Blackwater Creek

Who goes there in the night?

The long dining table was awkwardly silent as the lit glass chandeliers hung over it.

"Well, would you be so kind as to shed some more detail on this master plan of your," Markus broke the silence.

"My beloved friend," Lilith replied, "I'd prefer you to call it, 'my diabolical master plan'."

"Whatever it is called it does need some clarification," Sian raised a glass.

"Then we start with reviewing the facts," Lilith leaned back and crossed her legs, a sign that she was up to something.

"Go on," Markus smiled.

"Well, you may or may not know this but I got a little bird of mine into Blackwater Creek nearly a year ago. And he told me that several years back the Sylvesters were in conflict with a certain unknown business man," Lilith paused, "sounds familiar."

"We know about that part," Sian leaned forward, "he was going to buy all of their land, their main source of income, vineyards."

"So they decided to take him out. Instead someone else was in the way." Markus added.

"What if I told you.....it was actually more," Lilith shrugged, "personal."

"What ever do you mean?" Markus was certainly entertained by this.

"Esmeralda Jones was born and raised here in Blackwater Creek. Years later she moved away and married some tall hat rich boy. Years later she moved back here, to get over the man's adulterous ways and reconnected with some shady an unknown persons from her past. They hurt her, assaulted her, and drove her mad. She was placed in a looney bin and later discharged only to be murdered to prevent word getting out that she was coming after who did it." Lilith explained.

Markus clenched his fist.

"Oh dear," Lilith looked at his fist, "dont be offended, we both know it's true."

"Moving on," Sian started tapping the table with her nails.

"She was in terrible shape but she was well enough to give a name and expose her assailant. Sadly there was a mole in the castle who reported and swiftly eliminated the problem." She said.

"Is that really what happened?" Markus asked.

"The mole escaped and reported to his master. I believe he was rewarded." Lilith muttered.

"And your plan is to find the mole and be done with it?" Sian asked.

"Heavens no," Lilith smiled, "I'm too bad for just that."

"Then what do you intend on doing," Sian asked.

"The mole was working for someone," Lilith sighed, "I don't just wanna get revenge on who did it, but also, on who gave the order, who saw and did nothing, who covered it up and who laughed about it later. Everyone who gave contribution to the cause."

"And how do you intend to get there?" Sian asked.

"We start with the Ashtons," Lilith stood and paced the room, "they have eyes and ears everywhere.They're a powerful resource. I want to propose we work together, find out about everything, do what we have to, then let them take the fall."

"Brilliant," Sian said, "but we need to figure out who it was."

"No problem there. Our killer has just resurfaced," Lilith pointed at a man with a monkey tattoo in a picture, holding a gun, entering a bar."

"When do we start?" Markus asked.

"The plan will proceed and progress exactly as I have it all planned out," Lilith smiled.