Author's Notes: Hi everyone, glad you like my story; well here we go, as always I don't own anything but the characters I create.
After leaving the Von Galt mansion, as evening was coming on, they went to an inn where Werner procured rooms for them. They then order supper with instructions that it be sent to Werner's room. They then went there themselves.
As they waited for their meal Werner turned to Karl. "Well, what do you think of what we saw today?"
Karl thought for a moment. "Well," he began; "I can't say I cared much for the girl's father. As for the murder itself; while it seems likely that her killing, as well as the killings of all the others, must be linked to the families' campaign for the Elector position; still, something in what we saw today struck me as wrong."
"Yes, it struck me so as well." Werner said. "While I can certainly see the families killing one another for the title I cannot see them doing so like this, employing a pack of thugs. Well, perhaps Von Galt, they would be all he could afford, though even that might be stretching his resources a bit. But the others; the Leitdorfs, the Alptraums and the Stokers, all of them have more than enough money to hire professionals without having to resort to the use of street toughs."
"Perhaps one of them used thugs to hide their involvement." Suggested Karl, thinking of his own dealings with Marx.
Werner shook his head. "No, that doesn't make sense here either. Things being what they are the rival families will be suspected wither or not the killing is done by a professional and street killers might bungle the job. Also, the law will be much more vigorous in hunting down the killers of a member of the aristocracy. A pack of thugs would stand far less chance of avoiding capture and would have no reason not to tell the authorities who hired them."
"Well, maybe they were professionals and made their work sloppy deliberately to hide the fact. After all, they were good enough to get in without being detected."
Werner made a doubtful sound. "It is possible but unlikely. As strange as it may seem to law abiding citizens' assassins take pride in their work and hate to appear sloppy or amateurish."
As Karl could think of nothing else to say about that he tried a new line of inquiry. He asked Werner what he thought about the coach with the Stoker coat of arms.
"The answer to that could be very interesting, if the thing is true of course." At Karl's questioning look Werner explained. "Von Galt has to suspect that one of his rivals is responsible for his daughter's murder. By having his servant, and remember we only have the word of his servant, a man loyal to Von Galt, tell investigators about these alleged meetings he could simply be trying to cast suspicion on a rival's supporters."
Karl's head was starting to hurt. It seemed they could not be certain of anything! He almost missed fighting Orcs and Beastmen, which now seemed far easier than trying to muddle through a murder investigation.
Perhaps sensing his mood Werner smiled ruefully. "Yes, it can be discouraging, but fear not, things will get clearer. We are just at the beginning and there are still too many unknowns. Tomorrow will shall call upon the Stokers and see if while investigating the death of Maxwell we cannot determine the truth of these meetings."
Just then their meal arrived. Karl immediately set to eating his while Werner only nibbled at his, devoting the majority of his attention to reading the file about the death of Maxwell Stoker. As Karl could not read Werner read it aloud to him.
Maxwell Stoker had died eight days ago. He had returned home from the theater and had promptly retired to his rooms. About two hours afterwards the household had been awakened by his crying out. Several servants and his older brother, Franz Stoker, had rushed to his room. The door had been locked and they had been forced to break the door down. Inside they had found Maxwell on the ground suffering from violent convulsions.
Franz had sent two men out, one to fetch a doctor and another to fetch a priestess of Shallya. In the end it had been in vain, Maxwell had died before either had arrived. At first it had been thought that he had taken ill with some sudden sickness. When the body was sent to the temple Morr, however, the priest charged with preparing the body had examined it more closely and had declared that Maxwell's body showed signs of being poisoned by belladonna.
The next morning they went to the Stoker home. While not as big as the Von Galt estate, it was much better maintained and lacked the air of decay and gloom. They were ushered into a well-lit library and introduced to Wilhelm Stoker, head of the family and Guild Master of the city's meat curers.
He was a middle-aged man, though still healthy and vigorous. He was tall and trim, with thinning red hair and shrewd green eyes. The cloths he wore were well cut and well-made and all black to signify he was in mourning.
With him was a young man who looked so like a younger version of Wilhelm he could only be his remaining son, Franz Stoker. He was slightly shorter than his father and dressed similar fashion. What stood out most about him was the fact that his left hand was gone, the sleeve of that shirt was folded up to cover up the stump.
"Welcome gentlemen." Wilhelm said in a gruff but not unfriendly voice. "I have heard of your errand here in the city and I will be glad to help you in any way I can."
"I thank you sir," Werner said with a bow; "And please allow me to express my condolences, both for your lose and for our having to intrude on your time of grief. Alas I fear there are questions that must be asked."
"Please allow me to spare you some time." Franz said, speaking for the first time. "Because we already know who killed my brother." At Werner's raised eyebrow Franz continued. "I was up when my brother returned home, as he was tired he went straight to his rooms and asked me to have a nightcap sent to his room. I went down to the kitchens and had Max, one of the kitchen boys, take up a drink. After we found my brother I wanted to question the boy, but he was nowhere to be found. I am convinced he poisoned my brother on the orders of the Alptraums." The name was spat out angrily by Franz.
"So you believe that Maxwell's murder was politically motivated?" Werner asked.
"Of course it was!" Wilhelm snapped. "Why else would someone want to hurt my son? Those damned Alptraums!"
"You are convinced it was the Alptraums, not Von Galt?"
Both of the Stokers snorted. "Von Galt," Franz said; "Is a bitter old man living in a wreck of a house telling himself his family still counts for something. No it had to be the Alptraums."
"If I may," Karl interjected; "You are known to support the Leitdorfs. As several of them are trying to become the next Elector might not one of the ones opposed to the one you support be responsible?"
The Stokers looked at him as if he were some uppity servant. As Werner indicated he also wished to hear the answer they did so. "No." Wilhelm replied. "Not possible. We do not support one particular member; rather we support the family as a whole. In fact; before their murders we were attempting to broker a marriage between Hans and Elise, which would have ended the feud between those two branches of the family."
"Well." Werner said; "It seems we must speak with this Max boy. Did he live here? I know you said you have not seen him since the tragedy but an examination of his living quarters might reveal where he has gone."
Franz shook his head. "No, he didn't live here in the house. He lived with his mother near the cattle market. But I doubt you'll find anything there the Watch has already been there. I am sorry that we could not be of more help."
Taking the hint Werner and Karl rose to leave as they did so Werner said, with an air of casualness; "By the way, I heard a rumor that you have been in communication with the Von Galts, I was wondering if you could confirm that."
The two men exchanged a quick look. "Of course we haven't." Wilhelm said hastily. "Why should we have anything do with them?"
"Well, that takes care of that." Werner said with a chuckle. "Serves me right for listening to gossip; again our condolences on your lose."
As they were heading toward the door they were intercepted. A door burst open and a girl of about seventeen came out. Though it was getting on ten o'clock in the morning the girl was wearing only a nightgown. She had strangely vacant green eyes and long hair the same shade as the two men they had just spoken to.
As she entered the room she came up to them, half walking half dancing. As she twirled in a circle around them she chanted in a sing-song voice. "They come, they come. Hurry, hurry, hurry. They come, they come. Scurry, scurry, scurry."
As Karl looked at Werner, hoping to get some indication as to how to with this strange girl, a second girl hurried in. This one was taller and looked to be about the same age. She had dusty skin and curly black hair and eyes of the same color. She was wearing the clothing of a lady's maid.
"Lady Selena!" She said breathlessly in a strange accent. "What are you doing? You know your father doesn't like it when you leave your room when he has guests."
"But I was bored Esmeralda." Selena said, sounding like a pouting child. Turning back to look at the two men she stared at each of them in turn. "You're old." She said to Werner. Looking at Karl she said; "You look nice, will play with me?"
"Lady Selena!" Esmeralda said in an annoyed voice, though Karl thought she seemed a bit amused as well. Turning to face them Esmeralda bowed to the two men. "I apologize gentlemen; the Lady Selena is not well. Please accept my humblest apologize." Turning back to Selena she said, kindly but firmly. "Let's go back to your rooms. I'll help you dress and then I'll bring you some tea. You like tea don't you?"
That seemed to please Selena as she immediately seemed to forget about Karl and Werner. Turning with a delighted cry she ran off. As she did she began to chant again. "They come, they come. Hurry, hurry, hurry. They come, they come. Scurry, scurry, scurry." The two men left the house.
Author's Notes: Well thee you are I hope you liked it. How do you like my little mystery so far? As I said this is my first so if you think it needs work please let me know. Please keep praying for Shawn, persecuted Christians, Saeed Abedini and all others who need it, till next time may Jesus bless you all.