Turn 4... Clues and investigations

[Zed]

The police round you up and take you all back into the Club. Those of you with firearems have to spend several minutes explaining and proving that they are owned legally whilst the rest are questioned on your reasons for being in the club and what you saw of the shooting....

[What you can tell]

1. Manusco's initial gunshot wound should have been fatal.
2. Somehow he managed to 'get up' and leave the premises muttering "Joey"
3. Manusco was trampled as he left the building, then crushed by a car. The trampling should have killed him.
4. The slip of paper - dropped by Wester reads:

Morgan & Dupuy
Christian Funeral Home
Serving families of African Descent since 1851
172nd and West Charles Streets
Elkhorn 6617

Handwritten in ink are tomorrows date and the words 11 AM Sharp - Bring your horn. New Orleans style.

This was not presented to the police.

[Pease ask questions or suggest next moves for the night or the morning]

 

[Gottaa]

Richard offers his abode to the group who'd been detained by the police.

"They may be humble dwellings but after the night we've had you may appreciate or take me up on the offer"

Richard having read the note will have handed it on to another in the group (not to the person who'd flashed his badge, he see's no need to be detained any longer than he has been), does he though know where the original owner of this note lives or could possibly be found ? He wouldn't want the funeral to be lacking music when it can be so soothing at such times.

 

[Zed]

You could ask around for Wester you might find someone who can tell you. Do you want to do this in the morning?

 

[Gottaa]

If there is a chance I can do it tonight if people are still around I'll do it then, if not tomorrow shall have to do.

 

[Brutus]

Luther looks somewhat shaken beneath his bushy moustache and takes a quick look at the note as it is offered memorizing the short contents:

Morgan & Dupuy
Christian Funeral Home
Serving families of African Descent since 1851
172nd and West Charles Streets
Elkhorn 6617

Handwritten in ink are tomorrows date and the words 11 AM Sharp - Bring your horn. New Orleans style.

"I think we might be able to find out where this place is quite easily by simply asking a local taxi driver, probably cost us a few bucks but it gets us what we want to know and I sure as hell want to know what the hell was going on here, that was un-natural, no man could survive that!" Luther whispered conspirationally into Richards ear.

"Ah forgot my manners in all the blood shed, names Luther Masters, I'm afraid I have no idea what a New Orleans style horn is though...." Luther finishes looking at Richard.

"We might want to get there before anyone else does though, it pays to know the lay of the land before you go poking about, I don't kknow about you but right now I want three things, drink, sleep and answers...." With this Luther pulls a couple of cards out of an inside pocket and proffers one to all those who are Interested, the card states: <See bottom of post>

"Join me if you wish in the Crystal room in what remains of the evening, they seem to have a nack or finding you a strong coffee if you get mah meaning" His gruff Texan accent trailed off as he turned to walk out of the door, he could be clearly seen thumbing down a Taxi and speaking to the driver, a few dollars being exchanged....

[O.O.C. Tell me what he finds please Z The hotel for those interested: http://www.lepavillon.com/ ]

 

[Zed]

[Excellent Brut - but your in Boston ;-) ./.. ill takr the hotel as being one in Boston]

 

[Brutus]

[O.O.C. That was teh idea you chimp: roleplaying.... ]

 

[Sorontar]

Frank goes into professional mode, taking witness statements and searching the tables for evidence. He makes sure that officers are asking for witnesses outside about the getaway car.

Once he has finished in the club he steps out into the alleyway to see if he can find anything around where the car was waiting for the shooter.

Once he has finished working he makes a point of finding the man who had entered the alley with him.

"Thanks for the assistance in getting the officers out of the car." holding a hand out to shake.

Handing him a card.

"The names Frank Hancock, if you remember anything in the days following give me a call"

 

[Zed]

Over the course of the next few hours, each of you for reasons unexplained find yourselves in the crystal room obtaining 'strong coffee' in the company of Luther but not before you have each pursued avenues of inquiry...

Richard heads into the heart of the Ethinic center of Boston, hoping to find the whereabout of Wester. Inquiries to various muscicians he knows draws little except one curious comment from an old grandmama - Ukrezia Borden - she tells him "Leave that band alone. They ain't done nothin'. Buster Bedson, the drummer, he be keeping a chicken foot inside his drum. Yessir! You know what that means."

Jacques mulls over the events as he saw them, something didnt sit right with him, the gun shot being fatal, the tune - he recalls Wester calling it "dead man stomp" and then .... An ancient tome Jacques once remembers looking over in wild years at university, described in some detail that using ancient witchcraft and sorcery one could literraly bring back the dead.

Frank learns little. The car, which Alex described in some detail, has not turned up and it could be one of many hundreds in Boston. Finding it would be impossible unless someone made a slip. He was though drawn to those who aided the dazed police and chased the shooter. He remembered the invitation from the Texan and decided to follow it up.

Luther learnt, on his ride back to his hotel, that the Funeral parlour was well known amongst the Ethinic community and was easy to find. But, he was warned, rednecks and disrepect wouldnt be welcomed, however show respect and you will be welcomed as a brother or sister for the duration of the service.

Jonathan, still shocked at the death of his boss, supects mob involvement, though he has no idea why they would shoot his boss as they did. He ends up in the Crytsal room fairly quickly accompanied by Alex

[Actions? RP through the evening, discuss theory etc]

 

[Brutus]

Leaning back in a comfortable couch Luther gently sips his coffee, enjoyingthe whiskey flavoured aroma and letting it ease away his troubled thoughts for a few moments, eventually the others arrive and he makes a order with a slightly hobbled waiter, Barney says the embroidery on his waistcoat, then begins to talk leaning forward to the coffee table amidst the group of chairs and such, keeping his voice low but not actually needing to due to the room being quite busy at present....

"Well gentlemen I have decided to try and find out what actually happened this evening, I know that the wound the man recieved should have been instantly fatal, no arguing there?" At this he takes a look around the gathered faces, seeing nobody disagreeing he then decides to continue with what he had managed to learn.

"It would seem that the Morgan & Dupuy Christian Funeral Home is easy enough to find for ourselves, a helpful cab driver gave it to me on good authority though that interference would be met with intolerance but that as long as we are well behaved and respectful that we should meet with no problems, to this end I would suggest arriving a little before the attributed meeting time and taking a good look around, possibly finding somewhere to try and observe whomever it was your late employer" at this point he looks out from beneath the brim of his hat at Jonatahn "was going to be meeting, but it might be best if you try and be a little discreet Jonathan, your face might be known to these people due to your mutual association" At this Luther leans back into the couch, cup and saucer in hand to proffer himself a gentle draught before leaning forwards once more, looking from face to face.

"Do any of you have anything else to share?, aside from the wound being obviously fatal I do also find myself wandering why the man was shot in such a manner and in such a public place, killing tends to be something kept behind locked doors and in battlefields in my experience....." At this Luther retires to silence having shared all that he knows and resolves to find out what the others are able to tell him, sitting there he began to think to hmself that he had not been this curious, or this downright scared, since he was a small boy and felt rather like a very tiny fish swimming through someone elses current....

[O.O.C. Once a plan of some form is formualted and everyone has spoken Luther will retire for the evening]

 

[Zeus]

"Well gentlemen I have decided to try and find out what actually happened this evening, I know that the wound the man recieved should have been instantly fatal, no arguing there?" Luther said, looking around.
Alex shakes his head "No way. the bloodloss and hydro-static shock alone would have killed him, even if you ignore the fact it was straight through his brain."

Alex agree's with Luthor's next suggestion, and at his invitation mentions that they should perhaps check out the funeral of Manusco as well, and observe it to see if anything shows up.
on the subject of the killing itself, he speaks as though giving voice to his thoughts as he has them "Clearly it wasnt meant to be subtle, theres better ways to kill someone if you dont want people to know. Also, the dead man - Manusco, you said? - he seemed agitated - if i had to guess, i'd say he knew something was going to happen. whether he knew it was this or not... thats anybodies guess. i think he knew he was due to die tonight, and wanted to be in a public place to try and prevent it." Alex makes this assumption from his knowledge of the mob in the city. "Jonathon? would that sound right with what you know?"

"As to how he walked off after the shot.... thats a thought i can do without." It was too close to his own experience, being thought dead but waking. What if somehow the same thing had happened? but no. most of the mans head was missing, it couldnt be. "And who the hell is this 'Joey' character he mentioned, i wonder? a rival mob boss, jonathon? i'll understand if you dont want to say."

 

[Cadfiel]

[OOC sorry once again for the delay, Ill update later but for now...]

I guess even being on the faculty wont allow me access to the University and Library this time of night. If i think i can get away with it id like to head over there and see if i can either get a look or even borrow the book. Hmm wonder if i have any favours i can call in....

Failing that ill have to head in early in the morning, see if i can get in first thing.

 

[Gottaa]

OOC: Oops just post my action tonight or tomorrow morning.

To answer Jonothans question below.

"I believe the person who had this note was the person who said you'd been shot, and I must say when I turned and looked it did look like you had been, perhaps he thought the bullet had gone all the way through your employer and into you as well. I've had no luck tracking him down but if we arise early tomorrow we should be able to go to the address and catch him before things begin at the funeral, I'd rather catch him before than after such a thing."

 

[Cuthrose]

Final coming to he sense after a good coffe a thought comes to his head,

"apogise for asking such a simple question, but my memory of the event is hazy, but did someone say that i had been shot? i ask this quite simple as i belive it would be very easy to detime the person who had been gunned down rather than me?"

"also what confused me, is why shot some one in such a public place, were the escape route might of been blocked? the club was so crowed he had no way of knowing he could of made a clean get away. I suspect this might not be as well planed as some people think, and did the police take away the body of my boss...i can't remeber seeing a body bag, i was into much shock"

 

[Sorontar]

"also what confused me, is why shot some one in such a public place, were the escape route might of been blocked? "

Frank looks up, having sat quietly until now,at this and answers when he gets a chance.

"A statement possibly to others who are opposed to the shooters boss? "No matter where you are you're not safe from recriminations". They'd obviously made sure of a getaway as well because there was a car waiting outside in the alley."

"Yes things could've gone wrong, and almost did as they couldn't have known a member of Boston PD was inside, but I have no doubt they would have used deadly force had it done and a lot more people would have died tonight"

"I still can't figure out how he dragged his carcass off the table and made it into the street. I have to agree with Alex, from my experience those kind of gunshots only end up with a corpse to move not a moving corpse"

 

[Cadfiel]

Jacques stands, "In memory of the dead", glass raised towards the others, "may they long rest in...."

Jacques shakes his head and turns, slowly he starts to speak, quietly at first "After tonight, I will be happy if they just rest." Jacques clears his throat, "May they rest in peace." Quickly he takes a sip, you notice that his hand is trembling slightly as he sits down again.

�We fellows appear to be thrown together by happenstance, already the police will be rationalising what we have seen as the ravings of people befuddled by drink. They have not seen what we have, they will not believe it.� Jacques looks in turn to each of the others, "I do not believe it, but i can not doubt my own eyes."

"Mr Henderson, I would not normally ask such and impertenant question but, what were you and your Employer doing here tonight?" Jacques stares into the young mans eyes. "I do not know if you were aware, but he was scared about something. Very nervous he was, and as it turns out, he had good cause to be."

"Please forgive me while i state the obvious but i think better this way", Raising his glass and taking a sip, Jacques continues, "There are two real questions we need answering. One, who would want your employer dead? and two, how did that what happened after, happen?"

Turning to Mr Henderson. "What do you and your Employer do? Who do you work for? Who benefits from his death, other partners, a wife, business rivals, you? Jacques pauses a fraction of a second to see how Mr Henderson reacts then continues "forgive me, i am not implying you had any part with tonights events, i can see they have affected you more than any of us and i am sorry for your loss. However this questions need to be asked before we can understand the bigger question."

Jacques leans into the table and lowers his voice, "If you do not know the answers to any of those questions then i suggest you return to Mr Manusco's office and see if you can find anything. If you need some help or company, we are all involved in this now"

Jacques straightens up and then turns to Detective Hancock, "I am not surprised that the police have not gotten anywhere, do not misunderstand me, i simply mean what i said earlier, they will rationalise this away and deal with it in as quickly and quietly way as possible." Jacques pauses, "However, for more mundane things we might still get answers, do you know or can you find out anymore about Mr Manusco? Once we know this we can tell if this was just unfortunate chance or if we are in over our heads.�

Jacques leans back in his chair and appears to relax for the first time that evening. "I have read stories of such things happening, all cultures have folklore and fable about people who rise from the dead, warriors that carry on despite wounds that clearly should have laid them low, until now i have always treated them as such as stories but now..."

"I think none of us will get a good nights sleep tonight".