COC One-Shot: Fresh Off the Bus

Hook: 1953, Tumbleweed, Texas. A boomtown…bust. The once luxurious Plimpton hotel now a seedy 6-story rundown dive. The manager trying his best to keep it from being a hookers’ hangout. Thus, a hotel detective to keep an eye on things. A cast of employees down-on-their-luck. Waiting for their break.

And tonight would offer that chance. Each had heard of the rendezvous of another Reno gangster’s planned drop of mob money turnover to a California courier. The employees had monitored the pattern set over the last 6 months. Man-in-black arrives with a large carpetbag. Yet before midnight someone else is seen carrying the bag away. When the man-in-black would wander into the hotel bar, bartender Mell graciously served him spiked drinks to loosen his tongue. “Several thousand smackers it was.”

Taylor Knott (Matt) hotel detective. Tortured dreams from the war. Hard enough to sleep with the nightmares. That damn drunk Oz next-door and his LOUD snoring doesn’t help. He could use the money to get out of this hellhole.

Mell Spade (Geoff) bartender and impromptu chef. He owes money to the Reno mob. Why not pay them back with their own money?

Robin Bishop (Keith) bellhop. Petty thief with a drug habit. Pluck money from the bag and he’d be set for life! Piece of cake!

Brenda Matthews (Jen) evening maid. Grifter. She came ready: has a faux carpetbag stuffed with stacks of money…cut up newspaper that is.

Ruth Eckart (Duane) mob courier. Sexy gun-moll, heartless killer. She’s done these pickups in other cities. But this one: $35,000 instead of the normal 2K. Incentive to maybe skip delivery and head to Mexico for a new life?

 Opening Scene: Everyone had their own agenda with secrecy forefront. Each not aware the others had similar intentions. Which would explain why all seemed rooted in chairs that faced the lobby front-door, awaiting the arrival of the gangsters and the money that would soon be theirs. Going thru the motions of actual work.

6:50pm: The bell of the entry turnstile tingled as Brenda arrived for her evening shift. She was caught off-guard by the others staring at her. No thought or now chance to hide the extra bag she carried. Robin the first to notice, “Hey darling, I see you brought an overnight bag to finally make it a sleepover date with me.” Brenda was used to his hitting on her and went with the flow, “You wished! Actually, it’s the Christmas blanket I’m crocheting for my sister’s kid.” Nice try, but Taylor and Robin noticed her nervous twitch. Something about the bag worth checking out. And now that they thought about it, it was a carpetbag VERY similar to what they’d seen gangsters use in the past.

Brenda tried to be casual as she entered the back of the bar to drop her things off in her locker. She straightened her white apron before returning to the front, “Well, I’ve rooms to prep. See you soon.” Taylor waited till she was out of sight before he casually entered the back. Which drew Mell’s interest, which explained him standing at the door quietly observing Taylor opening Brenda’s locker. Taylor opened the carpetbag, moved the sweater stretched across the top, and smiled as he found rubber-banded stacks of newsprint cut to the dimensions of paper-money. Mell couldn’t remain quiet, “What’s so interesting detective?” Taylor didn’t flinch as he closed the bag and placed it back in the locker, “Doing my job unlike you! Looking for contraband.” The hotel dick exited the bar area to start his patrol of the hotel.

It wasn’t long afterwards, Robin excused himself for the bathroom in the back. Where he too found the carpetbag which he carried into a stall. He tossed the sweater on the pee-stained floor to get a better look inside. And that’s when the lobby doorbell dinged to announce another guest. An attractive woman entered and approached the desk. Soon, Brook Davis (the desk clerk) called out, “Where’s our bellhop?” Robin scrambled to put the sweater back in the bag and all back in the locker. He faked-flushed the toilet before appearing in the lobby, “Yes mam, may I carry your luggage for you?” Ruth eyed the boy up and down before sternly chastising him, “Do you see any luggage? Tell me, are there any cops around…to deal with riftraft? No? Well, that’s a shame.”

And that’s when the hotel drunk decided to make an appearance. Oz stumbled out of the elevator and approached the front desk. He pushed his way to the desk as he slurred, “Outa the way, bitch, I need to see about another room.” Brook’s jaw dropped from the insult to one of the few paying customers they’d had. He was equally shocked to see the woman adjust Oz’s coat before stepping aside. [What he didn’t see was Ruth attempting to knuckle-dust the drunk, only to miss.] Brook quickly interceded, “Robin! Go find Taylor. Let the detective deal with Oz.”

Robin didn’t want to chance missing out on a decent tip, “Sorry mam, can I at least show you to your room or maybe the bar?” Ruth followed but with concern, “I thought you said there were no cops around?!” Robin laughed, “Taylor? He’s just our local house dick. Cop? No mam.” Mell wiped the counter and set out a napkin and bowl of nuts before he mixed Ruth’s drink, “Vodka, straight up.” Robin had to stare, both at her beauty and gruff demeanor. This was one hard-ass woman! Ruth didn’t even look his way as she took off her glasses, “You can quit playing with yourself boy and make yourself useful. Take my eyeglasses up to my room, 511.” Robin tipped his cap before exiting, “Yes, mam.” He made sure he was in the lobby before he mouthed, “Bitch!”

Meanwhile, Taylor tried to listen patiently to Oz’s demands. “Hell yes, I want another room. YOU keep me up all night pounded on the wall. How can a man sleep?!” Taylor countered, “ME keep you up?! Your damn drunk snore keeps ME up.” Taylor realized arguing with a drunk wasn’t going anywhere. Worse, arguing with a drunk ex-boxer could be bruising. He changed tactics, “Brook, the man is right. Find another room so he can sleep. You know, sleeping at the bar all hours of the day ain’t good for him.” Soon, Taylor led Oz back to the elevator, “I’ll help you move.”

Brenda arrived in the lobby in time to see their first guest approach the elevator. She entered to ride along, “Welcome to the Plimpton. Mind if I accompany you to your room? I’ll get it ready and even turn down your bed.” Ruth looked the maid up and down as if inspecting meat, “So, you’re looking for sack time with me, doll? I play ruff. Whips, handcuffs. Yeah, get the bed ready sweetie. I’ll be in shortly. I gotta inspect the 6^th floor. Something about a local cop residing here. Ain’t good for my plans.” Brenda swallowed in shock as she got off on the 5^th floor. And raced down the stairs to find Robin. “Robin! Robin, did you see that woman?! She wants to have sex with me. But right now, she’s up to something on the 6^th floor.” Robin didn’t miss a beat, “So, you’re suggesting there’s a chance for a three-way?” Brenda slapped his wry grin, “Seriously?!”

Meanwhile, Ruth exited on the 6^th floor and hid in the shadows of the common bathroom. She watched as Taylor helped Oz gather his possessions to then move them to the 5^th floor. Once they were in the elevator, she picked the lock to the neighboring room which must be Taylor’s. She quickly scanned the contents trying to determine if the detective was actually a stakeout for the coming money transfer. She locked the door satisfied he was just a nobody.

The Greyhound bus airbrakes hissed as it stopped in front of the hotel. It soon rumbled away, leaving a lone figure standing on the curb. The lobby bell dinged as a strange man, dressed in a long fur coat, approached the desk. Mell leaned over the bar-counter to get a better look. Disappointed when he saw there was no carpetbag. Brenda and Robin noticed the same. They heard his thick, unplaceable accent as he asked for a room. It was no surprise the man sweated profusely. The stench was another matter: smelled like death rolled over. Brook called for Robin, “Help the man to his room, 610.”

Robin pressed the elevator button before he realized the man had walked into the bar, “Vater, pees.” Mell had to do a double-take before he realized what he’d said. Mell’s jaw dropped as he watched the man down his drink…steam rose off his exposed arm! And more concerning: the man’s skin was almost translucent! Lack of sunlight?! The man dug into his coat and dumped out his coin bag to push around various foreign coins before he left 2 dimes. Meanwhile, Robin had checked the registry to then approach, “Mr. Baharad, may I escort you to your room?”

Brenda entered the elevator to ride along. And quickly regretted it… the stench almost unbearable. She covered her nose with her apron. Robin on the other hand, helped hold Baharad upright when the elevator lurched into action. An excuse to pickpocket. The book he felt under the fur coat too large and bulky to lift. But the coin bag found its way into Robin’s pocket. Brenda stayed on the elevator and let Robin escort the man to his door. She couldn’t wait to exhale but was hesitant to inhale… waiting and hoping the air had cleared enough. “God, do foreigners ever bathe?!”

9:30pm: Ruth checked out her room, sweeping for listening devices. You never know when ‘coppers’ might be onto the actions. She scanned the hallway, taking notice of the elevator mid-floor, stairs at the west end, and a fire-escape window and outside ladder along the east end.

Meanwhile, the staff finally reconvened around the bar as Brenda took a break. All perked up when 2 men-in-black entered the hotel. FINALLY! They took notice of the man on the right carrying a large carpetbag in his left hand. Brook greeted them at the desk, “Good evening. Room 510 is ready; if you’ll please sign the registry.” Logan signed first. Russ started to sign lefthanded, but the handcuff attached to the bag restricted him. “Logan, sign for me.” Robin was already at their side, “Welcome sirs, may I carry your luggage up to your room?” The only luggage being the carpetbag. They sneered.

And that’s when a horrendous scream sounded from somewhere inside the hotel. Somewhere above. What floor? Brook ordered his staff into action, “Go check it out.” Taylor led the way, followed by Robin and the maid. Brenda was more concerned with getting into room 510 before the gangsters. Who had already entered the slow elevator. As they climbed the stairs, they passed Ruth descending. Nary a concern on her face. Ruth entered the bar just as Mell was leaving his “back in 15 minutes” sign out. “Help yourself.” Which she did. The scream was unnerving even for her. Which called for preparations. She found bottles of vodka and tequila and began making Molotov-cocktails. “Trouble always comes to me. I can wait. Just like I’m waiting for those damn Reno boys. Where are they?!” She didn’t see them enter nor take the elevator.

Robin took the 3^rd floor and began knocking door-to-door, “Is everyone OK in there?” Taylor took the 4^th floor to do the same. Brenda heard Mell approaching and directed, “You take the 6^th floor.” She went straight to room 510 and entered with her master-key. And began to search.

Mell went door-to-door but stopped before room 610. The stench stopped him in his tracks. He heard rustling inside. “Everything alright in there?” Silence. The door unlocked. He stepped inside and scanned the room. “Anyone in here?” Not like each room had its own bathroom. Unless the occupant was hiding under the bed or inside the closest, no one was home. Except that fur coat piled up in the middle of the room. He stepped forward to pick it up. Stuck. Slowly gave way as if glued to the floor. Indeed, goo dripped from the coat. Beneath it was a large thick book. Leatherbound. Strange runes etched on its cover. [Occult failure to read]. Mell took the coat and book to deposit in his room 603. Along the way, he happened to glance back and noticed a trail of worms. Weird. “Holy Shit!” He dropped the coat now writhing with worms. More worms climbed up his arm. He desperately tried to brush them away, “What the…”

Brenda searched the bed, windows, radiator, and desk. For what? It wasn’t till she was at the desk that she felt a small drip on her scalp. She brushed at it, thinking maybe a bug. She came away with a handful of goo. That before her eyes, coalesced into worms! “Mother!” She shook her hands to sling off the goo and worms as she started to back out of the room. And that’s when the bulge above her caught her attention. “Guys. Guys! GUYS!” She exited the room just as the 2 gangsters exited the elevator, “You do NOT want to go in there.”

As if a challenge. Or setup to a robbery. They brushed past her and entered the open room. Mistake. Brenda stood near the elevator waiting for them to exit the room. When they didn’t, curiosity and opportunity drew her back. “SLAM!” She was knocked aside as Logan rushed out of the room screaming. And that’s when Taylor and Robin arrived. “It’s an infestation of worms!” Mist rolled out from the closed-door threshold. Robin spoke up, “We have a strict ‘no smoking’ policy.” Silence. “You sure someone’s still in there?” The mist didn’t smell like cigarette smoke. If anything, it smelled like death. Taylor tried the handle; the door opened. He cautiously stepped in, “House detective. Everyone OK?”

Mist filled the room. A trail of worms slowly slithered their way towards the door. Taylor could barely make out the form of the other gangster standing just inside. Still holding the carpetbag. “You OK mister? They’re just worms. Lots of them.” No response. Suddenly, they heard the room window crash. Slowly the mist melted lower and lower as it ebbed out the window. A 6ft tall form started to become visible in the center of the room. Taylor had to strain to make out another form almost flowing out the window.

With Robin standing behind him, and Brenda in the hallway behind, Taylor heard a scrapping sound to his left. Then out of the mist came a chair swinging toward him, catching him surprised. [Hard Spot failure. Solid hit for 1d6=6 damage which was a major wound. CON check failure.] Taylor crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

And that’s when Mell arrived from the 6^th floor, “There’s an infestation of worms up there. In that old man’s room. From his fur coat.” Robin chastised him, “Don’t just stand there, help tend to Taylor’s wounds.” [failed First Aid, failed Push attempt based on pulling out the large splitter of chair leg] Mell removed the splinter of wood only to release a fountain of blood from the severed artery. Robin screamed, “Put it back! Or plug it with your finger before he bleeds out!” They finally stopped the bleeding although they couldn’t heal the wound.

At least Brenda was satisfied enough to act upon the now visible carpetbag. She reached for it hoping to drag the man outside the room. She succeeded in toppling the man. He lay inside the room just beyond the unconscious detective. On his hands and knees, Robin was just reaching for the handcuff on the bag with his lockpick kit open when… the mist melted away enough to reveal… Brenda squealed from fright. [passed SANITY check] Robin and Mell less fortunate: they fully comprehended what stood before them!

[both failed their SANITY check and rolled under their INT. Lost over 20% of their sanity which incurred Temporary Insanity/Bout of Madness].

A 6ft tall, undulating mass of worms [Crawling One] swayed appendages formed out of worms!

Mell broke out in hysterical outbursts of insane laughter. A blubbering idiot. Robin teetered on the edge of fainting and thus became indecisive. [Penalty on all skill tests] Brenda screamed in fright, “ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?! Forget the damn bag. Help get Taylor out of the room.” She kicked at Robin trying to get him to stop with the handcuff. She succeeded in knocking him further into the room. [passed POW check to ward off a cast spell-Evil Eye] Mell felt pressure within his skull as he locked eyes on the blob but was able to shake it off. [failed opposed POW test] Robin rolled onto his back clutching his chest from intense pain. As if a heart-attack. [Clutch of Nyogtha]

Mell steeled himself and drug Taylor out of the room. Taylor just waking up, “What happened?” With Robin too far into the room and too near the blob, Brenda did the only thing possible: she picked the handcuff, grabbed the bag, and ran for it! Closing the door behind her.

Meanwhile, down in the lobby and bar, Ruth sipped another drink as she waited. Not for long. The worms under the fur coat? Formed into another Crawling One and descended the stairs toward the lobby. It crawled before the elevator within view of the bar. Ruth passed her sanity check although THIS was not what she was expecting! “Holy Sweat Mary Mother…” She lit a bottle and threw it: it bounced across the floor and slammed into the hotel desk igniting the wood. Ruth grabbed 2 more bottles and raced for the hotel door. Which meant she had to cross the lobby near the thing.

An arm of intertwined worms reached for her… she dodged. She threw another lit bottle. Too high as it sailed over the blob and smashed against the elevator. Another blaze of fire. A mouth formed atop the blob from which echoed a horrendous scream. [failed opposed POW test: Shrivel] Ruth grabbed her left leg which burst with intense pain. Hobbled, she knew it was time to leave, “To hell with mob money. Life is more important.” She tossed the last bottle over her shoulder. She didn’t even know the bottle burst upon the mass, now a raging fire. She spun thru the turnstile door hoping the blob would be slowed by the doorway. Having arrived by cab, she hobbled parked car to parked car looking for one unlocked and with key atop the visor. And that’s when the “THUD” of an impact caused her to look…

It was those last minutes…Robin’s heart-attack subsided. With the door shut, the blob slithered toward him. He jumped to his feet and bolted for the window. Exit, stage left. Ignoring broken glass cuts, he climbed onto the narrow ledge painted with pigeon poop. And began to scale down the wall, using the brick spacing as finger holds. [hard CLIMB] He made it down a floor. But instead of using that narrow ledge to seek a window to enter, he continued his descent. [failed Climb] His toe slipped. [failed Push] He reached for a gutter spout but failed. And fell 30 feet. Within those seconds, his mind became a roulette wheel: car top, grass, a pedestrian. Hopes of escaping death by landing on something soft…the roulette ball stopped on ‘paved street’.

Brenda struggled to carry the heavy bag down the stairs. Mell grabbed Taylor around the waist to aid his decent down the stairs as Taylor plugged his wound with his own finger. They wondered why a thin layer of smoke rose up the stairs. They found the source on the first floor. The hallway that led to the lobby was engulfed in flames. They backtracked to the second floor and raced towards the far end to climb out the fire escape window and to safety. They leaned against a car to catch their breath.

Brenda opened the bag to look at her reward, “I didn’t realize money was so heavy!” Instead of the expected $2,000, Brenda squealed with delight, “Holy crap guys! There’s probably $35,000 in here!” Her happiness short-lived. A shadow passed over them. As they looked up, they saw another Crawling One descending the hotel exterior. They bolted down the street. Since Brenda had forgotten to close the bag, bills started to work their way loose from their wrapping and floated out of the jostling bag. And to make matters worse, they were almost run over by a speeding car.

Ruth looked at the splattered body. A hardened killer, this was nothing. “Serves you right boy for not delivering my eyeglasses to my room.” Ruth found a car with key and drove away. She watched thru the rearview mirror, worried the creature might follow. She saw shreds of paper swirl in a cloud behind her. She never saw the 3 pedestrians struggling along the left side of the street.

EPILOGUE: Within 3 months, the 3 escapees had already blown their share of the money. Taylor spent his share on hospital care that did little to relieve his war trauma. Mell thought better than to use his money to pay back the mob. It might have been marked and thus traceable to the heist. So, he spent his cut on street women. Brenda made it to Mexico. Where a gigolo took her for all she had.

Logan was no dumb gangster. He knew the mafia would hold him accountable. He melted into a Chicago neighborhood, never to be heard from again. Meanwhile, Ruth flew back to California to report, “Your Reno boys never showed.” Two days later, she was called in, “Care to explain this newspaper story?”

“Fire Sale, in Tumbleweed, TX. 4 days ago, the Plimpton hotel was completely destroyed by fire. Night manager Brook Davis reported a beautiful woman who signed in as Ruth the cause. “She torched the place with her Molotov-cocktails. Then drove away with stacks of money blowing out of her open window and into the streets. It was Christmas-come-early for many Tumbleweed citizens.”

The California mob signed Ruth up for swim lessons. She failed to master use of those concrete flippers.

STORYLINE: Oflyn Baharad was a Hyperborean wizard whose longevity spell finally expired. His talisman stolen long ago. He on the trail of the thief. But time ran out. His body dissolved into the carpet in room 610. His gooey remains dripped thru the floorboards into the gangsters’ room 510 below. The Crawling Ones were the result of the occult magic that extended his life. The first mass-of-worms cast ‘Mist of R’lyeh’, creating the obscuring mist in room 510.