When everyone close to the two suspects and those that had had worked around the family home near them had been questioned one after another.
Most people who had a closer relationship with them had mentioned some things based on what they knew of the two of them while some mentioned some things they had witnessed personally.
Those that had a more distant relationship spoke of things they had seen from far away or had heard from the rumours surrounding them.
Many documents were piled up with statements which were in the favour of the first suspect who seemed to have been framed.
Pixel skimmed through them and sighed. "Many of the statements line up and match each other but there have been a couple of things which line up with what others have seen or have heard from rumours."
She was carefully trying to pin point the areas which matched in the statements and those that had been said by a few or one of them then split them up.
It was easier to identify what was more common knowledge and what an individual could have seen differently from them.
Rufus looked at his granddaughter seriously working and questioned. "What do you think then?"
Pixel replied. "Suspect one looks to be innocent and has been framed. Suspect two has been seen leaving the family home by many others and requested for the fake silver needle to be made then retrieved it. If it was just this then we can rightfully claim that the culprit is suspect two. But.."
The gaze of Rufus sharpened. "But?"
Pixel placed a couple of documents on the table. "Suspect two has often been seen carrying out tasks for suspect one over the years. Some people close to suspect one have given statements saying that suspect two has been acting suspiciously and has been meeting people in secret. Others outside of those circles and that have witnessed enough have differing opinions though."
Rufus nodded. "Mm.."
Pixel continued to show various documents. "Suspect two is grateful for receiving help from suspect one so has often carried out tasks for suspect one. Suspect one seems to hold the power over suspect two which makes suspect one in a weak and vulnerable position. If you want my conclusion then I would say that the case is not so simple as it seems on the surface and suspect two is very likely being set up."
Rufus showed a serious face and waved his hand. "Alright, then tell me how you can to this realisation."
Pixel continued. "Suspect two would have struggled to rise up to her position without help from suspect one because of her lack of connections and barely meeting the requirements set by the workers. She may be a hard worker due to her desperation but someone like her would always be working under others and be unable to rise.
However, that is not the case and suspect one has done a helpful or charitable act for someone they had only recently knew through them both joining at the same time? I doubt that would be the case."
Pixel passed over more documents. "Suspect two has been called many names by outsiders due to her always being at suspect one's beck and call ever since her situation had been slightly improved. Yes.. suspect two did leave the family residence and had a fake silver needle made but she has made no actions to try be covert about it or to cover it up. Before then she had not met with anyone suspicious and has only carried out her duties besides meeting suspect one. If we want to know more about this then we need to question suspect two further on these details but we cannot suggest anything."
Pixel wished to find out the truth of the matter but did not wish to lead the suspect into making a confession based on what she had determined.
She believed that suspect two was innocent and had been used before being thrown away when her usefulness had run out.
The two suspects were just a small part of the puzzle and Pixel revealed some papers which had some details of the approval of their promotion which had pointed out who was most likely their supporter or at least one of theirs.
Rufus looked over the details and let out a tired sigh. "It seems like this household needs to be swept clean."
Pixel nodded and showed her agreement to his statement. "While suspect one could have been the one to sneak in the poison since our security and checking points in the household have become quote lax over the years, we cannot leave out suspicions that someone close to them could have supplied it."
A knock came from nearby and the door opened. "You called for me?"
A goat Mink walked inside in a white doctors coat so once Rufus had seen him, he showed a slight smile. "Dr Miyagi, I need to borrow that keen sense of smell for herbs of yours."
A curious glint appeared in the eyes of Dr Miyagi as he gazed towards Pixel. "So this is the granddaughter that you spoil so much. Such a stiff and rigid person like you actually looks a little more.. human?"
Rufus looked a little embarrassed. "Ahem.. this is Pixel. Pixel this is Dr Miyagi. I have called you here to deal with a problem within my family."
Pixel bowed a little and saluted with a slightly cute smile in her face. "I greet the doctor!"
Doctor Miyagi looked over towards Rufus and asked. "So by doing this.. you are leaving the family open for an open investigation without restrictions. Are you certain that you wish to approve of this? You should be aware of the circumstances."
Rufus tossed a couple of documents over with a complex look on his face. "If parts of the tree have become rotten then they need to be cut to allow the buds to grow without becoming corrupted themselves. I do not care much for the damage this could do to the families reputation so long as I can remove a threat to my families future. If anything, I should have done something much sooner."
Pixel listened to the two of them and thought to herself. 'It seems that grandfather has come to a decision.'
Dr Miyagi showed a satisfied smile. "Your loyalty to Zou will not be forgotten Rufus. I will do my best to solve this case and reduce the damage it could do."
Rufus looked over towards Pixel and shoo'd her away. "You can go back home. I have already made you work hard enough so leave the rest to us old people."
Pixel bowed before leaving. "Best of luck with the investigation, I will be going now."
After she had left, Dr Miyagi looked over the documents and his eyes started shining. "Who came up with this deduction?"
Rufus rolled his eyes. "It is nothing really, just something Pixel had been working on to provide some extra help. Just another small test I have set for her."
Dr Miyagi asked. "And your conclusion is?"
Rufus stated plainly. "She is openminded, dedicated and has a lot of potential. If she was given a little more polishing then she would be the perfect person to pass this position to. It is a shame.. sigh."
Dr Miyagi looked a little depressed as he gazed at Rufus. "You still cannot make some exceptions to the rules. It is such an old rule, why bother to so strictly follow it if it prevents the families growth?"
Rufus lowered his head and pinched the space in between his eyebrows. "That girl.. she is talented but she is not suited to being confined to such a position like this. The families path is not one of the same for her own path. I realised that long ago, I just hope that her potential isn't strangled within this family."
Dr Miyagi looked over the documents for a while and talked to Rufus for a little longer before he asked. "How about I teach her a thing or two? You mentioned that she has some knowledge of herbs right?"
Rufus nodded. "Go ahead if you think she is qualified."
After Dr Miyagi had left the room, Rufus sent out his most loyal people to aid Dr Miyagi and those that had followed him in searching each part of the Meridian family residence.