The Queen's guard-dog scratched his head at the images on the screen in front of him. The man sat at his desk, reviewing the map that the younger Bailey had sent him with the speculated route of the victim on it as he tried to persuade himself to give this case some further thought. He really had other things to be worrying about, but this needed done as well. A sigh escaped his lips, prompting the attention of the blonde seated in one of the room's uncomfortable sofas, filing paperwork.
"Staring at it isn't going to solve it, Ciel." Alois pointed out, causing the bluenette's eyebrow to twitch.
"I know that…" replied the Phantomhive. "I'm just not quite sure what to do with this. I thought it might be helpful, but I'm not sure what needs to be done. Should I just go to the scene or what?" he asked, gesturing to his computer as the blonde got up to join him.
On the monitor was a map with two lines on it. One was green, and one was red. The green one was to represent the route that Aaron Baxter was supposed to take on his way home from school, and the red one was the route that he is speculated to have taken instead. The menace narrowed his eyes at the screen, trying to piece this together as well.
"What buildings are these?" Alois questioned, pointing at the monitor with his finger. To this, Ciel clicked away from the image to another one on Google.
"These." He said, his frustration growing. As his brow furrowed the blonde took a moment to examine his face. With that, Alois tapped his shoulder.
"Alright, stand up. Give me your seat." The Macken boy instructed. "Let me think about this for a sec while you take a break."
"Why?"
"Because you aren't paying attention at all. Your mind's elsewhere. Go tend to your party-thingy." Alois said, shooing the other man away. "Let your assistant do some work."
Reluctantly, Ciel surrendered his office chair, allowing the menace to sit in it. They switched places, forcing the Phantomhive to the couch as his beau stared at the computer. It was actually quite pleasant, as the bluenette was now free from what he had deemed a "lesser task" and allowed him to work on his company. Perhaps a break was what he needed. Admittedly, though, he was somewhat worried about leaving a murder case in the hands of the blonde menace. Alois, however, was immensely pleased to be seated in the comfort of Ciel's chair as opposed to his cinderblock-like sofa.
So, while Ciel attended to business matters, the blonde tended to murder. Alois clicked between the two maps, trying to think of a way to solve this murder. What was the problem again? They caught the person who supposedly did it, but another, seemingly fresh body was found while the suspect was in custody. How was he going to confirm or deny the art teacher's innocence?
He clicked to one image, and then to the other; to one image, then the other again. The watchdog seated elsewhere in the room looked up toward the desk, wondering if the menace was just as stumped as he was. Soon, however, he nearly jumped when the other man called for him.
"Ciel? Important question:" the blonde began. "Do banks have security cameras placed out front, or is that just in movies?"
"Some of them do, but most of them are stationed inside, why?"
"On this route, the victim passed by a bank." Alois replied. "The bank is off course from the usual route, so wouldn't the person who lured them pass by the bank with them?"
"So we can identify the killer from the tapes?!" the bluenette asked, standing up. He walked over to the blonde menace seated at his desk.
"That's what I was thinking, but if most of the cameras are inside, then that won't do. What other places have surveillance cameras out front?"
"Hospitals, police stations, convenience stores…" Ciel listed off. "Some other shops might have them, too, but we'd have to go look because not all stores do that. It depends on management, really."
"Then let's print off his map and go check it out." Alois suggested, moving his mouse over the print icon.
"Right now?" the bluenette asked.
"You don't have to, if you don't want to." His beau replied. "I'm not busy, so I can go do it, if you'd like."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." Alois said. "You just worry about your little party, and I'll check on the camera thing. Text me if Bailey calls and tells you if they know what time the victim died. That way, I could just get the tapes while I'm out."
"Alright…" answered the Phantomhive. "Are you sure you can handle this by yourself?"
"I led an elaborate rescue mission into the bowels of a castle that was armed to the teeth with demons and annies in order to save your cute butt." The blonde said, standing up and walking over to the sofa. He picked up his coat from its location slumped over the back of the couch and put it on before continuing. "I think I might be able to handle a brisk walk through town."
"That's not what I meant…" the bluenette said, rubbing the back of his neck. His beau then grabbed the map off of the printer and trotted over to him before pecking him on the cheek.
"I know. You're just a worrywart. It's cute." The menace stated before heading toward the door. "I shall return, my darling~! Please don't get attacked with a hammer while I'm gone."
"I won't." Ciel called back as the blonde left. He shook his head with a smile on his face as he sat down on the sofa again.
As much as he hated surrendering control over thing, it was nice to have someone help shoulder the burden. Now he was free to work on this silly gathering he was supposed to organize. It was a month away, but time flies by in an instant if you allow it. Before then, he would have to find a venue, organize entertainment and pick out decorations, as well as find a caterer. This was all reminding him of something else, though. It was something important, but Ciel couldn't quite put his finger on it.
SLAP!
The Phantomhive introduced the palm of his hand to his forehead at it finally dawned on him. Alois' birthday was also the following month. He could have sworn that the lad only turned eighteen not too long ago, but obviously, "not too long ago" turned out to be an entire year. So not only did he have to figure out the FUNTOM one-hundred and seventieth anniversary party, but he also had to figure out what to do for his beau. What's worse is that the blonde made it difficult by not wanting anything specific. Perhaps Ciel should try asking again when the man returned. A sigh escaped his lips as he already knew the Macken's answer.
Something along the lines of: "You've already given me everything, so what is there left to ask for?"
It was sometimes annoying, how the blonde could be so unmaterialistic. Ciel leaned back against the sofa as he wondered how this was all going to work out. What if he simply left the rest of the murder up to Alois? That way, it would be out of his way, leaving him more room to plan for the other events on his schedule. Perhaps he could ask Sebastian for help with the arrangement of the FUNTOM celebration? That would clear up a little more.
That could work. Alois does always insist on taking the reins, occasionally. He would most definitely agree to it. Sebastian is his butler, so he wouldn't be able to deny his request. Just giving the man a few things here and there to take care of wouldn't do any harm.
Thus, it was decided. The bluenette stood up, stretching his legs for a moment, before heading toward the door. It was time to have a discussion with his butler.
