Episode 2:The Player's Trail
It was a warm day when a special auction ran at the scrap yard, Totis the father of Matt and Rob led the auction. Totis was a tall man with three eyes and gray hair. However, his two sons had not inherited the three eyes. The junker stood on a pedestal in front of several people to auction off things.
Totis: 20 snails are on offer! 20 Snails for this magnificent mirror from the human world. Do I hear more? Think, ladies and gentlemen, whose face he may have once mirrored: kings, queens and emperors. Who knows what the history of this noble piece is. So, does anyone offer more than 20 snails? Nobody? Well, as you mean. 20 Snails for the first, 20 Snails for the second and 20 Snails for the third. Sold to the lady with the hat. Congratulations.
Totis gave James and Matt the mirror to pack, the two boys helped Totis pack, while Rob stayed with the items to take them to Totis.
Matt: Dude, James! The auction here at the scrap yard is a huge success!
James: That's right, Matt. But now help me to pack this mirror here.
Matt: Okay, come here. So
James and Matt pack the mirror in the background. You can hear them murmuring softly. While at Rob a man came with sports clothes, he looked at the chessboard that is next to Rob. Chess is a game that was actually invented by the witches and chess has also reached humans.
Brad: Hey, hey, that's nice, the chess game that there! How much does it cost?
Rob: That remains to be seen sir. With a bit of luck, you can buy it for one snail.
Brad: But I want to buy it right away!
Rob: Yes, I'm sorry, you can't. Today, only auctions are held here.
Brad: I pay 50 snails!
Rob: That would probably be a good price, but someone else asked me the same question earlier, i also had to put it off.
Brad: Really, who?
Rob: The older witch in the back. But excuse me now, I have to take the game to the auction desk.
Brad: Okay...
Rob brought the chess game to Totis and he took it and showed it to the customers.
Totis: Let's move on to the next piece, a wonderful wooden chess game. The figures are hand-carved. Maybe the game once belonged to a Bonesborough grandmaster. A first commandment?
The audience murmured, some said chess was nothing for them.
Young Woman: One Snails!
Brad: Five Snails!
Young Woman: Six snails!
Brad: Ten!
Ben Blake: Twenty snails!
Totis: Aha, I see we have at least one chess lover in the audience.
Brad: Thirty!
Young Woman: Thirty-five!
Ben: Forty!
Brad: Fifty!
Ben: Sixty!
Brad: One hundred snails!
Everyone was amazed at how the two witches fought over the chessboard.
Totis: Someone wants to know! One hundred snails are on offer, ladies and gentlemen. Do I hear more?
Ben: Two hundred!
Brad: 250!
Ben: 300!
Brad: 400!
Ben: 500!
Brad: Thousand snails!
The Mystery Trio watched the fight incredibly, they thought to themselves.
James: Something is wrong here, this chess game is never worth a thousand snails!
Matt: Yes!
Rob: Yes! Nevertheless, these two crazy people offer the highest prices!
James: Yeah!
Rob: There's something wrong about it!
Brad: 1200!
Ben: 1500!
Totis: A thousand five hundred snails were offered by the witch in the coat!
Brad: 2000!
Ben: 2300!
Brad: 2500!
Ben: I offer... four thousand snails!
Astonished voices from the audience
Totis: 4,000 snails are offered. Well, the gentleman on the right. Are you ready to go along? It seems as if the upper limit has been reached. 4,000 snails for the first time, 4,000 snails for the second and... 4,000 snails for...
Brad: 5000!
Ben (screaming): Seven thousand! Seven thousand!
Astonished voices from the audience
Totis: I've heard you, don't worry. 7,000 snails so for this truly unique spectacle... um... Chess. Do I hear more? – 7,000 snails to the first, 7,000 snails to the second and, if no one answers, then I raise the hammer and really and truly say: 7,000 snails to the third!
Laughter and astonished shouts from the background
James (whispering): Look at this, Friends! The guy stomps away angrily!
Matt: I can't believe it!
Totis: Well, dear visitors, I think this is the ideal opportunity for a little break. In 20 minutes we will continue.
Ben Blake went to Maria to pay for chess. A few witches congratulated him.
Maria: Well, good man? You have successfully booted out your comrade-in-arms. Oh, may I offer you another coffee to strengthen and a piece of fairy pie? Of course, free.
Ben: No, thank you, I... I'd rather pay right away. With credit card, if you don't mind. Moment... So, here. Please, I... was not prepared for this amount.
Maria: Yes, of course. Then please accompany me to the office.
Rob: I'll come along too, Mom.
Maria: No, no, nothing there, Rob. You pack the chess game for the nice gentleman. But... Be careful.
Rob: Yes, yes, that's for sure.
Maria: Then please come with me, good man.
When Maria returned from the office with the customer a short time later, he was putting the credit card back into his wallet with shaky fingers. Rob barely managed to decipher the name on the card: Ben Blake.
Rob: So, sir, here you have your chess game.
Ben: Thanks.
Rob: Say what I would like to know...
Ben: Yes?
Rob: Um, I'd like to know what actually makes the game so valuable.
Ben: Um..
Rob: I never expected anyone to offer so much snails for it.
Ben: It is better to ... if you don't know that.
Rob: Oh... And why?
Ben: I will not say anything more about this.
Rob: All right, do you need a bag?
Ben: No, no, thank you, it's fine, I... I have to go now. Thank you very much and goodbye.
Rob: Goodbye..
Ben Blake left the junkyard with the chessboard.
Maria: Well, THAT was something!
Rob: Yes, of all. Can you explain that, Mom? 7,000 snails for a chess game? That is madness!
Maria: Well, that just shows that it's always worth stopping by the utility center Totis Jones. Yes, here you can discover true treasures! That was the best advertisement we could get.
In the background the Mystery Trio can hear engine noises, then tire squeaks and a loud bang.
Matt: What was that?
James: That came from the street! Come, quickly, Friends!
The mystery trio ran into the street and saw Ben Blake lying on the ground.
Matt: (gasps) There is a man lying on the floor!
James: Yes! (gasps)
Rob: This is Blake!
Matt: I immediately call the Healing coven.
Ben: (groans) Oh...
James: (gasps) Mister! Can you hear me?
Ben: Sam... Sam... Chic...
James: What? And where is your chess game, Blake?
Ben: Sam... Chiconi...
Rob: What has... Hold on, Blake, everything will be fine! Everything will be fine.
James: Matt, is the Healing Coven on the way? Blake is really not doing well.
Matt: Yes, yes, the Healing Coven is coming.
Rob: Friends, not only from the Abonimation car and the perpetrator is missing any trace. The Chess board has also disappeared.
The Healing Coven arrived, and Ben Blake was immediately taken to the Healing Coven Clinic. The Coven Guards and also the Golden Guard were there to record testimony, but no one had directly observed the accident. Only Luz, the human child she was just around, spoke a little longer with the Golden Guard even if it could not end well. Totis cancelled the auction. But it took over an hour until the last witches had left the junkyard. Exhausted, Maria and Totis and their three sons settled on the porch.
Maria: Oh, I have to sit down first.
Matt: When Blake fainted, I thought he was going to die.
James: I thought so too, but then I felt his pulse. Luckily, the coven was there quickly.
Matt: Yeah.
Maria: Oh, such a terrible accident. Right outside our door! And then the perpetrator also commits driver escape!
James: It wasn't an accident, Mom!
Maria: Oh, boy!
James: Blake was hit on purpose.
Totis: How do you come up with that, boy?
James: The chess game that Blake bought at auction is gone. Whoever hit him took it with him.
Rob: Yes, and with that a person makes himself very suspicious.
Matt: Yes, the other bidder who wanted the game.
James: Yes, the sports teacher.
Matt: Yes! How do you know he's a sports teacher?
James: I don't know, but... he looks like he could be one. I suggest that we go straight to the clinic and question Blake. It wouldn't surprise me if he knows the sports teacher.
Rob: Yes, and in parallel, we should find out what makes the game of chess so desirable.
James: Where did you get it from, Dad?
Totis: It comes from a household dissolution I did last week. The owner's name is Irene Hammontree and she passed away a week ago. Her Friend Odalia Blight commissioned me with the resolution.
Matt: Odalia Blight? Mother from Amity? From the PCA? Oh no dude.
Totis: You know her, Matt?
Matt: (laughs) Yes, who doesn't know her! She is the mother of a friend of ours and she also likes to decide on the lives of others, poor Amity. Uh, what was the siblings' name again? Mira and Emric?
Rob: No, (laughs) Emira and Edric (laughs)
Matt: Right (laughs)
James: But, tell me, Dad, if Hammontree died just a week ago, it went quickly with the household dissolution. Isn't that a bit... impious?
Totis: (laughs) You can ask that Odalia.
James: And how much did you pay for the game of chess?
Totis: We have identified a complete price for the whole household.
James: Aha.
Totis: That was a completely normal price, nothing special at all, if that's what you mean.
James: So, that doesn't sound like Blight had any idea of the actual value of the chess game. But we should still ask her.
Matt: Hm, I'm already looking forward to that.
James: And then we have another clue: Sam Chiconi
Rob: Yes.
Matt: Who? Or what?
James: Sam Chiconi. I suppose that's a name. However you write it, it was Ben Blake's last words that he whispered to me before he lost consciousness.
XXX
The next afternoon, the Mystery Trio decided to split up. Matt was supposed to see Ben Blake at the clinic, Rob wanted to research who or what Sam Chiconi was, while James made his way to Blight Manor. On the way to her he discovered Luz and Amity, Luz was the one who had talked to the Golden Guard yesterday. James stopped and greeted the two of them friendly.
James: Hello Luz! Hello Amity!
Amity: Hey James!
Luz: Hey, James! Have you already seen, we are all in the newspaper!
James: Really?
Luz: A big article in the Boiling Isles News. From your father, and the auction, and the game of chess, and the accident and everything! Look.
James: Thanks!
Luz (proud): And here am I!
James: "The only witness to the accident, a human child from the neighborhood, gave the Emperors Coven some pertinent clues, which, however, did not lead to the capture of the perpetrator by the time of going to press." Aha. What exactly were you able to observe, Luz? Did you really see the accident?
Luz: Well, not directly, but I had good visibility. I was sitting on the fence. However, I only looked around when it popped, and then I was not fast enough with the camera, because I had to turn around and was afraid that I would fall down.
James: Wait, wait. Did you just say "camera"?
Amity: Yes, of course, otherwise she would not have been able to show anything to the Golden Idiot.
James: Wait, you filmed the accident, Luz?
Luz: Not at all. I filmed the auction. I just wanted to switch off, it banged, and then I just got the car on it, a dark Abonimation cabrio. But you can't recognize the license plate.
James: And does the coven already have the video?
Luz: Unfortunately yes, they try to get the picture somehow cleaner.
James: Hm. Could I have the video too?
Amity: Are you investigating the case?
James: Yes.
Luz: Cool! Will you let us join in? After all, I filmed everything.
James: Humph... Oh that fits (grinned) If you both want, you can now accompany me to Amity's mother.
Amity: My mom?!
James: Yes, it has to do with the case. And I'll probably talk to her for half the day...
Luz: Oh, you know what, it's better if you go there alone, James.
Amity: Yeah, that's probably better that way.
James: You probably haven't said your little relationship to Momma Blight yet, huh?
Amity: Nope.
Luz: But if you like, I'll transfer the video to you briefly on a USB stick. Its a human thing..
James: I know what a USB stick is, is also available here.
Luz: Alrighti..
XXX
At the same time, Matt was at Ben Blake's bedside at the Healing Coven Clinic. It was a single room. The old man had his eyes closed, and in his forearm was an infusion tube, with healing magic in it. Ben Blake groans and moans in half sleep and slowly wakes up while Matt tries talk to him.
Matt: Blake? Can you hear me? Blake? How are you, sir? Please don't be scared, I'm here because I want to ask you something.
Ben: (sleepy) Who... Who are you?
Matt: My name is Matt Jones. I was at the auction yesterday. Do you know what happened after you left the auction?
Ben: Someone... someone hit me?
Matt: That's right, sir. Can you remember the accident?
Ben: (strained) Yes. Yes, there was a terrible bang. I... I think I flew through the air. Uh... no, that's all I know.
Matt: Have you seen the car or the driver?
Ben: Uh... No, no. (suddenly eager) The Chessboard! Where is it?
Matt: Unfortunately, I don't know. The chessboard is gone.
Ben: (mad) What? Disappeared? Why disappeared?
Matt: Please don't get upset, Blake. Don't get upset. Maybe the man who bid at the auction stole it. At least that's what we suspect. My friends and I are detectives and are investigating this case. Wait, I'll give you... (rummages in his pocket) our card. Here, this is our card.
Ben: So. Aha. "The three investigators We take care of every case. Mystery Trio. First detective: James Jones. Second detective: Matt Jones. Research and Archive: Rob Jones." – I need to do something, urgently!
Matt: We can help you with that, sir.
Ben: What?
Matt: We are already trying to find the perpetrator. Do you know who the witch at the auction was?
Ben: No. No, I've never seen him.
Matt: Really?
Ben: No.
Matt: We thought his name might be Sam Chiconi.
Ben: Sam...Chiconi?!
Matt: Yes! You whispered this name to my Brother James before you fainted.
Ben: Oh. I don't know anyone by that name. Your friend must have understand something wrong. Listen, boy, the chessboard is important to me, very important, you see! I MUST have it back!
Matt: Yes, we already thought so, otherwise you would not have paid so much snails for it, it must be very valuable.
Ben: Oh, you don't understand! It's more than valuable, my life depends on it!
Matt: Your life?
Ben: Yes!
Matt: But why?
Suddenly the room door is opened and a man came in, who looks like one of the Healing Coven. It looked surprised when he saw Matt.
Healing Covenist: Oh! You have a visit?
Matt: Excuse me, I'm already going.
Ben: No! (whispers) Please help me! Find the Chessboard!
Matt: (whispers) All right. I'll get back to you soon. You can also call us at any time.
Healing Covenist: Would you then be so kind, young man, to leave the room in which you have no business immediately.
Matt: Yes, yes, sorry, so... Goodbye then and good recovery, yes?
Matt leaves the room and closes the door.
Matt (to himself): Oh, crap, my wallet!
Matt was about to go back in to get awin Wallet when he saw the Healing Covenist grabbing the old man by the collar and threatening him.
Healing Covenist: I warn you exactly one time, old man. Let everything that has to do with the chessboard rest on you. Otherwise, are you...
Matt saw what was going on and stormed into the room.
Matt: I can`t believe it!
He saw the Healing Covenist trying to silence the poor man with tape.
Matt: What are you doing there? Leave Blake alone!
The fake Healing Covenist ran off and scuffed Matt away. Matt ran after him and shouted:
Matt: Stop the man! (to himself): Damn it, he ran upstairs.
Matt gasps strained. Matt ran all the way to the top. There was only a narrow steel door. He pushed it open and stood on the gravel-covered flat roof of the clinic. No one was to be seen. He ran to the edge of the roof and saw the fugitive jump off the fire escape at the bottom and run towards the parking lot. There was no point in persecuting him anymore. The man summoned his palismen, a green frog, and flew away with it. Then Matt looked at the Healing Covenist uniform, which he had torn off the stranger while fleeing. A name was embroidered on it.
Matt: (read) Carson Brewer…
XXX
James approaches Blight Manor, he rings the doorbell, he hears footsteps shortly afterwards the door is opened with a creaking.
Emira and Edric: Yeah?
James: Hello! Both of you are certainly Mira and... No, I mean... Emira and Edric.
Emira: I am Emira, and we can not let anyone in.
Edric: And i'm Edric, and who are you? You look nerdy, are you a friend of Mittens?
James: I'm James, and yes i am a friend of Amity.
Emira: James? Hm you look for a nerd kinda cute.
James (blushing): I-I actually want to talk to your mother.
Emira: She`s not here, but she would have to come soon.
Edric: Ahh, now i know who you are, this is the boy from the dump.
James: Actually utility center.
Emira: Right! By the way at the back comes the Abonimation car from Mom. So byeee!
Emira slambed the door. James went to the driveway, and stood right on the driveway. That didn't suit Odalia Blight at all. She parked in front of the house and got out. She went directly to James.
Odalia: You can't just stand in front of the driveway?!
James: What?
Odalia: I can't get through that anymore!
James: Oh, hello..
Odalia: What do you want here, James? I don't have time at all! Tonight I have to go to an important meeting of PCA.
James: But..
Odalia: It's about the decoration for the next Grom! Nicole, the Mom of your Friend Boscha, actually suggested that everything should be kept in green and white. Green and white! To Grom! Is that to be grasped? You will realize that I can't be missing.
James: Of course, Mrs. Blight, green and white are completely out of the question. I also don't want to take your precious time long, but... I just want to ask you briefly what you can tell me about Irene Hammontree.
Odalia: Oh, you're here because of the burglary, I could have thought that. With your detective playing.
James: Burglary?
Odalia: Well, the break-in at Irene's! Or rather, in Irene's house. Irene is dead, the poor thing.
James: Mrs. Blight, it would be terribly nice of you if you could tell me more about it, including Hammontree.
Odalia: Alright, but only five minutes.
James: Thank you.
Out of the corner of his eye, James noticed two figures moving behind the fly screen of the window next to the front door: Emira and Edric. But James did not snitch them.
Odalia: So, Irene has been my neighbor since, well, I don't know, for ages. The fact that she lived in this area was only because she had married richly. Her husband was an entrepreneur. But he has been dead for ten years now. A friend of my who lives over there, however, happened to see her in Bonesborough meeting another man. And there was her still alive! Well, and when she fell ill, she decided in her will that her property be donated to our community. She asked me to sort everything out when the time came. Well, and then it went faster than we all thought.
James: What do you mean by that?
Odalia: One morning she just didn't wake up. Together with a few ladies from the PCA, I then went through her household to sort out the most interesting things for the next bazaar. And for the rest, I called your dad.
James: Hm... Did she have no relatives?
Odalia: There was a nephew, I think. But she had hardly any contact with him. I saw him for the first time at the funeral. Luckily, your father picked up all the stuff immediately, because my husband's sister has been keeping an eye on the house for some time. And that has to be emptied before it can be sold. But if everything works out, then the broker will finish the contract next week.
James: And what kind of burglary were you talking about earlier?
Odalia: Oh, yes, the burglary. I was over there again this morning, and the front door had actually broken open. Nothing was stolen, there was nothing left. But I still called the Emperors Coven. But she didn't do anything at all. "An ordinary burglary," the guards called it. Someone must have read the obituary in the newspaper. It only appeared the day before yesterday, because the nephew did not consider it necessary at all to switch one at all. But of course, the PCA took pity on itself and put a death notice in the newspaper itself. – And where had I stopped now?
James: Um, the...
Odalia: Ah, yes! The burglars probably saw the ad and thought that there was still something to get in the house. Nobody could have known that it was already empty!
James: And are you sure that nothing has been stolen?
Odalia: Absolutely sure, absolutely. The house was completely emptied.
James: Among the things my father took with him was a chessboard. Do you remember that?
Odalia: The chessboard! Oh yes, I remember that. Strange that you ask me about it.
James: Why strange?
Odalia: Well, there was this nice young man at my door, who inquired about Irene's things.
James: Aha, did that happen to be a tall, athletic witch, about in his early thirties with dark hair?
Odalia: Oh, you know him? Yes, he was here, on Friday evening.
James: And asked about the chessboard?
Odalia: No, not after the game, actually. He only asked in general if Irene had also had things that had anything to do with chess. Of course, the game of chess immediately came to mind. And I referred him to your father. Oh dear, do you think that could have been the burglar?
James: Possible. On the other hand, why should he have broken into Mrs. Hammontree's house when he knew the house was empty?
Odalia: Oh, you're right. In addition, the chess board did not look valuable at all. I don't know why Irene hid it.
James: It was hidden?
Odalia: Yes, didn't I tell you that? In the closet! We first had to clean it properly, the good Irene was not particularly clean. And in the process, an old garment bag fell into our hands. Only that there were no clothes in it, but Irene's treasures, including the chessboard. Strange, isn't it?
James: What were those treasures?
Odalia: Oh yes, well, treasures... (laughs disparagingly) That was just the way it was said. A bit of jewelry, but only cheap stuff, we had that checked right away. A few memorabilia, shells, stones and stuff. And also a diary and old postcards. Of course, I immediately took all this to myself and threw it away, something like that is private and does not concern anyone! Well, and the chessboard.
James: Yes?
Odalia: But we looked at it closely, it was completely worthless, that's why I gave it to your father. – But now I have to take care of my children. See you later! When you were on your way here, did you see Mittens?
James: Nn-o
Odalia: All right, goodbye
Odalia went into the house, James just wanted to leave again. Just as the twins knocked on the window.
Emira: (knocks on the window pane)Psst!
James: Hm?
Edric: Here, behind the window!
James: Edric? Emira?
Emira: (whispers) We can tell you a secret, Cutie!
James: (quiet) And that would be?
Edric: There was another man who asked for the chessboard.
James: (quiet) Oh! And who was that?
Suddenly, Odalia called for the twins.
Odalia: Emira! Edric!
Emira: (drives up frightened) We gotta go!
And by then the twins were already gone. James sighed and made his way home.
XXX
Rob had scoured the internet and tracked down a person named Sam Chiconi. She lived at Titans Knee north of Bonesborough. An hour later, Rob stood with a bouquet of flowers in front of an imposing villa and rang the doorbell. While waiting, he noticed significant scratches around the door lock. Obviously, it had been cracked.
Door opens.
Male Witch: Yes, please?
Rob: Hello, sir, are you Sam Chiconi?
Male Witch: That's me.
Rob: Ha! Someone has thought of you and Flower Power Plant will send you this little floral greeting. Flower Power Plant brings joy into the day!
Male Witch: (laughs) Really?
Rob: Yes!
Male Witch: Lovely, thank you very much. Goodbye.
Rob: Um... Burglary?
Male Witch: Excuse me?
Rob: Yes, as I see, someone broke open the door here. And that wasn't very long ago, otherwise you would have replaced the lock already.
Male Witch: This is very cleverly observed.
Rob: Has something been stolen?
Male Witch: So, I really don't know what that concerns you, boy.
Rob: Nothing at all, of course. It's just such a... Occupational disease.
Male Witch: As a Plant Covenist.
Rob: Uh, I'm not just a flower messenger, but... I am also a detective, along with my friends.
Male Witch: A detective, really? Interesting. And you clear up burglaries.
Rob: Oh, too, yes. Often, however, we are also engaged to find lost things. At the moment, for example, we are looking for a... Chessboard.
Male Witch: (laugh) So, to lose a chessboard, but you have to be able to do that first!
Rob: It has not been lost, but it has been stolen. And a man has ended up seriously injured in the clinic. His name is Ben Blake. Ben Blake, does the name tell you anything?
Male Witch: Why would the name tell me anything?
Rob: Could have been...
Male Witch: No, no, he doesn't tell me anything. But you know what? I think you're a smart guy! Maybe I should hire you, here has actually been broken into. Why don't you come in and look around. Maybe your trained eye will discover traces that I have overlooked?
Rob: Yes, okay. Nice, I can risk a quick look.
Male Witch: Then come in.
Rob: Okay.
Rob went into the house and looked around.
Male Witch: Just look around in peace.
Rob: Yes, okay. Hm. Wow, the pool on your terrace. Not bad!
Male Witch: Want to have a drink?
Rob: A glass of water perhaps.
Male Witch: Comes immediately.
Rob: Thanks.
Male Witch: (calls from the kitchen) What is the stolen chessboard all about?
Rob: (calls) We don't know for sure yet. Uh, maybe I could take a look at the terrace, I... I think... maybe I discovered something there.
Male Witch: (calls) Go ahead.
Patio door is opened, steps. Sounds from outside and birdsong become louder. Sam Chiconi now went back to Rob outside.
Male Witch: And? What did you discover out here?
Rob: Uh, nothing, I was wrong and thought the potting here on the tiles was footprints.
Male Witch: (laughs) Here is your water.
Rob: Thank you.
Male Witch: Let's go back in.
Rob: Um, yes, I think I have to go now.
Male Witch: You haven't drunk anything yet.
Rob: Yes, thank you, but if I don't set off now, I'll get in trouble with my boss.
Male Witch: From flower dealer plant.
Rob: Exactly! (laughs embarrassed)
Male Witch: Or was it: Flower Power Plant?
Rob: Um...
Suddenly, a female witch with yellow hair came and cast a fire spell on Rob and the other man. The other man knocked off the front door. But the woman blocked the passage for Rob.
Rob: (frightened) Who are you?
The woman made another fire spell on Rob, which he narrowly missed.
Rob: I go now!
Female Witch: (angry) You stay here, you little brat!
Rob: I don't even think about it!
Rob did not hesitate and rushed to the terrace. He peded over the parapet and let himself fall into the scrub. Then he pulled himself up, ran to the other side of the house, and made an ice spell to throw himself home with the ice.
XXX
James was already at the headquarters, an old camping trailer. He sat in his chair in front of the desk. When Matt came in and let himself plump in the couch.
Matt: (dissolved) James!
James: Huh?
Matt: (excited) James, you don't believe what just happened!
James: Whats wrong?
Matt: (still excited) I've just come out of the clinic, and the Healing Covenist almost strangled Ben Blake! But of course it wasn't a healing covenist at all, but the sports teacher wasn't either.
James: Aha.
Matt: Still, I got into trouble after he ran away, but at least I could see what kind of palisman he has. A green frog. Where is Rob anyway?
James: I don't know, Matt, I've just returned from Blight Manor myself. That's why my suggestion is: Sit down, grab a cookie, collect your thoughts and try to reshing up your eventful morning. Ok?
Matt: (laughs nervously) A cookie. Good. (sighs, gasps) Where are the cookies?
Although there were no cookies at all, Matt was soon able to tell James in a reasonably factual way what had happened in the clinic.
Matt: And... (drinks) when I returned to blake's ward, there was already a huge casserole! Three Healing Covenists and five nurses and a grandma who claimed I almost ran her over. And a Healing Covenist who is looking for himself as Carson Brewer pointed out that his coat had been stolen. Everyone thought, of course, that I was the bad guy. Well, but then a woman came along who said that five minutes after me someone had asked for Blake and the description fit exactly to the wrong Healing Covenist. Still, they didn't want to let me go to Blake anymore.
Now Rob also came in and looked excited too.
Rob: Hey, brothers!
James: Rob!
Matt: Rob!
Rob: (groans) That may have been a day! I have to drink something first.
Matt: What happened to you?
Rob: You don't believe that!
And now it was Rob's turn to tell. Matt couldn't believe he hears.
Matt: What are you saying? The man had a scar over his upper lip?
Rob: Yes!
Matt: Then it was the same guy as me! But what was this ninja witch looking for? And who was she?
Rob: If only I knew!
James: It is also puzzling that Ben Blake gave Sam Chiconi's name after the accident, but told Matt that he had never heard him before.
Rob: At least we now know that Sam Chiconi is not the sports teacher.
Matt: Hm.
James: But we are definitely missing more pieces of the puzzle to put it all together. Fortunately, we still have open tracks that we can pursue.
Now the first detective reported on his experiences.
Matt: But... where are the traces now?
James: First, we now know that Irene Hammontress' house was broken into. This may be a coincidence, but I don't believe in coincidences. Secondly, Odalia Blight is in possession of some of Hammontree's personal documents that may be of interest to us.
Matt: What kind of documents?
James: Amity's mother told me that she allegedly threw away the diary immediately because it was nobody's business.
Rob: And?
James: Anyone who really believes that Odalia Blight, the mother who wants to control her children, throws the diary of her neighbor, now raises the hand.
Rob: I see...
Matt: You can wait a long time for that, James.
James: And that's why it's worth another visit to our favorite PCA-bad mother! But if possible, if she is not at home.
Matt: Do you want to break into her house and steal the diary?
James: That will not be necessary. Mira and Emric will help us.
Rob: Duude, they are called Emira and Edric.
Matt: (laugh)
James: I don't really care.
Matt: And why should Amity's siblings help you?
James: Because they have a secret!
Rob: Oh what. They're just fooling you.
James: And then I found out something interesting earlier.
Rob: And that would be...?
James: I have already seen the short film that Luz recorded from the auction. Our presumed sports teacher is a sports teacher, guys.
Rob: What?
Matt: How do you know that?
James: Because on the film you can clearly see that he is wearing a shirt of the fitness chain Phoenix Sports under his jacket. And I just called the branches from the area and pretended to be a customer of a personal trainer, who unfortunately had to cancel his next hour.
Rob: No!
Matt: And?
James: I landed a direct hit. The man's name is Brad and he works in the branch in Latissa. Tonight at six his late shift begins.
Matt: Insane!
Rob: You're the best, James!
Matt: Excatly!
James: Unfortunately, the woman at the reception did not tell me his last name. So we have to go to the parking lot of the Phoenix Sports Center in Latissa at half past six today and wait for Brad. Then we can also examine his car for accident tracks and...
The scroll rings.
James: Wait, Friends.
Matt: Turn on the amplifier.
James: (quiet to Matt) Yes. (on the scroll) James Jones, Mystery Trio?
Caller: (on the phone, heavy breathing)
James: Hello, who is there?
Caller: (on the phone, heavy breathing, speaks hoarse) Stop looking for the chessboard! And stay away from Ben Blake!
James: Who are you?
Caller: (on the scroll, hoarse) Someone who is serious! Next time someone falls from the roof! Or can no longer flee over the terrace. (hangs up)
James: He hung up…
XXX
The parking lot of the Phoenix Sports Center was three-quarters empty. The Mystery Trio hid and have the entrance to the sports center in view. It was exactly half past six.
Matt: So, I think we're risking quite a lot right now. The threatening call earlier was meant seriously.
Rob: Yes.
Matt: Where did the guy get our number from in the first place?
Rob: I don`t know.
Matt: Wait a minute.
James: Hm?
Matt: The card. I had placed them on Blake's bedside table. Sam Chiconi must have plugged them in.
Rob: Hey! Hey, there's an abonimation car driving to the employee parking lots.
James: Hide yourselves!
Rob: Did he notice us?
James: No idea. In any case, it is not a convertible as Luz has erroneously told me.
Rob: Yes, but Brad could still have driven Blake over the top. There are supposed to be people who own two Abonimation cars or borrow one.
James: But he don`t
Matt: And how do you know that?
James: You can think about this while you're looking at Brad's car.
Matt: Why me?
James: You can run the fastest when something goes wrong.
Rob: Yes, James is right!
Matt: Very funny. But... I'll do it.
As inconspicuously as possible, Matt strolled towards the car, looked around again and then took a look through the side window. A small chess piece dangled from the rear-view mirror. Suddenly, a Rascal was chirping nearby. He looked into the car, suddenly he is grabbed from behind.
Brad: I thought so! What's this going to be, huh? Steal car radio or tap abonimation? Answer, boy, or I'll break all your bones!
Matt: (strained) Nothing... none of that! I just wanted to take a look inside your car!
Brad: (disparaging laughter) Bullshit!
James: (rushed) Hey, let him go!
Brad: Don't take on me, guys! I'll easily deal with you!
James: Yes, yes, without a doubt, but then we would report you for assault, and I don't know if that would be right for you, Brad!
Brad: Huh? What? How do you know my name?
James: Let go of Matt, and I'll explain it to you.
Rob: What's going on?
Brad: Wait a minute, I know you! You are the boy who was at the auction in the junkyard yesterday!
Rob: Yes, Rob Jones.
James: You tried to buy a chess game yesterday, but were outbid by a man named Ben Blake and then left the grounds pretty quickly.
Brad: So what?
James: After Blake stepped onto the street a few minutes later, he was hit by a car and taken to the clinic seriously injured. We investigated this case and speculated for a while that you were the perpetrator. But... we were wrong.
Rob: James, why are you so sure?
James: Because Brad's car has a broken exhaust. And that's exactly what you heard shortly after Brads left the junkyard, before Ben Blake left the site. In connection with the accident, Brad's car was again not heard.
Brad: Uh... I still don't understand anything at all.
James: We are detectives. And we just wanted to take a closer look at your car to find out more about you and your motivations for paying almost 7,000 snails for an apparently worthless chess game.
Brad: Oh..
James: Yes, but now that we know that you are not the accident driver, we can also ask you directly: Why were you willing to spend so much snails on this chessboard?
Rob: Yeah!
Brad: (sighs) Ok. Come to the studio and I'll explain everything.
James: That's exactly what we wanted to hear.
The Mystery Trio and Brad walked into the studio. To Brad's office.
Brad: So, come, sit there.
James: Yes.
Rob: Thanks.
Brad: So, I'll tell you whats going on.
James: Talk.
Brad: I'm a chess fan. Also collectors. I collect souvenirs around world-class chess. My most valuable piece is an original notation by Barry Basparow from a game of the World Championship in Bonesborough.
James: Ui!
Matt: What?
Brad: (proud) Yes!
James: This is a piece of paper on which players write down the moves to keep track.
Matt: Aha.
Brad: Exactly! And last week I discovered a death notice in the Boiling Isles News.
James: The obituary of Irene Hammontree.
Brad: Irene Hammontree, a Banski.
James: (amazed) Oh!
Rob: (amazed) Banski?
Brad: (triumphant) Ha, I knew you had no idea about it! Otherwise you wouldn't have auctioned off the game just like that. What luck that this Blake and I were there at all, otherwise it might have been sold to someone for 20 snails and never reappeared. The old man knew exactly what he was offering for.
Matt: Uh, am I the only one who still doesn't understand what it's all about?
Rob: I feel the same way.
Brad: You really have no idea?
Rob: No!
James: A hunch, yes. Does Irene Banski happen to have anything to do with Gregor Banski, the former Boiling Isle's great chess player?
Brad: Bingo! She was his sister!
James: Gregor Banski was a star in the Boiling Isles chess scene. An opening move was even named after him, with which he began almost every game, the Banski opening. Springer B1 to C3.
Brad: Yes, yes, that's exactly how it is. An unusual first move and a kind of trademark of Banski. Gregor Banski was already being traded as a future master until one day he disappeared without a trace. Yes, and with him his chessboard.
Rob: Wait, what does that mean, "he disappeared"?
Brad: He disappeared, he was just gone. Was a big scandal back then, and for years there were the wildest rumors
James: Yes, I've read about it. Conspiracy theories, many believed that the Wild Witches had made Banski disappear because he threatened to beat the reigning wild witch world champion. You know chess is a game invented by Wild Witches.
Brad: There were other stories that had to do with the Coven or wild witches Banski, but I don't believe them all. In any case, Lansky had disappeared, and he still is today.
James: And if he were still alive, he would be an old man today.
Brad: Yes, exactly. Well, anyway, of course, only people who know a little bit about chess, knows about Banski's sister Irene. Very few people know that her name was Irene Hammontree in recent years. So I read the obituary and immediately drove to her house because I wanted to know what was happening to her estate.
Rob: Aha, and then?
Brad: A strange neighbor told me that the house was already empty and all the stuff had ended up in the dump of a Totis Jones. I went there and came just in time for the auction.
Matt: There must be something behind this chess game. Blake told me his life depended on the game.
James: Yes, this is very similar to what Banski claimed to the press at the time that he was "lost without the game." Can you imagine what he meant, Brad?
Brad: No. Banski probably just spun around back then. And what this old man meant by that... No idea. But he can also relax now, he has outbid me after all.
Matt: Hm.
James: Yes, but... The game was stolen.
Brad: Stolen?
James: The chess game was gone when we reached the road and Blake on the ground. The thief is probably the same person who hit Blake.
Matt: Yep.
Brad: (whistles) Thats rough.
James: Yes. But we will find the culprit and the chess game.
XXX
When the Mystery Trio ended the conversation with Brad, they didn't go to the junkyard but to Blight Manor. James wanted to get the diary, and he knew exactly how to do it. When the mystery trio arrived, Amity came out with her twins.
Edric: Hey, there's the boy from the dump again!
James: Hello!
Amity: Hi James, I read your message, I hope my twins can help you.
James: Your twins have told me a secret that not one man asked about the game of chess, but two. And your mother knows nothing about the second man. Correct?
Emira and Edric: Uh... so... uhh...
James: Last Friday you two talked to a stranger, and then something bad happened. The stranger asked about the chess game and Hammontree's house, and the next day your mother noticed that there had been a break-in.
Emira: That's not true.
James: Yes, it's true. And you didn't tell your mother, right? Because she forbade you to talk to strangers. And now you have a problem, because I know it, and I could tell your mother.
Edric: You wouldn't!
Emira: What do you want?!
James: Unless you help us. Your mother hid Hammontree's diary somewhere. There are very important things in it that could help us catch the burglar.
Emira: I know where!
Edric: We'll be right back!
Rob: Well, they seem to be well versed in their mother's private matters.
Amity: It would be nice if I could manipulate my twins like that, James.
James: I can understand.
Matt: Humph. Well, there they are again.
Emira: You see? But we don't give you the stuff. Mom notices this immediately, and then we are dead. You are only allowed to look in.
Edric: And only briefly! So that Dad doesn't notice anything. He does his abonimation as always.
Amity: He wouldn't notice anything anyway.
Rob: Don't worry, it only takes a few minutes. I take photos of the pages. So. (Click the camera) Again. Now. (Click)
James: Tell me, the two of you, the man who asked about Hammontree's house, was he old?
Edric: Yes, at least 100, and he had a walking stick.
Emira: I don't know the hair color. He was wearing a hat.
Edric: And Willow- glasses!
James: Oh!
Matt: That doesn't sound like our fake Healing Covenist.
Rob: No, that sounds like someone completely different.
XXX
When Rob finished photographing the diary, the Mystery Trio said goodbye to Amity and her twins. All three of them sat back at their headquarters to discuss everything.
Matt: Humph... So Ben Blake was also gone to Blight Manor to ask for the chessboard.
Rob: Yes. Could it be that he ended up breaking into Hammontree's house?
Matt: But Blake is an old man...
James: That has nothing to say. We should at least put a small question mark on him.
Matt: Hm.
Rob: So, I now have the photos from the diary at our Crystal Ball, friends.
James: Yes?
Rob: Interestingly, there are a few passages here that are very, very revealing.
Matt: What do you mean?
Rob: Well, here it says, for example: (reads already) "Lately Gregor always tells me to take care of myself. Pay attention to whether I might be watched and then tell him immediately, but go to a scroll cell. He thinks he is being persecuted."
James: Hm.
Matt: Oh!
Rob: Yes. Or here: (reads already) "He used to say a few unfortunate things in interviews, about wild witches and how much better they take care of chess. Is he being followed?"
Matt: I don't understand. Who is supposed to have persecuted him at that time and why? And what does that have to do with wild witches?
James: (instructive) Wild witches is a political idea, and to spare you the details now, Matt, it's the ideology, the individuality, but also the chaotic and incorrect use of magic under no leadership.
Rob: (annoyed) James!
Matt: I know that! The Wild witches are the bad guys, right?
James: There is good and evil in fairy tales, but not in real life. But wild witches was for decades the declared arch-enemy of Emperor Coven, yes. Therefore, it was previously not advisable to speak positively about wild witches in public. In the past, wild witches were literally persecuted here and punished as traitors. That is still the case today. But not as drastic as it used to be.
Rob: But I can well imagine that a man like Gregor Banski had something left for the wild witches. Wild witches chess players were strongly promoted in their Isle, similar to athletes. They were real stars, while chess in the Emperor`s coven was not taken very seriously at the time.
James: In fact, that only changed a little with Banski himself, because he was the first Coven Witch to compete with the wild witches world-class players. Suddenly, there was a chance to beat the Wild witches in the eternal competition between individuality and control in another discipline: chess.
Rob: Yes, and of course it was doubly stupid when the only man who could perhaps manage to do that also publicly declared that he actually thinks the politics of the wild witches are quite good.
Matt: (approving) Yes...
Rob: So, and now here comes a really exciting part from the diary, listen to it: (read already) "Gregor has already moved again, for the second time this year. He no longer feels safe in his apartment, he says, believing that the new apartment is also bugged. In addition, he carries his damn chessboard around with him all the time. He says it carries a secret, and his life depends on that board. And if anything ever happened to him, I would have to promise him to take it by me and never give it out of my hand. I think he suffers more and more from delusions. I can't stand it anymore, that's why it happened the other day. I had an appointment with Gregor for dinner, we were alone in the restaurant. As always, Gregor had his chessboard with him. At some point he went to the toilet, left the board and told me not to let it out of sight. I acted without thinking. I took the board and hid it. Gregor came back, and I claimed that a stranger had rushed in and grabbed the board and disappeared again. Gregor was beside himself with anger and fear. 'Now it's all over,' he said. They would grab him and lock him away. He had to flee, then he kissed me and was up and away. I don't know what trouble Gregor is in, I just know that they have something to do with this cursed chessboard, and either it stops when the board disappears, or I trigger a disaster. But I take the risk, otherwise I will lose my brother forever."
Matt: Man, that's really dramatic!
James: So the chessboard came into Irene's possession. And Gregor Banski disappeared from the scene. I suppose he never showed up again at his sister's house?
Rob: Wrongly assumed, Just. After Banski's disappearance, Irene went through a difficult time. The press quickly got wind of the famous chess player disappearing and harassed them. Irene made terrible accusations. She believed that her brother had killed himself. She studied chess, but she found nothing. One day, her brother suddenly reappeared.
Matt: And then?
Rob: He had been on the run all the time and was now living under a false name. She was relieved, but didn't tell him she was the thief. Because he had changed a lot, for the better, he had become much calmer. Wait, there was such a place... Ah here, exactly: (reads now) "I have to keep this secret, for his sake. At some point, he will realize that in reality no one is persecuting him. He will stop fleeing and live a normal life."
The scroll rings.
James: Who is that now? Wait a minute.
Matt: Amplifier!
James: It has already happened. (on the scroll) James Jones from... (will be interrupted)
Hunter: (on the scroll, irritable) I finally reach you! Where did you was all day?
James: Hunter! I mean Golden Guard! We were on the road and... (will be interrupted)
Hunter: (on the scroll) This afternoon I received an Call. A burglary at a house near Titans Knee north of Bonesborough. There is a description of the person that fits Rob exactly. Is he just sitting next to you by chance?
James: Yes he is.
Hunter: (on the scroll) Then give him to me!
James: Understood. Here, Rob.
Rob: Yes... Hunter?
Hunter: (on the scroll) I suppose Rob, you overheard it all.
Rob: Yes I have.
Hunter: Then explain yourself!
Rob: I didn't break in anywhere, I visited someone. Yes, and this person let me into their house. Previously, there was a break-in.
Hunter: Who did you visit?
Rob: Sam Chiconi
Hunter: (laughs in disbelief) She would have told us something about that, I suppose.
Rob: What, "she"? No, I mean him, Sam Chiconi!
Hunter: Rob, Sam Chiconi is a woman.
Rob: What?
Hunter: She did a jog through the mountains, saw her front door broken open on the way back, and surprised you in her house.
James: Oh man! I'm so stupid! Give me the scroll, Rob!
Rob: Yes, here...
James: Hurry, hurry! (on the scroll) Hunter? I just noticed our mistake in thinking. However, it remains the case that Rob did not break in anywhere, but someone else. Rob surprised the burglar and thought he was Sam Chiconi, as we had all assumed that Sam was a man.
Rob: Yes!
James: In truth, however, he may have been the one who broke open the door.
Hunter: Aha.
Rob: Hunter! He pretended to be at home there so as not to make himself suspicious. He invited me in, and then we were both surprised by the occupant of the house, namely the real Sam Chiconi, who of course had no idea that it was a burglar and an innocent.
Hunter: Alright. I believe your the story.
James: We're happy about that, Hunter, but who is Sam Chiconi?
Hunter: I would have preferred to know: Who was the burglar?
James: Unfortunately, we don't know that. It has to do with the case of the stolen chess game that was in the newspaper today, but we don't know more yet.
Hunter: I read the article. But how does a former coven guard fit into this story?
James: Coven?
Hunter: Sam Chiconi. She was with the Emperors Coven until two years ago. Didn't you know that yet?
Rob: We didn't know anything about her and thought she was a man! But the fact that she was coven at least explains her remarkable melee magic technique.
Hunter: Unfortunately, it didn't help her. The burglar was able to escape. But well, (insistently) then just hold back... whatever you do! I'm finishing work now. (hangs up)
Matt: Emperors Coven, Great. Couldn't it be a bit smaller?
James: Fascinating, isn't it?
Rob: Well...
James: Especially since it is not the first time that we have encountered the keyword "Emperors Coven" in this case. And that's why we're now making our way back to the Titans Knee.
Rob: Why that?
James: We pay Sam Chiconi a visit.
XXX
The Mystery Trio arrived at Sam Chiconi's house. Rob rang the doorbell, shortly afterwards the door is opened.
Rob: Good evening, madam! We wanted to... (will be interrupted)
Sam Chiconi: (applied) You again? What is this? Disappears from my Plot or I... (will be interrupted)
James: Chiconi, we are here with peaceful intentions and just want to ask you a few questions. Here is our card.
Sam: (suspicious) Hm.
James: Didn't the Golden Guard talk to you?
Sam: Yes, he talked about detectives and... (will be interrupted)
Rob: I really didn't break into your house. I surprised the burglar and didn't realize it was one.
Sam: And then why did you flee?
Rob: Because I did not understand that you are the resident of this house.
Sam: Humph. Yes, and what do you want from me now?
James: We are investigating a case that involves a chess game that some people are after. In the meantime, we have found out that it once belonged to the famous chess player Gregor Banski. Did you know him?
Sam: Of course I know him. And?
James: We know from the Golden Guard that you used to work at the Coven, there are also suspicions that Banski was spied on by the Coven. Do you know anything about it?
Sam: (laughs) I was at the coven, indeed. But do you think I will now share the experiences of my professional life with three young children?
James: So Banski was monitored.
Sam: A lot of people were being monitored at the time. Banski was certainly one of them as a sympathizer of the wild witches. But that's over. Was that all?
James: No, we have two more questions. The burglar you surprised. Did you know him?
Sam: No. And the last question?
James: This concerns our client, Ben Blake.
Sam: You work for Ben Blake? Is this supposed to be a joke? If you work for my dear former colleague, why do you come to me? He can explain all the connections to you.
Matt: Wait a minute. He... he was your colleague?
Sam: Ben Blake was one of those who made the time of surveillance and spying so uncomfortable. You better stay away from him.
Rob: Why?
James: Chiconi. Ben Blake was hit on the street by an Abonimation car. Before he lost consciousness, he mentioned your name. Why did he do that?
Sam: My name?
James: Yes. We don't know why he did that, but we suspect it was meant as a clue. Or as a cry for help.
Sam: This was not a cry for help. That was a warning.
XXX
The mystery trio went from Sam Chiconi back to the scrap yard. On the way they made a big reveal.
Matt: I am at a loss. Completely perplexed and understand nothing at all.
James: Ben Blake was also with Emperors Coven. And Gregor Banski was actually monitored. From Blake? Or by Sam Chiconi? She could have explained all the connections to us, I'm sure, but she didn't want to. Either way, as long as we don't have the chessboard... (will be interrupted)
Rob: Hey! Hey, hey, hey, I found something, friends!
Matt: What?
James: What is it?
Rob: Here on my scroll. There is an entry from one of the last pages of the diary. Five years after Irene made the chessboard disappear.
Matt: Let's hear!
Rob: Listen! (reads already) "Gregor watches out, lives in cover from an unknown danger, of which I still do not know exactly whether it is imaginary or not. Maybe not even Max knows." – This is the man he met and married in the meantime. – "But apart from that, Gregor is a loving husband and since yesterday father. I became an aunt! Max and he have named their nameless adopted son Borro. Borro Fangman, he has Max's last name because Gregor is still afraid that his false identity will be revealed. The little one is well, and..." – Attention, now it's coming! – "He was born with a harelip, but it is not very pronounced and can certainly be operated on soon." – Well, friends? Is anyone willing to believe in a coincidence?
James: No! The age also comes about! So our mysterious fake healing covenist and burglar is Gregor Banski's son!
Matt: Crazy!
Scroll ringing.
Rob: Huh, who might that be? Its Luz!
James: Give me the phone, Rob! Give it! I press the speaker button, then you can listen. (on the scroll) Luz? Here's James talking, what's there?
Luz: (on the scroll) Tell me, you're investigating in this chess case, right? I observed an abonimation car.
James: What kind of car?
Luz: A sky blue old abonimation car. This has been on the street corner where the accident happened all day long. And now someone is sitting in it and staring over at you.
James: What does it mean to "he stares over at us"?
Luz: Well, to the scrap yard entrance. I think you are being watched!
James: Can you see the driver from your point?
Luz: No, it's already too dark for that, and King is already pulling at me that we should go home.
James: Thank you, Luz. You helped us a lot for the second time. Good night then.
Luz: Good night. (hangs up)
James: Friends, you've heard it. We have to do something!
Rob: Yes, but what do you suggest?
James: We immediately go back to the scrap yard, but walk in a side street and observe the vehicle.
Matt: Alright. But then quickly!
XXX
The Mystery Trio put the plan into action and watch the vehicle.
James: There is the car.
Matt: Yes, but there is no one at the wheel.
Rob: Oh, the shade of the tree falls exactly on the driver's seat. From a distance, it actually looks like someone is sitting in there.
James: So Luz was wrong. (suddenly eager) But...
Rob: James? Whats wrong?
James: I noticed the car this morning on the way to Blight Manor.
Rob: Oh! Yes that's true! And yesterday he already stood here. I sat right next to him while we took care of Blake.
Matt: Could this be Ben Blake's car?
James: Hm. Blake was definitely here with the car. The only question is: Why are there brake tracks on the road here?
Matt: Because someone braked there?
James: Yes, exactly. Before it banged yesterday, brakes squeaked. Someone tried to bring his car to a standstill, but why should someone brake when he wants to run over a person?
Matt: But Blake was hit by a car.
James: But not on purpose! The driver tried to prevent the collision. The fact that he still ran away afterwards is another matter. But if Ben Blake wasn't intentionally hit, then...
Rob: Then the driver may not have been the chess thief. And that, in turn, would mean...
James: That the chess game may not have been stolen at all! Guys, do any of you have a flashlight with you?
Rob: Nope.
Matt: Here, me!
James: Give it! Oh! There, look at this. In the footwell of the passenger seat is Ben Blake's walking stick. Moment. At the auction, Blake still had his walking stick with him. So before he was hit, he must have put the stick in his car.
Rob: Yes!
James: So he unlocks the passenger door and puts the stick in it. Then he walks around his car to unlock the driver's door,
Matt: Yes...
James: ... and it is unlocked! (Car door opens) What does this fact tell us, Friends?
Rob: That Blake was about to get in when he was hit.
James: Exactly! And that's why he had his car key in his hand, because he wanted to drive off at any moment. So he will hardly have put it back in his coat pocket. Did you see a key when Blake was lying on the street?
Rob: No...
Matt: No... But maybe it's below the... James, give me the flashlight!
James: Here!
Matt groans and crawls under the car.
Matt: Guys, here! (laughs, key clangs)
Rob: No!
Matt: There it is.
James: Quick, Matt, unlock the trunk!
Matt: Yes, I'm already doing!
Trunk is unlocked and opened.
James: Oh! Friends, i don`t believe it!
Matt: The box with the chess game!
Rob: Yes, can that be? All the time we are looking for fake healing covenists, sports teachers and other people, and the game of chess is right on our doorstep all the time!
Matt: Ben Blake only believed that the game was stolen because I told him it had disappeared! He couldn't remember. But what I don't understand is why wasn't it stolen?
James: There is only one logical explanation for this. The accident driver had absolutely nothing to do with the chessboard.
Matt: Okay, then I suggest that we now find out what makes the board so valuable. And then the case is solved.
James: Okay. Let's go back to the headquarters.
Matt: Yes!
Rob: Okay.
XXX
At the headquarters, the three detectives immediately set about investigating the chess game in detail. James finally discovered that the individual chess fields were apparently not glued together, but somehow plugged into each other. They could be moved against each other with the palm of their hands. Suddenly, a part came loose, and James had field C3 in his hand.
James: Oh! So, there is nothing under the field.
Matt: And what about the other fields?
James: They're all stuck.
Rob: That's also logical, otherwise all the fields would fall out if you turned the board upside down.
Matt: As I know you, James, you will spend the rest of the night at headquarters and keep searching. But it's already 1 o'clock, and I urgently need to go to bed, so I'm out of the number, folks.
Rob: I'll come along right away. Are you waiting another five minutes, Matt? I just shut down the Crystal Ball quickly, yes?
Matt: Oh sorry, Rob, but I really can't do it anymore. Come with me now or see you tomorrow.
Rob: Then forget it, see you tomorrow, yes?
Matt: Yes, see you tomorrow, sleep well!
Rob: Ciao!
James: Good Night!
Door is opened and closed again. Tap on the Crystal Ball. Rob sighs.
James: That's... Hey, Rob!
Rob: Yes?
James: Take a look!
Rob: Did you find something, James?
James: Narrow guide rails are carved into the edges of the surrounding fields. (Scratching) In this way, the fields are anchored in each other and cannot fall out, but you can move them. Come here! You can move the fields like a sliding puzzle. Let me see. If I play the Banski opening with the fields, so. Push the field B1 to the free area of C3, then... (Click)
Rob: Since it clicked quite clearly inside the chessboard, right?
James: Nothing. And if you turn the board around... (clacking) What's that? Half the board remains on the table! The base plate has a Cavity!
Rob: James! You've found a hiding place! What's in there?
James: A small envelope.
Rob: And there's something else. This looks like a ribbon for an old typewriter.
James: This is a microfilm!
Rob: And what does that mean?
James: This means that Gregor Banski was really being monitored at the time, and rightly so. He was a spy!
Rob: Yes, the... (frightened sound)
Suddenly, the door was violently opened. And that's where Borro Fangman came in. With him was Matt too, but Borro had pressed an abonimation blade on Matt's Throat
Borro: So you figured it out!
Rob: Matt!
James: What...?
Rob: Borro Fangman!
James: Take the blade down and let him go!
Matt: (desperate) I... I couldn't do anything! He overwhelmed me outside!
Borro: Give me my chessboard, and never let yourselves be seen again! Come on!
Suddenly, a kick came from behind on Borro's head. He fell and let go of Matt with his blade. The person made a plant spell and tied Borro with the roots.
James: Sam Chiconi!
Borro: (groans) Are you crazy?!
Sam: ME? You attacked this poor boy!
James: Chiconi, what are you doing here?
Sam: After you were with me, the whole story didn't leave me alone. So I went here to find out who you three are and what you're up to. I had your card.
Matt: I understand...
Sam: But then I saw this guy attack your friend. So I sneaked after him. And now I would finally like to know what is being played here.
Matt: Yes, you're not the only one...WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!?
James: So: Gregor Banski was a spy for the wild witches. I discovered the secret compartment in the chessboard and found this microfilm in it. And this proves that Gregor Banski did not suffer from paranoia. The rumors were true: He was a spy. And his son wanted to keep this secret with all his might, especially from Ben Blake, who also had to do with this story. I suspect he wanted to unmask Banski. Am I right, Chiconi?
Sam: That's right. Blake has been searching for enemy spies.
Borro: Ben Blake is a monster. He destroyed my father's life. Blake was still chasing him after my father had long stopped working for the wild witches.
Matt: Can you explain this in more detail?
Borro: My father was a famous chess player until one day he disappeared from the public eye. But I only learned the whole truth three years ago, when he was dying.
Rob: What? Your father is dead?
Borro: Yes. As a young man, he was very fond of the political system among the wild witches. The individuality there seemed to him to be fairer than the control in the coven, and he also liked that chess had a much higher priority there than in the coven. Many tournaments took place in the night market, and there you could see that he sympathized with the wild witches, even though he worked for the coven.
Matt: Yes and then?
Borro: Was he asked if he wanted to work for the wild witches as a spy against the Coven. My father said yes and acted as a courier. For this purpose, he had a special chessboard built. In the secret compartment he transported documents.
Rob: But then the Coven figured it out.
Borro: Yes. I don't know the details, but somehow Ben Blake was on the trail of him. Blake had a clue, but no evidence. But my father feared him and lived for years in fear of being discovered.
Sam: Go on!
Borro: One day, his chess game was stolen from a restaurant in broad daylight. My father was sure that Ben Blake was the thief. And so he firmly expected that he would be arrested immediately and charged and imprisoned. So he went into hiding and never reappeared. Because from that day on, he was hunted by Ben Blake. (breathes deeply) He had to end his chess career to save his freedom. I only found out all this at the end of his life.
James: You wanted to save his reputation and his name. If I understand all this correctly, then neither you nor your father had any idea where the chessboard was all the time.
Borro: No. We always thought that Blake had stolen it at the time and that my father had narrowly escaped him. But then I have read the story with the auction and the chess game and the accident in the newspaper. Ben Blake's name was mentioned, otherwise I wouldn't have been aware of it in the first place.
James: And that's when you realized that it had to be about your father's chess game. Why else would Blake have paid so much for it?
Borro: But where it actually was all the time, when Blake didn't have it, and why it reappeared so suddenly, I have no idea.
James: We can tell you all that later and also show you your aunt's diary notes. Then you will understand everything.
Borro: Aha.
Sam: (mad) And why did you invade my house?
Borro: Because Blake told me in the clinic that you had the chess game.
Sam: (laughs in disbelief)
James: He had mentioned your name after being hit, Chiconi.
Matt: And he told me that he had never heard the name Sam Chiconi! I don't understand anything anymore.
James: How about, Chiconi, if you now tell us your version of the whole story.
Sam: These are coven secrets. That's none of your Business.
James rustled in the photos that were also in the envelope, which were in the chessboard.
Sam: What are you doing there?
James: I look at the photos that were also hidden in the chessboard. And I think I understand a little bit better now what really happened.
Rob: But... what then, James? What can be seen in the pictures?
Matt: Yeah! What do you see?
James: Ben Blake at a young age. And somewhere in Latissa as the street sign tells me. He was secretly photographed meeting with a witch and giving him a package.
Sam: (laughs disparagingly) I knew it.
James: "My life depends on this chessboard." – Not only your father, Fangman, but also Ben Blake, has repeatedly claimed this. And I now understand why. Because Blake was only apparently a wild witches hunter. Actually, he himself was a sympathizer of the wild witches. He is like a double agent.
Matt: Hm.
Rob: A double agent, you mean he also spied for the wild witches? For both sides at the same time?
James: Yes, that's what it looks like, and these photos are proof of that! In the hands of the right people, these pictures would have convicted Blake and put him behind bars. For some reason, Blake knew or suspected that Banski was in possession of the photos and that they were probably hidden in the chessboard.
Matt: So that's why he really wanted to have the board! Not to destroy Gregor Banski's life, but to save his own.
Rob: And for Banski, the photos were a kind of life insurance. He knew he was in relative safety as long as he had the pictures. Blake wouldn't risk extraditeing him as long as he feared that Banski would betray him. That's why the chessboard was so important. For both.
James: And you, Chiconi, have known this all along.
Sam: I guessed it. We knew then that there was a rat at the coven. I suspected Blake all the time, but I lacked the proof, a proof like this photo, for example.
James: And Blake sensed that you were on his trail.
Sam: Exactly!
James: That is why he mentioned your name. He thought he might not survive the accident, and he felt so persecuted by you that only you were eligible for him as the perpetrator.
Rob: And of course, when you, Matt, asked him at the hospital the next day, Blake claimed that he had never heard the name Sam Chiconi. After all, it couldn't be right for him that the three of us would go to her and possibly reveal his secret in this way.
Matt: Brr, my skull is buzzing. What do we do now with all this secret knowledge?
Borro: For example, you could free me from these roots...
James: We will do so immediately. And then I suggest that we all go outside right away, make a fire spell on everything and burn these pieces of evidence.
Rob: W-what?
Matt: Also the beautiful chessboard?
Sam: And then never to tell anything about this old and actually ended story. We can all be glad that we don't have to harm anyone with this story anymore.
Borro: Oh yes.
Two days later, a 19-year-old male witch entered a Bonesborough coven base and confessed that he had hit an old man in the previous Saturday and committed driver escape. He came to court, but since he had voluntarily surrendered, his sentence was mild. A few weeks after he was discharged from the clinic, Ben Blake moved. He left Bonesborough and never returned.
Phew, that was episode 2! I hope you liked it. I really enjoyed writing this episode because I brought in a lot of characters from the Owl House series. See you in episode 3! Write a review so I know you like this series!