CHAPTER 7 Detective Conan paid close attention to Mr Richard while he talked, taking down quick notes. “Well our mistress is actually an easy-going person, she made sure we had all we required for our duties and has been a very thoughtful person, but recently, he paused, it feels like a new skin she’s wearing. A few weeks back she sent for Lilian, and then after a long while, Lilian came back in a very different mood. I and Bella saw it. It was obvious she had taken in so much and was enough to cause the gloomy face she had. We tried to know if anything was wrong but she insisted she was okay but apparently she was being reticent. And ever since then, it was like Mrs Parker got easily angry at anything she did. She constantly yelled at Mrs Lilian for any mistake she made. It was clearly becoming unbearable for Lilian. It was clear that Mrs Parker was almost like someone else towards her. You can ask Bella, she’ll testify to what I’ve just said”. Very well, Mr Richard. Detective Conan said with a satisfying tone. “So moving on do you recall anything off or strange or heard anything suspicious last night”. Mr Richard paused, looking at detective Conan and at officer Steve who was still standing erect. “Detective, I must say, last night went well even for Lilian. I retired for the night leaving her in the kitchen doing the dishes. She didn’t even allow Bella to assist her with it but rather sent her off to bed also”......Mr Richard then paused abruptly obviously holding something back and now willing to tell. “come on Mr Richard, you don’t have to hold back. You can trust me okay? So go on".....The butler then sighed heavily and continued. “On my way to my room which was on the extreme end of the hallway leading to the second entrance for the kitchen, there is a second staircase there, not as big as the one in the central hallway from downstairs. It went from down to upstairs connecting to the hallway where the major rooms and also the guest rooms and extra bedroom for the guests. Although the staircase was from the rooms, that’s why it's been seldom used because of the distance, but rather, the main staircase is mostly used. And so perhaps you might say it’s unreasonable for those staying upstairs to prefer it to the main staircase, except if something weird is going on" the butler stated. What exactly are you driving at?” detective Conan inquired almost impatiently. The butler has always had a knack for speaking in details and full description as if giving lessons to students. He then continued “ I saw something shocking," he said. “Ever since I witnessed it, I just wished I hadn’t walked down that hallway last night”. He said, sounding troubled. “What I saw at the room opposite the edge of that second staircase sent multiple shocks down my whole body",....... he paused before he continued, “after leaving Bella and Lilian in the kitchen, I still went around the house to double-check and know if things were in perfect order. It was past 12:00 am at that time, the Parker’s had all retired for the night. I strolled around the dining room, through the hallway, then outside the house to quickly dispose of the empty bottles in the large trash bin which was at a corner outside the building. On the opposite end of the compound, I thought I heard rustling sounds, but I wasn’t sure if it was anything serious so I let it slide. I went back into the house and started putting off the lights after which I headed to the hallway that led to my room. While I was about opening the door, this time I was sure I heard a noise coming from the end of the hallway that led to the other staircase. I had to check it out to clear my doubt cause it was already getting creepy for me. So I walked slowly over to the end, I looked around and beneath the staircase to inspect but found nothing. The light at that end was dim, so was the light across the hallway where the staircase led to. Opposite the end of the staircase was a room, it was actually a small-sized bedroom but was hardly used because of its distance. While I was relieved of finding nothing related to the noises, all of a sudden, the door opened and I quickly crouched beside the sides of the staircase. Then I saw Mrs Jennifer coming out from the room slowly in her nightclothes. She wore a suspicious look on her face, looking at both ends of the hallway slowly before wandering off. What could she be doing there and why now? I thought to myself. While I was a bit confounded as to what I had just seen, Mr Allen came out from the same door, his bare chest was exposed as his shirt was flung open and the belt holding his pants was loosed as he was still wearing the same outfit he wore for the party last night, unlike Mrs Jennifer who was in her night wears. He then closed the door behind him quietly and strolled off. I watched in shock at what was revealed before my very eyes. It’s hard to believe it, but it's obvious Mr Allen and his brother's wife, Mrs Jennifer, are both having an affair.
* * * * *
“Hello Bella, how are you doing?” detective Conan asked her softly. “I'm fine sir” she replied calmly while she took her seat. He leaned forward towards her and said “Look, I know how traumatizing this has been for you, you and Lilian have been close for so long now. I know the feeling of losing someone you love, trust me, and that’s why you have to work with me. Together we can solve this case and serve justice for Lilian, what do you think Bella? Detective Conan said, Bella only nodded in reply looking straight in his eyes. So Bella tell me, you’re the closest to Lilian and so I suppose you have more information than the others if you would be generous to share for the sake of Lilian. And so Bella, take your time to answer honestly dear, did you by any chance notice anything strange about Lilian lately? He asked. Bella took a deep breath and said: “Nothing really detective she has been herself ever since”. “Okay, fine" but did you notice if she had any issues with anybody else in this house? Detective Conan asked hoping to get a tangible response that he would use to quantify her cooperation. Bella paused as she was about to answer “I.....” she paused again, this time she was already perspiring. The detective looked around and found a white piece of cloth and handed it over to her, “are you alright ?” he asked. Bella wiped her wet face, took another deep breath and said “Detective, there has always been issues when working under someone, but one I would kindly bring to your notice was a time when we were in the kitchen, Lilian and myself. Then Mr Allen came in, as odd as it was. He told me Mrs Parker sent for me so I hurried to meet her. I went upstairs to the living room where she normally was but I couldn’t find her. I went to her room and knocked but she wasn’t there either as I got no response. I checked around the house but I couldn’t find Mrs Parker. So I decided to check back at the kitchen and ask Mr Allen where she was. On getting there, Mr Allen was leaning towards Lilian, with his fingers pointing at her as if warning her or something, on the other hand, Lilian stood leaning backwards as if being afraid of the finger Mr Allen pointed at her. I stood at the entrance door and saw it all. Immediately he sensed my presence, Mr Allen stood upright and left, on approaching where I was I tried to inquire from him where Mrs Jennifer was but before I finished asking he interrupted sharply and said “Never mind, she just left" without even looking at me, he then left the house. I was shocked as to what Lilian might have done to offend Mr Allen. I tried asking her at that time but she wouldn’t tell me. And that’s all detective”, she said, seeming as though she had just eased herself after being pressed for long. “Hmmm, interesting” Detective Conan said in a low tone. “Can I leave now Sir?" Bella asked inquisitively. Detective Conan looked at her for a while with a straight face and said smiling “sure, that would be all now”. She gave a sigh of relief, stood up and left. Detective Conan brought out his note and jotted some few things then he closed it and returned it back to the chest pocket of his shirt. He then stood up, wore his hat back and took his coat which he placed on the arm of the chair and wore it. He then signalled to the officer for their departure. The officer nodded in response. Detective Conan came out of the room followed by Officer Steve behind. He took a glance at the hallway all the way to the end to confirm the butler's words. Then took a stroll across the hallway, he stopped halfway after sighting the staircase and the room opposite it then he turned back walking briskly. He descended through the large central staircase to meet with the Parkers in the living room. As he got there, they were all seated discussing with one another
in low voices, when he entered Mr Parker stood up to ask him if there was any progress. Detective Conan swayed his hand in the air saying “No sir, not yet". In the meantime, I would like to thank you all for your cooperation so far. I and officer Steve would be taking our leave now. I'll have to head back to the homicide department to see if there’s any physical or biological evidence left by the killer on the crime scene and ascertain other data regarding Mrs Lilian’s death, in the meantime, I would be reporting back regularly if I need anything concerning the case, please stay close just in case”. Detective Conan was speaking while he noticed the window in the living room had no burglary, only a glass pane and was obviously always flung open. “Okay detective, please don’t hesitate to come over if you need anything”, Mr Parker said. “I will sir, thank you!” Detective Conan replied, He then shook hands with Mr Parker and bade them farewell as he and the Officer took their leave. The butler escorted him to the door and opened it for them, thank you, Mr Richard, Detective Conan said. “No problem sir, do have a nice day" replied the butler. After the butler closed the door behind them Detective Conan took a more serious look at the compound. On his far left was the trash bin Mr Richard spoke about then on the opposite side were shrubs and little bushes that led to the other side of the house. This must be where he heard those noises, he thought. He walked very slowly towards the direction of the shrubs looking around at the wide compound space and trees on the far end and the medium-sized swimming pool that was barely used, then he noticed the fences at the extreme, using his eyes he traced an imaginary line from the fence to the little bushes where the butler claimed to have heard rustling noises. Then strikingly he found a lead. The bushes went straight to the window that had no burglary in the living room where he had just left the Parkers. He then smiled and said to himself “of course".
CHAPTER 8
Bella was in the kitchen, doing the dishes meticulously. It was the evening of the day of their interrogation and everyone managed to have lunch as their bellies seemed not to be interested in feasting. While doing the dishes, Bella was rather timid as she handled the ceramic dishes. Her thoughts were still not stable as her mind kept taking her to Lilian’s lifeless body. Like scintillating flashes of memories in her head of the horrible scene, she witnessed earlier today in the dining room. Her hands seemed rickety as she tried her best to put in more effort in handling the breakable plates, at least, so as not to disappoint Lilian who would’ve admonished her for the frivolous way she handled them. But Lilian is nowhere to be found.
It was the first time she was seeing a dead body earlier that day, but what made it more terrifying and traumatic for her was that it was someone well known to her, someone who was more of like a mother to her. Each time Lilian’s face popped up in her mind, the visible veins on her head, her reddish looking face, the bloodshot eyes, and her blood-stained mouth, she just couldn’t bear it as she breakdowns with her heart crumbling with grief.........“Hello Bella", the butler greeted from the entrance door. Bella, on hearing his voice freaked out and almost lost grip of the ceramic plate in her hand. She somehow managed to prevent the plate from crashing on the floor. “Hello Mr Richard”, she turned towards his direction and gave him an obviously fake smile, while she sought to put the plate back to in its rack. Mr Richard walked further slowly and turned left to where the maids kept their aprons at one corner. It was a small-sized shelf where they kept other linens alongside new set of aprons. He picked one of them as if knowing it was Lilian’s, he took it and held it close to his face. Bella watched him with an awkward expression on her face. He then said, “it reminds me of her so well, that fresh scent of something new, her brilliant white apron reminds me of her presence”, he went on “though she was here before me, but not too long before I showed up here. I had left home that time, from downtown Auston to seek for new opportunities here in the heart of Newville ‘the famous city for its wealthy inhabitants’ sure looked like the perfect place to start digging for gold I guess. Despite my low level of academic qualification, I still found it pertinent not to give up or wallow myself in the ghetto where I came from”. He looked around as if trying to behold for the first time, the ultra-modern design and painstaking effort employed in giving the kitchen it's beauty, and still holding the apron in his hand he continued “The house was kind of new then and according to the agents, the inhabitants had just moved in and were looking for a butler to speed things up around the house. That was how I came in, the pay was attractive, the mansion itself was excellent and so I had no choice. Lilian showed me around the house when I newly arrived. She was a nice person, very nice in fact. Her benevolence contributed to my wonderful experience here and I'm so grateful for that impact. And so I hope whoever did this to her rots in jail”, he sad with firmness in his voice. He then kept the apron back. Walked towards Bella, he looked at her weary eyes then asked her “Do you know?”. Bella looked confusingly and replied him with a voice that sounded like whispering “know what?”. Mr Richard looked at her then gave her some distance and leaned against a bench nearby. “I know you two are very close, she was like a mother to you Bella, so don’t be silent now.... besides you might not be the only one who knows,” he said grinning. “Mr Richard, I don’t seem to follow you, what exactly are you talking about?”. Mr Richard looked at her and chuckled, moving away from the bench he said “I’m sure you must’ve heard or seen something around here Bella, let's not deny it, whatever it is dear it might be useful. Let’s not hold back whatever we know. Whoever killed Lilian mustn’t go unpunished” he said almost raising his voice. He then breathed out heavily “Bella, I’m sorry I might be sounding weird, but whatever it is you know, please I beg you don’t hold back". “Did the detective get you to talk to me?” Bella asked, “No, of course not, I only want justice for Lilian, she didn’t deserve what she got and you know it. We cant always keep cleaning their mess " Mr Richard said, trying to use detective Conan’s words on Bella. Bella still appeared unmoved, still trying to focus on what she was doing............. “Is there a problem Mr Richard?” a voice echoed from the entrance door, Bella and Mr Richard turned to Mrs Jennifer who was standing at the entrance of the kitchen, leaning against the door frame With her arms folded. She bore a calm expression on her face that indirectly meant something otherwise. “No ma'am”, the butler said almost frightened. He wasn’t told that his presence there has due, the still and calm expression on Mrs Jennifer’s face said it all. He hurriedly left the kitchen. Mrs Jennifer then walked slowly around the kitchen, as if trying to observe every nook and cranny of the kitchen, but she barely did that on a normal day. Bella stood still not knowing what to expect. “Benedicta dear, would you rather judge a book by its cover?” she asked in a soothing tone. “I suppose not" Mrs Jennifer answered herself while looking at the hanging cupboard shelf at the opposite end of where Bella stood. Mrs Jennifer was walking round the long rectangular centre bench of the kitchen. “I understand we tend to look at things from the perspective of first-time impressions, but if you'll agree with me, you’ll know its a rather shallow way of judgement. Knowledge isn’t enough, neither is wisdom, but understanding caps it all and gives it a more applicable meaning” Mrs Jennifer said with a sound of resolution in her voice. Now Mrs Jennifer was already approaching where Bella stood. She looked at her, then passed her. Bella was left in consternation as to what Mrs Jennifer was possibly eyeing or in the kitchen or what she was eventually going to arrive at. Mrs Jenifer walked a distance further and turned back fleetly and said, “Lilian was a hardworking person, very diligent. I personally admire her strength, I mean, it’s a big house, she said swinging her hands in the air, “Having to put things together all by herself, I can imagine how very tedious that is, hence, the reason you are”. Mrs Jennifer continued, placing her hands on her chest and said "it was out of my soft heart that I brought you to help assist her with the laborious work around here. ‘Nothing more, but sympathy my dear’...“ she said sounding pitiful. “we all grieve her demise. But still
let’s not forget we are one family here, whatever it is we do or have done that a shallow-minded person might think is unusual or way too much to comprehend due to an incompetent scope and basis of judgement, do well to know that its all for the growth of one another. No one means harm here but love, even you know this. So let’s not contaminate that peaceful atmosphere with insecurity and misplaced conviction or suspicion”. Mrs Jennifer looked at Bella and smiled, “I'm sure you understand dear" .......” yes ma'am, I perfectly do", Bella who was now standing like a log of wood answered sheepishly. Mrs Jennifer then turned to leave, “And oh!, that reminds me, I hope you know a lot of responsibilities rest on your shoulders now. I know it'll seem hectic for you dear, but trust me Lilian was in that spot and she did great even when she was as young as you are now, So definitely you can”....she said smiling at Bel la who managed to smile in return, “Thank you, ma'am, I’ll do my best" Bella replied. “I know you would dear", Mrs Jennifer turned and left.
Bella stood paralysed watching as Mrs Jennifer left the kitchen. She wasn’t sure of how to feel or what to draft out from Mrs Jennifer had just said. For a moment she forgot about Lilian's horrible face that ravaged her mind earlier. What exactly was her mistress driving at?... Obviously, it was more of a mind game than some mere words of exhortation. She wasn’t sure exactly what Mrs Jennifer had in mind for her but it’s certain it solely concerned her because she had the butler, Mr Richard excused, which definitely means she knows.
The Case of the Parker's Page 4