Half asleep I walk over to my bedroom I turn on the lights Azura is rolling around in bed on closer inspection she seems to be rolling around. I call out to her, "Azura! Azura wake up!" Finally after a few moments her eyes snap open she seems she's a bit confused. She mumbles, "Who- what? Where am I?" I say, "Hey it's me Nero don't you remember were trying to solve a case together you spent the night?" She nods, "R-right why did you barge in?" I retort, "You were screaming in your sleep you had me worried." She frowns still shaken a bit. She sits up her eyes sullen, "I was having a bad dream it's nothing just something from a long time ago." I frown, "Want to talk about it?" Azura shakes her head, seems like it wouldn't be a good idea to pry. I suggest, "That's fine, but if you do want to talk just let me know." I turn to leave, but she grabs my pajamas. I turn back to her, "Uh Azura?" She looks at me pale, "Nero... I know we just met and you don't have to, but maybe could you just stay in here tonight." I smile, "I already told you we are friends, and I will help a friend anyway I can."
I bring in my blanket, and pillow from the other room and plop down on the carpet its a bit uncomfortable, but I don't mind. It would appear she wasn't ready to go right to sleep because she asks, "Do you have any ideas who the culprit is yet?" I humor her, "Not yet we don't have enough to go off of yet, but this is a good first step." Eventually we both pass out talking about aspects of the case, and other more mundane details. I wake up with drool on my chin my alarm goes off, and I get ready to head out I set the alarm earlier today since I was almost late yesterday. Azura rolls back over I walk up to her and blow on her face she lets out a long yawn, "Wah oh its just you." She doesn't seem like a morning person she goes to the bathroom to get ready in the mean time I get dressed, and decide to make us some breakfast. I make something simple just some eggs and toast.
Once it is ready I get dressed, and get my bag ready she comes out of the bathroom with her clothes on from yesterday. It can't be helped she didn't exactly plan on spending the night, she also looks better than last night. When she sees the food she says, "Hm thanks I suppose a more common breakfast is nice every once and awhile." I take that as a compliment. and we both eat, then we leave the house after gathering the rest of our stuff. We head on the train headed for the estate, and we arrive at the estate a bit earlier than 9:00 am. Once we are back at the estate we greet Silk, and head back inside we make our way back to the study.
I take out the two blueprints we made last night, and lay them out on the desk. Despite taking all night to make them we hadn't really analyzed them yet to find what we were looking for. One conclusion that we had both made last night when we were talking in the dark was that the hidden passage had to be in the study. Silk explained that she heard nobody open the locked door, and the windows aren't an option they are bound tight. Therefore the only conclusion is the sound that Silk heard was the culprit was running in a hidden passage in the walls. The only way in, and out would of been this passage, but the question is where was this passage. That is the reason we drew the blueprints the reason we drew the entire house was because it could extend to another room in the house. We had no way of knowing exactly where this passage started or ended, but looking at the blueprints would give us an idea.
For starters I pointed at the left wall of the study on the blueprint I explained to Azura, "This spot seems suspicious." She stared at me blankly, "Huh? I see nothing wrong with it? What do you mean?" I smile at her, "The measurements we took last night make something apparent here first of all take a look at the layout of these two rooms. I point at the study first the room is not as circular as I first thought, but rather is more like an oval shape. I explain, "This left side is a lot more squeezed in than the other sides." Azura points out, "So? The right side is also pushed in." I continue, "Right, but past this wall should lead to the outside, and yet given the measurements it appears like there is something more in between the wall, and the outside." I wait for her to process this then I add, "It is possible that the secret passage is possibly very close to us right now. For example that left wall could hold a secret on it."
We make our way over to the wall a giant painting hangs in front it takes up almost the entire blank brown wall. The painting is of a man in a uniform he has a thick white beard, he looks tall in the art, and has a pipe in his mouth. I observe, "I think this painting needs to come down I mean if I was gonna hide a secret mechanic it would be behind the painting." Azura nods, and helps me take down the painting it takes a few minutes, but we get it down, and lay it on it's side. The wall has nothing notable on it at first glance I don't see a button, or any hidden mechanics. I try pushing on various spots on the wall, but nothing seems to activate anything on the wall. Azura tries knocking on the wall, and other various methods too, but ultimately nothing happens.
Azura speaks up, "Are you sure the hidden passage is here?" I frown, "Yeah I was pretty sure.. hmm.." I think for a moment if there isn't a spot for any mechanism here then perhaps there would be something on the other side. The question is where would this hidden passage lead? Outside? Something about that seems wrong to me. Why would they build a hidden passage outside when the front door isn't that far away. I assume this passage was for the maids, almost like a convenient service path for the big mansion. I walk over to the blueprints again, and look over the various rooms. I look at Azura, "What if we have been thinking about this wrong." She looks at me with a slight frown, "What do you mean Nero?" I suggest, "What if this passage starts somewhere else in the estate. Thinking about this from a practical standpoint the only place that makes sense for the passage to lead would be directly above us."
I look at the blueprints there is a room directly above our heads that could lead to this room if say a staircase was hidden. I study the room above us on the blueprints it looks fine at first glance, but just like this room it seemed to be missing a small piece of it. I smile, "Azura the room above us has a piece of interest on the right side of the wall, lets check it out." She nods, and we both head up to the second floor to the room in question. Azura moves over the right wall she begins pressing the wall, and rubbing her hand along the walls surface. She shakes her head, "Nothing here either maybe a secret passage was thinking too hopefully." Frustrated I run my hand over the wall to no avail nothing happens. An idea comes to me I guess it is about time I used my chronoscopy. I concentrate for a moment placing my hand on the wall Azura comes to my side she asks, "What are you doing? Thinking?" I whisper, "Please give me a moment Azura."
I try to direct my consciousness to around the time of the murder on the say that Reginald would die. It takes come concertation to go back weeks at a time, and a lot out of me, but I would need to do it to get a lead. My consciousness begins to fade, and I see an image I am in this room a bit before the time of the crime. When it comes back I am no longer myself I see an unfamiliar hand touching the wall. I frown just where was the stupid trigger dammit I want to get this done as soon as possible. The client Jack was an impatient man it would be smart to not keep him waiting much longer. I find it on the desk near the wall a tiny button I push it, and the plan is in motion tonight I would get a big payday. My minds snaps back I feel the full weight of the vision I stumble back, and Azura quickly grabs me and helps me to a bed. Somewhat frantically she asks, "Woah are you ok? Are you tired from last night?" I smile wide, "Nope exactly the opposite I am excited we got our first lead!