A Murder in Paris

Chapter 3

After Officer DuPont shouted at all the officers, Amelia and Detective LeBlanc (again)interrogated the dead woman's neighbor." I heard some rustling upstairs i-in her room, but I didn't think she was in trouble! She fought with her mother all the time so hearing glass break didn't faze me. But then... I-I heard a gun fire and..." she paused, her lip quivering.

After asking her name, which was Therese Lambert, they had her tell them all of what happened earlier." I went upstairs to see if Juliette was alright, and t-then... I found her just laying t-there!" She started to sob uncontrollably.

Amelia and Detective LeBlanc glanced at each other, then Detective LeBlanc cleared his throat." Mrs. Lambert, what was Juliette's last name? And her mothers?" He asked in a gentle voice.

Mrs. Lambert sniffled, then made eye contact with Amelia." Their last name was Muller. Juliette and Caroline Muller," she took a deep breath and looked away from the two." Detective, can I speak with you for a moment?" Amelia asked, then they walked out of the room and into the stairwell.

"This woman could likely have seen the suspect. She did discover Juliette right after she was killed, and the killer cut himself on the glass, so it would have made a slow getaway," Adrian whispered." Yes, but judging from the time she died, we would've seen the man, right? The bakery is next door to the apartment building. We ran out to see what happened and I didn't see anybody climb out of the window, and-" Amelia gasped. They didn't see anyone climb out of the window...

"What is it Amelia?" Adrian asked.
She grabbed his shoulders." He didn't escape from the window,he entered through the window!" She said excitedly. Adrian looked confused." I'll show you!" She said and ran to the broken window. The other officers looked at her, puzzled.

"Qu'est-ce que vous faites?!( what on earth are you doing?)" Officer DuPont shrieked. Amelia pulled back the curtain of the broken window." The killer didn't escape through the window, he came through the window! Look at the many glass shards on the floor!" Sure enough, clear, sharp pieces of glass littered the area underneath the window. Officer DuPont glared at her." So, who would've visited her through the window at this time of night?" A man piped up from the group of policemen at the back of the room.

"A secret lover?" Adrian suggested. Amelia scanned the room." Okay, everyone search the place for love letters of any sort. If you find anything, give it to me or Detective LeBlanc!"

"Hey! I'M the one that gives the orders!" Officer DuPont yelled. Everyone was frozen in their places, waiting for him. His face turned a dark shade of red. "Search the place," he mumbled, and soon the whole apartment was being turned upside down. Detective LeBlanc was searching under the bed, Amelia was going through the drawers and cabinets, and the rest of the police force were carefully and painstakingly taking their time in the kitchen and living room.

"I found something!" Adrian called out from under the bed. He pulled out a small wooden box and set it on top of the rose comforter. Amelia gently lifted the worn lid and placed it on the right side of the box. There, on the left side, were letters leaning against the blue velvet wall. Next to the letters was a gold band and many bracelets and necklaces. Amelia took out the letters and handed a few to Adrian. She opened one envelope and started to read out loud;

Dear Juliette,
It's been two days since I escaped that treacherous place. Every hour spent apart is complete agony. I hope to see you soon.
With love,
Lillian
"Who is Lillian?" Amelia thought aloud. Adrian's brows furrowed together." She must be a cousin, friend, or sister," he guessed. Amelia spotted Therese shaking her head." Therese, do you know who she is?" She asked the shaking woman.

Therese took a shaky breath, then mumbled something that Amelia couldn't catch." Could you speak up please?" Adrian asked her.
Therese looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear." That Lillian is mad, I tell you. Mad! And now she's come back to get revenge on those who locked her away!" She started to cry again. Adrian glanced at Amelia, who sighed." So, now we've got a psychotic killer on the loose?" She asked him. He nodded his head while Officer DuPont was ordering the others to put up wanted posters and such." The only problem is, where is Juliette's mother?"