The Detective Six |
He was onto something. He could feel it in his bones.
Visiting the Eden-Powell Academy was more of a whim than anything. The only clue leading him here was a vague mention from a source whose reliability he questioned.
That same source was in prison now. After their little discussion, he had informed the local chief of police of his potential involvement in the murder and the local police had picked him up. Mallory had asked that his own name and involvement be kept out of it.
Whatever they had to gain from the man in a proper interrogation might not be worth burning his own reputation in the city, not amongst the less savory sorts.
It... irked him, but the young man had been guilty of more than one crime, and in the end they might learn more from him once the police’s interrogation team was done. So far, however, they’d mostly learned a few things about the local union.
Ratesco’s Union had celebrated the deaths of those nobles.
That was telling, though... as Mallory had uncovered, the nobles were not without sin. They had been abusing their power for some time, and those murdered in particular were pushing things. Not beyond what was normal for a nobleman, but definitely past what the common folk would find acceptable.
In any case, he took a morning off to visit Eden-Powell. He arrived the day after the school closed for its summer holidays, and it was obvious from the moment he arrived that his presence wasn’t exactly wanted.
“Oh?” Mallory asked as they walked along though the central building of the school. It was an impressive place. There were medals and statues and trophies aplenty. Eden-Powell took pride in itself as an institution and it showed.
The headmaster, a certain Mister William Board, gave him a flat look. “It was a difficult year because two of our students lost their parents. And while we try, to some degree, to shield the youth here from the trials and tribulations of the world, we can only do so much. The economic downturn of the city caused some students to be removed. A few families left the city entirely.”
“I see,” Mallory replied. “And were there any other outstanding issues?”
“The usual hazing and scuffles. No more than most years. Perhaps even less, actually. Ah, and the death, of course.”
"The death, yes,” Mallory said.
“You know, the city sent an investigator already. He concluded that it was a terrible accident, but only just that.”
“I read the reports,” Mallory confirmed. And he had. The report had gone into some details. A single nobleman, away from anyone in a quiet part of the Academy, tripping over something and falling down the stairs to his death.
It had been austere and simple and didn’t cast any suspicions on anyone.
Mallory had been in the business long enough to smell the conflicting interests from a mile away. It had not surprised him in the least to learn that the detective’s son was to attend Eden-Powell in the fall.
The school had gone out of its way to make sure that no fuss was raised about the incident that had occurred. He understood the reasoning behind it. That didn’t mean he liked it.
“I only had a few questions,” he said. “Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Go on, then,” the headmaster said. He continued to lead Mallory though the school towards his office at the rear.
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“Can you remember anything in particular about the day of the... accident.” Mallory very carefully avoided saying ‘murder.’ That may cause some ripples and while he technically had the political clout to argue with the academy, he had better things to do.
The headmaster hummed, then recounted the day. It was about what Mallory expected, and unfortunately didn’t help him very much at all. The occurrence had been in an area that was out of the way, with no direct witnesses. Nothing overly suspicious had been found.
If it wasn’t for the fact that the man who had died was a prime candidate for someone the local unions and gangs would want dead, Mallory may have been inclined to believe that it was truly an accident.
Now, there could be two reasons for that. The first and simplest was coincidence.
Men died. People tripped on their own laces and tripped down stairs all the time. Falling was one of the more common reasons for death for a good reason, and there was often no one to truly blame for it but ill luck.
That someone unpopular in certain circles passed away could just be coincidence. The number of adversaries and enemies one had didn’t correlate to how lucky or unlucky one was.
The other option was far more sinister.
“Would it be possible to meet with some of your staff?” Mallory asked.
“Hmm, I suppose that depends? Some of them have left already, but the days just after the end of the semester are often filled with paperwork and reorganization and a few other practical concerns. Additionally, a number of staff members live on the premises and only move out for the summer.”
“I see. I have a shortlist of people I’d like to talk to, but perhaps you could help? I'd like to speak with the heads of the two houses you have. To ask them some questions about their students.”
“Mister Drake and Mister Bugglesworth, then,” the headmaster said. “Yes, both are still on the premises. They happen to live here for much of the year. As you can imagine, as the ones responsible for the children during non-class hours, they must keep an eye on them even at night, which requires their presence.”
“Of course, thank you,” Mallory said. “And... are there any teachers that inspected the body?”
The principal blinked at that, then nodded. “The school nurse, Miss Kaeres did, yes. As well as Professor Moss.”
“Professor Moss?” Mallory asked.
“Our professor of Herbology and Botany,” the headmaster said. “He took some interest in the incident, though he didn’t speak to me much about it.”
“Why him?” Mallory asked.
Headmaster Board made a vague, dismissive gesture. “He is a professional herbalist, and while that isn’t enough to make him a medical expert, he does dabble in alchemy and medicine-making. On occasion he has assisted in creating tonics and cures for some minor ailments. Mister Beaker, our alchemy teacher, often calls on his assistance.”
“I see. Yes, if it’s possible, I’d like to speak with this Professor Moss,” Mallory said. He spilled a small notepad out from an inner-breat pocket and clicked a pen before making a few quick notes.
An hour later, he was finishing up an entirely pleasant and wasteful meeting where he had learned all of nothing.
The two heads of houses, Mister Drake and Mister Bugglesworth, were serious men who took their jobs seriously, and who genuinely seemed to care about the Academy. It was a nice chat over tea and biscuits and he learned nothing from it except that children were little demonspawn and that he didn’t ever want a job in a school.
Having a lead go nowhere was nothing new or special, but it didn’t usually come with biscuits so he thanked the men for their time, then headed out to meet the school nurse, who appropriately could be found in the school’s small clinic.
He found Nurse Kaeres sorting through some medications and setting aside those who were on the edge of being unusable. “I suppose the new year will require fresh medicine,” he said after introductions had occurred.
“Exactly. And... well, there are people that could use these,” the nurse said. “It shames me to toss away good and usable medicine when there are people in need across the city. This won’t do much, but it’s something. The Acolytes of Galen accept what assistance they can get.”
He nodded along, then veered the conversation towards the infamous accident.
“Ah, yes. Well, it was definitely the fall that did the poor man in. He had a rather serious injury on his head, and his skull was fractured from the fall,” she said with a shake of her head. “Though I imagine the choking didn’t help.”
“Choking?” he asked.
“Oh yes. His airways were closed up tight. I've seen the like in some students who have reactions to certain foreign foods. Usually shelled fish or certain nuts.”
“That wasn’t in the reports,” he said.
“I believe I mentioned as much to the last detective,” she said. “Professor Moss was interested as well.”
“Was he, now?” he asked. “Did he discover anything?”
“Oh, for that you’ll have to ask him yourself. I believe... he has a small secondary greenhouse, it’s all darkened out. I think he’s been growing mushrooms, lately.”
Mallory stood up a little straighter. “Is he, now?”
***