Hello there! It's been a while since I have updated this story, but I'm back! I hope you're still interested in this fic.
"Excuse me, may I ask you a few questions?"
The young man looked at Clay with suspicion. Clay and Helena were near a little farm, the young man was a farmer.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Just to ask you some question regarding your sister's death," Clay said.
"I already told the police everything I know," he replied, kind of annoyed.
"I'm a private detective. I'm currently investigating a murder case, and turns out that your sister's death may be related to my current case."
"Uh? You? A detective? But you're just a little girl," the farmer replied, doubtful.
Clay felt like this man was looking down on her. She got that often, but it was still frustrating. She finally stumbled on a real case, something that could be really beneficial to her detective career and her reputation, she wasn't going to give up so easily.
"I can assure you that I'm a competent detective who had many satisfied clients…"
"Well I'm not your client. Why are you so interested in my sister anyway?"
"Because as a detective I think this case could have a positive impact on my reputation," Clay frankly said.
"So it's just for your own gain!? Leave me alone, leave my sister alone! She's already dead, just let her rest in peace!" the young man shouted angrily.
Clay felt annoyed. Why was he so upset? She was just honest with him. Helena suddenly approached the man and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me mister, my mistress can be too bold sometimes. Worry not, we are not here to take advantage of your sister's death for our own gain. You see, my mistress takes this case very seriously because she knows how it feels to have a relative being killed. All we want is to find the culprit to avoid anyone suffering to the same loss as her, and as you too. You want the bastard who did this to your sister to be arrested, right? That is what we want too. Please, help us avenge your sister, we really need your help."
As she said that, Helena approached her face from his, smiling softly. Clay noticed that the young man was slightly blushing. Clay had no word to describe how she felt about Helena's scheming.
"I...fine, I'll help you. But only because I want the bastard who killed my sister to pay!" he declared. "But really, I don't know much about what happened."
"What was she doing the day she was murdered?" Clay asked.
"She had a date I think. She kept telling me about this man she met, her soulmate she called him. Apparently he was always dressed in white. Some rich guy, I didn't really like that. Rich people usually mock us commoner, so I was afraid he might just be taking advantage of her. Wait...do you think that...he's the culprit!?"
"It's a possibility. After all, for my other case, the victim's husband suspects him to be the culprit," Clay replied.
"I see. Well, if I saw him, be sure I'll beat him down! I hope you or the police will watch this son of a bitch."
"We will do our best. Thanks for your help and sorry for the bother," Helena added.
Both Clay and Helena left the farm, heading to the carriage. Clay noticed that Helena was wiping her hand with a tissue.
"Was touching this man too disgusting for you?"
"It was. I cannot believe I had to touch and even smile to a dirty monkey, thanks to you being too bluntly honest…"
"Unlike you, I am not a liar," Clay replied. "But I admit that I should be cautious, for the sake of my reputation. I have to accept that most people are too emotional."
"So, even if I still doubt that the woman in the carriage accident was killed, it looks like this man in white might be the culprit for this case."
"True. But it could be just a coincidence. We need more proof before accusing him. And I think I have the perfect place to confirm my doubt."
They both reached the carriage where Jackie was waiting for them, ready to bring them to their next destination.
"Thank you for receiving us, and sorry for your loss," Clay said, trying to look the most sincere she could.
Clay was sitting on a couch, with Helena by her side. In front of them was a young girl who was rather wealthy. She looked sad and her eyes were a little bit reddish, like she had cried earlier. Clay had decided to be the one who spoke with the relative of the other victim, the first woman beaten to death Clay had read about in the newspaper. She couldn't let Helena, a demon with no sympathy, do most of the work again. She had her pride as a human, she had to be the one to understand and comfort her fellow humans, even if it wasn't her strength.
"No, thank you for investigating on my aunt's death," the young girl replied. "Have you...any idea who the culprit is?"
"I am not certain but I do have a suspect in mind, and I would appreciate if you could help me confirming my doubt."
"I will do anything to help you! My aunt...she was the only relative I had left, and this person...took her from me. So please, find this monster."
Clay really appreciated having someone so cooperative.
"Worry not, I will. So, I have one question for you. Was your aunt...seeing someone? Did she has a date before dying?"
"Not from what I know."
"I see. And did she told you about a man who is dressed all in white?"
"Uh? A man in white...yes, I believe she told me about him. Apparently he tried to court her. And he wasn't the only one. My aunt was a really beautiful and gentle woman, really popular with men. She told me this man in white helped her when she received unsolicited attention. But she declined his invitation for a date, because after the death of her husband, my aunt had decided to remain single."
Clay and Helena glanced at each other.
"Do you think...this man in white is the culprit?"
"It is a possibility. You are the third person who told us that the victim had seen this man in white. Thank you for your help, now I know who I should investigate about."
"I am glad that I was of any help. I wish you luck for the rest!"
Clay and Helena left the young girl's manor, going back to their carriage.
"Looks like this man in white is even more suspicious. He is now your prime suspect?" Helena asked.
"For now yes. But I do not like to jump to conclusions too fast, so I still need to investigate. We should go back to the first place we met this man."
Clay and Helena were back in the tavern where they met the man in white for the first time.
"Are you really sure you want to continue this investigation? I mean, those people you interrogate are not your clients, they did not pay you. What is the point of continuing this investigation when it is obvious that your actual client's wife died in an accident?" Helena asked.
"For my reputation. Imagine if I catch the culprit? People will learn about my agency, they will talk about me in newspapers, and I will have even more clients with exciting cases. Just thinking about it makes my blood boils."
"So you are mostly just enjoying yourself, I see."
"Not only that. I will allow me to gain experience as a detective and more clients, which could get me closer to my true goal. My vengeance. If I become better, I could be able to find who I want to get revenge on. Or I could stumble on a case related to them. So you should be happy about this investigation. After all, it is also getting you closer to your goal. Eating my soul."
"True. But right now your soul is not enough cooked for my taste. I have refined and picky tastes after all," Helena replied with a slight smirk.
"What a gourmet. Anyway, looks like the man in white isn't here today, so we should split up and try to get some information from the customers."
Helena nodded and they split up. While the demon was talking to some customers, Clay went for the bartender, a middle-aged man.
"Excuse me mister, I have a question for you."
The bartender looked at her with confusion.
"What a young girl such as yourself could want from me?" he asked.
"It is about one of your customers, an albino man all dressed in white. I am looking for him. I think his name is Blanchard."
"Uh? That womanizer? Don't tell me you are interested in him. He's flirting with multiple women, he's not a faithful man. A young girl like you certainly deserves better than such a lady killer."
"Ah, I see…," Clay replied, letting the bartender thought he was right to think she was interested in him that way. "But I heard that two of the women he was flirting with died after, so I am worried that he might be involved in this…"
"Nah, probably not. He's just your average womanizer. He actually helped one of those girls who was harassed by a customer here, the last victim I think. He may be a womanizer, but he's also a gentleman."
Clay remained thoughtful. She felt like this information could be useful. But before she could think about it more, Helena suddenly joined her. She softly grabbed her arm and brought her away for other people.
"What? Did you learn something?" Clay asked, a little bit bothered to have been interrupted.
"Yes, milady. One of the customers saw the man in white earlier, a little before we arrived. He left the tavern with a young woman, by the back door."
"Really? Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! A murder may be happening right now!"
There was a backstreet behind the tavern. Clay and Helena ventured into it, searching for the mysterious man in white.
"I smell blood. Human blood," Helena said, almost gleeful.
"Then lead the way!" Clay ordered.
Helena headed towards the smell, followed by her mistress. They eventually arrived in a dead end, and discovered a woman lying on the ground, all bloody.
"Helena...is she dead?"
"I don't hear her heartbeat, so yes."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them. Clay immediately turned back.
"You! You killed her!" Clay accused.
The man in white was turning his back to them, but Clay could easily recognize him by his incredible whiteness. She noticed that he was carrying a strange object. At first she thought it was a sword, but she then noticed that it has two blades. It was a big pair of scissors.
"Oh my, you were not supposed to see me here. Looks like I am found out," the man in white said.
He then turned back. Clay noticed that he wasn't wearing his jacket. She could see the curves of his body, and realized her mistake.
There never had a man in white to begin with.
Blanchard was a woman.
The man in white was in fact the woman in white!
Is she the culprit? Please let me know what you think!