“That’s right,” Xiao Li exclaimed. “After Mathilde was injured by the trap, Nour would have seen the leprosy lesions!”

All eyes in the room turned to Nour, who did not move. They said nothing, not to affirm or refute. They knew they were cornered. In all honesty, Devorah couldn’t muster up any sympathy for them. As someone who had been murdered herself, the well of sympathy was all dried up.

Being murdered was pretty traumatizing, actually! But Devorah was doing fine. She was doing so fine, everything was great, actually.

“Not only did Nour notice and recognize those lesions, they were very displeased at that recognition,” Faith said.

“And how would you know that?” Nour asked, finally speaking up.

“Sweet Nour, I was there, remember?” He responded.

Jacob blinked, and his eyes widened. “That’s right! I remember, you were resting up after the wall-throwing incidents, right? You were in the infirmary when we brought in Mathilde. But I thought you were asleep?”

“I was, but I was not so terribly injured that I wouldn’t wake up from all the commotion!” Faith said. “Why, all that yelling… It would be enough to raise the dead! Present topic of conversation excluded, of course.”

“Master Faith,” Nour began, “did I not request that you tell me when you had awakened? And to eavesdrop on another person’s private medical information? For shame! And you call yourself a Christian- have you no decency?”

There was a pause, and Nour inclined their giant beak. “Though, in eavesdropping, you acknowledge that you were aware that Mathilde was indeed a leper. You were in the infirmary, where Mathilde, Kefilwe and I stored many concoctions and elixirs. Furthermore, we are familiar with your line of work, dedicating your life, as it was, to the persecution of women.” Devorah could hear the sneer in Nour’s measured tone. “Condemning those who live on the outskirts of society to further ostracization, torture, and death.”

For just one moment, Faith’s easy countenance and sly face hardened into something unreadable. Blank. And then he relaxed again, just as limber in his chair as before.

“Oh, good show, Nour!” Slowly, he clapped. “Why, if I didn’t know the truth, you may have even convinced me! But we both know that I didn’t murder dear, sweet Mathilde.” Faith spread out his hands. “After all, what do I care if we all become lepers? We’re already in hell, why not become hideous too? But you? Oh, you. Great physician, genius alchemist, you.”

Faith turned to the crowd around the table. For all that he seemed to be unreliable, Devorah could admit he was a great orator. Charismatic, charming. Even Anna was considering him with her eyes like a knife. But the rest, all of them were enraptured. Georgie was even leaning forward, literally hanging off his every word.

“You, Nour,” Faith continued, “care about public health. And more than that, you and your Kefilwe had been sharing a bed with this plague-ridden nun! Who wouldn’t be mad to learn of this betrayal? No one would be surprised if you decided to exact revenge, if only for the redemption of your souls. Why, in killing Mathilde, you’d even be saving her. Her soul must be filthy, from all those lies.”

There was no response from Nour, but Devorah was surprised as Kefilwe took to their defense. “There’s nothing filthy about Mathilde or her soul, even if she was sick! Even if she was hiding it. And even though she had lesions and cuts and blood, Mathilde was still beautiful.” Kefilwe sniffled. “And even if she wasn’t beautiful! Even if she was born ugly, or you saw her body as ugly, Mathilde still deserved happiness! She deserved to live. And Nour.” For the first time in a while, she turned to her plague doctor friend. “I know you’re just scared. I know you didn’t kill Mathilde. So, Nour, please tell us what you know. So that we can help Mathilde, and so that we can stay together.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Kefilwe’s voice stuttered on the last line. Strangely, unexpectedly, Devorah felt it deep in her chest, like a vice cracking through the ice and frost to settle in and clamp around her missing heart. The walls had been closing in around Nour for quite some time, and Devorah was sure Kefilwe had to know that. Yet, even after Nour accused her of murder, Kefilwe still defended them. She still wanted them to find a way forward.

Devorah chanced a look at Anna. Her face gave away nothing. Devorah wondered, did she pity Kefilwe too? Did she mourn the death of another relationship? Once again, the vice squeezed, reminding Devorah of her new status as an outsider to all that went through Anna’s head.

Back in their game, Devorah never had to grapple with learning one of her friends had been a murderer. But Anna had. Anna had been friendly with Amina. Everything had happened so fast, then, there hadn’t even been an investigation. So Devorah wondered- would Anna have fought to protect her? Would she have believed in Amina until the end?

No, not Anna. Not with those cool eyes. Devorah didn’t think Anna would see it as a betrayal, committing a murder. She would see it more as a clash of wills and wit. And Anna would always come out on top of those.

In fact, it struck Devorah that Anna had been fairly quiet in this investigation, allowing others to take the lead. It seemed out of character for her. Anna had always led the investigations in their game. Admittedly, it had put a target on her back. Not just as a possible murder victim, but in conversation as well. Maybe she was trying to do things differently? Seem more amicable and open?

It was working somewhat, based on Xiao Li and the catgirl. The catgirl, who was the only person that had spoken less than Anna had during the investigation. But it was that group that had led the investigation in the right direction, finding the cordial and mapping out the secret entrance. Plus, Anna had encouraged the second look at the corpse.

Devorah found herself snickering. Even as Anna tried to take a step back, it seemed that she couldn’t help herself.

Besides, Lupe and her friend Tiberius were doing a good enough job with being the unspoken investigation leaders. And more than that, they definitely took on a leadership role outside of the investigation. Collecting possible weapons, involving themselves in all instances of injury… There was no way it would end well for either of them, but if Anna was content letting them take her spotlight, then Devorah would be okay with it too.

“It’s much too late for finding a way forward together,” Tiberius said while looking Nour right in their face. Just as Devorah thought, Lupe and Tiberius were even signaling the end of the investigation. “I believe we know who the murderer is.”

“I agree,” Budi said.

“Allow me to put it together,” Sushruta said. “In the afternoon, Kefilwe and Mathilde were examining a trap and possible secret passage. Jacob, leaving a conversation, bumped into Mathilde, knocking her into the trap and triggering it. A spike went through her shoulder, and a group brought her to the infirmary, where Nour was along with Faith, who was sleeping as a result of his head injury received during… Wall incidents.” Brad gave a thumbs up. “To treat the injury, Nour had Mathilde disrobe, which revealed the leprosy lesions. They had a small argument about it, which Faith overheard and did nothing about.” Faith shrugged.

Jacob raised a finger. “Then, we had dinner with Kefilwe, Mathilde and Nour. For some reason, Mathilde seemed to be doing okay. Maybe she already had the first dose of cordial?”

Kefilwe shifted in her seat. “Is it possible? Nour? You didn’t give Mathilde anything, right?”

Nour did not answer.

“Later that night,” Sushruta continued, “Nour somehow lured Mathilde down the secret passage and into the kitchen. Due to the pain numbing elements of the cordial, as well as the nerve damage from the leprosy, Mathilde was able to enter the passage on her own. They went into the kitchen, where Mathilde either succumbed to the overdose or Nour gave Mathilde more cordial to drink, resulting in overdose.”

“It all makes sense,” Lupe sighed.

“I do have one question, though,” Xoco said. “Kefilwe shared a room with Nour and Mathilde, yes? So how did she miss them leaving in the middle of the night?”

“Exactly! Nour couldn’t have done it without waking me!” Kefilwe said with a smile. But it was wobbly and lopsided, clearly fake. “But… I also missed Mathilde leaving at some point. I… I don’t know how I missed that?”

“Then maybe Kefilwe was an accomplice?” Jacob suggested.

Kefilwe’s eyes widened, but Anna surprised Devorah by speaking up. “I doubt it. There is no reward for an accomplice. Unless Kefilwe had something to gain, that we don’t know about?”