“Are you threatening me? In my own house?” Captain Thompson suddenly burst into laughter. Deep belly laughs that shook his whole frame. “I don’t know who in hell you boys are, or who sent ya, but you have some balls! Some balls indeed!” He looked over his shoulder, slightly chagrined, but not enough to stop laughing. “Sorry, ladies.”

Mrs. Frances just shook her head, but the girl’s cheeks were bright pink at the scandal of it.

Elwin was relieved, for a split second he had thought that the captain was talking to him and Dru. But no, it seemed no one yet knew they were there on the other side of the kitchen door.

Although . . . he had to consider if he should run off and warn Prin about what was coming. Dru pinched his arm and made a funny face at him when he looked, sticking out her tongue and crossing her eyes.

Was that supposed to break the tension? Make fun of him? Or what? She was a weird girl, and Elwin couldn’t figure her out to save his life.

Of course, she had no way of knowing the personal stake he had in this conversation they were currently overhearing.

The smaller man laughed along, as though in on the joke, his dimples flashing. “No of course not. I would never do that.”

“No threat, just a statement of facts.” The larger man, showing a streak of courage said. He visibly tensed up, as though preparing to do battle. If it came to that.

“Mmm hmm.” Captain Thompson smirked. “How about I give you twenty minutes with the kids and then you go away and never return?”

“We can’t make any guarantees.” The dimpled man said.

“I also can’t guarantee I won’t kick your ass, so I guess we’re even.” The captain said.

*

Mrs. Frances and her assistant had been temporarily expelled from the kitchen, to make room for a couple of extra chairs and the large gathering of family, suspicious investigators of unknown origin, and Prin and Elwin. Even still it was a very tight fit, and Elwin was willing to bet that Mrs. Frances had now taken his spying spot on the other side of the door.

Prin and Elwin were in the chairs directly across the table from the strange men, and Dru, in her ratty trousers with suspenders and an old shirt that used to be white looked the picture of relaxation, her borrowed chair in front of the stove pulled up kissing close to Wrena’s chair. Wrena had come into the room looking put upon in her frilly robe and slippers. However, when she saw the men she switched to curiosity and seemed to go on her best behavior, patting her hair to test how out of place her curls were, and smiling back at the one with the nice smile.

Captain Thompson remained standing, all the better to monitor the situation. Although he did look like he was just about over it, and the whole situation in general.

Valor had come in last, and stood beside his father, with his walking stick in hand. His eyes, glasses free and lids lowered languidly, his expression one of mild contempt, like full contempt was too much trouble to be bothered with. So in other words, about the same as usual minus the twin black cats.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Elwin didn’t know how he had managed to bribe them to stay behind.

Prin had already slipped his mask into place. Something that Elwin had seen before but never quite gotten used to. How had his prince become so good at presenting a false front? When Elwin knew inside he was teeming with anxiety. He wouldn’t let these men see it, that was just his way now.

Captain Thompson took a deep breath before beginning introductions, he gave the name and relationship to himself of everyone in the room before getting to the two men.

“They say their names are Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Moor, but who knows really?” The captain said crossing his arms over his chest.

Elwin was sure those introductions had counted towards their twenty minutes.

“Call me Crow.” The smaller man, Mr. Moor said. “It’s the name I go by.”

Dru snorted. “Crow More? That’s great, I have to add that to my list of possible future alias.”

Wrena shot her cousin an annoyed look.

“Thank you.” Crow said. Seeming to sense that his time was melting away, he opted to get right to the point. “There was a foul murder at the party that you all attended yesterday.” He said.

“Fowl?” Dru laughed again, putting her hands over her mouth in fake chagrin. “You’ve just gotta sprinkle all the bird jokes in there that you can, huh, Crow?”

Gods bless her for wasting the man’s time with bull shit, Elwin thought.

Wrena and Prin were the only ones who had the decency, or acting chops to look troubled.

Wrena narrowed her eyes and chewed on her bottom lip. “Is this a joke? Or serious? What happened? It must have been after we left.”

“We’re not really supposed to s—” Mr. Hobbs began, before being interrupted by his partner.

“Your hostess was torn to bloody pieces. As though set upon by a tiger.” Crow said. “If you know what that is.”

Mr. Hobbs gave Crow an impotent shocked look, as though to say I can’t believe you said that and also I am tattling as soon as we get home.

Wrena gasped. “Excuse me!?”

“It’s something like a great big dog.” Mr. Hobbs said. “With enormous teeth and claws.”

“And stripes.” The worldly Dru added to be helpful. “Very stylish, you would like them.”

“Why are you telling us something so awful?” Prin asked. His wide blue eyes almost bordered on tearful.

Elwin hoped he didn’t pour it on too thick, although with those pretty eyes tears had served him well in the past. He took Prin’s hand, to make a better show of buying into it, and squeezed it reassuringly.

“Someone knows something.” Crow took a silver cigarette case from his pocket. “Do you mind if I smoke?”

“Yes.” The captain said. “Don’t get too comfortable.” He gave him a warning look.

“Fair enough.” He put the cigarettes back in his pocket.

“Papa, I could have used one myself.” Wrena said.

Dru fanned her face with a potholder. “You’ll be alright. Maybe she needs some air.”

“It only stands to reason she had enemies.” Valor said, seemingly not content to go unnoticed like a wallflower. “Anyone who tells people their future would be bound to rub someone the wrong way. Not to mention she took plenty of their money.”

“That sounds like a practiced response.” Crow pointed out. “As though you knew someone would be asking you about this and had given it some thought, I mean.”

“What a strange thing to say.” The captain said. “Are you trying to antagonize my son?” He no doubt wondered if Valor’s reputation for temper tantrums had proceeded him.

“He’s just quick on his feet.” Dru said. “In fact, Valor could probably help you with your investigation. He would be bound to do better then you two at figuring things out.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” Crow said smoothly.

Valor didn’t dignify their comments with a response.

“No, it isn’t really him we’re interested in.” Mr. Hobbs said. “Per se.”

Crow stared straight ahead of him, locking eyes with Prin who conveniently, was directly across. “We heard someone was meeting with Freya right around the last time anyone saw her. Someone who didn’t have an appointment.”

“Alive, that is. The last time anyone saw her alive.” Hobbs said.

“Well, that goes without saying.” Crow said.

“Yet, I said it anyway.” Mr. Hobbs said.

“That you did.” Crow said. “Did anyone here meet with the dead woman?”

“Before she was dead.” Hobbs said.

“Stop being redundant.” Crow told him. “It was only cute the first time.”