The Curious Village

Chapter 5: The Hunt Begins

The inn's wall phone rang loudly. Beatrice, usually taking her cup of coffee, had to go and answer.

"Yes... Yes don't you worry. I'll let him know. Oh hello there." The professor was descending the narrow staircase as she hang up. "There was a phone call for you! It was from an Inspector Chel-something or other."

"From inspector Chelmey?"

"He just kept saying that it was urgent and that you should meet him at Reinhold Manor at once." Jenny was the one descending the stairs now. With the same handbag, she was fitted with a light blue dress, one of her favorite.

"He probably wants to talk about what happened yesterday."

At the entrance of the manor's grounds, Jenny found something on the floor.

"It looks like a scrap of notepaper. What does it say, Jenny?"
Well, let's see here. Ahem..."

It's just terrible. Lady Viola has an awful case of the flu and hasn't left her bed for days. I'm no doctor, so I can't think of any way to help her... Oh what to do... What to do...

"Lady Viola... Oh this entry must be talking about Baron Reinhold's first wife."

My heart is heavy as I write these words. The loss of his wife has completely crushed the boss. If only there was something I could do to help... He walks around, looking like he's had wind knocked out of him...

"And that's the end. Gosh, whoever wrote this must have cared an awful lot for the baron and his family."

As they entered the living room, they heard someone screaming and shouting.

"Are you trying to poison me? What ARE these vile things?"

It was Chelmey. "You oaf! What butler you are!"

"I...I'm sorry sir." Replied Matthew.

"I detest cakes! The very sight of them turns my stomach! Get that plate out of here at once!"

"Oh yes! But of course!" and he rushed out of the room, with the plate in hand,

"Ah Layton, there you are."

"You requested our presence, Inspector Chelmey?"

"My sources tell me you've been out snooping about and interfering in my case. Just what are you up to?"

"It certainly wasn't my intention to interfere in your case. However, a few things don't make sense."

"Leave the investigation to the police, and go chase after that Golden Apple or whatever it is. Don't you worry your pretty little head about it. I'll find Simon's killer, of that you can be sure. Now unless you have something important to say, I've got work to do here."

"Understood. Good day sir."

"This inspector has some nerve, dismissing us like that. Like I said before, I don't like him one bit."

"What do you say we ask Ramon about yesterday Jenny?"

They found Ramon out there, by the shore.

"Good day Ramon. How are you feeling today?"

"Fit as a fiddle now professor! Perhaps even as vivacious as a violin! Ahoo hoo hoo! That awful fatigue last week seems like it never happened. As you can see, I'm bursting with energy, and my skin is as soft as a baby's. I feel like a teenager again"

"Is that so? That's good to hear."

"He doesn't seem to remember what happened yesterday, does he?" murmured Jenny. "He has no idea what happened. So what is our next move?"