2. Road Trip

Marcus appeals to Wendell's common sense, as the man doesn't seem to realize the dangerous predicament he is in.

"Look, you said it yourself: the deputy called you a liar and even threatened you! Can't you see? They won't let you write about this! You cannot stubbornly ignore the danger you're in, after they set fire to your darkroom! Your career? It could end here!"

He shakes his head. "They are trying to hide something. And we can find out what it is, if you help us. But you've got to convince them you gave up on the story, or you might be the next body mysteriously found in the wild!"

Marcus thanks Wendell, relieved to see he managed to make him more cautious, for now...
He looks at the list of names.

Jocelyn spots Mabel Carruthers on the list and her interest is piqued. "Miss Carruthers..." she says with a pause, "Can you tell me about her? I know she's the librarian here, but i got the feeling she's got some connection with Joe Harlow?"

She pauses again. "Like he's sweet on her or something."

Marcus is surprised at Jocelyn's comment about a possible romantic connection between the two...
He stays silent, waiting for Wendell's response.

Addressing Jocelyn, he suggests "perhaps we could part ways to cover more grounds... if you are looking into Miss Carruthers, I can try to visit the Reverend?"

He asks Wendell, "your list of names is incredibly useful, thanks... Is there something I should know about Reverend Wilson, before approaching him?"

"I feel we should try one of these leads together," says Jocelyn, "To be honest, I'm not much of a conversationalist".

Marcus moves to the exit, greeting Wendell as he does. "Much appreciated, Mr Wendell. Thanks for your precious help, and... remember, we keep all this quiet until we all know more. Things can get dangerous quick, as the fire in your darkroom demonstrated..."

Once outside, they make their way to Cobb's Corner Public Library, easily found in this small hamlet.
"Let's see what Mabel Carruthers can tell us," he says to Jocelyn and Clarissa.

The library is a single-story wooden building on the edge of town. Old, and weathered with age, it seems quaint. It's outward appearance give no warning of what you find inside.

The door opens on a scene of organized chaos. Books cover every available surface, with a good portion stacked along the floor. There are enough books inside as to require another building of equal size to properly house them all. Well-worn paths wind between the stacks. The threadbare carpet worn through in some spots.

At the center of it all sits the librarian’s desk. It is buried under stacks of books that have been piled all along the counter.

A middle-aged woman with pale blue-green eyes peers through a divide at it's center, her gray hair pulled back into a tight bun. She nods once indicating you've been seen, and she's coming. She leans towards a young woman beside her and says something in a low voice, then circles the desk.

The young woman doesn't move. She peers between the books at you. Her dark brown eyes - one of which drifts slightly to the right. Watching. Assessing. A lock of lank, oily black hair falls across her face and she tucks it back behind an ear without looking away.

The librarian winds her way through the stacks, navigating the maze without looking down once.

Even though there appears to be no-one else in the library, she doesn't speak until she is almost on top of you, then she whispers. "Hello. I'm Miss Caruthers, the librarian. How can I help you?"

Marcus picks up on the woman's cue, and approaches softly, measuring his steps as if in deference to the printed treasures the Librarian is the keeper of.
In a similar whispered tone to hers he says, "Hello, my name is Marcus, and these ladies are Jocelyn and Clarissa. That is an impressive amount of books you are the custodian of, Miss Caruthers. This seems like a veritable temple of knowledge!"
He thinks complimenting her library might dispose her favorably.

With Wendell and the Sheriff knowing of our purpose here, it would be best to be upfront. Rumors spread fast in small towns... he thinks.

"We are students from Miskatonic University, here for the dual purpose of researching the archaeological past of this region... and to trying to help searching for the missing colleagues. Many of us knew them, you see... there is great concern for them."

"With regards to the former matter... could you point us to any material referencing finds and artifacts discovered in this region? Our understanding is that the wilderness around here was inhabited since time immemorial, and that traces of those ancient ancestors are scattered across the land. Standing stones, burial sites, and such..."

While Jocelyn has warmed to Marcus, his opening line sounded like a cheapchat-up line to her and she reckons Miss Carruthers might have got her back up at that. She looks at her new friend Clarissa and opens her eyes wide with import looking aside at the librarian to suggest that Clarissa try her charm.