HUES OF A MURDER

Chapter 10: A Verdant Manor!

The Greenwich Manor looked different in the broad daylight. The path that led to the manor was dappled with sunlight filtering through the green canopy.

Rose felt awed as if she was inside an ancient cathedral venerated by unearthly presence. Little hares stood astounded at the metal beasts that passed through the gravel path. Rose caught a glimpse of a fawn staring at the sudden pandemonium created by humans. She could hear the cries of birds as their serene morning was disturbed.

Rose looked at the manor with a surprise in her eyes. The manor didn't look formidable now. It looked rather broken but alive with green ivies and briars and wild flowers. The vast garden around the manor had been taken over by the forest. The statues which looked melancholic now looked ethereal and proud and vibrant draped in verdure.

Rusty had driven Rose and Scarlett to the manor. Scarlett didn't say much to her. She seemed perturbed about something. Rose dismissed it as the anxiety regarding the questioning by the police. She was nervous as hell. She tried to drown her anxiety by focusing on mundane things.

Cyan and his brothers were already waiting for them in the foyer. His face lit up in a warm smile at seeing Rose. Rose felt a little shy.

"Oh! You guys are here. Good. Come on, you three," Inspector McGray wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "You guys stay here," the inspector waved at Rusty and Cyan's brothers.

The three followed the inspector like zombies. Rose looked at the other two. Cyan looked like he had trouble breathing and Scarlett was tugging a stray thread on the hem of the green tee she was wearing.

As they approached the corridor, Rose stopped. She remembered being covered in Ruby's blood, the horrific diorama playing before her eyes. She couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. She felt her chest constricting. She thought she was going to collapse.

"Rose," Cyan was beside her and cupped her face. "Hey, breathe."

"Rose, are you OK?" Scarlett looked worried.

The inspector stopped in his track and stared at them. "Why don't you sit here?" he pointed to the reading room. Scarlett took Rose's hand and led her to the room followed by Cyan. They sat in the sofa. The inspector ordered someone to get a bottle of water.

"Breathe, Rose," Cyan ordered. She took a lungful of air and breathed out.

"Good, repeat," he said. She repeated the breathing exercise and calmed down.

"You OK?" the inspector gave her the water bottle.

"I am sorry," she whispered.

"It's OK. It happens." The inspector's soft voice surprised Rose. "Come to the room when you are ready," he told them and left. No one spoke for minutes.

"I am ready," Rose stood up.

"Are you sure?" Scarlett's voice was tarnished with worry.

"Yes, let's get this done with," Rose led them to the room.

The room, where Ruby was murdered, was cleared with the huge desk and chairs pushed to one side. Rose was surprised to see no chalk outlines as they did in the movies. She wanted to ask about it but swallowed her question. The constable Griselda was standing on the other side of the room chewing her nails.

"You ready?" the inspector asked.

The three nodded.

"OK, show us what happened. Start from the moment you approached the manor. Try to remember what you saw, who you saw, where everyone was. Take your time. No hurries." The inspector leaned on the desk.