HICKS STOP

LEFT HENSHAW STOP BODY RECOVERED STOP

GOING TO MEETING POINT C STOP HAVE B AND F MEET US STOP CARRYING WOUNDED STOP

MARSHALS ALERTED STOP TRAVELLING OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID CAPTURE STOP THEY WILL LIKELY BE INVESTIGATING FRANCOIS STOP WARN HIM THEN GO INTO HIDING STOP

VF

12/18/1875

Case File MO71

Assistant: Marshal, reporting from St. Louis. Freestone was in the vicinity about 24 hours ago. Sending over the telegram he sent.

Marshal: He sent a telegram without anyone catching him?

Assistant: According to the telegraph office, a young boy no older than twelve brought the message in. Said that he met a woman the day before who paid him a dollar to send it. Most likely Macy’s daughter based on the description. It wasn’t even signed, just initialed. We’re lucky that the telgraph operator saw ‘VF’ and thought to inform us.

Marshal: Damn. We can at least confirm he’s moving East. And this Hicks?

Assistant: We’ve already contacted the office in New York. We believe ‘Hicks’ refers to Oscar Hicks, currently a supervisor in one of Francois Shipping’s Brooklyn loading docks. We’ve been trying to track him down, but it looks like he’s left town. Searched his office, but it looks like he burnt anything useful in the fireplace. At this point, we’re interviewing everybody who’s ever talked to him in that dock in the past six months. I’ll update you once we have something.

Marshal:Of course. And progress on finding Mr. Francois himself?

Assistant: It’s Louisiana, sir. The locals like to obstruct us out of spite. Francois isn’t tied to the Confederacy, so at least we don’t have to worry about sorcerous interference, but a lot of people are treated at his hospitals or fed by his kitchens, and they don’t want him taken away. We’ve at least narrowed it down to Baton Rouge or New Orleans. We’re searching every ship, train and wagon leaving the city.

Marshal: Good. I’m still not sure how he plays into this, but given the importance of his financial backing, he may very well be the mastermind. We can’t let him get away.

Assistant: Of course. Anything else?

Marshal: How’s Wellington’s team doing on the recordings taken from the crime scene?

Assistant: The wide capture is making it difficult to parse them. We’re making better progress on the one from the box. There were definitely at least two gunshots near the end of the active period; not sure about the last one. That matches up with the blood on the scene; two shots, two bodies.

Marshal: I see.

Assistant: I know you’re concerned about her, sir. We’ve already dug up the basement twice, and with the snow, it’s unlikely he buried her anywhere else. It’s…possible but unlikely that Walstead is dead.

Marshal: I know. That means I have to answer what they’re doing with her. Keep on those tapes.

Assistant: Sir.

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