Flooding River

Chapter Six: Not-So-Silent Night

I remember when I would get so bored at night, how I would take a candle and use it to illuminate the library while I wrote stories similar to the ones I had just read, or letters that I would leave on Andrew's office desk for him to read. I really do miss it so much. And maybe he misses it as well.

Leaving the library, I'm suddenly aware of a large shuffling noise coming from one of the guest rooms. I press my ear to the cool wood of the ebony door, and hear my stepmother, speaking to the maid about...someone...

"May I ask you a question, Sharalen?"
"Yes, Meraline?"
"You feel as though you're to blame for River's death because of the tea, correct?"
"You aren't trying to imply that I tried to help murder are you?!"
"No no no, of course not. I just wanted to ask: how could you have known that it was her tea that killed her before the detectives had even started to investigate?"

Frankly, I've been wondering the same thing.

"...Do you promise not to tell any of the other suspects?"
"Of course."
"Well, I heard someone shifting around in the kitchen the night before River's death. I didn't know who it was, but I waited until they left, and when I checked on top of the cabinet, I found a vial filled with a strange, dark-colored liquid. I immediately assumed that it was just one of the tubes of red wine that the cook used, so I put it back, but when they told us that she had died of poisoning, I suddenly realized that the vial must have been..."

So she found it. She found the poison and didn't even realize it until it was too late. If she had known...

"...I'm...sorry that you're feeling this way. I know that you're going through a lot right now, but...I just have one more question."
*sniff* "Okay then, go ahead."
"I know you said that you didn't know who it was, but do you remember catching any glance, at all, of the person as they left?"
"...I honestly don't know...but I do remember that the vial was on top of one of the higher cabinets, so they must have been tall. Sadly, that's all I can remember."
"Alright then. You go get some rest. The detectives are coming back at dawn to start interrogations."
"Ok. Thank you. And...Meraline?"
"Yes?"
"If you find out anything else, just ring for me."
"Of course. Goodnight Sharalen."

Well then. I guess that this narrows down our field from 5 suspects to only 2. The cook, and Hardy. All of the male suspects were tall enough to reach the highest cabinet and then some, but seeing as they would still need the extra key to the office, Theo wouldn't be able to even get the poison. But that doesn't mean that he didn't have the motive.

I think that I should look a bit more into my brother and Hardy. I haven't gotten a lot off of them since this all started, so I should make sure that I can see not only my hand, but the whole deck.

Let's just hope I have a winning play.

A/N: I'm trying to get as much info as possible into these chapters to give you all a chance to try and pluck out the killer(s), so I apologize if these chapters tend to drag on. Remember to leave as many suggestions or accusations as you want in the comments. Thank you and goodbye! ❤️