"No need. They have accommodation for private conversations between a solicitor and his clients at Scotland Yard. They will respect our privacy I assure you." Price replied. With his interest raised by this request for a private chat, Harry led them into the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police and requested just such a room from one of the deal sergeants on duty.

A familiar figure to some there, Price was given the room and the privacy he needed to speak with his new clients. He listened to the tale that they wove for him, which seemed to grow stranger, and stranger in the telling. But given the nature of the assignment, while his instincts may have been to gently disassociate himself with them, he called Bradley Grey to confirm that these were reputable people. After receiving assurances from Grey, he was somewhat content to go forward, despite his own doubts on the matter.

In the room, Harry listens to the trio relate their tale. Between his time in the trenches and his experience dealing with clients relating their crimes, Price had mastered hiding his reactions. Though in this case he did feel compelled to have a few cigarettes. The story itself was mad, but Harry trusted his instincts and his gut was telling him that they believed every word of it. Which left three options, the first that they were mad, and the second that it was true and the third was some combination of the first two. But all that was irrelevant at the moment, in any case, they needed to counsel and Erica Carlye was a very good client.

"First let me offer my condolences on the loss of your Mr. Bishop. I'm very sorry."

"As to the rest, I think when we speak with the Inspector we may want to stick to the events in London, and specifically the facts as they relate to this cult of foreigners murdering innocents in London."

"Clearly as you say this involves someone as highly placed as Edward Gavigan, it is important if we make an accusation, we have some hard evidence to support it. What is your best evidence of his involvement?" Price asked.

Leo nodded at the response from Harry. "Thank you for your condolences. I have no plans to fill Barrington in on anything besides what's been going on in London. I do not believe he wanted us involved in finding those that committed all these murders, so we will need to be prepared for some unhappiness on his part."

Leo frowned for a moment. "As for Gavigan, that's a good question. Given what we've told you, what do you think is the best evidence against him? Or perhaps said another way, what evidence do you think we should bring to him?"

Price let of breath animated with by the smoke of his Chesterfield "Well, we need to find a way to present it so as to avoid the Inspector of feeling compelled to call Mr. Gavigan and warn him. We need to present the evidence in such a way that he can believe that a man like Gavigan could be corrupted into involving himself into such an affair."

"I suggest something along the lines that Gavigan having spent too many years reading about Egypt lost his mind and it manifested in an obsession with immortality. You are a psychiatrist, I am sure you could craft a convincing diagnosis. Mysteries of the mind and what not. Perhaps he and Lord Penhew were homosexual. The death of his intimate caused him to snap."

"While Barrington is a sensible man, the upper class do have a proclivity for being eccentric. Wouldn't be the first time one of us cracked up. Add the foul play around the disappearance of your Mr. Bishop who disappeared after meeting with Gavigan, throw in a bunch of blood thirsty Arabs at his country house preparing for some awful rite and I imagine we have the makings a yarn that could get him to bite."

"What do you think?" Price asked.

Leo furrowed his brow as he contemplated the suggestion from the attorney. "So...instead of presenting evidence, you want me to go to the inspector and lie to him? And not just any fabrication, but you want me to falsify my professional judgement to an officer of the law?"

Leo looked over at his niece for a moment and then back to Price. "I take it you don't think there's any good evidence then?"

"A vague note referring to some mysterious people discovered after a break in that resulted in the killing a security guard? The problem is the evidence points as much or more in your direction. Please feel free to lay out your plan. I will offer you my legal advice." Price replied.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:36, Thu 31 Aug 2017.

Rosalie worried at her lower lip for a moment.  "Disclosing the entire truth would certainly not be in our best instance.  Our midnight foray into the foundation, for instance, should probably not be mentioned.  However, we can show him the business card we found on my cousin when he died and the letter he was writing that shows he was involved in Jackson's murder.  We can also give him our suspicions that Gavigan is involved in the cult operating in London based on disturbing things we saw in his office.  Surely that would be enough to entice Barrington to investigate, especially if we tell him the rumors of a cultic ritual taking place this very night."

"You would think, but a well-placed man like Gavigan is going to be given the benefit of the doubt. Even with evidence. That is why I suggested adding a bit of color to our portrait of Gavigan.In particular suggesting some rather nasty secrets that play into the stereo type of an academics, especially one with his interests."

"If he is as you say, up to his neck with a cult of murderous Arabs, telling a few lies about the man certainly would acceptable. But perhaps given your training Dr. Elias you might have some insights into true qualities of a man like Gavigan that would serve the same purpose." Price added.

The room they had been given had a window that allowed them to look outside near the front of the building while they spoke. As they continued their conversation, they heard the sound of vehicles approaching. A couple of police vehicles followed by a lorry pulled up to the front of the building.

A man recognizable to Harry as Inspector James Barrington got out of one of the vehicles, and began to supervise the unloading of the lorry, as several bobbies began to empty the vehicle of various crates, bringing them into the station.

Looking out the window a moment Harry turned to the others "Let's hope those are crates of evidence that implicates Mr Gavigan."

"Shall we take advantage of the commotion to speak with Barrington?"

Leo shook his head. "This is something that should be discussed privately with him."

He considered the thoughts from the others. "We also don't need to implicate Gavigan in anything if we could get the inspector to believe that the Misr House itself is of interest. If he were asked to stake out a location rather than go after the man himself...that might be an easier sell."

"I wasn't suggesting we discuss it with him in front all those Bobbies, rather that we approach him and convince him to meet with us in public." Price replied.

"As for what you wish to say to him, I have given you my advice, you are free to take whatever approach you choose. But as you say there will be killings tonight we should probably not waste any more time."

Rosalie rose from her chair.  "Shall we go see if he will meet with us, then?"  She opened the door herself and headed outside.

With Miss Elias already having made the call, Harry Price spared a glance toward her uncle and followed her out the door.

This was certainly not the afternoon he had planned. He just hoped that this crazy story had some truth to it, just not too much of it. England was full of Occultists, they seemed harmless enough. Hell, there was even a rather famous one named Harry Price. Perhaps that was who these two should have spoken to in the first place.

Leo nodded and followed his niece and their newfound attorney out toward Barrington.

"Take it all to the evidence room. If there's too much, move it to secondary storage," an officious looking, well dressed man said, instructing other police who were carting in an incredible amount of boxes, some of which appeared to be heavy.

He looked over at Price, surprised to see him, casually looking over Dr. Elias, and giving a tip of his head to Rosalie. "Mr. Price," he said in greeting with a friendly smile, extending his hand to the attorney. "What brings you here? A cut above your usual sorts of clients, it seems."

"Take it all to the evidence room. If there's too much, move it to secondary storage," an officious looking, well dressed man said, instructing other police who were carting in an incredible amount of boxes, some of which appeared to be heavy.

He looked over at Price, surprised to see him, casually looking over Dr. Elias, and giving a tip of his head to Rosalie. "Mr. Price," he said in greeting with a friendly smile, extending his hand to the attorney. "What brings you here? A cut above your usual sorts of clients, it seems."

"What do you mean Inspector? My clients include some of the worst people from the best families." Price said with good humor.

"But as usual your instincts are correct, my clients today are a cut above the others." Price said motioning to his clients. "Chief Inspector Barrington may I introduce Dr. Leonardo Elias and his niece Miss Rosalie Elias."

With the introduction made, Price spared a glance toward the crates hoping to spot some indication of their origin.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:28, Tue 12 Sept 2017.

He gave a good natured chuckle at the jest from Price, as from an old colleague.

At the introduction, he exchanges a handshake with Dr. Elias. "Very glad to meet you, Dr. Elias," he said. "How do you do, Miss Elias?" he asked Rosalie with a friendly tone.


"This may sound strange, but that's not the first time I've heard that surname this week, or in the last month. There's no chance that you're any relation to the late author, Mr. Jackson Elias?"

---

Harry (and anyone else with an inclination towards the crates) you can make a Spot Hidden roll
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Wed 13 Sept 2017.

19:37, Today: Harry Price rolled 36 using 1d100 with rolls of 36.  Spot Hidden  45.

Harry Price decided it would be best to let either of the Elias family field the question but was ready to step in as needed. The story was all a bit crazy, and it would sound better coming directly from the distraught family. Harry could come in as needed and make adjustments as well as suggesting a course to the Inspector.

PM:

"A pleasure to meet you, Inspector," Rosalie said warmly.  She cocked her head.  "Jackson?  Yes, he was my cousin.  Uncle Leo's son."  She threw her uncle a worried glance.  "How did you come to hear about Jackson, Inspector?"

Leo also glanced over toward the crates, though his attention was mostly on the Inspector.

11:03, Today: Dr. Leonardo Elias rolled 31 using 1d100 with rolls of 31.  Spot Hidden (28).

"It's nice to meet you too, Inspector. And yes, as my niece said, Jackson was my son." He waited to see what sort of response Rosie's query might elicit.

"My clients have a matter they wish to discuss with you. Given its nature, it would be better to do so in private."

" Would it be possible to steal you away Inspector?" Price asked.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Sat 16 Sept 2017.