"A toast! To the queen of distinguished gatherings," Thomas Waffer announced whilst his fingers curled gracefully along the wine glass as he gazed at it softly glistening in the dim candlelight. "Thank you to all for arriving on such short notice." Marie, hair as curly as kale and skin as soft as feathered pillows more golden than the sun itself. A vision of perfection called thirty-two men and their wives to join her in her 50th gathering of the year. "Before we guzzle down our libations I wanted to utter a few final words, Thank you for all that you have done with your esteem work and dedication to this town it wouldn't be safe without you, so thank you." as the fingers of malignant hands slap their palms the large wooden doors of the Jamboree house open abruptly as the clapping comes to an end. "Seize her!" three bulky men announce in the distance with their fingers pointing towards Marie. They began to sprint towards her in their dark uniforms, finally clutching the tail of her dress and shackling her with cold iron rings against her dainty wrists.
I, peter mustard spent forty years of my life studying every step of Marie doyenne with every inch of my room covered in maps pinpointing her every step and hideout. Although I can not be completely certain in all of my information, I am confident in the fact that without me, Marie wouldn't have been captured but then again I'm just another freelance investigator that wasted his time.
"Over forty years and you finally caught this fool?" "relax, she was a hard target that's why there was a large bounty on her." "how much?" "500 grand" "man! How much you getting!" "nothing." "nothing? You were the one who caught her didn't you?" "tell that to the judge, there saying since I wasn't on the scene I don't deserve the money, but I have traced her as far as I can remember, I was the brains of this whole operation!" "I told you this freelance stuff was a bad idea." "well, it's hard to convince people that I'm suitable for such a high-paying job without a college degree." "what are you going to do, you have to take care of your family." "I'm going to talk to judge Claud about it." "well let's drink to that!"
Upon arriving at Claud's office late that evening I had hoped to find him at his desk typing away like usual. when approaching his corner office the door was ajar and it already looked like a murder scene, old case documents were scattered along the ground covered in pools of blood dripping down from the edge of his desk as he's face down on the table with a dagger stuck in the back of his head. The room was ransacked with drawers hanging from file cabinets and Clauds' computer was missing. Along with his golden gavel that hung right above his chair in the center of the wood-paneled wall. I walked carefully around the evidence to capture a photo of the long serrated knife before bellowing the police station. The wind grew stronger and stronger as the night progressed. I sat stagnant gazing at the waterfall of blood awaiting the police. They arrived in fifteen minutes and were stunned alike by what they saw sitting stagnant on the desk. Some teared up others silently cheered as no one truly liked judge Claud except for close colleagues and his wife Agatha. If that. After about an hour of investigation from the cops, they sat me down promptly to discuss why I arrived in the first place. I found the whole situation a bit embarrassing, but I had no choice but to speak. "I came here to ask judge Claud about the money I thought I was getting." "you came here to receive money, did you receive that money, sir?" "no sir, when I arrived he was dead." "so you didn't kill him out of anger for not getting your money?" "Absolutely not sir!" "I apologize if I made you upset we just have to explore what happened that's all."
" I understand" before officer Campbell is able to speak once more, another officer sets foot in the room to appease the situation. "Officer Campbell, we don't need to interview this man anymore we know who did it." "and who might that be?" he leaves the room as officer Campbell follows him towards a dainty white-glove laying underneath the desk covered in blood and inscribed with the name Marie on the tag.
"Marie doyenne!" I screamed, "The woman who escaped prison?" "yes sir, I've been following her case for years!" "what's your name again sir?" "Peter, Peter Mustard." he reached out to shake my hand before inquiring to know more about the mysterious being "do you know what would be incredibly helpful Peter?" "What sir?" "you know the ends and outs of.." "I know everything about her sir, I spent my whole life studying her every move." "well, you seem very passionate about this case If I pay you double, your salary would you come work for us at the Parker police station, to help us out with this case?" "there wouldn't be anything better sir."
***
Dimly lit lamps sat stagnant on hard surfaces of the jamboree house, subtly beaming against the fabric of the slim colorful chaise. Dark orange and yellow hues glow in the faces of known and unknown persons throughout the darkness of the party. The pianist played loudly with his fingers bouncing up and down as the voices of people in the crowd swelled to a blaring noise bursting through the eardrums of partygoers chanting words of sweet goodbyes as they became squiffy off their drinks. Around 7:00 pm respectable men entered the dining room on that fine evening. women began to tighten their corsets and tightly pin their hair as I sat and watched the whole ordeal, with my pen piercing the paper with all of the information I gathered during the meeting. Raspberry tarts and orange pudding began to make their way in, whilst the men filled their stomachs with sugar, the woman starved their stomachs with water and wine. On and on the night went, suggestive jokes were made before finally ending the night as they all fell to the floor. wine glass broke into millions of pieces along the tile floor.
With it all being said and done out of five other witnesses, I'm not sure why they chose me.
My cell is small and cold with the wind blowing briskly through my glassless barred window. Ants beg for crumbs along the ground gradually making their way up my dress and engraved within my skin. Every morning I wake up with dark and rosy red marks on my legs but who would ever ponder about caring deeply for such a malignant person. At least that is what the world believes I am. That's why I'm in great need of a lawyer, one that will truly believe my story. I'm not quite sure why I should get my very hopes up. I sent my letter months ago it should have arrived by now. As guards block my doorway from the only natural light I have. Darkness spills within my cell reaching for something more. Whilst my window becomes encased in thick poison ivy vines the sun can only be so bright. Every morning I am sent three miles away from the penitentiary, to a local general store in another town. It's the only time I am unescorted, but I am still a felon in the eyes of the people and can be reported under any wrong move they might have seen me make. For one example of this, I had stolen an apple from the store and hid it in my bloomers. A senile woman followed me back and reported it to the guards. Moments later I sat naked in the center of the dining area. And flogged till my body was black and blue then sent back to my room. I wasn't able to lay down so I stood still gazing at the ivy as it blew briskly in the wind. All beaten and battered I obtained a permanent black eye. Which puts a banter on the little respect I have here. "Mister, Campbell I know you are a busy man but, if you could just give me a little time I can explain my wrongdoings." he begins to walk briskly towards another cell "excuse me!" he continues walking with his head facing straight ahead "I have no means of addressing you of all people" "I just need a brief moment of your time!" "and what good would that do me?" "I'm glad you inquired sir, I can give information on Marie that no other person would know!" he pause swiftly to gaze at me "why aren't you in your cell?" "no man can punish me at this time as it is break time for me and the rest of my cellmates." "you need a leash." "excuse me, sir?" "women who aren't in prison are wearing them they need them here." "I didn't mean to anger you sir I just wanted to assist you." "assist me! Ha! You're nothing but a murderous woman what can you do?" "I know a good bit about the case, I could help in countless ways." "I regret to inform you that I already have a lead in the Marie case who seems to know what happened." "I was at the party" he begins to walk once more as he is close to cell 317 "I was at the party, and I even spoke to Marie and I know where she is!" he pauses a final time and looks at me iniquitously "If I were to choose between a man or a woman for factual evidence I would pick a man." he walks away leaving me baffled.
***
It had been weeks after Marie had run away when an officer finally captured her. Detective Campbell was determined to get Marie sentenced to the death penalty he walked briskly toward cell 317 in hopes that his friends and colleagues would be put to justice for what Marie had done. Upon arriving at the dark candle-lit cell, there sat a woman with hair as curly as kale skin more golden than the sun itself. She was Gazing at the wall intensely when an officer unlocked the metal door to her cell allowing detective Campbell to enter. "Be careful of that one." the officer cautions Campbell before pulling out a chair for him to sit. "Speak if you can woman," Campbell announces upon sitting leg over the leg in his chair. "I dither not utter a word out to you." she snapped while still keeping her focus towards the wall "I beg your pardon!" Campbell screams while arising from his seat. "You mean me harm, and I shall not reply to your inquiry." Campbell raises his hand rapidly before striking her right cheek. "Don't you raise your voice in such a tone!" he yelled before turning to one of the officers "do you encourage this kind of behavior from a woman?" "no sir, would you like for us to restrain her?" "you will do no such thing, I must be going." The metal door locks as a wave of relief flows through Marie's body with her throbbing cheek transforming to a purplish-blue color, burning a familiar thought in her mind. I must get out of here.