The Murders at the Beilschmidt Manor

Chapter 9

An Accomplice?

Maria watched Lili suspiciously as the two brothers picked Lili up and took her up the stairs. Something wasn't right about her.

"Maria?" Ivan mused, scaring the Portuguese woman once more.

"Don't do that!" She hissed, hitting him lightly with her clean gloved hand. "That is the second time I was scared today!"

"Many apologies," Chuckled the Russian. His chuckle was gruff and low, as if it came from deep within his chest. "I was just wondering how the investigation was coming, and if I could help in any way?"

Maria contemplated his demeanor for a moment. Ivan seemed a bit untrustworthy at the moment, but looks could be deceiving. Lili came to mind, and she decided that would be her best bet to go on.

"You can help actually," She said, taking off her gloves carefully and grabbing her notepad and pen. "Tell me everything you know about Lili."

~

Arthur and Allistor set Lili down on the bed, panting. She was a bit heavy for a girl her size.

"What does this girl weigh?" Allistor muttered. "She feels heavier than me!"

"You're right," Arthur muttered back. "Something isn't right about this..."

Arthur began to examine the creases of her dress. Allistor watched with interest and a bit of disgust, seeing as it was a lady he was touching. The Brit lifted up a fold and came across something he didn't expect. Slowly, he moved her dress upwards, only for his brother to smack him.

"That's a little girl!" He hissed to his brother quietly.

"Hush up, I'm not going to try anything! There's something attached to her leg!" He whispered in anger. Allistor nodded and stepped to the side, allowing the detective to do what he does best. Examine.

Arthur moved the red dress upwards and they both gasped loudly.

~

"The servant girl? Well, I do know she's been working for Lord Beilschmidt for as long as I've known him, which is long time. She's 16, and has Swiss decent. She's a bit of a suspicious character now that I think about it. I think I overheard her talking to one of the guests to an old friend of hers... A Lai? Or a may?"

"You mean Mei?!" Maria asked, eyes wide.

"Da! It was Mei!" He said, smiling. "They were just outside the staircase to the basement and I was on my way to go use the restroom when I overheard them talk about Antonio. I also think I heard a dog, but," He shrugged. Maria jumped excitedly.

"Mei is alive?!" She asked, eyes wide and excited.

"I think. Or was it Lien? No, I think it was Mei. Da, definitely Mei."

Maria couldn't hold her excitement in any longer. She kissed Ivan passionately before she let go of his face.

"So-Sorry, Mister Ivan. I was just excited, tis all."

Ivan blinked and put a hand to his lips, blushing softly. "No need to be sorry, Maria. It was pleasant."

Maria smiled sweetly, kissed his cheek, and ran to go tell Arthur the good news.

A revolver clicked behind Ivan, causing the Russian to turn and face the wielder.

"You did good, Russian. You got her off my trail, but you didn't get her off Lili's. If anything, you screwed all three of us over."

"It isn't my murder, why am I counted in this?" Ivan grumbled to the masked person.

"Because you gave a detective false information. You're now an accomplice, mister Ivan, and I can't have accomplices littering my trail."

"Then what is Lili? And I didn't give her false information, I just gave her the wrong names."

"Oh, she's an accomplice too, and that's still false info. Also, don't you worry about dear ol' Lili. She'll be taken care of in good time."

"You're an evil bastard, and I won't lie for you any longer! Maria!" He yelled.

A single shot was fired.

Oh no! Cliff hangers!

Is mister Ivan dead?

Is Lili truly an accomplice?

What did Arthur and Allistor find?

Will Maria and Ivan make it to the end?

Leave the answer you think in the comments below and until next chapter!