ᴅᴀɴᴅᴇʟɪᴏɴꜱ ( 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 )

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀꜰᴇɪᴛ ᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀʟ

OPHELIA DARLING eagerly walked to the courthouse, with the Baudelaires following just as eagerly. She ignored the walls of the Town Hall decorated with portraits of crows. She usually would have glanced at them for a moment, but  Ophelia's stomach was fluttery feeling all of her emotions hit her at once. Excitement, nervousness, and fear all at once. Hector had also joined them. Everyone got in their seats, and Ophelia took a seat with the Baudelaires.

"Do you think it's true?' Klaus asked.

"I hope so," Ophelia replied. She paused for a moment and continued. "I sincerely hope Count Olaf is captured and sentenced to prison for life."

Klaus fixed his glasses and thought somberly for a moment. "I would too,"

"Settle down, everyone." Elder Annabelle ordered, slamming her grovel. "We'll answer all your questions, starting with the visiting banker."

A man stood up. He had dark coloured skin and was wearing a crisp grey suit with a black tie. He also was wearing a brown top hat, making his head appear rather square. He had a bright smile on his face, that looked quite fake as it revealed way too many teeth.

"Council of Elders, I have arrived in town moments after arriving back in the city after dropping
the Baudelaires off yesterday. When I heard Count Olaf had been captured, I said to myself it was my civic and financial duty to come here and see it with my own two ears." He paused dramatically. "Can it be the truth? Is my long nightmare of dealing with the Baudelaires' long nightmare over?" Ophelia furrowed her eyebrows at the man.

"It is true. Olaf was hiding in the village in a disguise." Elder Annabelle replied promptly.

"Fortunately, a handsome stranger who claimed to be an investigative agent arrived yesterday and captured him." Elder Jemma said.

"We've got him handcuffed outside," added Elder Sam.

"Olaf. Not the handsome stranger," said Elder Annabelle. Ophelia cringed slightly.

"He certainly is a tall drink of water." The children shared a look. 

"The handsome stranger, not Olaf."

"His female associate is quite capable, too." Elder Sam said.

"Will you tell him we're grateful?" asked Violet.

"You can tell him yourself. He's right back there." Elder Jemma said. Ophelia didn't like the look in her eyes. 

"Greetings, all you cool cats. I am famous and..." The man was wearing ridiculous sunglasses which covered up his one eyebrow and green plastic shoes with yellow lightning bolts. He was also wearing a hat and when he grinned, Ophelia could see bright yellow teeth.

"Cool, Detective Dupin." He sang. Ophelia cringed hearing his poor attempt. He snapped his fingers and continued. He scatted and sang an awful song about capturing Count Olaf and putting him in jail. Ophelia turned her gaze and her soft blue eyes made eye contact with Violet's bright blue ones. 

"All right." Ophelia's gaze snapped back to the Detective.

"I found that utterly convincing." Elder Sam said.

"That's Count Olaf." Klaus snapped. Ophelia's eyes sharpened as she looked at the detective.

"I think your prescription is fuzzy, my little four-eyed kitten." Detective Dupin grinned showing crooked teeth.

"You orphans are confused." Elder Jemma started in a slow tone as if talking to a baby. "That is the man who caught Count Olaf."

Elder Annabelle glammed her gravel on the podium. "Officer Luciana, bring in the prisoner," she said.

"Yeah, yeah, baby. Let's get this hootenanny a-hootin'." Detective Dupin said. The door was opened theatrically as Officer Luciana entered. He was dressed in a rumpled suit with a large rip across the shoulder, and a pair of shiny silver handcuffs. He wasn't wearing any shoes or socks, and as Officer Luciana marched him to the platform the children could see that he had a tattoo of an eye on his left ankle, just like Count Olaf had. Ophelia tilted her head at him, as a piece of light blonde hair fell on her shoulders.