Farewell, Amanda. To my mind, this marks the final end of the 1897 story.
There's no evidence of an evidence bag as the sheriff picks up Paul's coat with his bare hands to send to the lab.
Megan is in full Leviathan zombie mode as she gloats that the creature won't get caught. But Philip can't hide his loathing.
Julia tells the sheriff about Paul's last words, which the sheriff notes carefully: monster, room upstairs, dark boards, basement room--and breathing, always breathing.
Elizabeth phones the antique shop to tell Megan that Paul Stoddard is dead. I’m going to walk over to Collinwood, Megan tells Philip. Grinning, she says, I will look very sad and help console my good friend Carolyn Stoddard. She assures Philip, You have nothing to worry about. He is very quiet now. Besides, she finishes mockingly, I told him not to hurt you.
Professor Stokes apparently shares the same phone number as Collinwood and a few other places too: 4099! The sheriff hangs up and tells Julia and Stokes that a search warrant will be ready in an hour. Naturally Julia wants to come along, despite the sheriff’s warnings that it might be dangerous.
Philip is still alone at the shop when Julia and the sheriff arrive. He could hardly look guiltier or more terrified when the sheriff brandishes the warrant. It’s no mistake, the sheriff assures him: Paul Stoddard mentioned the shop in his dying words. Now poor Philip has to go through the charade of just learning that Paul is dead. Paul was very disturbed, Philip says, and you shouldn’t take seriously anything he said. Philip definitely doesn’t want the sheriff to look around and fiddles with the hammer as he says they’ve had a death in the family. The sheriff promises to make the search as short as possible. Unhappily Philip takes the other two upstairs and tries to lead them past “Michael”’s room, but the sheriff asks whose room it is. It belonged to the child who died, Philip reples truthfully, then adds, There’s nothing in it. Please don’t defile it, he says desperately. The sheriff asks Julia, who confirms that this is the room at the top of the stairs that Paul spoke of. Sheriff Davenport is apologetic to Philip but insists he must open the door. Philip watches fearfully as the sheriff draws his pistol and turns the doorknob. Who--or what--awaits them inside?.....
