Chapter 6 Whispers In The Dark
Sporting his new charcoal linen suit, Asher found himself at a housing company. He felt a little strange wearing such expensive clothes.
Nonetheless, eyeing up the catalogue he had been given, he politely waited. Eventually, a middle-aged man walked towards him, a makeshift clipboard in hand.
Asher listened to his options before asking several questions to narrow down his query. He felt the pinch on his wallet.
"It's alright, it's for work. It will be worth it, I'm sure! In fact, I'll make it so if it kills me. 2535 Colloway Street, a two-bedroom apartment near the office. Supposedly it had a café across the street, a school just down the road. Im not sure why the worker mentioned this to me? Perhaps he looked like a young man eloping?"
After paying the man 15 pence for his administrative prowess, Asher left the Housing agency.
"Mmmm, perhaps today I can treat myself to a public carriage ride. Else, I'll freeze to death before I make it back to Crestcheek Street."
To his delight, he even managed to score himself a window seat. Shortly after his repose began, a man holding a newspaper sat by his side. Asher looked over briefly before offering a terse nod. From the corner of his eye, he caught one of the headlines off the supplementary pages.
"WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN SEWERS BELOW HEARTH UNIVERSITY."
Asher took another glance at the portrait, making sure he didn't recognize her. She was a brunette, quite young, perhaps no older than 18. Such a shame truly. Though he felt like he had seen her before, he couldn't quite recall.
Asher looked away, hoping the man didn't catch him reading over his shoulder. Watching the city go by through the frosted window, he passed the time.
It wasn't long after he had boarded when they arrived on Colloway Street. Disembarking, he handed the conductor 6 pence and wore his hat.
Colloway Street was quite a nice neighborhood. There were children playing in the streets. The buildings were all clean and clearly maintained well. The majority of them had terraces and tiny gardens in front contained by neat wooden fences. The air smelled of breakfast. He saw a boy riding a bicycle, delivering newspapers.
"Surprisingly, Menthil isn't all miserable?"
Asher waved the boy down and purchased a copy, sacrificing a pence, deciding he should start reviewing it daily.
Just knowing recent events could very well be the difference between solving a case and retiring it.
Tucking the newspaper under his arm, he strolled down Colloway Street. He wasn't too worried about directions; after all, he was following the smell of coffee. Soon, he saw a small crowd of people waiting in line for their refreshments. They stood in front of a small cafe by the name of Amerthit Bakery. It would seem it didn't have enough space for the morning crowd. Asher took his spot in the queue and waited patiently for his turn.
In front of him, a woman wearing a green blouse and grey cardigan turned around and looked at him.
Asher drew a sharp breath, then swallowed. Then he reached deep, finding power he didn't know he had. All to prevent himself from staring at the woman's big heart.
The woman in question blinked a couple of times and sniffed the air.
She looked around a couple of times, focusing on random passersby before settling on me. She wore a pensive expression for a moment before her lips curved into a shallow crescent. Her eyes were deep green like forest moss, vibrant and sharp. Her hair was flaxen and straight, tied up so as to not get in her way.
"Good morning," she said.
"Yes, it is... erm... I mean, good morning to you as well," he half-blurted.
The woman chuckled a little at his blunder, earning an imperceptible blush from him.
"You're from around here? Western borough, I think it's called."
Asher reached into his inner pocket, procuring an old pocket watch. It was made of some silver metal. He wasn't sure what he had found; the watch, one night, after all.
"Come to think of it, where exactly did I find it?" he couldn't recall.
Asher silently mused to himself for a moment before redirecting his attention.
Asher then snapped the watch open and noted the time, lest he be late. Then he looked back at the woman whom he had designated a public safety hazard.
"Yes, I've just booked a flat here on Colloway. But I've never once left Menthil somber as it may be, it's home."
The woman seemed intrigued, but the queue had already crossed the café's threshold.
"Well, I've just arrived less than a month ago from Urbs Stellarum. It has been a real struggle to make friends here."
Asher felt his focus slipping again; this time, he'd caught her scent. It wasn't overpowering - rose water and cinnamon, perhaps clove.
Still, it was more than enough for him to experience another faux stupor.
He couldn't help but wear what he thought was a mildly skeptical expression. What sort of places has she been networking? Every lad across the borough must be pining to solve such a "conundrum."
"Is that so? Well, I'm Asher Moretti. It's a pleasure to meet you, and I'd be delighted to enjoy your friendship."
The woman's eyes twinkled with a gleam not unlike a child unwrapping a new toy on Christmas.
"I'm Renee Duval. I hope to see you soon. You're welcome to join me for tea at Market Street, 907. Jusqu'à ce que nous nous revoyions."
Asher made a mental note of her address, then three times over to be sure.
"Well, I'm a bit busy at the moment; however, I will drop by when I get a chance. If not, I'm staying at 2535 Colloway.
Ah, and j'espère bientôt."
She seemed pleased he had acquiesced to her somewhat limited English.
Shooting him a smile, she made a half curtsy then walked past him.
Renee donned a veiled sun hat, clutched her bag of baked goods, and left.
Asher took a little longer than he would like to tear his gaze from her departing figure.
When he was done, he inquired about seating with the clerk. Shortly afterwards, he was enjoying a coffee, unfortunately without cream.
From time to time, he nibbled on the croissant aux Amandes he had ordered. It was delicious, and he enjoyed the almond butter they had snuck inside.
Opening his fresh copy of Menthil Daily, he began to peruse it leisurely.