Kings Gambit

Scotch Game - Part 2

I took a deep breath. This trial is going nowhere, as expected...

"Could you please take this seriously?" Isabelle replied to Jasper's comment.

"But why should I? I still think we should forget about this trial. This trial is what the mastermind wants us to do after all." Jasper replied with grey eyes, bringing us back to a standstill.

"What's your goal, Jasper? You keep on sidetracking this trial." I glared. I have to admit that he's good at manipulating the mood.

"Who knows," Jasper responded mischievously.

"You know what? I think Jasper is the killer. That would explain why he would want to sidetrack this trial," Angel scoffed.

"Then vote for me, Angel, and see what happens." Jasper smiled back.

"If he was the killer, then why would he let everyone vote for him?" Willow softly spoke.

"Tch beats me. But I think he's just too damn suspicious." Angel replied with hostility.

"Angel, hold on to your accusations. For now, it is too early to make a decision." I turned to my left to look at her. She's on a black tile. Maybe the color doesn't have a meaning after all...

"I know," Angel looked back at me with a glare.

"At this rate, I don't think we'll get anywhere," Alex pushed up his glasses methodically. A profound silence followed afterward, only to be interrupted by none other than Jasper.

"Fine, fine, I'll participate. You all seem lost without me." Jasper tilted his head with a chuckle. His eyes shone green and yellow.

"We're not lost without you. You are just really good at being a nuisance," Alex stood like a pillar of ice. Jasper shifted his attention toward me while ignoring Alex.

"Hank, tell me, when do you think Tyrone was murdered?"

"At most three hours before we found the body. It was relatively recent," I responded.

"How can you be so sure?" Leo replied back.

"Just off of the coloration and heat from his body, if he had died the night before, then he would be freezing and pale. He was found in the cold storage room after all." I described while adjusting my tie.

"I can confirm this... I saw Tyrone pass through the dining room at around 8:30 or so," Claire softly spoke.

"You did? How can we trust that?" George anxiously pointed his finger at Claire

"I knew I shouldn't have said anything..." Claire clawed at her pale arm. I have reason to trust her. If we can prove her innocents, then we'll have a lead to go on.

"I'm sure Claire isn't the killer in this case. Her alibi of being in the dining room is the most solid. I trust what she says." Or at least I just can't see her as the killer...

"I-If you say so. Sorry for getting ahead of myself," George tipped his hat over his eyes. A soft smile formed from Claire in contrast to the tiredness in her eyes.

"Hey, hey, Claire! Did Tyrone seem suspicious at all when you saw him? I mean, besides the killer, you were the last to see him alive." Jasper replied back with a grin.

"How do you mean suspicious?" Claire responded, her voice tired.

"Like, did he say anything to you? It sounds like he just passed through without saying anything." Jasper elaborated.

"Well, I did find it a bit strange." Claire sighed, "He didn't say anything to me, no."

"Then do you think the killer also informed him to meet in the storage room?" Annie pointed out.