MURDER AT THE MANSION
By: “Sam”
For: Novie Palomata and all those who read my stories. Thank you for your patronage
She slowly climbed up the staircase up to her room. Her long night gown gently touched the steps as she walked. She was a forlorn figure with dark secrets. “This house,” she said. “…is my home no more.” She entered the room at the end of the hallway and gently closed the door.
It was six in the morning when Maria, the old maid of the house and her son, Pablo discovered the dead body of their master at his study. According to Maria, every morning she would put her master’s coffee and newspapers in his study and will knock on his door to tell him that his office was ready for him. It was much to her surprise when she found her master sitting on his big chair looking as though asleep. “I thought he was very tired from his work. I knew that sometimes he would stay up late,” said Maria to the police with her Spanish accent. “But when I looked closer, his lips were blue and his skin so pale. I touched his hand and it was like touching marble. I called you as soon as I can, without waking the mistress.”
The police finished interviewing Maria and started to question other employees of the estate. According to them, the master was healthy, quiet but very healthy. But every time they would ask one helper or another about the mistress of the house they all said the same thing, “Mistress is asleep. No one disturbs her.” It was all the police could do from looking at each other.
“Whew! What do you think about this case, Jackson?” asked Philip
“I don’t know what to think. I hate cases like this,” answered Rob Jackson.
“Yeah, me too, first we don’t have any clue if it’s a murder or not. Second,” he said slyly. “We didn’t even get to see the lady of the house all depressed, and…oh so fragile.”
“Stop with your flirting, Hennessey and get beck in gear.”
“That’s just it. I didn’t have the chance to flirt,” said Philip as the two walked towards the others. They were going to pack it up and wait for the autopsy before doing anymore sleuthing. Besides, they didn’t know if this was even a case. “The autopsy will decide it all,” said Philip. All the police did was to keep the study off limits. It was unprofessional, of course but they had someone inside who would keep an eye on things at least for a few hours that they require for the autopsy. After all, they were warned that since this was not an ordinary household, they wouldn’t do an ordinary investigation.
“Just how unordinary can this household get?” asked Rob to himself as he went into the mansion by the back door. One reason he stayed behind was so that he could watch and observe the people. The second was to have a chance to interview the ‘mistress’ and find out what she knows. According to the report, she was the only one who wasn’t asked…yet.
She looked at her window and sighed. She was unusually pale and she had dark rings around her eyes. “I thought they’d never leave,” she murmured to herself. She wrapped her shawl even more tightly. Then a low knock came from the door followed by a sweet voice.
“My lady, I have brought your breakfast” said Angela. After hearing nothing Angela said, “Maybe I should come back later.” She turned to leave when she heard the door slightly open. “Come in,” said her mistress. Angela entered, put the tray down on the small table and looked at her mistress sitting on the bed. “Now, Lady Sara, look at you,” she said sincerely, taking the brush from Sara’s table. “You look so haggard, my lady. I’ll brush your hair for you.” And she did as Sara continued to stare at the floor.
“My husband is dead, isn’t he?” said Sara without emotion.
“Yes, my lady,” answered Angela in the same tone.
“Did they know what killed him?”
“I don’t know yet, miss.”
Sara sighed. “You may go now, Angela.” Angela stood up but did not leave right away. She took a pill from her apron pocket and dropped it in a cup that she had filled with soft tea. She slowly gave it to Sara, who was unaware of anything that she did. “Don’t forget to drink this, miss. And eat your breakfast, of course.” Then she left.
Angela closed the door gently behind her and leaned on it for a while. She closed her eyes and whispered, “Forgive me.”
~ * ~ * ~
Downstairs at the kitchen, Rob was telling stories to the helpers to make them at ease with his presence. At first he proved to them that he was just here to make sure nothing bad happens and then he started communicating with them. He was good at that. In no time at all he was telling stories while helping the cook with brunch.
“You are a very interesting man,” said Mr. John Claiborne, the gardener.
“I’ll say,” answered Wendy, she was in charge with maintenance inside the house together with some others. “Wish we had a man like you ‘round here.”
“Wendy!” reprimanded Lei, the cook who was originally from Africa. “Remember your place, child!” Then she smiled at Rob in apology for Wendy.
“It’s alright, Mrs. Lei. I know a girl like Wendy can get any boy she wants.”
Wendy smiled sadly. “Well, not exactly. Not the boy I REALLY wanted, if I could call him a boy,” she said slowly and in a steady solemn tone.
Rob looked pensively at Wendy while the others were laughing. He knew that there was more to what she had said. But before he could question her again, Angela went in. She paled at the sight of Rob. Rob noted her reaction.
“What the heck is that cop doing here?” she asked herself. “Hello,” she said aloud.
“Hi. Just making sure nothing else happens,” said Rob trying to read her.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll do a fine job,” she said smiling. Rob wasn’t sure if she was acting or not. He smiled anyway and left. “Yeah, just perfect,” she thought.
Henry was sitting at one of the kitchen chairs and looked at Wendy who was oblivious to him for a moment. For a while he despised Rob Jackson. He thought that Rob, aside from ruining everything was annoying and flirting with Angela and Wendy. “He has no business in this house anyway,” he thought to himself.
Mrs. Lei looked at Henry then at Wendy. She thought of her master and her mistress. Then she thought of Angela and all the others. “I’ve been in this house for too long,” she thought. “One day, it’s going to kill me.”
Mr. John Claiborne looked at the scene. “Things are getting more complicated everyday,” he said to himself. “Well, all I think about is my family.” After a moment he looked down at his watch. “And right now,” he continued his train of thought. “They need me. They need money. And I’ll do anything for them.”
~ * ~ * ~
Rob went outside the manor and looked around when he heard someone. “Psst,” said the voice. “Rob it’s me, Phil.” Rob looked everywhere and found Philip up on one of the trees. He jumped down with much agility and put an arm around Rob. “How’s the sleuthing coming along on your side?” he asked as both of them hid behind a tree.
“It’s not as easy as it looks, you know,” Rob answered. “These people seem like they all had something to do with it. Not necessarily the death, but I guess the events leading to that point. What were you doing up there?”
Phil looked distracted but nodded. “Uh-huh. So none of them cracked yet,” he said but in a whisper. He looked at Rob then smiled. “I was trying to look for the ‘mistress’ from the outside. I think she’s in the farthest left room, from this point of view.”
Rob shook his head. “Where’s the autopsy? It couldn’t have taken that long, can it?”
“Oh yeah, right” said Phil. He reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out an envelope. “You’d be surprised at what it says.”
Rob took the said envelope, opened it and went directly to what they had concluded as the cause of death. He looked at Phil bewildered. “What?!” he blurted as he could not think of anything else to say.
“Yup. That was my first reaction as well,” said Philip. “So, looks like we have a murder case in our hands, Robby.”
“… and also a lot of people to keep an eye on,” agreed Rob.
Philip laughed. “Well, it’s not like this is our first.”
“I hope it won’t be the last.” Philip laughed again at what Rob said. Then he was quiet.
“Rob,” he said, “take a look at the autopsy again. I’ll go on ahead to the master’s study to see if there are any more clues that we failed to discover.”
Philip rushed to the main gate and rang the door bell. He also had a copy of the autopsy and, like Rob he was looking at it again. Rob went to the back door. As they went their separate ways they both thought of the same thing, “Bizarre…”
“How can a man who was as healthy as a fiddle die of dehydration in this time and place?
~ * ~ * ~
Sara felt weak and dizzy. Her whole body seemed numb and her head ached so badly. She wanted to drink some water since she has already finished her tea. But then she couldn’t move. She dropped on the bed holding her stomach. “Please,” she managed to say.
The shadow watching just outside the door went away.
~ * ~ * ~
Mrs. Lei was tossing and turning in her bed. She was having a dream but this wasn’t her usual dream of home, of her native land, and of her people. This dream was somewhat darker and even more dangerous.
She was climbing up the staircase. She went into one of the rooms. It was dark and she held her lamp close to her. There was a removable staircase that leads to the attic. She could hear some moans. She knew it was her. Using a cane she managed to bring the stairs down and she climbed up. A woman was lying on the floor sweating. Mrs. Lei held her close and tried to calm her down. “It’s alright, child,” she murmured. “Thank you, but where did you …” the one Mrs. Lei was addressing stopped short. Both of them became very quiet making sure that no one was with them. “Well,” said Mrs. Lei when they were sure there was no one, “I couldn’t tell you that, my dear.” The lady was grief stricken and she asked if she could go to her room now.
The two went down the staircase and carefully lifted it up again. The lady was exhausted for she fell on her knees after the work. Mrs. Lei lifted her up and led her back down and into her room. “Mrs. Lei,” said the lady, “What of…” Mrs. Lei pressed her fingers on the lady’s mouth. “Safe,” was the only thing she said to her.
As she went down someone stopped her and shook her. “Where? Where, Lei?” it asked. “I don’t know!” she screamed. She ran down and that someone followed her. “Safe,” she said to herself. “Safe.”
“SAFE!” said Mrs. Lei in her sleep. Wendy and Angela looked at one another as they entered Mrs. Lei’s room. They were each holding a candle and both tried to soothe her. Henry then entered.
“What happened?” he asked; then blushed seeing the two in their night gowns. “I’m sorry,” he quickly added.
“It’s alright, Henry but we can’t wake her up!” said Wendy.
“She keeps yelling out, ‘SAFE!’ all the time,” said Angela.
Rob and Philip then entered. They were welcome to stay according Maria. The mistress approved but when they asked to see her they were told she was already sleeping. They settled themselves in the servant’s quarters and were about to doze off when they heard noises from the cook’s room.
“Is everything alright?” asked Philip.
“We can’t wake her up!” answered Wendy.
“Angela, would you happen to have smelling salts in the kitchen?” asked Rob.
Angela was a little surprised when Rob addressed her but she nodded in assent.
“Would you mind fetching it for us?” asked Rob as he went to Mrs. Lei’s side.
“No, of course not,” said Angela leaving.
“I’ll go get some towels and hot water as well,” said Wendy following Angela.
Henry did not know what to do. He was still awkward at the presence of these strangers in their home. “What can I do?” he asked unsure of himself.
“Make sure that the girls are alright. They may panic and have an accident or something,” said Philip. He looked at Rob and nodded. Rob nodded back as Henry left the room.
They listened carefully to Mrs. Lei’s words and were very observant of her expression. It was clear that she was terrified and yet there was relief in her face. They both noted the word ‘safe’ which was being constantly repeated by cook.
“Nightmares?” asked Philip.
“Perhaps, at least I hope that it is,” said Rob.
“Could be one of the symptoms, right Robby?”
“But at this time of year? Come on, Hennessy.”
“You know nothing is impossible nowadays. And you can’t deny the possibility that there might be a second target, right?
“I don’t know. What’s the motive? The fortune, maybe, sure. But why kill him that way?”
Angela heard the word ‘kill’ and paled at the door way. “Kill?” she asked. The two investigators looked shocked at her presence. They stared but Rob quickly recovered his composure. “The salts!” he almost yelled. Angela jumped at the command and handed him the salts.
Rob took the salts and held it close to the cook’s nose. She was wriggling a bit but he managed to make her take a sniff. She instantly opened her eyes and sat upright. Beads of perspiration were running down her face. Wendy entered and handed her a towel. She was followed by Henry and they all stared at the Mrs. Lei’s terror stricken face.
“Mrs. Lei,” Philip said slowly. “Are you alright?”
It took her sometime to answer. “Yes…I’m…I’m fine.”
“Would you mind telling us what happened?” asked Rob.
She thought for a while. Then she smiled. “Child, it was only a dream, nothing but an old servant’s fancies.”
Relief spread across the room but Rob and Philip remained keen. “Are you sure?” Philip asked. “It was if you were running from a nightmare.”
She laughed softly. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, dear, you’ll realize that you can never run away from anything…especially your nightmares.” She sighed then said. “I’m just getting a bit old and all I can do now is remember. Perhaps I have lived too long for my well being.”
Everyone left to rest for the night but Wendy insisted that she stay with the cook incase she dreams again. “You never know, gentlemen,” she had said. Rob and Phil looked at each other as they went to their room. Both shifted when they thought a shadow passed them by, which it did. They entered their room.
“It could be a symptom. Delusions are one of the effects of dehydration, Jackson. We can’t rule that out.”
“But why target the cook while we are here?”
“Everyone is a suspect, remember that. And every little thing may be connected to the murder, even Mrs. Lei’s dreams!” shouted Philip. “You’re supposed to be the best damn investigator but you’re leaving me in the air and ruling out possibilities.”
“I am not ruling out anything. I’m just saying that it could be just a nightmare.” Rob stopped then said, “Besides, it’s strange that whoever is responsible isn’t scared that we’re here. That was what I was thinking.”
“What are you saying?” asked Philip who already had an idea.
“Well, I don’t know, Phil. It’s almost like our presence here is needed to…” Rob paused. They looked at each other and said in unison, “To commit another murder undetected.”
“It could be that Mrs. Lei is a potential target after all,” said Rob. “It even came from her own mouth that she has ‘lived’ here for ‘too long’, remember?”
“That would mean I was right. But I was thinking what you were thinking, Rob. Why would they do it in front of us? (Although there is no proof yet that anyone tried anything.) WHY?”
“Unless, of course. It was a diversion,” realized Rob.
~ * ~ * ~
“I’m not sure of this,” said Angela as she led them up the staircase. “Why do you need to see the mistress this time of night?” The two decided to let her in to some details to see if Angela knew anything.
“Well, we may as well tell you, the cause of your master’s death is dehydration, to be more specific, hypovolemic shock,” said Rob. He noticed Angela quickened her pace. “If you must know, they examined his body and his skin lost some elasticity and was a bit shriveled up, his mouth and mucous membranes were all dry. Finally, they checked his blood which as it turned out lost a considerable amount of fluids and oxygen, depleted cells.”
Angela still made no reply. “That was what the autopsy said which is kind of bizarre. How can one become dehydrated at this time even more, experience hypovolemic shock?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, gentlemen. Forgive me as I do not posses that far an education,” she said. The two smiled. It was an obvious lie.
They finally reached the top landing and Angela knocked on the door. “My lady?” she asked. No answer. “My lady, pardon my intrusion but these men want to talk to you with great urgency.” No answer returned. Angela put the key on the key hole and opened the door. “It’s not like her not to answer the second time around,” she said as they entered.
All three stood in shock. Lady Sara was as white as a ghost and she lay very still on her bed. “My lady!” said Angela who was about to approach her. Philip stopped her and said, “Never disturb a crime scene.” Angela was annoyed and said, “What crime has been committed here?”
Rob approached Sara and felt her pulse. It was unusually fast. He looked around and found a small basin. It was filled with vomit clearly from Sara. “Is everyone running out of water in this house?” he asked himself. Then aloud he said, “She’s alive.”
“Thank goodness,” said Angela as she approached. This time it was Rob who stopped her. “Angela,” he asked, “who comes in this room?”
Angela paled even more. “Only I, sir.”
“Does anyone else have a key to this room other than your mistress?”
She hesitated. “Only I, sir.”
Rob nodded. “And who brings and prepares her food and drinks?”
She looked down. “Only I, sir.” Then she looked up. “Is Lady Sara alright?”
Rob nodded. “Angela…”
“Wait!” said Angela much to the surprise of both of them. “She won’t die.”
~ * ~ * ~
“Damn them!” a shadow was walking around the kitchen grabbing the smelling salts. “They ruin everything.” It placed something small inside the tiny container and began shaking it vigorously. “Never mind then. I could do this. They’ll be the perfect alibi. Besides, cook knew too much anyway. She’ll have the decency not to say a word.” Then it paused. “What of Sara? I managed to get them off my tracks on that one but still.”
The next day Sara awoke at last and was very much surprised to see Rob inside her room. He was walking around as if trying to figure something out. “How may I be of help?” she asked.
Rob turned bewildered. He has not heard Sara’s voice before. “Uhm, Good Morning, madam,” he stammered. “I beg your pardon. I was just concern for your well being.”
“Concerned? To whom do I owe this…concern?” she said questioningly. “I am positive I’ve never seen you before.”
Rob stammered once more. “Once again, I apologize for my lack of decency. I am Rob Jackson and I am one of the investigators involved in the murder…I mean, death of your husband.”
“Decency?” she seemed not to hear his other remark. “Then, sir, would you be decent enough to turn around so that I may have a chance to look more presentable for you?”
“Of course,” he said blushing.
~ * ~ * ~
“What do you know of this?” asked Philip
Angela shook her head. “I know nothing,” she replied. “My only concern is Lady Sara.”
“What about the statement you gave last night. How do you know she won’t die? How do you know she’s even the target?”
Angela did not respond. She had been questioned all night and she was getting tired. Phil and Angela stayed inside the spare room where the two investigators were supposed to sleep. “Like I told you, sir, I know nothing,” was her firm reply.
Philip heaved a sigh. Angela was obviously responsible for whatever happens to Sara. In a way she is a suspect, but no more, to the supposedly attempted murder of the lady of the house. However, the master of the house also had a servant of his own. And it wasn’t Angela who prepared his meals or drinks. It was Maria, the Spanish maid. She was the prime suspect for his death, but she was also the one who first called the police. But that could have very well been an act to keep the police off her tracks. Another thing that must be taken into consideration was the cook. According to the other household keepers, it was not like her to have nightmares. And if, in fact someone did try to kill her, whether a diversion or not, it must have been someone who knew how to get to her. Philip noted that all three had one thing in common. “Displaying signs of dehydration when it’s in the middle of October,” he told himself.
“May, I go now?” asked Angela interrupting Philip’s thoughts.
“What?” he asked confused.
“Oh, for goodness sake! Do you know what time it is? I need to prepare everyone’s breakfast, including yours.”
“Really?”
“On second thought maybe you don’t want breakfast since you’re so keen on putting the blame of master’s death on me.”
Phil’s stomach growled. “I’m not blaming you…yet,” he said defensively. “This is an investigation and everyone is a suspect.”
“Uh-huh. And right now everyone is hungry. So if you still want to make sure I’m not going to poison anyone why don’t you come with me to the kitchen?”
Angela left and Philip followed her. Then he realized she had said something: a clue, perhaps…or just her own speculation. Nonetheless it was something he must put into mind. She had used the term ‘poison’ even though he and Rob did not say a word about what they thought was the method used. He wondered if Angela was the killer or not and whether he and Rob were right to assume that it was poisoning that killed the master.
~ * ~ * ~
Mr. John Claiborne walked slowly at the back. He was exhausted but he took his gardening tools out from the shed and went to the garden to start working. He was the only one who knew how to take care of these plants. They had been the master’s and some were pretty exotic, while others were beautiful. The garden was a gift for Ms. Sara and according to the master it had a secret. John Claiborne was the only one he told the message to. He was the only one who knew what each plant was for, what was good for a center piece, a gift, and what was forbidden. He knew the good-smelling ones from the non-odorous ones, and he could tell what the good plants from the bad were.
Henry looked at John and nodded a hello. He was currently bringing in the wood that he had chopped himself. He was also a trusted servant of the household and he knows every nook and cranny of the manor. Secretly, he was also the assistant of the master. He would go out in any weather just so he could bring the master what he needed. Of course, he didn’t know what those things were for and he never did. But they were very odd indeed. Small bottles, colored paper that had a strange smell and small porcelain spoons were just some of them. It is also because of his job that he saw Wendy nearly all the time. She was constantly at the master’s side even though he had never sent for her. He was aware that Wendy had fallen in love with the master and that the master never returned it. He was always busy. And he always had that plant beside him. But he, Henry, was falling in love with Wendy.
Maria sat at the bench in the garden teaching young Pablo his ABC’s. Pablo was a favorite among the household for he had a peculiar hair color and blue eyes. He almost looked like the master. Maria often recalled that when she was still carrying her precious ‘hijo’ she was constantly serving someone who looked like the master and without meaning to wished that God would give her a child that looked like a combination of him and her dead husband. It seemed that her prayer was answered. Or so everyone thought. Maria looked at John as he tended the garden and Henry as he walked in. Then she stood up, told Pablo that he may play and went inside the house.
Wendy was at the kitchen helping the cook. She was also a bit exhausted. She hadn’t slept very well. She stayed with the cook through the night. But today Mrs. Lei was not herself, murmuring always. She would always ask Wendy to guide her to the comfort room since she was experiencing diarrhea. Also, when she takes her nap she would always wail so Wendy needed to wake her up using the salts.
Wendy was preparing breakfast and was wondering where Angela was when Henry came in with the wood for the stove. Wendy thanked him as he sat on the table and closed his eyes. He was tired. Suddenly, Maria walked in and told Wendy that she would continue cooking. Wendy, relieved with her cooking, readied the plates. Angela walked in with Philip and greeted everyone a good morning. She heated some water for tea and coffee and sliced the bread. Phil took a seat and also took out his pen and notebook. Each was busy with their task and their own thoughts. “What should I do know?” they asked themselves.
~ * ~ * ~
Lady Sara took off her night gown and put on her morning clothes. She brushed her hair and washed her faced a little and although she seemed better, she was still quite pale. She stood up then felt her stomach turn. She went to the basin that was emptied and cleaned the following night and she vomited. Rob turned to look at her. She washed her mouth and face again and looked at him.
“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well,” she said without any sign of awkwardness.
Rob was amazed but went back to his senses. “Since when have you not feeling well?” he asked her.
Sara sat down and thought. “I think it was yesterday. Yes,” she said dwelling in her thoughts. “As I recall, about after breakfast,” she continued. “I finished my breakfast and tea and suddenly…” she paused. “Well, all I know is I woke up, you were here and you told me what I needed to know.”
Rob looked puzzled but gathered his thoughts. “Uhm…tea and breakfast you say?”
The pictures above are mostly of me and my cousin, Kuya Ron Vincent.. however all the pictures of Aya and Aki are of me and my twin bro, Juan Miguel... i love them both.. -aya/anna
