As we trod carefully through the holding station we walked passed stained gray concrete walls that seemed they would crumble with the slightest touch. The stench of mildew hung heavy in the air.. Down the stuffy narrow hall were heavy rusted metal doors on each side leading to the holding cells. Overhead, too few long fluorescent lights flickered. Because of the narrow corridor, it was impossible to walk hand and hand so I stood behind Pigeon. When we reached one of the lights, its harsh glow lit up Pigeon’s face, revealing his nose scrunched in disguise much as my own.
“This is not a place I’d like to spend my weekends!” He laughed out.
“I’m sure Yoshida shares the same sentiment,” I replied. “Let’s get her out of here as soon as possible.”
“Of course! Her cell is second to last, on the left.”
As we approached the cell, Pigeon pulled a set of keys out of his back pocket. After searching around for the right key he jangled it in the lock and slowly pushed open the door with a prolonged “creek.”
The scene was dreary and quite depressing. A metal table screwed to the floor and an old wooden chair sat in the room, seemingly for ages, seasoned by the prisoners who resided there before. Sat on the chair, was a young woman with long black hair and dark eyes, clad what I recognized as a battered purple kimono covered in bright pink sakura flowers and dark maroon stains which I prayed wasn’t what I thought it was. Her pale arms cuffed to the back of the chair deep in contemplation. I cleared my throat to receive her attention and with a gasp, she turned to us.
“Oh, Hajimemashite Ma’am, sir! Did you require something?” She asked with an inquisitive expression.
“Ha! I was hoping we could help you, Miss Yoshida!” Pigeon responded as he approached the table.
“Moushiwake Gozaimasen!” She squealed, bowing her head. “Excuse my manners! Mr Hans told me someone would be here to speak with me. That must you two, yes?”
“Indeed it is,” I confirmed. “We are here about the Lotusburg case. Can you tell us what happened? What do you know?”
“kanashi desu yo! Such an unfortunate situation!” She moaned with a sorrowful tone. “The poor lady!”
Pigeon leaned over the table and began his questioning. “So, first things first, Miss Yoshida. What business do you have in England?”
“Of course of course.” She squeaked. “I will tell you everything!’
“For my entire life, I always wanted to be an engineer. As a kid, I built paper and straw houses. Unfortunately, it is quite hard to make a living as such in my hometown. For both being a woman and being such an isolated town, technology is not so advanced! So instead, I dedicated my life to my studies to achieve my dreams. One day my professor with the most amazing news. He said, ‘Violet, you three other of your peers were selected to study abroad, do you accept this opportunity?’ Subarashii shirase da! I couldn’t accept it faster! I couldn’t wait! A week later, I and a few colleagues of mine got on a ship and spent many weeks out at sea heading to England. For the entire time, I thought about how my life would be completely changed. After years of hard work, my dream was finally in reach! Once we reached England, I was stationed at Ironclad Innovations. For the first few weeks, I was just to be an assistant. Watching the process and doing errands.”
I took this all in. “And one of the errands was delivering the sack to Lady Lotusburg,” I asked
“Yes. I was told it was for some kind of kind of sponsorship of some kind. I was to deliver it to the manor. But when I arrived, the door was wide open and I didn’t see anyone, so I walked up the staircase. There was only one other door that was opened. When I went inside-”
She hesitated at this and seemed visibly distressed. “She-she”
Pigeon yawned. “Save us the theatrics, we know the rest.”
“O-oh course. Minutes after I heard a barrage of footsteps coming up the stairs. Before I could turn around, I was tackled to the floor and handcuffed!” She cried.
I nodded in understanding. “I was also told you were holding the murder weapon.”
She put her head down in shame. “Yes, I did. It was quite a foolish act. But I was in shock. In front of the Lady was a golden statue of a butterfly. When she noticed me she pointed to it and whispered ‘statue’ after that. The poor Lady met her demise!” She sobbed.
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it was awful! Such a gruesome sight. At that moment both of our lives were over! I could-”
“Shut up for a second.” Pigeon snapped. “She was still alive?”
Violet nodded. “Only for a moment. With the rest of her strength, she managed to point at the statue and mutter ‘statue.’”
“Cecil didn’t tell us.”
“No, he did not!” The detective huffed. “When we get back he’s going to have it!”
“Yeah, whatever. Miss Yoshida, what ever happened to the statue?”
She rolled her eyes up as was thinking about something deeply.
“I can’t quite remember. When I was tackled everything sort of went black. Once I got to the station they questioned me about it but I never saw it again after I picked it up.”
“Then I’m sure it is in the evidence room. Perhaps we should check there next?”
Pigeon shook his head. “No can do. We need special permission for that. The only people authorized. are Detective Adam and Cecil. Along with Chief Ironheel of course. But Ironheel is unavailable and Adam and Cecil are still investigating the crime scene.”
“So it seems we are in a stalemate.” I sighed.
“Not quite!” Pigeon pulled a card out of his breast pocket. I looked over his shoulder and read it:
IRONCLAD INNOVATIONS
“We can go speak to the company who sent Violet there in the first place. I’m sure something will show up.”
“I guess.” I turned back to Violet. “Is there anything else you can tell us?”
She furrowed her eyebrows. “I’m afraid not, everything happened in a second.” She bowed her head once again. “I am dreadfully sorry I cannot offer any more help. I hope you find the true perpetrator.”
I gave her a smile. “Of course, Miss Yoshida. And please don’t worry too much. We will find the real killer and have you released!”
With that me and Pigeon headed out of the building and to our next destination: Ironclad Innovations.
After pacing the room for perhaps the thousandth time in agitation he wheeled around towards Cecil, exasperation written across his face.
“What exactly are we looking for, Hans? We’ve been here all day.”
Cecil closed the drawer to the dresser and met Adam’s gaze over his glasses. “Evidence, of course.”
Adam eyed Cecil suspiciously. “Are you sure? What else is there to find that the bobbies and 5 hours of investigating overlooked?”
Cecil stood up off his knees and began circling Adam lazily. “Are you doubting me, my dear Adam?” He stopped behind Adam placing a calloused hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly.
“You agreed to this, remember?”
Adam turned his head to face him once again. He leaned towards them with their nose brushing slightly “Then tell me the full truth. You have been investigating her for a while, haven’t you? You know I don’t like being lied to” He hummed
After a staredown, Cecil turned away, red in the face. Moments later he turned back toward Adam, grinning
“You little detective! How’d you know?”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The chestnut-haired man chucked. “Well, for starters you never care this much about a case. Is there more to the extortioning?”
“Well, I guess there’s no point in concealing the truth any longer is there?” He shook his head. “I never liked lying anyway. Fine, I’ll tell you.”
“It started five months ago actually. One of my associates let me know about some questionable activities done by Lady Lotusburg. After looking into it myself I found it to be quite true. She was extorting business to get money, but for what? She’s rich, isn’t she? What would a woman with such high status need so much money for that is so urgent that she needs to resort to extortion?”
“Some people are just greedy.” Adam shrugged. “You would know all about it.”
Cecil ignored him and continued on his rant. Putting his hand to his chin and started pacing the room.
“After weeks and weeks of digging, I found something very interesting.”
Adam turned to him.
“Her crimes didn’t start at extorting. A two years before, she actually gave money to fund the Lion’s Den.”
“What?”
“Of course, this intrigued me too. So I looked into it. Remember the Andrews case?”
A look of confusion came over Adam’s face.
“Yes, we worked on that together. You, me and Monica.”
“Indeed,” Cecil confirmed.
Adam thought to himself for a moment before continuing. “If I remember correctly a series of gruesome murders targeting women and minorities started terrorizing the west of London. The killer would poison his subjects with an untraceable poison.”
“Quite right. The suspect was Mickey Andrews.”
“Yes. I remember now. After months we were able to narrow down to one suspect. Andrews. Everything seemed to piece together. But the night before the trial, Monica fell ill and was hospitalized. When examined, her symptoms were very similar to the ones of mysterious murders.”
“Indeed. She barely escaped with her life. And she never fully recovered.”
“Because of the practically identical symptoms, the Yard came to the conclusion they detained the wrong man., releasing Andrews.”
“Oh, yes.” Cecil reminisced. “How the public protested.”
“None more than Monica,” Adam added. “She was certain Mickey Andrews had accomplices. And that they poisoned her only to throw off Scotland Yard, forcing them to release Andrews.”
“Quite,” Cecil said gravely. “After we were released the murders continued on for another three months. We never got to learn the truth.”
“Yes, but if I recall correctly…”
Cecil finished for him. “Mickey Andrews was murdered around the time the crimes stopped. Presumably by the Lion’s Den.”
“A troublesome ordeal it was,” Adam whispered, shaking his head, then turning towards Cecil. “But how is this related to Agatha Lotusburg?”
“Ha, do you not remember? One of the victims of this case was Alice Lotusburg. Agatha’s sister. After a ball, Alice fell violently ill. That night she died. After the coroner examined her body she found the same poison as all the other victims. It was said we was poisoned by Andrews.”
“So then it all makes sense! She supported the Lion’s Den so would kill Mickey Andrews. But then, what would cause such a fall out?” Adam asked. “Why would she go commit crimes herself, then get killed by the same people she supported?”
“And that is exactly what I tried to figure out, my dear Adam!” Cecil exclaimed. “It took months, but I finally know.”
“Then don’t keep me waiting.” Adam scoffed.
Cecil stopped pacing the room and walked over to Adam. Quietly he placed a notecard in his hand. “If you show that to anyone I’d have to kill you.” Cecil half-joked.
Adam rolled his eyes and then read the card:
Agatha Lotusburg, your involvement in the heinous crime is not hidden from us. You lent support to the Lion’s Den in the murder of Mickey Jack Andrews. Your misdeeds have not gone unnoticed. However, your cooperation can alter your fate.
A rendezvous is set for you at your manor on Thursday, December 8th, 1881, precisely at 4:30 PM. One of our associates will be there to meet you. Ensure you have £100 prepared. It is in your best interest to comply. - White Cavalry
“Blackmailing? White Cavalry?”
“I haven’t heard of them either,” Cecil replied. “But from what I’ve seen they are an underground organization much like the Lion’s Den, with opposite motives. Here’s the next note.” Cecil handed him another notecard:
Agatha Lotusburg, To safeguard the secrecy of your crimes, we compel you to extort Diamond Bank. Our demand is clear: return £150 to our associate. Failure to meet this requirement will seal your fate. -White Cavalry
After Adam finished reading it Cecil placed another in his hand:
Agatha Lotusburg, Your cooperation in our previous request is acknowledged and appreciated. This time, we urge you to extort Shamond’s Pawn Shop. To maintain the veil over your crimes, ensure the return of no less than £200 to our associate. - White Cavalry
“These-these are all blackmail letters! How did you get these?” Adam demanded.
“Ah, I have my ways. And there are a lot more than those mind you. However, there are a certain few I have yet to get my hands on.”
“Such as what?”
Cecil put his hands behind his back. “I believe these White Cavalry individuals are the ones who poisoned her at the end.”
“But why?” Adam questioned. “She was helping them.”
“Well read this.” Cecil handed him one final note:
White Cavalry puppet AL has been dispatched. Seems they were already planning on doing the same. When she saw me she was already in the fits. Saying “She quits” and telling me to “Kill her if I want” and “One day the Cavalry will be brought down. This situation is getting messy. - Fox
“I intercepted this communication between the Lion’s Den,” Cecil explained.
“So she knew someone planned on killing her that night. But believed it was the Cavalry.”
“Maybe so.” Cecil sighed. “But violent acts can’t be excused by good intentions. Otherwise, we’d leave the Lion’s Den alone, wouldn’t we?”
“I suppose. But either way, the evidence clearly isn’t here. How about we rendezvous with the others.”
“Maybe so.” Cecil chuckled and turned to Adam. “But I’ve been such a big help to you. Don’t you feel like you owe me?”
“Not really.”
Cecil huffed. “Well, I want to know your secrets.”
Adam crossed his arms and tapped his index finger on his forearm. “And what makes you think I have any secrets?’
“Of course you do!” He laughed. “What’s the real reason you hired that girl? You never like working with others like me and Monica. But you hire a street rat?”
“That ‘street rat’ happens to be more competent than you and even Mayla.
“More competent?” He questioned. “Or naive enough to go along with your future plans.”
Adam chuckled lightly. “Naive? You must not know her very well.”
“Well,” He shrugged. “Maybe I’m wrong. But the real reason certainly isn’t you were just sitting at the edge of your seat waiting to hire a street doctor as an assistant.”
“Who knows, maybe I wanted a change of pace.” He mocked.
“But I’ve been offering you a ‘change of pace’ forever!” Hans frowned.
“Not that kind of change in pace.”
“You’ll change your mind eventually.” He mused placing his hand on Adam
“How about we rendezvous with the others?” Adam repeated.
“If you want to change the subject, fine. But tonight I request we meet with Monica. As per Ironheel’s order.
“You must be out of your mind!” Adam scoffed. “She does not want to see you.”
Cecil laughed to himself as he exited the room, waving to Adam to follow.
“I don’t think she’ll have any control over that.”
“Are you sure it’s this way?” I gasped, struggling to keep up the pace.
We walked around London for an hour and a half searching for Ironclad Innovations as Pigeon was too prideful to admit he was lost and ask for directions.
“Quite!” He coughed out, hands on his knees. “That was all a test. It- ha ha should be right over here.” He pointed down the block at an ancient wine-red warehouse with dusty windows and heavy iron doors where workers hurried in and out.
“Bleak,” I commented. “I hope you’re wrong.”
With his last remaining strength, Pigeon ran to the warehouse and I followed in pursuit, struggling.
As we got closer, I noticed the blue metal letters screwed into the side spelling out the name of the company, atleast it did. The sign was missing several letters.
“Quite and old building,” I observed.
“Indeed!” Pigeon agreed. “They cannot keep their own building in a good shape how will they expect to engineer machines for the general public?”
“Well, as Cecil told us, it’s one of the most famous engineering companies in the world. Perhaps we should wait to judge when we are inside?”
As we approached I came to the realization that the men walking in the building, were not workers at all, but bobbies and detectives. They hurried in and out of the building with the most urgency, before I could get a closer look a young bobby stopped us in our tracks.
“Halt!” He demanded, putting out a calloused hand. “Police matter only.”
Pigeon huffed at this. “Ha! Watch your manners boy! I am an adept detective who makes twice your yearly salary in a week!” He wagged a finger in the poor bobby’s reddened face. “Now, pray tell, what is going on? Me and my assistant here were going to perform an investigation before we were very rudely stopped!”
“Assistant?” I spat angrily.
“O-oh of course sir!” The blue-hatted bobby stuttered out. “It was my orders to stop any passers-by!”
“But what happened?” I asked.
“The CEO of Ironclad Innovations was murdered.”