“Hector? Hector!?”

Avenell climbed the stairs one at a time, stopping every now and then to listen for the sound of Hector’s footsteps.

“Hector!”

Finally, he heard them.

Hector jumped out from around the corner, just as Avenell was about to reach the top step.

“Yes, Mister Avenell?”

Avenell narrowed his eyes.

“Where are they? Sir Perry is requesting them in the dining hall.”

Hector twiddled his fingers behind his back.

“Well…they are still in a meeting.”

“A meeting?”

“I already informed them that it was time to dine, but that was what they told me…”

Avenell sighed, pinching the skin above his nose and rubbing it forcefully.

“And what would you have me tell Sir Perry, Hector?”

“I can talk to him if y—”

“Good,” Avenell said as he grabbed Hector by the arm. “I am curious to see how you fare.”

Avenell then headed down the steps toward the dining hall, dragging Hector behind him.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, the window to the library was open and a cool night’s breeze was spilling through. Outside, just beneath the windowsill, seated across from each other on the flat roof, were Mary and Ellis— conducting their meeting.

“So?” Mary asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling as they captured the last of the sunlight. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” Ellis grumbled as he threw himself backward. “It could be anyone!”

“Well,” Mary said as she lay down on her back next to him, “It can’t be the old guy.”

“Agreed. He can barely see anything.”

“What about the big guy?”

“Not him either.”

“What did Jerg mean, anyway? He needs to walk him home?”

“Jerg said that Harold fell on his head when he was a kid. He doesn’t think like a normal person does.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Must be…”

“Well then, he couldn’t have done it. Plus, he’s so big. Someone woulda seen him.”

Ellis folded his hands on his chest, trying to think.

“What about—”

“Jerg?”

Ellis shut up suddenly.

“Jerg!? No way!”

“Well, why not? He’s worked there for a while. He knows everything that goes on. And Byles trusts him with the money.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“No way,” Ellis said shaking his head. “He wouldn’t.”

“How do you know? You only just met him.”

“Cause he wouldn’t! What about your friend? Torren? He coulda done it!”

“He didn’t!” she shouted back, sitting up herself.

“Oh? What’s his excuse?”

“He started working for Byles to help his family, if you must know.”

“Help them with what?”

“Torren says his mom was sick a while ago. He is working to get enough money to pay the doctor back for the medicine.”

“Hmph. Sure.”

“I am sure.”

Ellis threw himself back down on the roof and stared up into the darkening sky.

“So, if it’s not Jerg, and it’s not Torren…”

“And it’s not Harold or Gregor…”

“Then it’s the other guy?”

“Lester?”

“Must be.”

Mary turned to Ellis, expecting him to be excited that they’d solved the case. But he wasn’t excited. He was still lying on the roof, staring up into the sky.

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know…”

“Well, do we know anything about him?”

“He was almost executed.”

“Executed!? For what?”

“Being a criminal.”

“Ellis.”

“What!?”

“What are you not sure about?”

“I don’t know!”

Ellis leaned forward and smacked the side of his head a few times to clear his thoughts.

“A man who is a known criminal is working at a shop where coins are being stolen? It’s obvious.”

“I know! I know! But still, I just feel as if… he couldn’t have done it.”

Mary groaned.

“Why not?”

Ellis looked her directly in the eyes as he spoke.

“Byles is the only reason that Lester is alive. If it wasn’t for Byles, he’d be dead.”

“Then that means he is indebted to Byles, doesn’t it?”

“So?”

“So!? He’s basically a servant. That would make anyone mad?”

“I-I guess…”

“Then—”

“But it still doesn’t make sense! Why would he suddenly start stealing now?”

“Maybe he was stealing the whole time, and Byles only just started to notice?”

“Argh!”

Ellis stood up in a fury.

“Why are you so stubborn!?” Mary shouted as she stood up with him.

“I’ve got it!” Ellis shouted, turning suddenly towards her.

“Got what?”

“Let’s set a trap!”

Mary looked at him sideways.

“A trap?”

“Yeah! We aren’t sure who did it—”

“Lester did it.”

“— So we should set a trap to lure out the actual thief!”

“Lester?”

“That way, we don’t have to march in and arrest someone—”

“Arrest Lester?”

“— By mistake.”

Mary folded her arms.

“It might work,” she said dryly.

Ellis watched her closely for a sign of approval— his amber eye’s studied her expectantly. Their staring contest continued for several moments until Mary started to feel embarrassed. She turned away from him suddenly.

“Well!?”

“Alright,” she said, begrudgingly. “We’ll go along with your plan.”

“Yes!”

“But!”

“But?”

“If you’re wrong, and it is Lester, then you owe me.”

“Owe you what?”

Mary smiled to herself.

“I’ll let you know when I win.”

“That’s not how bets work!”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“Take it or leave it.”

“Ngh…fine!”

Ellis held out his hand and Mary took it in her own, shaking it firmly.

Then the two friends proceeded to hatch their plan in secret. Accompanied by the buzzing of insects, the two exchanged ideas one after another, talking long into the night until they were fully prepared. Then, they climbed back through the open window and went off to bed.