There's Something in the Sea - Phase Two: Mark Meltzer's Room

Phase Two of "There's Something in the Sea" continues the story where the event documented on the map left off. This phase takes place in Mark Meltzer's office in Montauk, Long Island New York and chronicles his investigation to find his kidnapped daughter, Cindy, in 1968.

The Abduction and the Second Encounter
Back in October 1967, Mark Meltzer was able to take a picture of the strange creature abducting little girls all around the Atlantic ocean. However, the creature followed him back to his vacation home in Fairview, Maryland, and took his own daughter, Cindy, whose likeness to the previous victims was what started Metlzer's obsession with the case. He went into depression due to his responsibility in his daughter's kidnapping and was eventually interned at Tollevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Meltzer was discharged in March 1968 but did not abandon his researches. Following the trails of the sea creature, he finally encountered it again in April near the Hudson river, with the intention of catching it. This did not go well as the creature (which Meltzer confirmed as female) escaped after leaving him badly injured. Meltzer undergo hospitalization while the trail went cold and the creature disappeared.

Back on the Investigation
Now back to his office in Montauk in late May, the researcher starts gathering his contacts in hope to find again the kidnapper, meanwhile his wife, grieving their daughter's disappearance, is asking for divorce after this last incident. And if things could not get worse, detective Benny Stango started stalking around Meltzer's apartment, believing that he abducted his own daughter. One day, strange red lights are witnessed near the office and Meltzer discovers that the creature broke in and left a strange box covered with symbols.

Meltzer's contacts responds back and bring their own clues and hypothesis. Phil Isodore of the National U.F.O. Society sends a copy of Utropolis, telling the fantastical tale of an underwater science utopia, claimed to be true by its author now gone. On the other hand, Jeremiah Lynch, an eccentric Irishman obsessed with mythological cultures writes him about the Vanishing, which he believes to be the gathering of great minds right after the end of World War 2 by the Hierophants of Atlantis. Roscoe Inman however asks the researcher to be wary of hoax after hearing about the break-in in his office.

The Vanishing
Early June, Meltzer cracks the cypher behind the symbols and the code for the box, his own daughter's birthday. In it, he discovers disturbing drawings of little girls with needles and the sea creature, an old masquerade mask and a coded plea for rescue from Cindy, hinting at a cold place under the ocean. Nonetheless, he investigate the Vanishing lead and discovers the disappearance of thousand of people between 1946 and 1950, the most being individuals talented in art, science and industry, the rest normal people with common beliefs of freedom, though some believe they all left as a movement to found their own society. Sharing this theory were Celeste Roget and Orrin Oscar Lutwidge, the former a French woman looking for her missing father in what she believes to be Shangri-La, the latter an eccentric scholar who disappeared himself after vowing to find "true rapture." Meanwhile, Detective Stango continues to harass him for answers about his daughter's abduction. Even so, Inman calls to warn him about his own office being under investigation, preventing him from sharing information on the missing persons. Meanwhile Meltzer gets letters of support to his research of the missing girls from contacts of both Lynch and Isidore.

Meltzer starts gathering his own intel on the Vanishing from all around the world, thanks to archived international newspapers but also contacts sharing the same interest like German journalist Ulrich Broder. He also receives a summary of army intelligence from Inman, estimating that around 500,000 people disappeared between 1946 and 1952. Some leads also shows similar patterns with the girls' abduction, confirming for Meltzer that he was following the right path. His researches also came around Celeste Roget, who believed that her father Jean Louis Roget, a renowned architect who disappeared in 1946, was called to Shambala, an utopia hidden in the mountains which gathered great minds of the past generation. She organized a controversial expedition to the Himalayas with several relatives of other missing persons in 1957 from which she returned as the only survivor. Meltzer tries to contact her, but she refuses to speak and even discourages him to pursue his investigation. She later sends him a letter to warn him against whoever would bury the truth about the Vanishing, and were also responsible for the death of her friends in the Himalayas.

Inman sends Meltzer a copy of internal analysis from the Soviets about the Vanishing and the possible use of submarines to evacuate the missing persons out of Russia. This report also cross-references another one sent by Inman the year before, mentioning a "No-Go Zone" on which the military officer remains evasive.

Day One: May 22
In the background there is an always low-static sound, like a radio that has been left on and tuned to a blank frequency. From time to time voices and other sounds intrude from the static. The map from Phase One is on the wall behind a desk.

On the desk are two X-Rays. They show Mark has broken ribs and a broken leg. Both are dated 04-25-1968 and made in a New York Hospital. On the filling cabinet is a bottle of cohydrone pills to be taken three times daily for pain and there are a pair of crutches on the other side of the room.

There's also a picture of Amanda and his daughter lying on the floor; written on it is "Amanda and my little darling. Family photo, spring '67."

Day Two: May 23
On the desk there is a copy of a Mother's Day card that was never sent. The picture of Amanda and her dughetr is now next to it. On the floor is a picture of Cindy on the beach getting ready to dig a sandcastle, written with "My daughter the architect, getting ready to build the castle!" Dated 7-4-63.

A divorce letter is found on the right side of the room, dated April 29, 1968 and delivered May 20, 1968. Amanda is divorcing Mark because he "through both deed and neglect did recklessly endanger the safety and wellbeing of his spouse and family."

Day Three: May 24
Two pictures have appeared in the middle of the room next to the beach one. The top one shows his daughter on a horse, the note written on the back says "Riding near grandma's my brave little girl... last picture". Dated 10-21-67.

The one on the left shows his daughter and Amanda around a birthday cake, having a birthday party. The message scrawled on the back says "3rd bday. Growing faster than a bad weed!" Dated 8-25-64.

There is a message from Phil Isidore of the National UFO Society (NUFOS) on his answering machine. He is wondering if everything is alright as he hasn’t heard from Mark for some time, and asks Mark to contact him.

Finally there is a letter from Mark to Phil in his mail slot, asking to only send postcards due to his leg injury.

Day Four: May 26
Three photos have appeared on the right hand side of the room, the top one shows Mark's daughter as a baby. Written on the back is "Dec. '61 Amanda's smile - my hairline!"

The picture on the left shows his daughter with her thumbs up in a room. The note on the back says "My little helper (hands off the books!) '65 spring."

The picture on the right shows his daughter buried in the sand up to her neck. The back says "Peace at last! Labor Day - Montauk '65".

Finally there is a new message from Roscoe Inman on the answering machine requesting an update with information about Mark's "accident."

Day Five: May 27
Three new documents appear on the wall. The first is a letter to Jeremiah Lynch telling him to send all new information to Mark's new address. Lynch has apparently been sending him news related to Atlantis/Lemuria. The second is a newspaper clipping detailing the kidnapping of Cindy Meltzer, Mark and Amanda's daughter, dated 10-27-1967. Finally, the third is a sketch of the Big Sister, the cause of Mark's broken leg and ribs. It is hinted that the Big Sister may have let him live. This incident appears to have happened a while after Cindy got kidnapped.

On the floor is a crumpled letter to Roscoe, never sent, giving further details of his daughter's kidnapping. It states "I can't do this anymore. Going to send you all my data. Maybe you can pick up where I left off." The letter is dated 11-23-1967.

On the left hand side of the room is a document stating that Meltzer has had a complete psychiatric examination and has been discharged from Tollevue Hospital. It is dated 3-6-68.

Day Six: May 28
A new message is heard on the answering machine from Detective Benny Stango.

There is also a new letter to Roscoe in front of the typewriter. After being detained at Tollevue, Mark went searching for the Big Sister and found her near the Hudson river, where he managed to catch her with a net. The Big Sister escaped by slicing through the net and scratched Mark's neck, before snapping his ribs and breaking his leg. He says he was saved by a cab driver who took a wrong turn, the headlights scared her off. The Big Sister or a passer-by may also have stolen his wallet.

Day Seven: May 29
The office has been cleaned up; all the clippings and pictures have been re-attached to the map. Previous documents found in the office have been archives in the file cabinet (except for Mark's contact letter to Lynch) and a note lists all previously received phone messages.

A new message from Benny Stango is heard on the answering machine mentioning a "red light" seen around Meltzer's office during the night.

A mysterious box covered in symbols also appears. There is a puzzle on how to open it. There is also a letter on the bottom right of the telephone table by Mark saying. "She was here? how did she find me? Why no attack? What is this thing? Weapon? Improvised bomb? What do all these symbols mean?"

The solution and content of the box can be found at: Puzzle Boxes.

Day Eight: June 1
Roscoe Inman leaves another message on Meltzer's answering machine to warn him about hoaxes concerning the break-in in his office and the box.

There is a mysterious glow behind the stack of books to the left of Meltzer's filing cabinet. Seems to be a window or some opening since the color of the light is the same as what is viewed outside of his door's windows. The aforementioned box is also somewhat close to the light, maybe within arm's reach even.

Day Nine: June 3
Phil Isidore left a message on the answering machine after sending him a copy of Utropolis, a wrecked, futuristic underwater city.

An extract of Utropolis can be found on the table by the door along with a letter from Phil explaining the story.

Day Ten: June 4
There is a message from Mark’s wife, Amanda, asking him to let go the hope of finding their daughter.

There are two new items on the floor of the central study: a letter from Jeremiah Lynch and a photograph of the megaliths in Carrowmore, Ireland (with some sort of drawings on them) sent by him as well.

Day Eleven: June 5
Mark has has managed to open the "Lunchbox" and left two related notes behind one on the floor and one on the desk.

The note on the floor appears to be his attempt at cracking the code and his initial thoughts on the items inside it. The second note on the table seems to be written sometime later.

Day Twelve: June 9
There is a new a new message from Phil Isidore answering Mark's inquiry about the Vanishing.

The papers from Day Eleven have been tidied and placed on the typewriter. Mark's hat is left on the chair. To the right of the room is a camera and binoculars. His crutches are left against the bookshelf and on top of that is an another recording device.

Day Thirteen: June 10
To the left of the door on the table, there are two new papers which appear to have been ripped out of a periodical called The Monthly Undergrounder. Both papers talk about the Vanishing mentioned by Phil Isidore, occurring during the years of 1946 to 1950, in the wake of World War II.

Day Fourteen: June 11
There is a new message from Detective Stango who believes Meltzer knows where his daughter is and asks him to talk about it.

There is now a sheet on the desk near the right wall. It appears to be Mark's thoughts on The Monthly Undergrounder articles. The sheet references some familiar names like J.S. Steinman, Yi Suchong, and Julie Langford. Meltzer marks a twenty year range between 1947 to 1967 as the time between the Vanishing the kidnapping series, and wonders if there is a connection worth pursuing.

Day Fifteen: June 12
There is a new message from Roscoe Inman telling Mark about an internal investigation at the Office of the Naval Intelligence, and that it may keep him from looking for informations about the Vanishing.

Located on the floor to the right of the desk is a paper which talks about an NYC professor searching for J. S. Steinman since his disappearance in 1947.

Day Sixteen: June 14
There is a German article posted on the wall, talking about a movement pressing the German government into reopening the case of the missing persons from 20 years ago.

On the other side of the map are a thank you letter to Jeremiah Lynch and three letters of support to Mark's investigation. These are letters written by the fans themselves and sent to Mark's P.O. Box.

Also, documents from May 29 to June 12 are now filed in the cabinet and the phone messages list has been updated.

Day Seventeen: June 15
There is an article about mysterious disappearances at Turtle Beach in Cairns, Australia, 1947. Three people, Doc Miller, Kyburz, and May J. Carmody stood on the beach with their belongings, before a red light was seen beneath the surface heading towards them. They vanished without a trace.

In the typewriter is Mark's musings on looking for information in international newspapers, and seeing a little girl singing in the park. It reminds him of Cindy. The girl's father picks her up and caries her off, a situation eerily close to the Big Daddy-Little Sister relationship.

Day Eighteen: June 16
Next to the typewriter is the torn piece of a Chinese newspaper from December 1946 reporting on a missing Yi Suchong. To the right, is an article about Langford's disappearance, dated 1949. To the left is a newspaper article from the Times of Bombay. Many people are missing in the chaos of partition, including "top young thinkers."

Day Nineteen: June 17
Ulrich Broder left a message on the answering machine to thank Meltzer of his interest on the missing persons case, and offer to share his extensive notes on the subject.

Day Twenty: June 22
Next to the reel player is an audio tape reel containing an interview of Phil Isidore on The Mid-Nite Ryde radio show. He discusses the old and recent kidnappings and the possible connection between them, but also link them to UFOs.

There is also a note by Mark on the floor comparing the Vanishing of people in the 40's/50's to the recent kidnappings. He also speaks his mind about Phil's theory on UFOs during the interview.

Finally there is a confidential memorandum sent by Inman, which summarizes the U.S. government's official investigation on the Vanishing, counting around 500,000 missing persons between 1946 and 1952.

Day Twenty-One: June 23
In the bottom right drawer is an article named Expédition au Shambhala, translated from the French for Mark by Pamela Poires. This paper talks about Celeste Roget's expedition to the Himalayas in 1957 to find her missing father, accompanied by other relatives of Vanished persons. Celeste was the sole survivor to come back.

Day Twenty-Two: June 24
A newspaper clipping dated August 1957 under the desk talks about the U.S. Ambassador to France speaking out against Roget's expedition.

On the right side of the map under the picture of the light is a picture of missing James Millard Oakes on a poster advertising for the James Millard Oakes League, a group dedicated to prove that the Vanishing was a Soviet plot to murder brilliant minds of the past generation.

Day Twenty-Three: June 25
Roscoe Inman leaves a message on the answering machine about the James Millard Oakes League being wrong in their theories. He will soon send Mark a copy of an intern analysis from the Soviets about the Vanishing to prove that point.

Day Twenty-Four: June 26
There is a formally classified document sent by Inman in front of the door. It speculates about reports of missing persons intercepted from the KGB, who believed it to be the work of the United States using submarines to help people escape Russia.

Also, Celeste Roget left a message after Mark tried to contact her by phone, telling she does not want to talk again about the Vanishing or her father. She wishes him luck with the search for his daughter, but asks him to not call again.

Day Twenty-Five: June 28
The room has been cleaned up. All documents from June 14 to 26 have been moved to the archives and the phone messages list has been updated. There are two new fan-written letters to the left side of the map.

Celeste Roget sent Mark a letter stating that people are trying to bury the truth about the Vanishing and were responsible for her friends' death in the Himalayas. She warns him to not get more involved, and that "they" are always listening to her and whatever she does.

Day Twenty-Six: June 29
Mark typed a note after returning from a meeting of the James Millard Oakes League, speaking of the Vanishing and their nationalist theories about a Soviet plot. On his way back to the office, he was followed by someone unknown who, after a brief pursuit, he managed to shake in the subway. His guesses are for either an undercover cop or someone linked to the Big Sister. A billet to the meeting is attached to the note.

Next to the reel player is a tape Mark recorded during the meeting. It contains a speech by Clint Chessman on the topic of "The Deep Red Secret!" Clint discusses that the Soviet Union was the cause of the Vanishing.

There are also two new support letters next to the map.

Day Twenty-Seven: June 30
Jeremiah Lynch left a message to complain about being left out of the investigation and wants to know its progression. He also tells Mark that he sent him a copy of The Frozen Triangle, a paperback he thinks would hold interesting informations relevant to his research.

The books in the office have also been moved and the mysterious lunchbox placed next to the shelves on the right.

Day Twenty-Four: July 1
The hat could be found on the nightstand to the left of the room. There are books on the floor along with some binoculars. There is also a record case titled "Rapture Records" by the desk containing Rise, Rapture, Rise. The record itself is inside the record player and can be played. It seems that someone sent Mark this record.

At the end of the song, a young female voice is heard saying, "Daddy? Where are you, daddy? Are you going to come and find me?" It is unknown if the child heard on the record is Mark's daughter Cindy, or another girl (though it does sound like a Little Sister due to the slightly darker voice). A typewritten note beside the record case however shows that Mark believes the voice to be that of his daughter. This would fit with his suspicions of the Big Sister following and almost mocking him.

Day Twenty-Five: July 2
Two pages of The Monthly Undergrounder have appeared. The pages describe a Orrin Oscar Lutwidge, telling of his investigation into "The Vanishing" and how he later disappeared after vowing to find "true Rapture." Mark has written a note on the last page, suggesting that finding Lutwidge will lead him to the location of Rapture and his missing daughter.

Day Twenty-Six: July 3
There is a new message from Charles Molley, Amanda Meltzer's attorney, regarding the status of the divorce.

Mark was about to write a letter to Amanda and say that he still loves her, but for some reason, he stopped.

Day Twenty-Seven: July 7
There is a red book placed on the top of a stack of books titled, The Frozen Triangle, written by Carleton Rede. The book talks about strange occurrences and disappearances within a stretch of ocean between Iceland and Greenland.

The book was sent by Jeremiah Lynch, along with a letter that said that it might help Mark with his investigations and that it might be possible to find Atlantis. Mark believes that Jeremiah is crazy and that there is no such thing as an underwater city.

Day Twenty-Eight: July 8
Celeste sent Mark a telegraph that said she had met Lutwidge, before he disappeared, and she claims he was crazy.

There is a news clipping stating that there was a fast-spreading fire that burned down a few buildings in lower Manhattan. Seventeen workers and two firemen died in the "blaze," and thirty people were injured. The fire first started from an abandoned "inventor's workplace" that was originally owned by Lutwidge, before he disappeared. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Mark has left several comments on the piece of paper that the newspaper clipping is taped to.

Day Twenty-Nine: July 9
A bail notice, issued on the account of Benny Stango, can be found on Meltzer's desktop organizer. Meltzer was processed for trespassing (presumably Lutwidge's factory under New York Code Section 140.05), and was released on five hundred dollars bail.

Meltzer wrote a letter that said, after he was arrested by Stango, he now knows he is being watched by people.

A tape can be found next to the record player dated "September 1958" and labeled "For the Seeker". The tape contains a message from Orrin Oscar Lutwidge.

Day Thirty: July 10
A metal puzzlebox can be found lower left on the floor that contains several buttons set in grooves on its surface. The buttons are labeled with symbols from A Child's Garden of Cyphers. The solution to the puzzle can be found at the Puzzle Boxes page.

Once the box is open a speaker is revealed and it plays a message from Lutwidge.

A letter by Mark can also be found of the right side of the room on the floor by a chair commenting on how Meltzer found the box and on the strange nature of the box.

Day Thirty-One: July 12
Most things are moved to the lower filing cabinet and a new message is left on the answering machine by Celeste Roget. In her message, she warns Mark about Lutwidge's dangerous lies.

Three newspaper clippings to the right of the map point out names that are used to create and manage businesses are fake names. These names were filed in 1946 and Andrew Ryan's birth name is also mentioned. A reference to a company called "Warden Yarn" was included; an anagram for Andrew Ryan.

Mark has written a note about Lutwidge's tape recording.

Day Thirty-Two: July 14
A new message by Roscoe Inman appears on the machine. He suggests that Mark should not trust Celeste.

Day Thirty-Three: July 15
A book appears on the far right next to the lamp. It is called A Child's Garden of Cyphers and appears to have been written by Lutwidge under an alias. The book’s title has a border of symbols that are the same as the symbols on the two puzzle boxes in the room. When the symbols are deciphered small messages can be read.

Also, another message from Celeste Roget appears on the answering machine. She seems to be very angry at Meltzer.

Beside the chair, on the floor, is a letter written by Mark to Celeste.

Day Thirty-Four: July 16
A new letter appears next to the codebook that tells where Lutwidge's various shell companies were housed. Meltzer has added notes to the report explaining his suspicions about the Red Queen, the corpse mentioned by Lutwidge's box, Hudson River, and the fact that Lutwidge has more money than an ordinary man should have access to.

Also, a new message from Amanda appears on the machine:

Day Thirty-Five: July 17
A new letter is now lying on Meltzer's desk. It can be found on the far right, and is a compilation on the various information Meltzer has gathered on Lutwidge. Some interesting things in the letter include the fact that he was in touch with both Jeremiah Lynch and Celeste Roget, he wrote the code book Meltzer's daughter is apparently using, and that he was business partners with Andrew Ryan, as one can tell from the list of his business partners. The business partners listed are aliases for Andrew Ryan, thereby proving that he also opened several businesses.

Jeremiah Lynch has left another message on the machine.

Day Thirty-Six: July 20
A new letter from Celeste Roget appears on Mark's nightstand, she wrote that she is sorry for the way she yelled at Mark. She also explained how Lutwidge deceived her and how he pretended to be Celeste's father. She has given Mark the "childish taunt" letter she got from Lutwidge, it can be found on the nightstand.

Day Thirty-Seven: July 21
Two new papers (a letter and a picture) may be found on the floor behind Meltzer's chair. One of them is a bill from the Scarlet Sovereign Company to the Warden Yarn company. The bill is for a large amount of steel objects used mainly for the construction of buildings. Meltzer has written a comment on it, stating it was "a LOT of steel for a yarn company". One might get the idea that the steel was being used for something other than yarn production, like maybe an underwater city. The picture shows a building which Meltzer believes is the "Red Queen".

Day Thirty-Eight: July 22
There is a new letter written by Mark underneath the right nightstand. Mark said that he went to the yarn warehouse and discovered a restroom with the door painted red. He opened the restroom door and discovered a large mirror. He broke the mirror and discovered a map, a reel-to-reel tape, and a mysterious object (not yet shown on the website) behind it. But, when he was leaving, Dock patrolmen spotted him. He decided to pretend he was a scavenger and the cops let him go. Mark believes that Detective Stango thinks Mark killed his own daughter.

There is a new almost-blank map on the right side of the huge map. On the very top of the map is an upside down red triangle with lines coming out of the tip.

There is a new reel-to-reel by Lutwidge next to the previous burned reel.

Detective Benny Stango left a message on the answering machine about the Battery Park break in.

Day Thirty-Nine: July 23
A new puzzle resembling a jewelry box has appeared in between the three papers on the far right of Meltzer's desk. After solving this puzzle a recording of Orrin Lutwidge plays.

After this recording ends, the puzzle box opens, giving way to yet another puzzle which resembles a piano with three rows of keys labeled with dates and lat/long information.

Day Forty: July 27
Several major changes have occurred. There are now four more fan written letters on the wall of the study that all cite specific examples of their relatives "vanishing" or their daughters kidnapped. "The Frozen Triangle" book is now on the desk, open to pages 12 and 13.

Day Forty-One: July 28
There is a new message from Jeremiah Lynch mentioning Lutwidge's fascination with Lewis Caroll.

The Hunting of the Snark (An Agony in 8 Fits) by Lewis Carroll is open on the table furthest to the right. It is opened near the beginning of The Bellman's Speech:
 * He had bought a large map representing the sea, Without the least vestige of land: And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be A map they could all understand.
 * What's the good of Mercator's North Poles and Equators, Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines? So the Bellman would cry: and the crew would reply They are merely conventional signs!
 * Other maps are such shapes, with their islands and capes! But we've got our brave Captain to thank: (So the crew would protest) that he's bought us the best - A perfect and absolute blank!

Mark believes that the origin of the Bellman's Chart comes from this poem. He has also written: "The 8th fit "The Vanishing!" "The Vanishing" is also the title of the last portion of Lewis Carroll's poem, "The Hunting of the Snark." In that portion of the poem, the Baker vanishes upon finding the snark because it was a boojum.

Day Forty-Two: July 29
There is a new message from Roscoe Inman about tracking ocean currents.

Day Forty-Three: July 30
To the right of the map is a piece of paper with times on different locations, as shown below. At the top is the date August 8th, which is a possible reference to the date in the Jewelry Box Puzzle.

Day Forty-Four: July 31
The Bellman's Chart has been updated to include a map of the world.

Day Forty-Five: August 3
The lamp next to the door is turned off, and Meltzer's hat is on his chair.

Meltzer has made a list about the things he has deduced so far from the clues he has.

Posted on the wall to the upper left of the world map is a letter sent to Phil Isidore with a list of beach coordinates and a request for him or any of his contacts to check them out for anything out of the ordinary.

There is an answering machine message from Phil Isidore in response to the letter. It mentions Phil is attending the "Giant Boulder Saucer Convention" and interviewing Lex Harlan.

Day Forty-Six: August 4
There is a new message from Celeste promising to visit the French beach location.

Day Forty-Seven: August 5
Meltzer has the book The Frozen Triangle open to page 62, discussing the plausibility of islands rising suddenly out of the sea; and to page 63, starting chapter 7 ("Leviathan") about the doomed voyage of the Ice Beagle.

Day Forty-Eight: August 6
Mark has a new message from Ulrich Broder promising to visit one of the August 8th beaches.

An article by Broder about Brigid Tenenbaum is located on the desk.

Day Forty-Nine: August 7
The "Aug 8" page from a calendar is stuck to the wall. Mark has written "Tomorrow is the day! Jones Beach, here I come. Hoping my contacts hit the other nine beaches...got a feeling this is BIG."

Day Fifty: August 8
On the morning August 8th, 2009, dozens of bottles of Arcadia Merlot appeared on the ten different beaches that were mentioned in the previous updates, at the designated times. Each bottle contained rolled up posters: Two posters promoting Plasmids ("Decoy" and Electro Bolt), and one poster that seemed like an invitation to Rapture itself.

Day Fifty-One: August 10
A bottle of Arcadia Merlot is on the filing cabinet. To the right are the posters inside.

There is also a letter from Flann McDonagh, Bill McDonagh's nephew, in The Monthly Undergrounder.

Day Fifty-Two: August 11
There is a file on the floor, to the left of the desk marked 'Found scattered on the floor at Scarlet Sovereign Warehouse' and 'sort and file'.

Also to the left of the desk on the floor is a paper written by Mark summarizing his thoughts so far on Lutwidge and how he relates to Rapture. In it he ponders several things he has learned or found out: things such as the location of Worley Winery and how Lutwidge relates to Andrew Ryan and how both men relate to Rapture.

On the desk, right next to the record player is a letter written by Lutwidge, apparently before his obsession with Ryan and his pursuit of 'true rapture'. In it, he details how his company, Warden Yarn, had purchased an unspecified, but probably large amount of steel and other construction supplies upfront, as part of a contract to a company supposedly owned by Andrew Ryan, for a project in the North Atlantic. Lutwidge expresses his disgust with the fact that Ryan's company had not fulfilled its terms of the contract as of 1952, by which time Ryan was under the ocean. Lutwidge expresses that he would pursue some sort of restitution.

Day Fifty-Three: August 12
Celeste Roget left a message on the answering machine suggesting that the bottles on the beach from August 8 were planted.

Mark has written a note about what he found at the beach on August 8th and his theories about Rapture.

Day Fifty-Four: August 13
Mark has written a note expressing his frustration at being unable to advance further in his investigation. He is having trouble opening the next level of the Metal Box puzzle.

Day Fifty-Five: August 17
There is a new message on the answering machine from Jeremiah Lynch, in which he sings the song "What shall we do with the drunken sailor".

In addition, sheet music has appeared by the door for the song "What shall we do with the drunken sailor?" This is the song from Jeremiah's message, and it contains the answer to the Piano Box Puzzle.

The solution to the Piano Box Puzzle/Coordinate Piano can be found at the Puzzle Boxes.

The piano box will now close, and a puzzle will appear. The new puzzle is a 4 x 4 grid with symbols. A translation of the different cipher symbols can be found here: A Child's Garden of Cyphers

The solution(s) to the 4x4 can be found at the Puzzle Boxes.

After inputting the correct keys for the 4x4 puzzle a message will play, and a new 5x5 grid opens.

Day Fifty-Six: August 18
There is a document from ONI (Inman) on the table to the left. It contains information regarding "aquatic creatures."

Day Fifty-Seven: August 19
Mark has a new book titled Unusual Crustaceans of the North Atlantic. Volume 2. L - R. This is in reference to the answer from the 4x4 puzzle.

There is also a paper on the floor containing new notes from Mark. One relevant note quotes Lutwidge’s riddle as saying "Now if you learn my name, you know how deep to sink; seek where Rapture lies, I wait upon its brink." Mark then has written a note next to this in which he states, "Does this mean what I think it means?" Again, this references the Phronima amphipod living near the bottom of the sea, and this is telling Mark "how deep" he must sink.

Day Fifty-Eight: August 20
There is a new message on the answering machine from Roscoe Inman.

There is also a note written by Mark to Celeste, located on the left hand of the room, on the table. Mark is hesitant to go looking for Rapture at the bottom of the sea because of Celeste's bad experience. Also, he mentions that Celeste is talking about Lutwidge as if she believes he is still alive. Mark then asks Celeste if she knew whether Lutwidge was ever seen again after he set off in 1958 to find Rapture.

Day Fifty-Nine: August 21
There is now a tape of an interview with Lex Harlan at the Giant Boulder Saucer Convention, labeled part one.

Phil Isidore has also left a message on the answering machine. He is miffed that Meltzer has not read the Utropolis story that he sent, and he mentions the Lex Harlan interviews.

Day Sixty: August 24
There is letter written by Lutwidge to Andrew Ryan on the floor, dated 22 June 1954. He threatens to reveal Rapture unless he is given the location, as he feels he is worthy and one of the "best and brightest." The letter also reveals that he purposely sent false clues to Celeste and the US Government to lead them away from Rapture. On the side table there is a pink birthday card and a cupcake. On the birthday card Mark has wished Cindy a happy birthday and promises to find her. It is apparently Cindy's birthday tomorrow.

Also, there is a new phone message from Celeste. She seems confused by Mark's suggestion that she thinks Lutwidge is alive and she promises to think of Mark and Cindy tomorrow.

Day Sixty-One: August 25
It is August 25, 1968 - Cindy's Birthday. Mark has left a cupcake and a message on a card "HAPPY BIRTHDAY CINDY......I promise I will find you, Daddy."

Day Sixty-Two: August 26
Phil Isidore has sent Mark a box from the National U.F.O. Society containing part 3 of Phil's interview with Lex Harlan. The interview is all about R. Killian Quain.

On the floor there is a "readers' letters" page from Visionary Wonder Stories with mixed reviews on Quain's story. It seems like most people think it's great.

Day Sixty-Three: August 28
Part 5 of the interview with Harlan has appeared.

Next to it is an article written by Lex Harlan about his first encounter with Quain.

Day Sixty-Four: August 31
There's a new letter to the right of the music box; to Mark from Celeste Roget. It explains that she lied to him about the fact that Lutwidge is alive and that she had an encounter with him. She says that he has since been moved into an asylum and asks that Mark stop following him,

Day Sixty-Five: September 1
A lot of things from around the room have been moved into the Archive Cabinet.

A new, small piece of paper is in front of the typewriter. Ripped out from 'The Vest-Pocket Norwegian/English Dictionary' it shows how the word RØD means Red. 'Rød' is the 'R.' in 'R. Killian Quain'. Matching this with 'quain', a variant of 'queen' gives 'red queen', a possible clue to Quain = Lutwidge.

There is also a new message on the machine from Lex Harlan telling Mark to stop calling him and saying that Quain is in Tollevue.

Day Sixty-Six: September 2
A new piece on paper is on the floor by the door. It’s full of scribbling and random thoughts from Mark, about how he’s been running ‘The Red Queens Race’ all along and that it has almost come full circle.

There’s also a new message on the machine from Dr. Howard Lyman refusing to divulge information to Mark about any of his patients. He suggests that Mark visit him.

Day Sixty-Seven: September 3
There’s a letter in the typewriter from Mark to Benjamin "Benny" Stango. He asks for help, thinking that maybe he’s losing it and asks that Benny stop him if something should happen. The letter is unfinished.

There’s also a new message from Stango on the answering machine. He sounds concerned about Mark and says he is on his way.

Update:

Mark's room has been completely trashed. The door appears to have been forced open and various papers and books are scattered across the room in what appears to have been a struggle. The coat rack, chair, and small table by the door have been knocked over and the lamp that was on the small table is lying on the floor with Mark's coat and hat. The phone is lying on the floor with the receiver off the hook.

Day Sixty-Eight: September 8
On the desk is a prescription bottle of Benzodiazum pills. Instructions state two tablets should be taken, twice per day, to relieve acute anxiety. There is also a paper containing a psychiatric examination of Mark Meltzer, next to the pill bottle.

A new puzzle is sitting by the record player on the right side of the study. The puzzle is essentially a cryptex plus a tile game covered in colored lines, which should be rotated to line up accordingly.

Inside the new puzzle is a Blue Notebook from Quain/Lutwidge. The cover and first page are all that can be viewed at this time.

Also, there is a message from Phil Isidore.

Day Sixty-Nine: September 9
There's a new letter on the desk from Mark to Phil, apologizing for his recent actions and telling about his success at Tollevue. To summarize, he faked a mental breakdown in order to gain access to Quain where, presumably he obtained the "Rubix Tube" Puzzle.

Also, many of the items from around the room have now been moved to the archive.

Day Seventy: September 10
The room has finally been cleaned up, although several of the room’s objects have changed location.

There is a new message from Benny Stango, who seems angry that Mark took advantage of his sympathies.

There is also a note on the floor in front of the Archive cabinet. It's the first page telling the story of Mark's time in Tollevue.

Day Seventy-One: September 11
The second part documenting Mark's meeting with Quain is left on the floor.

Day Seventy-Two: September 14
There is a new message from Dr. Lyman on the answering machine mentioning documents that went missing from his office while Mark was in Tollevue.

Part three of Mark's account at Tollevue is left on the floor.

Day Seventy-Three: September 15
There is a box to the right of the fan, and a medical record about Quain near the typewriter. It is likely that these are the stolen items that Dr. Lyman rang about.

Day Seventy-Four: September 16
There's a new message on the machine from Lynch, skeptical that Lutwidge is alive.

There’s also a new document on Quain from the Tollevue Hospital next to the box on the floor.

Day Seventy-Five: September 17
The notebook from inside the Rubix Tube has been placed to the right of the typewriter.

The second and third pages of the notebook can now be viewed.

There is also a new audio to the right of the package. It is a recording of Lutwidge/Quain's sixth session with Dr. Lyman in Tollevue Mental Hospital.

Day Seventy-Six: September 18
The fourth and fifth pages of the blue notebook can now be viewed.

Day Seventy-Seven: September 21
The sixth and seventh pages of the Blue Notebook can now be viewed.

Day Seventy-Eight: September 22
The eighth and ninth pages of the Blue Notebook can now be viewed.

There is also a new recording, next to the Box and the Fan. It is a recording of Lutwidge/Quain's 21st session with Dr. Lyman.

Day Seventy-Nine: September 23
Pages ten, eleven and twelve of the Blue Notebook can now be viewed.

Many of the items about the room have been moved into the Archive, and there’s a new message from Celeste on the machine. She says that she has told her private investigators to contact Meltzer.

Day Eighty: September 24
Mark has a folder from Auger Detection, the agency hired by Roget to track Lutwidge. The folder contains two parts of a detective's report. Next, on Mark's desk is a photo of Lutwidge himself, notably his face seems spliced, yet to a lesser degree. It is more than likely Lutwidge has to some degree, an addiction to ADAM.

Day Eighty-One: September 25
Dash H. Carmady, Celeste’s hired detective, leaves a message offering information to Mark.

Day Eighty-Two: September 28
A new message from Celeste is left on the answering machine. She mentions strange, harassing phone calls that she has been receiving.

Day Eighty-Three: September 29
A new message from Celeste is on the answering machine. She sounds frantic about a threatening letter which she received.

A strange letter to Mark has appeared on the table beside the window. The letters in this message appear to be cut from magazines. It warns Mark not to continue with his investigation. An envelope with similar cut letters is beside the letter on the table.

Day Eighty-Four: September 30
A new message from Dash H. Carmady is left on the answering machine. He refuses to help Mark anymore now that Celeste is not requiring him to.

There is also a new document from Auger Detection on the floor listing Lutwidge's properties.

Day Eighty-Five: October 1
A new message written by Mark can be found next to the Lutwidge files on the floor. The letter explains that Mark discovered where Lutwidge's lab was and went down there. He broke into the lab and discovered devices, bottles, and articles (possibly from Rapture). He also found a box, with the Scarlet Sovereign logo, full of masks that Splicers wear.

The box filled with Splicer masks can be found in front of the desk. Notably, the masks seem to include a White Rabbit mask, a Peacock mask, a Black Crow mask (like the one in the lunchbox), a Devil mask (like the one worn by the Mad Hatter in Lutwidge's notebook), and a Welder's mask (similar to what Peach Wilkins wore).

Day Eighty-Six: October 2
On October 2, some fans who had written in to Mark Meltzer's address received in-person hand delivered telegrams from Speedy Brothers Telegrams.

A letter from Mark regarding the fan letters is next to the picture of Lutwidge:

Day Eighty-Seven: October 3
A new message from Roscoe Inman is left on the answering machine. He requests any information that Mark may have in relation to the Frozen Triangle.

There's also another new letter which came with an attached note. It's above the file cabinet. It is from a man whose wife, "Catherine," left during the period of The Vanishing. The attached note is a goodbye letter from Catherine saying that she is leaving with "Evelyn" "in search of True Rapture." The letter is dated "7-28-68," making it probable that Mark received this letter some time ago but is reviewing it now in relation to the "Quain Manuscript". The note also contains several words in all CAPS that sequentially form "SOMETHING IN THE SEA".

Day Eighty-Eight: October 4
On October 4th, fans who had received the telegrams from Speedy Brothers Telegrams began to receive packages containing a Splicer mask and a letter from Mark.

The letter is the same one which appeared next to the picture of Lutwidge on day eighty-six.

Day Eighty-Nine: October 5
A new message from Det. Benny Stango is left on the answering machine. He taunts Mark about the threatening letter.

There's also a box containing things from Lutwidge's lab, two papers from the Scarlet Sovereign Import-Export Inc. (from the O.C Lutwidge, Pres.) riddled with notes from Lutwidge lay next to it. Probably taken out of the box.

Day Ninety: October 6
Three more pages have been removed from the box. One is a newspaper article (with notes) about the airplane crash in 1960. The other two pages are from the Utopian Metropolis, which detail Lutwidge's descent into Rapture.

Day Ninety-One: October 7
Two more pages from the Utopian Metropolis have been removed from the box.

Day Ninety-Two: October 8
There are two new items on Mark's desk.

One, near his bottle of pills, is the U.S. Navy identification card of James Millard Oakes.

The other, at the opposite end of the desk, is an Accu-Vox tape recorder with an Audio Diary by someone who is presumably Oakes himself.

Day Ninety-Three: October 12
A new message from Northern TelCo is left on the answering machine:

This shows that the search for Meltzer's daughter has been very financially pressing, as suggested by the bounced check.

Day Ninety-Four: October 13
There is evidence that someone other than Mark has been in the room. All of Mark's drawers have been opened, things such as the binoculars and the headphones have been moved to different places, and someone tried to open the "Rubix Tube" puzzle but didn't succeed.

The only clue which was left is a 35mm, which Mark thinks could be a government issued film container, suggesting that the intruder took pictures of Marks findings. It's near his lamp.

Mark's written that he knows that someone has been inside but he's not sure who. Possible suspects include Stango, Inman, Carmady, O.G.A (other government agency), and the Red Pawn. Note, Mark has crossed off Stango and Carmady from the list already. He also believes that the Red Pawn may be the same person who sent the cut and pasted letter. Once again, Mark believes someone is following him...

Day Ninety-Five: October 14
Mark has left a new note, it's on the desk near his hat. In it, Mark tries to figure out who the Red Pawn is. He believes the person could be a forger, related to the Knight, and a correspondent of Lutwidge. By mixing the letters of Killian and adding the N and M, Mark guesses he could be Roscoe Inman.

There is a new letter on Mark's desk, it's from Orrin Oscar Lutwidge to the Red Pawn, dated June 17, 1958. In it, Lutwidge expresses his appreciation for the Pawn's help with the manipulation of Celeste but requests that he stop harassing her.

Day Ninety-Six: October 15
A new message from Dash Carmady is left on the answering machine. He says that Celeste is still missing and seems willing to collaborate with Mark in searching for the identity of the Red Pawn.

Day Ninety-Seven: October 16
A new message from Det. Benny Stango is left on the answering machine. He is skeptical about the information that Dash Carmady has turned up and increasingly hostile towards Mark, referring to him as a "psycho." A small note placed in front of the Metal Box. It is from Dash Carmady.

The entire intel on Jeremiah Lynch is located by the record player. It amounts to a record of criminal activity.

Day Ninety-Eight: October 19
A new message from Charles Molley can be accessed from the memo pad on the side of the filing cabinet. There is a page from a calendar on the wall, it reads "October 21" and underneath the date Mark has written "The day she vanished..."

In the typewriter is Mark's letter to Phil. With the discovery of Lynch's criminal past, Mark's been frustrated. He's questioning if all that has happened is real and not forged. It's making him doubt the existence of (True) Rapture (which is noted in one of the new fan letters).

Most pages and letters have been moved into the filing cabinet, although the note detailing the discovery of Lutwidge's lab is on the floor whilst being in the cabinet too.

Day Ninety-Nine: October 20
In the typewriter is Mark's letter to Phil. With the discovery of Lynch's criminal past, Mark's been frustrated. He's questioning if all that has happened is real and not forged. It's making him doubt the existence of (True) Rapture (which is noted in one of the new fan letters).

You can also observe that the can of anxiety pills has been depleted, shows that Meltzer is taking them and is still suffering from the loss of his beloved daughter.

Day One-Hundred: October 21
A new message from Phil Isidore, he still seems to be struck by all that has happened. Phil tells Mark to not give up on the little girls, and mentions Ester George, a mother from Atlantic City. Also, a personal note from Mark himself detailing that he went to the same beach his daughter vanished from.

Day One-Hundred-One: October 22
Mark has written a memo. He was walking on the beach at the early hours of the morning when he saw a sandcastle in the shape of a city. It is like the city that rose up from the sand behind the Big Sister in the Sea of Dreams trailer. He thinks it is a message from Cindy with help from the The Traveler (Big Sister).

A picture of the city is on the desk next to the typewriter. It decrypts into:


 * "Whas taking so long


 * Daddy come find me"

Day One-Hundred-Two: October 23
Det. Benny Stango left a new message on the answering machine.

He says that he saw the Big Sister and shot at her. The matter is now closed as far as he's concerned.

Day One-Hundred-Three: October 26
There's a new message from Jeremiah Lynch. He's talking about how Mark spoiled all "their" fun by going to the detectives.

There is a letter on the floor by the filing cabinet from Dash Carmady of Auger detection. He mentions contacting a detective agency and local law enforcement in Ireland in an attempt to keep tabs on Lynch. Lynch has apparently gone into hiding. Carmady asks Mark to tell him as soon as Lynch contacts him again.

Day One-Hundred-Four: October 27
There is a new message from Roscoe Inman on the answering machine.

There is a letter on the floor from Mark to Phil. Mark wants to find the "Knight's journey" and get inside the 5x5 puzzle box. Mark wanted to make a return trip to Lutwidge's lab in Park Avenue, but was prevented from doing so by men in suits guarding the door, presumably from the same government agency investigating Inman. Mark states that he "Cut Inman off a while ago" and feels that Dash Carmady has no patience for him. Apparently Phil is the only one left that he can trust now.

Day One-Hundred-Five: October 28
There is a letter from Phil Isidore.

Phil talks about Mark's earlier letter and the recent events.

Day One-Hundred-Six: October 29
There are some new notes from Mark, one near the box containing the masks. It says that Mark found a plan for the Metal Box, but that he can't go back to Lutwidge's lab to get more due to the black suits.

The other is near the Jewelry Box. It talks about the puzzle and its solution.

Day One-Hundred-Seven: November 2
By the filing cabinet, there is a picture of the tiles covered in cypher letters from Lutwidge's hideout, taken by Dash H. Carmady. A letter from Carmady is on the floor next to the picture. He thinks the picture is a clue to the Puzzle Boxes. A letter from the ONI is on the table near the hat, detailing disciplinary action against Roscoe Inman for using government resources for personal investigations. The ONI are the "suits" guarding the entry to Lutwidge's hideout, apparently unknown to Inman himself.

Day One-Hundred-Eight: November 4
Mark sent a new letter to Phil. He's had a major breakthrough with the puzzle. Also, he's left to visit Phil and his maritime contacts.

Late in the day many documents were moved to the archives and the lights turned down. The box of Splicer masks has been moved under the table near the puzzles. The radio is also noticeable by its absence. Many things are now missing, including the typewriter, binoculars, radio, pill bottle, Mark's hat and coat, and the Bellman's Chart.

Depending on whether or not the viewer has solved the "Coordinate Piano" of the Jewelry Box puzzle, the site will appear in different ways:

Scenario 1 - The metal box is gone. This scenario appears to hinge on the solving of the jewelry box puzzle earlier in the game which in turn causes the first level of the metal box puzzle to disappear, whether solved or not.

Scenario 2 - The metal box remains on the table in a paper bag and opens to the first level puzzle. This occurs on a computer on which the jewelry box puzzle was never solved, resulting in the metal box continuing to open to the first level puzzle even after level one was successfully solved. Solving the jewelry box puzzle after Mark has left will revert the page to Scenario 1.

The single note that Mark has left on his desk is clickable, and clicking it transports you to Phase Three.

Day One-Hundred-Nine: November 6
There is a new message from Charles Molley on the answering machine.