17/10/2021 – Feeling Unsafe (11)

An ambulance arrives and takes Alex to the local hospital, Tiger going with them. They stitch up Alex’s wound and sterilise it.

Tuesday, 05 February 1935

Tightening Security

In the morning, Tiger calls Jeziah to tell him what has happened and he informs Cassandra and George. They discuss security at Astor Manor and how to improve things, as it will be necessary for Tiger and Alex to move in as well. Cassandra agrees to hire extra security for the grounds, which Jeziah will handle. The costs will mostly be covered by the extra money Eric Carlisle sent.

Tiger goes back to the shop and deals with the Police, who he is able to get on well with. They accept their story of being attacked in the house and it is very unlikely he would be convicted of any crime for shooting foreigners who broke into his house. His war record and history as a hunter help too.

That evening, Jeziah drives to the hospital to pick up Alex from the hospital. He is feeling ok and discharges himself, arranging to take aspirin and have a district nurse to come and change his bandages.

They discuss their strategy of spying on the activities of the Penhew Foundation / Gavigan cult. They consider if they should keep monitoring Gavigan’s flat, or concentrate on the Penhew Foundation and the Blue Pyramid Club.

Tiger is angry and considers that they have been declared war on. It is time for military thinking. He proposes an attack / break into the Foundation or the Club – or both!

George Zimmerman has every one have a cup of tea, then he reads their tea leaves in the cups, but he is less experienced and the reading is not that clear. He gets the impression the longer it is left without action, the more people will be hurt. He spins it into recommending breaking in.

They discuss the implications of doing this. Cassandra speculates that members of the cult must live in “Little Egypt”, the area around the Blue Pyramid Club and breaking in there would be dangerous if they got caught. The Penhew Foundation isn’t that far away, but they would have 20-30 minutes before the cult could react.

Wednesday, 06 February 1935

George checks in with their Private Investigators. Gavigan’s flat is all quiet. At the Penhew Foundation, there are now two night watchmen at the front and the back of the build and a third guard in the building. There are deliveries regularly, including some vans from the Limehouse docks.

He arranges for the PIs to start watching the Blue Pyramid Club again, which costs extra money.

When he gets back to Astor Manor, he points out Tiger could easily deal with the guards. He wants to try to find out what has happened to Joe Quimby.

The group drives to Astor Motors to hear the report of the engineers and chemists about their investigation into the technology from Henson Manufacturing. The plans seem to be in a cypher. They have been able to determine that they seem to taking some old equipment and converting it into a new use. They are missing key plans and components, which makes their job very difficult.

They believe the original components are not aviation based, but the new ones are, some kind of advanced engine design for an aeroplane perhaps.

They also think the green crystal tubes are a power source, but it’s a strange one that they do not understand. They are warm to the touch but do not understand how the chemical reaction is sustained and does not diminish. There is a trace of radiation, but not much. They could use a proper Physics laboratory to investigate further.

They ask for more time to continue these fascinating investigations and Cassandra agrees.

The return to Astor Manor and spend the evening talking about what to do next, but come to no conclusions.

Thursday, 07 February 1935

George decides to check in with his landlady / secretary Mrs McGiven to see how his clients are doing. He has had her tell them he is away in American on a special mission and will be back later in the year. When he calls, it takes a while for someone to answer and one of the other tenants in the property answers. He says the landlady has disappeared several days ago and has not been seen. Only a few days after he left.

George is very upset as it is most likely the cult has kidnapped her. He feels slightly guilty to have caused this. He has Jeziah drive him past his apartment and thinks he sees that someone is still watching the place.

George proposes kidnapping someone from the cult and questioning them, but apart from Tiger, most of them are reluctant to do so. Cassandra points out they are likely fanatics and are unlikely to talk or betray the Cult.

He then turns to breaking into either the Penhew Foundation or the Blue Pyramid Club. The group agrees and Cassandra suspects it is the Club. George decides to do some pendulum divining to work out where his landlady is, and comes to the conclusion she is being held at the Club.

They set aside Tiger’s suggestions for burning one of the places down and breaking into the other one, but the idea of a distraction is a good one. Cassandra suggests that they get the Police to raid the Club and rescue Mrs McGiven while they break into the Penhew Foundation.

They resolve to get to pigs blood and paint the symbol of the Cult of the Bloody Tongue in order to suggest the rival cult is responsible for the break in.

End of Episode Eleven