Ghoul Squad Roll Call:
Nigel Cuttlefish (chairman)
P.
Amy Greathouse (treasurer)
Pepper Weckelsby (secretary)
At this point in our narrative, we enter scenes where I myself was not present. I have asked some of the players involved to present their recollections. We’ll see how many respond. First up is Anenome Greathouse known to me at the time as Amy. I recall that as we were getting ready to leave to interview witnesses, she approached me.
“P.,” she said hesitantly, “would it be alright if we switched partners?” I was a bit surprised. After all, this was the soft-spoken and kind Ritchie Sauces who was to be her interview-buddy.
“That’s fine.” I said. “Is there any reason why?”
“Well,” she began, “it’s probably nothing. It’s just that when we were backstage before the play, Ritchie said something to me. It didn’t make any sense really. But the more I think about it, I think… I think he might have been propositioning me.” She looked embarrased.
“And … is this a bad thing or …” I ventured.
“No, no! I mean yes!” she said. “I mean, Ritchie’s a wonderful guy, of course. I just don’t feel that way about him. And like I said, it’s probably nothing. What he said was so ambiguous … and yet so oddly suggestive … Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. I probably misinterpreted what he said. Colin had just come on to me in a manner that was in no way subtle, so that just put my mind in that direction.” she started to relax. “Colin’s great, but … I don’t have a problem dating older men and I don’t have a problem dating burnouts, but both…” she laughed.
“Well,” I said, “I don’t mind switching with you if you like.”
“No switching partners!” I heard Bulldog yell. “I paired you up using the latest criminological techniques! It is a very scientific method. I don’t want you messing things up!”
“What scientific method?” Pepper asked. “You threw our names in a hat and picked them out at random!”
“That ‘hat’ is a replica of a Cheshire constabulary helmet!” Bulldog bellowed.
“Replica?” I heard Nigel ask, disappointed.
“No switching partners!” Bulldog reiterated.
Amy reassured me that she would be fine with Ritchie and we all parted ways.
Coming up, Anenome tells us about their interview with Dickie Betel.
CAN YOU GUESS WHO SHOT HARRIET?
PIT YOUR WITS AGAINST YOUR FELLOW T.A.Z.MAHAL READERS AND VOTE FOR WHO YOU THINK THE CULPRIT MUST BE!
WAS IT ….
THE ECCENTRIC ARTIST?
THE JILTED LOVER?
THE ROGUE SECURITY GUARD?
THE MISCHEVIOUS GHOST?
OR SOMEONE ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED?
Enter … The Ghoul Squad–Part III
July 11,
Ghoul Squad Roll Call:
Nigel Cuttlefish (chairman)
P.
Ritchie Sauces
Amy Greathouse (treasurer)
Pepper Weckelsby (secretary)
Sol Weckelsby
Persephone Smallweed
Detective Drummond returned to the interrogation room.
“I’ve just had word that the victim regained consciousness. However, she’s understandably shooken up and is only speaking French. Our only French-speaking officer is on leave in Surinam, so we’re in a bit of a bind.”
“I speak French fluently” Serious volunteered.
“Perfect!” Drummond leapt toward the door. “Everyone, come with me!”
“But wait!” said Pepper. “Serious is a suspect! And you’re having him interview the victim!?”
“You’re right” Drummond groused. “That sort of thing won’t fly these days. Not with this new liberal female police commissioner.”
“Female?” Pepper asked. “Commissioner Abramson retired almost two years ago. I’m pretty sure Commissioner Jackson is a man.”
“At any rate,” Nigel piped in, “I believe that our good friend P. here is the man for the job. He is quite fluent in French.” This was a bit of an exaggeration. While my reading ability is quite good, I have to admit that my conversational skills are somewhat lacking, especially when I’m nervous. And interviewing an actress that I am attracted to while a room full of my friends and a police detective look on is not the most comfortable of circumstances. But what could I do but agree?
We sped off once again in Drummond’s roadster, cutting off an ambulance as we pulled in front of the hospital. When we entered Harriet’s room, I found myself less nervous than I had expected. Weak and disheveled as she was, Harriet had less of an effect on me. Now, before you label me a cad, I have to say that I have seen other love interests of mine not looking their best and it never reduced the level of attraction I had for them in the least. But this was the reaction I had with Harriet and perhaps this should have told me something.
She essentially confirmed Serious’ story, although she could not recall the last few moments properly. She couldn’t remember whether Serious had been there or not when she had been shot. She did, however, recall the glowing hand holding the revolver. She also added that one of the security guards kept trying to catch her attention but she had been too preoccupied with her other visitors to see what he wanted.
Bulldog quickly deputized us. We swore an oath on a stack of The National Police Gazette in a candlelit room while wearing Cheshire constabulary helmets. (Perhaps a Cheshire is a sister city of ours?) He split us into teams to interview the witnesses.
Ritchie & Anenome: Interviewing Dickie Betel
Sol & Persephone: Interviewing Humberto Quackenbush
P. & Pepper: Interviewing Iliana Chaikovskaya
Nigel & Bulldog: Interviewing Jan Betel
See you next time!
CAN YOU GUESS WHO SHOT HARRIET?
PIT YOUR WITS AGAINST YOUR FELLOW T.A.Z.MAHAL READERS AND VOTE FOR WHO YOU THINK THE CULPRIT MUST BE!
WAS IT ….
THE ECCENTRIC ARTIST?
THE JILTED LOVER?
THE ROGUE SECURITY GUARD?
THE MISCHEVIOUS GHOST?
OR SOMEONE ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED?
