Concordia's Secrets

Welcome to Concordia

"Yes, yes. I am a terrible person. That was established years ago."

"Say what you may, I will not allow-"

"MOTHER, I will be going." I swallowed, reminding myself to keep my tone clipped and my eyes cold. "This is my life. I don't need your permission to do what I want with it." I didn't wait around to hear his parting words. As I stood on the ferry, looking only ahead, I nearly forgot everything.

This was freedom.

"Pardon me, do you happen to know where-" I was pushed aside by a mob of immigrants, but I didn't mind. I was just as enthusiastic as they were, and we had every reason to be. The city was beautiful.

"Good morning!" A spirited feminine voice interrupted my thoughts. "I don't suppose you'd be Detective Cassandra Roberts? I turned to face the voice, coming opposite a cranberry-haired woman and a young man. I could assume by the woman's choice of dress that they were whom I was searching for. It was, after all, similar to my own.

"I believe that's me." I replied, returning their smiles.

"Nice to meet you!" she declared. "I'm Maddie O'Malley, from the Concordian Flying Squad."

The blond man spoke up. "And I'm Charlie Dupont, at your service!"

"Pleasure to meet the two of you," I said, exchanging handshakes with the both of them.

"Chief Wright sent us to collect you." Maddie explained. "I hope your trip wasn't too long? Those big ships are so slow..." I chuckled.

"I suppose, though I've never traveled otherwise."

"Honestly?" Charlie gasped. "In a world of such innovation, how could you possibly not have taken advantage of them?" I laughed at his horrified reaction, as did Maddie. Already, I liked these people.

"Remind me to give you a ride in my MadMobile. Anyhow, we'd best take you to the airship our offices are in. There you can meet-" She was interrupted by a piercing scream. Charlie's eyes widened.

"Did you hear that?"

"How could I not? It sounds like someone's in distress!"

"It appears that it's coming from the docks!" No sooner had Maddie made that observation was I off, my new partner at my heals.

My poking around the docks subsides as I noticed a priest of some sort standing over the body. One glance at Maddie tells me I am alone for the interrogation, as she had seemingly managed to produce a bottle of absinthe to aid her in searching. Perhaps I didn't do a perfectly good job, as although Father Donovan did manage to identify the victim, the only other thing worth noting was the mention of Frank Vogel's frequent tenure at The Old Ale House. When I mentioned this to Maddie, she agreed that it would be wise to follow every lead, but not before we had a talk with a young Irish immigrant.

"It is rather odd to find her trunk in the very place Vogel was murdered," I agreed.

After our discussion, however, I disagreed with my very own statement. Harriet seemed to be a sweet girl, and I truly doubted she had any influence in the murder. Even so, I did hope her young naivety didn't get her in trouble. I had seen many a worse scenarios, and Miss Patrick was kinder than a grand number of victims.

"My, you managed to crack the lock on that tobacco box rather quickly!"

I grinned, brushing off a layer of dust. "I've had a bit of experience."

Maddie peered over my shoulder. "S. O'Neill. Hm, I wonder who that could be..."

As it turned out, 'S. O'Neill' was an Irish immigrant who claimed he never knew the victim. I didn't believe that in the slightest, but on the other hand, he seemed innocent enough. After a bit of chatter in which Maddie mentioned "a bit of a feud", whatever that meant, she suggested we go back to the airship and "see if our coroner has made any progress on the body".

The airship. Oh dear, I had been dreading this.

"Cass?"

"Yes," I said, forcing a smile upon my face. "Yes, that sounds alright."

"Wonderful," Maddie said. She paused. "Dick is a tad... eccentric, but he's the best in his field."

"Okay," I said, still picturing the airship. "I mean, yes, I don't mind that at all."

"Goodness, Cass, are you alright?" Maddie asked as we were upon the airship.

All I could view was below. Fear clutched at my heart. Surely it would stop beating any second! Had it already? I wasn't... sure...

As my nails dug deeper into Maddie's wrist, I managed to shake my head in response.

Instead of wrestling out of my grasp like so many before had done, Maddie (if somewhat awkwardly) led me to sit down.

I managed to catch my breath. "Yes, I just... I just have a bit of a fear of heights, that's all. I'll be fine if... if I don't look below! Yes! Now, shall we see if the autopsy is done?" I choked out, my breath still coming short.

"I... suppose," Maddie said hesitantly. "Perhaps you would rather-"

"No, no," I insisted. "I shall be fine."

Fine, if only! If you exclude the fact that I am on the verge of vomiting within sight of my new colleagues, I am absolutely fine.

At least the pathologist was... uhm, interesting enough to distract me. Eccentric was right! Even so, the gained information was useful if none else, though I didn't fancy smelling about for head lice. Oh well, I suppose it's all part of the job.