The Case of Hallingham Manor

Chapter one: The case that was unsolved

The Hallinghams had runaway from the manor but were never quite their normal selves again. Malora could never forget that horrid night. She heard her father shouting downstairs and she woke up. Just after she heard her father shouting she heard a scream from what sounded like to be from her sister and is still traumatized from it. Her mother never left the house since that night. She could never get the image out of her head of her daughters body being brought out of that house. Her father had probably consulted with every single police officer from scotland yard who still could not solve the case. And the youngest. Needless to say mostly everyone thought she was dead but some had hope that the twelve year old little girl would be found. Everyday Scotland Yard would come to the house ( if you could call it a house ) and ask specific details, times and dates so they could finally solve the case but everyday nothing happened. On tuesday the 28th of september 1889 (where our story begins), in the house that the Hallingham family used temporarily, part of the family were eating dinner. Malora and her father were sat in the kitchen eating cod, mashed potatoe and broccoli at the table. Mrs Hallingham was sat near the records flicking through them to find music to put on the phonograph that didn't sound depressing to her.

' Will you stop doing that and come and eat Elena please' said Malcom. Elena didn't answer and kept turning the dial over and over. She rarely ever spoke since the night they were driven out of the manor.
' Elena will you stop that' ! shouted Malcom
' Malcom could you please be quiet' she snapped back. Malcom's face went red with anger. He stood up, went over to the record box and threw it across the room. Elena stared at him for what seemed like forever.
' I said sit at the table now'! he shouted
' No I'm not someone who is going to be bossed around like the people in the workhouse Malcom' ! Elena shouted.' Your not the only one in this family thats lost someone they love'! Elena ran upstairs crying. Malcom looked at his daughter and Malora sat there stunned at what had just happened.
' Malora could you please leave the room' her father said and without question she ran upstairs to her room to continue reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Malcom was left alone downstairs with his temper still at a high boiling point. Two hours later, at seven' o clock there was a knock at the door. Malcom got up from the table and went to answer it. He opened the door and there stood a very sophisticated looking young woman.
' Good evening Mr Hallingham' said the woman.'I am Detective Jane Jones and I have been assigned to your case by Scotland Yard'.
' That is poppycock ' Malcom said.' Scotland Yard would never hire a person such as yourself'
' Are you criticising me Mr Hallingham' the detective said shocked.
' Well I just think it's quite preposterous tha-'. Malcom paused as he saw another person standing next to the detective. It was the only other detective he knew of. Mycroft Raliegh.

' Mycroft Raliegh,why are you here my goodman'!? Malcom exclaimed
' I unfortunately wasn't happy with my detective role in Devon so I came up here and became an assistant to this fine young lady' said Mycroft. ' She has already solved three murder cases'. Malcom stood there ashamed and embarassed of how he acted towards the detective.
' May we come in Mr Hallingham ' ? asked Detective Jones.
' Yes of course you may detective' Malcom replied. Malcom opened the door fully and showed the two of them in. He closed the door and offered them a glass of water.
' Right Mr Hallingham shall we talk about that night' Detective Jones said finally.
' Of course yes lets get to bussiness oh and please call me Malcom' he replied kindly.
' On the night you had to flee the manor what were you and your family doing' ? detective Jones asked
' Lets see I was fast asleep with my wife and the kids were in their bedroom asleep as well'
' Ok continue'
' I heard one of our china vases fall and break so I went to see what had happened'
' Go on'
' I got to the living area and no one was there and the vase was in shards all over the floor. So I went to the kitchen to get a broom. Then I started to hear footsteps coming from another room'
' Do you know which room Mr Hallingham'
' No I didn't see who it was and I couldn't see which direction they were coming from'
' Did the footsteps sound heavey like a mans footstep or light like a womans footstep'?
' I-I couldn't tell really they sounded like a bit of both'
' So that is when you paniced and got everyone out of the manor and you haven't been back since'
' Yes that is correct detective'
Malora came downstairs and saw the three of them in the living room and for some reason she started to shake in fear. Malcom saw amediately and went over to Malora worried.
' Malora sweetheart....whats wrong' her father asked.
' Dad I have to tell you something...about that night' Malora said in a paniced state.
' Yes what about that night darling ' he replied.
' I...I heard a scream '
' Yes who from Malora'
' Melissa'!