Paris - Michigan

Joe Miller
Pinpointing Objects is far more difficult one might think. Yes I know the whereabouts of Objects, but it is not that precise. Needs practice I think. It just is damn uncomfortable to focus on them. My respect towards Eddie grows every day.

The team asked me where the most distant Object was and I located one in Paris. It was easier to look an Object so far away... perhaps I should move in Europe. Although it is not bad hanging here in Ziggurat Complex, the Objects keep a comfortable distant enough.

The most weird thing was the item felt to be inside the Louvre art gallery. That did not seem fit, as being such a high-end gallery Louvre really is not for displaying items made in the sixties. Not to mention items made in America. There it felt to be, nevertheless.

Michael's ex-wife, Yvette lives in Paris. The sneaky old man used her greed to make her help. It turns out this woman has been making money by divorcing rich men, Mike being her first. And she did not get his Ming vase back when they both lived in the US together. Now he promised her the vase in order her to find a suitable door in Paris for us to use. Of course he did not say why, he just told her he has started to collect doors. It turned out she had taken his wine-cellar door with her from the old house... sentimental values she said later. She sent image of the door through cell phone.

Jimmy was the first to go through the door to investigate whether there was an easy route for them all to sneak out from her house. As she was left thinking they arrive via airplane. It was not hard for a talented sneaker like Jimmy to complete his mission, even though he said one of Yvette's 5 white Persian cats almost run in to the Room, which caused a little hassle and one of the maids to wake up. They waited her to fall asleep again before all of them going through door, up the stairs and out from the back door. It is a good thing Brock is such a gentle giant, as all they needed to get over the trash-shed blocking their way to the street was him to lift them over.

I was really worried about sending the team to rob Louvre. It had disaster written all over it. Although everyone seemed to rationalize it was not very plausible the Object to be in display, most likely it was merely something mundane in some security-guard's booth. And they were right.

But before I tell you what they found, I feel like telling the whole tale.

The team took a taxi to get to their hotel. It was very peculiar to see a city big as Paris to be so silent and empty, even though at the odd hour of their arrival. The reason became soon obvious: a national strike. All communal traffic, museums and tourist-attractions were closed for the day! "That certainly makes things more difficult" said Mike "Now we can not just walk in and spot the Object". "Maybe we can!" Leah said to that, " One of my old friends lives in Paris, and if I recall right she is married to an artist... I am sure she knows someone, who can set a private tour in Louvre for us"

Luring her to do favors went smoothly, what woman could resist a dinner in one of the Paris's top restaurants and a sad tale about a 90 years old man, who flew 13 hours to Paris for one weekend to see the art in Louvre just to find out it was closed. Jean told Leah her husband Pierre-Luc's second cousin, Francois, was working in Louvre as a guard. After few phone calls she had a telephone number to the curator. He was taken by the sad tale and of the generous donation Mike promised. He would guide the team himself.

Click here to Take the Virtual TOUR in Louvre

Everything you need to know about Louvre

No sight of Objects in the gallery. Nothing. It was only at the curators office after the tour that Brock and Leah (they were carrying Objects) sensed a presence. Nothing in bare sight looked anything like an Object. As they were talking about collecting Mike brought up his newest hobby of collecting American retro items, in high hopes the curator would speak about similar items he had in his possession. That worked. The curator spoke liberally about his grandfather, who had found a peculiar shaving brush on his journey to New Mexico in the sixties. The thing was best shaving brush he had ever had. Did not wear or tear and it stayed perfectly clean after a quick rinse. Even the usual mold did not grow on the bristles.

Mike and Leah managed to talk him into selling the brush. One thing left me puzzled after seeing the thing. I could have sworn I saw that thing in the Collector's Vault when I visited it with Kreutzfelt... Could it be possible there are two brushes? Or were the original Collectors wrong and put a mundane brush in the vault?

Jacob said it felt like this brush brings good fortune to the user, like it aids you to success in life.

The more I learn about the Objects the more puzzled I am.


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A week later

Joe Miller
The team has decided to spread their efforts in finding lost Objects. They try not to rely on Suzie Kang, but to create similar search engine for themselves. Leah has been searching eBay for close match of decoration items and furniture we know was in the Room from Mike's construction company records. How I am glad they did such a detailed catalogue with images of the furnishings in the motel back then. "For insurance purposes" Mike smirked.

Soon enough a perfect match was found. A guy nicknamed Lebrachaun (obviously illiterate) was selling a mint table lamp with a price-tag of $800 on buy-now. I can not figure these people... 800 bucks for a used table lamp.... Mike did not seem to think much of it, so he paid the 800. A week passed, no reply from the seller and nothing indicating the package was ever sent. "Well obviously we have been screwed" said Leah. Luckily Mike had several IT savvy people in his back pocket, who were able to fish Lebrachaun's real name and address. Henry MacKinnon from Lansing, Michigan.

Riverwiev Estates Mobile Community is a nice way to tell it is a trailer park. A little better than most, but a trailer park the same. The team had rented a minivan and tried to blend in. It was a futile effort; each and every pair of eyes behind the ajar curtains did spot Mike's massive stetson. Jimmy was again sent to do the scouting and he returned telling a man was lying on the couch. After a series of fruitless knocking Jimmy had to pick the door open. They found Harry was dead. He had been eating drumsticks and that thing had got stuck in his throat.

A laptop was open on his table, with empty battery. The trailer was surprisingly clean, scarcely furnished, and not a single table lamp in sight. A quick recharge and an insipid image of a topless girl popped on the screen top. The machine seemed quite new, not much marks on his history and nothing much on his files, just few pictures of a funeral, taken few months ago.
Leah found a book of receipts with notes about sold items on eBay. A lot of female necessities: curlers, silky petticoats, flower tablecloths and the like. "Looks like this fellow had inherit all this stuff" she said, "I'll go see the neighbors if they happen to know from who". "You do that" Mike nodded "I'll summon the Police".

People in trailer parks seem to fall into two categories; the drunk and the too-poor-to-drink... well maybe a generalization, but this lady in the opposite trailer seemed to like her booze... even though she claimed Harry to be a drunk. She told Leah Harry's mother Emma had died few months ago and that she used to live somewhere in the Park Avenue. After learning Harry had died, she hurried to call to her daughter about a soon-to-be-vacancy in the trailer park.

Emma MacKinnon, Park Avenue, Lansing Michigan

It was a nice single home along the beautiful Quentin park. Built somewhere early 20th century, but well maintained. Leah had found a set of keys in Harry's pocket and figured it would match his mother's door. The house was silent. After entering Jacob stated he felt something was wrong. After a quick scrutiny Brock noticed the back door window shattered. A muted rumble upstairs and off Brock went. He found a sore-of-a-maggot hiding in the upstairs bedroom closet. Shaking his name and business out of him was not hard. He was called Matt MacKinnon and he was here collecting "their fair share" of Emma's heritage with his brother Thomas. One second later Matt found himself in a sorrow pile on the floor, as Brock hasted to fetch Thomas. "Not on my watch!"

Thomas had managed to escape outside with a bundle of something wrapped in a tablecloth. Gaining the gap Brock almost got the back of his jacket, when Thomas turned and threw the bundle he was carrying at Brock. That caused Brock to make swish maneuvers and the thing hit rock behind him and made metallic sound. Not long later Brock drag Thomas back in and gave the bundle to Mike. It was a silvery tea-pot and few pieces of cutlery. They let Thomas and Matt go, and focused on finding the table lamp. They found out in the bedroom was a brand-new modern-looking lamp on the bedside table. And it still had the price-tag on. Was bought from the local car market few days ago. "Someone has been living in here" Leah pondered "there is fresh can of milk in the fridge too". What made them puzzled was the fact there was nothing good to eat anywhere, except cat food.

They decided to wait in the car and see if anyone would return to the house. After the sun had set an old lady from next door came out and tied her dog on the fence in front of Emma's house and went in. She did not stay long. Mike went to talk to her and did his "old-times gentleman" thing. The lady told she was Gretchen, Emma's best friend and she had promised to take care of her cat. Harry was not able to take the cat, as he was allergic. She claimed it was ok for a while, but after two months it started to wear her off. Gretchen asked to join her for a cup of tea upon which she told many things about the MacKinnon family. Apparently all of them had only sons.

The search for the Table Lamp continues on the next episode
Feb 5th 2009 The Case Table Lamp

Case report no 2 by Cattrina