Act III: The Truth Finally Comes Out
Scene I: Laying a Trap
Malone was walking through Burka talking to different people trying to find out any information that might be useful but was unsuccessful. He was walking by the healer's home when he heard someone calling after him. He turned and saw Maia waving at him to come in.
"Bonjour! How is your friend feeling?"
Malone came in and followed Maia into her kitchen. "She's doing much better thanks."
"Would you like something to drink?" Maia asked with a smile as she pointed to the table.
Malone smiled as he picked up a cup from the table. "Thank you very much." As he was about to put the cup to his lips, Maia snapped it out of his hands.
"Dios mios! I am so sorry, I should have been more careful. You do not want to be drinking that. Here, have some of this instead. It is a tea."
Malone shook off his shock and took the offered tea. "Thank you, this is delicious. Just out of curiosity what would have happened to me if I had drank some of that other stuff?"
"Why you most likely would have died!"
Malone's eyebrows rose as he realized how close his encounter was with death. "Do you regularly offer poison to visitors?" Malone asked with a smile.
Maia chuckled as she put the cup off to the side. "It is not a poison. I was preparing a sleeping draught."
"I know some people have trouble sleeping, but putting them to sleep permanently seems to be going a little far."
Maia refilled his cup with more tea as she sat back down. "If taken properly there is no harm done."
Malone's curiosity was peaked. "Tell me more…"
XOXOXO
Marguerite was lucky; she didn't have to wait very long before she saw Malone running towards her. Huffing and puffing, he maneuvered Marguerite to a more secluded area. It was very obvious he had some important information he had to share with her.
"I…know why…Roxton can't…remember anything…" Malone said in between pants.
"Catch your breath first," Marguerite said as she gave him a drink from her canteen.
"Thanks," he said after a long drink. After a few moments, he felt much better and ready to continue.
"All right, now let's have it. What have you found out?"
"Remember we wondered why Roxton couldn't remember anything that happened the morning Rani was killed? We wrote it off as temporary amnesia or shock and dropped it. But I've just found out something that makes me think otherwise. I think he was drugged!"
Marguerite's eyebrows rose. "Drugged? But that would mean the killer would have had to have drugged Roxton hours before the actual killing took place. That would mean that Roxton wasn't a convenient scapegoat, the killer planned for him to take the rap from the beginning!"
"Yes, exactly. So much planning went into this and so far the killer has covered most of his tracks. But he only had a limited amount of time to take advantage of the fact that we were in town to put his plan into action. Anyways, by chance I happened to be talking to Maia while she was preparing some medicine for a patient of hers. After nearly killing myself by accidentally drinking some of it, I got her to tell me more about it."
"And?" Marguerite asked impatiently, "What did she say?"
Malone held up his hand, "Hold on a minute, I'm getting there. She said that when a combination of local herbs are mixed together, they come together to make a remedy they call tiro addormentato."
Marguerite frowned. "A sleeping draught? That's it? But Roxton has memory loss, what does that have to do with anything?"
Malone smiled. "Well I didn't connect it at first. A possible side affect of taking too much of this sleeping draught is memory loss, but I almost found out the hard way that if a certain limit is passed, your sleep will be permanent if you catch my drift. Roxton was very lucky that he wasn't killed along with Rani."
Marguerite's face reflected the range of feeling she went through in a few short seconds; focus, concentration, amazement, and anger. "Very lucky indeed," Marguerite replied quietly. "Well, at least we know now that the killer has made one mistake and it won't be long before he messes up again.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, think about it. If you were planning to frame someone for murder, would you go out of your way to drug them and then leave them around to prove their innocence and possibly implicate you in the process? The plan was probably to make it look like Rani and Roxton killed each other and then there would have been no questions asked."
Malone was nodding absentmindedly as he listened to Marguerite. "That makes sense. So since Roxton obviously didn't die, he chose the wrong time to regain consciousness. He must have woken up in the process of the killer staging the crime scene and they fought each other. Of course, Roxton would be highly disoriented from the drugs in his system and didn't know who he was fighting."
Marguerite frowned. She had that small nagging feeling that made her feel uneasy. It had never been so hard for her to get into someone's mindset and reason out their decisions. So far each time she had thought she had learned to understand the killer, they would learn something new that would throw her off course.
Malone seemed to sense her doubt and voiced his own concerns. "What I want to know is why he didn't just kill Roxton as he started to regain consciousness. Then he wouldn't have had to deviate from his original plan."
Marguerite shook her head in slight frustration. "I'm not sure. Half the things he has done so far haven't made a lot of sense. Maybe he panicked or he didn't have enough time before we showed up."
"I guess."
"Did Maia say how long it takes for the effects of the sedative to kick in?"
Malone sighed wearily. "She told me it all depended on the dosage. Maia explained that although this sleeping draught could be used to work immediately as a fast active sedative it was risky because a lethal dose might be given. It's used more often as a simple remedy for insomnia. They take a little bit a couple hours before going to sleep. However, according to Roxton's symptoms, Maia thinks that Roxton was given a borderline lethal dose and should have begun to feel the immediate effects of the sedative within an hour or two of being drugged."
Marguerite mentally added the information to the rest and thought for a few moments. "Well Roxton was very tired at the party and it was uncharacteristic of him to snap at us and Rani. He was most likely drugged there. We talked to and met so many people; it would not have been very hard for someone to add something to his drink. We wouldn't have even noticed."
"Does that mean you're willing to accept the possibility that someone other than Aku might be responsible for all this?" Malone asked with an up turn of the lips.
"One suspect is better than no suspect at all," Marguerite said as she crossed her arms defensively. "He is still a suspect as far as I am concerned. We all saw his uncharacteristic presence at the party if you remember correctly."
Malone tried to bite back his smile. "Right."
"If you find it hard to wipe that look off your face, Malone, I would be happy to help you." Marguerite smiled as Malone's face quickly turned impassive.
"What look?" he asked innocently.
Marguerite rolled her eyes and tugged on Malone's sleeve, pulling him in the right direction. "Come on. I spoke to a kind old man who helped me figure out how Rani and the killer most likely managed to get out of town without the guards noticing."
"How?"
"He told me about a tunnel that runs under the city and leads into the jungle outside. I want to check it out."
"Do you know where it is?"
Marguerite nodded. "It's in the center of town. He gave me a very good description short of drawing me a map. And," Marguerite added, "I even managed to borrow a pair of torches for us to use."
"Good thinking," Malone said as he took one. "We can light these when we get inside. Lead the way."
It didn't take them very long to reach the center of town or find the tunnel; it wasn't exactly hidden. There was a pair of very old wooden doors that obviously led beneath the town. As Malone opened the doors, he expected some resistance but found none. "These doors have been used quite a bit recently."
"Well, that would support this being their exit outside. The old man told me this door is only opened once every few years to make sure the tunnel is still functional."
Malone entered and lit his torch, waiting for Marguerite to follow. She lit her torch as well and used it to survey the beams supporting the entrance. "It looks sturdy enough. I just hope our usual luck with caves doesn't apply to tunnels."
"Yeah," Malone quietly agreed as if fearful to cause a cave in. "Well shall we?"
They continued down the tunnel, both mentally tracking their progress to estimate when they would reach the edge of town.
"Hold up," Malone said as he bent down.
"What is it?" Marguerite asked while pointing her torch in his direction to give him more light.
"I saw something glinting in the dirt." Malone stood up and turned to Marguerite with a broad smile on his face. "Look what I've found." In Malone's hand was a long, thin strip of leather decorated with various beads and charms.
"A coming of age necklace! The killer must have dropped his. We know Rani didn't wear one."
"Most likely yeah, but we also have to take into account that this could have been lying here for years. You said yourself people check these tunnels every few years."
"Possible, I suppose. Let me take a closer look at that," Marguerite said as she stepped closer to Malone and reached for the necklace. "You know, I'm pretty sure I've seen this design before."
"Are you sure? Every male in Burka wears one of these and the designs are similar. I wouldn't be able to tell one apart from another."
Marguerite smirked. "That is because you are a male and don't have an eye for detail when it comes to jewelry."
"Well, you're right about that," Malone agreed. "I think we're almost at the end of the tunnel. Let's see where it leads."
They continued for a few more minutes and came across a pair of stairs that led upward to a wooden door. Malone climbed to the top and handed his torch down to Marguerite while he flipped the door open and climbed out. He held it open as Marguerite followed after him.
"I thought as much," Marguerite said as she looked around and noticed their familiar surroundings. "Rani barely walked five yards from here before he was shot."
"Yeah," Malone nodded as he let go of the door. Surprisingly, it slammed itself shut. Malone turned and tried to open it but found no handle. "It must only open from the inside."
"Well you can hardly expect the designers of Burka to leave a way into their town wide open," Marguerite reasoned. "It's used only as an escape route so it makes sense it only opens one way."
"That would explain why he had to come back into the city through the main gates. He probably locked himself out! You know, he's lucky those raptors came along or he might never have had an opportunity to get back in unseen."
"Yes," Marguerite agreed as she handed Malone his torch back. "We should start heading back. It's already started to get dark."
As they made their way back, Marguerite and Malone reviewed everything they had learned. They started putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
"Marguerite, tomorrow is our last day. We're running out of time. We obviously have enough proof that Roxton isn't responsible, but Aldaz isn't going to let Roxton go unless we provide the real killer."
"I know, I know!" Marguerite grunted in frustration. "The key is that necklace and I can see it clearly in my mind, I just can't remember where I saw it. We've talked to so many men since coming here. I keep trying to remember where I saw it."
"Even if you do remember who was wearing it, we still need proof. All we have is circumstantial evidence."
"We were walking through town…" Marguerite continued to mutter to herself not really paying attention to what Malone was saying.
Malone continued to think out loud. "Short of a confession, I'm not sure we have enough…"
Suddenly, both Marguerite and Malone stopped walking and faced each other. "I've got it!" they shouted in unison.
"What?"
"What?"
"Stop that!"
"Stop that!"
Malone conceded, "Ladies first."
"I finally remembered who the necklace belongs to! But we still need to find a way to prove he's the killer."
Malone put up his finger, "Ah! But that was what I was trying to say. How about a good old fashioned bluff?"
Marguerite raised her eyebrows in surprise. "A bluff? That's actually a very good idea. How did you come up with that?"
Malone gave her a cheeky grin. "From those 'trashy dime novels' you are so fond of."
Rolling her eyes, she waved him on, impatient for details. "Well? What did you have in mind?"
Malone began to whisper as they passed through the gates into town and entered the streets of Burka. "You can help me fill in the details, but I was thinking…"
XOXOXOXO
Within an hour, as most of Burka was settling in for the night, a big commotion was developing in the center of town.
Marguerite and Malone were in the middle of it.
"Get out! I will not sit and listen to such unfounded accusations! Uscire dalla mia casa!"
"With pleasure!" Malone shouted.
Aku threw Marguerite's hat in her face as he forcefully shoved her outside. "I want nothing to do with you two mentirosos!"
Marguerite scoffed as she picked up her hat. "That's rich! He is calling us liars!" She called after Malone. "Let me tell you something, Aku. My friend and I are going to prove you're responsible for this. We have all the proof we need. As soon as we match your fingerprints from Roxton's gun to yours, you're finished! You're not getting away with anything!"
Aku smiled, "I suggest you go do that then. Someplace else!" and slammed the door in Marguerite's face.
Marguerite growled as she brushed off her hat and placed it on her head. She rejoined Malone at the bottom of the steps where a crowd of people had begun to gather. "Don't you people have better things to do?"
A familiar face broke through from the crowd. "Allow me," Jun offered. He began to herd people out of the streets.
Marguerite followed behind as Malone managed to make a path squeezing by people. "That went about as well as expected."
"I know," Marguerite agreed. "But don't worry, did you see the look on his face when I first told him about the fingerprints? He was definitely worried."
"Fingerprints?" Jun asked as he rejoined them. "What are those?"
Malone lowered his torch and offered his hand to Jun. "You see on the tips of my fingers? Those little bumps?" Jun nodded. "We call those fingerprints. Everybody has their own distinct set of prints. When we lift the prints off of Roxton's gun and exclude his, whatever are left will belong to the killer. All we have to do is match them up."
Jun looked skeptical. "And that works?"
Marguerite nodded. "Oh of course. Plenty of people have been convicted of crimes back where we come from based on fingerprints. Another reason for wearing gloves," Marguerite added in an undertone, "other than the fact that they're fashionable."
"Je vois. And when will you be able to get these fingerprints?"
Malone looked at his watch. "It's pretty late now. We can't do anything until morning."
"What a shame. Well, I wish you fortuna buona tomorrow. I hope you are successful."
Marguerite and Malone thanked Jun and wished him good night before they headed back to their cabins.
"Good night, Marguerite. Big day tomorrow, make sure you get plenty of rest. You're still recovering from a blow to the head."
Marguerite groaned. "Don't remind me. A little sleep would suit me fine."
Malone frowned. "Are you sure you don't want to share a cabin tonight? Safety in numbers, you know?"
"That's all right," Marguerite said with a smile, "but thank you Malone. If I need you I'll shout. Good night."
XOXOXOXO
The streets of Burka were quiet except for the silent shuffle of footsteps that were headed for the cabins on the outskirts of town. The door to Marguerite's cabin silently opened as a lone figure entered and carefully closed the door behind them…
End Scene I
A/N: I decided to post this part early since I'm in a good mood today. Look for the last part and epilogue on Monday! Hope everyone has a nice weekend!
