Chapter 5: Maria

Maria had awakened that morning to silence; no demon hovered over her bed, causing a ruckus, and no demon was there to guide her throughout her morning routine. She smiled; it was oddly peaceful. The blind woman needed no guidance in her own domain; she had her apartment memorized. It was small enough that it didn't take much to know where everything was.

In a bit of time, Maria readied herself for the day while TV played in the background—white noise she considered it. Something familiar and comforting for when she needed to free her mind from the rigors of her work.

"If anyone has any information on where the exile, Melissa Tiwary, is, please report it to our phone number at-"

Maria was quick to change the channel; she had heard that message play too many times for her to care at this point. One woman escapes arrest, and it's all anyone cares about, as if the murder itself had already been solved and it was time to move on. She frowned at the thought. "Justice will come, but they must be patient." Maria said it out loud to no one in particular.

She wondered how Melissa had gotten so much attention to begin with. She had heard that there was a storm brewing in Eden. Commoners like herself are upset at those in power, and even the nobility is upset that they lived under a king in Erdene for the first time ever. Politics, something she never studied or had much interest in.

A few minutes passed, and soon enough the detective left her apartment, hailed a ride to the courthouse, and came to see Judge Martin, who waited for her at the bottom of the courthouse's stairs. She joined him side by side with a grin on her face, and the judge grinned back at her too.

"Good morning, detective. I hope you had a safe journey here." Said Martin.

"Same to you, judge." Said Maria.

The weather was much nicer today. The sun peaked out from bulbous gray clouds, and by now the snow from two days past had melted, leaving only wet grass and wet pavement as proof there was ever snow at all.

Maria had dressed for the weather; she had donned a loosely fitting black dress and short black heels for her journey; Judge Martin had ditched his robe for a short-sleeve button-up shirt and a pair of slacks.

The two wardens of the law stood at the foot of the courthouse, suitcases in hand, and they both awaited the arrival of Earl Lincoln.

"It is eight fifty-five." Martin said, taking a look at his watch and smirking to himself.

"Do you think the Earl is going to be late?" Asked Maria.

"No, no. The Earl is a predictable man; I have played his game before."

"His game?" Maria had a look of sheer puzzlement on her eyeless face. She knew that the judge was a playful soul, one who loved to speak his mind and tell his tales, and she had a feeling he was going to tell one right now.

"His game, yes, he likes to be very punctual. Not a minute early so he can see the doubt in your eyes right as he impresses you with his wealth and his ways." Judge Martin's face was beaming with joy as he spoke. He was a man with many wrinkles, but his smile lines were the most defined of all of them.

"I'm guessing this isn't your first time traveling with him then." Maria said, beginning to smile herself.

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"It is not; did I ever tell you he and I went to school together? Even then, the young Earl was so flashy that he would show up to school at the exact same time every day. Not a minute early every day in a spacecraft, and when he arrived, he would stick his head out the driver's seat window and go, 'Hello ladies and gentlemen, your earl is here!'" The judge laughed. "Have you ever been on a spacecraft Maria?"

"I have not." Replied Maria.

"Neither had I, until one day when my parents were running late to pick me up, he offered to take me home. Now get this." Martin paused for dramatic effect.

"Oh, do tell Judge Martin." Maria rested her head on the palm of her right head theatrically as she was performing in a show.

"The Earl didn't even have his license; he would have his driver take him to school and switch seats with him just so he could announce his presence in style." Martin had caught a case of the giggles as he told the story.

"Really?" Questioned Maria.

"Yes, really! You know, I tell you what. I bet he's going to say that exact same thing today when he shows, and I'll bet you another thing. He's going to show exactly at 9." Said Martin.

"Hm, okay! I'll take you up on that bet. What time is it now?" Asked Maria.

The judge checked his watch, and a twinkle could be seen in his eyes. "It is eight fifty-nine any second now, and he'll be here."

Almost as if he had heard his cue, the Earl arrived, draped in silver, piloting a small spacecraft that was black as night. The craft hovered mere inches off the ground, but as Martin knew and as Maria had heard before, one of these vehicles could travel between a planet and one of its moons and back with that very same hovering mechanism.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen, your Earl is here!" Alfred lowered the driver's window as Judge Martin had foretold and sent out a two-finger salute towards both Martin and Maria as he spoke.

"Oh, you're coming too, Martin? The more, the merrier! Come on in; I want to get to New Paris by the end of the night. It's been a while since I had the opportunity to sleep in my own bed." Said Alfred.

The two wardens of the law stepped inside of the vehicle, and as soon as they entered, a gasp could be heard from Judge Martin. "It looks more... expensive than the last time I was in one of these."

The inside of the spacecraft was sleek and chrome, built like a machine that parodied what people thought the future would look like long ago. It was spotless, and if you were one with eyes, you would be able to see your reflection on every surface of the craft. There were no less than twenty seats, and the lining of the windows was made with nothing less than pure gold. It was a decadent creation of engineering, one fit only for someone of royal status.

"Expensive? Well, it is brand new, straight from the shop to my palace. I did not check how much it cost, but it may be a lot. I do not know." Alfred could not hide his smirk, as he pretended not to boast about his wealth.

"We will be traveling light today. It's only the three of us, along with two guards. I want as few ears for this trip as possible." Alfred said, pointing towards the very back of the vehicle, where the two guards who were at the courtroom door before were now sitting in separate seats, still with their rifles in hand.

"I assume you're going to tell us what you know now? Since you're in the comfort of your own vehicle." Asked Maria, who chewed on her bottom lip anxiously as she spoke.

"It's not that. This vehicle is new for a reason. I want all news about me traveling and you being here to be as quiet as possible. The media doesn't even know I own this craft yet, and with only the five of us, it'll hopefully stay that way." Answered Alfred. "Plus, I prefer to work in silence anyway; I don't want to be on the news if I can avoid it."

"I assumed as much," said Maria.

"I wanted to warn you to be careful with your every word; you do not know who may be listening and who may be watching." Said

Alfred, who sank down into the drivers seat.

"I fear they're spying on my whole family. My wife, and my last heir. I think the whole palace is bugged to bits, and while you are staying there, I will have armed guards swarming the area to ensure all of our safety."

Maria listened keenly and could feel knots and butterflies form in her stomach. She felt queasy at the thought of having so many people looking over her and her face grew green with anything but envy.

"Earl, I appreciate that. I promise you nothing will come between me and this case. It will be solved, and there will be justice for your daughter." Said Maria.

"You know, I'm placing the safety of my family in your hands, detective. Where there is one assassin, there is often another." Said Alfred. "I have one heir left, my son Malachi. House Lincoln cannot stand to lose him."

"I will ensure his safety too." Promised Maria, who resisted the urge to frown.

"Good, because he wants to meet you. He is in fact the one who told me of you." Said Alfred.

"He told you about me?" Asked Maria.

"After his brother joined the Aeonic Order, he's been obsessed with them and heard about your case with them. Was very impressed by the person, in his words, 'the blind woman who reads minds'." Alfred couldn't help but laugh as he said the title.

"He knows I don't read minds, right?" Said Maria.

"He'll know soon enough." Replied Alfred.

Maria could only hope that people would learn what she was capable of; it was one of the reasons that this case was so important. Not only could she find one of the most wanted assassins in all of Eden, maybe just maybe she could become a detective whose name rang out whenever it was said. She was hesitant to admit it, but glory was as big as a drive as anything else. Why wouldn't it be?

"I'll be the one to tell him." Said Maria.

"I think he would like that. Now, shall we go to New Paris? There is little time to waste." Said Alfred.

"We shall," answered Maria.