Trammel's gardening neighbor

(Sunday, March 17th continued.. further recollections...)

On the plus side, I was a Forensic Investigator to The Bureau, and I had been bitten with a highly toxic venom, all of which made our story more plausible. But this was not good for my career, my relationship with George, or my own sanity. And Howard – had he come with us from Africa, only for this? It’s a miracle he wasn’t deported.

George had a hand in it, our release. He actually came to Savannah, and visited me on Saturday, March 16th, 1935. That date will dwell within the confines of my mind all my days, as will my humiliation. George was not the only one questioning what I had gotten myself into. What was all of this? Had Keating taken his own life in this horrific way? But if not – who would have done it? Why? Was he answering to someone? Or had he discovered something more sinister?

In the meantime, not knowing how to help us from our predicament - other than hiring us a lawyer via Janet – Otto, Quincy, and Erik decided it would be best to disappear, and took the Silver Sable (with all of our belongings) back to LA. The night before the encounter with the deceased Keating, Howard and Otto and Erik had visited The Alligator Club and learned a bit more about Nectar, and so thought to follow up on that lead.

They managed to schmooze their way into the inner party, under the watchful eye of Mr Bigg, learning that the club did indeed offer “honey” as one of many drugs of choice. They were hesitant to give me many details of their visit, and frankly I was hesitant to hear them, so I will focus here on the relevant details. They have had Nectar previously, brought in from the West Coast. The Nectar is expensive, not just in the cost itself but the results (apparently eluding to his “ladies” being less than useful for nigh on a week after). The last Nectar was available approximately 3 months ago (coinciding with the timing of our last visit to Savannah).

* * *

Since our return to LA much has happened. We are staying in a different hotel and using fake names, but I do fear it still won’t be enough, and we all are exercising great caution in guarding our identity and presence here.

Erik conducted research about the White Hermit spider, discovering that it is native to Southeast Asia (such as Thailand, perhaps?). His recollection was correct, that the creature’s fangs are unable to pierce human skin.
Otto investigated the local sale of drugs, and discovered a rise (beginning about two months ago) of foreign (in particular, Mexican) drug pushers, further recalling seeing some Mexicans at the Trammell mansion. Quincy also recalls the mention of Mexico in Unaussprechlichen Kulten.
Otto has paid for two months treatment for Edgar Job. Dr Teak has promised to recommend that Job remain within his care.
We have given Room 225 of the Sunrise Motel a thorough search and have declared it a dead end. Perhaps there may have been something there once, but no longer.

* * *

Quincy made contact with a gardener (MR GINIAL BROOKER) of one of Trammell’s neighbors, learning more about the Nectar and a making a horrific discovery. Mr Brooker talked of the parties and “perverts” going on day and night. He blames the Trammell money on being able to keep things quiet, even when the police are called.

Mr Brooker spoke more of the Mexicans. He claimed previously there were merely bleary-eyed vagrants in and out of the house, but the recent arrival of the Mexicans – some of whom he even believed he saw carrying a body out once, recently.

There was a more graphic incident wherein the gardener saw Mr Trammell come out of his own mansion once, “spilling his seed” upon the ground. This was very upsetting to him but there were already police on the scene talking with Walker, so he couldn’t very well call the authorities.

Then came the strangest revelation of all: proof! Mr Brooker claimed he had heard, not long past, a hissing and spitting noise from within the bushes. His story goes that he found a mouth in the ground below the bush (a bush of unnaturally lush flowers), hissing and biting at the man.

He claims to have screamed, and thrown a holy cross into the open mouth (his mother’s cross “blessed by the Holy Father himself”), which turned the house into a calcified statue. Erik and Otto have recovered the mouth. It frightens me to think of removing it from the cross, which apparently “killed” the thing, I do hope it remains as it is, frozen forever in that horrific, biting scream.

But I do wonder….