Ninth Hour of Investigation

It took a while before he came to. He slowly sat upright and rubbed the back of his head. Feeling around with his fingers, he could make out a pretty nasty bump where his head had hit the ground.

Glancing around the room, he tried to get his bearings. His gaze fell upon the alien horror lying in front of his feet. Suddenly, terror crept back into his heart. He pushed himself backwards to get a good distance between him and the hideous thing. But, on closer inspection, Ethan saw that it wasn’t glowing anymore.

He had to get rid of it.

Quickly he grabbed the rag that it had been hidden in and threw it over the sculpture. Wrapping it up quickly, he stuffed it back into the safe.

Exhausted he slumped to the ground. Never in his life did he want to see that disgusting thing again.

His mind felt weird, like it had been stirred up quite well. He grabbed the floor to anchor himself.

At least now he knew what the suits were after. Whatever that thing was, it made sense that someone would pay a pretty penny for it.

He glanced at the three notebooks. They would probably contain information about this thing, right?

With little strength left he grabbed the books and pulled them out. A watch fell to the ground.

Strange. Ethan picked it up and looked at it.

6:24.

Not sure if a.m., or p.m. though. It was frustrating, but he did not have time for that now. He fastened the small device around his wrist. And sat down in the armchair.

The desk would have been better for focused reading. But he did not want to be anywhere near the safe.

Gently he opened the first book. It was written in a steady hand in fine, small letters.

His eyes flew over the pages. This book detailed the investigation of a certain Ethan Burke into the machinations of a malicious cult. Describing the cult in very derogatory language. The authors disdain was clearly showing. Named after their perverted deity, the cult was named “the Order of Azathoth”. They worshiped this creature with fiendish rituals. Proclaimed him an outer god. Whatever that meant.

These crazed lunatics had found a certain artifact in the jungles of Peru. Worshiping it day and night, they had found out that it could bend the mind. Warp memories.

The detective looked over at the safe. That was it?! It was that terrible thing that had robbed his mind? Destroyed his memories? Everything started to fall into place.