I read over the email the reward was triple the reward over the last case it was worth 15,000 mints, which means my mom was serious this time. The price of 7,500 mints was the buy in fee which is no small sum for our family that could buy me six months worth of rent for this apartment. I could tell why the person who was killed he was a pretty famous inventor in this city Reginald Fairweather. Not only that, but since the case had been open for awhile it had time to gain attention. The case was at least a C rank case compared to the last case that was more like a D rank case. The case could even be graded C+ given its complexity was very high I read over the notes I had for the case, and admittedly I was getting excited.
The city of Sweetwater was very large, and there is a very ritzy area of the city were most of the detective families live called Summit View Estates. This is were Reginald Fairweather lived he was murdered in his house a few weeks back, but right now the case has gotten cold. From what I can tell Reginald was found dead in his study, and the room was locked from the inside, with all windows being secured tightly. The victim was shot in the head, and the revolver was left at the scene. The weapon was found in perfect condition with no fingerprints on the handle, and no other signs of struggle are evident according to on scene investigators in the briefing. The only reason the gun was shown to be the murder weapon is because it was a six shot revolver with the bullets matching up, and the forensic ballistics matched with the bullet wound in the victims skull.
I close my laptop I get ready for the day tomorrow when I wake up am expected at the scene at 9:00 AM sharp. I eat dinner, pack my satchel for tomorrow, and head to bed. I ponder for a moment before sleep catches up to me. The case was abandoned by most other detectives because it was deemed not worth the effort, but in the email my mom added that one detective was still actively pursing the case. I wonder what this person was like to be so determined to solve this case. I wonder what commitment, or obligation would drive someone to pursue such a case even when everyone else had given up on it. I find it hard to sleep after thinking about the case I was like a kid getting ready for a field trip. Eventually as I ponder details of the case sleep finally finds me late into the night,
I wake up at 8:20 AM to my phone alarm I didn't feel fully rested, but nonetheless I get up get dressed, and eat toast with eggs for breakfast since I am not a great cook, and brush my teeth. I needed to leave pretty early to make it by 9:00 AM since the estate house is pretty far north of the downtown area. I head out of the house a few people nod, and I nod back I say hello to my friend in the muffin shop, but hurry ahead to the train station. I would need to get on a different train today one that would take me northward instead of westward to the rougher part of the city. I get on after a few minutes of waiting the train is packed even more than usual. I guess this line was more popular because it was going to a nicer part of the city. A lot of people worked in this northern part of the city since a lot of businesses setup shop were the money is. I see lights pass by as the train barrels towards its destination.
The train reaches its destination. and I arrive at the Northern end of town it is a short mile or so walk to the Summit View Estates. I brought water, but its hot out so I arrive to my destination a bit later than I anticipated. It was cutting it somewhat close I still had about 10 or so mins to arrive on time. I arrive at the gates to the estate area luckily for me Reginald's estate house wasn't far from gates. I arrive and a guard house stops me from entering, but I talk to the guard and flash my detective ID they nod, and let me in. It takes me a few minutes to get on the right road on foot, and find her house. Once I spot it I know its his right away because there is a big F above his doorway. I would assume the Fairweather family has some history in this city, so it is hardly surprising their symbol would be above the door. It also matches the look I saw the online, I approach the house.
Gates surround the property I see an intercom next to the gate I press it, and wait a few seconds to get a response. Finally a woman's voice answers, "Hello? Fairweather residence how can I help you?" I speak up, "I am here to investigate my name is Nero Gingerbread a detective of the city." The young woman responds, "Ah they said you'd be coming right come on in Mr. Gingerbread sir." The gate slowly swing open, and I enter the property the gate shuts with a high pitched creaking sound. I enter the property immediately I notice how well maintained the grass is I could swear its been measured down to the tiniest detail. In front of me a giant fully brick house stands to call it large would be an understatement. It stands two story tall if I were to guess I would say roughly 12,000 sq feet, and it has a historic feel to it.
I resisted to urge to start sketching the layout, and instead I focused on the woman coming to meet me from the front door. The woman was in a housekeeper uniform she looked a bit older than me I would assume mid twenties. She had dark purple hair that went down her back in a long arch, her hair was jelled back. Her blue eyes seeming to stare through my soul as she looked at me with a slight smile on her face. I showed her my badge as a formality, and she nodded, "Mr. Gingerbread nice to meet you my name is Silk right this way sir I will lead you to the study." I say from behind her as I follow, "Yeah nice to me you just call me Nero." She didn't miss a beat very to the point no more greeting than necessary her pace was also fast seemed she had other matters to attend to. She leads me to a small circular office in the eastern portion of the estate wooden mahogany floors decorate most of the estate.
The place had a dark earthy ascetic to it contrary to his profession being on the cutting edge of science. Many archaic paintings decorate the home some showing a bit of wear it would appear that they had been hung up a long time. I ask before stepping inside, "When was this place built Silk?" She pauses her attempts to hurry away momentarily halted, "I believe the year 2447 around 84 years ago it has been modernized overtime." I ask one more question, "Do you have any blueprints of the house?" Silk puts her hands up to his forehead in contemplation, "No I don't believe we do, or at least I wouldn't be privy of where they would be sorry. Now if there are no more questions I should be going I will leave you to your investigation." I step inside the room I say back, "Right thanks Silk." She bows with a serious expression, and then she leaves the room in a rush. I find her behavior a little odd, but I guess she has a lot of cleaning to do or something she didn't have time to play a host.
I look around the room the study seems to be collecting dust here after weeks of isolation only the police, and detectives have been in here after all. Out of the rooms in the estate this one is all that big there is a few bookshelves on the wall, a desk in the center, and a large painting of a man I don't recognize on the wall. I look at the painting closer if I were to wager a guess I would say that it was a painting of someone apart of the Fairweather family. Most of the room remains untouched to preserve evidence, but there is no body only tape that outlines the body. The email my mom sent out had pictures of the corpse, and the autopsy report. I read it last night it would appear Reginald died instantly the bullet hitting his brain, and killing him on the spot. Next to the outline of the body a six shot revolver is sitting in perfect condition I should start with the murder weapon. I lean down to examine the murder weapon, but suddenly I am interrupted by a feeling that someone was behind me.
I turn around to see a girl about my age with blonde hair flowing down her back her hair has a little twirl in the front reminiscent of Iskandar's hair. Her arms were crossed as she looked down at me her purple eyes looking at me with a slight frown. She had a white pin on the right side of her hair, a gold necklace with a pendant on the front around her neck. Her noble birth was shown in her clothes blue, and gold frilly buttoned up top with her bottoms being white silk pants. She points down at me a flash of Déjà vu crosses my mind as she says, "Who let this mutt into the study begone with you your services won't be needed here."