The twist of paper holds a small amount of white powder. Jimmy's extensive experiences with the seedier elements of society tell him it's most likely cocaine (Streetwise).

   Inside of the envelope are three black and white photographs. The first photograph shows an unknown man having sex with Rose Walker in some anonymous Cleveland flop. His back is to the camera with his face concealed but he looks to be in his 20s or 30s, fit, and his hair is shiny and black in a slicked back pomaded style. But it's the tattoo high on the man's right shoulder that catches Jimmy's eye and stops him cold. It's the same tattoo adorning Jimmy's wrist. (Make a 2 point stability test)

   Once Jimmy gets over his shock he flips to the second photograph. It shows the same unknown man having sex with Edward Andrassy. The photo appears to have been taken through a window and the man's face and head are cut off by the top of the photo. There isn't much of the background visible but Jimmy can make out the corner of a painting hanging behind them.

  The third photograph shows the same man having sex with Flo Polillo in a sumptuously furnished room. Again, the man's back is to the camera and his face is not visible. Behind them, leaning against the wall, is an engraved bas-relief of what looks to be marble or soapstone. Jimmy can't make out any further details of the photographs with his naked eye.

The pictures are disgusting but by far not the worst thing he has seen in his years of work. But the tattoo, it can't be, it's impossible. Seeing the same image in the picture of that of his mysterious brand felt like a hook from Joe Louis.

Lost in the picture for a moment reality comes crashing back. Jimmy shoves the pictures into his coat pocket and replaces the twist of paper and the envelope back where he found them.

Turning off the light he heads out with the plan to get back to his room hopefully unseen.

OOC: spent one point for the roll. If he makes it back to the hotel, by cab, he will check the front desk and try for some sleep.

21:57, Today: James Samhain rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  Stability Test; nice ink buddy.

Turning back to the door, Jimmy is startled to find a sturdy looking man in a simple button down shirt and slacks standing silhouetted in the doorway. It's Frank Dolezal. The shock of the photographs must have left Jimmy momentarily unaware to the man's approach.

Frank stands aggressively with his shoulders squared and his chin down, both fists clenched at his side. He glowers at Jimmy, looking up from beneath his heavy brow.

"Who the fuck are you? What are you doing in my place?!?" Frank slurs in an angry growl.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:24, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

There he was, a pile of poured hardened concrete between Jimmy and the door. “Toughen up Jimmy, narrow the eyes and puff out your chest.” Doing what he could to out alpha Frank he did just that. Jimmy was a wet noodle thrown against the wall to see if he was done, he was done. It had been a long hot night and all he wanted was a long cold shower and a few weeks sleep. He put his hand out in front of him as if to say “hold on boy, don’t bite yet.”

“I am just a guy being paid to look for some answers Frank. You see, the cops, they got a pile of ten bodies and they are liking you for it. But their wrong Frank, I know it, you know it. You hear it Frank?” Jimmy put his finger to his ear, “That buzzing sound, that’s the chair, they are warming it up for you. But I know better, you, you’re too smart, yeah you’re wrapped up in this somehow but it isn’t your fault but you’re smart, you know something, something worth something…keep those cards close to the vest Frank, I get it, I’m on your side here. But give me something, point me in the direction of somewhere else I can go snoop around, a name, an address. Let’s make these coppers as smart as you and I.” Jimmy stands there nearly out of breath, might have been easier to just clock the guy and cheese it.

OOC: If he doesn’t know what to say but he isn’t quite ready to knock my block off, like he needs some hand holding…

“Tell me about the guy Frank, the guy with the slicked back hair and the tattoo?”

OOC: Streetwise and Sense Honesty

  Frank sways drunkenly in the door, his expression switching back and forth between furious anger and a panicked confusion as he tries to process Jimmy's words. Twice he starts to raise a fist and takes a half step forward only to stop and let his hand drop. One moment he looks like he's ready to start throwing punches and the next he looks like he's ready to flee into the night.

   At last Frank opts for the middle road and forces out a few cautious and confused words. "Bodies? T-ten bodies? The butcher murders? They think that's me?"

  Frank takes an unsteady step into the room and vigorously shakes his head as the weight of what Jimmy was saying begins to dawn on him. He's a little drunk and he's thick but it's slowly seeping in. "No, Nononono. I didn't kill Flo. No. No. I just shopped her out. I mean, I beat her sometimes when she needed a beatin' but I didn't kill nobody. I ain't no killer!" Frank stammers with an increasing note of alarm in his voice.



   Frank gives Jimmy a long look of confusion, his two eyes not quite lining up. "The pictures!" he blurts out at last, a look of dread across his face as he realizes what Jimmy is talking about and just how bad it looks to have pornographic photos of three murder victims hidden in his apartment.

  "No, those ain't mine!" he says defensively with wide eyes filled with panic, his courage crumbling. "A guy I know asked me to hold onto those. Told me he needed insurance. I dunno, I think he was gonna blackmail the guy or somethin' but he seemed kinda scared."

OOC: Seems truthful so far
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:43, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

Jimmy’s stomach began to unknot.

”That’s good Frank, just what I thought, you didn’t do those murders. So what if you slapped her around a bit, that is no matter to me and I’m sure she pushed you, dolls shouldn’t push Frank. Here, have a smoke.”

Jimmy takes out two pre-rolled cigarettes and lights them both giving one to Frank.

”What do you mean you shopped her out? You knew her and you sold her to someone, is that it? Same with Andrassy and Rose? I don’t care about nothing like that Frank, tell me to who…who did you sell them to? Same guy who gave you these pictures? Give me something Frank, you are doing good. If I am gonna’ keep you in the clear I need everything. All you gotta do is tell me and lay low, let me get this sonavabitch who is setting you up for a fall.”

This was going better than expected. The wall is crumbling and he is afraid. Fear is good, if Jimmy can stay on the good side of Frank he can use it, the fear makes him malleable.

OOC: reassurance

    "You're gonna keep this quiet? I'm not gonna go down for this?" Frank takes the cigarette and sits down on the bed to smoke.

   "I took care of Flo- Pimped for her when she needed some muscle," Frank explains, a bit more calmly. "Rose and Andrassy belonged to One Armed Willie- a nigger pimp from The Run. I never met the guy in the photos, but I only met the Johns when they was givin' her trouble.

   "Willy gave me the photos a month ago. He called the guy in the pictures 'The Hobo Doctor,' whatever that means. Willie was real scared- talking crazy! Kept saying he was stuck... or unstuck or somethin', and it was all happenin' again. I ain't seen him since."

   Frank hangs his head and puts a trembling hand to his temple as he takes a long drag from the cigarette.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:59, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

“You did good Frank, real good.”

He might as well been saying “You did good Jimmy.” When he first saw Frank in the doorway it was obvious he was spoiling for a fight. Somehow the words were with him and civility prevailed. No need to push his luck though, it was late and Frank could become unhinged at any moment. Last bit of information needed and he would have gotten out with a horde of information, more than he thought he would leave it.

”You got an address or some way I can find Willie? Other than that, I recommend keeping out of trouble till this gets figured out, maybe step out of the flesh trade for a few. If you need something leave a message for Samhain at Lester’s.”

With that Jimmy left Frank to contemplate his soul. Hopefully this time he can make it back to his hotel, check for messages, ask for a wakeup call at “8am…no, 7am…..no, 8am.”

Frank shakes his head and gives a grimace, "Ain't no addresses in Kingsbury Run. S'all tents an' shacks- an' I don't think Willie has a place o' his own."

Franks nods seriously at Jimmy's suggestion to lay low. As he leaves, Jimmy realizes that Frank is likely to be pretty hard to find over the next few weeks.

Cabs are hard to come by at his late hour here in The Roaring Third district and the trains aren't running. So Jimmy has no choice but to hoof it back to his hotel through the dark and seedy streets. As he walks with questions and thoughts of clues swirling through his head, he comes to a bridge over the Cuyahoga River and is struck with an overwhelming sense of Deja Vu. He would have sworn that he just crossed this bridge 5 blocks ago. Was he lost and going in circles, or just too caught up in his own thoughts and not paying attention? Either way, it takes much longer to get back to the hotel than Jimmy had estimated and the sky is beginning to lighten by the time he finally collapses, exhausted, into his bed.

But sleep would provide small solace for Jimmy. He sleeps fitfully for the next few hours, plagued by strange and unsettling dreams. Dreams of being chased through the city streets by a pack of ravenous barking dogs that he can hear right behind him but never see. He keeps turning corners but running down the same street over and over again until he finally rounds the corner and finds himself at a river bank. In that moment he feels sharp teeth sinking into his flesh as the barking grows into a frenzied cacophony and he is knocked face first into the water. He screams a terrified burble that he knows no one will ever hear before water rushes in to fill his lungs and Jimmy wakes panting in a cold sweat.

OOC: 2 point stability test, then start your day as you like. You have full freedom of narration for the hotel (aside from the troubling dream I've saddled you with).
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:46, Wed 28 Sept 2016.

He can't remember if he really did scream awake or if the screams were only in his head. Flipping the covers off in a hurry he runs to the bathroom sink and spits up some bile, each time he closes his eyes he sees the dogs and the rush of water.

Cold water splashes on his face, does little to fade the images burned into his mind but at least his heart is back to a resting pace.

"Get yourself together Jimmy," he says looking at the mirror.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting on the edge of he bed in his gray suit the world still seems to spin. This case, something about it, it's like going after a swamp with a teaspoon. It all seemed so simple last night...what was it about the walk home and the nightmare, it changed the reality..."The Hobo Doctor."

~~~~~~~~~~~

He doesn't even remember the wake up call, if there was one. It is 2:36pm, most the day has been wasted. Should be able to stick to his original plan, time to follow up with the coroner, Samuel Gerber.

Jimmy gets up and heads to his door, for some reason it takes a little extra effort to open it and head out into the world today. There is a sense of fear, something Jimmy is unaccustomed to, fear that the city will be a labyrinth like it was in his dream. He pushes through the thoughts and heads out to the street and hails a cab to go to the morgue. Still working hours, Samuel Gerber should hopefully be there.



OOC: failed the stability roll, -2 sanity.
09:05, Today: James Samhain rolled 3 using 1d6.  Stability Roll: bad dreams.

A short cab ride later and Jimmy finds himself at the office of Democratic Cuyahoga county coroner Samuel Gerber. A pretty brunette secretary in a tight fitting blouse sits at a desk when you enter. She looks up from filing her nails and gives Jimmy a chipper smile and asks, "May I help you?"

She was a sight for weary and tired eyes, she was curvy and hot enough to steam the sunglasses Jimmy had in his pocket.

"That's a loaded question sweetheart, bullets like that will get you in trouble. I am here to see Samuel Gerber. Names Samhaim, private eye. If he needs some arm twisting let him know Sheriff Martin O'Donnell sent me."

   The secretary blushes at Jimmy's flattery and tells him to take a seat while she makes the arrangements. A few minutes later Jimmy is being taken downstairs to the coroner's lab. It seems Dr Gerber is a busy man and this will have to be a working meeting.

   The coroner is a bookish man of about 40 years. Jimmy finds him standing over a stainless steel tray poking at some skeletal remains, a white set of hospital scrubs pulled over his clothing for protection.


Dr Gerber glances up from his work for only a moment. "Ah, so you're the Private Investigator... Samhain, was it? What can I do for you?" he asks in a slow and slightly distracted tone as he turns a femur over and over in his hands, looking down it's length as he searches it for marks or trauma with a well trained eye.

Jimmy's eyes follow the secretary out before turning to see the Gerber and Mr. Bones.

"Who's your friend?" He stands just on the other side of the table, never afraid of a few bones.




"As to why I am here, The Torso Murders, I'm sure it is no surprise me being here. Following up on a few leads and I thought one of my first stops should be to see you. I understand Arthur J Pearce handled some of the bodies, forgive the wording. Thoughts on what you have seen? Some of the bodies seemed to have been found showing reddening or dried and leathery, some kind of preservative you think? Not caused from the chemical treatment to remove trace evidence? is Pearce still around?"


OOC: Biology or Forensics on the set of bones here between them, can Jimmy tell anything interesting either for his knowledge or to impress the coroner?

   "My friend here..." Dr Gerber says, glancing up from the bones, "is a 50 year old male. He was found by some hunters out in Stark county a few weeks ago and their coroner sent the remains here to get my opinion. Sometimes I think it's amazing that you can get elected to this position without a medical degree." (It's unrelated. I liked the photo of Sam Gerber. Jimmy can tell that the body has obviously been dead for a long time and the coroner has his work cut out for him. If you want to spend a point you can help identify a mark or bit of trauma if you like.)

   "Ah, the torso murders... grisly business that," the Dr says, a light of excitement entering his eyes. "A real maniac we have on our hands, and one skilled and confident with a blade to boot! Clean cuts and little sign of hesitation- well except that last one, bit of uncharacteristic slap-dash work that one was.

   "Yes, some reddening and drying of some of the bodies. Either a preservative or an effort to remove trace evidence no doubt. Some of the bodies may have been kept on for some time before being disposed of. But for what purpose? Well, I cannot say." The Dr seems excited to be discussing the case and some of it's salacious details.

   "As for Pearce... he moved back east to be closer to his grandchildren after losing the election."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:19, Wed 28 Sept 2016.

"Maniacs, seems some day's that's my specialty."

Jimmy casually walks around the room and lights up a cigarette.

"Killing a regular Joe is bad enough, but let's say there is a reason for these murders. Other than the obvious decapitations and removal of limbs did you notice anything else, internal or external? Were the bodies..." Jimmy looks for the right word, "used...for anything before or after death?"

The nickname "hobo doctor" keeps tugging at his mind.

"Did the bodies lend you to any kind of thought as to who could have done this? As you mention, less the last one, these cuts are clean. Sounds like someone who knows what they're doing. For the heads that were located, anything there??

Jimmy has his notebook out and draws a quick sketch of the tattoo...his tattoo.

"You ever see this or anything like it?"

   "I'm afraid I don't have anything to say about how the bodies may have been used, but I have a theory that some of them may have been put to certain... sexual uses," Dr Gerber says in an excited whisper. "A number of heads and limbs have also never been found. I suspect that when this case is finally solved that a lot of gruesome trophies will be discovered."

   "Judging from the skill of the cuts, my theory is that our killer has had some medical training, beyond that I cannot say. As for the heads... death masks were taken and widely displayed and dental records checked... the only identification we were able to get was Rose Wallace."

  The coroner adjusts his glasses and takes a close look at Jimmy's drawing. He studies it for a long moment with a furrowed brow before shaking his head. "No. No, I've never seen that symbol before. What is it?" he answers.

Jimmy can't help but feel his eyes squint, something bout Gerber is off. Maybe it's just that most his time is spent with dead bodies...maybe it is something different all together.

"Theory? You mean sodomy and intercourse?"

OOC: Assess Honesty.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: If nothing else from Gerber Jimmy heads out for "breakfast." First stopping at the brunettes desk.

"Hiya doll." He offers her a cigarette. "You like working here? How long you been here? How do you like Gerber in there?"

   Gerber nods. "In my experience there is often a connection between sexual attraction and the vicious dismemberment of bodies... particularly when women are concerned. I suspect that many of these victims may be objects of lust for the killer, driving him to perversions that he hates both himself and his victims for."

   Jimmy assesses the doctor's words. He seems honest enough, just very interested in the case and overly interested in the exotic details, perhaps due to the attention it has garnered him.

   Jimmy excuses himself and has a little flirtation with Gerber's secretary. She's been working for Gerber for about 6 months now and she likes it and Dr Gerber just fine. By the end, Jimmy has ruled out any suspicions of Dr Gerber's involvement in the torso murders and has the secretary's phone number (and an invitation to call her some time to go out dancing).

Jimmy walks out to the street, the heat hitting him like truck. He pockets the brunettes phone number knowing he will never call it.

Finding a diner wasn't difficult and he posted up at the counter ordering coffee with cream, scrambled eggs, hash browns and wheat toast. Over the years more breakfasts have been had after noon than in the morning, this was common place for Jimmy.

~~~~~

Sliding the empty plate to the side he pulls out the photos from last night and places them on the counter. It took a moment to realize where he was and he was sure to be mindful of flashing around the pornographic images, he used the sports section of a nearby paper to help conceal.

Taking the magnifying glass out of his coat pocket he begins to review the photos with attention they have not yet received. He can't help but first look at the tattoo...he could feel the food in his stomach churn. "Impossible..."

Next is the Andrassey photo. There was a time in his life when the image of two men going at it would have caused shock but in his line of work it is amazing how many high powered men take part in such activities. This isn't new to him. What is interesting about the photo is the art work in the background. Running the magnifying glass over the area he can't place it, at least not right now. Perhaps he will have to seek out someone who can. If it is something unique it could put a location to the photo.

Lastly is the Flo picture. Looking over the photo he again cannot see the man's face, it is rather maddening to be so close to something. Jimmy feels himself willing the man in the photos to turn around. "Let me see that ugly mug." He leans in to get a closer look at what is leaning against the wall, it is an engraved bas-relief of what looks to be marble or soapstone.

~~~~~~

Cigarettes and cups of coffee are knocked down one by one as Jimmy reviews the photos with determination.

   Sadly, a closer inspection of the tattoo in the first photo reveals no new details.

   Under magnification Jimmy can make out a few of the details of the background painting of the second photo. It has some sort of swirling motif suggestive of water or air but Jimmy just doesn't have the background in art to be able to tell much more from what little he can see.

   With the aid of his magnifying glass, Jimmy is able to get a clearer look at the bas-relief in the third photograph with Flo. It depicts an ancient galley being attacked by a horrible monster with six snarling canine shaped heads. A man in a Greek crested helmet stands at the bow looking on with an arm raised. The stern of the ship is obscured by Flo's head.

   As Jimmy inspects the bas relief he feels a distinct sensation that he is being watched, along with a powerful feeling of vertigo, as if the entire diner around him is rolling on the waves, and a powerful onrush of deja vu. (2 point stability test)

   Jimmy is snapped back to reality by a hand being placed on his shoulder and the sound of the waitress's voice. "More coffee sir?" Jimmy has just enough time to cover up the photos before they are spotted. The waitress then gives Jimmy a concerned look and says, "Hey, are you all right? You don't look so good."

Though his inner being felt like it was falling he sat still at the counter.

"Yeah...I'm good..." Jimmy throws a few bucks on the counter to cover the food and coffee. Gathering up the photos and his cigarettes he half stumbles out of the diner, damned be perceptions of others at this time.

Getting to the sidewalk he shoves the photos and magnifying glass back into his coat pocket and nervously lights another cigarette. As he brings the flame close he darts his eyes up and down the street...

He walks quickly down the street and asks the first person he sees, "The library? Where is it?" He can see how the woman is looking at him, like he is something to be feared or pitied.

With the directions he hails a cap and quickly get's in directs the cabby. He sits in the back taking deep drags and running the monogrammed handkerchief along his forehead to rid the sweat.

OOC: Sense Trouble

Go to the library to research the Greek bas-relief and art work. Both their context in history if he can find it and where in the city those photos may have been taken.

13:32, Today: James Samhain rolled 3 using 1d6.  Stability Roll: eyes in the diner.
 

   Jimmy is in luck. The directions he received from the startled woman on the street lead him to Western Reserve University, Cleveland's finest institute for higher learning and home to the city's best archive for academic research.

   The staff inside are able to direct Jimmy to the books on ancient art in the classical world. Jimmy soon confirms his suspicions that the carving in the photographs are of Greek origin, Mycenaean Greek to be exact, though there is also a strong, but lesser Hittite influence as well. Several hours of pouring through books follows as Jimmy compares the bas-relief in the photos to known archaeological finds from the period but he eventually exhausts all options and still does not have a match. It is not until he switches his strategy and begins thumbing through books on mythology that he stumbles across a story which he believes to be the source of the scene being depicted... Scylla and Charybdis.(Library Use + Occult)

   It is a scene from the Odyssey. Odysseus on his voyage home from the Trojan war is forced to sail a path between Scylla and Charybdis, two legendary monsters of Greek lore that always appear together. According to some authorities, they are twin daughters of Hecate, or of Cetus, the sea monster; in other versions Charybdis is the mother of Scylla. Scylla is often depicted as a large sea serpent or land based dragon but in later versions of the tale she is treated as a monstrous woman with the heads of six dogs sprouting from her waist. Charybdis is almost always depicted as an underwater sea monster or a whirlpool that sucks the waters dry three times a day before spitting it's intake back out again.


   In the Odyssey, Circe (Goddess of Magic and a powerful seer) warns Odysseus to sail closer to Scylla than Charybdis. Scylla, after all, will only kill six of his men. Charybdis will destroy everything. Later, when Zeus drives Odysseus (now on a raft) back toward Charybdis, Odysseus survives by clinging to the branches of a fig tree overhanging the whirlpool until the wreckage of his ship resurfaces.

   Before Jimmy can get any further a librarian in a gray dress and her hair in a tight brown bun comes by. "The library will be closing in 5 minutes," she tells him politely but sternly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scylla
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charybdis
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:19, Wed 28 Sept 2016.

"Thanks ma'am "

As he could have stayed for hours longer he was relieved he was being forced to leave. He would have to come back tomorrow morning to work on the rest, the art piece and if there is time the glyph like symbol he shares with the mystery man. For now there was a lot to think about. His research this evening brought back imagery from his dreams last night...coincidence to be sure, but unsettling nevertheless.

Rubbing his face he could feel the growth of his facial hair, he must look like all the poor sobs out of work due to the recession. Time to head back to the hotel and take advantage of the fact that it will be an earlier night than last night. The only hope is for some peaceful sleep. There is a nervousness running along his spine thinking about trying to sleep tonight.

OOC: back to the hotel and up early back to the library. Research the art in the back of the one picture and look into occult symbols for the tattoo.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Wed 28 Sept 2016.

   After a cab ride back to Jimmy's hotel through the dark streets of Cleveland, Jimmy gets out of the back seat just as a newspaper is blowing by in the wind. The paper momentarily strikes the Private Investigator in the leg, wrapping itself around his appendage for a moment before he is able to shake it loose. Just as he does so, he catches sight of the date on the paper right before it is torn away by the gusting wind: January 11, 1935.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:28, Wed 28 Sept 2016.