# SDMB Ghostbusters: Part Two, The Flatbush Avenue Ghost

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [July 13, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389 "2013-07-13T05:13:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 12

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**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/221 "2013-08-08T02:42:37Z")

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Kris looks straight at Don. “Listen, Don, please just tell us everything you know about Dr. Panama. It’s essential.”

Kris rolled a 12 for smooth talking(no ghost).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/222 "2013-08-08T05:53:34Z")

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> [@centerstage27](#):
>
> Sorry guys! I was in the middle of moving. Still don’t have internet at my place until Friday. Posting this through my phone now. Won’t be able to roll anything until then. I can still react and post though. I’ll start back up tomorrow. Just assume Liz is being dutiful and safe at the moment. ☹

Hi Liz. No worries; I figured that’s what was happening. Check in when you can, don’t worry about when you can’t. Hope everything goes smoothly for you. (I hate moving!)

> [@Kristopher](#):
>
> Kris looks straight at Don. “Listen, Don, please just tell us everything you know about Dr. Panama. It’s essential.”

Don rolled an 18, no ghost, to resist Kristopher’s Smooth Talk roll of 12, no ghost.Don stammers a bit and refuses to meet your eyes, and mutters something about “…could cost me my job if this gets out.”

> [@Louis](#):
>
> Lou starts divesting himself of his equipment, passing them off to anyone except Don. “Dat gah up dere ain’ seen me yet an ah got an ahdear.”
> 
> “Keep dem packs handy case dat spook come back.”
> 
> Lou cautiously makes his way upstairs, hoping to use his knowledge of chemistry to detect if the Doctor is up to anything unusual and possibly illegal.

Lou rolls 18, no ghost, for his Chemistry skill.Louis makes several reasonable guesses based on his observation, including his sense of smell.  
Lute Skywatcher, you will have a private message shortly.

> [@Brian](#):
>
> We know very little about Dr Panama. He seems to be a paranoid kook. He may or may not have any experience with the ghost himself, but I don’t see how it can be more than what we have learned already.
> 
> He bears a remblance to the ghost that I am sure is a coincidence since he is very much alive.

All quite true. I’ll add that he seems to have an aversion to sunlight (always wears sunglasses, never goes outside nor answers his door during daytime hours, and his windows are all boarded up from the inside.)

He has a generous supply of wood and woodworking tools, as well as a supply of dirt and digging tools, stored in the basement.

He is extremely reclusive, and always pays rent with cash in an envelope slipped under Don’s door in the middle of the night.

Strange noises and odors frequently come from his heavily fortified fourth-floor apartment, occasionally causing complaints from his neighbors.

Despite all this, he has remained in this building for many years… longer than any other tenant.

He does resemble the ghost, at least from what little you were able to see of him. He was pale, true, but he seemed to be alive… at least, he definitely had physical form. You were unable to see much more than this during the short moments between the hatch opening and the shotgun firing.

Louis cautiously approaches the fourth floor landing, wearing nothing but his civilian clothing…

The time is now  
8:10 pm

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/223 "2013-08-08T11:27:23Z")

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Don, it’s absolutely essential that we find out all we can about Dr Panama. Our lives may all be in danger, never mind your job!

Orate 18 no ghost, to convince Don to spill

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/224 "2013-08-08T15:25:16Z")

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Lou raps “shave and a haircut” on Dr. Panama’s door.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/225 "2013-08-09T05:03:17Z")

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> [@BrianJ](#):
>
> Don, it’s absolutely essential that we find out all we can about Dr Panama. Our lives may all be in danger, never mind your job!
> 
> Orate 18 no ghost, to convince Don to spill
> 
> Don rolled an incredible 25 no ghost to resist.

“It’s not just, like, my job and my home, it’s my _life_, man!” Don spits out, nervously glancing upstairs. “I’m telling you… I mean I’m \*not \*telling you! I didn’t tell you anything about him! I can’t tell you anything more! Just, stop asking me ok?!”

Don is clearly quite terrified… both of the potential threat to his job, and apparently the consequences to his health. Obviously he knows that something is going on, and he knows that if whatever it is gets out, he’s in trouble… he’ll lose his job, he’ll be in danger from Dr. Panama, and he probably has other reasons to fear talking more than he fears not-talking. He clams up solid and appears ready to run away.

He hasn’t run off yet, tho, so you still have a chance…

> [@Louis](#):
>
> Lou raps “shave and a haircut” on Dr. Panama’s door.

From your position safely downstairs you can’t see much, but you do notice Louis isn’t getting shot at, which is good.

You hear something being asked from behind the steel door, but can’t make out exactly what it is.

After a moment, Lou replies:

Lou, you’ve got a private message. That’s what Dr. Panama asks. How do you respond?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/226 "2013-08-09T11:38:17Z")

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Brian sighs in exasperation, then adresses Don again.

“Fine, but does any of what you won’t talk about have anything to do with the ghost, or the TVs?”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/227 "2013-08-09T14:37:59Z")

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> [@Phnord\_Prephect](#):
>
> After a moment, Lou replies:
> 
> Lou, you’ve got a private message. That’s what Dr. Panama asks. How do you respond?

“Whooee! Some jumpsuited weedos 'bout knocked me back downstays!”  
“Ah heered Doc Panama gots da bes’ stuff in all da Big Appa. Leas’ dat’s wha’ dem boys in Nawlahns say, ah gay-rone-tee.” Lou rolls two brownie points and Cool.13 and a ghost. Great.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/228 "2013-08-09T22:14:36Z")

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I’ve sent Louis/Lute another private message, with more time to respond before midnight tonight.

Everyone else, provide your actions based on what information you already have; I just want to give him a chance to react to tonight’s action in ‘real time’ so to speak.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/229 "2013-08-09T22:24:13Z")

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> [@BrianJ](#):
>
> Brian sighs in exasperation, then adresses Don again.
> 
> “Fine, but does any of what you won’t talk about have anything to do with the ghost, or the TVs?”

Don looks sheepish, and admits: “Uh… hmm. No? I don’t think so. Maybe. Probably not. I dunno. Guess not. Maybe.”

Helpful, isn’t he? :dubious:

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/230 "2013-08-09T23:11:32Z")

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> [@Phnord\_Prephect](#):
>
> I’ve sent Louis/Lute another private message, with more time to respond before midnight tonight.

“Shore, ya done skeered 'em.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/231 "2013-08-09T23:30:05Z")

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> [@Phnord\_Prephect](#):
>
> Don looks sheepish, and admits: “Uh… hmm. No? I don’t think so. Maybe. Probably not. I dunno. Guess not. Maybe.”
> 
> Helpful, isn’t he? :dubious:

OK then, lets focus on why we came here, then. Do you think you can contact the owners of this building, see if they know of any violent deaths in the building in the past 40 years or so? Maybe involving a TV?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/232 "2013-08-10T02:04:51Z")

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Kris sighs. “Are we going to have to go back to the Hall of Records again? There is no way they are still open today, but perhaps we can go in the morning?”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/233 "2013-08-10T06:23:44Z")

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The steel door opens.

A pair of skinny white hands reach out and grab Louis by the shirt.

The hands pull him into the apartment.

The door slams shut.

The time is now  
8:15 PM

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/234 "2013-08-10T11:42:13Z")

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Looks that way. We should go once Louis gets back. Where did he get off to anyway?

Don, I asked you a question, do you have an answer? Can you contact the owners, or will that have to wait til tomorrow too?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/235 "2013-08-10T17:10:31Z")

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Don replies “I can make a phone call, they gave me a number to leave a message. I don’t know when they’ll call back, but I’ll leave the message.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/236 "2013-08-10T20:01:39Z")

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> [@Phnord\_Prephect](#):
>
> Don replies “I can make a phone call, they gave me a number to leave a message. I don’t know when they’ll call back, but I’ll leave the message.”

“Yeah, do that. It might help a ton,” Kris says. “Yeah, let’s go see if Louis was able to get anything out of Panama.”

Quickly, Kris looks up vampires in his book. He’s starting to wonder about this Panama guy and if ghosts exist, then who knows?

Kris rolled a 5 for Brains, if that is the right roll for a book. No ghost.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/237 "2013-08-10T20:39:14Z")

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Brian sees Kris holding the book upside down and says “Here, let me see that”

Brains 10, no ghost. Well, a little better. heh

I agree we should look for Lou. Be careful though, we don’t want to give Panama the idea he’s with us. Might put him in danger.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/238 "2013-08-10T22:08:00Z")

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Don heads downstairs to make the call. The rest of you remain on the 3rd floor landing. Mrs. Pogoni invites you inside for dessert (Jell-o with mini marshmallows), if you like.

Thumbing through the books you find some useful information.  
Vampires: Undead creatures of the night with a blood fetish.

Vampires are harmed by direct sunlight.  
Vampires are most active at night.  
Vampires must return to their coffin to rest during the day.  
A vampire’s coffin contains soil from their homeland.  
A vampire keeps his coffin in a safe place, hidden from danger.  
Vampires are often pale and skinny.  
Vampires often have red bloodshot eyes.  
Vampires are reclusive.  
Vampires often have a single ‘assistant’ who they control with fear.  
Vampires dislike garlic, crosses, and moving water.

There’s probably other information to be learned; there are a lot of entries and a lot of different stories about vampires.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/239 "2013-08-11T04:52:29Z")

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Bah, vampires, Brain says dismissively. Lets try to see how Louis is doing.

Brian listens at the steel door to see whats going on in there

Listen 28, no ghost

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-ghostbusters-part-two-the-flatbush-avenue-ghost/663389/240 "2013-08-11T05:10:46Z")

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Brian listens at the door for a moment. Look for a private message.

Don has gone downstairs to make a phone call.

Kristopher reads about Vampires.

Liz has a lovely chat with Mrs. Pogoni.  
Time passes.

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