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Chapter Four – Hartley Manor
Tintin nodded to Nestor on his way out, and then stopped short as the man began to speak.
"Excuse me sir, but this was left on the doorstep for you." The tall man held out a plain piece of folded paper with his name scrawled across it.
Recognizing the writing, Tintin's head snapped up as he took it. "Did you see who left it? Anything about them? It's very important."
Nestor shook his head. "No, I didn't see hide nor hair of them. If it's a threat sir, might I suggest calling the police?"
Tintin shook his head, shoving the note into his pocket. "No, I need to stay focused. I'll handle this later – tell the Captain I'll visit him later!" Nodding to Nestor, he crossed the threshold with Snowy and walked out to the street, puzzling. Suddenly, three taxis in quick succession whizzed down the road towards Hartley Manor. "Snowy – something's happened!"
Jogging in the same directions the cars went in, Tintin started to hear a buzz of voices gradually getting louder. Rounding a corner, he saw quite a crowd – several police officers and reporters, all surrounding the open gates to the estate.
Entering the crowd, he heard the police officers urging the crowd backwards. "This is a crime scene, you may ask questions later!"
Tintin weaved through people easily, until he felt someone bump into him from the side. He opened his mouth to apologize, but whoever it was had been lost in the crowd. Spotting a familiar set of bowler hats and canes, Tintin found his way to them and asked, "Thompson, Thompson – what's happened?"
"Ah, Tintin!" The Thompson to Tintin's right smiled. "We thought we'd find you in the thick of it."
"Thompson, please," said the other in exasperation. "He's asked us what's happened, so obviously he's just arrived!"
"No, he's asking us what's happened with the background checks," replied the first, "do keep up!"
"I'd like to hear both, actually!" Tintin said over the din.
"Well Mr. and Mrs. Williams – Hartley's cousins, that is – appear to be shop owners from a nearby city."
"So they're who they say they are?" Tintin replied.
"Yes, but we have sent a telegram to the police force there just in case." Replied the other. "And just this morning, it was discovered that Hartley Manor had been broken in to!"
"Was anything taken?" The copper-haired journalist asked quickly.
"A company of officers are checking now – in fact, here they come!"
Nodding to Thompson and Thompson, Tintin quickly ducked past the police and hurried to the officers emerging from the manor.
"Ah, Tintin!" One called.
"Was anything taken?" Tintin replied, keeping up his steady stride until he reached them.
"Strangely, no," the man replied, "and not a fingerprint on the Williams' safe, either. Funny business, isn't it?"
"Yes," Tintin replied, turning away. "Very funny indeed." His brow furrowed as he thought. "Now there are the inheritors, the robbers who take nothing, and the notes. There must be something here – what am I missing?" Remembering the note, he felt inside his pocket. Then he reached into the other one. Going through every pocket, he realized that he only had the first note. Looking up, he scanned the area around him as he remembered the man who had bumped into him amidst the crowd. But the only thing he saw was the back of a taxi, gliding away from the manor.