“That’s hardly reassuring!” Prin told the unruffled boy sitting in front of him.

“It’s okay, rich people never get in any trouble.” Valor said dismissively.

“Is that how you think this works?” Prin asked, his voice taking on a noticeably squeaky quality.

“Well . . . he’s not wrong.” Elwin said, still peeking out the window at the two men standing below. “The problem is, we’re not rich.”

Prin laughed, a note of hysteria tinging it.

The strangers at the door were wearing suits and dapper hats, but Elwin, noticed that they weren’t rich either. The clothes, brown and utilitarian, slightly ill-fitting over their well defined muscles. Maybe on purpose? Their faces too, were grim and no nonsense. Hired investigators. Or, perhaps some senior bodyguards of Freya’s or one of her friends. Either way, same thing in this instance. They didn’t look as rough or mean as the ones on Mama Kris’s payroll, but still, could she have hired them? They didn’t look like men you particularly wanted to cross.

“Keep your cool, Prin.” Valor said. “They’re no doubt going around to talk to all the people who were at the party. That’s what I would do. It’s nothing personal.”

“Hmm.” Elwin said. A thinking sound coming out of his mouth involuntarily.

“Still, I don’t think Prin should be interviewed alone. One of us should be there.” Valor said. He inclined his head toward Elwin, waiting for his agreement.

“I can handle myself.” Prin said. “Don’t worry about that. I should be more thinking about what you might say.”

“Humph.” Valor grumped.

“No, strangely enough, I’m not.” Elwin said. “I think both of you will do just fine. Because you know what’s at stake.” Elwin hoped he could say the same for himself. He would just say as little as possible and leave it at that.

Finally, it appeared someone was answering the door. Elwin had made some strides toward cleaning up in there but it was just scratching the surface. It was still a cluttered mess where an avalanche threatened to spill a pile of stuff onto you at any moment.

Ah, it looked like they had been directed around to the other door. The front door closed as they disappeared around the corner.

“They’re going to the kitchen.” Elwin said. “Should I go? I can try to listen to what they say before going in. Better me than you.” He added, knowing what Prin would say.

“Do it.” Valor said, not waiting for Prin to reply.

Elwin cast a look towards Prin that he meant to be ‘don’t worry, I’ve got this’, but had to admit it was probably more ‘Ah! Scary people in authority and me with no idea what I’m doing.”

Prin gave him a tight-lipped smile as he passed anyway. Appreciating that the attempt was made.

Elwin left the library and hurried, without wanting to act strange by running, to the kitchen to linger like a creep just outside of the door.

As he approached, the captain was going into the kitchen and Elwin felt oddly comforted, like they were in good hands.

Elwin casually approached the door, figuring he would act like he was just coming in for a drink of water or something if someone came upon him standing there.

He had to get pretty close to the door though, to see through the slender crack between the door and its frame, and to hear what was being said.

Elwin stood completely still, paranoid that they would sense movement on the other side of the door.

The two men, in their borrowed suits had somehow been convinced to squeeze themselves side by side into the bench seating under the window. They looked like they were trying hard not to touch elbows or legs and it was a losing battle. It would have been comical under other circumstances. And even under these, Elwin had to suppress a nervous giggle.

Captain Thompson towered over them, separated only by the small kitchen table, his silvering red beard larger than life. Not enough of a distance to offer them any protection, and they seemed to know it too.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Mrs. Frances and her assistant were standing on the other side of the room by the sink and stove. The assistant looked like she wanted to sink into the woodwork and disappear forever, but Mrs. Frances looked as though she wanted to appear to be doing that, at the same time hanging on every word that was spoken and filing it away for later. Honestly, relatable.

The larger, and darker haired and eyed of the two men, made the first move toward conversation. As though they had it out ahead of time and he drew the short straw.

"So, Mr. Thompson, is it?" He asked, plowing on without waiting for an answer. "We heard you were with some members of your family and perhaps some . . . friends, at the big shindig last night? I wasn't there myself, couldn't swing an invite." He forced a laugh in a vain attempt at lightening the mood. "But I heard it was pretty spectacular."

The captain crossed his arms over his chest and continued looking down at them. He didn't seem to have any intention of sitting down. "Is there a question in there somewheres? Because when strangers show up at my door, I'd like to know the reason why."

“Oh right, umm sure." the man said.

His companion, who had a little bit of a baby face, and up close was not so intimidating, took a little notebook out of his pocket and consulted it. "It says here that you had a lot of people with you as guests. More than what would be included on the invite."

Captain Thompson glared slightly. "Are you sayin' we weren't welcome?"

"Oh no, no, nothing like that!" The bigger man said. He seemed to be more nervous, where the other one was calm and collected. "It was just remarked upon, is all."

"Your son, or sons, and daughter and a niece, accompanied by a disabled boy that is perhaps your ward, as well as someone who works at the local brothel." the one with the notebook said. "Does that sound about right?"

"The disabled boy is my son." Captain Thompson said, his voice reaching ratcheting up a few decibels. "Do you have a point? Because you had best be arriving at it before you end up on my lawn by way of a closed window."

"I just wanted to ascertain that you know all of the people who were with you very well." He said, unruffled. Although his larger companion looked like he needed an urgent bathroom break.

Mrs. Frances chose this moment to ease the tension and come over with cups in her hand. "Tea, then?" She asked.

"Yes please." The calm man said. The other shook his head rather sharply. He may be afraid to eat or drink anything they offered at this point.

Mrs. Frances gave him a cup of tea, as well as his companion, and the captain. "If there's anything else, I'll be right over here if you need me."

"Thank you." The man said. "You see, there was an incident at the party. In one of the back rooms."

Captain Thompson leaned back on his heels. "Well I can assure you it were none of my own."

"The dates?" The man prompted. "How well . . ?"

"I know Aster Rose better than anyone." The captain said with an air of never being more sure of anything in his life. "The others were my son, my daughter, my niece, and two young employees. Barely grown they are and wouldn't hurt a fly, otherwise I would never allow them as companions to my children."

The smaller man nodded, making an indication in his notebook. "And you said the blind young man is your son. And I wouldn't expect the young ladies had anything to do with it, would you?" He turned to the man he had come with.

He shook his head again, a grim look on his face. "This nasty piece of business, no. It's not how a girl would do the thing."

"I agree." The other said.

"What is this about anyway? What kind of incident? Was a young woman assaulted because trust me these boys, I don't think would even be interested in the fairer sex, if you know what I mean." the captain said. He seemed to be relaxing some, as though no longer concerned about these men, but more just genuinely curious what it was all about.

"No, or not how you mean anyway." The larger man said. He gave his companion a look that said, should I, should I?

The man with the notebook gave a slight nod.

"Someone was killed." The larger man said.

"We aren't at liberty to give out a lot of details." The other one added. "But, it wasn't any accident."

Elwin felt a presence beside him, a split second before someone brushed against his arm. The breath he had been holding went out of him in a woosh, and it was only lucky he didn't scream.

Dru was at his elbow. She leaned in close, her lips touching his ear. "What'd I miss?" She whispered.

Elwin could fill his face grow hot and he covered the offended ear, shooting her a glare. If he didn't already know better, he would be a hundred percent convinced that she did it.

"Bo-oy howdy was it not an accident." The bigger man said in a conspiratorial way.

"What's this got to do with me?" The captain asked, hardening up again now that he knew the nature of the allegations. Or at least somewhat.

"We're going around and talking to the people who were at the party. A big task." The notebook carrying man said.

"Monumental." His companion added.

"Enormous." The smaller man said.

"Huge." The larger man added again. "Not to be believed."

The man with the notebook, who, as far as Elwin could now see, seemed to be the one in charge, although he was subtle about it, smiled. And his baby face broke out in charming dimples. "If we can ever get through with all the guests from the island, we may have to even track down the ones who are from off island. But I don't think it will come to that. Do you?"

"Nah." the bigger man shook his head. "At least, I sure hope not."

"You all are next on the list." The man with the notebook said to Captain Thompson. "You see, we have to start somewhere, is all. And of particular interest, is anyone who people don't really know. Do you get me? We'd like to talk to everyone in your household if possible. But, those two 'employees' who were at the party as your guests, well, talking to them is not exactly optional." He looked to the captain to see if he was being understood, his dimpled smile still present but frozen over, stiff. "If you catch my meaning."