265 Lurking- Part 2
Poor Jas, thought Calhoun to himself. Nor would he have tried to chase or court Madeline, nor would he have been in such a ss now.
The reason why he had co down to East Carswell wasn't just to impress Madeline and show her he was exactly the person she was looking for. He was curious to see who had frad Jas Heathcliff because coincidence was sothing he didn't believe in. Not when it ca to matters like these.
"And why was Mr. Heathcliff interested in eting the maid?" Calhoun pressed, "Mr…"
"Fisher," the man answered warily. Mr. Fisher knew he would be questioned by the King, but he didn't want a murderer moving around freely, "My apologies for my earlier actions," and he bowed his head.
"Let's hope that you don't repeat it," Calhoun murmured, his red eyes glaring down at the human, "I must say, people, appear to be far worse idle than they look." Charmire who didn't know what the King was speaking about, his head moved back and forth between the two n.
"Yes, my lord," Mr. Fisher bowed his head again and said, "They said they haven't found the girl. I think sothing similar like this must have happened to her too."
Calhoun found it to be laughable that people were so quick to jump into conclusion even though they knew each other for years, "And you think he killed her. Has anyone ever seen Heathcliff talking to the dutchess? Any ntion about her of why he would try to kill her?" Saying this, he walked towards the body and bent down to take a closer look. Charmire was right. It had been less than a day since the girl was murdered.
"Did you know the man lost his father?" Calhoun questioned both of the n. Hearing no response coming from either of them, he conjured that Jas had buried his father by himself, without informing anyone, "He lost his father last morning. I don't think he would be interested in fancying a woman. Bring the caretakers of the ceteries' who are in and around the village. Find out where Jas has been."
"Yes, milord!" Charmire quickly left, and Mr. Fisher went on his way after giving a bow.
Calhoun's eyes trailed on the dead body. He faintly rembered eting this girl, the Duchess' daughter Layla. He doubted Jas had done it because if Jas was already in the process of transforming into a werewolf, tearing a neck wouldn't be as neat as it looked right now. It would have also left scratch marks on the body. If the question arose if he committed the murder before he was bitten by a werewolf, that was impossible. Jas was a human, not a vampire nor a werewolf before.
After a while, the magistrate arrived with a man next to him, "My lord, this man said he saw Jas last night."
The caretaker of the cetery bowed his head to the King. With hands folded, he replied, "I helped him with his father. He was very heartbroken when he ca to the cetery in the afternoon." Calhoun, who heard this, sent Charmire on another errand.
"What ti did he bury his father?" questioned Calhoun.
"I had one of the graves ready and open for use, it must have been around three in the afternoon when we helped his father to rest in peace, milord. I don't think the man would have killed the person here," inford the caretaker.
Calhoun pushed himself up to stand, "Are you close with Mr. Heathcliff that you are supporting him?"
The caretaker quickly shook his head, waving his hands in front of him, "No, my King! It is not what I ant. I just feel he is innocent," the old man looked worried that he had offended the King in so way.
"Do you rember until what hour he was at the cetery?" Calhoun wanted to ask sothing, which was why he had sent Charmire on an errand, "Where did he possibly go after that."
"Ah, he didn't leave his father's grave until the ti of night. He was there for a long ti until so wolves ca and bit him," and there it was, thought Calhoun to himself. So it hadn't been long since Jas had been bit, and it was out of accident.
"Wolves are often feral, and their bites can be painful," Calhoun comnted to have the caretaker nod his head in agreent.
"You are right, my King. I tried to help him and offered him aid. But he didn't stay long. He just left. He didn't say where," the caretaker replied.
"You can leave," Calhoun dismissed the man. After speaking to so more people to understand what transpired yesterday and what the other people had to say about the last ti they had spoken to Jas, he heard from the assistants of the shop that the Barnes family had sent a carriage to the shop yesterday.
The Duchess was back after so ti, taking her beloved daughter to put her to rest in the graveyard. As this was no ordinary person's death, a word had been sent to the higher House so that they knew what was happening. Calhoun didn't care about it, because the death had nothing to do with him.
Why leave in Jas' backyard when it could be disposed of anywhere else, questioned Calhoun in his mind.
During the ti of burial, Mr. Barnes arrived in the carriage, "My lord," the older vampire greeted, "The man said you wanted to et . You could have called to the castle, instead of coming here."
Calhoun smiled at Mr. Barnes' words, "I felt the need to stretch my hands and legs. It has been a while. I summoned you here because this is about your future son-in-law. I heard that Charmire sent his n to inquire if Jas was in your mansion."
Mr. Barnes quickly nodded his head, "Yes, we were surprised when we heard that they were searching for Heathcliff."
Calhoun's lips twisted, "Yes, indeed. Didn't you try to find him?" It was ironic how Mr. Barnes had not bothered to search the man who was going to marry his daughter in seven days.
"I sent out my n to search, but they have no idea where he is. I really thought he was a naive man. Who would have killed the Duchess' daughter," Mr. Barnes tsked and exhaled air out of his lips.
"That's right. I wonder why he would do that. Catherine must be heartbroken," Calhoun comnted, knowing the affection the young vampiress had towards Jas.
"Yes, she's in the house and very upset," on Mr. Barnes words, Calhoun humd in response, "Did they find out why he did it? I never knew he knew the girl. I an he is a human," the older vampire tried to play it off as if he knew nothing that had transpired yesterday.
"We will need to find out about it. I have entrusted the work to Charmire," Calhoun gave a look at the magistrate who bowed his head. Mr. Barnes was least bothered if the magistrate was going to work on it or not. Jas Heathcliff had been frad, and it was only ti for the human to be executed, and his daughter would finally let go of the human.
It was easy to cover up the deaths of people who didn't matter to the people who belonged to the higher status. But hushing deaths like this, it was difficult to do and the High House always kept an eye on such important matters. They were the people who made laws with rules that were unorthodox.
"I heard Miss Layla was acquainted with Catherine," Calhoun started to have Mr. Barnes turn to look at him.
"What do you an to imply, my King?" Mr. Barnes' defensive tone was picked by Calhoun.
"Hm? I thought Catherine would be here to see her friend rest in the coffin. It's not like it is Mr. Heathcliff who died," Calhoun offered Mr. Barnes a faint smile, "By the way, Mr. Barnes...What are your thoughts on furry animals?"
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