Rogan the Detective ONC

The Intimidation

I was as confused as a beer at a wine party by his statement. Wasn't he the one who invited us all, the organizer of the whole mystery event? It all had to be a part of the game because nothing else made sense to me.

"But, sir, aren't you the one who prepared this whole event?" the brave woman whose name I was yet to learn asked. "The invitation mentioned this estate, so I naturally assumed..."

"Absolutely not! I would have never debased myself in participating in such a ridiculous farce as your little mystery! I am only doing this because properly managing this estate needs great sums of money, and that ridiculous murderwithme company offered me a large payout for your funny little escapades," the way he said it as if he was spitting out something disgusting made it clear that he meant it. Still, I thought it might all be just a part of the immersion the company offered. "But I am here to warn you that you are not to disturb my staff or damage my property or else... Theobold, show them to their rooms and ensure they stay in the south wing only. I do not wish to see their faces ever again."

The bitterness and spite in his voice didn't really get to me, although my female sidekick seemed to have been hurt by the harsh words while my male assistant was simply thoughtful. Whether I was immune to the venom of the master (the rude guy never even introduced himself) because I was just a fool or because I stubbornly stuck to the belief that it was all part of the game, I am not sure, but I was undeterred.

I was even more excited, to be honest.

The fellow sounded like an old cranky master of the house that I've often seen in the novels I usually read. Maybe that's why I was convinced he was part of the mystery we were about to embark on.

Now, I wonder how I could have been so blind. The signs were piling up with each step we took. Yet, I saw nothing. I believed everything was part of the game and saw it all through fantasy lenses until it was too late.

As we followed Theobold (what a fun name), all three of us were lost for words. It was like the experience left us drained of any rational thought as we all tried to figure out the reason behind the guy's animosity.

"This is the part of the house that the three of you shall reside in," Theobold said as we found ourselves back at the top of the large staircase I had admired before.

It was only then that I noticed there was another, opposite wing to the house, probably situated as far from the master of the house as possible, making me doubt my initial assessment of him being that one crabby character who drove the plot and impeded the progress of the team with his illogical demands.

"Before turning in for the night, please depose your cell phones in these boxes, which I will put under the lock and key as instructed," Theobold said robotically.

"Instructed by whom?" I asked, far less intimidated by the butler than I was by his master.

"Those strange fellows of murder... however its name might be who organized this whole unholy event," the butler said, sharing some of his master's disdain for my favorite pastime.

"Mrs. Elizabeth, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Rogan, if you please," Theobold said, putting the wooden box under our noses.

One positive side effect of his insistence was that I had the chance to finally learn the names of my perky assistants who would help Rogan, the greatest detective who ever lived, solve yet another unsolvable mystery.

I was especially pleased to hear the woman's name because every hero in the story needed a damsel in distress. And even in the dim light that the house seemed cursed with, I could tell she could be mine.

"Here you go," Thomas immediately relinquished his phone while Elizabeth and I were far more hesitant.

To be honest, I felt as if, without my phone, I was somehow more vulnerable. I felt naked when I gave it to the butler, but I was ready to follow the rules of the game as I always did.