"Please tell me the two of you have nothing to do with the man's death." I turned to Amo and Nasir, giving them my best stare-down to intimidate them into complying and answering.
"I know I'm not responsible!" Amo said as he raised his hands in a surrendering pose, "Ask him," he pointed at Nasir who rolled his eyes in response, "he's the one plotting and planning. I am free of guilt."
I regarded Nasir, squinting my eyes as I waited for him to clear himself. Nasir changed his posture, puffing his chest and leaning back, "Well… I have no direct relation to the unfortunate incident."
"Direct? What do you mean by direct? You either are the cause or you're not, choose." I said between gritted teeth, my patience already running thin.
"I did nothing to the old man, if that is what you inquired." he finally said, "But I doubt the time of his death to be a coincidence."
"He choked on his vomit and died. There was a bottle of liquor under the counter, half full, no other empty bottles. He smelled of cleanliness, his clothes were in proper state." I concluded.
"And? He got drunk therefore he barfed. What's so odd about it?" Amon asked while stuffing his face with pastries.
"Do you believe a man from Leini to have Alcohol poisoning from half a bottle? Haven't you seen the amount of liquor served every dinner? Besides, he kept his attire proper and attended to his bookstore until late at night. Do you think a man with such a reputation would get drunk and leave his living to burn? Candles were scattered on the floor, it's very unlikely." I told Amo who was more invested in his food than in what we had to say.
"What do you suspect the reason behind his death to be?" Asked Nasir, fetching a paper and sketching on it as I explained my theory: "Blue death. there were no signs of entry yet the door was open, no signs of fight or struggle. The place is known to be full of them anyway and the symptoms match. If it's not blue death then it's something similar."
Amo choked on his puffed creamy pastry, he hit his chest over and over, struggling for breath. "Wrong pipe?" I teased.
"Blue- blue death? Kach Jinni? Did a Jinni do it?" he asked me, eyes bugging out of their sockets as he waited eagerly for a response.
Nasir slapped his back and a piece of bread flew out of his mouth and over my head, "No you idiot, Blue death is a poisonous plant."
"Eew Amo! Cover your mouth, would you?" I complained in disgust.
"Oh thank god! I thought you meant–" he stopped when he realised what he was about to admit, "I mean to say," he cleared his throat while his dignity lay scattered on the floor, "it is not the time for folklore stories to- uh, to , to circle and cause a commotion. People might believe such paranormal stories and fear for nothing."
"Mhmm, that is exactly why you started shaking and sweating. Definitely not because you're scared of Jinns yourself." I cooed, very amused at the huge man trembling in front of me.
"Pfft, me? I would never!" He declared, then swallowed visibly as he asked, "you're sure? Right. I don't want the people of Esteria to be scared."
"Of course you don't." I told him as I pinched his cheek.
"Back to business, you two." Nasir ordered and we fixed our posture so quickly. Back straight and eyes focused.
"It was a good move to offer to take care of the funeral. Make sure to convince any relatives he might have had to sell you the property. I want that place to be turned upside down, I want every corner to be thoroughly searched." He commanded.
"Sir yes sir!" Amo and I answered in union, only to laugh afterwards.
"But what is that you're looking for?" Amo asked.
"I'm glad you asked." Nasir nodded at the paper in his hand, "I want you to find this."
"I'm hoping you never consider arts as a career choice, we do not want a broke & grumpy Nasir." Amo joked, and I coughed in my palm to cover my laugh.
But it soon turned into a real cough as I recognized the shape he drew, it was none other than the box I have strapped to my thigh.
"And what might that be?" I said as I feigned ignorance.
"Since you asked then I suppose you did not recognize it at the store. It's a bronze safe, the size of my palm with a floral lock at the front."
"Floral? What kind of flower?" I inquired, my palms growing sweaty.
"Those red ones with layers of petals and thorns at the stem." He answered me with a dismissive gesture of his hand.
"Do you mean roses? Naisr, do you not know the difference between a rose and a flower?" I asked in disbelief.
"Rose, Flower, same plant!"
"Take that back!" I fiercely countered.
"I hate to break it to the two of you but that's not what you should be worried about." Amo interjected, "You haven't seen the box have you?"
"It's a safe." Nasir corrected.
"With a rose on it." I added.
"Cut the sass you two!" Amo physically separated us, "Again, the rosy safe is lost. What makes you think the perpetrator didn't take it?"
"Because they do not know what we're looking for." Nasir responded, "They just know what;s inside of it."
"Which is?" Amo asked, sparing me the question and suspense.
"You two will know when it's time."
"You mentioned something about the duke recommending that place, is he in on your little plan?" I inquired.
"We talked about ink and he happened to mention that place, it's nothing to be suspicious about." He discarded me.
"I see. Now let me go get my beauty-sleep. I encountered some traumatising events today, and this," I signalled to my face, " comes at an expensive price." I told them as I left, my steps hurried as I struggled to keep the safe strapped to my thigh.