THE ILLUMINATI TREASURE,ACT1

                    Nickel & Dime Productions, proudly presents, The Illuminati Treasure

               Starring Donny Wayne as Karl Timperman & Mary Coyne as Easther Leballe

New York City (December 1937)

It is a cold and snowy night as Jack McMahon is throwing a Christmas party for his friends.

The party is in an elegant four-story brownstone with wrought-iron fencing around it. A few yards away is Central Park, which can be seen through the large windows in the reception room. Hugging the inside of the park wall is a Hooverville, a small neighbourhood of tents and improvised shelters made out of crates, boxes, tarps — anything to protect the people from the elements. There are small fires around which people are huddled. 

The party is a big do for many of the younger members of New York society. McMahon’s family has ties to city government, and his father is in the House of Representatives — wealth, power, elegance, they are all on display here, and in the line of lovely cars parked along the curb. Among those in attendance are Karl Timperman & Esther Leballe.

The party is is full swing when everyone's attention is captured by the sound of a car crash from outside. One of the new “streamlined” Lincoln Zephyrs has crashed into a parked car just outside! 

As the party goers head outside, it is immediately apparent there is a problem: the car isn’t just dented from the impact with one of the guest’s DeSoto, but there are bullet holes in the door of the car! The man inside is injured, dazed, and when they open the door, he immediately grabs a hold of Karl and say, “The journal! Don’t let them get the journal…got to get it to the Grand Master…” He hands a book, a small leather-bound journal, blood stained and possessing a bullet hole in it, to Karl.

Before they can do any questioning or first aid, however, a late-model Dodge D-series touring sedan whips around the corner from Central Park West, sliding around in the snow and stops. Two men, armed with revolvers & hostility, & a woman jumps out of the Dodge and race toward the Lincoln Zephyrs.

One of the men "Hand over that book Mister, or else"

Karl "Hang on a moment, wha......"

A shot rings out in the chilled night air & Karl falls to the ground blood poring from the wound in his leg, "Grab the book" the man barks at the woman, while he & the other man keep the crowd covered, but the sight of Karl on the ground with the snow around him turning red with his blood is enough to ensure that no one wants to be a hero, while the woman retrieves the book.

Man "Right lets split before the cops show up"

As the Dodge speed away the sound of police sirens could be heard in the distance, kneeling at Karl's side as he tried to get up, Esther with tears in her eye's "Karl lay still help will be here soon" 

Karl" Stop fussing Esther, it's only a flash wound, how is the guy in the car doing?"

One of the party goers "Sadly not to well"

Karl "Esther help to my feet please"

Esther "Karl I real...," but the look on Karl face told her all she needed to know & with her help he stood up & gingerly looked into the car. The man was laying across the two seats unconcise, his breathing shallow, Karl noticed he was wearing a ring with the symbol of a pyramid with an eye in it inscribed on it.

Just then a police car pulled up & a heavy set man wearing a mac & fedora got out from the passenger side while a cop in uniform got out from behind the wheel. Making his way through the party goers & on lookers who where now gathered around the Lincoln Zephyr, the man in the mac called out "Move aside there folks move aside " in a guff Newyork accent & on reaching the car " Minns radio in for an ambulance & then get this crowd back"

Reaching into the car he checked the drivers pulse, then shaking head slowly he took out a badge & introduced himself. "Detective Schultz, now can someone tell me what happen here ?"

Jack McMahon " I can give you the details Detective"

Schultz "And you are sir ?"

McMahon " Jack McMahon, I live across the street & was giving a party when we heard a crash & rushed out to see if we could give any assistance, Karl here was the first to reach the car & as he open the door the driver handed him a book. No sooner had he done this when a yellow dodge pulled up & two men & a woman got out, the men had revolvers & started demanding the book, when Karl tried to ask them what it was all about one of the men shot him, told the woman to grab the book & then they took off." 

At this point the ambulance & another police car arrived.

Schultz turning to Karl " Are you alright sir "

Karl " I'll live I'd guess"

Schultz "Glad to hear that, one corpse is enough for one night" & handing Karl a card added " You might come see me in the morning if you're ok to do so"

Then in a loud voice called out " If any of you folks that witnessed anything would be so good as to give your names to the officers, we won't keep you out in the cold any longer then is necessary"

He then walked over to Minns, said something to him got into the car & drove away.

Esther insisted on going in the ambulance with Karl, although he told her there really wasn't any need to do so, & as it made its way to the hospital, Karl & Esther had a chance to talk.

Esther " What do you think that was all about Karl ? & that poor man losing his life like that it terrible"

Tears started to well up in her eyes & Karl giving her a hug, "I think I have an idea but lets leave it until tomorrow"

Esther " Oh Karl you poor thing, here you are after been shot & silly old me pestering you, can you forgive me ?"

Karl "I'm sure I can, but only because I'm going to need you to drive me around for the next week or so" & then gave her a wink.

 At close to 3am with a couple of stiches & a dressing on his thigh, Karl & Esther left the hospital & took a taxi back to Esther house which was the closest. It was nearing mid-day by the time Karl rose from bad & made his way down to the kitchen, where Esther was pouring them both steaming mugs of coffee.

Esther "I thought I heard you up & about, how is the leg ?"

Karl, as he made his over to the table & sat down, " A bit stiff but not so bad" 

Esther brought the coffees over & set down before asking, "Karl the events of last night do you really think you know what it was about ? & please tell me its not something your going to get involved in as those men obviosity dangerous, I mean they killed that poor man & shot you in front of many witness's without giving it a second thought"

Karl "Yes but they didn't kill me Esther & I don't think they meant to kill that guy either, but your right they are dangerous but I don't believe their the ones responsible for the events of last night, no my guess would be that they were just hired tugs who's job was to get that book, which is at the heart of what happened."

Esther "What makes you think that ?"

Karl " Well there's a couple of things Esther, the man had a ring that had the same symbol on it as the book, a pyramid with an eye at the top of it, then there's what he said, “The journal! Don’t let them get the journal…got to get it to the Grand Master…"

This all points to the Illuminati "

Esther "The who ?"

Karl "The a Illuminati, there a group of freemasons"

Esther "You mean like one of of those secret societies "

Laughing Karl "That's all a misconception Esther, there is really nothing secret about them at all, sure like all societies there might be thing about them that only members know, but they don't go around hiding in the shadows like a lot of people believe. Now we better get moving & go see this detective"  

After stopping off briefly at Karl's apartment, they arrived at the police station just before 1.30 pm, where they were brought into an office belonging to Schultz.

Schultz " Thanks of coming, please be seated."

As Esther & Karl set down.  Schultz "How's the leg ?"

Karl " A bit stiff but ok, thanks"

Schultz "I been over the statements that were taken last night so have a good idea of what went on, but as you were first to the car, I was wondering if there is anything else you can add ?" 

Karl" Well there isn't a lot to tell really, as everything happened so fast, when I opened the door the man handed me a book & said, "The journal! Don’t let them get the journal…got to get it to the Grand Master…” Then the guys that were chasing him turned up, shot me grabbed the book & took off"

Schultz "I see" & then noticing that Esther was looking at the ring on his finger add. "Look I going to be straight with you guys as I think you've already figured some of this out & having looked into your background Mr Timperman I think you might be able to help us out"

Karl" No need for the Mr Timperman detective, just call me Karl & in what way do you thing we could help ?"

Schultz "Well judging from the way Miss Labelle here has been searing at my ring, I take it you guys have already made the Illuminati connection ?

At this Esther's face went the same colour as her suit

Karl laughing "Really Esther you need to develop a poker face" & then more seriously added "Yes detective we had, the man that was killed was wearing the same ring as yourself & the book also had the same symbol on it's cover, but I fail to see how we can be of any help ?"

Schultz, taking a deep breath "Lately there has been some disagreement with in the lodge over something that was lost a long time ago. On the one hand there are those that believe it should remain lost, at least for the time been. While there are others who want it found & have in fact started looking for it."

"The man that was murdered last night, Mark Roosevelt, yes a dissented of the great man, while didn't think now was the time to recover it, was worried that if found it might fall into the wrong hands & so had start to look for it himself in the hope of keeping it safe."

"After I left you last night, I went to see the Grandmaster & informed him of what had happened, needlessly to say he was both deeply upset & worried about it." Mark was a well liked & trusted member of our society, & to think that another member of the society might be responsible for his murder just doesn't bear thinking of to be honest."

Karl" So where do we fit into all of this ?"

Schultz "Well given your academic back round & history the Grandmaster believes you might be able to find it for us & stop it falling into the wrong hands"

Karl "What ? surly there are those in the Freemasons that would be better suited to doing this then we would, & what exactly would we be looking for ?"

Schultz" I'm afraid I can't tell you that" & seen the look on Karl's face quickly added "Not because I don't want to' or because its some big secret, no the truth is I don't know nor does the Grandmaster, but if  Benjamin Roosevelt believed that whatever it is was best left hidden then I sure there was a good reason for it"

"Now will you help us ? You would of course be rewarded for your efforts whether your successful or not & would always have the gratitude of the society"

Karl" Well now I'm intrigued by what you've just told us detective, so yes I'll look into it but is there anymore you can tell us that might be of help ?"

Schultz "Other then what I've just told you not a lot, but having been a public servant Benjamin Roosevelt's life will be be well documented, I will of course check the lodges records & let you know what I find, but a word of warning whoever is behind this is dangerous so please be careful & if you need help just let me know & thank you"

So at that Karl & Esther took their leave of Detective Schultz. 

"Were to now? "asked Esther as they left the police station.

Karl "The library & Hall of records Esther, We've got a bit of research to do " 

It wasn't that far to the library but at this hour of the day the down town traffic was heavy & while Karl would have liked to use the time to think over what Schultz had told them, Esther wasn't the type of girl to give you the peace & quite you need for deep thought & seemed to have an endless supply of questions, few of which Karl had the answers to.

                                      

Where to start & what to look for ? was the biggest problem as Karl seen it, while Karl was sure there would be stuff on the history of the Illuminati he was of the belief that researching Franklin might be the better bet, but either way he was sure they would need to do both, so after asking the Liberian were they could find both,  he sent Esther off to find all she could on the Freemasons while he set about Franklin. After a couple of hours for pure book worming that involved plenty of cross refencing this it what they had pieced together.

The “Illuminati Treasure.” This treasure was hidden after a 1784 crackdown by the government in Hanover and the collapse of the Areopagus (the Illuminati’s leading council) by none other than Ambassador Benjamin Franklin! One of the letters between Franklin is dated 1784, when he was the Ambassador to France, and was written to a “Aldoph Krigge” in Hanover, telling him that “the papers are safe in the president’s house…” The letter also states that Franklin is returning to the United States and his new appointment in Philadelphia. Krigge was a lawyer and human rights advocate in Hanover about that time, and a member of this alleged Bavarian Illuminati. 

Esther “President’s house”…what could that mean Karl? Does that mean that this treasure whatever it is is in the Whitehouse ?"    

Karl "Franklin was “President of Pennsylvania” in 1785.  As this is the period of the Congress of the Confederation, before the Untied States adopted the Constitution. The “president” probably refers to the man in office at the time. The President of the Confederate Congress was Richard Hay Lee at the time. He lived in Manhattan and his office was in Federal Hall — now a repository for the Federal Reserve!, but his family home was in Montrose Virginia"

Esther with a glum look on her face "The Federal Reserve, well that makes things so much easier Karl I'm sure we can just walk in there & ask them of it."

Karl couldn't help but laugh at this & then said "Esther a lot has changed since those days & if I remember rightly the building that was there then was demolished  & rebuilt, I'm fairly sure that's not where it is" 

Esther with an angary look on her face "Alright then cleaver clogs, where do you think it is ?Karl " I'll tell you on the way Esther, come we've got a train to catch & do cheer up, your not as pretty looking when your angary" 

                                             

To be continued  

Authors note, the above story is loosely base on a RPG adventure written by Scott Rhymer & all rights to the story are belonging to Black Campbell Entertainment, LLC & are used here without the owner's permission.

As always my thanks for dropping in & if you'd care to leave a comment it would be welcomed :)