TimberWoolf

This is my contest entry for August Whodunit organised by Contests

Leon Moore's POV

"Where have you been Mr. Moore?"

There we go again. That was the umpteenth time I was asked that question. My subconsciousness almost replied 'To hell'.  But I knew better and biting back the snide remark, once again  I politely explained the whole story.

Starting from Mr. Kennedy Holmes, answering the same question again and again becomes really bothersome. People can be really annoying at times unknowingly. They should just go mind their business at times.

Talking of Mr. Holmes, he really did help me. Although he almost accused me of murdering Mr. Black, but I sorted everything with him. He helped me a lot otherwise I would again be unconscious by the attic now.

Wait till I get my hands on that bastard who hit me. Already people are annoying  enough to give me a headache, the blow on my head is not helping at all. I really need to get Dr. Denise to get this checked to see whether it's serious or not.

Talking about my surroundings. There was an uncanny silence as well as chatter in it. It was as if all had been been struck by lightning at once. Well see the irony in that sentence. Well not exactly lightning but by the death of someone who tied all of us in some way.

The death of Mr. Black.

If someone asks me who was Mr. Black to me? My replies were quite a few. An acquaintance. An advisor. A supporter. A friend. A partner. He was always there for me. Right from the start when I was setting up my own business. Always indirectly making sure I didn't suffer losses a lot and was inclined towards profits.

One must find it strange that I am not the type of person to care about relations, then why does death of a person affect me so much. Well, it affects me because this relation was important rather a profitable one to mean.

I first met Mr. Black when I has just completed earning my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I was jobless with no money in my wallet waiting around the streets looking for a job. I was in the lookout for a way to earn easy money quickly so that I could finance my business ambition.

And at that moment I met Mr. Black who was old but with good physique and was doing gainful business. I met him and expressed my desire to start my own business and earn on lucrative terms and impressed Mr. Black with my aptitude for the jewels. Mr. Black then developed a special interest in me and was willing to assist me in financing my endeavour.

With the support of Mr. Black, I started the famous Moore Gems and designed and produced exclusive necklaces which were studded with imitation jewels which were in such a way that they looked and appeared to be better than real ones which they were.

For a few gains here and there, I overcharged a few people but it was all under Mr. Black's guidance. With Mr. Black's assistance, I did sell varieties of necklaces but a few original pieces also came into my possession except that one.

Mr. Black's death might have been worth in some ways but the losses I have suffered are unbearable. Before that murderer reaches the hands of law, I will try to make sure that he has one very small meeting with my fist even if it is in front of all these people.

"Where were you Mr. Moore?" Not again. I mentally groaned. I turbed around to find Mr. Ezra Keep looking at me.

From the memories of last night, I remembered that he was the boy who was walking up and talking to everyone by himself without caring - a rather jovial boy. I politely explained him my whole case. But what he said next shocked me.

"Hope you are feeling okay Mr. Moore?" I was taken aback by the question. It was the first time someone over here asked me for my health. Rest of the people whoever I told about my condition would start asking other questions.

'Do you think the person who hit you was the murderer?'

'Did you happen to have a look at his/her face?'

'What type of object were you hit with?'

'Where were you heading to before you were hit?'

And many more. To which I only had one reply - "Due to the hit on my head, all the memories of the events around that time are a blur so I am sorry of not being able to be of any use."

But this question was something I didn't expect. I didn't know what to tell. "I am fine though my head still hurts." "You should get Dr. Denise to check it once." I hmmed in reply. With that he turned and left.

Weird. I thought as soon as he left. Apart from always seeing him collect business cards this was a very strange conversation I ever had with him.

But one thing I realised is that I must always keep my guard up. We don't know when the murderer will next strike or will he ever strike again. Because one thing is sure - he is roaming open handed among us and we don't know what's running through that person's thickhead.

From all my knowledge, I know that the murderer must have had his guard already up. According to the few books and movies that I have read and seen, in such cases, the guilty always makes some sort of mistakes while trying to cover himself. So I must keep my guard up and inform everyone of any important thing that comes to my notice.

On observing my surroundings, I saw quite a lot of strange things happening.

The first thing that I noticed was Mr. Matthew rubbing his forehead with a look of distress on his face. Something compelled me to walk up to him and ask him about his health.

"Hello Mr. Lee. I see you are in too much distress. I hope Mr. Black's death hasn't taken a big toll on your health." "Oh! Mr. Moore, it's nothing I am just having a headache." This caught my attention.

"A headache? Why so?" "I don't know. I have been having them for a while." Strange. Weird. Is all I am thinking. With each instance my understanding is being questioned and the plot is just thickening.

"Well. Take care Mr. Lee. You should do something for it. By the way sir, with whom have you been lately?" "I have asked Ms. Williams for lavender and tea tree oil. Well I have been spending time with Oliver and Murray at times." "Farewell to you Mr. Lee." "You too Mr. Moore." And with that I was off.

The next few minutes I kept observing and talking to people with whom I may or may not have never spoken before.

One more realization hit me like lighting. Not everyone is who they appear to be. The sudden changes in everyone's behaviour is making me think that last night it was all a mask.

I may not be a detective but I can be one for once for Mr. Black. The first thing that caught my attention was Mr. Daniel Close's behaviour.

Lately I have seen him associating with people a lot. Sometimes with Ashton Jones. Sometimes with Oliver Brooke. Currently he was talking with Mr. Anthony.

I also saw Ms. Joy Lucas entering the room. Where had she been all this time?
"Hello Ms. Lucas. Where were you?" I suddenly spoke to her. She gasped in shock and composed herself. "Hello Mr. Moore. I have been talking to different guests."

"Oh. If you wouldn't mind me asking, where had you been during the time of murder." "Mr. Moore, as you see I have a habit of forgetting things so I don't remember what I had been doing. I usually write down whatever I do but today I think I did not write it down or I have lost the place where I was writing things. So I am asking other guests what had they been doing. Did you see me Mr. Moore?"

"Sorry Ms. Lucas, I did not happen to see you but would you be kind enough to tell me what strange activities did you notice?" "As far as my memory goes, I remember hearing that Monika sneaked off to the kitchen to eat dessert but she claims to have witnesses and Grace was seen in the attic and basement."

"What!? Grace? In the attic? Are you sure Ms. Lucas?" Anger was coursing through me. If she was the one who did then god knows she is in big trouble. "Actually I am not sure mister. I have bad memory you see." "It's fine Ms. Lucas. Thank you."

"By the way, Mr. Moore where had you been?" I knew this question would come and explained politely to her where had I been as she had really helped me form my own list of suspects.

With that she scurried off probably in hopes of someone looking for her. I turned around to see Mina Palmer talking calmly to one of the guests who I didn't know.

Wait? Talking calmly! When did that happen. She was so much in hurry lately. How could she suddenly calm down. People are definitely weird but with my skills I can understand them.

Ah! I suddenly remembered. I saw Mr. Lucile Jordan drinking at the bar last night, I must really go and talk to him regarding his point of view.

Quite a few number of new uniques associations sort of things has been happening lately. Lena and Pegasus has been associating. Ezra and Clifford have been associating. Is it just because they have been looking for friends in this atmosphere or is there some ulterior motive behind iy

Talking of Ms. Pegasus, I really want to ask her was she one who cooked dinner today? But I am not getting any chance to talk to her.

Suddenly all this started to feel as a pressure to me, and I went and sat on a couch alone starting to collect my thoughts.

I noticed sudden bruises were coming up on people. Edward had a burn on his hand. Ashton was treating a but which didn't go unnoticed by many. Matthew has been having headaches. And someone hit me in the head.

I remeber talking to Kieran. He was playing with his pet chicken Toto and because of which he woke Ms. Knight. He also told me he took medications because of his dreadful insomnia. I also heard Maria Simmons has been taking medications due to her paranoia. I wonder who else had been taking medicines.

All the conversations that I had today are running in my mind simultaneously. Revelation of Mr. Kennedy not having fingerprints due to the cynide laced gloves he wore by mistakenly given to him by Ms. Thunder.

Spotting of various people in the garden like Mr. Grey, Ms. Margaret and Ms. Mina. Hearing Lars had a fight with someone from his school/college. Mr. Genesis Dinner was playing cards with Mr. Gray Benett. Seeing Ms. Lily wear exercise clothes and hearing that she went for a jog. Not seeing Ms. Alastair or Mr. Bay. Everything is becoming too messed up.

Usually when I do business, one analysis is all I need to understand the pros and cons, the losses and gains, the ups and downs. I quickly come to conclusions and most of the time they are correct. This is the first time, it is as if my brain's analytic portion has all muggled up. My thoughts are all scattered and I have absolute no lead at all. Even if I have a list of suspects in mind, they all have solid alibis to prove me false. I really need to do more in depth study for the first time.

This mystery is more than what meets the eye.