Call of Cthulu

February 6, 1922 New Client

Night

I have a new client Mr. Arthur Anderson, the regional manager of the First National Grocery Store chain.
It appears that the First National Grocery in Innsmouth was recently burglarized, and its manager, one Brian Burnham, is missing.
From what I have been able to gather, Burnham is something of a young rogue. A friend of the family, Mr. Anderson gave him the job as a favor.

Burnham is looking like the prime suspect for the robbery, but there are a few things that don't add up - not to Anderson, and not to me.
For instance, why would Burnham force an entry into the store when he had a full set of keys, free access to the cash register, and the combination to the back-office safe? To misdirect any investigation? If that was his plan, why did he disappear?

Following my conversation with Mr. Anderson, I found out what I could about the ancient town of Innsmouth. For generations, the crumbling sea-port and its people have been shunned by neighboring communities.
Outsiders are unwelcome there, and there are superstitious tales of a strange element in the town's oldest families. They are of mixed blood, so the stories go. Whatever that's supposed to mean. The usual hick-town prejudice, no doubt.

After making a brief visit to Innsmouth, my client came away distrustful of the local authorities. He isn't buying their line that Burnham robbed the place, and wants to know what happened to him.
Only one bus goes to Innsmouth, and tomorrow afternoon I'll be on it. It feels good to have a purpose after five months trying to break through my amnesia.
I also feel a little apprehensive - maybe it's the wild stories about the town, or maybe it's just because I haven't had a case in so long.