DUMBWAITER
You cautiously open the dumbwaiter door, not sure what to expect. Inside, you find a shaft leading up. A piece of luggage has been stuck inside.
You warily stick your head in the dumbwaiter shaft and look up. You can see the bottom-side of the dumbwaiter cart further up, but can’t reach it. You carefully remove your head.
You attempt to lower the cart, but the dumbwaiter won’t function. It seems to be missing some pieces…
While inspecting the luggage, you notice a fine mist begin to pour out from within the dumbwaiter. The mist collects on the floorboards below, then starts to form upwards into the shape of a worn-looking man in a hat.
“Funny how you can’t leave some things behind, ain’t it? Not even in death.”
“You must be the lodger.”
“And you must be stark mad mingling with the likes of this place, after what happened and all.”
“Emmett, right? I have some questions for you.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world, detective.”
“Fairly much everything. I had been out during much of the day running a few errands for myself. When I got back to the McDermott’s place, Vera came and got me from my room. She needed help moving some furniture or some such truck. I obliged. A nasty storm was brewing, I could smell it before we left. Well, we didn’t make it far down the road before Vera’s car knackered out on us just as it started to pour rain. Lo and behold this salesman fellow pulls up right along, impeccable timing really, and gives us a lift back. Once inside we all try to warm up a bit, and I head to my room. Remember when I said I remembered fairly much everything? Well whatever happened next is the part I can’t recollect. Next thing I knew I was here, floating about, as curious as everyone else as to what had transpired.”
“I’d reckon so. The kids liked me. You see I’m pretty good with children, know a few magic tricks and whatnot that really gets their eyes lit up. I love a good riddle and don’t mind sharing those as well. Adults just don’t think like kids do, and when you listen to the young ones’ world perspective you hear all sorts of interesting things. Mr. McDermott appreciated it, anyway. Vera maybe not so much. To be honest, I was a bit surprised she asked me to join her on her little chore that evening.”
“I’ll deal you straight, Detective. It was time for me to go. Mr. McDermott knew about it, but I hadn’t told no one else. I had planned on heading West a few states, heard about some good opportunities out that way. I was gonna leave that evening.”
“What about the storm?”
“Storm be damned, detective. When it’s time to go it’s time to go, that’s how I see it. If you’re trying to imply that I was trying to make a getaway, well… I can see why, but that wasn’t the case. A man simply must go where a man must go when a man must go there. I felt a bit short on time at the time, yet now I’ve all the time in the world and nowhere to go. Now ain’t that just the way?”
You warily stick your head in the dumbwaiter shaft and look up. You can see the bottom-side of the dumbwaiter cart further up, but can’t reach it. You carefully remove your head.
You attempt to lower the cart, but the dumbwaiter won’t function. It seems to be missing some pieces…
While inspecting the luggage, you notice a fine mist begin to pour out from within the dumbwaiter. The mist collects on the floorboards below, then starts to form upwards into the shape of a worn-looking man in a hat.
“Funny how you can’t leave some things behind, ain’t it? Not even in death.”
“You must be the lodger.”
“And you must be stark mad mingling with the likes of this place, after what happened and all.”
“Emmett, right? I have some questions for you.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world, detective.”
“You must be the lodger.”
“And you must be stark mad mingling with the likes of this place, after what happened and all.”
“Emmett, right? I have some questions for you.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world, detective.”
“Fairly much everything. I had been out during much of the day running a few errands for myself. When I got back to the McDermott’s place, Vera came and got me from my room. She needed help moving some furniture or some such truck. I obliged. A nasty storm was brewing, I could smell it before we left. Well, we didn’t make it far down the road before Vera’s car knackered out on us just as it started to pour rain. Lo and behold this salesman fellow pulls up right along, impeccable timing really, and gives us a lift back. Once inside we all try to warm up a bit, and I head to my room. Remember when I said I remembered fairly much everything? Well whatever happened next is the part I can’t recollect. Next thing I knew I was here, floating about, as curious as everyone else as to what had transpired.”
“I’d reckon so. The kids liked me. You see I’m pretty good with children, know a few magic tricks and whatnot that really gets their eyes lit up. I love a good riddle and don’t mind sharing those as well. Adults just don’t think like kids do, and when you listen to the young ones’ world perspective you hear all sorts of interesting things. Mr. McDermott appreciated it, anyway. Vera maybe not so much. To be honest, I was a bit surprised she asked me to join her on her little chore that evening.”
“I’ll deal you straight, Detective. It was time for me to go. Mr. McDermott knew about it, but I hadn’t told no one else. I had planned on heading West a few states, heard about some good opportunities out that way. I was gonna leave that evening.”
“What about the storm?”
“Storm be damned, detective. When it’s time to go it’s time to go, that’s how I see it. If you’re trying to imply that I was trying to make a getaway, well… I can see why, but that wasn’t the case. A man simply must go where a man must go when a man must go there. I felt a bit short on time at the time, yet now I’ve all the time in the world and nowhere to go. Now ain’t that just the way?”
“What about the storm?”
“Storm be damned, detective. When it’s time to go it’s time to go, that’s how I see it. If you’re trying to imply that I was trying to make a getaway, well… I can see why, but that wasn’t the case. A man simply must go where a man must go when a man must go there. I felt a bit short on time at the time, yet now I’ve all the time in the world and nowhere to go. Now ain’t that just the way?”