Gaberax
09-03-2008, 05:43 PM
“How much longer till we get there?” You ask with a hint of exasperation.
“Just a few more minutes,” the officer smiles and makes eye contact in the rearview mirror. “Sit back and enjoy the scenery.”
You look out the window as the patrol car winds its way down the twisting dirt road. Sunlight dances off of the surface of the lake, Lake Lucille (Lake Lucy to the locals.) The patrol car carefully follows the treacherous road around the lake, finally turning into a private driveway.
Ahead sits a very large, very expensive-looking brick home. A police officer waves the patrol car through the open gate and the car proceeds to the house proper. Stopping at the front door; you and the officer exit the car.
Another officer opens the front door and both he and the driver escort you to a large room on the first floor. Your old “friend”, Detective Mike Hawkshaw is standing over a cluttered table of some sort. He looks up as you approach and smiles wanly. It is a smile you do not return.
“Detective, how’s the detecting business?” You ask sourly.
“Busy,” he says, turning his attention back to the table and its contents, missing or ignoring your sarcastic opening.
“So how can I help you today?”
“This is the home of Dr Sven Mördare,” Hawkshaw blurts out. “Dr Mördare is not home right now. Do you know why?”
You shake your head, feeling lost.
“I was on the way out here yesterday morning to place Dr Mördare under arrest. For several months he’s been our chief suspect in the disappearance of one MISSUS Helga Mördare, his wife. Earlier this week some hunters came across the body of the LATE MISSUS Helga Mördare. Found some pretty damning evidence against the good doctor near the body.”
“And this involves me?…” you leave the question hanging.
“Well, we can’t seem to find the good doctor.” Hawkshaw explains. “We’ve checked the airports, train stations, bus terminals, taxis…nothing. There are state and federal officers on the lookout for him. No one has seen him for over a week. I think he’s trying to sneak out of town without talking to me.”
“Perhaps he drove his car.” You point out a little too sarcastically.
“Yeah, maybe. His car is not here, either.” Hawkshaw agrees. “No one hereabouts remembers seeing him leave, though, and no one in town remembers it either. No hits on his credit card…the ones we know about…for a week or so. Guess he could have paid cash. But his bank account hasn’t been touched in weeks, either. What we do have is this,” he says, indicating the items on the table.
Strewn haphazardly on the table are maps of every country. Marks of notation and signs of usage appear at various places on most every map.
“Still not seeing how I can help you, Detective.” You honestly state.
“I was hoping you could, I dunno, tune into his location maybe? Give us a clue to where Mördare is off to. You know, do that voodoo that you do?” Hawkshaw begins, raising his eyebrows dramatically.
Fighting a rising fury, you mentally count to ten. Hawkshaw is starting to use you as a crutch. Tired and frustrated, you sublimate the seething anger. You figure the quickest way back home is to give Hawkshaw what he wants. You make a mental note to stop opening your front door when cops come a-calling.
“Let me see those maps.” You expel a quick breath in resignation.
When you have calmed yourself sufficiently, you pick up each map and, following some esoteric feeling, sort some of the maps into a smaller pile. Finally, when you have picked through all of the maps, you begin to fully examine each of the maps in the smaller pile. Holding each of the selected maps for a few moments, the images come.
Map 1 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map1.gif)
Map 2 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map2.gif)
Map 3 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map3.gif)
Map 4 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map4.gif)
Map 5 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map5.gif)
Map 6 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map6.gif)
Map 7 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map7.gif)
Confused, you write down the location from each map. What could it mean?
1. Toledo, Spain - John_and_Yoko
2. Moscow, Russia John_and_Yoko
3. Orleans, France - John_and_Yoko
4. Damascus, Syria - John_and_Yoko
5. Aberdeen, Scotland - John_and_Yoko
6. Rotterdam, Netherlands - John_and_Yoko
7. Okinawa, Japan - John_and_Yoko
After several long minutes of deep concentration, the answer becomes clear. Where do you advise Hawkshaw to begin his search?
“Just a few more minutes,” the officer smiles and makes eye contact in the rearview mirror. “Sit back and enjoy the scenery.”
You look out the window as the patrol car winds its way down the twisting dirt road. Sunlight dances off of the surface of the lake, Lake Lucille (Lake Lucy to the locals.) The patrol car carefully follows the treacherous road around the lake, finally turning into a private driveway.
Ahead sits a very large, very expensive-looking brick home. A police officer waves the patrol car through the open gate and the car proceeds to the house proper. Stopping at the front door; you and the officer exit the car.
Another officer opens the front door and both he and the driver escort you to a large room on the first floor. Your old “friend”, Detective Mike Hawkshaw is standing over a cluttered table of some sort. He looks up as you approach and smiles wanly. It is a smile you do not return.
“Detective, how’s the detecting business?” You ask sourly.
“Busy,” he says, turning his attention back to the table and its contents, missing or ignoring your sarcastic opening.
“So how can I help you today?”
“This is the home of Dr Sven Mördare,” Hawkshaw blurts out. “Dr Mördare is not home right now. Do you know why?”
You shake your head, feeling lost.
“I was on the way out here yesterday morning to place Dr Mördare under arrest. For several months he’s been our chief suspect in the disappearance of one MISSUS Helga Mördare, his wife. Earlier this week some hunters came across the body of the LATE MISSUS Helga Mördare. Found some pretty damning evidence against the good doctor near the body.”
“And this involves me?…” you leave the question hanging.
“Well, we can’t seem to find the good doctor.” Hawkshaw explains. “We’ve checked the airports, train stations, bus terminals, taxis…nothing. There are state and federal officers on the lookout for him. No one has seen him for over a week. I think he’s trying to sneak out of town without talking to me.”
“Perhaps he drove his car.” You point out a little too sarcastically.
“Yeah, maybe. His car is not here, either.” Hawkshaw agrees. “No one hereabouts remembers seeing him leave, though, and no one in town remembers it either. No hits on his credit card…the ones we know about…for a week or so. Guess he could have paid cash. But his bank account hasn’t been touched in weeks, either. What we do have is this,” he says, indicating the items on the table.
Strewn haphazardly on the table are maps of every country. Marks of notation and signs of usage appear at various places on most every map.
“Still not seeing how I can help you, Detective.” You honestly state.
“I was hoping you could, I dunno, tune into his location maybe? Give us a clue to where Mördare is off to. You know, do that voodoo that you do?” Hawkshaw begins, raising his eyebrows dramatically.
Fighting a rising fury, you mentally count to ten. Hawkshaw is starting to use you as a crutch. Tired and frustrated, you sublimate the seething anger. You figure the quickest way back home is to give Hawkshaw what he wants. You make a mental note to stop opening your front door when cops come a-calling.
“Let me see those maps.” You expel a quick breath in resignation.
When you have calmed yourself sufficiently, you pick up each map and, following some esoteric feeling, sort some of the maps into a smaller pile. Finally, when you have picked through all of the maps, you begin to fully examine each of the maps in the smaller pile. Holding each of the selected maps for a few moments, the images come.
Map 1 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map1.gif)
Map 2 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map2.gif)
Map 3 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map3.gif)
Map 4 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map4.gif)
Map 5 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map5.gif)
Map 6 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map6.gif)
Map 7 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/Gaberax/map7.gif)
Confused, you write down the location from each map. What could it mean?
1. Toledo, Spain - John_and_Yoko
2. Moscow, Russia John_and_Yoko
3. Orleans, France - John_and_Yoko
4. Damascus, Syria - John_and_Yoko
5. Aberdeen, Scotland - John_and_Yoko
6. Rotterdam, Netherlands - John_and_Yoko
7. Okinawa, Japan - John_and_Yoko
After several long minutes of deep concentration, the answer becomes clear. Where do you advise Hawkshaw to begin his search?