AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The caretaker,wide-eyed, whispered, “Does this mean the DeGrey killer was here? That they didthis to Nathaniel?”
Finn, stillfocused on the vape, responded, “It’s a possibility we cannot ignore. We’ll doeverything we can to find out.”
Winterspocketed the device securely. “For now, we should head back to DeGrey Castle.There are still four surviving family members who stand to gain from QuentinDeGrey’s will. We need to ask them some questions.”
The twodetectives, determined and focused, exited the conservatory, the weight of theinvestigation pressing down on them. But with the new evidence in hand, hopesurged within them. The threads of the mystery were slowly untangling, and theywere one step closer to catching the killer.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Finn foundsitting inside Castle DeGrey at that time of night to be unnerving, though hedidn’t say this to Winters, who was waiting with him.
The ornatedining hall of DeGrey Castle was alive with the fiery glow of the roaringhearth, illuminating the centuries-old portraits on the walls. Shadows dancedalong the corners, making the grand tapestries appear as if they were shiftingand moving. The grand mahogany table, once gleaming with polished perfection,now bore the weight of countless secrets, past feasts, and countless conspiracies.
As the flamesflickered and the wood crackled, Finn and Winters waited in hushedanticipation. Despite the warmth of the room, a chilling draft snaked its waythrough the gaps of the ancient windows, making them feel as though somethingwas moving around the room.
“Ever get thefeeling you’re not alone in these old places?” Finn mused, letting out a slightchuckle. “I half expect a ghost to rattle some chains or for that suit ofarmor,” he pointed toward the full-length knight’s armor at the corner of theroom, “to start taking a midnight stroll.”
Winters, everthe realist, quirked an eyebrow. “You believe in that sort of thing?”
He shrugged, amischievous glint in his eye. “I’ve seen enough weird things in my time tonever discount anything.”
She glancedaround the room, taking in the dimly lit corners and age-old furnishings. “Theliving, Finn,” she whispered, “are far more terrifying. Every murder, every crimescene, every face hiding a dark secret—it’s always been someone alive. Ghosts,if they exist, are just memories. But the living? They’re unpredictable. Andthey can kill.”
A hauntingsilence stretched between them, interrupted only by the intermittent popping ofburning wood. Winters’s statement weighed heavy in the air. Both detectiveswere familiar with the depths of human capability, the darkness that could liebeneath even the most benign facade.
Finn tried tolighten the mood: “You know, if we spend any more time at DeGrey Castle, they’llhave to start charging us for a couple of rooms.”
Before eithercould speak again, the thick wooden door of the dining hall creaked open,dispelling the quiet tension. Frau Wolf, her silver hair reflecting the firelight,stepped in, looking as imperious as ever, but there was a look of deep grief inher eyes as though it all was becoming too much for her.
Behind FrauWolf trailed four individuals, each bearing the unmistakable mark of the DeGreylineage. Their faces were a mixture of fear, curiosity, and defiance—every oneof them a potential inheritor, and perhaps, a killer.
Frau Wolfcleared her throat, her voice echoing through the cavernous room. “Detectives,allow me to introduce you to Quentin’s potential beneficiaries.”
One by one,she pointed them out: “Francis DeGrey, Quentin’s nephew; Miss Elizabeth DeGrey,Quentin’s distant third cousin; Lloyd DeGrey, Quentin’s other nephew; andlastly, Morgan DeGrey, Quentin’s granddaughter.”
Both Francisand Lloyd looked markedly different in terms of their ages, with Lloyd beingthe older of the two. Morgan was the youngest, in her twenties, with brown hairthat flowed around her silken face. Elizabeth, a little older than Morgan, hada strong, determined look about her, but in their own way, each of them carriedan air of aristocracy about them, some more pronounced than others.
“And StewartDeGrey?” Finn asked.
“Poor Stewartis grieving and has decided to do so up in the Lake District,” Frau Wolf said. “Wherehe and Maggie used to spend a lot of time. In any case, Stewart was notmentioned in the will; Quentin must have had his reasons. I suspect it isbecause Stewart was the most self-sufficient of the DeGreys and did not needanything. He already owned parts of the DeGrey fortune.”
The room was asymphony of rustling fabric and shallow breaths, each member sizing up theother, wondering who among them could have gone to such lengths for aninheritance.
Finn lockedeyes with each individual, taking note of their reactions. Winters, meanwhile,opened her notebook, prepared to delve into the heart of the mystery.
The echoes ofFrau Wolf’s introduction hung in the air like the invisible tension of a spider’sweb, strung out across the hallway, threatening to catch them all. The familymembers stood with straightened postures, a mix of pride and defense in theirstance. As detectives, Finn and Winters knew that beneath these calm exteriors,the gears of minds were whirling, recalculating, reacting to each new piece ofinformation.
It was Winterswho first broke the silence, taking a step forward and addressing the group. “We’reboth very sorry for your loss. My name is Inspector Amelia Winters and this isFinn Wright, a consultant detective with the Home Office. We’ve been heading upthe investigation into the recent deaths, and it’s clear that there is amurderer killing members of your family.”
The faces ofthe family looked withdrawn as they listened to Winters’s words.
“Weappreciate,” she continued, “that this is an extremely difficult time for youall, and that to question you in the middle of the night is only going to makethings more difficult. But I implore you all to be honest and talk with us. Itcould save the life of someone you love.”
Now Finnstepped forward. “When was the last time any of you saw Nathaniel?”
Francis, witha calm demeanor, replied, “Earlier today. In the afternoon.”
Elizabeth andMorgan nodded in agreement, while Lloyd simply stared into the distance, a hintof irritation in his eyes.
