JM assists the others in taking of the pictures and then heads up to help manage the landing.  "I think you're right Major.  The more of them are there the better as we can catch all the rats in one trap." He poured a drink for himself and pulled out a bottle of beer which he offered to Karlheinz.  "Shall I order up a car to take you to my rented place?  Karlheinz and I can get the plane back to our home base and drive up to meet you later."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 115):

"That shore sounds swell! The car can take us all the way to yore place in Barking. Meet you there?"
This message was last updated by the player at 08:46, Fri 10 Aug 2012.

London

The telephone in the Count's Town house rang. Perkins answered, called for the Count.

"Ello, Count? Detective Sergeant Darlington 'ere.

"Lor' luv a duck! seems there was a right brawl in da streets a' London earlier today. Not an' all far from you, on Tottenham Caaahrt Rd. Outside Goodge Stashun.

"A geezer was set upon by a group ov fifteen assailants. Dark an' fawerign-lookin' they were, as described by witnesses. Shots was fired by da man, a Bobby what nearby tried ter in'ervene but was assaulted an' beaten unconscious. There was blood at da scene, but by da time mawer Bobbies arrived all da blokes 'ad disappeared, as if in'er fn air.

I fink dis is da work ov da Bruvver'ood. From da descripshun i' sounds ter me like Howard was da bloke they was assaultin'. I'm sure I saw 'im today, waitin' outside Tewfik's. My guess is 'e wen' ter da Institute, an' da Bruvver'ood were waitin' fer 'im, awer someone else.

"Anyhow, let da uvvers know when they get in'er town.

"Aside from Howard bein' missin' (and 'e just might 'ave escaped) dis ain't necessarily a bad fing. Detectives'll 'ry ter quesshun you bein' 'is friends, an' find you've left da coun'ry. I'll see ter that. It'll give us a reason ter raid da warehouse by da docks. Know what I mean?"

The Count had just put down the book again as the first splatters of rain hit the study window. He moved to the kitchen and made a pot of tea before calling Perkins and the others to come up for a cup. He again laid out a spread of simple sandwiches, cheese and pickled onions. He sat for a time with the others finishing the light supper he had prepared before taking his tea back to the study.

He had barely taken his seat when the phone rang and Perkins called for him.


”Well this is not good news. I will let the others know of the development. Thank you for telephoning me. Good day.”

The Count replaced the receiver before letting Perkins know what was going on. He had thought of letting the shop reopen and letting the additional protection to lapse. Now he would just have to wait for the others to report in.

He returned to the study but did not take up the book again. He instead started on his correspondence both business and personal.

JM heads to the office at the aerodrome and rings up a car for the others to take them to his rented house.  While they were waiting he called the Count.

"Hello, Count Bathony?  This is John-Marc Falcon.  We've arrived with the group at the aerodrome and I've arranged for a car to take them to my leased house.  KarlHeinz and I will take the plane back to my home base and return to London in our truck."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 119):

"Hello Mr Falcon. It is good to hear your voice, I trust all went well ? Detective Darlington has just telephoned to say Mr Howard was attacked, shots were fired and he may have escaped though he is now missing. While this is concerning, he said it now gives them a reason to raid the warehouse."

JM shakes his head.

"I hope Howard is ok.  All the more reason to raid the warehouse sooner than later.  We'll be back in town tonight in time to participate in the raid at least under disguise of sorts.  Also Darlington should have the captain picked up at the same time so we can interrogate him for what he knows."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 121):

"Very well I shall meet you and the party at the warehouse at the required time. I hope all goes well with the Captain. He did not strike me as the type to put up a fight. Good day Mr Falcon."

He replaced the receiver, but stood in the hall for sometime thinking. He returned to his study before taking up his letter writing again.

JM turned back to the others. "I talked to the Count and he told me that Howard was attacked and shot but while he may have escaped has disappeared.  It seems from what Darlington told him that the police are going to raid the warehouse tonight.  We need to be prepared to tag along."

There wasn't much else to do at that point.

The other members made arrangements to return to either the Count's Town house or JM's rental house out in Barking. The train quickly took them to London Bridge station. From there, they were hidden by crowds and could hire cars to take them to their respective destinations.

JM and KH flew back to Lypne. From there, they drove the Ford flatbed and the Silver Ghost back into the city.

Come the evening, Darlington would come by to collect those going on the raid of the warehouse. First, he, JM and Molly would pick up the ship Captain, who might tell them what they needed to know about the warehouse. Then they could proceed with the police on their next move.

Keeper's Note: My apologies, I think I might have some details wrong, but if no one feels like posting a correction we can just proceed.

There wasn't much else to do at that point.

The other members made arrangements to return to either the Count's Town house or JM's rental house out in Barking. The train quickly took them to London Bridge station. From there, they were hidden by crowds and could hire cars to take them to their respective destinations.

JM and KH flew back to Lypne. From there, they drove the Ford flatbed and the Silver Ghost back into the city.

Come the evening, Darlington would come by to collect those going on the raid of the warehouse. First, he, JM and Molly would pick up the ship Captain, who might tell them what they needed to know about the warehouse. Then they could proceed with the police on their next move.

Keeper's Note: My apologies, I think I might have some details wrong, but if no one feels like posting a correction we can just proceed.

Dralington showed up in the evening where the group was staying.

"Gawdon Bennet! Okay, yew lot. Are we ready ter go? First we'll pinch da Captain, 'ave a chat in a warehouse I know of nearby. Then we'll go in. Lilly Law an' yew lot at da same time. Get ready ter go. OK?"

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg # 126):

Molly smiled at Darlington.  "I have the easier part dear sir.  I just have to talk.  I will trust you gentlemen to keep me safe while doing so.  Sooooo, when you are ready, I am ready."

JM was exhausted by the long day of travel but the idea of action perked him up.  He'd brought his pistol and shotgun back with him in anticipation of imminent action. "I'm ready for action Inspector.  Let's collar the captain, shake out what we need of him and clear out the lot in the damn warehouse."

<ooc> The outline of action sounds perfect. </ooc>

Checking his pocket watch as he rose from his seat in the study. The Count called for Mr Perkins help as he put all the boxes and books back in the vault.

He then collected his shoulder holster from his night-stand and put his two Colts into the front pockets of his coat. He collected his Homburg hat from the hall stand, it had a wide brim that created a shadow over his Face.

The Count walked to the end of the street and hailed a taxi. He sat in the rear pulling on his gloves. He would stop the taxi a block or two clear of the rendezvous point so he could assess whether he had been followed.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:10, Mon 20 Aug 2012.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 129):

Fate was on their side, no one was following them.

Pickup up the Captain was a quick and painless task. Darlington and another detective simply grabbed him on one of his trips to the wharfside tavern.

The Captain was dragged into a waiting car, from thence to a dark and decaying building strongly smelling of tar and old fish.

Under questioning he divulged his name as "Lars Torvasson", Captain of the Ivory Wind. Once Gavigan's name was mentioned, he clammed up.

Darlington walked over to the part of the warehouse where the others were waiting unseen, in the shadows.

"He don't wan' ter talk ter police now. Willingly. We could "persuade" 'im, but what would leave marks, see? Can yew fink ov a reason 'e'd talk ter yew instead ov me?. OK?"

Without thinking, he started putting on a pair of leather gloves.

JM looked to Molly.  "Unless you can think of anything to open his mouth Miss Fuller it might be best for you to step out.  This could get messy." He turned to the detective.  "He can tell us what he knows or we'll arrange that Gavigan thinks that he spilled the whole infernal plot, impound his ship and strand him here in London where he will be at the mercy of his 'friends'.  Otherwise we let him go after he tells us what he knows."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 132):

Molly looked at John-Marc and shrugged.  I can try to appeal to him but not sure if it would do any good.  I am willing to try though, especially if it will lead to a bloody pummeling."

JM smiled and bowed slightly to Molly. "You are a brave and intelligent as well as beautiful woman Miss Fuller.  If you can try to get something out of him I respect your skills as a reporter."

"Perhaps he'd be more amiable to talk if we showed him what's inside some of those crates he's hauling; the same sort of crates we recovered from the Institute. If not, perhaps just approaching him with a softer appeal might work. If you all feel he is no threat, I could speak with him privately."

JM steps back and sweeps a short bow to Cynthia and Molly. "It may be that the fair sex can tame this creature where others cannot."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 135):

Molly nodded to Cynthia.  "Would you like to take a crack at him first?  We both could approach him at the same time if you'd prefer.  Obviously not I'm not a threat.  If that doesn't work I could show him a picture or two from the crate.  After that?  He's fair game for the guys."

The Count followed the conversation with interest.

"Yes lets see if he may be persuaded before we have to resort to more unpleasant means."

Darlington seemed amused at the thought of the women taking the lead here. Certainly a new experience for him in this line!

"Right. Let's get going, then. After you? OK?"