The Dastardly Case of the Dead Man’s Tale (Part the First)
(Being the personal narrative of Deputy-Shirriff Lancogard North-took, on assignment; with annotations from Bounder Applecider Bolingbroke)
DELVER’S BURROW, OATBARTON, Northfarthing in the Shire, on this the 28th day of Afteryule:
The Dastardly Case of the Dead Man’s Tale
CASE STATUS: Reopened and Active
Well, it appears I’ve turned over a rock and found a den of snakes, and no mistake. After having closed the case of the body discovered near the Scrag-dells (see previous case file), something was just pricking my thumbs about the entire affair, to say nothing of tugging at my heart-strings. So let me get all of this down in writing, for sorting out later when things finally to come (hopefully) to a conclusion.
After delivering the sad news to Lady Seregrian about the passing of her betrothed, I took a three-day leave of absence to visit Her Ladyship in Falathlorn. Without writing down all that we spoke of, these are the takeaways: Her Ladyship was of course broken-hearted and distraught from the event; her household was rallying to her side to bring her spirits back up and support her; and she wanted to be reassured that I was utterly certain it was in fact her beloved whom I found dead beneath the trees in the Northfarthing.
It was on that last point that we dwelled on for a bit. When I explained what I had discovered, both in my official report AND the observations I kept to myself, there could be no doubt in the least as to the identity of the dead man as her Cutch. When I asked her how I might be of further service to her, she replied, “Find out, Lance. Find out everything you can. Why did my beloved need to die this way, before his time – before ours?”
Well, that RE-started the investigation. Upon my return to Brockenborings on the 18th, I found myself in receipt of a letter from an old friend, Applecider Bolingbroke, who also turns out to be a friend of Her Ladyship, and also was so concerned about her well-being that she was taking it upon herself to do a little asking about regarding these events. And I thought to myself, two might work better than one – so I talked with Roliman Primstone that same day about my intent to reopen the case of the dead man from the Dells…
…only to find out that word had come from Michel Delving while I was away. It appeared that the Mayor’s Office through the Watch had already ordered the case be reopened! Seems there was a genuine worry over what may have killed this man, and if it posed any imminent danger to hobbits’ interests in the district.
Bounder Primstone (Rolo in his official voice) stated that I was to use any means at my disposal to determine the threat to the peace, and report back my findings with all haste. Well, at that point I decided to deputize Applecider and bring her into the investigation. We met a day later at the Plough & Stars and held a brain-box session over lamb and ale, and went over all the facts of the case we had available. Cider, bless her, was a fountain of ideas and speculations, and we had a most productive talk. That same night, we got Rolo back into the office long enough to get the red-ink appointment writ done, making Cider a full-fledged Bounder.
The morning of the 20th saw the two of us riding north out of Brockenborings and splitting up to pursue two lines of inquiry. We decided that I was to head to Oatbarton and inquire at the Watch Office (or what passes for such up here) about activities and reports over the past few weeks. Applecider made her way, after preparations in a local kitchen, to locate one Master Halros (who as I found out later is one of the Rangers) and make her inquiries along the same lines. As soon as she was able, she would ride to Oatbarton and we would once again brain-box with what our findings might tell us.
Upon my arrival in Oatbarton, I looked up the Delvers, Rundo and Fundo, who doubled as Bounders of the Watch; they it were whom I had deputized for the last bounding that found poor Cutch’s bones. Upon poring over the official journal notes, I asked about a report dated 30 Foreyule, about a sighting of a riding of Big Folk passing south, to the west of town via Golfimbul’s Hole: three horses and two Big Folk, one horse laden with some baggage – but then later, the three horses were headed north again, without baggage and moving at a great pace. The sightings were late in the day, with the last bit just after the gloaming.
There was the confirmation of what Cider and I had thought about: Cutch was slain somewhere north of the Shire beyond the bounds, and his body dumped near the goblin haunts to foul the evidence! This case had just gone from a Missing Person to a Wrongful Death! And if persons unknown had done in someone like Cutch, who had a reputation as a hunter and woodman as well as a cook, then we had Big Folk with murderous intent crossing the bounds unchallenged to do nefarious deeds – a clear danger to the hobbits of the Shire!
I elected to lay up in Oatbarton until Cider arrived, then we would compare our notes and take thought as to where the investigation would need to go next. The Delver brothers were only too happy to put me up for a few nights, Rundo especially worried now that there might be a threat in the district and offering any assistance that could be rendered. As I sit by the fire and wrap up these notes, I can’t help but wonder at myself – why am I so exhilarated about the possible dangers of such an investigation as this? This could lead to very real dangerous things, and now I have Cider to consider as well; how would it look for my taking her into a sketchy situation? But then I consider that she herself has been in a few scrapes and came out alright.
But the fact remains, I feel like a call to action has been sounded. The game’s afoot.
---> Part the Second
