Declan
I had imagined what Zion Zephaniah might look like. By his fathers age I thought he would be much older. A sterner appearance on the outside, not that Zion didn't live up to his name because he did. He had an aura that made a shiver run down your spine.
Even though his words were charming and menacing, I knew he was only taking me lightly because he could tell I was new in town. If it was anyone else I suspected I wouldn't get the same treatment. By the talk around the station and town, people feared the Zephaniah family.
It was probably due to the reputation. The service they had done towards the community. Yet also there was a resistance in the station when I suggested the family should be investigated. Apparently they were 'too good of a family' to be involved in such illegal and terrible activities.
The perfect blindsight. No one would suspect the family of anything.
"I'm going to speak to him. You'll be alright to handle the family by yourself?" I looked at Jason who blinked at me then furrowed his eyebrows.
"Declan, you just had the man on the ground and handcuffed. I don't think it's the right time to bombard him," he debated but I was already putting away my gun and fixing up my coat.
"Wait up for me if I'm not back by the time you're done."
"Declan," he sounded exasperated but I was already heading out the door.
My shoes made it difficult to walk on the gravel therefore I couldn't do the walk as fast as I wanted but either way I made it up the steps of the mansion in good enough time that I doubted Zion could have escaped me.
The door had a large gold knocker ring that looked like it came off a set of an old money movie. Obnoxious. With a huff I used it to knock against the door and within seconds, the large wooden door was pulled back to reveal a man who eyed me as if I was an irritation.
"How can I help you?" He curled his dark red eyebrow at me, his shoulder length red hair tossed about. He was dressed in black shorts and nothing else but from the warmth coming from within the house I figured that explained his lack of clothing.
In his hand he held a sandwich which he chewed on whilst he looked at me expectantly.
"I'm Detective Declan from the Enen Police Department. I'm here to see Zion Zepehaniah," I showed him my badge just to enforce that I wasn't budging anytime soon.
"You have an appointment?
"Do you need an appointment to discuss breaking the law?" I said with a clipped tone.
He let out a sigh, moved his body away from the door and held it further back. "Come in." I stepped into the mansion I did yesterday and found it strange to enter when it was deadly silent.
Yesterday there had been a flurry of bodies. Today however the only sound I heard was clanking from the kitchen. The man led me to what looked like a lounge area that felt like a hotel lobby.
Just how many people lived in the house?
"Wait here. I'll go try to talk to him," he cast a glance at me before he disappeared out of the room.
When I was sure he was gone I stood up to take a look around. The mansion was decorated in a very 'lodge' cabin way. Stuffed deer heads hanging off the walls, a cobble tiled fireplace that stretched on forever. Piles of wood logs packed into a wall to make it feel like a design aesthetic even though it was clearly meant for everyday use.
There was a fire burning which blocked out the cold draft outside. The couches were all brown tones. All six of them, some with leather others with fabric. The floor had animal skin rugs and some of the walls decorated with old paintings. The type I truthfully believed belonged to a museum. How did a family acquire this much wealth that I could tell had been around for generations?
Even though you could tell a flurry of bodies entered the home there was nothing personal to make up for it. No family portraits. No personal artifacts. Everything felt perfectly placed. Even the wall that had books stacked from floor to ceiling as if they were never to be disturbed.
"He's willing to see you," the man's voice broke me out of my observation.
"Very well," as if I needed permission to begin with.
I followed him out the room and up the grand wooden winding staircase up. More artwork decorated the hallways and gold chandeliers that blinded my eyes if I stared at them for too long. The hallways had long dark Persian rugs that spanned out for what felt like forever until we reached a door at the furthest wing.
"Just give him a moment he'll come around," he opened the door for me revealing a study. "Coffee, tea, water or juice?"
"Excuse me?" I raised my eyebrows.
"I'm offering you something to drink?" He simply stared at me.
I smacked my lips together to find that I was in fact thirsty. "Coffee will do, sugar and cream."
"It'll be right up," he nodded before he left and gently closed the door behind him.
Strange man.
A large carved wooden dark desk stood before a grand paneled window that showed off the view of the forest and the reserve. A dark leather chair with it that I wished I could have had for my office back at the station.
My feet forced me to look around and once again I met with books and more books. My fingers rang along the spine of each in fascination at the Latin, ancient Roman and Greek titles.
"Snooping around often needs a court order detective," a low thundering voice said behind me.
I spun on my heels to look back and found Zion standing in the doorway. Dressed in black trousers, matching formal shoes and a white button up shirt. His hands in his pockets whilst his hair was pulled away from his face.
For once he was dressed decently.
"No blood?" I quirked my eyebrow as I stared at him.
"No handcuffs?" He chuckled. "Take a seat."