CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
\-ARTEMIS-
Catherine's cold body rested on the floor, her nose a new tunnel for the passage of microorganisms. Her body still remained fresh, the bloodstains all fresh also. I couldn't help but believe that this had happened within a short time span.
Who had killed her? What had she gotten involved in? Had she stumbled back to the trenches and had gotten unknown visitors? My imagination knew no bounds.
Without hesitation, I called in an ambulance, waiting for them to come get her.
Mom, who has been busy thinking about the new restaurant idea, turned out to be a lot freer for the investigation. As they lifted her body out of the house with a stretcher, I couldn't help but harvest the remaining pieces of paper.
I hid it after compiling to stop the inspector from getting a glimpse. They could seize it as evidence, and then Bella would stock bribe to the police department, and there was never a case.
"When did this happen, Miss Artemis?" The inspector gazed at me, hoping to find a good reason to pin the blame on me.
"Do I look like I would kill Catherine? Carry out an autopsy, do the needful, and find out what exactly happened.
"But Mam…"
"Do what I say. Your boss wouldn't like it if he found out that you're pestering my existence.
His face smug as he shoved down the last piece of evidence down the transparent bag. Though he had agreed to leave me be, I could tell that he would do his own private investigation on it.
"Do your job well." I whispered into his ear before leaving the boys quarters.
With Catherine's body found, I couldn't put Mom on no assurance no more. She has gone into thinking, trying to find out the family who she has fought with in order to escape.
When the crowd went silent and the gossiping maids had evacuated from the premises, I knew it was time to leave with her journal. Its texture wasn't in the best of shapes to be read without visual aids, but it would go a long way in accomplishing the very last mission.
My phone kept buzzing as I walked up the stairs heading for my room. With frustration in my eyes, I picked up the phone, putting on the receiver before placing it gently next to my ear.
"Hey, Artemis."
"What do you want, Jamie?" I grunted.
"I heard about Catherine; my condolences." He said.
"It's alright. So why did you call? Because you could have done this anytime set aside today."
"I couldn't stop thinking about you, Artemis. I have been thinking about ways I can help, and Bella is supposedly not picking her calls."
He's still in love with Bella. That speaks a lot about why he called at the last minute. He couldn't get his head off her; what a man with quite a little ego.
"She claims she's headed downtown."
"Downtown?" His voice went all stern. "That place is dangerous even for me."
"I'm making my way there by 4 PM; you can decide to join me as you see fit."
"I'll be there."
The call got terminated, and there I was, still struck by Catherine's death. Nothing ever happened with no reason; something must have been wrong with her.
I placed the book cover on the bed along with the papers, arranging them according to their numbers.
"24….25…"…" the pages finally came to an end at the count of 45. Some pages were missing, but I could tell they'd be found sooner than later.
I stakes them up, bundles in the cover. I had to clean the bloodstains on me before I found out what exactly had gone missing.
I grabbed my towel, heading straight for the shower to have a cool bath. The roses in the Jacuzzi weren't available because only Catherine knew the vendor. I sighed as the droplets of water paraded on my skin, washing off the stains and disdain I had picked up from her house.
It felt strange knowing I wouldn't be able to see Catherine anymore. She has always come through for the family regardless of her status; she cared about us, and that always amazes me about her.
After a mesmerizing bath, I returned to my bedroom, taking hold of the gown I had prepared. It was just a stacked-up black channel that I had worn during my installation ceremony. With Catherine gone, it was needed to give her respect.
I grabbed her ledger back from the safe I had kept it in. Staring at the cover, which suddenly seemed familiar. Bella had one of these too, but she kept hers outside the house to prevent people from getting a hold of it.
"Artemis, get over here right this second." Mom's voice reverberated in the hallways.
With Catherine gone, I had to be there for her till we find a perfect replacement. As I walked down the stairs, the face of the inspector caught my attention, my heart sinking into the depths.
What did he want back here? Was he here for her ledger? Did he want me to accompany them back to the station? I couldn't tell.
"Miss Artemis…" he exclaimed.
"How can I help you, inspector?" I stood before him, ready to challenge him in case he wanted the ledger.
"I'm just here to give you guys the good news and the bad news." He held two images in his hands, a grin on his face.
"So what gives?" Mom spoke from the background.
"Which should I start with?"
It looked like he was trying to play mind games with us, but I didn't bother knowing he wouldn't last if he ever tried such with me.
"Start with the good news." Mom said, her lips a feisty punch.
"So the good news is that Madelyn Catherine is not Madelyn Catherine." He let out a smile.
I could feel my insides turning as his words penetrated my ears. Did he believe that because she's our maid, we care less about her? He was going to get it.
"What do you mean Madelyn is not Madelyn Catherine?" I spoke up.
He chuckled, rolling up his sleeves before handing me the images in his hands.
"The corpse you found in her room belonged to a woman living in Downtown; she was kidnapped with her family a couple of weeks ago after they won a court case against a hardened criminal."
"What are you trying to say?"
"The lady was filtered with several rubber masks to fit Catherine's face and get us to back down on the matter. From what I can see, Catherine is still alive but in the enemy's den."
"Do you think I'm a fool inspector?" I grabbed his collar, ready to unleash my fist onto his face.
"Check the images…." He let out a smile. "Evidence before turbulence."
I let go of his collar, staring at the two images. The first image was that of the corpses we had retrieved from beneath the bed, while the second image was another face entirely but with the same body and clothes.
"Where's the villain's lair?"
"Downtown, not safe for any royal gathering or noble meetings. Crime flows like water; you'd barely survive it." He let out.
Mom's expression suddenly went sour, beads of sweat on her face. "Bella went to downtown."