The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 125: Some Closure

"Amazing.  Simply amazing."  Leightstone walked a few paces to the left then back to the right.  "I had no idea that someone was able to use that incantation on a wooden sculpture.  We will definitely need to have some research done on this."

Leightstone stood in front of Dr. Herkeimer's chair, watching the eyes in the wood face carved on the high back of the chair follow him as he moved back and forth.  He had found documentation about the chair's origin in some papers in Dr. Herkeimer's desk.  Purchased in Switzerland, the chair came with provenance dating it back to the late 1780s.  Leightstone was having it packed up and shipped to a secret location where it would be studied further.

The International Council and several members of the East and West Coast Clubs had taken over the Herkeimer mansion, searching for clues to his madness.  So far, their efforts had turned up nothing about his motives.  His captured followers professed to know nothing.  They said that they had all been coerced into the group.

Still sitting in his cell, Fulop had provided information about the laboratory in the basement.  He and Mrs. Labuler had become friends.  She brought him his requested reading material -- all classic works of literature.  His last words to Leightstone was "Keep me here.  I've got plenty to read and I'm well fed.  The dead Doctor never treated me this good."

And now, they were searching Fulop's laboratory.  Anything of importance had been packed up and taken away.   In a far corner of the basement, Darren and Lewis were working on cracking open the wall safe. Leightstone had joined them.

"According to Dreda, there are lots of secrets in there," said Leightstone.  "Dr. Herkeimer had blackmailed most of his group into joining him, so we must be very careful with any sensitive materials."

"I agree," said Margery Price, in her English accent, another member of the International Council.  She and William Trenda had joined them in the basement.  "From what we've gathered, Mrs. Caligar said that Herkeimer had kept more than just blackmail material in the safe.  She mentioned other documents that he had found over the years regarding the Club."

Trenda stepped over to Darren and Lewis.  "In other words, be very careful."  He then turned to Leightstone.  "And where is Dreda?"

"She is with her Father.  She is under arrest, but was released to him a few days ago."  Leightstone watched Darren and Lewis fiddling with the lock.  "She's not to leave his side.  It was the Council's decision to remove her powers, but her parents had pleaded to keep her abilities to use the incantations."

Price added a few words of sympathy.  "If it's true what she says about the information in this safe, we'll probably reverse the sentence."

"Let's hope she is," said Trenda.  "She's good at using some of the more unusual incantations.  She just needs help right now."

"Aha," exclaimed Lewis. "I heard something that sounded promising." Lewis grabbed the safe's handle and gave it a hardy tug.  The thick door popped open and a light came on from inside.

"Maybe it's really a refrigerator?" Darren joked about the light.

"Well, look at that," said Price.  "Have you ever seen such a stash?"   They all stood amazed.  The wall safe was really as large as a bank vault.  It had shelves with stacks of papers, books, boxes, and bags.

Leightstone led the way into the safe.  His first stop was at a box labeled "Vincent Waldhead."  He lifted the lid to peek inside.

"Well, looks like Doctor Herkeimer had a lot on Vincent," said Leightstone.

Vincent was now under the protection of the West Coast Chapter.  He had come peacefully and quietly, telling them anything they wanted to know, including the secrets for which he had been blackmailed.

"We'll be able to give that to Vincent," said Trenda.  "He can dispose of it."

"I agree," said Price, lifting her skirt as she stepped over the vault’s threshold. "I will add that we, meaning you and I, Rufus that we need to confirm his statements about the contents."

Leightstone nodded and put the lid back on the box.  "Agreed.  Trenda will do that before you leave, then you can take it."

Lewis nudged Darren in the side.  "Ask him."

"No, you ask him.  You're the one who wants to know."

"I was not."

"What are you two going on about?" said Trenda.  Darren and Lewis both turned to look at him.

Darren spoke up.  "We were just wondering what happed to the tall brute and..."

"The little fellow."  Lewis ended the sentence.

"Ah, Bruno and Fan. As best we can tell, they have yet to turn up."  Trenda rubbed his chin.  "Who knows?"

Meanwhile, Xavier and Rose were upstairs in the Doctor's bedroom.  Rose perused the books on the shelves.

Xavier was running his hand across the top of a wooden box.  A shiny metal plate on top had the initials "U.G.H." etched into it.  He was puzzled about it.

"Check this out," said Xavier.  "This is labeled "ugh."

Rose walked over.  "I'm going to guess that may be Dr. Herkeimer's initials.  His first name was Ullwyn."

"Oh, poor guy.  His initials spelled "ugh."  How sad is that."  Xavier was pushed aside by Rose.

"Let's just see what poor Dr. Ugh had hidden, shall we."  Rose tried to open the lid but it was locked.  Frustrated, she pulled out a  pocket knife from her skirt pocket.  Running the blade around the lid and the lock, she gave a few twists of the knife.  The lock clicked.

"Ah ha," she exclaimed.  Putting the pocket knife away, she opened the lid and they looked inside.

There sat a small package in wrapping paper and a bow.  Rose lifted it out and set it on a nearby table.

"What do you think this is?" said Xavier.

Without answering, Rose lifted off the lid to reveal a tea set -- a pink tea pot with painted flowers, four cups and sauces, a creamer and a sugar bowl.  All waiting to be used.

"I wonder," said Rose softly to herself.

"Looks like nothing to me," said Xavier.  He turned and left the room.

Rose ran her hand over the teapot and put the lid back on the package.  She stood there for a moment before slowly walking back out in the hallway.  Just as she was about to head down the stairs, she heard a rustling noise then a door opened.

Turning, she saw that a door at the end of the hallway had opened just a little. Inching her way to it and ready to strike, she grabbed the knob, pulled open the door, and peeked around it to see who was inside.  Rose chuckled.

Darren had come up the stairs and could see Rose looking in a room, talking to herself.  As he approached her, he could hear part of what she was saying.

"Yes, he is safe," said Rose.  "Everything went according to plan.  Don't worry about anything..."  Rose saw Darren and closed the door. "Oh, I didn't see you there."

"Who are you talking to?" said Darren.  He quickly opened the door, thinking he would scare someone inside.  All that was there was a long wool overcoat.  Darren looked at her, then at the coat.

"It's just a closet with a wool coat.  Hmmm... Making plans with the mysterious Mr. Coat," said Darren, winking at her.

Rose played along.  "Yes, we're going out to dinner next week.  He wants lamb chops."

Darren grinned at her.  "You've got spunk.  I like that."  He walked back down the hall.

Rose thought to herself.  Too bad you don't like girls.  She looked at the coat and closed the door.   She walked towards the stairs but stopped when she got to the Doctor's bedroom.  She saw the wooden box.  She went in, picked it up, and went to join the others.