Chapter 7: Daring Invitation
…….
“Well, if I kill the killer, wouldn’t I get rewarded as well?”--- anonymous maid.
…….
“Good afternoon, Miss...?” Detective Val inquired the porcelain skin-toned lady before her.
“I'm Lucinda, a room-around maid,” the maid smiled, carrying a brush and soap. “Is there anything else I can do to assist you, sir?”
Detective Val examined her from head to toe. She stands 5 feet tall and is only a few inches away from the detective's shoulder. “Hi! Lucinda, ahm…” he scratched his head. She appeared too young to be a maid hence he couldn’t help but asked, “Please accept my apologies for taking up your time. May I know your age?”
“I'm 22 years old, sir,” Lucinda giggles. “I know I looked like a kid working here, but I've been with the Randolph family for quite some time.”
Detective Val nodded and made an awkward smile, “My apologies for probing around too much. Could you tell me anything about the early morning event? Or do you have any suspicions about anyone? Anything could be useful.”
“Sigh,” Lucinda pondered. “I worked the night shift, so I started working in the afternoon, which is now. I'm still sleeping in my bed that time, far away from Missus' room.”
She added, “Like everyone else, I was too stunned by what happened to Sophia...” Lucinda looked down, “I miss her pancakes now.”
“Yes, I heard she's a terrific cook,” Detective Val nodded, “Well, if you recall anything, please tell me.” Detective turned around however, just as he turned back, he asked her again, “Well, you work night shift right? Have you seen her at all since last night?”
Lucinda thought for a while before responding, “It's not that I saw her... more like I heard her last night,”
“You heard her?” Detective Val was perplexed, hoping this was a clue. “Can you tell me more about it?”
Lucinda nodded, “I was on my way to the sala when I walked by the kitchen,” she pondered, “I believe she was making something with cheese?”
“Hmm? You know she made a cheesecake?” Detective Val narrowed his eyes, only the kitchen maids knows what Sophia did last night. What did Lucinda heard?
“Oh! She really did make a cheesecake?” Lucinda was astonished. “I wasn't sure, but last night, I heard her talking to someone, but I only heard her voice, so I only knew it’s something with cheese.”
“What did you hear?” The detective's focus was on her as no one had said anything being with Sophia the night before her death.
“Something like... that someone she was talking to is lactose intolerant?” Lucinda responded. “That's all I heard, just her voice,” she shrugged. “I was just passing by, and even if the kitchen door was slightly open, I have no need to check on her. I had no idea something like that was going to happen to her.”
Lucinda would have checked who it was last night if she had known Sophia was going to die. But, like any other maid, she has other responsibilities.
Detective Val nodded there really isn’t any reason to pry on someone else’s job. He nodded, “Thank you so much for your information, the whole day, that's the most valuable as of now.” He affirmed. “It's crucial to know who she was last night. Do you anyone who is lactose intolerant?”
“I know I'm not,” she laughs, “And I don’t know anyone who is allergic to milk or cheese. Perhaps the other kitchen maids would know, as it is their area of expertise.”
Detective Val didn't waste any time, and Lucinda left after they said their goodbyes.
Detective Val was strolling down the corridor while pondering what he had just learnt. ‘Why would not anyone notify us they are with Sophia last night? Was that person afraid to get the blame? Although, that person highly a suspect but not until proven. Or maybe that person really did it…?’
‘But for the time being, I must find that person first.’
He was walking at the hallway on his way to the kitchen when he saw a little maid carrying a vase of flowers and recognized her. “Miss?”
The little maid turned around, “Detective?” She stepped aside and place the vase on the ground.
“You're the witness earlier, right?” Detective Val asked. He couldn’t asked this maid earlier when she passed out from shock seeing such thing inside the box. And when she woke up, he couldn’t find her until now.
“Yes, I'm the one who first spotted Miss Zelle,” the little maid fidgeted. “When I heard her screaming, I was on duty in the corridor.”
“I see, it was rather shocking, Is it okay if I ask a few questions now, miss?” The detective inquired.
“My name is Valentina… and I'm not sure whether I can help,” the little maid replied. “But I can answer a few questions right now.”
She was another little lady working at the mansion, and after he thought Lucinda was a child earlier due to height, it would be impolite to ask Valentina the same question too, especially since the image of Sophia's head might still be fresh in her mind. “Well, I'm simply curious whether you're familiar with Sophia Karion?”
“Is it the maid in the... r-red box?” Valentina flinched. “I-I'm new here, so I-I don't know anyone yet, and I'm not close with anyone, But I heard t-the one I saw i-in the box, was named Sophia…”
Seeing the little maid trembles, Detective Val didn’t take much of her time. “Well, if you remember anything about her or find any suspicious in this mansion, please feel free to share it with me.”
Valentina nodded and walked away, leaving the detective sighing, “Shoot! I forgot to ask her if she's lactose intolerant...” He could only groan and rush to the kitchen, only to find a maid carrying a black plastic bag out the back door. “Wait! Miss!”
“Yes?” the lady asked as she turned around.
“What is that?” Detective Val asked, huffing. He noticed a weird shaped and reddish black on the little maid’s hand.
The lady brought it up above and replied, “Sophia's head,”
“What!?” Detective Val was taken aback.
The lady groaned, “Master's instruction, burn the head,”
“No!” Detective Val shook his head. “You can't do that! There might be some hints!”
“The head?” The lady frowned.
“Yes! Just wait until I find some clues!” Detective Val stated. “Or, at the very least, when I figure out who the killer is.”
“But—- she'd stink...”
While Detective Val pleaded with the lady not to burn Sophia's head, Zelle left her room to search for Raine when she came upon a maid outside her door, “Lucinda!” She exclaimed.
“Yes, miss?” Lucinda responded with a smile.
“Have you seen Raine?” Zelle asked, “I was looking for her, but I haven't seen her since morning.” Lucinda, on the other hand, was clueless, “I'm sorry Miss, I didn't see her.”
Lucinda went on her way after Zelle thanked her. They didn’t know Aaron was staring at her with a frown from afar.
Zelle returned to her room and locked the door... She remembered the card from the red box and pulled it from the drawer to look at it again... She stared at it for a few moments with a trembling hand before returning to her bed to rest.
Meanwhile, Aaron stood outside her door, listening to her breathing...
“Zelle...” He mumbled with worried eyes.
‘Sophia knows poison, it's a good thing she's gone, but even in death, she still causes problems for my dear, Zelle!’ Aaron clenched his fist.
He clicked his tongue and sighed as he caressed the door, “I'll do anything for you, Zelle, have a good rest. I hope you’ll still have appetite for dinner…” he mumbles as he walks away.
Dinnertime was filled with silence in a breezy night. No one mentioned Sophia unless it was specifically requested, and no one consoled Zelle while she hid in her room. “Please, Miss, you need something to eat,” the maid said as she handed Zelle a tray of food that she could only leave outside her room as Zelle refused to unlock the door for her. “Sir Zeppelin requests that we ensure that you eat well.”
With no response, the maid sighed and left.
Even though the incident occurred, the night was quiet and everyone went about their lives. Even the detective was on high alert, expecting anything to happen.
While drinking his wine, Zeppelin waits for his guard to send him a message if there is any news of Raine's escape.
A small maid organizing the sala's sofas heard a rumble on the fireplace in the middle of the night, as the moonlight reflected on the window.
When she turned around, the fire had died away, leaving only an open path. She was taken aback! On the fireplace, there's a passage!
She had to inform her master!
However, before she could walk away, she noticed a gleaming light inside... She frowned...
She walked towards it and realized it was a gold coin... and there was a whole bunch of them!
“Wasn't there a treasure room hidden in the mansion?” she wondered.
The maid smirked and went inside.
If she tells it to her master, her master would have all those treasures and she wouldn’t have a single taste of wealth! She chuckles, “Well, if I kill the killer, wouldn’t I get rewarded as well?”
As soon as she walked inside the fireplace, the ground went up and became a wall that blocks her exit! Still, she wasn’t scared… She’s stronger than her looks!
She chewed into the gold coins on the ground; it was genuine gold!
“I like your invitation, very daring,” She pocketed seven gold pieces and began walking to the wall.
As she took another step, she noticed a note beneath her foot. She picked it up and read it.
“My dearest Lucinda,
You can keep the gold coins in your pocket... but was that enough for you?
Why don't we play a game? I have a key around my neck and a hint to the treasure room in my pocket. If you kill me, it's all yours.
But since the little detective is sticking his ears against the walls, how about a night time chase? We don't want the treasure to be discovered by a third party instead of you.
Do you want to take part in this little game of mine?”
“My, my, was a no an answer?” The maid grinned to her ears as she read the letter.
“Why would I refuse such a blessing?” She struck the hard wall, which slightly cracked.
A little maid like her, short and white, frail as a white rabbit, was in fact a tigress! Strong and confident!
The maid softly chuckles, “Then, the silent chase… begins~”
_______
KircheLeaf
SEASON ONE
_______
~ END of CHAPTER SIX ~