THE HIDDEN'S ORDER MYSTERY

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Kerrigan was speaking with Commissioner Tyler Rogers in her office about the terrible homicide.

 "Commissioner Rogers, it seems to me that I don't need to tell you that this matter must be treated with the greatest discretion."

Rogers was already anticipating what Kerrigan would say. He didn't know much about the Order, but he was aware of its secrecy and saw it as another cult. Kerrigan leaned forward, speaking in a serious tone.

"The Order has connections in high places, and if word gets out about this homicide, it could have far-reaching consequences."

Rogers asked Kerrigan:

"What do you suggest we do?"

Kerrigan locked eyes with him.

"We need to handle this delicately."

"Ms. Kerrigan, I appreciate the necessity of keeping the press out of this horrific situation. Given the conditions, that would be plenty to feed the tabloids for several weeks. In any event, the press must be aware of what is going on, but we will try to give as few details as possible," Rogers responded with a serious expression.

"You have to understand that this is an international matter, and he was an English lord," explained Kerrigan. "We cannot risk any leaks getting out to the public."

Rogers had little regard for lords, whether from England or any other country. For him, privileges based on birth or wealth were meaningless, so he didn't consider making a difference. Rogers regarded a street sweeper as equally essential as a dumb lord.

"I understand it's a worldwide issue, but the crime was done here, and it's up to us to investigate. And we'll do it our way, you understand?"

As Kerrigan was ready to reply, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Kerrigan remarked, slightly disturbed by the interruption. When the door opened, Theolinda entered and was surprised to see Rogers.

"Hello, I thought we could speak alone. Sorry for interrupting," Theolinda said.

"It's fine, Theolinda. Commissioner Rogers was leaving, correct?" Kerrigan replied.

Rogers gazed at Theolinda. They had a romance years ago, but it didn't work out. 'She's spectacular, as usual,' Rogers thought. 'If it weren't for that damn Ryan Dagon, we'd be together now.'

"Theolinda. I'm leaving. The lady and I have nothing to talk about anymore."

When Rogers departed, Theolinda asked:

"What are the police doing here? I believed this crime would similarly be 'low profile'?"

"Someone called the police. We do not know who. But we'll find out," Kerrigan replied.

"Are you going to kill that person?"

Kerrigan was sad. She disliked that Theolinda thought of her in that way.

"No, we'll handle it the right way," Kerrigan assured her. "Theolinda, the body was discovered in a neighbouring forest," Kerrigan said. "While the property belongs to the Order, anyone can go across it."

"The victim is Lord Paul, right?" asked Theolinda.

"Yes, it's him," Kerrigan confirmed. "You should talk to Mirelle. She's performing the autopsy. We convinced the cops to let us do it."

Theolinda commented:

"Right now, I'm going to wait outside the autopsy room so she can tell me everything."

Arabella was at Brady Investigations when she got a call from an unknown number in the United Kingdom.

"Who is it?" she inquired.

"I'm Andromeda."

Arabella grinned joyfully as she heard Andromeda's voice. She was concerned after being unable to find her for several days.

"Where have you been? I called you, but you didn't answer."

"The Order had me kidnapped," Andromeda said. "After the concert, I went to see Dylan Raven, and he knew I was suspicious of him. He took me off guard and attacked me. Then I awoke in a room inside the Order building," Andromeda explained, as if nothing had occurred.

"But that is dreadful. You don't seem scared."

"I'm used to that and more; don't worry about me. The Domina came to see me several times. That woman is wicked," Andromeda exclaimed, smiling.

"Where are you now? Whose phone is this?" inquired Arabella, who couldn't understand anything.

"I'm in an Artshel pub, eating something. What they fed me was terrible. The phone is a guy's phone that was killed and castrated. You had to see it," Andromeda exclaimed, laughing nonstop.

Arabella answered, startled at the coldness of her "friend":

"She has to be the new victim that Theolinda was warned about a few hours ago."

"Then the guy must be part of the inner circle. Good on whoever did that."

Arabella inquired, concerned by Andromeda's coldness:

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'll lay low for a few days, then resurface when it's safe."

Theolinda neglected to notify Valentina di Rossi to visit Brady Investigations later, so she showed up.

"Hello," Arabella replied, gazing at the stunning woman with beautiful brown hair and a slightly tanned complexion. "How can I help you?"

"I am Valentina di Rossi. Are you Theolinda Brady?" The thirty-something woman inquired with a subtle Italian accent.

"No, I'm Arabella Dagon, her assistant. Theolinda had to leave."

Valentina was offended by not being warned.

"My time is valuable. So, what do we do?"

Arabella replied nearly without thinking:

"I am authorized to ask the questions."

Valentina sat down and said:

"Okay, girl. Start asking."

Arabella began recording the exchange on her phone before Valentina became aware of it.

"Do you have any idea who could be behind these crimes?"

Valentina was about to respond that she had no idea, but then she felt the world around her drift away, and she entered one of her trance states. She noticed Matt dozing on the ground, got a rope, wrapped it around his neck, and strangled him.

"No!" Valentina stammered.

Arabella stood next to her, asking:

"Are you okay?"

Everything faded away again. Valentina was in front of a terrified Mitchell, who begged for her life.

"I'm not going to say anything to anyone, I swear!" said the man.

Despite his plea, there was no place for mercy.

Later, she found herself in the forest, holding a large, sharp knife. Lord Paul said:

"You won't be able to."

These were his final remarks. Valentina, as she often does, entered the thoughts of a murderer. She was frustrated, but it was her power—her awful power.

Valentina knew who the murderer was because she saw his hands, but she knew she couldn't speak up. She could not betray the Order.