The Bloodied Truth

Prince?

Gavin checked off another clean room before moving onto the next one.

Room X36

He sighed angrily. His schedule was different than any other one he's ever had. One moment he'd be cleaning a room on the very bottom floor, the he'd have one on the very top.

At the moment, he needed to head up 16 flights of curling stairs for his next task. It wasn't entirely too much work but he was just really tired today.

Halfway up the stairs, he passed a resident who was just sitting up against the railing. He looked past, not wanting to make eye contact. He had many encounters with struggling artists or writers who would climb onto the roof or take 5 day journeys into the woods looking for "inspiration".

He's learned not to ask about it.

After a few steps upwards, he whipped around and stared at the resident seated on the staircase.

"Darren!?" He asked, a little above normal.

He wasn't just sitting there. He was sickly pale, limp, and overall grosser than he was before. He really wasn't looking too good. His nose and mouth were bleeding, his head was at an odd angle, his arms were laying loosely, his legs were tangled, and as soon as Gavin poked the worker's head with his gloved pinkie, he quickly came to terms that he had broken his neck and was certainly dead.

If Darren's head wasn't leaning against the railing, there's no telling where it would be. Gavin dropped his clipboard and panted.

"SOMEBODY! HELP!!" Gavin screamed as loud as he could. He gripped the rail, unsure if he could stand on his own. His heart was beating loudly, his legs were shaking, his hands were trembling, his eyes were wide, and his breathing was heavy.

A resident from the floor below ran up, gasped, and covered her mouth.

"Oh my goodness," she whispered.

"I'll get the prince!" Gavin planned aloud and took off up the stairs, weaving through people that were heading to see what happened.

He raced up the next 2 staircases before shouting down the very top hall. "HURRY! SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE! HE WAS MURDERED! MURDER!!!!" He screamed.

The guards had barely began to react when the prince's door swung open, revealing the young man who had clearly fallen asleep in his red suit. His hair was in a thick mess of brown fluffs, his face showed his confusion and daze, but he had managed to put his white gloves on of which he used to grip the threshold.

Gavin was stopped by the guards who were either calling someone to help clean the prince up, advising the prince to return to sleep, or trying to get Gavin to shut up and leave.

"Everybody STOP!" The prince demanded. He staggered out of the doorway, pushing a guard away who tried to help him stay standing. The prince faced Gavin with total authority and authenticity.

Gavin bowed as he nervously tugged at his gloves, pulling the ends out from under the black cuffs of his red suit.

"Excuse me sir, but down on the staircase... a worker was either pushed or had fallen... resulting in... our first fatility."

Prince Berringer was now wide awake as he rushed from his hallway as Gavin led him quickly to the scene.

"My goodness," Berringer gasped once they arrived on the staircase. "Get an ambulance right away! Gavin, please, go and assure every resident who looks to be worried that we're sure it was an accident and everything shall-"

"Prince Berringer! Downstairs! Someone has been murdered!" The Room Service woman, Miss Gabriel, announced as she froze in her steps while seeing Darren laying dead.

"WHAT IS GOING ON!?" Berringer demanded, angrier than before.

"I found the door left open and I peeked inside... A guest has been killed, sir."

Berringer sighed while Gavin headed past to quiet the guests' worries and questions.

"Everything is fine! Everybody just-" Gavin was cut off by an all too familiar figure.

Phillip Meyers.

"Pardon me, but can everyone please step aside and quiet down." He then looked at the very annoyed Gavin. "Phillip Meyers, detective," he introduced himself to the housekeeper, dropping his wallet open to reveal the badge.

"Since when?" Gavin asked through gritted teeth.

"Since it was never any of your business. Excuse me, I need to see what the problem is," he brushed past Gavin, placed his hands on his hips, and sighed as he looked over the corpse. He squatted on the step and nodded.

"Yep, just as I thought," he stood up.

"What is it?" Berringer asked anxiously.

"He was pushed."

"By who?!" Berringer demanded.

"I ask the questions here," Phillip shot back. He then faced Gavin.

"Where were you this morning?" He asked strictly, Gavin frowned slightly at the man.

"I was cleaning rooms.... but how do you know it was this morning?" He challenged.

"Well, he wasn't dead last night was he? Or do you have something you'd like to say about that?" Phillip shot back angrily. Gavin scowled, nabbed his clipboard, and headed off up the stairs to catch up on his daily quota.

After he stormed away, Phillip squatted again by the body, sighed and shook his head. "He's my main suspect."

"Gavin? Really? You barge in here and begin accusing my staff of murder?" Berringer scoffed. Phillip shot up and frowned at the young prince.

"Yes. Because it is my job, and I have been granted the rights. Now I demand the front gates be closed so that nobody can come to risk their lives, and nobody that is guilty can run."

"What if they've already left?"

"I shall ask the Nicholas twins at the front desk for that information as soon as I have finished here," Phillip finalized.

Berringer sighed angrily at this annoying detective.

"Now please, go to your room for safety purposes. I will block this scene off then go examine the corpse Miss Gabriel has discovered."

"What makes you think a guest can tell me what to-"

"I am a DETECTIVE, your highness. It's my job."

Berringer scowled at his for a moment more, scoffed, whipped around, and stormed up the steps.