The Magnus Archives - MAG Duskhollow PD - Part 2

Episode Date: February 6, 2020

Join Jonny, Frank, Sasha, Alex and Lowri as they play MacGuffin & Co's original TTRPG 'Duskhollow PD'This second episode sees the team split their resources to follow up the leads they've found. Emma and Archie head to 'The Last Drop' while Gabrielle Schreiber and Detective Sergeant Carl Husselback pay Angela Grockle a visit.Thanks to this week's Patrons: Sofia Sandino, Cecil Goodwin, Nell, Masha Weber, James Candalino, Kit Buss, Rocket Corgi, Terrence Rollin' with a Grand, Connor Adderley, Rowan Grey, Liz MacGregor, Ealasaid Haas, Hhhh, ex libris crow, Ryan Norrie, Ivanna A. Villamil, Dumpbucket, o55k, Breeanna Sveum, & SamIf you would like to join them, be sure to visit www.patreon.com/rustyquillEdited this week by Michelle O'Toole, Tessa Vroom & Alexander J Newall.In this episode, we used The Cthulhu Hack created by Paul Baldowski, to find out more or support Paul, head to:cthulhuhack.com patreon.com/cthulhuhackIf you'd like to learn more about or support MacGuffin & Co.head tohttps://www.macguffinandcompany.com/https://www.patreon.com/macguffinandcompanyCheck out our merchandise at https://www.redbubble.com/people/rustyquill/collections/708982-the-magnus-archives-s1You can subscribe to this podcast using your podcast software of choice, or by visiting www.rustyquill.com/subscribePlease rate and review on your software of choice, it really helps us to spread the podcast to new listeners, so share the fear.Join our community:WEBSITE: rustyquill.comFACEBOOK: facebook.com/therustyquillTWITTER: @therustyquillREDDIT: reddit.com/r/RustyQuillEMAIL: [e-mail] Magnus Archives is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill Ltd. and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Sharealike 4.0 International Licence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Know your risks. Visit heartandstroke.ca Hi everyone, Alex here. I'd just like to take a moment to thank some of our patrons. Sophia Sardino, Cecil Goodwin, Nell, Masha Weber, James Candelino, Kit Buss, Rocket Corgi, Terence Rowland-Withergrand, Thank you all. We really appreciate your support. If you'd like to join them, go to www.patreon.com forward slash Rusty Quill and take a look at our rewards. Hello again. It's still us. I say still if you've started listening here rather than the last episode, don't.

It might be interesting. Don't let Johnny tell you what to do. Live your best life. Jumping in the middle of the story. Don't understand anything. So this is episode two of our Dusk Hollow PD actual play. There's been a murder. No, it's not a surprise.

You guys have been investigating it for like an hour now. I still maintain it's just a massive heart attack. Just an enormous heart attack. In the sense that something attacked his heart in a weird way. Then yes. Definitely the housekeeper. Oh yeah, with the poison broth that you insisted on guzzling. I was hungry, okay?

Is that just because Sasha was hungry? Yes, it's entirely because Sasha was so hungry. I made my character eat stew. Does Gabrielle Schreber believe that the stew might have been poisoned? No, because she did eat some and she's still fine. Okay, cool. Wait, is she still fine? Yeah, let's say yeah.

Well, for now, she hasn't noticed any worrying symptoms, but we'll see how she rolls, I guess. Okay. I love that issue finally. Literally depends what's your fortitude. So, you have a few clues to follow up. Can we introduce ourselves? Oh, yeah, I guess.

It's not how Johnny rolls in any shows he's in. Who are you? Actually, in this system, I do. It's not how Johnny rolls in any show. Who are you? Actually, in this system, I do basically no rolling. That's fine, because I hate what Alex said anyway. So, Lowry, who are you? Oh, hello, I'm Lowry. I produce the Magnus Archives, and I'm playing Emma Walensky, conspiracy theorist.

Extraordinaire. No, very much not extraordinary. I am really good. Bargain bin conspiracy theorist. Extraordinaire. No, very much not extraordinaire. I am really good. Bargain-baining conspiracy theorist. Conspiracy theorist, extraordinaire. And Frank, who are you? Hi, I'm Frank. I voice Basira in the Magnus Archives,

and I am playing Detective Sergeant Carl Husserbeck. Alex, who are you? I am Alex Newell. I voice Martin, and I'm playing Archie Murdoch, who I'm rapidly coming to realise is Martin's American cousin. He wasn't meant to be, but he just kind of is. No wonder I hate him. And Sasha? I'm playing Gabrielle Schreiber. Who are you? Oh, sorry. Yeah, no, I'm Sasha. I'm still Sasha. Me, Sasha. I play Georgie on the Magnus Archives, and I'm playing Gabrielle Schreiber, sceptic, again, of regular proportions.

And we are playing Dusk Holopedi, a micro setting from MacGuffin & Company, which is myself and Sasha's games company. It's real good. Yeah, it is. It's really good. It is. And we're using the system The Cthulhu Hack by Paul Baldowski. We did another game of yours over on the gaming feed,

if you want to go and listen to that. But I feel like that's... Is that an end of the episode plug that we should probably do? Yeah, definitely. Just do it every five minutes. Cross promotion. Gotta look at another feed. There's a weird energy in this room,

and it's mainly coming from me. That's an accurate statement, yeah. So, last time you found a Bodhi, there were all sorts of cool clues, all sorts of interesting leads. Were there? I mean, I don't know about all the rest of you, but I definitely didn't notice any clues whatsoever. That's fine.

Well, I'm covered in blood now. That's only because you took a nap in the garden. No, it was before that. You didn't take a nap in the garden. You took a nap on the course. You don't sleep. You can't sleep when you're on duty. All you can do is shotgun coffee. It's true.

That's the rules, probably. I don't think we put that in there. We didn't put that in there. Yeah, no one sleeps. They just drink coffee. That's not canon. I just feel like I need to point that out. Definitely canon. Well, support us on Patreon.

Read the micro setting and find out for yourself. So, what's everyone's next move? Can I ask? So, all the information that we gathered... You pretty much share it, unless there's a specific thing that you're like, I'm not telling anyone else about this. I mean, I'm not telling anyone that I pocketed...

Oh, that is hard to say. Pocketed some timetables. No, that's fine. Or that you put goo everywhere. I think I could call it that, but yeah. I'm assuming that you have shared the clue of the burned timetable. Yes. From the waste paper bin?

Yes. Yeah? Okay. Well, jeez, I mean, I don't think I should necessarily be with the one suggesting things, but, I mean, you know, there's a matchbook thing for a long drop, and we could, you know, with the... The last drop. The long drop is a different pub.

In character? I definitely said the long drop. Yeah, that's fair, that's fair. The long drop is a pub that is up over five storeys. It has a central sort of well that goes down all five of them and no safety rails. I'm thinking we should probably check this because with the cigarettes and with the matchbooks and...

I like your instincts, kid. Your theory. Your theory with the heart, the exploding heart. Yeah. That is a method they use. And she winks. With both eyes. Out of sequence. Okay, cool.

So Walensky and Murdoch are going after the... Going to the last drop. What about you guys? Oh, God. I know that it's really... There's much point investigating more at this point. It's clearly the last drop. What about you guys? Oh, God. I know that it's really, there's much point investigating more at this point. It's clearly the housekeeper. Make the arrest, kick up for the rest of the episode.

I mean, are you making the arrest? No, we need more evidence. I mean, it's obviously the housekeeper. She found the body. No one can account for her whereabouts. She's cooked up some cock and ball story about some perp with a scar. Well, that's convenient.

Every fake perp's got a scar because you're bound to never find a blonde, tall, thin woman covered in blood with a scar over one eye. That's not going to happen. She's just sending us on a wild goose chase. And I've spent enough of that time on a wild goose chase before I came here chasing geese. Oh, it takes ages.

Why were you chasing geese? They were criminals, hardened criminals. That is not the job I sent you on. Well, sometimes the job finds you. So, are you guys heading back to the police station? Are you following up a different lead? Are you also going to the last drop? Well, I have got Angela Grockle's address.

Looks like she was in touch with the deceased quite a lot, so maybe that she's got some evidence against the housekeeper. She might be able to tell us more about their relationship. Yeah, could help us with our inquiries. OK. Yeah, let's start with Frank and Sasha. Hey, Larry, that makes us the B team. Yeah.

You park into the police car and drive down. The address for Angela Grockle is out in the suburbs of Dusk Hollow. The rain continues to beat down, but when you get out of the city, it becomes less oppressive and more just drab.

Rows and rows of identical houses. Cars that they just make you feel kind of sad. So less oppressive and more repressive? A little bit. A little bit. A little bit. All the windows, curtains closed,

except they twitch sometimes like someone's just looking out, staring at you as you roll by. Angela Grockel's house looks no different to any of the others. The only difference is that it is number 15. The one before it? Number 13. The one after it? Number 20. Where's 17? Or 19? Who knows?

Why is 20 on the wrong side of the road? Good question's all. Is there like a gap between the houses or is it semi-detached? I'm going to say that there is one house's space. It looks like there should be a house, but that house is gone. You need to find Professor Dumbledore and he'll be able to tell you where it is and you'll be able to get in. No, he retired. He doesn't work for the force anymore.

He went to the long drop. Maybe we can get him back. Oh no. Yeah, you vaguely recall one of the other detectives being assigned to some case out here where a house had gone and they vanished as well.

It would have been a big thing but detectives vanish a lot. You know? Not as much as rookies but, you know, as a whole. I mean, it would have been a big thing, but, like, detectives vanish a lot. You know? Not as much as rookies, but, you know, a lot. So the house is very standard suburban home. Number 15 is on a plaque just outside

in the shape of an old steam train. And then knock on the door? There's the sound of shuffling from inside. And the door opens. Is it an elderly shuffling from inside and the door opens Is it an elderly steam train? Well, she's not elderly But is she a steam train? Oh yeah, I should have said no, she's not a steam train

She is a person She's probably like, maybe early 50s Cardigan, corduroy skirt well maintained all over Yes, can I help you at all? You are Miss Gruffle? Mrs Gruffle, yes.

Angela Gruffle. That's me, yes. What's this about? Detectives... What's my name again? Oh, here. Hello. Hustleback. Hustleback, thank you. Detectives Hustleback and Schreber.

Oh, goodness. What can I do for you, detectives? Well, might we come in to discuss? Yes, no, no, please, absolutely. Would you like some tea, some coffee? A hot chocolate? A tall glass of water? Some juice?

Grape? Mango? Orange, with chunks? Don't have any non-chunk orange juice, I'm afraid, if that's what you're desperately looking for. Anyway, come in. Sit down. Thank you. Just gently

try not to leave blood everywhere. Oh, goodness. Are you... Hold on. I'll get some more doilies. He gets some more doilies and places them down just wherever you're about to touch. He'll just place down a doily under each foot and and hit the ground.

So, yes, please take a seat. What can I do for you? You were in contact with a Mr Geoffrey Mariner? Geoffrey, yes, yes. Charming boy. Something happened to him. He's dead. Oh.

Oh, no. That's very difficult to hear. You might want to have sat down for that, miss. It's too late for that, I'm afraid. Sorry, I was distracted by all the doilies. Right. Well, what brings you to my daughter? I mean, obviously, I was friends with him.

We communicated pretty regularly, but I'm not a suspect, Emma. I am shocked. Shocked and innocent. I mean, in my defence, I am both shocked and innocent. Just ignore the voices in your head, ma'am. No, she volunteered that. Okay. Just, you know, because it is in her defence.

It's a strange thing to say, appropriate of absolutely nothing. Well, I mean, there has been a murder, you said. You're covered in blood! And you're covered in blood. Did Mr Mariner have any enemies that you know of? Not that I know of. We didn't really talk much about his personal life. What did you talk about?

Oh, trains, mostly. I mean, do you talk about? Oh, trains. Mostly. I mean, do you know much about trains, Detective? I have been on several. Wow, it's fascinating, fascinating business, steam trains especially. It's all about the power of water, you see. It always used to be canals. Did you know that?

There was a decade when everyone was building canals, connecting the industry with canals, but that sort of water, slow, boring, useless. And then the train. The power of steam, you see detectives, harnessing the power of steam to revolutionise the world. But people have forgotten, with all this electricity.

Sorry, that's a little bit of a hobby horse. I mean, of course, this is the sort of thing that we used to talk about by our letters, myself and Geoffrey. I believe he was writing a book on it. Yes, I did see a manuscript. Could you both roll me smokes, actually? Because we're having a bit of a

chat. I've got a six. Frank can. Oh, no, no. Flashlights. I'm not giving Frank any chance to pick up on any visual clues of this place. That's a seven. Yeah, you're good. Boo!

Sounds a little bit of team spirit, Alex. No. Failure is the best outcome. So, yes, anyway, I'm dreadfully sorry going off on one of my little rants. Obviously, it's not particularly relevant to your case. It's not relevant to your case. Is it, detectives? Well, that remains to be seen.

Oh, I see. Quickly, out of character, because I forgot to make some notes. Wasn't there a particular kind of train that he was really...? Yes, the British Rail Standards. OK. train that he was really... Yes, the British Rail Standards. Okay. BR Standards. And the letter that you found from Angela, the most recent one, that Lowry found seemed to... It seemed like it would have

accompanied a package of some sort. It refers to here is. Perhaps an enormous 32 to 64 tonne package? Perhaps a train package? I mean, probably not. The surface is impressive.

This case is coming together. It's very clear. What happened is he had... The perfect crime, use a train to smuggle another train. It's simple. Someone posted him a whole train and he had a heart attack

from how happy he was of being posted a train. This case is solving itself. Hey, open and shut. Much like his chest. Hey-o. It's not very shut. Much like his chest. Hey-o! It's not very shut anymore. Did you know his housekeeper?

She apparently handled a lot of his post. Not personally. I think he made reference to her sometimes. Nelson or Nellie or Napoleon? I don't really know. I don't remember. Neil, maybe? And do you remember what he said about her? Was it positive, negative, neutral? He went into quite some detail about how she wasn't planning to kill him at any point

in the near or distant future, how much he trusted her with his life. Very convenient. Was that a joke, Mrs. Crockle? Yes, of course. It's not really a joke. It's hardly in good taste, I'd say. Well, he had a very dark sense of humour, I'm sure he would appreciate it. Was that a joke, Mrs. Crockle? Yes, of course. It's not really a joke. It's hardly in good taste, I'd say. Well, he had a very dark sense of humour. I'm sure he would appreciate it.

Was that a joke? Yes, of course. He wouldn't stop saying how she's definitely going to kill him. Would just go on and on. The deceased received a package from yourself, I believe. Oh, yes, the captain of the time table. I don't really know much about them. They were, I mean, very little to do with me, to be honest.

I simply noticed them in a curiosity shop and posted them his way, thought they might be good for his research. Is that so? That's not what it sounded like from the note that you sent? Oh, I mean, he was very interested in that sort of paraphernalia, so I simply noticed it in a shop, purchased it in that shop. The note that you sent referenced something that we have been looking for? Yes. Sounds like it was something you were both very interested in.

Well, I mean, we both like trains. You saw my house number. It's a steam train with a 15 on it. Yes, I noticed that. I'm a detective. Yes, well, you know, we're both very interested in trains, but we'd been looking for timetables and paraphernalia regarding some of the old British Rail standard trains for some time. I noticed it in a... Would they be steam trains or electric trains?

Oh, steam trains. Steam trains, of course. Can you account for your whereabouts over the last couple of days, Mrs Gropple? Yes, absolutely. She wanders over, finds what looks to be a diary, and starts listing off quite a lot of very public places. Well, I was in the supermarket for about four hours. Not doing a murder. Yesterday.

Then I decided to take in a show. You can see my tickets here. You know, I was taking a walk in the park at peak dog walking hours. I think actually, yes, here's a Polaroid that a dog walker took of me. For all of you police procedural

fans, this is what's called an orgy of evidence. Orgy of alibis. And is the ticket that she tells us yeah it'll stamped or like yeah yeah it all like as far as you can tell these alibis are all solid what did she see sorry what show did she see casablanca oh the stage show no it was a film but it was in the theater okay they show movies sometimes. Just interested. Excuse me, Walensky, can you stop astral projecting into our investigation? Sorry, I'm fine.

Yes, detective, your voice changed ever so slightly there, but it's fine. I'm sorry, I obviously need a cigarette to clear up my throat. You really do need to install a fourth wall in this building at some point. But yes, I can probably find you the receipt for the items if you need it. That would be helpful, thank you.

And I suppose you don't mind if we have a look around? No, no, no, please. How about your husband? Oh, he's away. Away where? Business. Has been for several years now. Just one of my little jokes. He's dead.

Business of decomposing. Just one of my little jokes. I really want to Business of decomposing. Just one of my little jokes. I really want to set her up with the doctor. They would be really happy together. Oh, my gosh. New girl. She will come back with a receipt from Waitley's Books and Curios for one train conductor's hat and one timetable brackets old.

Yeah, you can have a look round her house. Make me a flashlight as well. Okay, here we go. Six. It's a very, it's exactly the house that you would expect this woman to have. Almost suspiciously so. It's almost a suspiciously exactly what this house

you would expect this woman to have. But you can have a, you like, pull out all the books, see if there's a secret passage, or, like, just kick up a rug looking for a trapdoor, and you can't see anything. OK. Does she have, like, a shed or anything in the garden? Yes, she does.

Can I have a look around the shed? Oh, it's locked. Mrs. Surname? Grockle. Grockle, sorry, it's been a long day. Yes? Can we have a look in the shed? Of course, of course.

She comes over, she unlocks the shed, she opens it up, and it's full of gardening tools. Suspiciously full, you could say. I mean, you could say, I mean, they're very neatly organised, not a spot of rust on any of them. How nice is our garden? As nice as you'd expect. Suspiciously as nice as you'd expect. Suspiciously as nice

as you'd expect. Yes, well, you know, my Marvin loves his garden and I've kept his tools pristine in memory of him. Isn't that nice? I'm glad to hear you say that.

Most of the others at the WI think it's a little bit morbid. No. I love that your investigation technique is you're both just stonewalling simultaneously. So it's just this poor woman's like, hello, and you're just both staring.

It's like, I don't... I feel like I've been pressured, but I haven't been asked a question. I feel that. I've asked several questions about what kind of train she's into and why she bought a hat. I feel like in terms of accomplishing anything,

we've split the teams on the wrong axis. Yeah, definitely. Oh, I don't know. Frank, you get a ping on your pager. The station needs you to call in. You don't have... No-one has mobile phones in Dusk Hollow. Please have pagers and they need to go to one of the

rotary phone boxes that line most streets. I will say my goodbye, apologise for leaving so hastily and leaving so much blood around. That's fine. I'll just clean it. Bit of peroxide. Great for getting blood

out of fabrics. Sad. Should we be handing out that information? Well, she said she knows. You think she knows how to get blood out? Are there any final questions? Not yet, but don't leave town. Oh, no. I wouldn't dream of it, Detective.

So meanwhile, at the last drop, the last drop is a dingy establishment, still lit partially by gaslight. It's down some stairs from the street so it's like one of them basement bars. You know, the cool basement bars but also dangerous. Is the long drop

directly above the last drop? It's the building opposite and just sort of towers over. Bit of a turf war. I mean, you joke, but yes, there have been quite a few murders about it. Only one drop on this street. So yeah, it's quite late now

and the place seems pretty hop in. Now, to be clear, are we talking like speakeasy style where you've got your door with your slider and you've got to get in, or are we talking a bit more open-fronted? It's a bit more open-fronted. The door is clearly closed. It's clearly a bar which doesn't want you coming in,

but it's not actively trying to stop you. Kid. Hmm? Before we go in, hold your hand out. Which one? Either. Okay, I hold out both. Okay.

I just sprinkle some salt into one of your hands. I lick it. Shouldn't do that. It's bad for your blood pressure You know In fact, take a point of damage Count to seven Should have really made you make a constitution check But you're probably predisposed to it

No, because then I'd fail the constitution check and take two damage I play this game before That's fair Good, good to know. You passed the test. Okay. Yes. I then go inside?

Yep. As you open the door, a figure sort of bumps into you as they're walking past. Are they tall, thin, female-born and with a scar? No, they're short-bored and wearing an anorak. All right, then.

Late. Sorry. Okay, so, I mean, we ask at the front with the bar person, and then from there we'll do the thing. I trust you, kid. I trust you. You've got good instincts. Oh, jeez, that's a lot of pressure really early. Okay, so the place goes a little bit quiet as you start to walk in because you're, you know, you at least are in police uniform, Alex,

and there are enough people here in Hero who are definitely some criminals, but they're like, hmm, I've given you evils. It's OK, I've seen how to deal with this on TV. OK, low profile, low profile. Oh, yeah, you said that, like, Matt's game, you said that exactly the right time. Oh, right, yeah.

No cops here. I just grab... She grabs you and just forcibly walks you to the bar. Behind the bar is the owner of the last drop. She is, like... If you're looking for someone with a scar, you've found someone with basically more scar than face. Case closed.

Well, I mean, just every, like, she's wearing one of them short-sleeve, I was going to say one of them short-sleeve bar shirts, but is that a thing? I don't think that's a thing. I know what you mean. Yeah, I know what you mean as well. She's wearing one of them short-sleeve bar shirts

we all have a reference for. And all the, like, just every bit of skin's got scars. Like, she runs a very rough pub and cleans glasses. The glass is dirty. She washed it in some dirty water. She's cleaning it with a dirty rag. Well, what do you want, cops? Two whiskies and some information.

And I'll have a lemonade. One whiskey. Pours it out. Two whiskies. Pours it out Two whiskeys Pours it out Lemonade Pours you a shot of lemonade And the information I'll give you is I don't talk to cops I've got a plan

Is there someone at the bar next to me? Yes It's a child I'm sorry It is a child Okay They're about eight. They're just staring into their whiskey glass like they've got problems.

Oh, jeez. You're not a cop, are you? No, mister. Cool. If I ask you some questions, could you then ask this bartender some questions? I don't talk to cops. Dad. Jeez, I really thought I had it there.

Nice try, kid. Thinking outside the box, I like it. I know what happens to snitches. Really? What does happen to snitches? Well, at lunchtime on the playground, you get shivved. Oh, jeez. Oh, jeez. This really isn't Morgan's Hill anymore, is it?

It's a rough town, mister. Oh, wow. Oh, jeez. Oh, man, oh, jeez. Oh, man. Oh, jeez. Does the bar person have a name tag? Yeah. It is an expletive.

Beep. Okay, I can't make that up. Mara. Mara Brack. Mara, this, uh, we might be cops, but this goes, this goes all the way to the top. Like, you and me, we're in this together, okay? I've gone American now. I'm not American.

I don't know who you are. That's okay. You don't need to know who I am. I do, though. Do you know Geoffrey Mariner? No. Is there an equivalent of a sense of motivation? No, no, no.

Make me a smokes roll. Okay. Make me a smokes roll. So I've got ten ten I'm very charming remember that's what my character sheet hashtag just saying

so yeah what are your expertises flattery is one of them which I feel is quite relevant here okay yeah

you want to try with flattery and make me a smokes roll listen here you sexy bar lady person sexy you clearly do not have flattery as an expertise.

But I could talk to her about a Stevenson regulator till the cows come home. Nine. Oh, nine. Okay, yeah. How are you going to flatter Mara Brack, scarred owner of the last drop? You and me, we're cut from the same cloth. I see the toughness in your eyes.

You don't survive in a town like this for as long as you and I have without something inside you. Some strength inside you. And a lot of bullets. I can see. Scar tissue's too thick, can't cut them out. They're just in there. I toast you with a whiskey and down it.

To you, Mara. To you. I toast you with a whiskey and down it. To you, Mara. To you. I like you. Though, obviously, you know, if you do threaten my establishment, I'd probably have to kill you and leave you in the back. I respect you for that. I haven't killed any cops that you can prove. But, you know.

You know. Were they cops through and through, though? Were they human? We don't know. Let's ask no questions. I feel like I've lost control of this conversation a little bit. So what are you here for? Geoffrey Mariner. The name, does it mean anything to you? Nothing. Right, okay, who I have to find to give her the divorce settlement. So I'm looking for a woman

who is tall, thin, blonde, with a scar on one eye so that I can give her lots of money and then she will give some money to the people that helped me find her. Make me a spokes role. Yeah! I can't remember how to do that. I am on...

Oh, I've got a D8! I won't even die from this one. Oh, it's a six. I saw every single one of you waiting for that one. I saw all of you. I don't even have you, Matthew. You're Marie's ex? Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, look. I'm not going to be a current, am I? She said you had a beard. Oh, I shaved it off to prove my love. She said you were like six foot eight. I wore platform shoes to prove my love. She said you weren't a cop. I became a cop after, because of me grief,

because I wasn't a cop at first to prove me love. I mean, these are all very good reasons for her to divorce you, to be honest. She's round the back there. You can go have a chat to yourself. Oh, no, absolutely. There's a reason why, you know, I'm paying the settlement. Sure, sure. Well, just so you know, she was with a fella earlier. So maybe, you know. Could you give me an accurate description of the fella? I don't know.

He had a big coat on, kept his hood up. An anorak? Yeah. Oh. One of them cagoules. A cagoule. Okay. Well, thanks.

Which, for our American listeners, I don't know what words actually translate over the pond, but it's another word for an anorak. A perv jacket. Yeah, one of them. Emma downs the second whiskey and the lemonade. Could you make me a constitution roll, please? Uh-oh, I've got a seven.

I think the whiskey was fine, but it's the lemonade. Oh, eight. Yeah, I mean, Frank's right. The whiskey, no problem. But the lemonade, it's old. It's probably been about a decade since someone's had a lemonade here. And you are feeling remarkably unwell. I'm probably going to ask you to roll a d4 and lose

that many hit points. Do what I do. Roll max. Or one, that's fine. You lose a hit point. Lame. Now, an 11. Lame. Come on, kid, let's go see your ex. See it there, tall, thin blonde woman in a very,

very sharp suit. Sitting in the back, sipping a tall drink. Close cropped blonde hair. Scar over one eye. It was Marie, right? Mess game. It was Marie, right? Yeah. Yeah. Marie? Who's asking? Walensky and Murdoch.

FBI. No, you ain't. That always works on TV shows. That bad shit does call a B shows. That's a good thing. I know a big cap when I see one. I thought you just said FBI. Okay, kid. I've got this. Marie.

Sure. That's a nice suit. I flatter. Thank you. Cap. Yeah, sure. I'm going to sprinkle some salt on her. Does she dissolve? She does not. She stares at you.

Now try the goo. What's this about, officers? Does the name Geoffrey Mariner mean anything to you? No. Well, that's that case closed. Sorry for disturbing you. Make me a flashlights roll. Okay. Both of us? No. Okay, closed. Sorry for disturbing you. I'll make me a flashlight's roll. Okay.

Both of us? No. Okay, good. Not you. Good. One. Yes! Okay, so I'm down to a d4.

You notice that the cuffs of her white shirt under her very sharp suit have some pretty clear dried blood on them. You notice that. She notices you noticing. She leaps up and makes a run for it. I try and tackle her. Okay, make me a... Just like cricket back at school.

Let's have a strength check. Okay, so I need to roll lower than my strength for this one, don't I? Yes, you do. Come on, lucky zero on a d20. All right. And it is on a d20, yeah? Whoa! Whoa, my strength is a nine, I get a four.

You take her down. Like, she's tall, but she's like a bundle of twigs. She just goes down. Get off me! Get off me! Nice work, kid. No, I want a cigarette. Give me a cigarette.

I want a cigarette. Give me a cigarette. Sure. Okay, okay, okay. Give me a cigarette. Give me a cigarette. She reaches into her jacket and hands you a Marlborough Red. Nah!

Nah! Nah! I'm arresting you for possession of Marlborough Red. Are you? Are you saying those words? I think I'm going to have to, yeah, because I'm a rookie and that's how I roll. Okay.

Yes, kid, feel it, outside the box. The bar goes quiet and the door opens and in walks a judge, flanked by some officials from the town. Oh, this is so convenient. The judge walks over. He's tall, he's wearing his robes. Officer Murdoch. Yeah? You've arrested this woman?

I am trying to, but there's so much going on. What are the charges? Having bloody cuffs, having a scar, possession of Marlborough Reds. None of these are crimes, officer. No, but they are because they're tied to the murder, so they're crimes too. That's... Help me! Walensky, why are you not helping me?

None of this is sufficient evidence to convict of a crime. I hereby throw out this case, the case of Marie for possession of Marlborough Reds. A note will be passed to your captain to follow up on this. Oh. What about loitering? Can we get her on loitering? The judge has already turned and started to walk away. The officials from the town hall follow behind him.

The door closes. And just, you know, life resumes in the last drop. What a nice man. You would, none of that is weird to you, just so you know. That is how justice works in Dusk Hollow. When you make an arrest, the judge turns up, determines whether or not you've correctly arrested the person.

If they're guilty, they're taken away. If not, the chief shouts at you. I need you to know, at some point, we need to have this as a TV series and cast Martin Freeman as the straight man who just acknowledges how weird this is and no one else ever does. So can we arrest her again?

Is it kind of the same rules of if you bring someone to court once? It's a real bad idea to antagonise the judge. What if you arrest the judge? I mean, you've heard that somebody tried once, but, you know, they don't work for Dusk Polypedia anymore. And people tell, like, if people are suspended or they lose their position

in the police department, they tend to end up as, like, the subject of the next crime. That's not weird or suspicious at all. I didn't kill him, okay? And how did you know he was dead? I mean, he wasn't when I got there So he wasn't there

He wasn't dead when you got there He was dead when you leave I was told Go there I was told he'd be dead already I was told to Cut the whistle out I was told to take the cap

And I was told to return it But when I got there He was still reading his stuff He was doing his whole dance. I don't know what the hell. So I stood there. I had a smoke. I waited.

He didn't see me. I was outside the window. And then he keeled over dead. So when he was dead, like I was told he was going to be, I went and did it. Look, this whole job has been a hell of a lot more of a headache than it was meant to be. Who gave you the job?

She's starting to convulse ever so slightly. Oh, no. Quickly, Marie to be. Who gave you the job? She's starting to convulse ever so slightly. Oh, no. Quickly, Marie, quickly. Who gave you the job? Slight convulsing and you'll find it easy to speak. Foaming isn't going to help you, you know. Her limbs flail, knocking the door in front of her. Kid, don't touch her. Kid, don't touch her.

On to the table and it sort of flows around, dripping down as she... Dead. That's unfortunate. Just to the wider bar in general, flows around, dripping down as she......dead. That's unfortunate. Just to the wider bar in general, does anyone know what happens now? Normally they're dead when I turn up. Mara will lean over.

I mean, usually the ambulance comes, I don't know, about half an hour. We usually just walk around until then. I mean, okay. Can I touch... Oh, that sounds terrible. Can I search the body? Just be careful.

Don't touch the froth. OK? That's how you get contaminated. OK? OK. It looks like she's been poisoned. Mmm. Oh, no, the stew.

I proceed to search the now corpse, fresh corpse, without touching the skin, maybe using napkins and taking far longer than it really needs to. Sure. There is a note with a time. The time was about ten minutes ago, and the place was the last drop. There is a matchbook for the last drop, a pack of Marlborough Red cigarettes, and that's about it.

Okay. She did have a bag, but the bag is now empty. Right. That's not very human behaviour Is it kid? Carrying an empty bag around You know Yes

I can tell you know Yes Can we take the body To the doctor? Yeah yeah yeah Once the ambulance You can call it in And Doc Smiley will be there

Pretty shortly So yeah Frank Are you heading to Are you calling in? Once the ambulance... You can call it in and Doc Smiley will be there pretty shortly. So, yeah. Frank, are you heading to... Are you calling in? Yes. The findings of the autopsy are ready. I guess I'll come back to the coroner's office and... Sasha, are you going with Hustleback

or are you following a different lead? I'm following a different lead. So I'm actually going to go and see Geoffrey Mariner's lawyer because, you know know in nine cases out of ten a murder is done by the spouse in those other cases where it's not the spouse nine times out of ten it's the person who found the body

and in the other cases nine times out of ten it's to do with the will so I'm 60% of the time I'm right every time those are the three kinds of murder it's the spouse it's the person who found the body, it's the person who benefits in the will. Three kinds of murder.

So I'm going to go see who was named in the will because if it's the housekeeper, I mean, case closed. So all of the crime is 0.1% of the time? Yeah. Okay, cool. Geoffrey Mariner does not have a lawyer. All of the murders. He does not have a lawyer? No, he was quite young, he doesn't have a will yet.

He doesn't have a will? Okay, well, who is his next of kin? Parents. His parents. And they're conveniently out of the country. Right, that's it. I'm tracking them down. In fact, Housekeeper will know. Back to Nellie. Sure. Yeah, what can I do

for you? Alright, so you mentioned that Mr Mariner's parents are out of town? Yes, I think they're in Milan at the moment. OK, I see. And how long have they been there? I don't know. A few weeks, maybe. Do they also live here at this address? Not often.

What do you mean, not often? I mean, they're not often in town. Is it a yes or a no question? Do they live here or not? Sometimes. They're rich. Rich people live all over the place. So this is one of their legal abodes? Yes. OK.

And did Geoffrey Mariner have any money of his own? Not really, just the allowance he was given. Which was a lot. He was also rich, but... OK. Back at the police station... Yes. ..Dr Smilton is there, over the corpse,

looking very pleased with himself. Which corpse? We have two now. You guys, yeah, you guys can come in. He'll take one look at the body that you guys have brought in. Poisoning. Something in our drink, I think. Yes, probably a murder. Anyway, this body, though, is fascinating.

Is it? Yes, so obviously the cut marks on the though, is fascinating. Is it? Yes, so obviously the cut marks on the chest, amateur stuff, dreadfully done. I mean, I'm not even sure how sharp the knife was, but the strange thing is the heart, completely gone, but completely gone so neatly, as if it just stopped being there at all. Were there any, like, whistle-shaped holes in the middle of the chest?

What a fascinating question. Yes, what there was, where the heart should be, in the muscle around it, there was a burn mark in the shape of, well, it was a cylindrical shape. I hadn't really thought what it might be, but now you say a whistle. Yes, it was just in the shape of an old whistle. And you can see here, he just wrenches up a bit of skin and points. You see these little markings here? Numbers. I think numbers etched into whatever was in where the heart should be, burned into the flesh.

Isn't this fascinating? Can we take a rubbing? Oh, I already did. Of the flesh? Yes, rub the cops. He hands you a very, like, gooey piece of paper. Ah, jeez. This is the gooey kind of day.

The number's 9F- 92251. With my expertise in engineering and, on the off chance, library use, although that's not a dewey decimal, I don't believe, does this ring any bells? I mean, it might be a train designation, given what else you've seen. Hustle back, get in here!

You can hear the chief shouting all the way down. No, that's not my surname. I checked. That's your surname. This is something you've done, rookie. It can't have been something I'd done. I'm still wearing most of the mistakes I've made today. I could just hand them back if someone asks. The chief is sitting in his office,

chewing a cigar. If a mountain could be really pissed off with how you're handling this case, that is the chief. His moustache is bristling, which is always, always a bad sign. Hustle back! What the hell are you doing with this case?

Pardon? I got city hall breathing down my neck, wasting the judge's time on some trumped-up charge about cigarettes. Not only that, that corpse, full assault. Why was it full assault, Hustleback? And I'm being told that one of your detectives is trying to hassle the mariners?

Rich people. Rich people who are very important in this town and are doing their own thing. And one of your detectives is bothering them when they're doing whatever important rich people things that they are doing. Does this sound like your case should have been handled like this? And why are you covered in blood? Have you shot a perp? I was investigating a murder.

All right, I'll give you that one. I'm not happy with you, Hustleback. Now explain what's going on with this case. This is a big case and I've got City Hall breathing down my neck. Can we hear this? Yes. Walensky, I think you're in so much trouble. When the chief is expressing his opinion

about the handling of a case, all the crockery and the mugs just vibrate ever so slightly. What have you got to say for yourself, Hustlebeck? Geoffrey Mariner. Mm-hm. As you know, sir, he was found dead earlier today. Yeah, I'm familiar with the case. Yeah.

He throws down the case file. Well, I'm just reminding you of the importance of the victim because there's just a lot of leads to track down. Okay, well,

when's it going to be solved? I need results, Hustlebeck. Well, that's why there's been such a mess. A rich man like that makes a lot of enemies. We've just got to

shake things up to... Really? Because according to this file he had no known enemies. He's rich. Everyone's his enemy. Everyone wants to be rich in this town. So how close are you to solving it?

Well, I'm looking at the coroner's report now, sir, and I'd say we're really... You got 24 hours, Hustlebeck. Yeah, that's what I expected. 24 hours or you're off the case and you're off this force. Okay, sir. Now get out of my office!

You can have your flashlights back now. Nice. It's just the standard meeting with the chief, yeah? Yeah, yeah, very, like, pretty, like, it went quite well. Yeah, no, I feel like I've had this enough to know how to massage his ego a bit. Can I choose not to ever get my flashlights back so I don't have to have that conversation? Can I just accept being incompetent at my job, please? So, on that gruff, shouty note,

probably going to call the second episode to a close. I found a legitimate clue, guys. A legitimate clue. I am very excited. Yeah, but then she died. Oh. I've got a legitimate clue. I've not been following it, but I might later.

I've got a clue that I don't think is legitimate. Maybe this isn't the 0.1% of crimes, but... The dramatic conclusion to this adventure of Dusk Hollow PD will be coming in, I believe, two weeks. That sounds about right to me. OK, so we will see you then. Bye. Bye.

Bye. then bye this episode is distributed by rusty quill and licensed under a creative commons attribution non commercial share alike 4.0

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