I Am the Infamous

-7- Witch Hunt

"Rue Cerise Rose and Boulevard Oswald Bernard are on opposite sides of town." Jude grunted, slouched on the carriage bench. "Couldn't the killer have been more convenient?"

A car behind them on the road let out a peevish beep of its horn, and Adelaide pinned back her ears to gun forward.

"Come on," Caroline whispered under her breath. Only the richer families in the town could afford motorized vehicles, and though Adelaide was used to them, she still hated when they honked.

The man in the vehicle slammed on his horn again. Before Caroline could let her own mouth get the best of her, Margaret turned around in her seat and screamed, "GO TO HELL!"

Carrie smiled.

The man bellowed a string of cusses that were too muffled to be audible. Guess his fancy automobile wasn't so enhancing after all.

"DON'T MAKE ME—" Apparently Margaret still heard him, but she was cut off as Caroline tugged the reins and Adelaide pulled them around a right turn. The car whizzed by them, the man waving his free hand madly in a series of crude gestures. Margaret was not afraid to do them back, until they were out of sight.

"I hate those privileged, entitled asses." Margaret hissed between her teeth. Jude's eyes were saucers, and Winslow offered her a nod of approval.

Caroline sponged the reins between her fingers, and Adelaide halted. Everyone in the carriage ceased their conversations to glance at the house. 25 Boulevard Oswald Bernard.

"I thought he lived on 24?" Jude blinked, his skin pale.

"No, house 24 was his neighbour's." Margaret corrected, retrieving the notebook from her book bag. "Though he did die on his neighbour's property."

"Who will stay with Adelaide?" Jude changed topic, obviously uncomfortable.

"I'll hitch her, like I always do." Caroline replied, gathering the long reins and pulling a lead rope from under the driver's bench.

Jude fumbled with the collar of his white button-up, and bobbed his head, "Would I be able to..."

Caroline let him trail off, "Yes, Jude. You can stay in the carriage. Offer Addy some water, would you?"

Winslow, Carrie, and Margaret climbed the front steps of Vaughn Rolande's house, and all paused. Margaret rolled her eyes, and knocked.

"No need to hover." She groused, crossing her arms. The sun glinted off her lotus pin, and Caroline checked behind them. Jude was teetering with the bucket as Adelaide bit the rim and threw her head around. That beast of a cob was a natural she-devil at heart. 

Caroline grinned as the bucket shook and a gush of water splattered down Jude's shirt. The door opened and Carrie's amusement shriveled away.

"Miss Rolande?" Winslow spoke before Margaret could, to provide at least a sliver of sympathy.

She was in a dark grey sweater, buttoned over a black petticoat. Even the widow's brooch was a collection of somber-coloured gemstones. A dark furred animal pelt swept around her throat and dangled off her shoulders, and Caroline wanted to vomit when she saw two round ears  and limp paws at the end. Financial situation and recent loss aside, Caroline instinctively hated her.

"It's Missus, young man. And I really would rather avoid more questioning on my husband." She looked down her nose and tight mouth. It was painted a horrid shade of maroon that glazed her thin lips. "I've had enough of this nosiness."

"Did you happen to know the Emery family?" It was a far shot, since the Emerys and the Rolandes were on complete opposite sides of the Rochegrise wealth spectrum.