Part Thirty Five

*An old acquaintance, a dangerous prospect, a race against time...*

### Content Warnings

Captivity, wrist injury/blood, discussions of suicide, body horror, near-miss car accident, memory loss, frequent coughing, hostage situation, knife violence, references to parental abuse/parental death, assault

## Summary

Arthur agrees to find Mr. Scratch a new body in exchange for his freedom. They head to Lenox Hill Hospital and find Oscar there, who guides them to Daniel's bedside after John seems to forget what either man looks like. After, they also meet Detective Noel, who heeds Arthur's warning about Collins. Arthur realizes Collins is still in the hospital. While Arthur distracts Collins, Oscar and Noel subdue and arrest him. Arthur and Oscar agree to go to Daniel's house, so that Arthur can retrieve the Freemasons Ring.

## Synopsis

Arthur dreams of his first meeting with Daniel. When he wakes, he is still tied to the chair. He tries to escape and fails, chafing his wrists until they bleed. Frantic, he plans to kill himself rather than be captured by Larson, to John’s horror.

Someone approaches the door: Mr. Scratch. Mr. Scratch heard Arthur’s dream and came, though Arthur denies he called for him. Nevertheless, Arthur asks to be untied, as repayment for Arthur initially freeing Mr. Scratch.

Mr. Scratch disagrees that this would be fair, as he had given up his opportunity to torment a family by coming here. Arthur promises anything in exchange for his help. In return, Mr. Scratch offers a deal: he will untie Arthur if Arthur agrees to find a new body for him. Mr. Scratch takes out a rock and breathes on it – Arthur must place it on the body Arthur chooses for him. When they sleep, Mr. Scratch will find and possess them. Arthur agrees. Mr. Scratch unties them and leaves.

Arthur calls Lenox Hill hospital, warns them of Collins, orders them to move Daniel, strike his name from the records, call the police, and disallow any visitors. Hanging up the phone, they hurry there and find a directory to search for Daniel themselves.

They leave for the men’s ward. John doesn’t see Daniel there, but spots a private room up ahead. They search it, finding only an upset woman. Arthur apologies and backtracks. In the corridor, John spots someone he does not recognize approach them. When the person calls out “Parker”, Arthur recognizes him as Oscar, but John does not seem to remember Oscar at all.

Oscar approaches. Realizing that Oscar was responsible for saving Daniel’s life, Arthur thanks and hugs him.

Oscar says that Daniel is in the men’s ward, to both Arthur’s and John’s confusion. As they return to the men’s ward, John abruptly remembers Oscar. Oscar leaves Arthur alone with Daniel.

Arthur apologizes to Daniel for his actions in the past. Awkwardly, Daniel returns the gesture. Though he attempts to explain about Collins, Daniel is too groggy to understand. Arthur departs for Oscar.

He warns Oscar about Collins, but Oscar refuses to leave, citing his need to help. Despite Arthur’s lies about his name, Oscar believes Arthur is trying to do good. Arthur agrees to let Oscar stay and help. During their conversation, Oscar interrupts to point out an approaching man in a trench-coat.

John does not recognize him, but is uncertain. Oscar returns to Daniel. The stranger approaches Arthur. Arthur reveals his actual name, and the detective introduces himself as Detective Noel. Noel reveals he knows about Arthur’s phone call to the hospital and listens to Arthur as he warns him of Collins. During their conversation, Arthur reveals he’s from Arkham. Noel recognizes it and asks Arthur for a light. Arthur lights his cigarette with the lighter.

Noel confirms that a man matching Collins’s description arrived, but was prevented from seeing Daniel. Rather than leave, Arthur predicts that Collins would have changed his disguise. John tells Arthur there is an orderly near Daniel, similar to Collins’s description. Arthur points this out to Noel.

Noel tells Arthur to stay and plans to attack Butcher from behind. Arthur opts to act as a distraction, hypothesizing that Collins did not bring a gun. He enters the ward and calls out for Collins. Collins responds. Daniel is terrified, but Oscar remains near him.

Arthur attempts to bait Collins, but his attention is on Daniel. He asks why Daniel is so important to him, and Arthur confirms that Daniel is his father. Collins muses that his own father hadn’t loved him and withdraws a scalpel to move toward Daniel’s throat.

Arthur’s facade breaks, and he yells at Collins to stop. Collins cryptically says, “Just like me to my Da.” and asks if Daniel loves Arthur.

Arthur continues to bait Collins, saying that he can’t kill every witness here. Collins concedes Arthur’s point, though bristles when Arthur mentions his failed past attempt to kill him. John encourages Arthur to keep going. Though Collins briefly steps away, he soon returns to Daniel.

Arthur agrees to do anything Collins wants. Collins demands Arthur admit how many people he’s killed and who. After considering, Arthur claims he’s killed seven, in accidents or self-defense. Collins doesn’t entirely believe this, demanding to know who Arthur killed without provocation. Arthur says Parker’s name.

Detective Noel abruptly tackles Collins; during the struggle, Oscar knocks Collins unconscious with a bedpan. Collins is taken away in handcuffs.

Arthur thanks Oscar and Noel; Noel thanks Arthur for keeping Collins distracted and asks for a word later. Awkwardly, Daniel tries to thank him. Before Arthur can apologize, Daniel re-affirms he believes Arthur is a good man. Arthur thanks him. Daniel tells him about the location of his Freemasons ring and encourages him to seek the help of others. Specifically, Daniel calls over Oscar and suggests he should accompany Oscar to pick up some of his things, as Arthur needs a friend. Arthur agrees.

He leaves. Briefly, he and John discuss John’s memory issues, with John angrily denying any issue and taking offense that Arthur doesn’t trust him. In the lobby hospital, they meet Noel and go to a diner nearby: The Black Iris. On the way over, Arthur tells Noel he was a private investigator. They sit and order coffee. Arthur tells Noel that what he told Collins wasn’t true, exactly, and asks what Noel wants.

Noel asks if Arthur is married. Arthur says he isn’t anymore. Noel says he isn’t, though he once had a partner who was. Both his partner and his wife are deceased now. He asks about Parker.

Arthur admits he killed his partner on accident, “through forces unimaginable.” At length, Arthur begins to explain the cosmic and existential nature of what he’s seen so far, but stops himself to state that Noel is already familiar with it. John notes that Noel is smiling and seems to understand.

Arthur asks who Noel is. Noel says he’s a friend, and asks why Arthur is here. Arthur explains his goal to find the Order of the Fallen Star, though Noel is unfamiliar with the name. Ultimately, Noel leaves to book Collins, but asks Arthur to call him. He leaves a blank card with his number on it. Before he leaves, he states that they have a mutual friend – perhaps a few. Arthur thanks him, and when he tentatively says Noel’s name, Noel implies that he won’t be using that alias for much longer.

## Trivia

* Lenox Hill is a real hospital, and Winston Churchill really did stay there in 1931 after being knocked down by a taxi driver on 5th Avenue.
* Noel references Hamlet ("shuffled off this mortal coil"), just as Adam Fry (Part 5) did.