The Masked Butler: The Pit and the Pendulum

Moment of Truth

Francis stepped to the window, checking for entry from that way, but the window was tightly secured. Dr. Leon stepped towards the fireplace, surveying the damage done, while Erik and Nico went toward the bed. Nico went under, checking for any secret panels while Erik tested the wall. They paused in their work when a sharp gasp followed by a moan pierced the stillness.

"Nicholas!"

Nico crawled out from under the bed just in time to witness Catherine and Dr. Leon catching Nicholas.

"Come," said Dr. Leon. The two lead Nicholas out of the room.

Francis looked at Nico and Erik. "What are you two looking for?"

"A secret passage," replied Nico. "We all seem to be in agreement that this is not the work of a ghost but a living person."

"And the only way someone could get in and out of a locked room is through a secret passage!" said Francis.

Nico resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, that's right. Do you want to take that side while we finish this side?"

"Of course!" He took to searching the wall by the window.

Nico glanced at Erik. "I think my cousin's grief is starting to get to him."

Erik nodded. "Yes, I know the signs far too well."

"Nico!"

Nico turned. His eyes widened. "You're kidding!" The fireplace had swung open to reveal a secret passage! He and Erik dashed over. Francis was smiling, quite proud of himself.

"What do you want to bet our culprit is at the end of this passage?" asked Francis.

Nico furrowed his brows. "That, that would seem far too easy."

"Then either our adversary isn't that smart or we are smarter."

Nico's eyebrows knitted together. "I'm not so sure, but this definitely is a clue we shouldn't pass up."

"Then come on!" Francis stepped into the corridor, Nico and Erik close behind. They walked through the corridor, dimly lit by the sunlight peeping through the opening, for a few minutes before it ended at a dead end. Oddly enough, there was a suit of armour standing at the end, covered in cobwebs. Francis turned to the side wall. Nico glanced back, he could sense another tunnel opening nearby. What was down there? The catacombs? His attention was returned to Francis who pushed open the wall. A voice drifted to their ears from the room.

" . . . the horrible thing I did to her." Nico's eyes widened as he recognized the voice with a start. This must be Nicholas Medina's room! And they just heard a rather incriminating statement. Francis stepped into the room. Nico quickly followed, this was not going to be good.

"Mr. Barnard!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Catherine and Dr. Leon were standing by Nicholas's bed while Nicholas sat up in it.

Francis went back to the opening in the wall as Erik stepped through. "You mean to tell me you had no clue about this?"

"None!" said Nicholas, eyes wide. Catherine's eyes were just as wide. Dr. Leon, on the other hand, had his brows furrowed. Nico's own brows came together. Dr. Leon knew something, and Nico had an uneasy feeling about it. What was the doctor trying to hide?

"But you had to have. How convenient for you that this is here, giving you the ability to whisper to Maria without her seeing you! And then, once you had locked the door, you were able to go into Elizabeth's room and create such a mess unseen! After all, everyone else was accounted for during these disturbances except you! How easy too, hiding behind your own locked door!"