The morning started like any other, really. We had only been there for around twelve hours and had already settled into the place. Theodosia was in the kitchen drinking her usual morning coffee, usually consisting of three to for cups. I noted that she was drinking a particular "mocha" blend. That was always her philosophy. Black coffee with a splash of milk by Spring and Summer, pumpkin spice by Autumn, and mocha by winter. She was very systematic sometimes - not in an OCD way, but more on the side of ADHD. She also moved through life as if it were a piece of music. She always had a flow, a beat, and she rarely stopped.
     She had changed her demeanor completely from last night. One would be strained to think that she was the same woman whom presented herself last night. She was all very official and smart now. The most defining trait of her attire was most likely her tie. It was plain black with three star-shaped diamonds stacked on top of each other, signifying her rank as Chief Inspector. She was rarely seen without it. It was most unlike the other officers of Scotland Yard, who wore their ranks as shoulder pads.
     "Coffee?" I began, "Why, I've never seen you with such a beverage."
     "Your love for sarcasm yet blatant failure to make it amusing always charms me." Theodosia said. She often spoke her mind about things, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
     "Shame. What has you up so early?"
     She smiled. "What has you up so late? It's nearly twelve hours into the day."
     "Well, I suppose I've always been a late waker."
     "You we so slow. It is why you need me."
     "How are you always so quick with, well, everything you do?"
     "Élémentaire, mon Cher Watson."
     "Always one for your books, Alexandra."
     "I do not have as much of a fascination in them as our own Doctor Chiron does. He can not get enough of detective tales - perhaps he recommended me for he was tiring of the average Scotland Yard police."
     "Well, you're certainly not just around to fulfill detective stories."
     "Sometimes I believe that we are all around to fulfill detective stories."
     "Quite a belief you've got there."
     "I have many an outlandish belief - it is what we foreigners do."
     "Most certainly. As we're on the topic, where is Doctor Chiron?"
     "In the dining hall, conversing with the maids. There are two that are not engaged in his stories and one that is very much engaged. Renee and Sabine are off somewhere - fighting, perhaps."
     "Impressive."
     "I was planning to join the four after this cup, and the cup is finished." She was referring to her coffee.
     "Well then, I think I'll join them as well."
     "Allonz-y!"

* * *

     Chiron was talking about his expansive thirty years spent with Scotland Yard to Sophia, Ciencia, and Simone, the latter of the three I hadn't yet met. They greeted Theodosia and me warmly.
     "I haven't met your companions yet, Chiron." It was Simone, as accurate to my previous statement, that spoke.
     "No," Theodosia began. "My name is Alexandra and to my right is my Detective Inspector Javan Smith."
     "Oh, I know. Chiron has told us quite a few tales."
     "Do you remember the case of Mister McGinty?" Chiron chimed. "I'm still shocked by that outcome."
     "With vinegar and brown paper." Theodosia quoted. That rhyme did have much to do with the case itself, as I recalled.
     It was at this moment that Renee walked into the room. She looked as if she had recently woken - although, that was merely because of the bags under her eyes.
     "Morning, loves." She mumbled.
     "Where is Sabine?" Alexandra asked.
     "Good question. Haven't seen her yet today and I'll be glad if that continues. I think she's tending to the master." She yawned.
     "How unfortunate..." Theodosia's words weren't quite fitting, somehow.
     "What do you mean, unfortunate?" Renee inquired.
     "Oh, do not mind it, I am still learning this language of yours. I may use a wrong word here and there." That wasn't true at all, however. The second that Theodosia got to England she began studying english right away and she's never made an error in all of my time knowing her. She was an overachiever, all right - for better or for worse.
At that moment, almost as if on command, Sabine entered the room.
"Ah - Sabine, no?" Alexandra asked almost instantly. "Where have you been for the day?"
"Oh," Sabine began, confused. She had a proper English accent. "I just woke up." She said, just now realizing that Renee was in the room.
"And the missus?" She asked. "Have you seen her?"
"No, I think they're still in bed."
"Not Marsdon." Julia said. "He never oversleeps. Always working on that bloody machine of his."
"Machine?" Alexandra queried. "Tell me more about this 'machine'."
"It's still a very heavy work in progress, apparently still in its primal stages according to the Master. It's supposed to grind up fertilizer and supply it to the gardens outside."
"How interesting." Alexandra, despite her phrasing, did seem to be completely intrigued in by the topic. I hadn't taken her for one who appreciated mechanics.

***

     It was around twelve fourteen, not much longer, that the incident happened. Miss Marsdon stormed into the dining room in a flurry. She explained that she had woken up - late, like most did on the weekend - and found her husband wasn't beside her. This, in itself, was no strange experience. She assumed he must be in the study, like usual. Once checking there, not finding him again, she attempted to call him. Again, it drew up another failure. Really, this was no special occurrence. It seemed to me a little exaggerated that she should act in such a way.
     "Perhaps he left to take a walk?" Theodosia proposed.
     "No, he's never done any such thing - it's so unlike him to just disappear like this!" Replied the distressed wife.
     "He is working on his machine? I have heard about it."
     "Never so early in the morning. Besides, he would have answered my calls if so."
     Doctor Chiron finally intervened in his usual, professional manor. I did so envy his ability to keep composure even in the most annoying times.
     "Calm down." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll look around for him. I'll check the grounds out back, Alexandra and Javan can search out in the yard and garden."
     This seemed to calm Heather a little. "Thank you..." she breathed.
      We followed Chiron's plan. The servants tried to comfort Heather while us three took off in our separate paths.
     "A missing persons." Alexandra said. "How very convenient to have me on the scene."
     "Very sure that he is missing, then?" I asked her.
     "Perhaps. And, again, perhaps worse...
     "Well, I don't think it can be that bad." I always thought Alexandra had a way to over exaggerate things. And always I was proven wrong.