JM smiled at the Count and stepped back into the shadows to watch with interest.

Darlington led the two women back to where the Captain was bound to a chair, under a light. The rest of the large room was in shadow.

Singh follows Miss Holloway down the hall and slips into the room to stand in the shadows.

Molly checked her pocket to make sure she had a couple of pictures to show as back up and then went into the room.  As she did so, she let her care free personal attitude slip off her shoulders and adapted the concerned reporter attitude.

She followed Cynthia into the room and looked at the man.  She certainly wouldn't want to be in his shoes if he wouldn't talk any more.

Cynthia requests that Mr. Singh stay out of the room. "I trust you'll be there when I need you. But at the moment, I need him to like us, and I'm afraid of all of the things you exude, a soft, alluring exterior isn't among them."

With that, she takes some time to adjust herself, to dress down enough to appear socially approachable, slightly disheveled, tired and in need. She applies the tiniest bit of makeup, accentuating the eyes, and undoes a button on her blouse.

With that done, she lets Darlington lead Ms. Fuller and herself in. Cynthia looks about the room as though she's as lost as the sailor, but takes a seat across from him.

"Thank you, Captain Torvasson, for letting me talk with you. And you, Detective Darlington." She waits for Mr. Darlington to leave the room (or at least disappear from sight).

"My name is Melissa Sapp. I ... my brother was kidnapped recently. I've been working with the police to find him. The best they've come up with leads back to Mr. Gavigan. It has something to do with ... some sort of smuggling he does? I don't understand, truly. My brother isn't involved in trade, or anything that seems like it would be of interest. I don't know. But he's been gone nearly a week, and the police say if we don't find him soon, it's not likely we'll ever find him again."

She reaches out to take the Captain's hand.

"I'm sorry, I know I've been the source of your trouble. I'm so sorry. I'm just ... I don't know what else to do, sir. I just need to find my brother. If you could help, please ... I'll be forever indebted to you."

Depending on how open he is, she'll press for some particular details;
What is he shipping?
Where is he shipping it to?
How frequently is he shipping stuff?
What does he know about Gavigan? About Gavigan's organization?
What other locations does Gavigan hold?
Does he know about the Al Misr house, or the strange ceremonies Gavigan is involved with?
Does he recognize any of the names from the Carlyle Expedition?
Does he know anything about the kidnappings, or where the people might be held, or for what purpose?

(And of course, anything else that shakes out. She'll push him into sharing what HE thinks is relevant first, then lead him with questions only when he seems to have run out of things to share.)

OOC: Rolled a 90 on Persuade. I guess she shows off too much boob and the man recognizes when he's being played.

After a moment's hesitation, Singh bows his head slightly, acceding to Cynthia's request. He takes a position just outside the door to the room, making certain it remains ajar so that he can hear what transpires.

Molly, not thinking that Cynthia is making headway, resorts to her way...keep talking to try and get them to reciprocate.  Molly hands Cynthia one of her embroidered handkerchiefs.  "Here you go Melissa.  Take a few minutes to compose yourself dear."  She then turns to Mr. Torvasson.

"Hello Mr. Torvasson.  I'm Molly.  Melissa is right to be worried that her brother might not show up again.  We both know that if you aren't found within a week chances are you won't be found.  I'm not saying that it is right or wrong, just that it is.  We know that.  Melissa has been a little more sheltered so she likes to think that she can still find her brother and I'd like to help her.  I'm sure you'd like to help her.  You wouldn't want to disappear and not be missed by those who care.  Bad things are afoot for sure and I know that basically you'd like to help us......"

Molly just keeps talking and inserting the questions that Cynthia wanted answered more than once (if he doesn't answer him).  She always talks in a calm voice with periodic looks of sympathy and worry (especially when she looks at Cynthia)She will work in the questions that Cynthia wanted answered.  Molly has found that sometimes if she just keeps talking people will answer her questions just to shut her up.  Her theory is...if it works...it works.

If it doesn't work, Molly will then pull out the pictures and reluctantly show them to Mr. Torvasson while she asks the questions again.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Wed 22 Aug 2012.

JM follows Singh and with a glance inside takes up a position out of sight where he can hear what is transpiring.

Shrugging to show he couldn't help her, Torvarrson replied to Cynthia, "yahhh... sorry about your brother, miss. Don't know anything 'bout him."

"You want what I know? I need promises de police won't seize my ship. You're friends wit' dem, ya? As well, could use some money, t'ings, dey been tight."

In reply to Captain Lars Torvarsson (msg # 148):

Stepping forward, Darlington nodded.

"Lawd above! Yew cooperates wiv us? Then yew an' yaaahr ship is safe. As long as yew answer deese ladies' quesshuns. I'm sure there's a few pounds fer yew from them if yew cooperate. Sorted, mate."

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg # 149):

The Captain didn't know anything about Gavigan's organisation or has heard of any Cult. Nothing about any kidnappings. He's never been to nor knows anything about al Misr House. He doesn't know anything about the Carlyle expedition, none of the names ring a bell.

As far as he knows, Gavigan pays him to ship cargo back and forth, which he does. He puts on fake addresses and doctors the cargo manifest for customs purposes.

"I've worked for Gavigan and the Institute for about five years now. About once or twice a year, between here an' Shanghai. A couple trips to Australia to pick up and drop off.

"I bring crates with art and other t'ings here to London. I don't look.

"A lot of what I is shipping east is guns, ammunition. Bombs. From de war. Dat's what I's waiting for, de next day or two. Gavigan, he keeps it all in his warehouse. Guardin' de warehouse is a cut-t'roat named "Punji Chabot". Punji, deys a thug, a stone killer! He's got a crew of seven-eight workin' for him, can never tell dem apart, ya? Never seen em usin' guns demselves, just knives, big ones dey are!

"Chabout sleeps dere. Most of his boys, too."

"Thank you so much for your time, captain. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you and your ship are taken care of."

Cynthia regroups. "I suppose that's enough to warrant a raid. But I'm concerned that the police alone going in may result in an enormous loss of life."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 151):

Molly leaned over and put her hand over Torvarsson's.  "Thank you.  I'll donate to the information cause.  I'll leave it up to you on how to distribute it.  Hopefully with your information Captain many lives will be saved."

She then turned to Darlington.  "I'll leave you to finish making arrangements but I do hope that you'll keep him and his ship safe now.  Please let me know before he is released so that I may pay him."

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 152):

Darlington nodded, then took the ladies back to where the others waited.

"Blimey! A couple detectives'll 'ave a squizz at da cargo on 'is boat.

If da Captain is tellin' da truth, then Chabot an' 'is crew 'ave knives. We can move in wivaaaht an' all much trouble, if there's a couple detectives wiv revolvers along.

I don't wan' ter wai' any longer. We 'ave a 'alf-dozen constables, let's push off. Nuff said, yeah?"

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg # 153):

"Indeed Detective, what is the saying ? Lets have at them."

The Count absently counted off the Prideaux loaders in his inner coat pocket as he waited for the interrogation to wind down and for the group to move to the next objective.

"With guns and ammunition to hand, they may avail themselves of such firepower when inside the warehouse, even if Torvarrson hasn't seen them carrying firearms."

"Mr. Singh, while I have no intention of fighting if I can avoid it, I think it's time for us to retrieve the firearms.

What time is the raid, and where shall we meet up prior?"

Molly walked over to Darlington and handed him some money.  "Make sure that Torvarsson get this and gets to keep it.  Don't want it to disappear before he gets it....not that you'd do that.  Just trust who you give it to.  Now...you mentioned something about weapons and shooting?  I'm afraid that the only shooting I'm good at happens to be with the camera.  Kicking and screaming, however, I excel at."

Molly smiled at her confession but it was good to let them know that she wouldn't be much hel there.

JM handed Darlington a small handful of notes as well.  "The man has been upfront with us or at least seems to have been.  He sounds like a pawn in all this. Still, keep him locked up until after the raid just in case he was playing us for the fools."

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 157):

Darlington smirked at Molly's implication, understanding that she knew the score when it came to how police could operate in the rougher boroughs of the city.

"Lawd above! I see yew 'ave some knowledge 'ow da police operate. Don't worry, I'm not gon'a take a penny what belongs ter da good Captain."

He replied to Imran, "Mr. Singh, if there are guns there, no one can guaran'ee they won't grab 'em. I'll ask mawer specific quesshuns ov da Captain, perhaps they ain't quite ter 'and."

Darlington went off to further question the man, then return.

"The good Captain insists they weapons aren't ter 'and, there are rifles in crates but da ammunishun is in uvver crates. It would take time ter get i' out. Who knows if Chabaaaht 'as anythin' 'idden that's prepared? We'll take down da unarmed blokes awer those wiv knives, yew can 'elp wiv da firearms.

"He also says 'e also transpawted in narcotics like opium an' 'ashish from Turkey, they should still be there. Stolen artworks like statues, paintings. Seems like Garvigan's been a bad boy, innit?"

JM considered; "Artwork and paintings?  If it is more of the same corrupt materials it would best be consigned to a cleansing fire.  As wide as his activities have become it makes it more imperative that we shut him down."

The Count considered what the detective had managed to further glean from the Capitan. At Mr Falcons suggestion of a fire the Count spoke up;

"I have to agree with Mr Falcon for the more disturbing pieces of evidence I think this is the best way of keeping out of the public realm for good. The more transportable of them, books, small statues and the like we should take for our own research. With the police force's blessing of course."

"We should probably take the warehouse soon, who knows if the Captains been missed."

JM nodded in agreement with the Count.  "I think you have the right idea of it Count." He looked about at the others;  "Any more questions of this benighted sailor or shall we move on to the main course?"

Darlington dispatched a couple fellow detectives along with the Captain to verify the ship had no further contraband other than what they'd been told about. When they cleared the ship, the Captain would be free to depart.

He then sent a half-dozen Bobbies to meet them at the warehouse. Before joining them, he gathered the armed investigators together.

"All right, 'ere's a sketch ov da building. Chabaaaht an' 'is blokes is stayin' in front. The weapons are in crates at da rear, on da shelves. OK?"


This message was last edited by the GM at 09:25, Tue 28 Aug 2012.

The Count looked over the map;

"Our entry points should be the front and side doors with a loose perimeter of police focused on the double rear doors. I hope the flee repose takes over and it is just a matter of collecting the criminals. Our aim should be to secure the warehouse with all occupants present so as not to tip a warning to the rest of the cult."

"The other avenues of escape are probably going to be along the connecting roofs or through the sewer. Hopefully surprise will negate this."