Riddle Me This

Collins Investigations. Another night and more contemplation on An Epitaph of an Alchemist as Nichole Collins and Esther Friedman continue to ponder the significance of the poem given to them by Noah Mankowski. A poem or a riddle or a map. Perhaps all three. Their hope that the Doctor from the Miskatonic University may perhaps provide some insight had not yet come to fruition — until tonight.

{Scene One}
Title sequence transitions now as one of the doors of the former law offices of Matigan & Wiley opens slowly. Outside the sound of a passing car can be heard as the headlights wash across the large plateglass windows. Dr. Artemis, of Arkham, Massachusetts, of the Mistkatonic University, dressed in his dark suit, his gold pocket watch chain dangling from this vest, leans in and looks into the vacant front office.

While in Nikki Collins’ office, Nikki looks up from the copy of Esther’s translation of Noah Mankowski’s poem. She glances over to Esther leaning up against the wall, “Did you hear someone at the door?”

Dr. Artemis enters, “Yoohoo?”

Nikki nods, “Yes, there is someone there. It’s Doctor Artemis ”

“I’ll get it.” Esther says and opens Nikki’s door and walks into the main lobby.

She sees the doctor closing the door behind him; he appears to be accompanied by a tall woman dressed in a milk chocolate hued uniform. “Hello Artemis,” She says, looking at the woman.

“Hello, Miss Friedman.’ The Doctor replies, noting now Nichole Collins stepping out of her office door – behind Esther.

“Doctor Artemis.” She says.

“Ah. Hello, Miss Collins. Yes, and . . .ummm, this … super-heroine followed me.

The woman smiles, “I’m the Nth.” She announces boldy.

Esther cuts a glance to Nikki as she walks up beside her.

“Doctor, so good to see you again.” Nikki motions to the chairs in front of Esther’s desk, “Please have a seat.”

“Nice too meet you all.” The Nth said.

“Thank you, Miss Collins.” And the Doctor sat down.

Esther moving over to her desk, pulls back her chair and looks at the woman in the uniform, “The ‘enth’?”

Nikki smiles, “Good Evening, I am Nicole Collins, can I be of help?” She asks the woman named Nth.

Dr. Artemis looks at the woman also, “Nth. As in, “to the nth degree”.”

“Exactly.” She says, her hands on her hips, striking a super-heroine pose.

Nikki glances down to the Doctor, “Did you drive up or did you stay over from the other night Doctor?”

Esther frowns, “the ‘enth’. Like the Ukran—so, can I help you miss?”

“I flew, actually.” The Doctor explains.

“I am here looking for people for my group, thinkers, people with abilities that are beyond mortal capacity.”

Nikki frowns and looks at the woman, then back down to the Doctor, “Oh, yes, your jet.”

“Yes.” He says.

“A super race—“ Esther asks The Nth.

“I’m sorry, I should let the lady sit.” Artemis, ever the gentleman, starts to rise as he has taking a seat but the Nth as yet to do so – and he had thought she was sitting when he had taken his seat.

“Not really a race just a group.” She says breaking her super-heroine pose to sit in the chair opposite the doctor so that Artemis is awkwardly in the midst of rising and then sits again. Nikki looks at him and raises and eyebrow, even as he gives her a quizzical look in regards to the woman in the light chocolate hued uniform.

“A league or a society of sorts.” The woman answers Esther.

Esther takes a seat behind her desk, “Miss, this is a detective agency, not a Mensa club. Do you have a problem? or a stolen piece of property? Or— I know the sign says law offices. We really need to change that, but if you have some sort of mystery to solve, perhaps we can help you out?

“No not at the moment.” The Nth explains, “Just perhaps –if you wanted to help me look for a superhuman in your midst that would help.”

The statement of course piquing the doctor’s interest, “How about inhuman?”

Esther looks at the doctor wondering just where he is going with that, “Ah … perhaps you need to go search for your Ubermench elsewhere.”

Dr. Artemis now notices the blood splotch by the window; then the bullet holes in the wall.

Nikki smiles as she observes the Doctor taking note of the bloodstain, “Seems my floor is becoming more like the Library rug these days. So, Doctor, have you had any more thoughts regarding the poem we were discussing the other night?”

He adjusts his vest and straightens the cuffs of his suit jacket, “Not a whole lot. We’ve been very busy trying to reopen that case about the attack on the police station.”

“Inhuman?” The Nth asks.

Esther begins to arrange items on her desk, “Well ‘s not as bad as the walls,” and she glances at the bullet holes in the wall beside the fridge. “What police station?” She looks back at the doctor

“Arkham PD.” He informs her.

Nikki steps over and stands beside Esther, “You remember Esther it was in the newspapers several weeks back.”

The Nth looks from the doctor to Esther and Nikki, “Ah, so tell me more of this inhuman.”

“Now why would I read newspapers from Massachusetts?” Esther replies.

“A group attacked the police station, killed several officers and a few prisoners too, I think.” Nikki continues and places a hand on the back of Esther chair.

“Esther? Who is Esther? Is she the Inhuman?”

“Miss Friedman, here. “ The Doctor replies pointing to Esther, “And Miss Nth, the two of them appear to be human…”

Esther raises an eyebrow and glances at him – at least he is not going there . . .

“Oh, I’m sorry, this is Collins Investigations, Esther is my partner.” She moves her hand from the chair to place on Esther’s shoulder, “We started this business.”

“”I” am Esther.” Esther looks at the woman, thinking, oh, well here we go again, some other nutjob case . . . inhuman indeed. “And I suggest Miss “enth”, that you fill out the following paperwork, and she reaches over and hands a bundle of papers to the woman. Esther’s paperwork of course commiserate with the importance of the case as she judged it, the very important, a single sheet, the not so – the stack she hands The Nth.

“The other, if there was another, may have been invisible.”

Nikki looks at the doctor—perhaps there is some portion of this conversation between the Doctor and The Nth that took place before they arrived. “So, they are still looking for these assailants?”

Dr. Artemis nods and looks at Esther, “I would have through the attack would have made the front page of the Collinsport Star, seeing as how your new Chief of Police, Miss St. Clair, was a former detective with the Arkham PD.”

Esther starts shuffling through papers, “Well, the USA Today, is all that I got.”

“Miss Nth, I will say that a lot of strange things do happen here in Collinsport—“ Nikki tells the woman, “You most likely just need to stay in town a few days and you will find something not quite human.”

Dr. Artemis: looks piercingly at Nikki.

“Oh, that’s good to hear,” The Nth said brightening to the prospect.

Esther sits back in her chair, “So. Artemis? Nik? While we let Miss “enth” fill out that paperwork, lets go discuss matters of our current case, yes?”

“Yes, let’s—we really need to figure out this riddle, the one Noah Mankowski has left us.”

“Your office?” Esther suggests.

Nikki nods, “Doctor, would you join us?”

“Certainly.”

Nikki walks over to her office door.

Esther rises, “Now, you just fill out ALL of that paperwork,” she tells The Nth as she goes over to the office.

“What paper work?”

Esther points to the mounds of papers that she had set in front of the woman, “That paperwork.”

The Nth sits looking at the very large stack of papers.

{End of scene, commercial break}

{Transition from commercial, Scene Two}

Dr. Artemis eyes the goblet filled with red fluid on Nikki’s desk.

Behind him, Esther closes the office door and takes off her coat and drapes it over the chair in the corner. She leans up against her usual spot on the wall.

Nikki aware of the doctor’s interest in her glass ignores it and opens her desk drawer and removes a copy of the poem, the one they had been looking at when the doctor and The Nth had arrived. Nikki places it on the desk before the Doctor.

Outside in the lobby office, The Nth looks over the paperwork curious as to what it was.

The doctor leans forward and takes the copy of the poem from Nikki, and begins to study it:

Epitaph of an Alchemist.

Sleep peacefully, my most beloved witch, Mason

Nikki: “So this Witch Mason—perhaps this is a Witch from Arkham doctor?”

“Yes. Keziah Mason. She’s mentioned in several histories.”

“From what I have been able to determine. “ Nikki takes out a note pad and makes a note. “I think her house is still there in Arkham. Yes?”

Artemis nods.

“What can ye tell us ’bout her?” Esther asks

“She was part of the old Witch Trial history here in New England, am I right Doctor?” Nikki asks.

Artemis nods again, “Yes—Cotton Mather accused her of witchcraft in 1692.”

Nikki writes and looks up — ‘hmmm”

“She was imprisoned… but she escaped.” He continues, his attention still on the copy of the poem.

“Oh, how did she manage that?”

“No one knows for certain. But her cell was found covered with strange glyphs and symbols.”

Nikki taps the end of her pen against her lip thoughtfully.

The door to Nikki’s office suddenly opens and he Nth walks in and looks at them. “A Poem? What poem? Who wrote it?”

Esther bolts from the wall and moves to the door, “HEY! Get out of here! This is a private conversation.”

Dr. Artemis looks up and stares at Nth.

The Nth stares at them blinking.

“Paperwork. Fill out the paperwork!” Esther tells her pointing to her desk.

The Nth sighs—she is a super-heroine. . . . can they not tell, does she need to strike the pose again?

Esther closes and locks the door. She looks at Nikki, “Ok—the witch.”

“So, if it is her—this Mason. Keziah Mason. Then it could be possible that the river mentioned is in fact the Miskatonic and the Island is the island that can been seen in the Miskatonic—as Dr. Praetorius has suggested.”

Dr. Artemis nods, “It’s a possibility.”

“So that is where the trapazoidy-thing or whatever is, is? This island?” Esther asks resuming her position leaning against the wall.

“But, how could it have gotten there, if it was thrown into the Bay?” Nikki ponders.

“Well, yes, the Trapezohedron is supposed to be at the bottom of Narragansett Bay.

“Wait—“ Esther says . . .

The Nth looks over the papers trying to discern who wrote them and why they have her filling out paperwork. They are mostly repetitive typed question-answer sheets asking information such as name and residence, and so on – each one is only slightly different than the one before.

“ . . . didn’t Noah mention something about a Doctor Huckabee?” Esther continues.

“The Gem is NOT on the island, Miss Collins. Not according to the poem.” The Doctor replies looking up from the document.

The Nth sighed and starting to fill it out the paperwork.

“But,” Nikki motions to the Doctor, “Didn’t you say it was a Dr. Dexter who threw it in the Bay?”

Esther leans back thinking, and unthinkingly takes out her pack of cigarettes and flicks one free. She pulls it from the pack and instinctively puts it to her lips and lights it.

“The “KEY” to the Gem is on the island.” The Doctor remarks handing Nikki back the copy of the poem.

“Oh— ” Nikki sits back, “So, you think it is still in the Bay?”

Dr. Artemis nods, “Most likely.”

He detects the scent of cigarette smoke and looks over horrified at Esther, “Ahem. If you are going to smoke in these confined quarters, I must leave.”

“Huckabee . . . “ Esther says lost in thought, “Mortimer Huckabee. That’s what Noah said. Said he took it out of the bay.”

Nikki looks at the poem again, “You are right Doctor!”

Dr. Artemis frowns at the cigarette and Esther’s apparent refusal to put it out, and so he stands up and pulls on his vest, straightening it, “Goodbye.”

Esther looks at him, “Hmm?”

Nikki watches the Doctor unlock the door and leave the office, “Doctor?”

She looks at Esther, then the open door, and calls out: “Doctor, did I say something?”

Esther notices the cigarette in her hand, “Oh. Right. Blueblood, a**hat.” She quickly smashes the cigarette in the ash tray on the desk and follows after him.

Looks to Esther, “What?”

Dr. Artemis: walks past The Nth filling out a new form, as he opens the front door and steps out – “Brrr!”

“So how are you faring in the case?” The Nth asks looking up from the form.

Esther hurries toward the door.

“Wait!” Esther says stepping out on the sidewalk and rushing to Artemis.

“I beg your pardon.” He says.

“Get yer a** back in here. “ She holds out her hands, “See” showing them to be cigarette free. “We need yer help – so, you go back in there, think with all that fancy lernin’ ’bout the name Mortimer Huckabee, and I’ll step outside for a smoke

Dr. Artemis looks at her empty hands and crinkles his nose at the scent of the cigarette on her clothing, “Very well.”

NIkki picks up the poem and looks at it once again, “How did I misread that . . . he is right, it’s the key that is on the island.” She says to herself

The doctor re-enters the building and smiles at The Nth, “How are we progressing?”

“Form 1212 completed.”

“Ahh,” He says and walks back into Nikki’s office waving the lingering traces of smoke away.

“Sorry, Doctor.” Nikki says.

He steps over and picks up the poem, “Look for the shore the two will tell you of . . . It’s a small island. There’s not that much shore.”

“Yes, I would not think it would be very large in the Miskatonic.”

He nods, “It might take all of five minutes to get around it.”

“Do you know of any structures there, houses, huts, cabins, anything like that?”

He shakes his head.

“I am wondering if perhaps this Mason, this witch may have used this island to practice her craft?”

He purses his lips, “Well, there are half a dozen standing stones. That’s all. It has never been inhabited. And oh yes, she certainly used it, she was seen there many times.”

Esther standing just outside the building takes a few drags from a cigarette and the tosses it into the street. She wants to get back to Nikki and the doctor and so steps back into the old law offices. She locks the door behind her—she didn’t need any more super heroes tonight.

The Nth is about to say something, but she points at the desk, “The paperwork.”

Esther enters the office to hear the doctor say, “She always brought her pet rat, too.”

She closes and locks the office door behind her.

“The stones you mentioned on the island – you said her cell had these strange glyphs and symbols— I wonder if perhaps two of these stones have some of these on them. Maybe that is the “two will tell you of”.

Dr. Artemis takes his seat and looks at the poem once more, “That’s possible.”

Nikki looks oddly, “This woman had a pet rat? No wonder they thought she was a witch.”

He nodded, “It didn’t take much to hang people for witchcraft in those days.”

“Maybe it tells where on the shoreline of the bay it was thrown from?” Nikki says thoughtfully.

The doctor looks up, “Huh? Maybe what tells about that?”

“The part about . . . look for the shore the two will tell you of . . .” Nikki explains, “The shore perhaps it is not the island but the Bay.”

Along the sidewalk, a man with wheat-hued hair and deep green eyes casually approaches the investigation office. He stopped and quietly attempted to open the door. Strange? He stood in a little confusion and shock discovering it to be locked tightly. “Odd. Rhyaad asked me to be here around this time…’ He thought, and reached out to knock upon the door a few times.

Inside Nikki’s office, Dr. Artemis continues, “The Trapezohedron was thrown in the Bay in 1935 or so.”

Nikki looks up and Esther glances at her, as they both hear the knocking at the door. Esther sighs, and steps forward, “I’ll get it.”

Dr. Artemis turns at the sound of the knock, “Expecting company?”

“We always expect company,” Esther remarks as she opens the office door, enters the lobby.

“Well, Miss Mason could not have carved instructions as to its location in 1692.” The doctor explains why Nikki’s suggestion is not at all possible.

Esther crosses to the main entrance, opens the door, “What do you want!?” looking at the blond man with the questioning green eyes.

Nikki sits back, “Yes, sorry, that would make sense. But how can this even connect to something in 1935, if it is connected to this Mason in 1692?”

“The author of this poem wants Mason reanimated.” He tells her.

“…Where I come from, a person is typically greeted before he is inquired.” The male leveling a quirked brow and flat stare at the woman who had come to answer the door.

“Well this is Collinsport, Maine.” Esther replies, “So you must not be from around here.”

“I’m expected. Rhyaad requested I be here. And I am.” He tells her.

“And so, Mason will lead them to the Trapezohedron.” The Doctor adds.

“Rhy isn’t here.” Esther informs the man at the door. “Have ya tried his teaplace?”

“Do you have any idea what “and place them about in protective branches,” means?”

“I’s like a bar, ‘cept they ain’t got any good booze. Very little booze in fact.” Esther continues.

“I wasn’t asked to try his tea house. I was asked to be here, at this office building, at precisely this time. Today.” The blond stated back flatly and, with an entirely unamused expression, reached up to flick a piece of hair from his face. “Are you going to continue to have me state the obvious, miss? Not to be rude, but I don’t exactly have time for this.”

“Well—“ Artemis begins, looking across the antique desk at Nikki, “I hope I am wrong, but…”

Esther remains steadfast at the door, “I’m sorry sir. He’s not here. Try again tomorrow.”

“There was a case in Maryland back in 1895, I think….’ Artemis is saying.

“Then I would like to speak with a Miss Nikki Collins. She will hopefully know why.” The man informs Esther.

“A search party disappeared. Then their bodies were found, disemboweled, and laid out in an odd pattern, intertwined. There were six of them.”

Nikki once again makes notes.

“She’s busy at the moment. In fact we are all very busy at the moment. But, if you’d like t’a make an appointment. I can get ya the paperwork for it.”

The Nth looks up.

“They were laid out on a site known for witchcraft practices…” Artemis says, “It was called Coffin Rock.”

{End scene, commercial break}

{Transition from commercial, Scene Three}

“I have an appointment.” The man at the door says to Esther, “Which is why I’m here. Do you normally go out of your way to irritate people you’ve only just met, or am I special somehow?”

“Coffin Rock, Maryland.” Nikki notes.

“Oddly enough, after they were found, the bodies disappeared.” Doctor Artemis says and crosses his legs rather casually, “Coffin Rock is the name of the rock . . .. The town is called Burkettville . . .. Earlier, it was named Blair.”

{Cue dramatic music}

“Now, that is an very interesting name. Blair.” Nikki says sitting back in her chair.

“I sometimes irritate people that take time and sobriety far to seriously.” Esther relents and opens the door, “Do come in. It’s cold outside.”

Artemis nods.

Esther opens the door wider: “I’ll check an see if Nik want’s to talk with you, but we are in the middle of something – that’s confidential I’m sure you understand.”

The Doctor’s cell phone suddenly rings.

“Oh, you are a dear. Lovely. Thank you.” The blonde man says and rolls his eyes derisively and slides inside. The male quietly brushes off his coat and shirt before looking around. “I’m sorry if I am intruding, but this is important. Thank you.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Collins. I should take this.” The Doctor says.

Esther closes the door, and looks at him, “Yeah, well thank you. Your sarcasm is noted.” She looks at The Nth, “Paperwork.”

Nikki looks up from her notes, and nods at his phone understanding his need.

“Hello,” The Doctor says, “Officer….”

Esther walks back over to the office and opens the door.

“It was only half-sarcastic, if that’s any consolation.” The blond man tells her.

“Yes . . .” The Doctor nods as he speaks into the cell phone.

“Hey Nik.” Esther says.

“Oh really?” The Doctor continues.

“Yes, Esther?” Nikki looks up.

“Yes, I want to see that.” Artemis continues nodding.

Esther looks at the Doctor, then Nikki, “There is a condescending a** in the lobby. Friend of Rhy’s. Want’s to see you.”

Artemis looks up at Esther at the door, “Laskomann? No, I don’t.”

Meili Rainheart, for his part, leans against a wall silently. A small smirk curls his lips as he thought over the situation that had brought him here.

“I am with the Doctor at the moment . . . ” Nikki says trying not to talk loud enough to disturb the doctor on the phone.

Artemis says, “OK,” and looks at Nikki, “I will deal with it.”

Esther nods, closes the door.

“Thank you, Officer Gilman. Goodbye.” And he closes his phone, “Sorry about that interruption.”

Esther returns to the man leaning against the wall, “I’m sorry. We simply can’t be bothered. Please come back anouther time.”

“The attack on the police station?” Nikki asks, “A clue perhaps?”

“Yes.”

“Oh that is good news.”

“Someone has managed to get the image on the videotape to show the woman who was present.” Artemis informs her, “Gilman is not sure how he did it.”

“Oh – well that is even better news.” Nikki nods, and glances at her glass, all but tasting the blood in her but is well aware of Dr. Artemis’s opinion of vampires, and so she resists the urge, “Do any of the lines regarding the hours mean anything to you?”

“Not really.” He admits, “But some of the old incantations took several hours.”
The blond looks back at the woman again. Watchdogs. “I’ve plenty of time to wait for her to finish before I see her.” He shrugs. “I came to speak with her regarding an important investigation that’s currently underway, so I’ll be fine with sitting for a bit.”

Artemis turns around again. “Who is outside?”

“Fine.” Esther says and throws up her hands, “Have a seat.”

“I can go if you have other business to attend.” Artemis looks over at Nikki.

“Oh, no—it’s apparently a friend of Rhy’s.” Nikki explains, and returns once more to the riddle of the poem, “All this indication of killing, is that really killing something or someone, or is a metaphor, do you think?”

Esther enters the office, looks at Nik with a roll of her eyes, and locks the door.

“Whatever is going on out there tonight, Esther?” Nikki asks.

“Like I said. Some A**hole friend of Rhyaad’s wants t’ talk with ya. I toll him we was too busy, which we are. But, he’s out there waitin’”

Artemis continues their conversation by stating, “I doubt if it is a metaphor.”

Meili Rainheart moves over to a chair, seats himself, and then leans back, not at all happy with this series of events, but willing to do what he had to, “…watchdogs. Really…” he mutters to himself.

Artemis looks at the paper again, before he looks up at Esther and Nikki, “If you have a client that needs to consult with you, I should go then.”

The Nth, setting aside another form, lifts a new one – the first question, after all the usual demographic information, “Do you believe supernatural events are the root cause of your need for Collins Investigations to handle your case?”

She sighs.

‘No, Doctor, this is far too important at the moment,” Nikki tells him.

“Well—Five times the word ‘kill’ is used. Five sacrifices.” He says pointing to the indicated words.

“So it is some ritual sacrifice to reanimate the Witch?” Nikki asks.

“It sounds like it.” He agrees.

“Now, I thought there were six ‘chosen by the key’ “ Esther now adds, “So, why would they only kill 5 out of 6?”

“Good Lord, this thing is going to remain lost – no one is going to kill five people to get some bloody rock.” Nkki sighs and sits back.

“If I am correct . . . and that’s a big ‘if’ . . . The six must be killed first to form the circle. Then the five are killed an hour apart.” And he looks up at her, “Nikki Collins, there are those who would not hesitate for a moment to kill that many people.”

Esther leans back on the wall, “So it is 11 sacrifices?”

“But you might be right too, Miss Friedman.” He agrees.

“Eleven sacrifices for one bloody witch?” Nikki rubs her fingertips acorss her lips, “And true Doctor, there may very well be those who would not hesitate to commit such a atrocities, but I assure you I am not one of them.”

Doctor Artemis sits for a moment in thought, then says, “Maybe the six bodies are still alive. Kept alive and then they are killed one-by-one over five hours.”

“At the second hour, the population must tear apart the two who are close.” Esther repeats the poem, having read it so much as well as having translated it, she can’t help but having committed it to memory, “Do they mean separate, or literally, tear them apart? And what town’s population would do such a thing?”

“And the final body will by used for something more terrible.” Artemis says and then thinks about Esther’s question and looks uncomfortable as he studies the paper again.

“What is it Artemis?” Esther asks, seeing his expression.

“The Miskatonic is not a dirty river.”

“Something—else“ Nikki can read his anxiety, she’s not certain what he is thinking as he his very good at controlling his thoughts, blocking them from her, but there is something, “What is it Doctor?”

“A city whose population would be willing to praise a horrible name and tear apart . . . two lovers?”

Outside in the man lobby office, “Yes, yes. I’m aware . . . they must be busy. But, this is important. We have to be patient.” Meili grumbles to himself as he has to wait, something he is not at all used to, and certainly not comfortable with, as he was forced to wait. “Rhyaad has his reasons, I’m sure. He wouldn’t just tell me to come here for no purpose . . .. Whatever’s going on concerns both of us, too.” He sighs.

The Nth looks up from another form and glances at the man talking to himself.

The blond quietly looks down at his hands and turns them over a few times, examining the onyx and silver bands on his fingers with a slight smirk. “I know. This is turning out to be pretty amusing, isn’t it? But they’re watching us now, and we’ve got to put on a good show. Rooks and White Knights, remember?”

The Nth continues to look at him – who is he talking to? These people in Maine are very strange, she thinks.

“That doesn’t sound like Arkham. I mean, it’s such a quiet town.” Artemis says, “But . . . “

“But what doctor?’ Esther wanting him to just say whatever he is thinking.

“Well . . .. There are other towns. Places you don’t want to go….” He says, thinking of one in particular.

“For god’s sake. Spit it out!” Esther demands.

“No, I’m probably wrong. It’s all so vague.”

Nikki looks at him her blue eyes darkening, “But what do you think, Doctor?”

“What do we know about this poem? Who wrote it?” He suddenly changes the subject. “Just where did it come from?”

“A friend of mine, Noah Mankowski had it.” Esther tells him, “He gave it to us to solve after his unsuccessful attempts.”

“Yes, but where did he get it? The question is who gave it to him, and why?”

Esther shrugs, “Dunno who wrote it, or even how old it is.”

Artemis looks at Nikki, “Could this Mankowski have written it himself?”

“Well, he didn’t have a lot of time to say, on account of him jumping down a fire escape to escape a gunman.” Esther replies flatly.

“When he gave it to Rhyaad, he told him to decode it—said that he had not been able to himself, so I don’t think he actually wrote it.” Nikki explains.

“Noah Mankowski would NEVER have written anything like this. He was under pursuit by the cultists that are now after us. They want this information, they want this map.”

“Yes, that is what he called it, a map.” Nikki told the Doctor.

“What do you know about these cultists Miss Friedman? Are they part of this Interfaith group?”

Nikki combs her slender fingers back through her hair, “What I suspect Doctor, is that there are actually two groups in search of this ‘Gem”.

Artemis sits back interested in hearing her theory, “Being?”

“The first group is one that I believe to be connected to an old North Shore infamous family, the Snows. I think they are attempting to found a Starry Wisdom Church in Ipswich.”

“Ok.” His voice giving no indication of what he may or may not know about the Snows. “And the other?”

“The second is a group of Necromancers who have reportedly been working through out New England since the 1700’s.”

“Was one of them named Zobek?” Artemis asks.

“I have not heard that name.” Nikki shook her head.

“Then what names have you heard?”

“Nicholas Blair and a Count Andreas Petofi.” Nikki replies off-handedly, although she is careful to watch the Doctor’s response to these names, “But they were also known as Simon Orne and Edward Hutchinson.’

Nikki watches with interest, as he appears indifferent to the name, “Blair . . .. “ He asks, “Did he come from Maryland?”

“I am not certain – but, I don’t think so. But it was interesting when you mentioned the town that had once borne that name, Blair.”

Artemis nods.

“But, the two groups, I feel they are in fact working at cross-purposes, in regards to finding this ‘Gem”.

“Thank goodness for that.” The Doctor replies. “Our greatest weapon against the forces of darkness is their own internal rivalries.

“What I don’t understand is how this young man, Noah, how he became involved in this matter, or for that matter how he came into possession of The Epitaph for an Alchemist. “

“Interesting that.” Artemis says looking at Nikki now as if trying to gage her reaction.

“How so Doctor,” Esther asks shifting her position as she leans against the wall.

“Not a Witch, but an Alchemist.” The Doctor says, noting that the poem is written to Mason, but is title an Epitaph for an Alchemist.

“Or more than one, from what I understand there was once a group of them, four to be exact— Joseph Curwin, Simon Orne, Edward Hutchnson, and Judah Zachery.” Nikki tells the doctor.

Esther watches the two of them now, aware that Nik and the Doctor were both being entirely evasive with the other, but, they seemed to trying to determine what precisely the other knew without ever asking – or articulating all they knew. It was almost a chess match of words and facts, pawns, bishops, and knights.

“Judah Zachery, you have mentioned him before, “ The Doctor nods, “A warlock tried and beheaded here in Collinsport.”

“1692”

“Trial was presided over by Amadeus Collins I believe.” Artemis replies.

“Yes.” Nikki nods, “Zachery was said to have had a coven—as well as several more adept warlocks.”

“Or Necromancers.”

“Precisely.”

“As to Blair—from my research, I understand these gentleman they have the ability to switch bodies, and so, I believe the one known as Orne currently resides in a body he calls Blair now.”

Artemis removes a small moleskin notebook and makes a notation.

“Possibly.”

“So,” Rather off-handedly she replies, “The real Blair could be from Maryland.”

“Blair, It was renamed Burkeville after 1785, as I said.”

“Yes, you did.’ Nikki nods.

“Back to your theory Artemis. You mentioned that the Miskatonic is not a dirty river, and that you don’t think its citizens would follow the poem. So, what do you think? What is on your mind?” Esther asks far more pointedly.
‘But as I said, two group, at cross-purposes, but that both of these groups want to find it, that is obvious. That both would like to enlist me in their search for this ‘Gem,” but, I am not going to go searching for something that means 11 people have to die to find it.”

Artemis ignoring Esther, looked at Nikki, “I agree, Miss Collins. But it’s much more important to stop those without such scruples

Outside in the main lobby office, both the blond man and The Nth, look up as the door to the second floor storage room opens and Samantha Brook staggers out of her room half naked, having not only apparently just awaken from a early evening nap, but, also drunk, had not heard anyone else in the office. She descends the narrow stairs and makes her way to the bathroom, her eyes still blurry from some recent tears.

Meili Rainheart looking at the window at the night, at the occasional car making it’s way through the downtown rotary, continues the very soap opera like moments of sitting and talking to himself. “It’s all very ‘cloak and dagger’ isn’t it, though?” He grins, “No telling what sort of things we’re going to get thrown into, but it sounds like they need someone just as shady as these Starry Wisdom types. I’ll need to ask about a few things, but from what Rhyaad told me there are a number of options…” The blond paused again, then as if turning at the camera says, “Yes, I know. I’ll have to be careful not to sound like I know too much. Hopefully he explained how I’m involved in this beforehand…Otherwise, this will be extremely awkward.”

{End Scene and Commercial Break}

{Transition from commercial, Scene Four}

The Nth, having now finished the last of the tedious paperwork looks up curious as to where she should now deposit the said stack of completed forms. The blond man looks at her and shrugs and then continues to look out the window; and talk to himself.

Inside Nikki’s office, the Doctor cocks his head and listens, “I hear voices out there.”

Esther sighs, “Yeah, there are people out there. And yeah, maybe they are talking. Maybe even talking to themselves, but lets focus on the riddle at hand.”

Samantha having descended the steps now makes her way past both people in the lobby, giving them odd looks as she passes and continues over to the bathroom where she tries to open the bathroom door without success.

Esther leans forward, “So, what is it? What is on your mind Artemis?”

The doctor looks at the poem, and reads, “the Witch shall be revived” and then “to put the Witch to sleep for all time.” That just doesn’t’ begin to make sense to me.”

The blond watched the watched the woman and shut his mouth quickly, returning to merely glancing about idly before making himself look any more psychotic.

Artemis looks at Nikki, “So, the question is do they want to revive the Witch or destroy her?”

“Ahhh, for fuck’s sake” Samantha says loudly, beating on the door, “OY GET OUTTA THERE”

Artemis jumps at the banging, “What is that?”

Nikki shakes her head, “Esther, I’m sorry—please?”

Esther sighs, heavily, can this night get any more f**ked up and gets off the wall and exits the office.

“Sam!” She says as she walks out to find Samantha Brook half-naked, “Put some clothes on. We have customers.”

Samantha fumbles at the knob, finally getting it right and practically falling into the restroom.

Esther just stands and facepalms.

Artemis turns to try and peer through the partially open door.

“To be honest, I don’t know. I would think this is ultimately to try and summon—well, let’s say the Crawling Chaos. But, how that involves this witch I don’t know, yet.” Nikki continues looking at the doctor trying to peer through the door.

Samantha looks at Esther, and it is more than apparent she has been drinking, “Shower” she mumbles and tries to throw up a well-timed finger as she falls into the bathroom.

Esther shakes her head and quickly goes up to the loft.

Samantha crawls the rest of the way in, closing the door behind her.

The Nth sits looking at the closed door.

“Don’t bother with me,” Meili smirked. “I’m no one sp—Oh, fine, walk off before I can be clever…” he calls after Esther as she passed him by on the way to ascend the stairs to the loft bedroom that had been set up for Samantha.

Esther returns downstairs with a towel, walks over to the bathroom and hangs it on the bathroom doorknob.

Samantha whispers to herself as she stands looking into the mirror within the bathroom, “God,” she moans softly, “The last three days have been hell.”

Esther shakes her head at The Nth who holds up the stack of papers and she returns to the office.

Samantha clambers into the tub, and turns it on, just laying there.

The Nth, still holding the stack of forms, turns to Meili Rainheart, “Hello.”

Artemis finds yet another line to examine, “You should reach the cursed island of the Gem”

Esther returns and closes the door.

“Salutari, miss.” The blond nods back to The Nth.

“Now that does make it sound like the Gem is on the island.”

“Are we sure it’s the same island?’ Esther asks returning to stand beside him, leaning up against the wall.

“That’s a good question, Miss Friedman.” But he turned quickly to Nikki, “So how do you know that Orne and Huthinson want this also?”

The Nth smiled, “I’m . . . Jane. What’s your name?

“Meili Volfinor-Rainheart. A pleasure, Miss Jane.” He grins back, and gives the woman a playful wink. “Are you an employee here?”

“There is an organization in England, Dr. Praetorius works for them and . . . at the moment so do I . . . the Diogenes Club. They are a secret British Intelligence organization. They have gotten inside information that Orne and Hutchinson are coming to Collinsport – and part of the reason has to do with the Trapezohedron.”

“Interesting fellow, this Praetorius.” The Doctor states.

Samantha blows bubbles in the tub.

“Oh, yes, half a madman, but very interesting.” Nikki agrees.

“Well I’m new in town just getting my bearings. I come from a parallel universe.”

“Do you now,” Meili Rainheart replies.

“I was asked to work with Praetorius to determine what their plans are and to try and stop them.” Nikki tells the Doctor.

“Oh, that’s alright, dear. Between you and me, so am I…basically.” He shrugged, unfazed by the comment. “The 21st century is really something, isn’t it?”

Samantha now clambers out of the tub, leaving the water for later, wrapping the towel around her waist and with breasts still exposed exits the bathroom and stalks toward the fridge.

The Nth, distracted by the woman’s revealed breasts replies, “Yes its certainly unusual. I came looking for unusual people to join my team, become a group of people who had abilities beyond human capacity.”

“Are you sure you should not be concerned about those waiting outside,” Artemis asks.

Esther shakes her head, “Don’t worry. Sam’s out there. She’ll either stop any shenanigans or start several new ones—in fact I think the second is more likely than the first.”

Samantha looking over at this “Jane.” turns and says, “So do super perky tits count?”

Samantha grabs two beers, one for each hand and pads back, bare foot, to Esther’s desk and settles in Esther’s chair.

Jane or The Nth glares at Sam, “No.”

“I’m here trying to find salvation of a sort.” The male grins a bit wider, “One of the roads there has led me here.”

The Nth, replies, “Well, I flew off through several dimensions before ending up here.”

Samantha looks at her, “That’s a shame,” and she bounces one of her nude breasts against the green bottle of beer, “So right then, Welcome to Collinsport Investigations home of the investigators, my name is Samantha, can I have your order please?”

“The Nameless Island is our best bet until we get more information.” The Doctor says, and talks out his pocket watch and checks it, “Oh, I guess that is about all the time I have for now.”

“I was flown, no willingness here. Odd thing, time and space…” He muses and reached up to scratch the back of his head idly.

Samantha, opening both bottles takes a sip from each.

“Well, Doctor, I certainly appreciate your efforts – you have helped us a lot tonight.” Nikki said standing as he did.

“Yes very odd.” The Nth says.

“My pleasure.” Artemis puts the sheet of paper with the poem translation on the desk.

“So, are you sure there is nothing you are holding back?” Esther asks him.

“Now I have to return to Arkham and deal with a matter there.” He says and turns toward the door.

“I have been to a few places that seem very……..odd indeed so where are you from originally?” The Nth asks.

“I would hate for there to be internal rivalries. About all of this,” Esther suggests.

Dr. Artemis stops at the door and looks at Esther for a moment.

“Can I tell you what I suspect Doctor.” Nikki asks.

“15th century Europe on another world. Prussia originally.” Meili replies.

“Certainly, Miss Collins.”

“I actually think there is a third party in all of this, and a very, very horrid one at that.”

“Well what is your name though?” The Nth asks Samantha, unable to stop looking at her nude breasts. “Are you from another time?”

“Already told you, Samantha. And what time would you like it to be?”

Dr. Artemis looks at Nikki and the color leaves his face.

“I apologize.” The Super-heroine says softly.

“I think the Chaos escaped out of the bay, and wants this thing destroyed so it doesn’t have to go back.”

“Dr. Dexter.” Artemis says.

“Yes.”

Artemis looks at Nikki with re-newed interest, “You may very well be right.”

“Where are you from originally? I was born in Atlantis originally, sent to earth and raised in Wales.” The Nth tells Sam.

Samantha looks up from her beer, “Oh, well, I was born in Candyland.”

“Now I really must go.” Artemis tells them.

“And I was sent to Camelot and raised whales.” Sam replies.

The Doctor smiles and nods at them, “Goodnight, Miss Collins, Miss Friedman.”

“Good Night Doctor, thank you so much!” Nikki says.

“Seeya,” Esther adds as he opens the door and steps out into the lobby office.

Samantha laughs clearly drunk.

Dr. Artemis stops and stares at Miss Brook.

Nikki steps out behind him and sees Samantha, “What in God’s name is going on out there?”

Samantha waves a beer at the doctor, “Allo Doctor, see anythin’ you like?”

“Miss Nth, I wish you luck.” Artemis says and heads for the door.

“Insanity. But, if we wait long enough, maybe it will go away” Esther tells Nikki stepping up to stand beside her.

“So tell me more about Prussia?’ The Nth tells Meili Rainheart

“Sam! What are you doing?’ Nikki asks.

Dr. Artemis opens the door and departs.

“Seein’ to the customers Miss, “ she hiccups, “Nikki”

“Sam. I put a towel on the door handle. Now use it!’ Esther orders.

“Okay, well thanks, now please go on back to bed, we will handle it from here.” Nikki tells Samantha and steps over toward her.

“I am using it” she says, indicates the towel around her waist.

“Sam?” Nikki says looking down at her.

Esther plants her face in her palm, “Out. Out of my chair!”

“Actually Miss Nikki, I only woke up long enough ago to take a bath” Samantha says as she swaggers out of the chair, “These people are all in my bathroom you see.”

“Lovely country. My family comes from one of the Romanian groups that fled from Wallachia at the time.” He gestured off as he spoke. “My father was a Norseman sellsword. They met on the road, and he was welcomed into the troupe. Life was all right . . . for the most part. But, conside-” He paused again at the numerous interruptions. The male’s brow furrowed.

Esther deadpans, “Thank you. We have waited all night to learn that.”

“So I’m not really tired yet, maybe a few more beers first.”

“Sam.” Nikki says, her eyes darkening.

“Yes Miss Nikki?”

The Nth asks, “Would you like to take this to somewhere more private?” She turns to Rainheart, “A Norseman sellsword you say?”

“Please put something on.” Nikki tells her.

Esther steps over and looks at the filled out stack of paperwork on the desk that ‘enth’ had filled out: “Thank you miss ‘enth’. We will contact you in a couple weeks.”

“I have business here first. About one of the cases.” He tells The Nth.

“And what case is that?” The Nth asks.

Esther and Nikki look at one another, trying to determine when they lost control of the office.

“Good NIGHT miss “enth” We will check your paperwork and get back with you.” Esther tells her.

“I’m not at liberty to say, I’m afraid. Sorry…” He grimaces.

“Hello, I am Nicole Collins, sorry you have been waiting.” Nikki says attempting to regain control of the office and the conversation, “I have several things going on at the moment.”

Meili Rainheart took a moment to stand and brush himself off again, a habit he never really could shake. He quietly follows the woman back to her office and clears his throat once they were in side Nikkis office and she had closed the door, and walked lazily around the desk to stand looking at him.

“Salut, Miss Collins. Allow me to introduce myself again, we were very briefly acquainted some time ago.” He smiles back to her and gave a small bow. “My name is Meili Volfinor-Rainheart, please forgive my insistence toward meeting you.”

“Quite alright.”

“Fine I will go then,” The Nth sighs and rises from her chair and walks over to the front doors. Opening one she departs.

Esther watches the super-heroine leave. She walks over and locks the front doors and returns to the desk where she picks up the huge stack of paper and pulls out the 1st, 2nd, 12th, 15th, and 86th forms. She staples them together, and carries the remaining sheets of the stack over to the fire. She tosses them into the flames.

With a weary sigh, Ester returns to her desk.

Samantha has moved over to the chair The Nth and been sitting in and curls up under the towel like a blanket and falls asleep.

Esther looks at her.

“Sam, wake up. You have a bed. Sam? Sam!? D*** that woman,” She says and then takes out a cigarette.

Inside Nikki’s office, she motions to one of the chairs in front of her desk, “I am sorry for the wait, and please have a seat. I have spoken with Rhyaad— but he had indicated that the two of you would be becoming together.”
“Thank you,” Meili nods and takes a seat, “Yes, he asked me to come here today. We spoke last night about the investigation proceedings . . . and yes, I came here at his request, but I had expected he would be around to explain the situation a little before I came to speak with you.”

“Yes, that was my understanding.” Nikki says and finally takes a long desired sip of blood.

There is a knock upon the closed doors.

Nikki interrupts the conversation, “Oh, just one moment, Esther!” she calls out. She smiles to Meili, and says, “I really do need an intercom, I guess.”

Esther starts for the door calls out over her shoulder, “JUST A MINUTE NIK!”

“Allow me to explain myself, then. He may have mentioned this previously, but I’m here to offer my services as an Occult Consultant . . .. Please, don’t mind me. I have time if you need to speak with someone else…”

Esther opens the door, “Yes? Can I help you?”

Tony Redgrave stands at the doors and holds out a letter, “I’d like this delivered to Miss Collins.”

Esther takes the envelope and looks at it, noticing that it is not sealed, “I’ll give it to her. Good night.”

Tony smirks, “Night,” he says as he turns around and when Esther looks up from the envelope, he’s gone.

“He said you were highly recommended, Mr. Rainheart.” Nikki told him.

Esther closes the front door, locks it again, walks past the sleeping Samantha Brook and approaches Nikki’s door. She knocks and opens the door, “ We got an open letter for you from a suspicious source and yes did you need me?”

“Did Rhy phone or leave a message that he was not coming by tonight?”

“Nope, not a word from him.” Ester says and sets the envelope on Nikki’s desk.

“…Did he explain who I am thoroughly, then? It will save me some time if you understand my—interests in this case.” He pauses to look at Esther and the letter, curiously.

“Yes, Mr. Rainheart, he explained and as I understand, and correct me if I have this wrong, but you were a member of the Solomonarii?”

Meili Rainheart set his right hand on the table so as to call attention on the rings around his fingers. The centerpiece was engraved with the emblem of the Solomonarii; his first finger contained his own mark. “…Let me reintroduce myself, then. My name is Meili and yes, I’m a member of the Solomonari. I’ve come here tracking down Rhyaad, but also the same being you are after. The Crawling Chaos.”

“Oh course, I am not certain what aspect of the Crawling Chaos may be involved at the moment — but as I understand it you are looking for the Outer God himself.” Nikki takes a sip of her drink.

“Then, please allow me to offer you my services. I have been briefed on the situation regarding both the investigation of the witch, Blair, and the Starry Wisdom cult. I’m very sorry if I sound at all suspicious,” He began, taking his hand back. “Yes. That’s the case as I understand it and as a Solomonar, I’m well acquainted with various mythology and folktales. We’re an organization of humans that follow the old ways of the Dacian priesthood.”

Nikki puts down her glass and cuts a glance to Esther, who standing in the open office door rolls her eyes.

Cue Music and End of Episode