[hr][hr][h1][b][i][color=1a7b30][center]Call of Cthulhu[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1]

[hr][center][h3][color=0054a6]Chapter One: The Crack'd and Crook'd Manse[/color][/h3][/center][hr]

Date: Monday, May 4th, 1925
Time: Morning
Location: TIME Agency Office - Arkham, Massachusetts

[color=1a7b30][b]TIME Office: [/b][/color]French words of a flirtatious nature brought the mechanical symphony to a brief halt, accompanied by the slighest of chuckles from the red-headed secretary seated behind the office desk. Henrietta placed her palm on her lips, as if to hold in a scandalous gasp from leaving into the world at large. [color=f9ad81]"Why thank you, Madam, you don't look any worse yourself."[/color] Henrietta thanked Eleonora, keeping her typewriter silent for a few more moments as she was left to her own waiting for the others to arrive. [color=f9ad81]"A coffee, of course, Ellie. Just don't get your hopes too high. You know how Harry feels about these office romances, not to mention my boyfriend. Later!"[/color]

Time moved unnoticeably as the entrance opened again, this time letting the Professor inside. Henrietta's typing drowned out the very steps Jeremiah took, and only the distant breath of the bookworm's "Good morning." proved to the secretary that this had in fact not been the figment of her imagination. Soon enough she was by herself in the reception again, talking to herself. [color=f9ad81]"[i]Good morning, Miss Babson. Good to see you, Miss Babson. How is the cat doing, Babson? What do you think about this new book about a sketchy shiek called "Gatsby, diving deep into the opposing forces of old money and new money in American society, Miss Babson"?[/i] Jesus wept! Next time allow me to whack you over the head with something, Professor Dupree..."[/color]

Footsteps of a semi-cyclopediean elavation alarted Henrietta of the next Investigator's entry, that of Margarete O'Bryon, the friendly Celtic Gigantess - emphasis on "friendly". Without ceasing her automatic dexterous dance of fingers tapping on keys, she sent a smile towards Margerete as she asked of her well-being, just as she passed and went into the main office. [color=f9ad81]"Just like I always do, Miss o'Bryon. Glad to see you up and dandying. Remind me to send you that catalouge of artifacts from that museum in Boston!"[/color]

[hr][hr][h3][b][i][color=598527][center]Harry Peacock[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h3]
[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/0Y8wHXT/Office-Head-Harry-Peacock-header-small.jpg[/img][hr][hr]
[b][color=598527]Location: TIME Agency office - Downtown Arkham[/color][/b]
[/center][hr][hr]

Three. Three of five investigators had managed to arrive in time to the briefing. Harry chuckled briefly to himself, leaning over the desk and looking up at the clock ticking away on the wall. Monday morning, still early in May. Yeah, he thought three out of five wasn't too bad, not for a newly established branch in a town like Arkham. 

Without further fanfare, Harry gave each investigator a good look and nodded as they commenced their first step in becoming true gumshoes; prelimenary thoughts on the case. 

Eleonora's insight into the name of Arthur Cornthwaite left little reaction from Harry, a quick look over at the pseudo-French detective giving the impression of annoyance or disapproval of her attitude. Or perhaps it was the state in which she had arrived. Harry was a private detective himself after all, and knew when to spot someone The day after. 

Then again, Harry had to admit, she had been the first investigator to arrive after his call. Even if she was hungover anf arrived with an attitude, she had arrived first.

Taking a long drag from his cigarette while Eleonora continued her second and reflected part of her train of thought, Harry eventually brought the conversation onto something, he hoped, more productive. [color=598527]"Famous folks attract those who want fame themselves. That's why I wound up here, privacy is one precious luxury in this time and age. Eleonora, good point you have there; if he's rich, how did no one catch onto him vanishing? Means he either actively seeks his privacy, or lives isolated from wider society."[/color]

The Professor's blunt statement of academic fact was different in every sense of the word from Eleonora's; brief, factual and lacking of emotional judgement. While the first lady had raised some questions, Jeremiah had to Harry's nods of approval given facts. [color=598527]"Correct, Professor. Mr. Cornthwaite seems to be an able man, both in wealth and mind. You should consider if these facts are relevant in some form or fashion; if not as a motive, then as providing us a fram for his disappearance."[/color]

Margarete's input was returend with further accknowledning nods from Harry, silently observing the Celtic lass expanding upon what Eleonora and Jeremiah had begun. [color=598527]"We've got a source of income then, as well as some type of quirk to our New England adventurer. Tribes without a sense of direction. Good, we're gaining a clearer impression of Mr. Cornthwaite, detectives. Anything else?"[/color]

Ending the burning ambers of the little remains of his cigarette, Harry puffed out the nicotine cloud he'd harboured within his lungs, before continuing. [color=598527]"Lastly Eleonora, they didn't contact you. They contacted me, and I want you to prove yourselves as good gumshoes, so I give the case over to you."[/color] Not a moment after ending this quite direct order, the pieces of paper Harry'd held revealed their truths; [url=https://i.ibb.co/ZBfyV4M/Crack-d-1.jpg]a typewritten letter[/url] and [url=https://i.ibb.co/yn9yj4y/Crack-d-2.jpg]a newspaper-clipping[/url]. 

[color=598527]"I recieved this letter before the weekend, and have been contemplating whether or not you bunch were ready or not to take on this case. Today and your presence here has given us an answer, and I hope for all our sakes that it is in the affirmative. Anyway, I got this letter alongside the attached clipping for a newspaper, mailed from a small town called Gamwell. I'm not sure which associate of mine this attorney, Mr. Dodge is referring to, but that's not relevant right now. What is relevant is the letter, clipping and Mr. Dodge's request to locate Arthur Cornthwaite and his fate, for a fee of course."[/color]

[color=598527]"To you who haven't read the letter, here's the gist of it; Mr. Dodge asks me, and consequently you, to locate the missing Mr. Cornthwaite.  He lives in Gamwell, further up the Miskatonic Valley quite far away. Appears the local sheriff didn't find anything suspicious, and taken no further action. That, Miss Eleonora, is why Arthur Cornthwaite's attorney contacted us. Ergo, your first case will be to uncover Mr. Arthur Cornthwaite's whereabouts and, or, fate, on behalf of his attorney. The clock's ticking, gumshoes. What's your plan? If you want one last piece of Harry's Detective Wisdoms, you should go talk to his attorney first. Now if you're all ready, this will be one long car ride for all of you."[/color]