In reply to The Keeper (msg #9):

"Sorry to disturb you, sir. Have you seen Mr Webley this morning?" He glances at Phil's bed to see whether it's been slept in.

Like the Count, Prof. Fulty, Major Storm and Dr. Weston attended church as well, then breakfast after.

After the Mass, conducted by Father Teodor, the Count took his breakfast. He read in the paper about a structure fire that raged among a row of mostly-deserted houses in Soho, and was shocked to recognise the address as being that of Miles Shipley and his mother.

As planned, he met with Perkins, then drove to the hotel.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #5):

Darlington nodded at her comment.

"There is a reason I'm askin' abaaaht aaahr friend, Philip. There is a possible witness who says she can place 'im in da neighborhood abaaaht an 'aaahr befawer da fire started. She's a whawer, but it's da only lead da bobbies down there 'ave."

While they waited he commented,  "Oi suspect Tewfik might 'ave 'ad a 'and in da disappearance ov da dancer an' 'er bartender bruvver at da Blue Pyramid. Maybe 'e decided ter strike a night early, yeah?"

"I'm sorry, fire? 'whawer'? I feel like I'm stepping into the middle of things."

As he sat in the morning room of the Athenaeum Club taking a light breakfast. He nearly chocked on his coffee. The Count was not accustom to places and people he had interacted with and been inside a matter of hours ago appearing in the morning news.

He left the club rather abruptly and without checking his pigeon hole. He turned left out the door and after 10 minutes walk arrived at a local pub call the Red Lion. This was the usual meeting place for Perkins and the Count if either had been away on a job that concern both of them.

As he entered the main bar he removed his top hat and made his way upstairs to the lounge bar nodding to bar keeper as he pointed up stairs. In their usual booth sat Perkins nursing a pint. The Count took his seat and ordered a small shandy, reading from a notebook, Perkins gave his report.

"Well, sir, nothing strange to report regarding the Penhew Foundation. Generally nothing in the way of after hours activity, other than Gavigan and some staff staying after hours, but not too late. Not past the evening. However, there was activity there last night, which I shall detail below."

"Last night, please sir, you must accept my apologies. A Bobby accosted me sometime before four. He thought I was a drunk. I wasn't able to return before dawn, and by then the fire was well under way with the fire brigade in full attendance."

"As well, I received word from my associate, Carlysle, who I detailed to maintain surveillance on the Penhew Foundation. He reported a delivery van from Tewfik's Foreign Spice Emporium made a late delivery, around eleven pm. Very noteworthy. It approached from the south along Tottenham Court Road, stayed a few minutes, then left, traveling in a northward direction again along Tottenham Court Rd."

Before he left for the pub Sigismund pasted over the letters for Perkins to deal with when the shop opens on Tuesday and also their standard fee for such adventures.

With it being Sunday the Count decided to walk through Green Park and Hyde Park to the hotel. On the route he spied the The Naval and Military Club on Pall Mall, he continued on.

Once at the hotel he allowed the reception desk to announce his arrival and waited for someone to collect him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:33, Sat 17 Mar 2012.

"Sorry, I haven't. I thought he went down before I got up. Damnedest nightmares I had, I tell you. Some kind of ceremony. I tell you, that devilish painting of Shipley's got in my head. Like a curse!"

As JM finished dressing, Imram examined Phil's bed. It had been slept in all right. Phil's hat, coat and shoes were missing.

"You know, I seem to recall him getting up some time last night. I don't recall the hour. Honestly, I thought he was going to the loo."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg #15):

Taking the lift, Francis quickly made his way to the lobby and found the Count.

"Iffen' you'd like to follow me, sir, I'd be much obliged."

They headed back upstairs to Howard's suite, where breakfast was served.

He fixed a cup of tea while Simmons was away.

"Blimey, Miless Shipley's 'ouse burned dahn. that an' 'is 'ole block. Went up in smoke, it did. All them row 'ouses."

"As far as we know, not a soul made i' aaaht alive. Oi 'ope yaaahr friend ain't inside, yeah? Th' fire brigade is waitin' fer da embers ter die down befawer searchin' fer those who perished."

"Ah... the "witness". She's somewhat disreputable, you understaan'? A bird aaaht on da streets at wot ungodly 'aaahr, let's just say she's well known ter da police."

"Aside from yaaahr friend, a Bobby repawted runnin' off a derelict malingering down da road, around two firty. Yaaahr friend en'ered between free an' faaahr. The 'ouse wen' up sometime after faaahr."
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:45, Mon 06 Feb 2012.

As the Count made his hellos he was eager to divulge what Perkins had told him in the pub. Once he had told his story and learned that Mr Webley may have been at the Shipley house he made a suggestion;

"Should we return to the Shipley house, or at least what is left of it ? Sometimes the basement stays largely intact during such things burned of course. We maybe able to ascertain if anything was unto wards down there or not."

The Count made himself a coffee and took a seat.

"Do I understand, Darlington, that some woman says she saw Webley enter the house? How could she recognize a total stranger? How was the man described?" Howard scoffs openly at this story.

"The Shipley's must have admitted whoever was seen. They seemed very certain to keep their doors locked. They didn't even meet Webley yesterday. Why would they let him in in the middle of the night?

"None of this makes the least sense."

In reply to Howard Lampton (msg #20):

"Awright geeezzaa! I never said 'e wen' in, did I? Just a witness can place 'im in da neighborhood at abaaaht what time."

"Dis bird claims she spoke ter a geezer wiv an american accen' abaaaht two blocks away. She never asked ter see 'is passpawt awer nothin' but from 'is general descripshun an' da fact 'e was in da area I made a reasonable deducshun as ter who dis "mystery American" might be."

"I've kept dis infawmashun close ter me vest an' Philip ain't a suspect at dis time. Sorted mate."

"This is ... terrible. Although I won't cry for the loss of those other paintings. Is there any way we can help the fire brigaide in their recovery efforts? Even if it's just bringing sandwiches, I'd like to see what sort of things they bring up."

Cynthia immediately reconsiders her words. She really might NOT want to see what sort of things were contained in the Shipley house.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Mon 06 Feb 2012.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #22):

"I agree a visit would be warranted. We now seem to have two missing persons associated with the house."

"Mister Darlington, is this possible? If so, I think we should leave immediately."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #24):

"Detective Sergeant Darlington, at yaaahr service."

He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Ge'in' yew close shouldn't be an' all difficult ter accomplish. The investigatin' detective is a friend ov mine. So far there's no suspicion ov foul play an' I advised da witness ter keep mum abaaaht da "mystery American" what she saw. If there's a criminal investigashun (and there'll be, if bodies are found) I can rule yew aaaht ahead ov time because I've gotten yaaahr statemun's an' alibis."

"Pardon me fer asking, Miss, what do yew 'ope ter accomplish? Wouldn't i' make sense wai' until da fire's died down an' there's less eyes about?"

Anticipating they would be leaving soon, Darlington moved towards the coat rack.

Storm sipped his strong black coffee.

"No reason for me to go, Phil's resourceful enough to take care of himself and too many "Lookie-Lou's" would look rather odd."

"I'm also worried about the dancing girl and bartender you met. They're missing. Tewfik showed up at the club, then according to the Count his delivery truck stopped at the Penhew Institute before continuing north. Where could he have been going at that our? his shop and home are south."

"Did Tewfik and his mob kidnap them? Are they in danger? Did they somehow get Phil as well? Seems unlikely, as the Count's man says the truck made it's delivery at eleven pm and Phil was seen in the neighborhood of the fire several hours later. Assuming Phillip was involved."

"I'm worried what we're looking for might not be there after the firemen go over it. Our competition is well-placed, and they already know about this fire too. I'd like to see if that picture frame is still there, or what else they were hiding from prying eyes, and I don't think Gavigan is likely to leave it lying around."

In reply to Major Charles Storm (msg #26):

"I know, I'll give the telephone number a call. The one the Imam gave to Howard the night you want to the Blue Pyramid? Anyone have that handy? Perhaps he can shed some light on the situation."


OOC: Several people should have that, including Howard.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg #28):

"Just a moment, old bean, have that right here."

He pulled out his trusty notepad and read off the number.

Using the telephone in Howard's suite, Ralph rang the number that the Imam had given them.

It was clear whoever answered on the other end of the line spoke little English. With some difficulty, Ralph was able to communicate he wanted the Imam (and/or Aiyesha, Rashid) to ring the hotel as soon as possible in order to contact them.

"Well, that was rather frustrating," he said after hanging up. "Nothing to be done but wait, I suppose."
This message was last updated by the player at 23:06, Sun 12 Feb 2012.

Walking to the coat rack Det. Sgt. Darlington got his coat and bowler hat. He was wearing his customary dark suit, high-collared shirt and straightened his paisley tie in the mirror, brushing away some crumbs.

"Blimey! Now, who's comin' wiv me ter da unfortunate Shipley residence? Miss 'Olloway, Mistah Singh. Th' Count. Anyone else?"

"Let's best be goin' now. Nuff said, yeah?"

11 o'clock.
Overcast, rainy.


Ralph wanted to wait at the hotel for a return ring from the Imam or an associate. He would wait at the hotel for word from those investigating the Shipley home and would not unwisely venture out alone.

Dr. Weston wished to do some sight seeing rather than poke around some charred rubble.

As it seemed that they were still under a degree of surveillance or even danger, Maj. Storm therefore agreed to accompany Dr. Weston. He took his Colt M1911 concealed in his overcoat pocket.

DS Darlington suggested Weston and Storm hail a taxi from the hotel's main entrance on Piccadilly. Then, the rest of them split into 2 groups and hail taxis from different side entrances to throw off surveillance.

Having previously procured the correct police permits, DS Darlington also made sure everyone had the right papers on them for any firearms they should be carrying.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:25, Sun 12 Feb 2012.

Indeed inspector, lets go."

With that the Count rose from his seat and collected his scarf and hat. He then absent-mindedly played with his cane before saying:

"Last night I had a sort of recollection in regards to our friend Mr Crowley. I was at a lecture some months back that was given by a member of the Royal Geographical society. He had just returned from Tibet and had an interesting story. I spoke to him after the talk as I had been a keen Alpinist in my youth in my homeland.

It seems he had accompanied Mr Crowley on an expedition some years earlier to Kangchenjunga. They made the summit attempt in 1905, it took them two weeks to get to the base of the mountain. They spent 70 days there and made it to the highest elevation on the peak for the time. I believe Alexis Pache and several porters died in an avalanche at which Cowley stated "The demon of Kangchenjunga was propitiated with the sacrifice" he then called off the expedition."

"I only mention it because this man stated in his lecture that on the Geographical expedition he had seen a yeti or wild man that the local people called the Kangchenjunga Demon."

"Funny the connections one can make"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sun 12 Feb 2012.

Cynthia grabs her hat and coat and follows on out the door. "That's a fascinating story, Count, but not the least bit comforting."

With misgivings about the wisdom of going to the scene of the fire, Imran follows Miss Holloway. He leaves his revolver locked in his luggage.