Murder Mystery at the Masquerade

[Hunter568]

Hunter jotted down her name and the details of her statement in his notepad.


"Miss Pondsa, I don't mean to pry into private conversations,  but I believe I heard you and your friend over there talking about Edwin's last will and testament earlier. It seems to keep coming up in my investigation. Do you know of any connection between that will and the circumstances of Edwin's death?"

[Rayleonarde]

Anne briefly looked over her shoulder. "Oh," she said with a giggle, "that's Enrik. We were talking...well gossiping, about how Valentine said she didn't know if Edwin had a will." She idly scratched the back of her left paw. "It's strange, really. If anyone would know about it, it would be Valentine. She was Edwin's closest."

[Hunter568]

"His closest, you say?" Hunter remarked with interest. "Do you mean to say that some of his children were distant from him, then?"

[Rayleonarde]

"Zats right, Deetective," Enrik said as he approached. "Edvin loved 'is daughtair more zan ze boys."


Anne nodded. "She's the youngest, I think. Valentine's probably one to talk to, now that I think about it. But anyway. Jayce and Ronnie are normally super busy, and Ray's still in therapy after his fiancé died." Anne's voice dropped to a whisper. "Some say Edwin had her killed because he didn't like her father. But that's just rumor."

[Hunter568]

"Well, that's one dark rumor to have floating around," Hunter remarked. "I think I have a better picture of the family dynamics at play here. Thank you." Hunter looked pensive for a moment, contemplating the web of possible motives that was opening up before him.


"This has all been very useful information," Hunter said as he began to tuck away his notepad. "However, I must move on and interview the rest of the guests. Anne, Enrik, thank you for your time and please do let me know if you think of any more details pertinent to the case."

[Rayleonarde]

The pair nodded, and went back to their gossiping.


Someone started up karaoke, and a woman started singing along to Katy Perry's "Firework".


The central foyer had been emptied of people, leaving Edwin's body. Bagged up in black plastic, the corpse awaited removal.

[Hunter568]

Hunter began traveling towards the source of the karaoke, wondering who would have occasion to blast inspirational Katy Perry music at a time like this. He kept his eyes peeled on the way, trying to create a mental map of the mansion and its many stairways and corridors as he went along.

[Rayleonarde]

Hunter would find that, by referencing his mental map, a lot of the hallways lead back into more hallways. Like the building was designed like a maze. Every once in awhile there would be an odd marking on the facade. It wasn't a common character, nor was it a normal marking. They seemed old, ancient even. Perhaps one of the old servants would know more.


The karaoke room, which was actually a spare den, had several people inside. They had taken seats around scattered about card tables, either conversing amongst themselves, watching the karaoke performance, or eating some of the left overs (of which there was plenty).


The woman on stage was Valentine Blackburn. Though saddened by her father's death, she was never one to let a party die.


Across the room, a silhouetted figure watched from the doorway.

[Hunter568]

During his journey to the den, Hunter drew a rough sketch of each strange marking he came across into his notepad, for future reference. He then stepped inside the karaoke room.

Although Hunter was eager to interview Valentine Blackburn after all he had heard about about her, he decided it would be unwise to call attention to himself by abruptly cutting her performance short. Instead, he slunk nonchalantly across the room, keeping an ear out for interesting tidbits of conversation coming from the tables scattered around him.


He began to approach the figure in the room's far doorway, attempting to make out who it was.

[Rayleonarde]

Most of the table-side conversations were of the murder.


One of the guests got up, and by the beckoning paw of Valentine, joined her for a duet, singing along to 'Ain't We Got Fun'.


The figure in the door way spotted Hunter and slunk back out of the doorway. The door was not closed, and there were no footfalls from the hallway.

[Hunter568]

Hunter pursued the figure through the doorway, glancing back and forth to discover which way it had gone.

[Rayleonarde]

The hallway would, surprisingly, be completely empty. Aside from a few paintings and busts.


Someone whispered in Hunter's ear. The voice, low and gravelly, drew long and hard on 'S' sounds.
"Looking for ssssomeone, Detective?"

[Hunter568]

Hunter jumped, startled, and whipped around to face the voice's direction.


"H-hello! Uh.." he stumbled. Recovering from the momentary surprise, Hunter calmed down and spoke more clearly. "In fact, I was looking for Valentine Blackburn, however she's occupied at the moment. Hunter eyed the stranger guardedly. "I noticed you in the doorway, and I'd like to ask you a few questions about tonight's events while I wait for Miss Blackburn to steo down from the stage."

[Rayleonarde]

The wall behind Hunter seemed to approach him a moment. The protrusion then shimmered and warped, until it was replaced by a well-dressed chameleon. "I'm sssorry for the sssurprise, Detective. I thought you were the killer come for me." He chuckled, and offered his three-appendaged claw. "Adreav Borsh. And I'd be happy to ansswer ssome quesstions."

[Hunter568]

"Well, I apologize for the confusion then," Hunter said, offering his paw in return to the chameleon's gesture. "What makes you think the killer would be after you, Mr..." Hunter looked at the lizard expectantly, waiting for him to give his name.