Case No. 23
CAFE & DINER FOURTH CAFE · LONG BEACH, CA · UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
MANAGER NO. 2
DATE: 3-23-2020
FILE REFERENCE: ENO08
TOTAL: PRICEY
Wow, this has not been going well at all, has it? I gave you all a good, no great, motivational speech, didn't I? What more do you want from me? I must say, I am a tiny bit disappointed with my Cafe and Diner. I was negging you earlier if it wasn't clear. I fully expected you to have this whole Elder fiasco cleared up by now, but there are still a half dozen Tsjs lumbering around, and the Alkawhatever is still hopping around after almost killing one of you. Shameful work, minions.
At least you aren't all worthless. Thankfully No. 3, No., uh, The Bright-Haired One, and No. The Annoying One were able to secure the Pearl for me. However—it would seem that the Pearl is only a piece of the bigger picture. Figures. Nothing ever comes easy. Well, I want you to hold onto that Pearl for me and find the rest of the pieces, alright? You can do that much, can't you? And seeing as we have what we came here for, we should probably get going before the Tsjs turn New Orleans into Old Orleans.
…You won't leave until this mess is cleaned up, huh? Gah, goodie-two-shoes, the lot of you. Fine, fine, fine—but I'm going to expedite the process a bit. I think it's time my younger brother does his job for once and takes these miscreants back to his Tide. I'll let him know where he can find them and whatnot now that we're done taking advantage of this chaos. Though the Monkey did end up escaping—that could be a problem. For me, more than any of you. That damned Monkey always gets his wrinkly mitts on my treasures. I'd kill him if I could. Not that it'll matter soon. I'll get all my stuff back and then some.
<3 M.
Caffeinated Report: CD-SON03
"Tidal Guards."
CaD Knowledge | 1 Word
EMPLOYEE NO. 611
DATE: 3-25-2020
FILE REFERENCE: GRM06
TOTAL: $1.37
Miss. Carleton had her tab paid in full. She felt generous enough to lend some of her own blood, sweat, and tears to send Mrs. Morrison home as well. Mrs. Morrison was a rather strange customer—and so was her "mother" Miss. Carleton. First, we know that Miss. Carleton was a fan of dancing while drinking Ice Water. As you are most likely well aware, those who dance typically drink Orange Juice. However, under some circumstances, there is a bit of leeway with which beverage Padre's dancers are able to enjoy. The former Orange Juice distributor wasn't picky about where he gets his customers from as long as they have deep pockets. Outside of Orange Juice, Green Tea, Corpse Reviver, and Hot Chocolate are the most likely drinks for dancers. Ice Water, then, is rather peculiar. Although, I suppose Coffee with Creme or Snake Oil would be a much rarer sight.
Still, Miss. Carleton's, let's say, troubled lineage is an interesting topic. Unfortunately, even if we wanted to know the details with Padre out-to-lunch, I doubt we'll get the full story. We saw Mrs. Morrison grow stronger the longer she was outside of Canada. As she grew, we got a vague sense of Miss. Carleton's childhood. She went from practically nonverbal to postverbal to full-on chatty as the days went by. Her working with Mrs. Weekend is undoubtedly indicative of a higher consciousness. I suppose it was only a matter of time before she found a way out of the Teal Room.
Mrs. Morrison was also a bit of a poet, wouldn't you say? An old hat for us at this point, but it's worth giving some thought to her prose. Thirteen years and thirteen regents come as one… Who or what are these "thirteen regents?" Well, I have an idea of who one of them might be. Or, well, was. Miss. Carleton. That leaves 12 unknowns. 10 if Mrs. Morrison is also "one," but I doubt that. I have a few thoughts on who the others might be, but there is no point speculating here and now. Not while we have the other prophecies to worry about. Oh, and the "portrait of fear" or whatever it was that is supposedly hidden within No. 17's manor. We're still unsure what that refers to. We have done countless sweeps and have found nothing matching Morrison's description. It might be best to call off the search at this point and put on some coffee instead. We'll have time to worry about paintings and blood another day.
EMPLOYEE NO. 1313
DATE: 3-26-2020
FILE REFERENCE: SON04
TOTAL: $0.77
As the chaos in the Big Easy has crept to a slow, we've been paid another visit by an ominous crow. It's true, Miss. Bad has flown in once more to share her words of wisdom and war. This time she wrote of the nature of the Olympian key and where we might find piece two of three. Here is the sermon she has spun, hinting that our job is far from done:
"For in her breast a demon slept
Hidden to most, a secret well-kept
Seal'd with shadows oh so sacred
Her demise is all but fated
‘O the bright ‘n mighty God of Sky,
Who split the Antekey to settle a tie.
Should it be found in the heart of a hum?
With an unfurled string to act as crumbs?
It takes the form of curious card,
Where a well-kept secret is under guard."
One poet often inspires another, I suppose in a way they are like sister and brother. Though where Miss. Bad brings about an omen with a scree—Fate only smiles with a sour guarantee…
Three pieces form together into one
From the sea, to the sky, and deep below
Our work here is far from done
Glistening gems spoke words which stun
Secrets which we could not yet know
Three pieces form together into one
Hidden within a trickster's idle fun
And grasped tight by morning's foe
Our work here is far from done
But three is only one of four to be won
From the ravens and the toad, lest not forget the crow
Three pieces form together into one
A maze takes time even if you run
And it won't stop others who will go
Our work here is far from done
Better to have some than none
So like the keys we should grow
Three pieces form together into one
Our work here is far from done
Caffeinated Report: CD-TFF07
"Miss. Meg's worst personality trait."
Research | 1 Word