Day 2 - The Abode of Memphis

On their way over to the Schwartz residence, Barrington and Mr Wilde discussed what they were interested in investigating when they arrived.

Barrington would like to look at:

- the prop room i.e. the scene of the murders
- the library, that Memphis prefers Caleb stays out of
- the path the burglars took into the property - and whether there is any evidence of a fourth person who left after the murders

He asks Wilde what he's interested in looking into - and whether he has any thoughts on Barrington's plans.

"No fourth." the man says with a wink. "That answers that riddle.

Unless the fourth stole inside through some other means. With a clever enough story, you can bypass almost any threshold.

Still, our eyes tell us three, so three it is for now. What do you think occurred inside the residence, Mr. Van Ness?

Don’t hold back! Only your wildest guesses shall suffice!"

Barrington carefully looks along the path of the footprints that the burglars seem to have taken into the property and up to the house - maybe they let fall something of interest as they made their way in?

Barrington will also look through the grounds in general - he doesn't expect to spot anything important, but it's worth a try. Presumably there are lots of footmarks from the police, from Caleb, from the days since the murders - presumably there has been no rain since then, though, given that the dirt path is clear along which the presumed burglars made their way into the property. Maybe there is an unusual print (a huge one? a tiny one? something that, hm, maybe isn't human?). Maybe there is some other article that Barrington is surprised to find there, which just might have something to do with this situation?

Barrington pauses, and looks over Mr Wilde. He's an odd one, of that there's no doubt - Barrington really can't get a bead on him. Always asking questions, always prompting others for what they're thinking and feeling - and yet Barrington has no sense that he understands what Wilde himself knows, what he's thinking or feeling.

"Hm. Mr Wilde. That sure is an interesting way of asking that question. I get for me a sense that there's a lot here that you know, or suspect yourself, that you're keeping to yourself."

"Wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that you know a lot, see a lot, are even smarter and more distinguished and experienced that you appear. I gotta say, Mr Wilde, you both impress me, and, yeah, worry me a bit too."

"I'd be happy to give you my take on what might be going on here - but I'd feel a lot better about that, if you could share a bit yourself here. We've seen and heard some mighty strange stories, seen some shocking and - to me at least - surprising and scary things play out."

"But I have the sense that you're neither shocked, surprised, nor particularly scared by any of this."

"Maybe we could go inside the Schwarz residence, sit down, make ourselves a hot beverage of our choice, and have a bit of a chat about all that?|".

"Or, if you're not adverse, we could maybe find ourselves some hooch. Wouldn't be shocked if Mr Memphis had a decent store of the good stuff."

"Well, a man always suspects, doesn’t he? Suspects there’s something afoot, or something astir. Often he suspects he knows more than he truly does. A fact our wives are only to happy to remind us of, I’m sure." He says with a polite chuckle.

"Oh, dear! You are worried by me? Do you suspect that something is afoot?" he says, smiling at the corners of his mouth.

"I am happy to share my wild accusations with you, of course. Though I have warned you of their… niche quality. Let’s see what the house has in store for us.

After you, sir!"

Barrington gives Wilde an appraising look. If he's honest, he kinda likes the old guy - Barrington enjoys Wilde's sense of theatrics and curiosity, his bumbling act and old-fashioned courtesies mixed with, hm, a more 'modern' sense of. Well. Sense of something Barrington can't put his finger on.

But, yeah, also... Barrington doesn't trust Wilde. He's kinda creepy.

Nah, more than creepy.

He feels...? Dangerous? As if he's keeping a lid on something that might be unleashed at any moment?

"Alright, Mr Wilde, let's go inside and get ourselves something to drink and have that chat."

Barrington makes his way through the door ahead of Wilde.

Barrington pauses uncomfortably as he crosses the threshold - reaches out a hand to steady himself - but as the dizziness clears, he continues on into the house.

The first thing Barrington is looking for is somewhere to sit down and have a drink and a chat with Charles - he's looking for the kitchen, or a living/drawing room. Somewhere they can make themselves a tea, or a coffee, or snag a cheeky tipple of some of the prohibited-but-let's-face-it-not-so-hard-to-find hooch.

He expects the kitchen to be on the first floor.With that in mind, he tries the door on his left, to see if it gives hints to either the kitchen or living room.

"Ahhhh.", thinks Barrington, "That's just what I was looking for!"

He makes his way into the sitting room, heads to the drink cart, and turns back towards the door, expecting Wilde to be through the front door, maybe already with Barrington in the sitting room.

"What can I get you, Wilde?" he asks - Barrington is intending to hit the bourbon... or maybe he's lucky and there's some decent French brandy here... only had the good stuff a few times while over in Europe for The War, and he remembers it very fondly.

Glancing down at the drinks trolley, Barrington is impressed, and his eyebrows raise involuntarily - definitely going to have some of that interesting-looking brandy there...

"Goodness. Memphis has quite the collection here, Wilde - I expect he has something for almost any palate!"

"A man seldom fixes any drink better than he fixes his own. I’ll have whatever it is that you’re pouring for yourself."

The man says with a smile, as he takes a seat.

"Ah, yes. Good to get off the feet. Such a tiring few days. And for you too, it seems. Or are you afflicted with bouts of vertigo regularly?" he asks, referencing that behavior at the door.