A Death in the Family
Ian Bond

	For one of the investigators, Florence Hasket is a name tinted 
with emotion. Their families were very close and the two of them grew 
up together. They were almost brother and sister. Marriage was on the 
cards. Then, something happened. Florence met, fell in love with, and 
married, a soldier. She kept in contact, but eventually the letters 
stopped altogether. She has not written in years.
	But a letter, even one concerning such sad news, is a welcome 
sight. Her father, Simon Hasket, has died and she invites the 
investigator to the funeral. It will be an opportunity to meet friends 
and relatives, and to talk to Florence.
	The funeral is a quiet affair, marred by only one incident. An 
elderly gentleman approaches Florence's brother and draws him aside. 
They talk earnestly before the man stalks off. At the entrance to the 
churchyard he turns and shouts "I know how he died! It'll get you 
all!" Then he climbs into his car and leaves.

	Two years ago Professor Hasket returned from an archaeological 
visit to Venezuela. His studies have been erratic since then. He 
became increasingly preoccupied with a number of obscure legends and 
myths.
	His death was particularly bizarre. He was found terribly 
mutilated in bed, in his room. The corpse was such a mess that it was 
barely identifiable, as if it had been put through a meat grinder.

Possibilities
1       On the trip to Venezuela Hasket found some notes taken from 
the Necronomicon. From these he was able to piece together enough 
information to talk to some sort of 'strange being.' He tried this and 
inadvertently contacted one of the Hounds of Tindalos.
	Belatedly realising his terrible mistake he visited Professor 
Michaelson and together they tried to stop the Hound. They failed, but 
in the process Hasket had a dream - the Hound was talking to him! His 
attempts to foil the Hound had cost it dearly in time, it would pay 
the professor back by taking his family as well.
	The Hound has taken Hasket. It will return for Florence and 
her brother one day soon.

2       Professor Michaelson accompanied Hasket to Venezuela and tried 
in vain to dissuade Hasket from taking sacred indian relics from the 
ancient temple. The indians, upon discovering their loss, cursed 
Hasket and his family. Finally their vengeance has arrived. Only by 
returning the relics will the curse be lifted.

3       The two men have pieced together from the fragments of an 
ancient Venezuelan inscription a spell for calling Nyarlathotep. 
Unfortunately, Hasket had a mild heart attack during the spell, 
ruining it. Nyarlathotep was angered by this and, once Hasket had 
recovered, disembowelled him. The knowledge is driving Michaelson 
mad.

Copyright (c) 1990 Ian Bond