The Book & the Bullet

[Aenigma]

Hmm, a hidden message perhaps? Maybe we've been looking in all the wrong places...

Aenigma gives Mr. Rossi a nod. "Well, I'm glad you spotted it. Once Miach gets back with the tweezers, you'll be able to get it out without much trouble I'm sure," he says to his fellow Mystagogue.

He takes another sip from his drink, clearing his throat afterwards. "It wasn't too clear to be honest. I found the gun in what appeared to be a basement of sorts," he says in response to the question*. "The gun was lying flat on a small dinner table; along with some pizza boxes, dirty dishes, and littered envelopes. I also caught a glimpse of a door of what looked to be an old refrigerator or something of the sort."

*

OOC: How about that pun!

[Kailaria]

In the work room

Since the piece of paper is folded, Mr. Rossi makes quick work of dislodging it from its hiding place in the binding using just the pen. The paper seems to be from a yellow notepad as it tumbles onto the table, but otherwise feels rather crisp and new relative to the apparent age of the book.

Front desk

Gina looks quizzically at the Acanthus. "Aren't there tweezers in the room? This is a museum, after all."

[Miach]

Miach would have facepalmed if he had not been in front of Gina. Instead he tried his best poker face, and answered Not that I could find, but maybe I looked in the wrong place. Where would it be ? In the desk ?

Once she nodded in approval with a barely suppressed "I-said-you-so" roll of the eyes, the Acanthus darted back up into the room, just in time to see M.Rossi dislodging the paper.

So ??

[Aenigma]

Aenigma sets the book down in front of him, watching as Mr. Rossi unfolds the secret note. The young Mystagogue is curious to see what it may say, and whether it will give them further clues as to why the book was brought here, and why the messenger was attacked.

"There was some writing on the envelopes, but I didn't get much of a chance to read it," he says in response to his colleague's question. "If you hand the bullet back to me I can give it another try. I'll focus my attention on the envelopes, but I cannot be distracted while scrying, or the spell will be interrupted."

There's a brief pause.

"But before I do that...what does the note say?" he asks, hoping that it may shed some light on the matter of their investigation.

[Miach]

Stunned by The Question's reaction, Miach first reflex was to try and stop him. Who would stop now before reading the note just in front of his eyes ?

Hey ?!

Then, he stopped. If the man had said he had someplace else to be, who was he to stop him ? He would probably like to be debriefed later, though, so the Acanthus would have to focus on remembering the facts from now on. Hopefully, he would manage to get an explanation too, if it wasn't too private a matter that had led M.Rossi urgently away.

Anyway, Miach focused back on the note that Aenigma had taken, and waited for the young Warlock to read it.

[Aenigma]

Aenigma raises an eyebrow at Mr. Rossi's sudden departure. He shakes his head slightly and then picks up the note, studying it closely before reading its contents.

What could've been so important...to leave in the middle of an investigation like that?

ST

Sphendule , what does the note actually say? Or is it blank as well?

[Kailaria]

Upon opening the piece of notepad paper, they read the following script:

I have sent this book with my newest inductee because our ears have heard tell of three more books in this series having turned up in Sacramento. Because each book is the only of its kind, they sell very well, and collections sell even better. These need to be brought into our custody because they tend to produce more enemies to our people than allies of those whose eyes are opened by reading them without any guidance.

Best of luck,

-Hierophant Hermes