15Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize in this story are the property of Disney and their likenesses are only used for fan related purposes. Any original characters featured are the intellectual property of their creators.
Author's Note: In commemoration of my ten year anniversary on (today, actually), I decided to start my summer story. Since I've spent the last two summers writing a full-fledged fic each, I thought I might start the new one now - and it definitely promises to be a doozy. Consider this a Newsies meets Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None meets Clue meets Harper's Island meets my messed up brain. The title pretty much says it all and, seeing as how I love murder mysteries, I'm really excited to delve into this with this little teaser of a first chapter.
Warning: This story will have some minor language, non-graphic violence, plenty of character death and more than a few allusions to Agatha Christie's work.
One By One
March 15, 1921
Dear Ms. Jacobs,
Hello. Today I am writing to you on behalf of the Vera Claythorne Agency, a well-respected Brooklyn agency that specializes in matching eager, hard-working young women with positions that suit them for a good wage and many other honest benefits.
Through various contacts we received your open application for any work suitable to a respectable young lady and, after speaking with a few personal references and previous employers of yours, we have decided that you would be an ideal candidate for some temporary work that one of our clients is looking to hire. The position would be that of one of many maids to a wealthy retired gentleman who intends to re-open his manor home for the upcoming summer season.
We are assured that the wage is quite significant, both room and board are included, that the work once the home is open is very minimal and that the position is yours should you wish it. If you agree, please find transportation to Randall's Island—the island approximately six miles off the coast on Manhattan where your client makes his home—for the 3rd of April with the understanding that you undertake your duties the following morning.
Sincerely,
Mrs. A. Nonnie Mousse
March 1921—
Mister A. Higgins,
You may not know me but I am a friend of one of your friends, a fellow we both knows as Dutchy (and here's a scrawled surname that might have started with a K or maybe an N). We play poker together sometimes, usually over Tibby's or at (at first glance it says Conlon's, at second it says Caroline's, and by the third he's given up because he doesn't know a Conlon or a Caroline), and last time we met he mentioned you. He told me in confidence that you were a good man who has found himself in a bad place but could still be relied upon to be both discreet and trustworthy.
You see, there is an opportunity coming up for a few good men to make some quick money. I won't go into details here because of (and here the next couple of lines are splotchy and blurred on account of a pale brown stain, coffee most likely), but we would like to have you join us. If this is something you might be interested in, we will be having our first meeting together on April 3rd. Our sponsor, some bigshot who owns a mansion on Randall's Island, he'll be hosting dinner for us all to get together.
Hoping to see you there!
Mister E. (followed by another illegible scribble and one last smudge)
29 MARCH 1921
TELEGRAM
TO OSCAR DELANCEY—
TELEGRAM RECEIVED STOP SERVICES ENGAGED FROM NOW TIL FURTHER NOTICE STOP
FEE ALREADY DISCUSSED AND AGREED STOP PLEASE COME RANDALL'S ISLAND STOP EXPECT YOU FOR APRIL 3RD STOP PRESENT YOURSELF EARLY AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAME RIDE AS QUARRY STOP
MORE INSTRUCTIONS WILL FOLLOW
SIGNED—
U N OWEN
- stress, 04.03.12