Nash got back to Marvin's house. He greeted the Mansabdar that was standing outside. He saw white cotton-covered bodies taken from the basement. He went to the door and went downstairs, lighting a lamp.
There was still the smell of blood and grime, but it was less revolting. He raised his lamp and looked around. He focused on his vision. His gem of will fitted on the silver spectacles glowed.
'It is certain that Marvin was here. But, I can sense one another. Someone that I know,' Nash thought.
He thought about his colleagues. He knew about their crux and removed his suspicion. He had recently sensed this crux, but couldn't figure it out. He went back to his office with a murky mind.
He sat on his chair, closed his eyes and leaned back. He remembered the people that he had seen. He remembered Nell's parents and the bartender. He remembered Hallie and her maid. He remembered Piper and Brian. He remembered Ash and Mathew. He remembered the reports.
The reports.
He opened his eyes and leaned forward. 'Why were the reports so inadequate?'
He took the reports that were scattered on his desk. His eyes focused. His gem of will glowed. He sensed the crux from the reports.
'Hamilton,' Nash thought.
In his mind, he saw Marvin, mad and stupid. Why didn't he see this before? Marvin couldn't take ten women and kill them. There is something more going on here.
He went outside and got on his horse. The sun shone its rays directly above Nash's head. Nash pulled on the stirrups and whipped the reins. The horse whickered and moved forward.
It was dusk when Nash reached the palace. The council was over and the King was in his office. Nash tried entering through the front door.
"No more visitors today," the guard said pushing Nash.
"You either let me in now or face the king tomorrow," Nash said looking into the guard's eyes.
The guard frowned and went inside. Nash called out to him as he walked.
"Tell the king that it is Nash Wintere."
The guard came back shortly after. "You may enter."
The King was sitting in a cushioned chair. In front of him was a teak long desk. Over it, Nash saw heaps of papers, an ink pot and a fire lamp. The King was wearing a white nightgown. There was no crown on his head nor a cape over his shoulders. The King looked at Nash and frowned.
"This has to be important or I am taking your head," he spat.
"My grace, I think I have made a mistake," Nash said bowing.
"You could have waited till morning," the king frowned.
"No my grace. I think someone in your council is the true culprit for the missing women," Nash said. His voice was sharp.
The king's eyes widened. "Explain."
"My grace, I was extremely angry when I saw that basement. I did not think of the fact that Marvin is a madman. He could not have done this, my king," Nash said.
"May I ask a question, what does Hamilton do besides being a member of the court?"
"He owns some orphanages," the king's brows raised.
'That explains where the other bodies are from,' Nash thought.
"My king, I believe Hamilton has a part in this," Nash proclaimed.
The King's eyes widened.
"My grace, my artifact, The eyes of clarity, can sense the crux from a place and match with another. The crux from that basement and the crux from Hamilton's reports match," Nash said touching his glasses.
"And what he wrote on those reports were extremely inadequate for a court scholar. It was as if he was stopping anyone from going after these women. He is hiding something my grace," Nash's tone was serious.
The King looked down. He took a deep breath and looked at Nash.
"What are you proposing?"
"I, my men and someone from the Mansabdar, someone who is trustworthy should storm his place tonight," Nash said taking a step forward.
"Don't be stupid. Attacking a man from my council in the middle of the night? What if you were wrong? Will you take responsibility?" The king glared.
"I will, my king," Nash stood proud.
"If I am wrong in this, you may do whatever you please with my life. I have solved many cases with instinct and this time, my instinct says I am right."
The King stood up. "You better be right about this."
"Thank you my grace," Nash said bowing.
Nash, Benton, Elfric, Hale and a Mansabdar named Aron went to Hamilton's manor. It was a white building with blue scalloped roofing.
The black grill gate was open and through it, they entered. Nash looked around and saw no guards or maids. They went to the front door and knocked. The door moved with a creak.
Nash pushed the door opened and the others followed. From the left corner, the stairs winded up. A chandelier burned above, with its light only shining on the ones that came now. Nash heard sounds coming from above and decided to climb it.
Above, he saw a long hall and he heard sounds coming from its end. They walked slowly, watching their every step.
At the end of the hall, they met with a black door. A cocoon with eyes and ears was carved on it. They heard moans and cried from the other side. Light seeped through its gaps. Nash pushed the door slowly. The door opened with a creak.
It was a room that was painted red. Above a chandelier hung, its eery light filled the room. In the middle of the room, there was a long table. Over it, there was a girl gagged and cuffed. Tears flowed from her eyes and dried. Her screams did not leave her mouth. There were cuts all over her body. Blood flowed and clotted from them. She tried looking at the men that entered.
It was Nell Reede and she was naked.