price having been someone persuaded given Barrington's willingness to listen to what had previously sounded like madness decided to try and persuade Barrington to keep the matter close to his chest and to if at all possible offer his assistance later that night.

"We appreciate your willingness to hear us out. It sounded like madness when I first heard it, but those crates of arms indicate that someone beyond just a bunch of bloodthirsty Arabs is involved in this affair and is willing to kill whoever gets in their way. Inspector, it sounds like your intervention could mean the difference between life and death in this matter. I hope you are able to arrive with a detail of your men."

Sparing a glance at the contraband arms "Perhaps bringing a few crates of that 'evidence' along with you in case it is needed in a pinch might be a thought as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Sun 05 Nov 2017.

"We'll see what comes to pass, Mr. Price. I expect we'll be in touch one way or another," he said, giving a glance toward the crates the men were carrying.

"Well then, thank you for your time Inspector." Price said offering a gloved hand.

Once the Elias family was prepared to depart he walked off in their company.

OOC:

Can I presume that you all are going to head over to Harwich to sync up with the rest of your group?

OOC: Yes from my perspective.

OOC: Sounds good. I've opened up the Misr House thread for you all to jump into.

Given what he has seen and heard, Price agrees to accompany his clients. But would like to stop off at his townhouse and change his clothes.

"Hastings we have company." Price said as they entered. "We are off to the country for a bit of hunting." Harry added with some truth.

At his place, Harry has his valet Hastings layout his hunting suit, a pair of high leather hunting boots, and a hunting cap. As he began to dress he asked Hastings to prepare his usual hunting bag and to pack a lunch of Italian style cold cuts and to prepare a flask of brandy.

Once dressed, Price took his favorite heavy hunting coat from the closet and put it on. If he was going to be wandering around in the country, Price figured it was best to be dressed for it. Harry then picked a suit and shirt and laid them on the bed for Hasting to pack for him as well as some toiletries. Just in case they ended up in some country police station he wanted to be prepared to be dressed for that too.

Walking over to his desk he took his old service weapon from the desk and put it in his oversized pocket. Given what he had seen in the crates, and the horrors that had been described he decided he might need it. Then he picked his favorite walking stick from a collection and headed back out to his guests.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Wed 01 Nov 2017.