Kings Gambit

Chapter 12 - Missing Motive

"The door has been unlocked?" I found myself standing on the second floor in front of the dark oak door that Jasper and I failed to open. Now mere hours after the meeting, it was cracked open as I stood there dumbfounded. Is this where Jasper had been the whole time?

"Looks like it," Angel stood next to me with her hand on her chin.

"How in the hell did he open it?" Matt glanced around at the others.

"Perhaps there was a clue at the trial?" Leo pondered, his head tilted, tapping a pen on his temple.

"Of course, I wouldn't doubt it if he figured it out in the mits of finding the culprit." I straightened my tie with discomfort.

"Shall we head in? This new area could be important." Alex suggested, smirking as he lifted his glasses.

"Both Claire and Willow aren't here, though. Shouldn't they come with us?" Annie pointed out.

"Let them rest. They can check it out when they wake up. I doubt that what we find will be all too important." I replied, looking over my left shoulder to Annie.

"Pessimistic much? But I suppose you're probably right." Annie sighed. With Annie taking the lead, the rest followed. I felt a tap on my shoulder causing me to turn and look at Angel.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I need to tell you something important. I didn't get the chance last night." Angel put her hands behind her back, tilting her head at me. I placed my hand on my neck.

"Is that so?" I responded. Angel took a moment before speaking.

"Tell me if this sounds familiar at all. This person has a role that will lead them closer to the mastermind, the savior for the innocent. Does that ring any bells?" Angel stared into my eyes. Of course, that's my role...

"So that's your role then, glad to know that it is in the same kind of vein as mine," I crossed my arms and sighed. Angel chuckled a bit.

"Sorry, sorry, I would've told you sooner, but I had to make sure that you were on my side." Angel glanced back and forth to make sure no one was listening before continuing.

"The Investigator, that's the role I possess. After every trial, I get to choose a hint on anyone's role. As you've noticed, I picked you. I needed to know whether or not I could trust you." Angel explained with a soft smile.

"By telling me this, are you proposing an alliance?" I asked.

"Only if you explain your role more thoroughly. See, my role only provides a small dose of information. So I don't exactly know what your role is called or the specific details." Angel sighed. I guess her role would be too decisive if it told her directly...

"Right," I cleared my throat.

"My role is called the Sherrif. It gives me a hint to the mastermind after every trial, or at least that is what it claims to do. To be honest, the "hint" that it gave me was vague." I elaborated. 

"Vague?" Angel replied.

"It showed me many memories, none clear, besides one." I clenched onto my tie. "I remembered Jasper, just his face, I can't remember other details of the memory"

"Hank, Angel, what are you doing idling down here?" Annie called down.

"Nothing, Angel was just telling me about some weird markings she noticed while exploring." I replied.

"Weird markings? That's strange." Annie responded.

"Yeah, but it might mean nothing." Angel sighed.

"Well, let me know if anything comes of it. But you guys need to come up here." Annie headed back up the stairs through the door. I glanced back at Angel and followed with a nod.