Session Report - Played Monday 22th May, 2006

Audio Recording - TBC

News of the Day on the BBC World Service - The Presidential election in the USA. Herbert Hoover wins by a large margin. Blizzards across Scotland, and London itself wakes up to an unseasonably sharp frost. Its more like January than November. The Met Office is predicting that the snow will move south in the next few days.

As with the weather and the world around them, events seem to be moving fast - almost too fast - for the party:

• Early in the morning, Andrew Saunders calls the police to report last night's incident with the Tall Man. Detective Inspector Andrew Taylor asks him to come in and make a statement.
• Meanwhile, in Wimbledon, Doctor Bartlett and Captain Withers discuss last night's phone call and immediately decide to catch a train to Hereford and visit St Agnes Asylum.
• Even Nathaniel Browne finds himself in trouble as he begins his hunt for a copy of 'The Walker by the Lake'. That morning he also encounters the Tall Man, who not only tells Browne that he should 'drop the Roby case' but also claims responsibility for the murder of orderly Frederick Long!

Around noon. Saunders gives his statement to Taylor, and not long afterwards Browne also calls on the police. Speaking with DI Taylor, he gives a statement during which he informs the detective of the murder of Long. With this information, Taylor phones the Herefordshire police, while Browne helps to make an identikit picture of the Tall Man.

Meanwhile, in the West Country, Bartlett and Withers are delayed by snow and are forced to spend the night in Hereford. Upon calling the asylum, Bartlett is informed that the police are limiting access, but that Doctor Highsmith would be able to talk to him tomorrow.

In Herefordshire Bartlett and Withers visit St Agnes Asylum, meeting with Inspector Atkins of the Herefordshire Police. The Inspector is an unpleasant and arrogant man who seems to have a problem with army officers and the insane (in fact, he strikes Withers as the 'Bad NCO' type). Despite the character's best efforts, the meeting with Highsmith is not very fruitful, with the doctor understandably busy with the ongoing murder investigation. During this conversation, however, Bartlett learns that Nurse Price is on leave, and with Highsmith's encouragement arranges to meet orderly at the Wheatsheaf pub in the heart of Weobley.

Over lunch, Price and tells Bartlett and Withers about his discovery of Long's body and the circumstances of the murder, which does indeed seem very similar to the Cuthbert Yates case.

Perturbed and a little confused by the entire trip, Bartlett and Withers begin the trip home, arriving back very late to a snowbound London.

More than a little confused by the speed and meaning of the unfolding events Browne calls Bartlett to discuss his encounter with The Tall Man and it is agreed that everyone will meet at Bartlett's home for dinner on Friday.

Later that morning, Withers phones the private detective he hired and learns Delia Hartston's last known address - also asks about Vincent Tuck and is told he's a reasonably good man, except for his drinking problem. Taking the initiative, Withers sends a telegram ahead to Delia announcing that 'Captain Withers and Doctor Bartlett' wish to visit her tomorrow.

That afternoon, Andrew Saunders and Browne visit Tuck at his office in Wapping, ostensibly to have him investigate the Tall Man. Browne, unaware of exactly why they are seeing Tuck (he believes they are visiting any old private eye), unwittingly reveals the connection to Alexander Roby, causing Tuck to become suspicious and defensive. Finally, however, after some cajoling, he agrees to tell them what he knows if they leave him alone. He tells them that he followed Roby for three weeks in November 1925, during which time Roby spent most evenings in the company of Lawrence Bacon, Malcolm Quarrie and a man called Edwards. He provides addresses and background information for these men.

Tuck seems to be holding things back, but invites Browne and Saunders to the pub, where after several pints he decides to tell them the 'whole truth'. returning to his office, he gives them a typed report, tells them not to read it until they have left, and wishes them goodbye. Vincent Tuck's report reveals Lawrence Bacon's apparent use of black magic to kill a vagrant. It's clear that this incident scared Tuck badly, and may have precipitated his heavy drinking.

It's just after morning inspection when Captain George is informed he has a telephone call in the officer's mess. This turns out to be Delia Hartston's Mother who is ringing to inform the officer that her daughter is now married and living in Enfield (and goes by her married name 'Morrison'). Withers asks if she can possibly call him and shortly afterwards Delia phones. Impressed by the credentials of an army Captain and an eminent Doctor, she agrees to meet them that afternoon at her home.

Arriving at the Enfield address, Delia proves to be a beautiful and petite young woman, although she is apparently hiding a bruise under her makeup. Taking into account some pictures on the wall - which show Delia almost pulling away from her husband and her desire to not have them in her house when he returns - Withers concludes her husband, Peter Morrison, beats her, a thought which greatly disturbs him.

Delia, provides to be a font of knowledge on the life and activities of Roby and his companions:

• Asked about her relationship with Alexander, she explains that they split up over his association with Bacon, Quarrie and Edwards, a trio who she knew only by name, but had never met. She also mentions a fourth man whom she did meet, a thug called Coombes who seemed to work for Bacon and whose description seems to fit that of the Tall Man.
• She provides Withers a copy of Roby's book, 'The Walker by the Lake' and says that shortly before they split, Roby kept talking about 'an event' due to take place in December 1925. This was to occur in a Suffolk village called Clare Melford, and that 'nine teeth' had been prepared on a hill for this 'event'. The 'teeth' appear to have been standing stones.

Bartlett and Withers leave but they both leave her a card in case she remembers anything else. That night, everyone meets at Bartlett's house to discuss what they have learned and to decide on their next steps. During dinner:

• Withers gives Roby's book to Browne, hoping that the bibliophile might be able to better be able to find any hidden messages or insights buried within.
• Bartlett remembers a dream that he had in Weobley regarding 'nine teeth' and, shaken, recounts to the party, In it he found himself walking and a vast, indescribable creature appearing to him within a circle of nine standing stones.

Continue to Session 4 - Teeth of Winter.