Cherry Red Murder

Cherry Red Stains

Author's Note

Hi! Sorry I didn't upload in over a week. I was traveling, and couldn't type up much. I hope you'll forgive me :D. This one goes to DarkxCl0uds (you're the besterest friend ever) and my cousin, R. Bowling balls :). Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to upvote if you did! Bah what am I doing, rambling. No one wants my boring comments. Here's the story. Love y'all so much!

-C

The mansion was in chaos. Jane was sobbing uncontrollably while being held back by her husband. "

NO!" she shrieked, "I don't believe it!"

Yet it was true. Elise lay in bed, her head tilted back as if she could've been sleeping. Kate stood in the corner of the room, her eyes dark and unreadable. 

Jane bent down and kissed her daughter's forehead. When she rose, there was a maniacal glint in her eyes.

"Someone killed her," she said, her eyes twitching, "someone killed her and they will pay. No one leaves the city. No guest leaves the house."

And that is why she hired Madeline Hawksworth.

Madeline Hawksworth was a private detective. She had just finished a long case involving burglary and a bowling ball. When she arrived back in her office, she removed her winter coat and hat. She attempted to remove as much snow from her frizzy red hair as possible. Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes and attempted to sleep.

Ring

Her telephone woke her up.

"Hawksworth office, how can I help you?" she grumbled, rubbing her freckled nose.

"Miss Hawksworth, this is Jacob Kingwell."

Madeline internally groaned; she, like many of the people in the seventh state, disliked the Kingwells and avoided talking to them as much as possible.

"M-my daughter Elise is dead. M-my wife is mad and claims that s-she was k-killed. I beg of you!" she could hear the man trembling on the phone, "Clarify my daughter's death to put my wife at ease. We'll pay you anything you like."

Though she hated the idea of helping the snobby leaders, a girl was dead.

"I'll come by noon," she said, and hung up.

The mansion was still decorated from the night before. Streamers hung from the ceiling but with a more haunted look. She was led to a library that was 20 feet tall and had no windows. The staff, guests, and family were all in the room, assembled in a semi-circle so that when Madeline opened the door, she felt surrounded from all sides.

Jane was in the middle, looking defeated. However, when she saw Madeline she jolted up.

"Miss Hawksworth!" She said, taking her hand,"You've come for the murderer!"

"We don't know that yet Lady Kingwell," she replied courteously.

"Whatever you have to do to catch the murderer, do it!"

"I will keep that in mind, Lady Kingwell," she said.

"I'd assume you'd want to interview the guests, Miss Hawksworth," said Jane.

"Actually, I'd like to start by examining the body, then interviewing you if you don't mind, Lady Kingwell," she said.

Jane gasped. "You can't possibly accuse me! I'm her mother!" she screamed, her voice echoing around the large room.

Jane clearly wasn't in her right mind, so instead, Madeline chose a more calming approach. "Lady Kingwell," she said, "of course I don't accuse you. I simply want your story of what happened last night. Besides, if you don't want to, I won't force you."

Jane didn't hear her. "I won't talk about it. Won't. WON'T. WON'T!!!"

"Lady Kingwell," said Madeline, "Calm down. I would first like to see the body."

"Body..." Jane echoed, "Do as you wish," she said, and slumped over.

"Now," said Madeline, "Who can take me to see the body?"

It was a sad procession to take Detective Hawksworth. Led by Stephan, no older than twelve, followed by Kayla (Jane's personal maid), Madeline, and Jacob. They were greeted by two strange-looking police officers.

"Hullo," one said stiffly, "I'm Martin." He had a toothbrush moustache that he kept itching.

"I'm Martina," said the other. She had a mop of blond hair on her head, and wore a pair of circular sunglasses. She spoke with an accent that made her seem like she was from Boston."Ke-," Martin elbowed her, "uhh... Martin and I came here because we were called by Lady Kingwell. We are officers of the law, and we therefore must enforce it. Which is why we came here. Because of the law." She nodded with enthusiasm at her last statement.

Martin glared at her. "A girl has been killed. We are here to uhh... make sure that the murderer gets caught. Speaking of which, do you all have the authority to be here?"

"This is Detective Hawksworth," said Jacob, "She is in charge of leading the investigation. We are here to examine the room."

Martin looked flustered. "Well... uhh... get in there," he said, and opened the door.

When they entered the room, nothing had been changed, except for the fact that Elise's body was covered by a large white sheet. Madeline walked into the room. She walked straight to the bed, and pushed aside the sheet.

Madeline was not afraid of corpses. She knew that when someone died, they would die, and that people should just live their lives normally until they did. It was just another object. It couldn't harm her or anyone else.

When she moved the sheet back to examine Elise's dead body, she could see no injury. Apart from the unnaturally bluish-grey color of her skin and of course, the fact that she was dead, Madeline could detect nothing wrong with her. As she was moving, she could, however, see the slightest trace of red on the girl's bottom lip.

She continued her examination, and eventually moved around the room. She picked up a cup that she found in the corner. The liquid inside was red. Cherry red.

"The girl has been poisoned," she said finally.

"How do you know she was poisoned?" said Kayla quickly.

"No physical injury was on her body, yet she had a small stain of something red on her mouth. I found a cup in the room. It smells strange. Unlike any drink. I am certain that if we were to send this to the police to scan, they would detect poison," said Madeline.

"Who would've done something like that?" gasped Stephan, his face paling, "I didn't think that someone actually killed Elise."

"Well," said Madeline, "From what I heard, Elise was a brilliant girl. It had to be someone who she trusted to give her a drink. Unless it was natural poisoning. Or she ordered it, of course."

"What do you mean?" said Kayla, "Why would she order something to lead to her own death? It makes no sense."

"It doesn't to me either," confessed Madeline, "Which is why we need to go interview everyone here the night of the party."

She turned to exit the room.

"Who first, Miss Hawksworth?" said Jacob.

"Come," she said, "I need to go interview Lady Jane Kingwell."