I kept trying to meet the detective through the day but he was always around someone. So, I maintained my distance. The next morning before breakfast, there was a knock on my room door. I opened it to find a detective at my door.
“Detective Vardhan! Please come in.”
“Some other time Oliver, I was wondering if you could show me around the city, some nearby markets may be?” Said Vardhan.
“Sure, let me grab my coat quickly.” And we headed out of the mansion.
Vardhan’s speed was a bit too much to match as if he was always brisk walking. I spent most of my time trying to keep up with him.
“This is an interesting case Oliver. I love cases where a murderer has a motive. We have to push murderer desperate to make a mistake”
“Are you trying to say that the murderer is in the mansion?” I was terribly shocked and scared at this moment.
“I am one hundred percent sure,” the detective responded.
I was still recovering from the shock as we entered the antique shop. Vardhan pulled up a small tightly concealed bag which contained a small broken piece of something that might be used as a showpiece.
He asked me to keep an eye out if anyone was watching us while he discussed the small piece with the shopkeeper.
“Why are we here?” I asked him as we started our journey back. “So, we could talk, Oliver. And if you mean why are we at the shop, you will know about it soon.” He responded.
“So, who do you suspect at this moment?” I continued with my questions while he kept adding more questions in my head. “You tell me, you seem to know these people personally, isn’t that, right?” he asked.
“Yes, but I do not suspect anyone right now. I am shocked and I find it very difficult to see it could be one of us.” I kept saying it for a while.
Vardhan continued “Let me put it this way, who do you suspect the least?”
I thought for a moment and said ”Maria”
Vardhan: “And why may I ask?”
Oliver: “I don’t see a motive, she has always been loyal, has taken a good care of him and she was devastated when she informed me about the murder”
Vardhan: Okay then, let’s start our investigation with her, shall we?
As we reached back to the mansion, Vardhan asked Maria to join us in a room to answer a few questions to which she agreed without any hesitation. He asked me to be there during the investigation and note down if something odd was found.
Vardhan: “So can you tell me who found the body?” he asked.
Maria: “I did. I arrived early in the morning to fill in for the cook. That’s when I found it.
Vardhan: “Can you tell me exactly what you saw when you arrived here this morning?”
Maria took a deep breath and then began to speak.
Maria: “I arrived here around 4 am. I came to fill in for the cook who was on leave. When I entered the house, everything seemed normal. I went into the kitchen and did some preparation for breakfast. When I realised I had forgotten my bag at the door I saw the study door open from the hallway. Which generally isn’t. It was very rare for Mr.Arthur to leave the door open of his study. As I walked ahead to close it, I saw Mr. Arthur was on the floor in the pool of blood.” I was shocked and scared. I immediately called for help”
Vardhan: Who did you call?
Maria: I first ran to Mark but he was not there. So, I dialled Mrs. Pettersen first and then Tom and Mr.Oliver.
Vardhan: “Did you touch anything in the room?” Vardhan asked.
Maria: “No, I didn’t touch anything but I did touch Mr. Noah I was trying to see if he was alive.”
Vardhan: Who called the cops?
Maria: “I did. After a few minutes when I could think straight, I dialled the cops.”
Vardhan: “Was there anything suspicious or noticeable in the last two days before the murder or anything in specific that you would like to mention?
Maria: “umm.. yes there was, but it’s probably nothing.”
Vardhan: ”What is it?”
Maria: ”Well, there was a huge argument between Mr.Arthur and Mark regarding Mark’s attitude towards going to office. But, I can assure Mark wouldn’t do such a thing”
Vardhan nodded and then asked her a few more questions about her relationship with Arthur Noah and her duties as his maid. Maria answered his questions patiently and truthfully.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Maria. We may have to speak with you again later. For now, I need you to stay alert until we finish finding the culprit,” said Vardhan.
Maria nodded and then watched as we walked out of the room. She could not help but feel a sense of fear and uncertainty about what the investigation would uncover.
Detective Vardhan took the next interview with Mr. Eric Alfred, the cook who had been away on holiday. Eric had just returned to the mansion after receiving the news about Arthur’s death from Maria. Vardhan found Eric in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
“Good morning, Mr. Alfred,” Vardhan greeted him, flashing his badge. “I’m Detective Devaj Vardhan. I’m investigating Mr. Arthur Noah’s death.”
Alfred looked up and recognized the badge. “Yes, sir,” he said. “I got the news yesterday. It was a shock.”
“I understand you were on holiday,” Vardhan said, taking out his notebook. “When did you arrive back in town?”
“I arrived back late last night,” Alfred replied. “I got a letter from Maria about what happened, so I rushed back.”
“Can you tell me about your relationship with Mr. Noah?” Vardhan asked, flipping through his notebook.
“I’ve known Arthur since he was a teenager,” Alfred replied. “We’ve always had a good working relationship. I’m the one who prepares his meals, and I make sure everything runs smoothly in the kitchen.”
“Did Mr. Noah have any enemies or people he had conflicts with?” Vardhan asked.
Alfred shook his head. “Not that I know of, sir. Arthur was a private person, and he kept his personal life to himself. He had his share of business rivals, but I don’t think any of them would resort to murder. But, this kid; nothing can be guaranteed about him exactly.”
Vardhan: “And what do you mean by that?”
Alfred: “ I have been around this house for as long as I can remember, let’s just say any funny business near this house and Mark has always been involved in some or the other way.”
“Thank you, Mr. Alfred,” Vardhan said, closing his notebook. “That’s all for now. If you remember anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
“Of course, sir,” Alfred replied, wiping his hands on his apron. “I’ll do my best to assist you in any way I can.”
Detective Vardhan turned his attention to Mark Noah, Arthur Noah’s son. We went ahead and knocked on his door only to get no response.
I knocked again speaking from the other side of the door. “Mark, are you there? The detective would like to ask a few questions.”
“It’s open,” replied Mark.
Vardhan: How are you doing Mr.Noah?
Mark: Ask what you want and get going
Oliver: It is okay to be scared Mark. Vardhan is here to help, I can assure.
Vardhan: May I know where you were that night, when murder happened?
Mark: Outside, I was not even here.
Vardhan: But from samples collected by the cops, your footprints were rather fresh, of the same night in fact. And you also had an argument with your father on the same evening. I believe.
Mark *looking at Vardhan with a surprise*: “Yes, he wanted me to join the office from tomorrow and we had a fight in the evening over this matter. I needed some time to cool off, so I went out for a drive. I ended up coming back here to collect a few of my things in between and went back with my friend. You can check with them if you want.
Vardhan: I will surely Mark but I believe it will not be necessary, I trust you.
Vardhan: “Did you see or hear anything unusual when you arrived here?”
Mark: “No, everything seemed normal. The house was quiet. I did not see or hear anything out of the ordinary,” Mark replied.
Vardhan nodded and then asked, “And what about when you left at 3 AM? Did you see or hear anything then?”
Mark: “No, nothing. I just got in my car and drove off. I didn’t see or hear anything.”
Vardhan looked at Mark suspiciously. “That seems strange, Mark. How could you have missed seeing or hearing anything, especially considering that the murder took place around that time?”
Mark looked flustered. “I don’t know what to say, detective. I was just in my own thoughts. I didn’t pay attention to anything else.”
Vardhan studied Mark’s face for a few moments before deciding to end the conversation. “Okay, Mark. We will need to speak with you again later. For now, I need you to stay here until we have finished processing the scene.”
Mark nodded and then watched as Vardhan walked out of the room. He could not shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach.
“Who do you think we should meet next Oliver?” We have Tom, David, and Mrs. Pettersen.
“I think we should meet David. He has been an ex-commissioner and has really good contacts in the city. Not to forget that he was close to Arthur. I believe he can help and guide us in the right direction.” I responded.
“David it is then, he will be in his office right now, won’t he?”