Keith's Homebrew: Don’t Meth with Me
Brody O’Bannion slammed the phone on its cradle,
“O’Reilly get in here. Twas my sister Felicity on the phone. I sent you out
there last year when her daughter Sally, my niece, went missing…assumed
kidnapped. All those dead-ends in your investigation. Now Felicity’s husband
Jimmy Silvena has been shot and killed while hunting with my nephew Jackson.
The boy’s shaken up but OK. I need you to send a team to Foster, Rhode Island
to find out if these family incidences are related. I don’t need no damn rival
clan trying to get at me thru family.”
They exit the car climbing the front porch steps. With a heavy Irish
accent, Karyn speaks for the group while handing the woman a signed letter of
introduction, “Excuse us Ms Felicity, ya broda Mr. O’Bannion sent us here to
investigate ya husband’s death. Wanting justice for family and comfort for your
suffering. Sorry to hear this comes after your daughter also deceased. Excuse
me, I meant missing.”
The
distraught widower showing the men to her husband’s study, “It weren’t no
hunting accident as the police suggest. Head shot at long distance as little
Jackson says he never heard the rifle shot till after his daddy dropped. No
hunter shoots at THAT range. Not sure who Jimmy pissed off. He’s been so
wrapped up investigating Sally’s disappearance. Unless he was getting too close
to the truth. Feel free to search his notes.” With that, Felicity hands over
Jimmy’s wallet and the box full of material he had collected over the year.
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Karyn
takes the wallet while Homer, Smooth, and Chett dig into the box. “OK boys,
we’re looking for connections.” But the loose notes and newspaper clippings are
anything but related. “What’s his interest in the Bolyard’s murder? And why
does he care about Russian immigrants? They’ve been trying to muscle in on our
gambling joins in Providence, but why out here? And this police officers’
ambush…was Jimmy killed anywhere near this rural route 12?” Finding Sally’s
diary in the box, Homer leafs thru the pages, “She knew that murdered Elizabeth
Bolyard girl. A lot of talk about their anti-drug efforts. Seems both girls
marched against it.” Chett finds Sally’s address book, “Here’s the Bolyard
address. And a few other names: Paula Shomaker, Leann Dietts, Jose Casio and
Derek Jantzen.” Karyn adds to the growing list of contacts, “Jimmy’s wallet has
a business card of the county historian. One Chelsea Jackson.”
“Alright.
Let’s go to the hunting scene to find clues.” At first the son, Jackson, is
reluctant to go; afraid. But the men talk him into showing them, “Don’t ya want
revenge against ya dad’s killer? You’re the man of the house now; you’re
responsible.” Almost an hour later, walking thru the woods east-northeast of
the house they come upon the scene. Police footprints everywhere. Black stains
upon rocky outcropping. “So which way were you facing when ya dad dropped? Hit
in the back of the head ya say. OK boys, search that way.” They soon find a
rifle casing but are unable to identify the type of gun used. “OK, let’s take
this to the police and announce our presence.”
“Chief
Wyendant, we’re here on request of the Silvena family. Understand you are
swamped with new cases. Don’t want to interfere or get in your way. Sorry to
hear you’re a man short what with officer Kenda’s murder. Offering our help in
solving Jimmy’s death and maybe even the unsolved case of his missing
daughter.” Smooth talking and the promise the chief gets all the accolades
if/when the cases are solved opens the dialog. “You say Elizabeth was Sally’s
friend and also anti-drug activist? Officially we’ve said there is no organized
crime in the area. But the fact Lizzy Bolyard and her parents were torn to
pieces suggest a mob hit. Maybe Lizzy and Sally’s activities threatened the
wrong people. Route 12? That’s on the west side of town; nowhere near Jimmy’s
hunting accident. I’ll take your help but keep it legal. As I’ve told my
constituents, there’s no organized crime in the area.”
The
thugs, now working for the police, make their next stop at the Bolyard’s house
to talk with the aunt. “Let’s see what Elizabeth’s diary says.” But the knock
at the door goes unanswered. Aunt Torrentez too deaf? Kneeling before the door,
Smooth soon puts his ‘tools’ away, “Hey look, the door’s open.” A vinegary hint
in the air; grandma’s cleaning products? Great aunt June slumped dead in her
rocker. “Holey Shit!”
They jump in revulsion as June’s eye falls out of her
skull, then grows legs and starts scuttling/jumping at them. Patrick raises his
foot and stomps “SPLAT.” “Ouch!” as acid burns through his thin-soled shoe. Now
a strong smell of vinegar. A search of the house. A powder substance on the
table next to the body suggests drugs and maybe an overdose? “What kind of drug
turns eyeballs into spiders?!” In the aunt’s purse, another business card for
Chelsea Jackson. No diary for the daughter. “Hello, chief Wyendant. You might
want to send a car over to the Bolyard’s house. The aunt is dead. Looks like
drugs.” No mention of “spiders”.
“Let’s
check out this county historian, Chelsea.” Again, a knock at the door goes
unanswered. Shortly thereafter, the rev of a car out back then the sounds of it
speeding away. Once again Smooth finds a door open; this time from the force of
his shoe busting the lock. A search of her house finds a ton of historical
books related to Rhode Island and Foster county. And a telegram on her desk. As
Karyn pockets the telegram, “What’s her interest in a mine?”
The
next hours are spent contacting names from Sally’s address book. Leann Dietts
proves to be a good friend, “Sally, Lizzy and I were activists against drugs
when we saw classmates using. Sally’s boyfriend Jim Thomas was a user but he
left town months after Sally disappeared. Blamed himself thinking his use got
her targeted for her anti-drug marches. Derek? He left town for college. Paula
was more an acquaintance; her boyfriend Jose Casio was more the concern for his
drug use. We tried to change their ways.”
From
Sally’s address book, they soon arrive at Jose’s house. The strong smell of
vinegar overrides formalities as Smooth opens another door with his boot.
Revolt as they find an empty chair with an acid imprint of a person burned into
it. Then screaming and hysteria from Jose’s mother, “You did this to my boy.
Your drugs!”
Insane actions; won’t listen to reason…raising a 12 gauge
shotgun…everyone diving for cover…”BLAM”. Only recourse: Karyn raises his
pistol and shoots her between the eyes. Homer and Smooth are ready to get the
hell away knowing neighbors called the police. But Karyn takes command, “Don’t
make it worse. I’ll call it in. You search for info.” As they await the police, they soon find her
diary talking about the horror of watching her only son deteriorate due to drug
use and then his body start to liquefy. “Who’s pushing these drugs and what the
hell are they mixing into it?!”
It’s
late when they leave the police station having provided statements. Smooth
having to catch himself almost blurting out “Copper” during the questioning.
But they’ve time for one more stop; almost closing time at the city court
house. But a slip of a “fin” ($5 bill) convinces the clerk to remain open.
Through search of public records they find there are some new people that have
moved to Foster in the last couple of years.
The Johnsons who live to the west and the Anthonys who live to the east.
Daylight gone. Time to call it a night. Pick up in the morning.
9 Oct 1926: After calling to
check in with their boss Brody, they divide forces [i.e. Chuck, Brian, and
Chett are no-shows. Thus their characters absent.]. Smooth, Homer, and Patrick
drive out to observe and investigate the Johnson land to the west. Karyn drives
to Brown University in Providence to speak with the telegram author, Professor
Ersley.
Karyn is met in the lobby by a plain-Jane woman, “I’m Victoria. Mr.
O’Bannion sent me…to provide a woman’s touch.” Short introductions before their
go to the registrar’s office for directions to the professor’s classes where
they slip into the back of the classroom. Finally a break 10 minutes before the
hour, “Excuse us professor. We were hoping you could spare a few minutes,
aiding us in our search for a missing person. We understand you were Ms.
Jackson’s last contact. Hopefully nothing serious; maybe just visiting her
mother or something. Before her absence, she’d mentioned you and something
about a Dupree mine?” Karyn’s flash of his badge more than enough to convince
the professor of our pure intents.
“Gosh,
I do hope she is alright. Nothing really out of the ordinary. She was asking about
an old gold mine east of Foster. Actually researching it for her county records
but also at the request of one Mr. Jimmy Silvena. Seems the mine is east of his
house. Yes, yes, here’s my folder on the topic. Dupree mine started around 1830
by a Puritanical leader named Reverend Foster. Here’s the building permits.
Fascinating history; somewhat spooky. Murders and missing mine workers over the
months till no-one would work the mine. Even at double-the-pay. Finally Foster
closed up and moved to Colorado to start another mine. Sorry, can’t give you
the map; my only copy.” Victoria pulls
out her camera to take a picture then starts sketching the map (Forgery skill:
rolled 00). Thankfully Karyn already has a county map he’s marking.
“Let’s
use their library to do some more research.” They soon learn even the early
native Americans, the Algonquians, avoided the area
around what is now Foster. They too recorded many unnatural deaths. Seems they
called the area “unclean” although the early Protestant and Roman Catholic settlers called the Algonquian beliefs “pagan
rituals.”
During the drive back to Foster, Karyn briefs Victoria.
When they arrive back at the hotel, the other 3 mugs are still absent. “Let’s
swing by Chelsea’s house.” Lights on; so, Karyn goes to the door as Victoria
swings around back. Window curtains flutter as Karyn approaches. Victoria finds
a car out back then hears the back door opening. A woman exits then pauses at
the sight of someone by her car, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I
promise I’ll forget everything about the mine. No more snooping. Your man out
front is just like the others looking for me. The fedora.” Victoria tries to
calm the woman (Persuade roll 92) but only manages to scare her more. Karyn
rounding the corner only scares her more: she turns to rush inside her house.
But Victoria jams her purse in the doorway. “We’re not here to hurt you. We
only need answers.” Victoria offers a flask of whiskey which Chelsea chugs.
“I’m sorry. It’s just been a terror these last days.
Strange men in town wearing similar hats to yours. They seem to show up every
two weeks. Then Jimmy killed. And him asking me for help researching that old
gold mine out east of his place. Then those men showing up at my door yesterday.
I managed to escape but they busted their way into my house and stole my
telegram that mentions the mine. Oh My! What have I stumbled into?! You work
for the chief? Then prove it. Take me to Timothy now.”
Chelsea calms down at the station once seeing chief
Wyendant who offers coffee. “It all started about 6 months ago when Jimmy asked
me to research folks who’d recently purchased land around Foster within the
last couple years. He kept talking about Russians but I only found records of
the Johnsons and Anthonys. But as I dug deeper, I learned one Andrew Anthony
had immigrated thru Ellis island 2 years ago under the name Antipov. He and 2
brothers or cohorts. Anyway, Jimmy believed they were cooking something. He
kept talking about a vinegary smell.” [Victoria rolled Science trying to reason
the smell, but rolled another 00]. Chief Timothy injects, ”That’s a known
byproduct from the production of heroin!” Chelsea continued, “Anyway, Jimmy
searched all around town but couldn’t smell vinegar in town. Suspected the
setup had to be outside. That’s when he began asking about the Dupree mine.”
Chelsea rattles on more till a police sergeant interrupts,
”Just got ballistics back on the bullet casing these guys found yesterday. A
7.62 mm caliber stamped ‘Mosin-Nagant.”
Victoria now speaks with confidence,
“That’s the same rifle round used in WWI by the White Russians! And here
President Coolidge says they’re our allies and honorable men. Bullcrap!” But
the police chief is reluctant to take action, “Right now we don’t know exactly
where the mine is. Can’t confront this Andrew Anthony with this flimsy
evidence. I need you guys to find out more.”
10 Oct 1926: Morning breakfast, “Where the hell are those guys? I said checkout the Johnsons,
not do a stakeout. To hell with it. It’s up to you and I.” So Karyn and
Victoria drive east following their sketchy map. About ten miles past the
Silvena’s before they turn on a gravel road that soon turns to hardened ruts. “There!”
Victoria spots a wooden gate hidden by vines and branches. Victoria anxious to
investigate but Karyn more cautious and reasoning, “Don’t need to be shot for trespassing.
Let’s go back to town and get the police to make it official.” And so it’s an
hour later when two cars travel the same roads stopping before the gate. Officer
Rudy Barnes climbs out of his police sedan joining Karyn and Victoria. “Let’s
go in on foot to get the drop on them.”
They walk along the side of the road near the brush in
case they need to dive for cover. Minutes till Victoria whispers halt having
heard the crunch of underbrush. But it’s only a trio of deer. Which to Karyn
look weird, “Something’s off. They don’t react to our sounds per normal deer.
What’s that growth?”
But Rudy recognizes the blisters per his seasonal hunting,
“Those are just deer warts.” But that doesn’t explain their unnerving stare and
weird behavior as they seem to circle and follow. A little further when
everyone can hear the faint sounds like an animal in pain; a low grunting. But
the men are focused on their task and continue along the road. Soon coming to a
clearing before a hillside. An old mining building, abandoned push carts, and a
newer model ford parked out front. Even at this range they can smell vinegar!
Victoria pulls out binoculars to scan the area. No
movement. No flashes at the first-floor windows. Seems clear. Karyn already sneaking
up to the windows. Inside he spies broken cots evident of the long-abandoned
mine. But he also sees a recent addition: a new gun rack holding 3 Russian
rifles and what looks like ammo drums for Tommy-guns! Karyn weaves his way back
to report, momentarily distracted by the sight of the same deer. “Let’s get
back to the station and tell the chief they got illegal automatic weapons!” In
other words, we’re out-matched and need reinforcements!
Officer Barnes suggests the chief get a search warrant to
make it legal. But Karyn offers reason, “They’re there now. No telling if they
heard us and might be packing up. I say get back out there under the cover of
darkness.” This time Barnes opens the gate as we drive thru and continue till
halfway to the mine. Chief Wyendant, officer Barnes, and 2 deputies climb out
of their car. Vic climbs out wielding a police loaner 30-06 rifle. Karyn
trusting his pistol. Once they reach the mine, Victoria scans the surroundings
with her binoculars. Clear. The chief sends his deputies around back. Again,
Karyn stealths towards the windows while Victoria provides rifle cover with
faint light from the quarter moon. Not enough light to see Karyn tossing rifles
and the ammo drums out the window. So that when he calls his allies forward,
Victoria trips (Stealth roll 99) on the rifles. Damn. She leans the rifle
against the wall to then climb thru the window.
Karyn can hear metal-on-metal clanging; someone sounding
an alarm. Chief Wyen and officer Barnes enter thru the door and call out, “Police.
Drop your weapons and come out empty handed.” Karyn opens the sidedoor that
leads to the rail-tracks that lead into the mine. It’s debatable which comes
first: the chief’s police whistle shrill calling his men, or the scream of his
deputies from out back. The chief rushes toward the sound of his men, opening
the back door. We can see him draw his pistol…then drop…unconscious? We rush
forward, weapons drawn. Our own revulsion at the sight of long tendrils
extending from the back of the deer pulling one deputy toward a gapping mouth
biting the man’s head off!!
Karyn empties his pistol at the beast but the bullets
seem to pass harmlessly thru. Same for Victoria’s shot. The deer run off…but
then suddenly stop mere yards away. As if surprised and curious. The other
deputy cowering in trauma. We wake Wyen then close the door as we return inside
to the rail-track side-door. Stopping just in time as the rippling repeat of a
Tommy-gun stitches holes around the doorframe. Karyn already on the move thru
another door as Victoria steps out to aim and fire a round at the assailant;
diving back into the room as another round of bullets rip the floor where she
once stood. Enough distraction for Karyn to get into position and fire a legal
round. Dropping our assailant. His wallet ID listing him as Andrew Anthony. “Careful.
There’s two more around.” Karyn adding, “The other room I went thru is their
tubs of heroin brew.” Victoria pausing to pick up Andrew’s Tommy-gun.
We move cautiously into the mine when were find a working
cart with teenage skirts inside. Prisoners? “Look before you shoot. They might
be holding hostages.” We light torches as we press forward. Long passages. Then
a side alcove filled with rotting crates. The skull image on the sides warning
it is dynamite! How old and unstable? As we press further into the mine we can
feel the rush of air from ahead, suggesting there is another mine entry. We
soon come upon a large cavern where we can see a couple of bodies. The decaying
form of two half-naked girls chained to the wall. One purse containing the ID
of Sally Silvena.
We follow the flowing air into another passage. Karyn pauses
as he hears a crunching sound behind. He turns in time to see tendrils forming
out of the walls reaching for officer Barnes.
Gun blasts pepper the walls till
Karyn remembers our attack on the deer. “Bullets don’t hurt them. Run for it!”
Victoria startled as something drops on her back.
Fortunate to be able to brush
it away; fortune she didn’t see what it was! Fortunate someone still holds a
torch to light the way. Past the cavern with Sally’s body, further along the
mine till we come to the alcove. Karyn
pulling his pistol and ordering, “Get out. I’ll blow the dynamite.” But
Victoria lifting the tommy and offering, “I’ll do you one better; you get out.”
“Rat-a-tat…BOOM!”
Longer range than the pistol but Vic still within harms’ reach
when the dynamite explodes. The concussion knocking her to the ground. Her
heavy coat protecting most of her from the splintery crate shards. Except for hands
and face. Another scar to decorate her actions.
The group stumbles out of the mine entrance, blinded by
the choking cloud of smoke as they can hear the mine collapsing within. They
help each other back to the cars. Chief Wyen announcing, “When I get back to
town, I’ll post this area as a no-hunting zone! Thanks for your help, but not
one word of what you saw and what we encountered tonight.”
EPILOGUE
Chief Wyen was too distraught to realize Victoria still
held onto the Tommy-gun. Him distracted even when she returned the 30-06 she’d
borrowed. The police driving back to the station. Karyn and Victoria stopping
at the Silvena house to pass along condolences and Sally’s purse. And the
suggestion Felicity should move. Especially if she sees deer wandering her
property. Once they got back to town, their trio of allies were waiting at the
hotel. Homer, Smooth, and Patrick looked at the disheveled duo and could only
ask, “What’d we miss?”
As for the murders in town? Jose Casio was to blame. His
mind mush from the tainted drugs. Yes, the Russians had killed Jimmy for
getting too close to their operations. As for officer’s Kenda’s ambush…that’s
another case.
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