The Felon

Chapter 3 -A new day

Annelyn awoke with a start. Where am I? She wondered before realising that she was no longer in London, but in the family's new estate. Fast asleep in her arms lay the pup that she had rescued last night. She hadn't been able to get a proper look at last night, and in the light, she noticed it was terribly dirty . "Well, I suppose you'd like to wash." She whispered. Annelyn placed the small dog on the ground as she stumbled out of bed. She walked over the far end of her bedroom, where a basin and tin bathtub lay. Her mother had clearly already been into her room, for all of Annelyn's expensive creams and bath salts were laid out atop the sides of her basin. 2 steamy jugs of hot water were positioned next to the tin bath tub and Annelyn poured them in. She dropped the pungent dog into the bath and rubbed it down with a bar of soap . She submerged the puppy in water and lifted it out, making sure to remove every last bit of dirt in its fur. Annelyn gently lifted the puppy out and wrapped it in a piece of brown fabric and dried it. As the pup lay wrapped in the fabric , Annelyn slipped into a green dress and a laced white apron. Leaving the puppy in her room, Annelyn strolled down the staircase. "Annie sweetheart! Darling! How did you sleep?" Her mother asked as Annelyn walked in the kitchen. "Well thank you ." She replied as she took a seat at the little table in the kitchen. Her father looked up from his tea. "I invited the our neighbours over for luncheon." Said Theodorus. Annie and her mother almost fainted with shock. They couldn't remember the last time Theodorus had socialised with somebody outside of his own home.Annette gave a smile and replied to her husband with "Marvellous . I'll get cooking now." Mr Smith nodded with approval and slipped into his study. "Get something nice on! Hurry!" said Annette , a stressed frown upon her face. Annie left the table as quickly as she could, racing up the staircase . She couldn't criticise her mother at all . It must have been difficult suddenly having to accommodate a couple of strangers, especially seeing she had never had to do it before. As fast as she could , Annelyn pulled on her powder-blue skirt, and crisp white shirt. She pulled her hair into  an elegant braid and then leapt down the staircase.  As she reached the bottom of the stairs , a knock rang out at the front door. Annelyn rushed to the door , filled with excitement. She opened the door, to see a plump woman holding a pie , her husband bearing a plate of sandwiches and their son, who appeared to be a little older than Annelyn.  "Hello... Um ... I ... I'm Annelyn . Annelyn Smith." Stated young Annelyn. Her heart pounded as the young man shook her hand , and as their eyes met, Annelyn found herself feeling ever so excited. "James. James Hugheton . We live over there ." said the young man , pointing to a humble cottage about 100 metres away, just beyond the Smith's white picket fence. "Oh, how lovely . Come in." Said Annelyn as she ushered the guests into the dining room. "Oooooooh ! Delightful! " cried the plump woman. The man stuck his hand out "Leroy. This is my wife, Lucy." Annelyn shook his hand, and flashed Lucy a smile. The Hughetons took a seat at the dinner table, and Theodorus strolled in. "Nice to meet you... I mean, no, um ... I'm Mr Smith . I take it you've met little Annie. " said Theo as he took a seat. Annelyn rolled her eyes at being called "little Annie" and glanced over at the door as her mother waltzed in. "Oooh ! Nice to see you all. I'm Annette . And you are ... "
"This is Leroy, Lucy and James." Replied Annelyn . " Would you like some help there?" Asked Lucy, and off she went to help Annette with the cooking. "So Annie, would you like to go outside? " asked James. Annelyn nodded , and two teenagers ran out the front door.

James lead Annie to the vegetable patch's Pavillion, and the two of them sat down. " So... ", ventured James " do you have any hobbies ? Horse riding, reading ...." " Oh, I love reading, and dancing. " replied Annelyn. " Nice, do you read mysteries? And how'd you learn to read anyway? I mean, I take it you haven't been to school. " wondered James. " My father taught me to read. Oh, and I love mysteries . " stated Annie. "Well, in that case... There is something you should know...."

"What is it? Oh , do tell me! " cried Annelyn.
" It is said that highway men patrol these woods at night, and well...." Said James ,gesturing to the woods.
"Mm..."
"I think they might have something to do with a kidnapping."
" Right. It's pretty clear you haven't read too many mysteries in your time, I mean what would some highwayman want with another person ? Are you tricking me , James? Tell me more about the kidnapping."
" Two months ago , a man went missing. "
" I see."
" I never knew the gent, but he was last seen outside that cottage."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You came her from, London, yes?"
"That's right ."
"You ever hear of a man called Jim Bostion?"
"Yes, I have heard of him. Jailed last year for the murder of some other gent. "
"Yeah, the murder of Rob Duft.Lived 'round here. That cottage , the same one the kidnapped man was last seen. "
"Strange connection there."
"That's right. I did a fair bit of snooping a few weeks back, and realised that this guy was called Lucius Duft. The guy that went missing shared the same last name as the one that got murdered. "
"Seems like a quite a coincidence."
"Well, as far as I know, the two aren't even related. Haven't even met. "
"So, how do you know that Lucius was kidnapped?
" It was the night of his kidnapping , when I saw him enter the house. Shortly after , a hooded figure exited the house. He held a hessian sack over his shoulder, suspiciously bulky. "
"Of course he did. What did the authorities say?"
"Deemed it kidnapping. "
"All right then. So , why are you telling me this? I barely know you! "
"Yeah, I realise that. See, I think you should be very ...careful. I saw the hooded figure last night. It was standing below the eastern wing of your manor. "
"My bedroom is in the eastern wing!"
"Oh...."
" Come on , let's go inside ."
"Yeah, sounds good ."

Annie and her new friend sauntered back inside, unaware of the hooded figure that had been eavesdropping during their entire conversation. "Too much, too much. They'll have to go." Muttered the figure.