Alexander Pierre's house lies by the Independence Square. Officially opened in 1797, the Independence Square, is a vast expanse of open green, nearly eight acres in size, owned by the citizens of Arkham. It replaces the old militia training ground south of the river, which was ceded to Miskatonic College.

The square is surrounded by an iron fence, four feet high. The official entrance, a massive arch thought to be have been designed by Salem architect Samuel McIntyre, is found on the Peabody Avenue side, facing Town Hall. The Common, as everyone calls it, serves as a picnic ground and gathering site. There is a roofed bandstand as well as a baseball diamond on the grounds. This is the site of Winterfest, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Forefather's Day and other celebrations, observances, and gatherings, and of the annual summer Founders' Day Festival.

Doc says to Nick, "Let me do the talking, ok?"

Doc and Nick are challenged by a man when they are to knock on the door. "Hold it. Who are you?" "This is Nick Berone, and I am Dr. Stuart Slade." Doc hands him a business card. "We are here in urgent business to speak with Alexander Pierce." The man has now come up front to you. "Detective Hardigan", he and shows you his id. He eyes Nick Berone suspiciously "What is this urgent business you have with Alexander Pierce?" "We have been helping Detective Stuckey out with this crazy murders. We believe Alexander Pierce may be on the murder's victim list and want to speak with him about it. It was he who called detective Stuckey asked to put Pierce under observation."

Detective Mickey Harrigan

"You are working together with Charles Winston Cochroft then?"

Doc Slade replies, "That is correct, Detective. We believe that the murderer is after revenge for something that happened many years ago."

"Ok. you can go in. Detective Stuckey have told me to give you a helping hand."

-----

Alexander Pierce is in the early sixties and his home is strongly characterized by his work and family relation. Pierce is calm and takes the threat against him with fortitude.

"So this murder is out to get me because of something that happened a long time ago and that I am the closest relative in a direct line. May I ask whom of my forefathers I may thank for putting me in this situation, and what he did do?"

"James Pierce, sir", Doc answers. "He was involved in a disappearance."

Alexander Pierce laughs, "Good old Captain Pierce. If I had to put my money on someone, it would be him. Yes he was a vigorous man. He accomplished much and earned himself a fortune. He must have trampled on many on his road to success. Maybe I can show you around? I have a lot of items which origin from James Pierce, and other interesting items that I have collected through the years."

The guided tour ends on the library. It is a fine library, and in a prominent position is a large book, bound in green leather, with carved hinges and clasps. "This is a family heirloom James Pierce purchased of an ancestor in England."

Pierce opens the book. It is written in Greek, on parchment, in a dark brown ink now much faded. "This is called the Carnamagos Book and intriguingly family tradition warns against opening the 20 or so pages that are sealed together with wax."

Nick smiles broadly and claps Doc Slade on the back, "Hey, Doc. Ain't dat de Galapagos Book we been lookin' foah? An' what's wit dem pages bein' stuck? How c'n ya read a book dat's all glued up?" He chuckles

Doc Slade turns to James and states, "James, I believe that the murderer is seeking this book to gain further access to the knowledge it contains, particularly about the occult. He ransacked the libraries of the first two victims in his search for it. Are you aware of the history about the wizard Bishop and his evil doings? The Trial? Bowen Bridge? And the role of the Carnamagos Book in it?"

"Excuse me but my name is Alexander, Alexander Pierce. James was one of my forefathers." Alexander Pierce thinks for a moment. "And no. I can't say I remember having heard of the evil Wizard Bishop, the trial, or Bowen Bridge."

Doc Slade replies, "Sorry about the mistake, Alexander. Let me tell you what I have learn about these things." Doc Slade then goes on to relate all he knows and suspects about the history at a summary level. When he is completed about the long past events, he then adds, "Now it appears that these events have resumed in current times", and then adds a summary of what has happened in the past few days. "I believe that in addition to revenge Bishop is also seeking the Carnamagos Book.."

"Do you actually believe this?" Alexander Pierce looks over to Nick who nods. "You are both crazy, and actually you frighten me." Alexander Pierce shakes his head. "An immortal wizard, entombed in a ridge for over hundred years are now walking the earth again out to kill me. Listen to yourselves! I've never heard such rubbish before. I can't believe that Winston Cochroft is a part of this. He has always struck me as a very reasonable person, and this you have even led the police to believe. The Chief is gonna hear this, trust me. I'm not putting up with this. I think your visit is over now."

Pierce raises from his chair, "Goodbye gentlemen." He follows Doc and Nick to the door.

After getting the cold shoulder from Pierce Doc Slade heads to the door being almost pushed out of the house. Confused, Nick follows Doc quietly snapping irritated looks at Pierce until they are outside and getting into Slade's car.

Doc comments to Pierce, "Alexander, I wish you luck in this life, Bishop will try to kill you and obtain the book. I only wish you would let us help you." He walks towards his car.

Doc comments to Nick, "Let's go on to my home, Nick, there will be no reasoning with him." Once they are in transit in the car, Doc adds, "I am surprised that he is a descendant of one of those who put Bishop away."

Nick replies through almost gritted teeth, "Doc. You want that book? Izzat what'll stop dis wizid Biship? Jes' gimme de high sign, Doc. I know dat book's impoaht'nt. Jes' gimme de high sign." He looks steadily at Pierce's house while talking to Doc, calmly taking in every inch of the home and trying to memorize every detail. Nick has still not gotten into Slade's car and is waiting for an answer.

Doc replies "Nick, come on, we are not going to steal the book from Pierce. When dealing with the occult, any evil we perform increases the chance of evil overtaken us and permits evil to have greater influence over us. We are better off taking the road of good, doing no evil and doing good to all. Pierce is not aligned with evil; he is just ignorant and close-minded. Stealing from him would be evil and permitting the forces behind Bishop easier access to us."

Nick replies to Doc as he climbs into the car, "Ignorance ain't always best, Doc. Dat kinda ting'll get a man killed. Maybe wunna us. What'll happ'n if de wizid get 'is mitts on de book 'fore we do? What den? He keeps it an' runs away an' we ain't got no chance ta put 'im where 'e belongs. Inna groun'. I hearda guy say one time dat de ends sometimes justify de means. I din't unnerstand too much back den, but I doose know. Seems kinda like de situation we's in right now, see?"

Doc replies as he heads to his home in his Model T, "I agree Nick, I also do not like the situation, perhaps we can come up with an idea when we all get together."

*****

Daria's mother is hardly overjoyed by Daria's latest activities, running home late in the evening, these new grown-up friends, but she doesn't know the whole truth, and therefore Daria ride in Len's car now. Len pull up in front of a small 17th century house on Sutton Road off the Aylesbury Pike, where his forebears have dwelled for over 200 years.

A young man opens the door, who turns to be a police constable. He lets you to see the old man.

Grampa is a wrinkled and bent man but he seems to be by his right senses, despite his old age.

After introductions Len asks, "We wan't to ask you some questions, and wondered if we could see through your library."

"I don't have a library, except from what's stored up here." Grampa points at his head and laughs.

Daria asks, "Mr Phillips, we are looking for a book called the Carnamagos book. Do you have any knowledge about it?"

Grampa turns his ear against Daria, "What did you say young woman?"

Daria repeats herself, this time much louder.

"The Carnamagos book", Grampa repeats to himself. "Yes I do in fact. The Carnamagos book is a part of an adventure Elihu Phillips participated in. Quite a cock and bull story, that. He and my great grandfather, although good men they were, saw ghosts in broad daylight and had some odd conceptions of this world."

Daria asks, "Does this adventure Elihu Phillips participate in involve a man called Bishop, and the Bowen Bridge."

"His name was Elihu, not Elijah, young woman. Yes, you have knowledge of the story, I see."

Len shoots in, "Yes, we have been investigating this story the latter days, but we'd like to hear you version of it, and especially the part with Carnamagos book."

Grampa leans back in his armchair and stuffs his pipe full of tobacco. After a puffing some quite impressing smoke rings he starts to relate the story.

"Elihu was heavy influenced by Reverend Ward already from the childhood years. Reverend Ward was a fanatic opponent against evil and it's advocates, he even wrote a book on the subject. In Elihu's times in went a strong rumour that to men living in Arkham was worshipping the devil. Sermon Bishop and Richard Russel. You know what it was like in those days. If bad things happened, babies were born with infirmities, someone was always blamed. I guess in Arkham it was Bishop and Russel."

Grampa puffs some rings. "Then Elihu's daughter were born with a deformity. Elihu and gathered his best friend, Ethan Williams, and some other men. Ethan William broke into Bishop's home searching for compromising evidence against him and found this book. Ethan Williams was a cheerful and youthful man. But after he had read this book, they said it was taken on the burden of his world upon his shoulder and become an old man."

Grampa puffs some more rings. " Ethan initiated them into the knowledge he had read from the book. Supposedly, Bishop and Russel were far more corrupted and dangerous than mere witches, as they had earlier believed. Bishop and Russel were assumed to be immortal and in direct contact with the devil. But there was a way to get rid of them. They could be immobilized with a magical sigil. The sigil could only be made by a great sacrifice. There also was a spell who would kill Bishop and Russell, but it could only be learned with even a greater sacrifice."

Grampa puffs some more rings. "They agreed on first to ambush Bishop, then to ambush Russel, and finally kill them both by the spell but Russel was warned, and disappeared never to be seen or heard of ever again. Ethan Williams chickened out, he did not dare learn the spell. They decided to try to put Bishop away for as long as possible, and decided to embody Bishop in the Bowen Bridge, which was under construction at that time. To bind Bishop from escaping his prison they carved the magical sigil onto the pillar of the bridge. You can see the sigil on the pillar today."

Grampa puffs some more rings and then some more rings. "Ethan Williams could not stand to have the book in his possession. He gave it away to the fool, James Pierce. I believe he never read it, nor has it been read since. Does this story have relevance to the murders and the fact that I'm put under police surveillance?"

"Yes it does Mr Phillips. We believe that Bishop has somehow escaped from his internment, inhabited the body of a young student and is setting about looking for the Carnamagos book and in the meantime is killing all the descendants of the people who imprisoned him. Mr Phillips if you will excuse us I think we need to hurry to our friends who maybe in trouble, would it be alright to return during the day and pick your brain a little more?"

"What did you say?"

Len repeats himself, this time louder and more clearly.

"Oh, no no. Bishop is dead. What do you mean by initiating the young student? Is the student a descendant a descendant of Bishop? As far as I know, Bishop didn't have children."

Len gives up. "We'll come and see you later Grampa."

"Come Daria, lets hurry over to Mr Pierce's house I believe Doc Slade and Nick could be in trouble."

After taking their leave of grandpa, Len helps Daria to the car and then drives off to Alexander Pierce's home at high speed.

-----

Len and Daria knock on Alexander Pierce. Pierce opens the door and he isn't in his best mood, and greets them with a mere "Yes?"

Len takes the word, "Hello, Mr. Pierce. We are looking for some friends of ours, Dr. Stuart Slade and Mr. Nick Berone. Are they here?"

"They left 20 minutes ago." Len looks at Daria and mouths the words, 'follow my lead'

"Well that is a real shame Mr Pierce, we were supposed to meet them here and then all of us could have sat down and talked to you like civilized people. Both the Dr and Mr Berone can be a little too abrupt and abrasive. Do you think Miss Daria and I could come in and talk to you for a few minutes?"

Pierce scowls at Len and then on Daria. Daria delivers the most winning smile possible, and reluctantly Pierce submits. "Ok. a few minutes then."

Mr. Pierce leads you into the hall but not longer. "Well. What is it that you want to say?"

"The first thing I want to say Mr Pierce is thank you for letting us in and consenting to talk to us. I know you didn't have to and I appreciate your kindness."

"Thank you. Mr. Colson"

"Now my friends may have given you the wrong impression Mr Pierce, we are helping the Police hunt a suspected murderer who seems to have got it into his head to avenge a long "dead" local man called Sermon Bishop. It seems this poor University student, a friend of Miss Rose here (and he gestures toward Daria) had immersed himself in local mythology and history and this coupled with a mental breakdown a few days ago has seen the lad try to murder those he sees as the persecutors of this Bishop."

Len pauses and then stands up and walks around the room. Pausing, waiting for Pierce to say something....

"This is not the version that your friend gave me, maybe he has suffered a mental breakdown too?" Alexander Pierce does not wait to get an answer but continues. "I see where you are driving. You want the Family heirloom, as Mr. Berone said. I do not have faith in you, but I do have faith on the police. Also taken into the fact that my life is in danger, I will hand for the book to the police, on loan."

Len, admitting defeat and Daria greets Alexander Pierce a last time and are escorted to the door. On the outside, Len tries to persuade detective Hardigan to collect the book, but he refuses and says that this is detective Stuckey's investigation and that it is his call.

*****

Charles is the first to arrive at Doc's apartment. His visit at Enod Ames was miss, but at least he got to see some of the paintings Ames had made. He actually bought one, more as a favour to the man than for the quality of the painting. Doc's wife, Patricia, welcomes Charles. The children are bedded and before Doc's wife have made the first pot of tea, Charles are joined be Pierre. Pierre's visit at White's place was a miss.

Patricia Slade is a slender tall (5'11") woman with long dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She is well educated and familiar with the ways of high society but preferring a simpler life, possessing a fast wit and able to sense the moods of the people around her. She prefers wearing long simple dresses and low-heeled shoes.

The Slade home is very functional in nature, with very little just for show categorized by sturdy furniture and very well lit. One of the rooms serves as the cluttered office of Doc Slade, with a large desk surrounded by many chairs and bookcases on every wall. The desk has three stacks of various papers, a stack of periodicals, a closed journal, a large sketchpad, a phone, a bright lamp, and a number of containers of writing/drawing instruments. A living room filled with chairs and sofas with nearby tables and lamps, adjacent to a modest dining room that would sit six comfortably.

*****

First Doc and Nick arrived, then Len and Daria, and lastly and much later than the rest, Penny arrived. Charles had been worried of Penny and was on the verge of going out looking for here, before he finally got in touch with Detective Stuckey. Even though they had heard the terrible story about Benson Crane and the police officer, hearing it from Penny herself, fill them with terror.

Doc explains in a comforting way, "Penny, it is a horrible experience to see someone brutally killed. An experience that no good person wouldn't dread and wish that had not encountered. Unfortunately in this world, and especially when you search out the unusual and the occult, you encounter horrible experiences every so often. All one can do is learn from it, not blaming yourself for what happened, and praying that it never happens again."

Len asks for a glass and from his hip flask pours a good measure of whiskey into the glass, he hands it to Penny and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Drink it all down Penny, it will warm you a little."

As she drinks he takes a Colt .45 from his shoulder holster. Removes the magazine and checks it and then returns it to its rightful place. Looking around at the others his gaze indicates that he is serious about its use.

Doc states, "Now looking over today's events, I made a major mistake with Alexander Pierce as I assumed that he would be of the same stock as his ancestor and assumed that his ancestor was enlightened and open minded. As Len and Daria found out, James Pierce was not, just as Alexander is now. We can probably convince Detective Stuckey to let us examine and translate the book at police headquarters by explaining that it can possibly gives us further clues on what may happen in this case. Does anyone here know Greek? If not, we can either work from my Greek-to-English dictionary [Translation dictionaries of as many languages that he could get would be sought out by Doc and in his library. Greek should have been one of the easier ones to acquire, or find someone from the university to help us with it."

"I can't speak or read Greek. It's all Greek to me! I can read German and Hungarian though. I think if we do get someone from the University, it better be someone enlightened and someone we can trust. Also I don't think we should be as honest with everyone we tell about what we are doing or we could have more Alexander Pierce's on our hands!"

Doc continues, "We also need to find someway to incapacitate Bishop. Perhaps a tranquilizer of sorts? One of us, probably means to talk to Dr. Manzano and see if he has anyone suitable for that purpose, preferably something that can be used at range."

"And if that doesn't work and we are in danger then Nick and I will give him some New York justice. Eh Nick?" Len says.

Nick chuckles and pats his right hand on his left side, "Hehe...y'got dat right, pal. We c'n giveum what's comin' to 'im."

"We also have to visit the possibility that Bishop maybe able to swap bodies so we should watch out for that if we confront him!"

Doc explains, "Nick, if we kill Atwater's body, we can not restore it to its rightful owner. Would you like it if someone stole your body and the people helping you killed your body so you could not get it back?"

Nick nods and puts up a hand to ward off the reprimand, "Awright, Doc. I get de pikcha (picture). Whaddaya say me'n Lennie here jes' leg 'em. Dat oughta put 'im down, an' it ain't gonna kill 'im." He smiles, "Dat's probly de best fix fer de problem. A bullet inna leg c'n be took out, no problems. Waddaya say ta *dat*, Doc?" Nick says with an expansive smile. Clearly, Nick has thought about the problem and has come up with (in his opinion) the best possible solution to incapacitating Atwater enough to restore everyone's body and mind.

"Nick, I would prefer to keep the body as healthy as possible. Tranquilizers are the preferred weapon if we can get them."

Len says, "Doc while it maybe ideal to capture him alive, Bishop may not give us that alternative nor may we be able to return the young man to his body. I for one will not let Bishop murder anyone else, especially none of us here, so on that note I cannot give you a guarantee that I will not shoot Bishop. But I will give your idea a good try first but if things go bad for us, then I'd rather trust this.." and he pats his gun..."after all it saved me many times in France!"

Charles says, "Where are we going to find Bishop? When we know that, we can discuss how to capture him. I see two alternatives how where we could find/capture him. At his hiding place, or at one of the victims on his hitlist. If we go for the second alternative, we have to guess where we would hit. After what happened tonight I am certain that Stuckey would never allow Bishop to get close enough, probably he will move the victims."

Charles continues, "When he find Bishop, I doubt that we will get close enough to press a syringe with tranquilizer into him. I doubt if bullets will kill him, but they will maybe incapacitate him or slow him down. The obvious way to incapacitate him will be to use the symbol, as they did last time."

Doc adds, "We really need to find out what the symbol is and what it really does. Maybe the book with explain it."

"I think we have to learn too, from Mademoiselle Penny here. Go in pairs from now on. What would have happened if he had been able to get in the house? We might be one less. Sacre Bleu, that is a terrible though. Also I agree with the Doc, as my Indian friend said ' First make sure you are safe and strong before attacking a grizzly bear", Pierre says.

Charles yawns, "Excuse me friends, but this day have been long and strenuous. To summarize; we agree on never travelling alone again until Bishop is neutralized. Secondly, we finds out what stand in the book before make a move on Bishop. Right?"

Doc agrees, "Right. In getting access to the book we will need to work with the police."

"Doc and I will visit Dr. Aaron Chase, the chairman of the department of classical languages tomorrow morning, and see if he can aid us in the translation of this book. I propose that the rest of you get a good night's sleep and that we meet on the campus tomorrow morning at 11AM. Should we say nine o' clock, Doc?"

Doc agrees, "Nine O'clock would be just fine, meet you at his office, unless you would like me to pick you up. Who wants to meet with Detective Stuckey and arrange the police taking custody of the book?"

Nick shrugs his shoulders uncomfortably and adjusts his tie, "Uhh...I don' tink I aughta go ta de police. Dey...uhh...dey make me uncomfortable. I'd be more'n happy ta get de book myself, dough...if'n you tink dat'd help more, Doc?"

Meekly, Penny responds. "I'll go. I feel sort of safe with the Detective. As for staying in pairs I wholeheartedly agree. I think three of us together at all times may even be more prudent." Her eyes moisten slightly. "Maybe we should all stay together, even."

-----

Later in the night.

Nick stretches and groans after the gymnastic exercise. He puts on his double-breasted suit, leather shoes, and hat, takes out his roll of money and tosses a green note on the bed.

"Who are you neighbour?" the naked woman in the bed the bed asks. "You don't fit in here, dressed as you've walked out of a movie, coming and going at unchristian times, you evidently have lots of money, but still lives in the cheapest and filthiest place in Arkham."

Nick shrugs, "Dat's cause it's de cheapest. I ain't got all dis here dough from givin' it out. An' you don' need ta know where's I'm from, capice?"

"I like you though, handsome, virile, and kind, not like most of the men who come here, swines as they are. You are always welcome to my bed." The woman makes obscene gestures. "For you, I'm ready for anything, you know."

Nick chuckles a little at her antics, "You betta be ready, dollface. Dis here's a good, healthy relationship we gots. You gimme what I want, I give you want chyou need." He smiles and tosses another, smaller bill next to her.

Illustrations are from page 36 of the Arkham Unveiled. Art copyright Chaosium Inc. for Tim Callender.
Maps are from page 185 of the Call of Cthulhu Rule book. Art copyright Chaosium Inc.