Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eilah Fayth (Chief of Security) in Side Sim: Murder Mystery - The Tragedy at Thornfield Manor - Tag Everyone

Posted by Lieutenant Ben Hudson (Chief Medical Officer) in Side Sim: Murder Mystery - The Tragedy at Thornfield Manor - Tag Everyone

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eilah Fayth (Chief of Security) in Side Sim: Murder Mystery - The Tragedy at Thornfield Manor - Tag Everyone
Posted by… suppressed (18) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<SNIP>

The party started to spread out across the house, all calling Lord Montague’s name.

Suddenly a scream echoed out from his study, as one of the servants ran out wailing.

“He’s… dead!”

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Evelyn Montague stumbled to a devastated shock as the servant began to scream. “No, no it can’t be!” she whispered horrified. She pulled herself together with effort. “Isabella, we must see for ourselves. He may simply be hurt. We must help him.” She moved quickly toward the room that the servant had exited.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Dr Rahimi scampered after Evelyn, making her way quickly towards the room the servant had come from, slipping past the taller folk and approaching Lord Harrington. “Everyone please give me a little space to work. I am a doctor!” She started by circling the body, looking for any sign of injury, before carefully taking his wrist and checking for a pulse. Kaia might not be a medical professional, but she had taken a first aid course!

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

“Dead? He can’t be! Hurry and help him!” Said Eilah, following the rest of the crowd.

~ Fayth, COS

Arthur hurried after the group as well. “Inspector, if you would go to it?” Evidently he had already conceded Harrington’s death as a given fact.

Lieutenant Commander Arthur Flynn
Chief Science Officer

The hilt of a knife protruding from the Lord’s back was a fairly conclusive indication that he was dead, or close to death, well at least by 19th century medical standards. Sure, a cardiostimulator, laser scalpel and dermal regeneration would have him good as new in the 25th Century, but the medical limitations of the period didn’t permit those things.

A slight murmur came from Lord Montague. Inspector Blackwood stepped forward, crouched down next to the peer, and placed his ear close to him. Suddenly Edward lifted his hand and grabbed the back of the Inspector’s head.

“Be…trayal…” Harrington rasped, before his hand fell and his final breath escaped.

“Who?” Blackwood asked, his voice steady, “Who betrayed you?”. But it was too late, Lord Harrington of Thornfield had come to a gruesome end.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah knelt by the man’s body. “It’s truly a shame,” he said. He took a critical eye to the body. After all, Security did handle investigation on the ship. It was instinct to him. He looked at the knife, and for other injuries to the dead man.

~ Fayth, COS

Shedda gasped heartbroken lyrics. “No!” She grabbed Lady Harrington and hugged her dramatically. Shedda was rather enjoying herself. “No, oh no!” Harringron was dead! “Isabelle, don’t look, it’s awful. My dear friend, it’s just horrible.” Shedda stretched her neck to see the knife. Had she seen it anywhere earlier in the game?

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

The knife had two letters inscribed on the hilt; ‘D. D.’. It would have been the first time the players had seen the knife. Across the room were a couple of other things out of place: a drawer that was open, some scuffs on the skirting board, and a diary lying across the desk.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Shedda moved around everyone gathered near Lord Harrington and she moved over to the desk. She glanced in the drawer making note of the contents and then scanned the diary page to see what was written there.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

In the drawer she found a crumpled note, which had the following words written in beautiful cursive handwriting:

“Dear T,

My heart aches each day we must pretend. The time apart grows harder to bear, and the lies heavier on my soul. I long for a world where we don’t have to hide - where we can be together as we truly are. You are my anchor in this life, and without you, I fear I’d drift forever. I will find a way for us to be free of this nightmare, even if it means facing the world’s disdain.

Love, E”

The diary was closed, and seemed to have quite the intricate mechanism with a small keyhole in it. It looked like a small key would open it.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“Fascinating,” Arthur said, a brief character slip before he reigned himself back in. “Any of you happen to see the key to this?”

Lieutenant Commander Arthur Flynn
Chief Science Officer

Shedda shook her head. “No, I don’t see a key. Perhaps he kept it on his person?”

“Who is T and E?” Ben, in his role as Inspector Blackwood, asked the individuals who were crowding around the corpse.

Lady Isabella, who had been silent with shock, looked toward Evelyn. Dabbing beneath her eyes with a lace handkerchief, she spoke softly. “Lord Harrington always had the pet name ‘Teddy’,” she said, her voice creaking with sadness. “I think we can all work out who E is,” she continued, pointedly.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Shedda really had to look at something, but if she snuck away to do it now, she’d look exceptionally suspicious. “Who do you think E is, Isabella? You have some idea?” She moved around the desk back toward her friend.

The style of the note was familiar to Thomas, Fayth’s character, but he did not show it. He frowned. “E. Evelyn?” He asked, looking up.

~ Fayth, COS

Evelyn looked up at Thomas, “It is not from me.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

“Well, we all know that you’ve secretly desired him as yours,” Isabella quipped back, “Never one to satisfy yourself with one gentleman, you have the desire to acquire everyone else’s.” she continued. “It’s as clear as the writing on this note…” she paused, and then aggressively sighed. “Next you’ll be claiming that T isn’t for Teddy…” she exclaimed, before looking around the room. “And we all know it’s not going to be for Thomas,” she said, looking the business associate up and down, “the only initial he would use is M for Molly.” she paused again, before letting out another sigh. The room was now silent; the occupants of the room had stopped in their tracks, looking at Lady Harrington as she finished her tirade.

“Perhaps Lady Harrington would care for some tea,” Inspector Blackwood said, cutting through the silence. He had wrapped up the murder weapon some paper, and had put it in a brown bag. Placing it into his holdall, he took Isabella by the arm and led her out of the room.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

“Molly?” Fayth asked, still doing his best on the accent, but puzzled by the comment. He glanced at Evelyn, “Spare yourself some dignity.”

~ Fayth, COS

Shedda had to restrain a sudden surge of anger that would surprise Fayth. And it was clearly not directed at him, but at their choreographer for the event. However she was far too professional to let it show on her features. “I assure you sir, my dignity is intact. My dear friend is over wrought by her grief. Lord Harrington and I have been friends, but I am not ‘E’.” She looked around, “Has anyone looked to see if Lord Harrington has the key on his person yet?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Ben sheepishly moved out of the room with Isabella, realising the faux pas he had made in casting Shedda in the role of Evelyn.

As they walked down the corridor, he bumped into one of the servants.

“Oh, would you mind?” He asked, as he helped Isabella on to a chair, “could you get us both a cup of tea.”

He sat down next to Isabella, and put down his holdall.

“Sir, would you like me to put that back in the cloakroom?” asked another servant, pointing to the bag. “Oh, yes, please.” He said, gratefully. A few moments later, two cups of tea were placed next to the pair.

“Isabella, I hope you don’t mind, but I have a few questions I would like to ask.” By this time, the now widow was far more sullen, and quietly clutching her hands together.

“You seem to know something about Evelyn and Lord Harrington?” He asked.

She sniffed before responding. “I know about his ‘hunting’ trips he goes…” she paused, “went on. The ones with his friends, who seem to have no knowledge of them. The ones where he says he had a great time, but brings nothing back for the pantry. The ones that seem to be timed when Evelyn’s friends say she has been away.”

Tears came again to Evelyn, as she dabbed her face with her handkerchief. Taking a sip of tea, she swallowed. “She stole him from me,” she whispered, more to herself.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Meanwhile, back in the room, one of the servants was sensitively checking the pockets of Lord Harrington when they discovered the key. Using it to open the diary revealed the latest entry:

“I’ve arranged for a few unexpected reunions this evening. Certain connections have come to my attention, and it may be useful to keep some of my guests on friendlier terms. One never knows when they may prove valuable.”

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

OOC: Oops… continuity error… this should fix it.

Having taken a few moments away from the group, Isabella reentered the room, a little more composed with Inspector Blackwood behind her.

Shedda looked around at the assembled people. “So, Lord Harrington wanted all of us to meet, specifically. Unexpected reunions? Who here already knows each other?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Isabella looked around. “Well that hardly makes sense. All of you have been here before, and already know each other.” she stated, shaking her head, before catching sight of Eilah. “Well, that is except for you… what was it now, Mr Hawke?” she asked.

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah shrugged, “I received an invite, same as the rest of you. I assume it may be myself that he refers to keeping guests on friendly terms.”

~ Fayth, COS

Charles stepped in. “Oh come now. Lord Harrington was always one to reconnect old friends with new acquaintances. He understood how beneficial it can be to have a good network of people bound by shared experiences.” he said, looking over to Eilah. “Even Thomas and I have shared conversation this evening, and I hope to employ his services at some point.”

Lt. Hudson
Chief Medical Officer

Eilah smiled and nodded. “Excellent. I will be happy to hear from you. I am saddened, however, that tragedy struck in this way tonight.”

~ Fayth, COS

“Yes, but his entry specifically says for unexpected. So people we didn’t think to ever see here or perhaps again. He also said that ‘certain connections’ were brought to his attention, implying that he wasn’t aware of them before.” Wording was important. “Lord Harrington obviously had designs on each of us, things he wanted from us. We need to figure out what.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO