Chapters Murder at Maresfield Manor
Prologue: An Untimely Demise
An Untimely Demise
Maresfield Manor was an old estate. While only a little over an hour’s gallop from the bustling metropolis of Manehatten, the great house seemed as though it was from an older age where nobility and birth controlled destiny far more than money and industry. The hall was perched in the center of a once-fabulously maintained garden that had clearly suffered in recent months. The one time precise hedgerows were now over grown; the formerly gleaming statuary now teemed with lichen. The aged mansion itself, while spacious, appeared worn and weary. Maresfield sat like a dusty jewel in a tarnished crown.
The evening’s rain did little to endear the residence’s stale appearance from its exterior, but within the house was a different story. There was a warmth to the interior despite the fact that maintaining the home was becoming entirely too much for the owner’s only housekeeper. Derpy Hooves, the housekeeper in question, was quickly bustling her way into the main dining carrying a platter of various teas and teapots for her mistress’s dinner guests. The oft clumsy pegasus held the tray tightly in her forehooves as she flew gingerly down the corridor, praying that she could avoid dropping the Lady Rarity’s finest china. As she entered the room she could feel the bubbling wave of conversation wash over her.
“Ah there Derpy is now,” The Countess of Maresfield and mistress of the house waved over her servant. “The chamomile will be fine, darling. Now, Sister Fluttershy, how are things at the orphanage? I hope my generous donation has been put to good use.”
“Oh… um, things are fine.” The snowy white unicorn arched an eyebrow at the yellow pegasus’s response forcing the timid mare to elaborate. “Th-that is to say the money has been a great help, we have been able to buy new linens for the little fillies and colts… They were in great need… The Sisters of Celestia are very grateful for your charity…”
Derpy began to make a circuit of the room, offering tea to each of the visitants in turn. While she half-hated herself for eavesdropping on each conversation, she knew her mistress would pump her for information after the party, and Derpy would hate herself more for disappointing Rarity.
“…So that’s when I hit the crowd with the ole sonic-rainboom… hic… They ate it up…” The slurring voice of a cyan pegasus mare buzzed in Derpy’s ears as she passed, giving the housekeeper a dismissive wave. “Tea? Really the Countess can’t even serve some decent booze after a meal…”
“Well ah reckon, that must have been quite the show. But, uh forgive my sayin’ but… your recent performances haven’t had as…uh… spectacular endings, Miss Rainbow Dash.”
The rainbow-maned mare grumbled. “Yeah well, no one has asked for their money back, have they? ...hic…” Dash cast a dark look at the orange earth pony with which she was conversing. “The fans seem just as… satisfied… with a crash…”
Derpy held out her wares for the earth pony who selected an apple chai. ‘Big surprise there,’ Derpy thought sarcastically. Applejack was a scion of the Apple clan, the owners of Sweet Apple Acres. They held a corner on the apple market, and business was good as far as Derpy could tell.
Moving on Derpy arrived at the side of a lavender unicorn, who was deep in conversation with a puffy-maned pink earth pony who seemed on the edge of sleep. “… That’s one of my current theories about the northeasterly migration of waterfowl, but personally I see it as tangent to the overall issue of Equestria’s shrinking wet lands.Oh goodness that took longer to explain that I had hoped, how about you tell me a bit about yourself, Miss Pinkie Pie.”
Pinkie pie jerked her head up at the mention of her name, her attention snapping back into reality. “Oh, uh not much to tell, I’m a professional partier really. These kinds of shindigs are my bread and butter, or at least they should be. My folks brought me up to be a regular socialite, but I’ve always preferred parties of a bit more…” She paused and thought for a moment, her voice dropping to an excited whisper, “Wild nature. Between the two of us, this place entirely too stuffy and I’d much rather be swinging from a chandelier at one of Manehatten’s finest watering holes with a few fine stallions…”
Twilight’s face grew red as she selected a tea from Derpy’s platter. Pinkie on the other hand, much like Rainbow Dash, seemed disappointed in the lack of any stronger refreshment.
“You don’t need to act like such a wet blanket.” Pinkie chided her partner in conversation. “I’m sure being a researcher at the Canterlot University means you could find your way in to much more fun parties than this one. I remember the last time I found my way into one of those, or rather I have a perfect hole in my memory that fits a set of dates in which I was supposed to be in Canterlot.”
“Oh Derpy, darling, I think that will be all.” The Countess shot a smile at her housekeeper for a job well done. Each guest served and not a single chipped tea cup.
Derpy breathed out a small sigh, happy to have done a satisfactory job. Now she could finally make her way back to the kitchen, rest her wings, set down the infernal platter, and brew some tea of her own. She had begun to make her way out of the room when it happened.
There was a blinding flash of lightening. The room was plunged into darkness, the lights cutting out suddenly. A deafening crack of thunder pierced silence. There was the scuffling of movement in the dark. A sharp cry of pain rent the air, followed by the cascading tinkle of breaking china.
The lights began to flicker to life once more, illuminating the six guests seated at the table.
Their shock and confusion was shattered by an ear piercing scream from the Countess. “DERPY!”
The grey-coated housekeeper lay motionless on the rug surrounded the fractured remains of the spare teacups. A silver kitchen knife protruded from her motionless body. There was a dark stain seeping outward from her lifeless form that had nothing to do with spilled tea.
The six looked at each other, only certain of one thing: one of them was a killer.
Author's Note
Dun Dun Duuuuun.
The rest of the story will be primarily 1st person from the POV of an OC of mine, but I felt the set up should be in third person. Hope everyone is still interested.
Please comment with any advice, message me with any grammar or spelling errors and I'll correct them ASAP
Murder at Maresfield Manor
Chapter One: Let the Games Begin
Let the Games Begin
I scowled at the rain outside my carriage window. I hated the cold damp rain that came this time of year. It was late autumn and the leaves had already fallen, leaving nothing to shield the muddy country lane from the drizzle but the graying skeletons of trees. I puffed out a sigh and turned to my companion in the carriage.
“So how much farther is Maresfield?” I asked, attempting to keep my unrelated annoyance with the weather team that had scheduled this downpour out of my voice. The gruff reply that followed alerted me that I wasn't as successful as I would have liked.
“Only a few more minutes, based on what the chief said,” grumbled my companion. He was a chocolate brown earth pony whose raven mane now sported shocks of grey.
“Still a waste of time, if you ask me. We should be dragging the lot of mares in and leaning on them ‘til they break.” He narrowed his eyes at me before adding, “I see no need to come to them, nor to involve any inspectors.”
“You wouldn't, would you, Sergeant Half-Cocked?” I said absentmindedly. The earth pony grunted at me. I doubt you earn a pair of handcuffs as your cutie mark by attempting to acquire the truth by means of finesse. “We are here because the chief realized that despite the waning nature of the Lady Rarity’s influence, she is still technically nobility and should be treated with respect. That means not hauling her back to Manehatten and ‘breaking’ her as you put it.”
The sergeant grumbled something that sounded like “waste of damn time,” but he was at least polite enough voice any further complaints.
The carriage pulled up to the front gates of Maresfield, which opened with an ominous creak. The weather served only to make the shabby grounds appear, well, spooky was likely the best word for it. The distant flashes of lightening threw the overgrown hedges and tarnished statues into sharp relief and the ever present low rumbles of thunder only underscored the dark cause that had necessitated my arrival.
Once the carriage had stopped I turned once more to the Sergeant. “Okay Half-Cocked, I won’t force your assistance in this. In fact, it’s late; take the carriage back to town with the body. I can send a message for you when you are needed.”
He gave me an indignant stare. “You’re trying to get rid of me.”
“Yes, well.... you are already, by your own admission, out of your element. Besides I know your wife hates it when you work these long nights, why not go home, tuck in the foals, and have a little drink with the missus.” I tried to make the offer sound as tempting as I could, but the cold truth was the thought of working this case with Half-Cocked made me want to beat my face into the side of Maresfield until either the brick or my muzzle gave way.
“Fine.” He grumbled and got out of the carriage, holding an umbrella in his teeth. “But you owe me.”
With that I watched him exit the carriage and enter the house. I used by magic to pull out my own umbrella, a coffee brown aura holding it in place over my head as I exited the carriage. I turned and nodded my thanks to the dedicated earth pony team that had pulled us.
I entered the house and stowed my umbrella in a stand by the door, thanking my stars that I had managed not to get too muddy. I’m not vain, but from what I have heard the Lady Rarity is. I needed to be looking my best is I was going to coax anything other than scorn from her. I paused and examined my reflection in one of the mirrors set by the entrance. My mane was a dark coffee brown, matching my magic aura. It was cut short but not too short, my horn just peeking through my somewhat messy bangs. My coat was a ruddy brown that reminded me of clay, and about my muzzle it darkened, making me permanently look as though I needed a shave.
Like I said I’m not vain, but I will admit I do enjoy looking at my reflection. I think it is because I spend entirely too much time in my own head. Seeing myself reminds me that I’m just another pony.
“Well I’m done here,” Half-Cocked said as he passed me in the hall. He carrying a the occupied body bag on his back. Macabre as it may be, the earth pony had no magic to carry the victim out with him, so this was the next best thing to dragging the deceased behind him. “Her name was Derpy, head housekeeper, and as far as I can tell the only employee. Stabbed. I left the murder weapon in an evidence bag on the table. Have fun playing with the fillies, Inspector.”
I stepped aside to let him pass, and attempted to force some good cheer into my voice as I said my farewell, but as usual it came out more sarcastic than intended. “Have fun with the missus, Sergeant.”
The dining room felt warm despite the tragedy that had occurred. Most of the six mares stood in conversation with each other and attempting to defend their own innocence. The exception was a creamy yellow pegasus with a long pink mane who wore a black habit signifying her member ship in the Sisters of Celestia. She was too busy weeping to join the rest of the group in their bickering.
I coughed to signal my presence and decided I had better introduce myself. “Hello, my good mares, I am the duly appointed representative to oversee this investigation, my name is Inspector-”
“Brighteyes!” Everypony in the room jumped and turned to see the timid yellow mare staring at me, a weary smile gracing her features.
“Ah well it seems you and the Sister here are acquainted,” came the cool voice of the Countess. “A fine name I might add. I for one am happy to see a unicorn is charge of this investigation, that earth pony was just so… common.” This last comment earned especially pointed glares from the two earth pony mares.
For my part I simply chuckled. “Yes it is a wonderful name but it’s too bad it isn't mine, Countess. Only the Sisters at the Manehatten Orphanage call me that.” I made my way over to the gentle pegasus, and placed a consoling hoof on her shoulder. “It’s nice to see you again Sister Fluttershy, I’m sorry I haven’t been over to visit much since last Hearth’s Warming Eve. I’m sorry that we have to meet under these tragic circumstances.”
I turned once more to face the assembled ponies. “My name is Inspector Redeye. Shortly I will be calling you all individually for interviews.” I turned to Lady Rarity, “I presume there is a spare room somewhere I can use.”
“Yes, I believe my late husband’s study is vacant.” She replied.
“Good. Good. Now one more thing I’d like to add, I would encourage no one to attempt to leave here until the murderer is found out. To run is to admit guilt. Believe you me, you will not be able to hide from the Princesses’ justice.”
I let this pronouncement hang in the air for a moment.
“Alright then, Lady Rarity, if you’ll come with me you can show me to the study, and you may also have the honor of being my first interview.”
Author's Note
Hope everyone is enjoying reading this as much as I enjoy writing it. Between this and the other story I am currently writing updates may end up being a bit sporadic in nature, but I will update whenever so don't despair.
Murder at Maresfield Manor
Chapter Two: The Unusual Suspects
The Unusual Suspects
I situated myself behind the desk and offered the Lady Rarity a seat. The irony of being offered a seat in her own home was not lost on the Countess of Maresfield.
“Seriously, inspector.” She arched an eyebrow and fixed me with a bemused stare.
“Just, trying to… uh… keep things formal,” I replied with a weak grin.
“Mhmmm.” She looked me over appraisingly before proceeding to her seat. “Well if I am here to answer questions, I would like it if we began sooner rather than later.” I could almost feel the temperature of the room drop at the tone of her voice.
“Yes, well I suppose we should begin at the beginning. How did you know the deceased?”
“Is this really necessary?” Her voice retained the icy chill.
“Yes.” I replied flatly.
She heaved an over-dramatic sigh. “She was my house keeper; she came onto the staff around when I was married to Count Blueblood.” She paused, the slightest of frowns appearing on her lips. “Derpy and I became… close, I suppose is the proper word. She became my personal valet, and after my husband’s passing I kept her on.”
“Hmmm, yes your late husband. Remind me, how did he pass?” I attempted to feign a polite smile.
“Clearly somepony doesn’t read the society column of the Manehatten Times. He hung himself. It was rather ghastly I must say. In fact it was poor Derpy who found him.”
Despite her assumptions, I was an avid reader of the Manehatten times, and more over I was a cop. Everypony on the force knew there was more to that case than a simple suicide, but no one had the gall or the evidence to make any open accusations.
“Mhmm” I replied with a façade of disinterest. “That must have been tough, losing a spouse. After all I hear it was quite the storybook affair. You were a seamstress before your marriage, right? Going from career girl to Countess, guess there wasn’t a happily ever after.”
Rarity pursed her lips, “So you do read the society column. Well, I won’t insult you intelligence further by speaking well of that… stallion… He was troubled.” She shot me another of her icy glares, I could tell I wasn’t going to get much else out of as far as her marriage was concerned.
After an awkward silence I decided to be more direct. “I must ask, forgive me, but you wouldn’t have had any reason to harm Derpy would you?”
She widened her eyes at the accusation. “No of course not. I am not ashamed to admit it, I needed that mare, she was my only employee.”
“Did you know of anyone else here who might have wanted to hurt her?” I refrained from letting out an audible sigh at the question.
“Well…” She began. Of course she would implicate somepony else. It felt like a formality to ask. Very few ponies when suspected of a crime, in my experience at least, would really pass up the chance to throw suspicion from themselves.
“You know that Rainbow-maned pegasus, you may recognize her as the Rainbow Dash and well… She and Derpy exchanged some rather heated words this afternoon. Apparently Derpy may have been passing some idle gossip about the speedster, and Rainbow overheard. I was conversing with somepony else at the time but I think we could all hear the shouting.”
“Yes, well I suppose you should send her in next, but Lady Rarity, I have one final question: Why throw this little supper party?”
To this, the alabaster mare actually let out a tinkling little laugh at my question. “For a unicorn to ask that, oh my. I’m sorry but you must not be out in society much. It’s just one of those little things the nobility does. With land and wealth comes boredom.”
I couldn’t help but sigh. This is why I preferred staying in Manehatten, I never could get the hang of the nobility types. “Well, thank you for your assistance, if you could please send in Ms. Dash I would be most greatful.”
“Okay, what did that prissy nag tell you? Why do you want to talk to me, eh!?” Rainbow Dash had exploded into the room with all the force of a hurricane.
“Please, Ms. Dash, I am questioning everypony, I’m not presuming your guilt.” I tried to keep my voice calm and controlled, hoping that the cyan speedster would return the favor.
The pegasus let out an audible grumble as she took the seat on the opposite end of the desk. “Look I’m sorry about that,” She said, forcing out the apology. Then her tone shifted. Was she scared? “I… I didn’t kill her, okay?”
I nodded. “Yes well, as I said I have to question everypony.”
She grumbled again and cast her gaze around the room, finally settling it on a collection of dusty crystal decanters still filled with an amber liquid. “Think that’s still good?” She said turning back to me while indicating the liquor with a forehoof.
“I don’t doubt it. I’ll get you a glass, I’m sure there must be one here somewhere…” I rummaged in one of the drawers of the desk. As I did I found my intended target, an ornate crystal tumbler, as well as something rather unexpected, a beautifully embellished diary. The first item I placed on the desk for Rainbow Dash, the second I made a mental note to look through after I was done with my interviews.
When I had once again emerged from the desk I saw that Rainbow had poured herself a generous measure of what I could only assume was whiskey. “Not half bad this stuff, want some?”
I politely raised my hoof by way of objection, “Sorry not while I’m on duty.”
“See that’s why people think cops are no fun.” She took a deep gulp of her drink.
“So, I hear you and the deceased got into a bit of a shouting match.” I tried to keep my tone light and casual to match hers.
“Yeah,” the rainbow-maned mare replied, “She had the nerve to call me Rainbow Crash while gossiping with that orange earth pony.” She sighed. “I got angry, I… I have a bit of a temper you know? But hey if that made me kill, half the tabloid offices in Equestria would be filled with corpses.”
I bobbed my head in understanding. “If you don’t mind me asking, what has gotten you so off your game lately?” The question was intrusive but I was hoping to test just how explosive her supposed temper was, but what I got instead was something I hadn’t expected.
Rainbow Dash sagged in her seat, nursing her whiskey as she avoided my eyes. “It’s the fans…” She said quietly. “They think they own you. I used to dream of being a stunt flier, best flier in all Equestria, that’s who I wanted to be. Nopony ever tells you how…tough… fame can be.” She paused for a moment. “I guess I just don’t care anymore,” came her conclusion.
I looked her over appraisingly. She was holding something back, I just wasn’t sure what. Honestly, I felt sorry for her. “Well I’m sure you can find some inspiration somewhere.” I said in an admittedly hokey attempt to comfort her.
“Heh, yeah.” Did she just blush? Probably just the whisky…
“Thanks… uh… Redeye, right?” She drained the last of her drink in one gulp. “You know for a cop you aren’t too bad, but if I hear a word of what I just said in the papers, you’re going to have me to deal with.”
I offered a smile, “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“So am I free to go back and…uh… mingle?”
I thought it over, “Sure, just send somepony in next.”
The pink earth pony eyed me from across the desk, “So inspector, what do you want with me?”
“Just a few questions,” I replied, my lips stretching once more into the familiar polite smile.
“Only if I can ask a few of you. Okie dokie?” She had a mischievous grin on her lips. I got the feeling I was not going to enjoy this game.
“Fine,” I replied flatly. “Have you ever had any contact with the deceased before tonight?”
“That’s an easy one. Nope.” Her grin widened. “Is there a Mrs. Redeye?”
I puffed out a sigh. “Nope, no Mrs. Redeye. My turn. Would you have any reason to harm the victim?”
“Who me? Never.” She then tapped her hoof on her chin as she thought of a question for me. “Ever done anything kinky with that horn?”
“No.” My reply came entirely too quickly, and the pink pony didn’t fail to notice. Pinkie Pie’s eyes narrowed and that mischievous grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Fine, I had a girlfriend in college, she was really into the whole horn thing, happy?”
“Oh you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” She replied with a lusty chuckle. “I once hooked up with a unicorn, he would do things with his horn that made me blush. Me! And I have a pink coat!”
“Okay one last question,” I said, trying to cover my embarrassment with a business like demeanor. “All these parties that you go to, why?”
She frowned at me. “That’s a dumb question. It’s just what I do, it’s my life, or rather how I feel alive, I don’t know.” Her face suddenly brightened, “Hey that means I get one more question, right? So I saw how you were comforting the nun, and you guys spend holiday’s together right? So tell me, Have you been peeking at what’s under that habit?”
“No.” I said sternly, suppressing the briefest flashes of anger. She stared at me, her brow furrowing in frustration. I merely returned to my polite smile.
“Oh you are no fun at all.”
“You may go, send in someone else after you please.”
“So you’re one of the Apples?”
“Applejack, middle child, to be specific.” Replied the Stetson wearing earth pony.
“Quite the business model your grandmother set up, I hear every apple in Equestria is an Apple Family apple.” I said with a grin.
“Yep, ol’ Granny Smith set up quite the money spinner. Personally I’d prefer to just have mah own little farm, buck all the apples mah-self, but you can’t argue with the money I suppose.” She shrugged her shoulders and let a wistful sigh escape her lips. She was a rich girl tired of the charmed life, but rather than get self-destructive all she seemed to want was an honest day’s work. Yet somehow she seemed to think this dream was out of reach.
“Sounds like that would be nice. What’s stopping you?” I asked earnestly.
“Well, that’s sorta why I’m here. Granny wanted to make sure the business stayed in the family, so the company bylaws only allow a family member to sell their shares if they can be bought in full.”
“So you were hoping the Countess might have the money to buy you out?” I supplied.
“Exactly, heck, we even had a contract drawn up.” She wrinkled her snout in disgust. “But she welshed on our deal, said she didn’t have the money anymore. Ah was this close to my dream.” She held her hooves an inch apart to accompany the aphorism. “Ah need every cent to start up mah own farm, ya see.” She sighed again, almost as if she hoped the breath would carry with it some of her anger.
“I’m sorry, I’m sure that isn’t easy.” I groaned, that once one cookie cutter response too many. “I’m also sorry for the greeting card condolence, when you’re a cop they come standard issue.”
She snorted, “Thanks for that.” She seemed to deflate a bit. “The Countess was my best shot…anyone else with that kind of money knows that the apple business ain’t what it used to be, we’ve had a couple of bad harvests. We ain’t exactly what you’d call a smart investment at the moment…”
“Sorry to hear it,” I said before shaking my head, another greetingcard. “I mean: That bites.”
“Sure does, sugarcube, sure does.”
I ran a hoof through my mane. “Alright, guess we should get down to brass tax, did you know the deceased before tonight?”
“Nope.” Came Applejack’s reply, short and simple.
“She rub you the wrong way?”
“Nope.” She replied a second time.
“Aright, I suppose that’s all for now. Thanks for your candor.” I said offering a weak smile. “Send in another pony on your way out if you could.”
“Hey sis,” I said with a smile as Fluttershy came through the door, pulling out her chair for her with my magic.
“Hi Brighteyes,” She said returning the smile weakly. She was used to dealing with misery at the orphanage, but nothing as dark as seeing someone alive one minute and dead the next, bleeding on the floor.
She wasn’t my sister. Not really, but sometimes it sure felt like it. And to see her like this… well it hurt. It’s why I joined the force, well not to protect Fluttershy specifically, but to protect my family.
“I’m sorry we have to meet like this. I always liked to leave the job at the door when I came home.” My voice sounded to quiet even to me.
“It’s okay Brighteyes, I’m okay… I promise… I’m not afraid or anything. Just sad.” Her voice quivered slightly. She was uncomfortable, but was it the trauma of what just happened, or was it being here with me?
“I’m sorry for not visiting more often, the orphanage is my home, I should visit more.” I shook my head. Maybe I’m just projecting my own discomfort.
“I know your job is stressful. It’s okay, really.” She held out a hoof, seeking my own. I laid my hoof on hers and smiled softly. She had always been like this, even if she was scared or nervous, it never mattered if she saw someone else in need.
I suppose I should explain our relationship, just so you don’t get any weird ideas. I’m an orphan. Parents died before I could even make any memories of them. The Sisters of Celestia took me in, and like many of the others I never got a second chance at a family. So the Sisters and the other kids, they became my family. I became close to one pegasus in particular. Guess who? Yep, she’s my big sis, only about a year older, but I still like calling her that. I wasn't surprised when she dropped out of flight school to take orders in the Sisterhood; she always seemed the happiest when she had someone to care for and her feet on the ground, never saw her as a weather jockey. Though, I think I surprised her when I went to the police academy, I think she thought cops were only the rough and tumble types, not the head in a book type. We’ve kept in touch, holidays and all that, but I think I have been letting my work get the better of me. Maybe I need to reacquaint myself with the Pincesses…
Okay, crap, I was definitely projecting. Seeking forgiveness from a religious official, the department shrink would have a field day. “Ugh. Sorry sis. I should just get on with this, did you know the deceased?”
“No, I’m sorry. The poor mare…” She dropped her eyes to the desk. Her tone was tinged with guilt. Did she think she could have done something?
“And did you want to harm the deceased for any reason?”
“N- no, never!” She blurted out, shocked by the very thought.
I nodded and offered her a smile. “It’s okay, ‘Shy. I’m done now. Could you send in the last mare please.”
“And so I was telling Pinkie about one of my plans for wetlands loss prevention. Honestly I don’t understand why she was so disinterested, Princess Celestia tells me it could save countless species from being placed on the endangered list, how is that not interesting?” Twilight concluded indignantly.
Privately I feel I may have to agree with Pinkie, but I felt for Twilight. I know how it can feel to have people not want to hear about your work. “And that’s about when the lights went out?”
“Mhmm, It was likely some magical or electrical disturbance caused by the storm. I heard some movement and then there was a scream, then lights came back on. Then Lady Rarity screamed out the house keeper’s name and we all saw the body.” She nodded, assured in the factual nature of her report.
“Okay, well I’m not going to waste my time asking whether or not you knew her, or wanted to harm her. I can tell you aren't hiding anything or lying.”
She raised a brow. Then she looked around the desk, her eyes seeking my flank. “What’s your cutie mark supposed to be again?”
I smiled, “It’s a lantern, and it is rather metaphorical, really. My talent is illuminating that which is hidden, specifically the truth. But it’s not really reliable, everyone hides things, everyone has secrets, and my talent is anything but specific. Essentially I’m just a bit more perceptive than the average pony”
“But I’m not, I’m an open book,” She said smiling, understanding dawning on her face. “Wow, even the nun?”
My smile briefly became a grimace of pain, “… Yeah even Fluttershy.”
“So you are telling me this, why?” She asked, but I could tell from the look in her eyes she already knew what I was about to say.
“I need your help.”
Author's Note
So six suspects has become five, stay tuned folks there is more to come. So you will probably either love or hate what I've done here. Pinkie is the femme fatal, Fluttershy is Redeye's sorta-sister, and Twilight is the plucky assistant.
Stay tuned, more to come. Secrets will be revealed!
I live off of comments, don't let me starve.
Murder at Maresfield Manor
Chapter Three: What Kind of Name is Redeye?
What Kind of Name is Redeye?
“I apologize for the wait,” I entered a parlor where the guests had assembled, each patiently waiting for a verdict that as of this moment remained a mystery, even to myself.
Lady Rarity, either supreme in the knowledge of her own innocence or simply tired of my imposition, was the first to speak. “Who, pray tell inspector, killed my house keeper?”
I sighed and shook my head. “I don’t know, yet .” I stressed the last word, more for my dignity than anything else. Of course, my pronouncement went over about as well as an unicorn trying to grow turnips on a cloud. The room seemed to erupt with indignant shouting.
“…What do you mean…”
“…Wait an’ apple pickin’ second…”
“…You got to be kidding me…”
It went on like this for another few minutes, including some really expert profanity by Rainbow Dash (seriously someone give that mare a medal), before I was finally able to settle everyone down again. The only two to avoid engaging in the rabble were my confidant and my sister.
“I know it’s frustrating, I can assure you of that.” I said speaking a few decibels above my usual volume. “Now it seems it has gotten quite past the hour more than a few of us tend to go to bed, we shall continue with the investigation in the morning.”
Rarity scoffed, “You’re asking me to host a murder for the night?”
“Why not? You already hosted one for supper,” I replied dryly.
She gritted her teeth, “Fine, everyone you may find guestroom in the east wing. They may be a bit dusty; I seem to be short staffed.”
Only Rainbow dared a grin at the last remark.
I sat alone in one of the many guest room, jotting down a quick missive by candlelight. I levitated the quill back into its resting place beside the inkwell. Satisfied at my work I used a bit more magic to slide the note under my door and into the guest quarters across the hall. Nothing left to do but wait now. I watched a clock on the room’s mantle tick away the seconds.
So who was guilty? The question was haunting me. Rainbow had a temper sure, but she had raised an interesting point. She had no record of violent offences that I knew of, and given her level of celebrity I figured I would know of any. Applejack seemed more likely to have assaulted the Countess than anyone else. Fluttershy couldn’t possibly have done it… but was I only saying that because she was my sister? No, no, can’t think like that. Rarity herself had such a mixed past, and had been a surrounded by a questionable death in the past. Pinkie Pie also seemed likely because, frankly, she scared the crap out of me. She challenged authority, not that that was anything new of ponies to do, but combine that with her apparent thrill seeking tendencies and you have yourself a budding psychopath.
I checked the clock again. 2 am. It was time.
I crept slowly from my room, levitating the candle stick in its holder alongside me. She was waiting for me as I had instructed, the purple unicorn, Twilight Sparkle.
Who, of course, let out a massive yawn at the sight of me. “By Luna’s moon, do you normally skulk around in the middle of the night?”
“How do think I got my name?” I queried back. I turned down the hall and motioned for her to follow.
She caught up and began to trot alongside me. “Actually I was wondering about that. Unless you’re name is actually Brighteyes Redeye, which would just be silly, why does Fluttershy call you Brighteyes, yet you insist your name is Redeye?”
“You’re right, that would be silly. It’s Redeye Brighteyes.” I deadpanned to my companion.
“I may study at night, but I didn’t start my studies last night.” She replied with equal snark.
“Oh alright, but it’s kind of a weird story. I was raised by the Sisters of Celestia at their orphanage in Manehatten. When I was still a newborn foal, the sisters who came in during the morning would always see me wide away, ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed” as the saying goes. So naturally when it became apparent I was going to be staying at the orphanage for years to come I needed a name, and the morning shift sisters were all set to name me ‘Brighteyes.’”
“I wager you don’t have to be a trained inspector to see this twist coming.” Twilight shot me a grin.
I grinned back. “Yeah well, as you may have figured out, I was always up early because I almost never slept through the night. It would drive the night shift sisters crazy because they would never be able to get any sleep in themselves. They began refer to tending to me as ‘working the redeye shift.’ Well when the time came to give me a name the morning shift sister who retrieved my paper work was stunned to see I’d already been assigned my name by a particularly ornery sister who happened to have worked more than her share of ‘redeye’ shifts.”
I pulled up short in front of a doorway, “Ah, here we are.”
“The kitchen?” Twilight said, asking herself more so than asking me. “Oh I get it; this is where the murder weapon came from.”
“Mhmm” I replied. I began to turn the knob with my magic but suddenly froze midway. There was a sound coming from inside, soft but still audible. I indicated silence to my partner with a hoof to my lips and leaned in, pressing my ear to the door. Twilight, copying my movements, did the same.
A soft sobbing emanated from the other side of the door, “…oh...my poor….Derpy…”
Twilight eyes widened and I nodded in understanding. The voice belonged to the Countess Rarity herself. Whether her sadness grew from guilt or genuine loss, I guess only time and more evidence would reveal, though from the sound of her weeping I’d bet on the latter.
I removed my ear from the door and shook my head. It wasn’t the death that bothered me when I went on a case, that was always a given, but the grief… I was never good at that. My fellow police officers referred to it as an ‘overdeveloped sense of empathy.’ Well, actually they just called me a rude name for a mare’s private parts, but I prefer the whole empathy shtick.
I let out a sad little sigh and closed my eyes. I motioned for Twilight to follow me and we stole away to hid in the nearest unlocked room, which turned out to be a pantry. Twilight was the first to break the silence.
“She always seemed so cold…”
“Sometimes… sometimes people just can’t show their true selves to anyone except those closest to them… and when that person is gone… who do you show?” My head felt heavy, but I tried to fight down the gloom that seemed to be wreathing itself about my mind.
“You okay?” Twilight asked, arching a brow.
“Uh, yeah, just not good with grief… or maybe too good, I don’t know.” I tried a final time to shake the negative emotions from my skull. “Ah, okay there we go, sorry.”
“Not met many cops who can get so affected.” Twilight said with a little smile.
“Yeah well, can’t imagine a good filly like you has had too many run-ins with the law.” I said, letting a bit of a grin cross my lips.
“Well, okay no I haven’t, but I have met a ton of members of the Princess’s royal guard and they all seem like they have the emotional range of a brick.” She retorted.
“Yeah, well when you met them they were probably on duty. It’s their job to be all blank faced. But maybe when they go home to their wives or husbands or colt or filly-friends, who knows? Maybe they are a real softy with their foals, or maybe they are just as cold, either way they all have their own mind and emotions, we’re all only ponies after all.”
“That’s… that’s actually pretty deep.” Twilight said tapping a thoughtful hoof to her chin.
We waited in silence for a little while longer. Then after maybe ten more minutes we heard the kitchen door swing open and then shut. After a few more moments, hoof-steps passed by our door and down the hall.
“Alright then, let’s do this”
The pair of us entered the kitchen, my floating candle leading the way. On a long table in the center of the room sat a solitary teacup with protruding spoon placed aside its saucer. It seemed Rarity was either unsure of where to place used dishes or simply couldn’t find the strength to put it away.
We began a systematic search of the drawers and cupboards. It wasn’t long before Twilight found the butchers block that was missing a knife; unfortunately there were no tell-tale hairs or hoof-prints to point us in the killer’s direction.
“Well this was a wash…” I said, turning to leave.
“Wait a second.” Twilight called to me, she was staring at the spoon that was protruding in the cup. She prodded it gently with her hoof and then let out a little exclamation and lifted it with her magic. She then tapped it on the edge of the table and brought it close to her ear.
“What on Luna’s moon are you up to,” I asked, my curiosity sufficiently peaked.
“It’s fake!” She announced. “See real silver conducts heat quite expertly and this spoon has already gone cold, if it was real it should have retained some heat from the tea. Not to mention that dull sound it made when I struck it on the table. Silver rings, you see?”
“Huh…” I walked over to one of the silverware drawers and withdrew a knife, tapping it against the edge of the counter I observed the same dull tone that the spoon had made. I began to feverishly check all the drawers, one after the other randomly testing utensils, each one failing to ring true.
Panting I looked over to Twilight, “Was the silverware from dinner counterfeit?”
Twilight shook her head, “I think the Countess of Maresfield has been robbed.”
Author's Note
Hope all are enjoying the story.
If anyone would like to use Redeye as a supporting character or reference him in your own works, just send me a message and I'll write up a character sheet for you to reference. While i'm a bit protective of my creation, I am also really excited about the prospect of him becoming a part of the community of OCs.
Til next time folks!
Murder at Maresfield Manor
Chapter Four: Rarity's Lament
Chapter Four: Rarity's Lament
The night had been productive and a new theory of the crime was shaping up. Twilight and I sat at the large preparatory table in the kitchen work-shopping the hypothesis.
“So, do you think Derpy might have known you’re little silver trick?” I said, absentmindedly scratching my ear as I spoke.
“I don’t know, I mean it’s not hard to find out about, but it doesn’t matter, really. She would have handled the silverware every day. Perhaps even if she didn’t know how to identify counterfeit silver, she might have noticed something was off.” Twilight said stifling a yawn.
“Meaning perhaps the murder was committed to silence the housekeeper...” I turned the idea over in my head. “But then why stick around? And why kill her when everyone was in the room, insuring that killer would be a suspect? Granted few killers really manage to plan that far ahead…”
I massaged my brow with my hoof; I really hated having my hooves idle while I thought. “Oh well, I think we can call it a night. I suppose even I need a bit of sleep now and then, and we wouldn’t want the others to get too suspicious about me drawing you into my confidence.”
Twilight gave a tired chuckle that quickly devolved into another yawn. “You, make it sound like I’m a spy.”
I grinned, “Yeah, I guess I do. Well on that note, you might want to head out a little before me. Don’t want anyone hearing us walk down the hall together.”
“Nighty night then, inspector,” She said as she rose from the table and headed back down through then house toward the guest rooms. I waited alone in the kitchen, watching the shadows cast by my candle flicker and dance. After several minutes, I got up and traced back the route to my room.
On my way back to my quarters I was reminded of one last piece of evidence I needed to examine. I crept slowly into Blueblood’s old study, the dusty room appearing even more frightfully antiquated by candlelight. I stole over to the desk and removed the intricately decorated diary with simple application of my magic. With the book floating along behind me I made my way back to my room.
I shut the door and turned the lock before I dare crack open the diary’s dusty pages.
Property of Rarity, the new Countess of Maresfield.
The hand writing was intricate and loopy. Rarity, it seems, was schooled in calligraphy. I flipped through the tome. The entries seemed mostly mundane. What she had had for breakfast, what life was like living in such a large house, etc., etc.
However, as I read on the tone began to shift. The writing, once beautiful, had devolved into a hasty scrawl, as if the Countess had taken to keeping this journal a secret. Then the stories started. The Count seemed to have taken to getting drunk, and was beginning to get violent. She had been trapped by the Count’s reputation, to go to the police would have been fruitless, or so Blueblood had told her. He had said the entire force was in his saddle pocket. Rarity had felt trapped, afraid of losing the station she had long coveted. Tears soon began to stain the pages, and a final entry told of attack so… grotesque… I felt my own eyes beginning to mist over. Blueblood had committed the ultimate act of violation. A final few words indicated the Countess no longer feared for her virtue, as it had been stripped so violently from her, now she feared for her life.
I exhaled slowly, and tried to will my emotions to regress, but the heinous nature of the late Count’s actions left me a hollow shell, filled only with rage and sorrow.
One thing was certain though; a new spin had certainly been put on Blueblood’s death.
I had only managed to put away a couple hours of fitful sleep after the discoveries of the previous night. As sunlight poured through the windows of the room, I groaned and with some effort lifted myself off the bed.
I stared at the journal, which had come to rest on a side table. It simply sat there, the ugly truths held within disguised by its covers.
It was no good; I needed to see the Countess. She had told me that it had been Derpy who had discovered the body of her husband, if she had had a hoof in his death perhaps the housekeeper had said something. Perhaps that’s why she was kept around, kept close to ensure silence... and killed when the mare could no longer live with the guilt. Rarity may have killed once to preserve her life once, but could she have killed to preserve her secrets?
But why then would she weep over Derpy’s death? That fact didn’t add up.
I needed to confront her. Maybe I could even get her to tell the truth if I could get her on her own. I left my room and started toward the direction Twilight and I had heard Rarity go after her time in the kitchen. Before long I was able to locate what appeared to be a bedroom door, though only by knocking was this suspicion concerned.
The Countess Rarity opened the door a crack, just enough for her bloodshot eye to identify me as her visitor.
“What do want inspector? It is quite rude to call upon the lady of the house so early, even more so to do so at the door to my personal chambers.” Her voice was slightly hoarse, but she had attempted to fill it with the same haughty tone she had used so fluidly the night before.
“I need to talk to you,” I levitated the journal into her line of sight, “privately.”
What could be seen of the Countess’s face recoiled in shock. “Where did you… he took it to his study… of course…” She shook her head wearily and opened the door, “Fine, come in…let’s get this over with…”
The once immaculate Lady Rarity looked but a shadow of her former self. Her eyes were as red as my namesake and her mascara had run down her cheeks, leaving grey trails of sorrow in her once immaculate snowy coat. Her once painstakingly styled mane hung about her head in frizzy tangle, with her tail in a similar state. She motioned me over towards a small desk with a pair of chairs in front of it. “Please sit. I figured that it would come to this…”
The Countess hung her head in shame and seated herself opposite me.
“This is very important; I need you to tell me the whole truth. I can tell when anypony holds even the slightest thing back, and the only way I can trust you is if you give the Celestia’s honest truth.” I spoke evenly, but I could not keep a sense of urgency from my voice.
The Countess studied my face, her eyes boring into my own. Without warning she reached a hoof out to my cheek and felt a patch of fur under my eye, still rough with the dried tears shed for Rarity’s plight.
“You cried,” She stated plainly, her voice breaking slightly.
“Yes,” I replied trying to tear my gaze from her eyes, which now glistened with new tears.
She removed her hoof and took a moment to regain her composure. “Not all unicorns would. My story may seem tragic to some, but much of aristocracy didn’t bat an eye at the obvious clues of what that monster did to me. My own parents seemed to believe that it was just the price of marrying well. ‘I’m sure it will get better, darling,’ they told me, ‘He’ll calm down and settle into his life with you.’ Yet they still wonder why I haven’t spoken to them since his funeral.” She let out a bitter chuckle.
“Yes. I killed him. If what you say is true I can’t hid that anymore. He came to me at night while I sat sketching designs on the parlor. His rage had been magnified by drink. He said he had found my diary, and accused me of attempting to compile lies with which to blackmail him. Lies? Really? Every bucking word was true. He stuck me, once, and then again and again. He was wild eyed and I could tell he wouldn’t stop. I levitated a curtain cord around his neck and tied it into a noose, squeezing off his air until his face turned as blue as his Luna-damned name.” The Countess’s voice was filled with a cold fury but soon this too broke.
“And then…Derpy walked in… She stood open mouthed at me, I expected her to scream, to run for the others. But no, she just looked at me and asked in the most pitiful voice I had ever heard: ‘is it over?’ Tears rimmed the poor girl’s eyes. She revealed to me that I hadn’t been the only one that monstrosity that called itself a pony had hurt. She told me that she had reported him to the senior staff but they didn’t care… Oh Celestia… poor innocent Derpy… She offered to help me… Together we hung the bastard from the rafters. After the investigation I fired the rest of his staff. Derpy was all I had left… sisters in a terrible shame… Now… She’s gone…” Rarity buried her face in her hooves.
I extended a comforting hoof to her shoulder. She had been telling the truth. Every word.
“Wh- what now?” Rarity whispered to me. “You… you have to arrest me right?”
I considered her words. It was my duty wasn’t it? To ensure justice, uphold the law, no statute of limitations on murder, and all that.
“I’m here to solve only one murder,” I said flatly, making the decision that I knew full well could haunt me, “and that is the death of Derpy Hooves.”
Author's Note
It may have taken a couple weeks, but here it is. This chapter once again reminds me why I added the 'Dark' tag. So this is sort of the beginning of the end, as far as the story is concerned. We have two suspects down, four to go. Maybe two more chapters and an epilogue, I think. We shall see how it goes.
Now go read something happy!