Oh, yeah, and I forgot to mention that if the dried liquid on my ear is the liquid from my cochlea, that would explain the ringing in my ears. If the liquid doesn't vibrate, normal sound can't get to the brain, which would result in the piercing sound because of so little liquid in the cochlea.

Okay, let's go explore the mayor's office. Apparently, the voice doesn't want me to rest, so I guess we're all going together.

I ask again, did I recover any life point while I was sleeping?

Since Jimbee is feeling better, I say we advance directly to the hotel, do not pass go, do not collect $200! Let's all resolve to stick together. I don;t get the feeling that it has helped anyone else to split up.

Jennifer Connolly stayed at the hotel in '08? Wow, this conspiracy runs deeper than I thought

Good thing I brought my hamper including portable battery-operated waffle-maker, since the voice doesn't want us to have breakfast Don't worry; I can cook as I walk.

*Schmelt hums as he starts preparing Insta-Eggos*

Wow Jim, you seem to be getting all the bad luck. Does anyone know a way to tell if this is poison and not a side effect of debris falling on him? Maybe check if he has a fever?

We don't have a doctor in town, but I believe farmer Jeb is pretty handy when it comes to cleaning wounds and such. I don't know what he could do to help Jim, but he could probably tell us whether or not Jim is suffering from a concussion.

There should also be a first aid kit in the lobby. Some aspirin should at least null the pain, and there might be something to help with the nausea. I also have some alcohol in my office, which should help too.

I remember Jennifer Chamberlain, although vaguely... If I recall correctly, she was young drifter who came into town looking to cause trouble. She was caught vandalizing some of our buildings, but escaped the constable and was never heard from again. Some like to say she is still here somewhere, haunting the town at night, but personally I think she made the journey across the mountains to a neighboring town. I don't believe she had much money, but as you are aware, we don't get strangers often, and let her stay in the hotel for a couple of nights.

Either that, or I'm pretty sure that's how Mary got pregnant with the baby Jesus

I don't understand. Are you saying or Mary gave birth to Jesus because someone poisoned her, or that Jim was met last night by an angel?

Oh, thanks very much, Mayor! Vandalizing the town, eh? Of course, she is this "X" person. What could her graffiti, notes, and other messages mean, though? Hmm...

The Town Council suspects that I am attempting to leave Willoughby. They are trying to kill me and will stop at nothing! If you find this note, know that I have left clues for you to follow my trail. Must go now! Good Luck. X.

So we must be super-vigilant in looking out for possible X-rated clues. Excellent!

Jimbee is feeling better, so I say we proceed to the Town Hall now and give it a good once-over.

How now, Mayor Brown?

You decide that you've seen enough in the hotel before grabbing a small first aid kit in the lobby (and some of Schmelt's Insta-Eggos©).

A return back to the town hall finds you in the upstairs area. Within a small hall, there is an ornate painting of a steam train above a small stand with plastic yellow flowers.

There is a door to the right and to the left. The Mayor points out that his office is behind the door to the right, but "is presently a bit messy".

My, what a beautiful train! Mayor Brown, do you know anything about it? Was it the local service? Is it still around somewhere?

My first instinct when confronted with a large painting is to check behind it for a safe. Can I do that?

Somebody should check the plastic flowers, too. Off in the distance last night I could have sworn I heard the rumble of thunder and some odd green flashing lights. The arrival of the Triffids? The Nestene consciousness? I think we should be cautious around plastic plants. Just sayin'.

Jim is still the leader, so I think he can choose which room to explore first, unless anyone else has strong objections. Be mindful that Jennifer Chamberlain may have left a trail here too.

My, what a beautiful train! Mayor Brown, do you know anything about it? Was it the local service? Is it still around somewhere?

My first instinct when confronted with a large painting is to check behind it for a safe. Can I do that?

Somebody should check the plastic flowers, too. Off in the distance last night I could have sworn I heard the rumble of thunder and some odd green flashing lights. The arrival of the Triffids? The Nestene consciousness? I think we should be cautious around plastic plants. Just sayin'.

Jim is still the leader, so I think he can choose which room to explore first, unless anyone else has strong objections. Be mindful that Jennifer Chamberlain may have left a trail here too.

I'll check out the plastic flowers. I'd like to pick up the vase and look and take the flowers out to see if there is anything else in the vase. I'd also like to check under the table where the flowers are sitting. I am ok with Jim making choices but I think we should all keep in mind that he did have a closed head injury so may not be thinking as clearly as usual.

Okay, after you guys and gal check the picture and flowers, I say we head to the left room first. You never know who could be hiding around.

I don't mean to overstep Jim's authority as leader, but we'll have to go into my office first. The other room is locked, and I don't have a key right now. I believe Hans Beckman keeps the key, so we can get it from him when we meet up.

I don't know much about the train, but have always admired the picture. Feel free to carefully pull it off the wall, but please put it back when you're done.

...okay, fine by me. Just don't sit in your desk, please. Ladies first, Arin.

Thanks Jim Butcher, but I'd rather be treated as an equal. I'll go in first if you want but let's face it, you are dead with another bump on the head so someone else needs to take the lead into scary places. Not that Mayor Unmurder's office is scary.. everything about this town is creepy. Just let me get done inspecting the plastic flowers and table.

Look, if all you train faring folks are so scared, let me do the honours, Mayor.

Look, if all you train faring folks are so scared, let me do the honours, Mayor.

Sure, if you like. Let's all go in, the door should be unlocked.

Schmelt starts off by checking the train painting very closely. The train yard depicted in the scene does not look like the classic town of Willoughby. After receiving the okay from Mayor Brown, he carefully takes the painting off the wall discovering a small green safe hidden behind the painting. His hunch was right. The Mayor points out that he never knew the safe was there. The locking mechanism appears to have a number combination, 5-digits long.

Arin looks at the plastic yellow flowers and vase with further detail. She then checks the small table they rest on. There's nothing of special interest.

Mayor Brown invites the group to check out his office, since the other office is locked. Charlie opens the door, and surprise! nothing happens. The group enter the Mayor's Office, a most ornate, and beautifully decorated room.

Inside are the following items:

- large desk in the center of the room with chair

- small banker-style lamp on the desk

- round table with four chairs

- fancy wooden coat rack

- teak wooden lateral file cabinet with two drawers

- book shelf with a few classic novels

- bar in the corner of the room with some alcohol bottles and glasses

- open door that leads to a small bathroom

The group wonders what to look at first.

NOTE: Jim Butcher lost Life Points in the night. He did not gain any back.

I'd like to take off some of the books to see if there is anything behind them, if you don't mind of course.

Thank goodness! A BATHROOM. I'd like to go to the bathroom and shut the door and peek around for any suspicious things. I'd like to open the toilet tank and take a peek and look in any cabinets.

I'd like to look under the table, to see if anything is glued or attached to the underside of the top.

Let's all be on the lookout for five digit names, numbers, codes or 'X' marks.

Charlie, I also recommend you flip through the pages of the books as well as look behind them, in case any loose pieces of paper flutter out.

Mayor Brown, how do you afford such a nice little office when the rest of the town is a bit, well, run-down?

Charlie, I also recommend you flip through the pages of the books as well as look behind them, in case any loose pieces of paper flutter out.

Good idea! It might be like one of these books, with a book safe.

Charlie walks over to the bookshelf and begins pulling them out from the shelves. As he does so, he opens each one looking for secret compartments. Nothing is behind the books, nor does he find any hidden compartments.

Arin checks the bathroom closely, including the toilet and small bathroom vanity. Aside from normal bathroom toiletries, there is nothing to be found.

Schmelt looks under the table and inspects it closely. There's nothing stuck to the underside except for a "Made in Denmark" label.

I guess I'll look through the drawers then, if you're O.K. with that Mayor.

Since I still suspect this is all some elaborate reality show slash secret adult film studio, I again would like to check that lovely banker's lamp, without touching it, peering carefully on the underside of the glass to see if any ghostly numbers, letters or hidden cameras have been imprinted on the glass.

I'll check the bar and see if theres any messages in the bottles.

I'd like to turn on the hot water in the bathroom for a nice steam and to see if there are any secret messages written on the mirror.

Charlie opens the two drawers of the teak file cabinet. He finds a number of invoices for various freight train merchandise dating back numerous years.

Schmelt looks at the green banker's lamp closely, turning it on, then turning it off, then turning it back on... He smiles at it making various faces saying "you're just too good, want some of me! Oh, I bet you do. I've got an Eggo Waffle for YOU! Oh ya, baby... You wanna see my Johnso...". Just then, his is interrupted by the sound of running water in the bathroom.

Arin is filling the bathroom with steam from hot water, as she looks for hidden messages on the mirror above the sink. The only message she sees is the words "Keep lOOking" under the cap of her RC Cola that she slipped in her pocket before the trip.

The Constable begins searching the bar containing a number of fine liquors, for a message in one of the bottles. Aside from a label around a bottle of Kahlua, he does not find any messages.