Since Ethan left for Canada, it's been two weeks. The wind blew heavily along the Northeastern waters, heavy dark clouds hung low in the sky threatening to pour. In some few moments the sky burst out letting a torrent of droplets on the roof. The clock in the living room struck midnight and lightning cracks slashed across the sky in half. Samantha miserably walked along the mansion hallways. Her young delicate footsteps quiet, thunder rumbled and shook the sky. In that instant, lightning cracked in the sky, creating an illusion that it was daytime and she saw her. Natalie Alec Merlin lay on the floor, cold, blue and dead! Her eyes wide and she had foam dissolving from her mouth. All color had drained from her skin. A sharp scream broke from her lips, a painful cry that woke up the whole house. Elizabeth was the first to pop out from her room and she gasped before she screamed. Lady Ada almost collapsed due to the shock but Tomas held her. Miranda and Grace screamed and cried. When Mark came out and saw Samantha on the floor, shaking and crying, he ran and gave her a warm embrace, shielding her eyes from the grotesque sight. Tomas gave took his mother away and made a phone call to the Sherriff's department.
*. * . *. *.
Police sirens were heard wailing from a far, the rain persistently dropping on the roof. Tomas paced around the room, answering different calls at a time. Mark sat on the sofa, holding Samantha who was too terrified to speak. Elizabeth comforted Grace who was crying her eyes out and Miranda who was too shocked to believe what had transpired. Lady Ada sat there still perplexed by the events of this somber night. The doorbell rang and Tomas was the first to respond,
"Welcome Sherriff." He paves way for them to proceed in. "I am Inspector Garald Ursula and this is my deputy Nate Pescoli Regan." Ursula says. He was a short man with a bald head and a big tummy. He had a studded nose and a wide mouth. Deputy Pescoli who was behind him was a man average in height, well-built, with sandy brown complexion and deep black eyes. His hair was well- trimmed into a bob cut fit for his huge face and sharp nose.
"My sincere condolences to the Merlin family, however, all of you are suspects in this case. May someone escort me to the body." Nate says and Tomas shows him the way upstairs; Nate instructs the forensic team to head up while he keenly follows behind. After putting on some gloves and observing the body he turns to Tomas,
"I need all the members of this household gathered in the living room, whether servants or guests, I need everyone assembled in one space." Nate says before heading downstairs.
He was going to investigate all of them one by one, justice will be served to this deceased woman,
"Mrs. Ada Lu Merlin, my deepest condolences but can you tell me where you were this evening and can you also tell me what happened before you found the body." He asks gently, intently waiting for a response from the woman.
"Right after dinner inspector, Joanna brought me my evening tea and I was too exhausted today. Thus, I didn't follow my regular schedule of reading a novel before sleeping. I was already in bed by 9:00 PM. Joanna tucked me in before leaving the room, at around 12:00 PM I heard a sharp scream in the hallways, only to find Samantha and Elizabeth at the crime scene. Inspector, kindly do everything you can to bring my daughter-in-law justice." She says in between tears.
Nate takes in notes before moving to Tomas Matthews Merlin, "Mr. Matthews, can you tell me where you were before midnight, what you were doing and who saw you?"
"Right after dinner, I went to the family library to deal with some asset documents and I went directly to bed after wishing my mother a lovely sleep."
"At what time specifically were you in your mother's room?" Nate asks noting down more notes.
"At around 8:40 PM, that was the time I wished my mother goodnight." He answers quietly.
"Around this time, did you see anyone suspicious or anything wrong with Mrs. Natalie? Where was your wife by this time Mr. Matthews?"
"There was nothing suspicious around 8:40 PM, we all had dinner as a family as usual, Natalie was fine even before dinner and after dinner. My wife Elizabeth had already retired to bed by 8: 40 inspector Pescoli." Nate nods and heads to Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Matthews, my condolences for your loss, but I do have some few questions for you."
"Alright inspector, I will answer everything honestly, and bring my sister-in-law and best friend justice." Elizabeth says wiping tears from her face.
"Mrs. Matthews, right before dinner, was there something a miss with Mrs. Natalie?"
"No, Inspector. We all had dinner as usual and Natalie was fine." Elizabeth says wiping away more tears.
"At 8:40 PM Mrs. Matthews, where were you? Who were you with? And what were you doing?" Nate asks noting down every detail
"Inspector Pescoli, just as my husband had said, I was utterly exhausted so I was sleeping by 8:40 PM, I was with my husband as he had said and I was sleeping before I heard Samantha's scream in the hallway." She wipes her nose as the tears keep coming.
"Mrs. Matthews, did Mrs. Natalie have any enemies, or perhaps was anyone threatening her in any way, moreover, you were the first person to come out of your room why were you awake at 12:00 PM?" Nate asks, prying further, since half of them already have an alibi to prove their innocence.
"I have known Natalie for years, she was a gentle woman and a kind soul the only reason anyone would hurt her was simply because of jealousy. Since her husband the late Richard Alec Merlin passed away, she became withdrawn but I was always comforting her in the best ways I could think off? I was the first person to make it to the hallway because Natalie's room is next to mine, I heard the scream and it scared me out of my sleep inspector, I was not awake at this time, the person who you should ask is Samantha. Why was she awake and what was she doing in the corridors?" Elizabeth says in between teary sobs.
Nate moves to the four servants of this house, Joanna as the manager, Camil as the laundry girl and Sei as the chef. Not forgetting William Regan Merlin as their gardener.
"Mrs. Joanna Abram, where were you before the incident and after the incident? At what time did you retire to bed? During the night period who were you with?"
"Inspector, at around 7:00 PM, I made sure dinner was served and Mrs. Natalie joined us for dinner completely fine, at around 8:40, I saw Mr. Tomas wish my Lady Ada goodnight. By 9:00 PM, I had switched all the lights in the house before heading to bed."
"Was there anyone or anything you found eerie during the night? Did you see anything or anyone suspicious before Mrs. Natalie passed away?"
"No, inspector, nothing was suspicious before midnight and by 9:00 PM all the servants were asleep already, the lights turned off and no one was in the hallways. Please find the murderer and bring them to justice, my young miss was so gentle and kind, I don't understand why anyone would want to harm her." Joanna says in tears.
"Thank you, Mrs. Abram, I will do my level best to solve this case and many more." Nate says before standing up and heading to Sei and Camil, "Mrs. Sei Dot and Mrs. Camil Valt, did you see anything or anyone before heading to bed? Was there anything wrong with Mrs. Natalie in this week or before her death. Do you suspect anyone who might want to harm her?"
"Inspector Pescoli, there was nothing wrong before we all headed to bed, Mrs. Natalie was fine, even during the past week, she greeted us friendly before breakfast. She was a sweet woman with a warm personality, I still don't understand why anyone would want to harm her." Mrs. Dot says sadly.
"It's just the way Sei has said, we were together all night, but its truly sad on what has happened to Mrs. Natalie." Mrs. Valt says and Nate ends up looking at William, Grace, Miranda, Mark and most of all Samantha. It was going to be a long night, but he'd interrogate the children early next morning. There were still shaken from the incident, too confused to comprehend what had happened.
"Mr. William, can I ask you where you were, what you were doing or if you saw anything suspicious around the residence?" The inspector asks eyeing him keenly.
"Nothing was wrong, I was in the stables as always, saw Madame Natalie go and come as usual and till this evening was when I was informed that she had passed away by Joanna. After dinner in the kitchen, I was already back in the stables, coz' me' dear horses are terrified of the thunderstorms." He says and Nate nods.
"Thank you all for your co-operation, if I get further information, I will immediately inform you. Once the results are out on what caused Mrs. Natalie's death, I will inform you. My condolences again to the Merlin family." Inspector Pescoli says and they are escorted to the door by Tomas, he reassures him and informs him on the visit tomorrow. This was another heavy case that had entanglement of deep mysteries and series just like years ago. Nate thought as he drove away.
*. *. *. *.
The previous night was rather restless but early next morning, Nate Pescoli Regan was at the Merlin mansion. He looked around and the children looked tiered, Miranda had deep bags under her eyes, on the other hand, Grace had red eyes and parched lips as though she'd cried the whole night. Mark was seated beside Samantha who seemed to be in a recurring nightmare. Nate was still unsure as to whether, she could say anything, she seemed so lost and confused. From what Lady Ada and Elizabeth had said, in direct translation, they were blaming Samantha as the murderer. He was also sure, Grace was doing the same, but why on earth was she in the hallways.
"Hello, Grace, I know this might not be a good time but can you tell me is someone was harassing your mom? If anyone was trying to harm her? The last time you saw her before she passed away dear." He looks at her and she's quiet, staring at something unknown.
"My mommy was a very good person; she loved me and daddy so much. She cared for everyone and she didn't hate or judge anyone. She had many friends and zero enemies. The last time I saw her was when she went to sleep at 10:00 PM, I kissed her cheek to wish her goodnight and she also kissed my cheek. I know only one person who would try to hurt my mommy, that is Samantha. She hated my mommy, she disliked her and her mommy stole daddy from my mommy. Samantha also killed her mommy, that's what I heard Aunt Elizabeth say to her friends. Samantha is a murderer. SHE KILLED MY MOMMY! SHE KILLED MY MOMMY! MURDERER! MURDERER!" Grace begins shouting and Lady Ada takes her away to another room since Samantha's presence seemed to activate something traumatizing. Nate looks at Samantha who is seated by the window, without moving or reacting. He looks at Miranda and she simply says she was with Grace all night. Nate considers as to whether he should really interrogate Samantha while her mind was still fresh and he moves with the later. He sits next to her, by the window.
"Samantha, hello, princess, I know its not really easy but if we want justice for Aunt Natalie, you have to tell me what you saw dear. No rushing, you can take it slow and steady." He says to her and she turns her gaze to meet his. The only thing he sees are empty dull grey irises. Hollow and shallow eyes filled with nothingness. Just how much were they going to torment her?
"What were you doing in the hallways Sammy?" Nate asks her gently, taking out a notebook, he'd gotten very useful information from Grace and a list of suspects lining up. Their timelines were rather disorganized. From the fact that he knew Samantha was not the murderer, either someone was targeting her specifically or that person knew she was going to be there at that time.
"I couldn't sleep, I can't sleep, I try to sleep, but I can't. When I close my eyes, I see my papa, I see mama and I see Ethan. I think sometimes my mind goes blank and I end up looking for him, am crazy, aren't I Mr. Pescoli?" Samantha says hiding a chuckle.
Nate couldn't bring himself to say anything in that moment rather than cover it with another better question. "Samantha, do you know anyone or did you see Aunt Natalie acting strange or suspicious in any way?"
"She was always strange, they just didn't notice, they were all busy bullying me, no one notices anything a part from the person who is focusing on something." She says carelessly and Nate now removes a recorder from his pocket.
"How was she strange? What did she do to make her strange?" Samantha goes quiet, and looks out the window.
"She had breakfast with us on very rare occasions if I remember correctly, Monday, Friday and Wednesday. Most of the time, she left the house at odd hours, people didn't notice but I did, for I saw her through the stables. Hà! Where was she always going? I didn't ask neither did I care but I didn't kill her that's all I know, I didn't kill any of them like they all say. I am innocent." Samantha says and hugs her legs, this child needed mental help, perhaps a psychiatrist or someone who will listen. Nate looks at her, "Is there anything more you want to tell me?" She shakes her head and he stands up to leave before she whispers, "They all died the same way."
Nate Pescoli Regan bids the family farewell but while he's in the car, his thoughts ring in what Samantha had said, "They all died the same way." Thinking on it, Dorian Lu Merlin had died, the police deemed it suicide, Richard Alec Merlin died, they claimed it suicide, Tabitha Alec Merlin died, the police said it was suicide finally, Natalie Alec Merlin died, this all cannot be suicide. There was something he was missing. Perhaps a murderer, a serial killer? Are they just targeting the Merlin family? Why were they killing them? Or he was not seeing something? Was it coincidence? There was something he needed to look into ASAP!