Midore’s room was just as elegant. There was a grand piano on one side and the old candle frame on it, elegantly carved, was decorated. The patio door was open and the blankets and bedsheets lay as a heap on the floor, leaving a bare bed.

Nothing had been removed from their places.

Alexei flinched at the sight but didn’t utter a word.

Immediately the gang spread out, searching for any evidence or clues.

Michael came into the room after surveying the courtyard.

He had a can of sliced peaches in his hand.

“What was a patient of diabetes doing with sliced peaches, high carbohydrate?”

“I have no idea,” Alexei shrugged, “She had her brother visiting her often. Maybe it was for him.”

B-R-O-T-H-E-R!!!!

The entire group screamed in unison.

Suddenly Alexei’s face brightened and his eyes widened.

“Oh lord! I never thought of that. Takeshi might have come to meet her,” Alexei began pacing up and down the room.

‘Hmm… so you didn’t know when this brother came and went,” concluded Linda.

“No, they talked in the room. I never tried to intrude into their privacy. Lately they had been having arguments. Could it be the cause for discord? I don’t know…she used to cry alone in her room at times. I tried to know the cause but she never told me. After all, I think that the distances between us were growing,” he sighed.

“Then he could be a possible suspect,” commented Nathan.
Alyssa meanwhile was still circling the room, looking at objects closely. On a table lay a sheaf of papers. She picked the first one. On this was scribbled...

Am running. He comes to kill. He wants jewel, my jewel. I don’t want to give him. It’s safe. Just you need to know keys…the keys in my name, in Japan, the jewel, I want to run, my royal…and then suddenly I realise that he is not what I think. He betrayed me, my own relation.

Alyssa stared at it for a moment and asks, “What’s these?”

“Those are my wife’s stories, she was an author by profession,” replied Alexei.

But Alyssa was somewhat not convinced. She searched through other papers. They were blank.

No author would start a story with ‘an’ and the lines seemed to be unconnected and incoherent, and yet it seemed to give a subtle message.

Unnoticed by all, Alyssa slipped the piece of paper into her bag.

“Painkillers? Was she sick?” asked Linda. She had a strip of medications in her hand.

“Yes, she had headaches occasionally. This medications used to cause sleepiness though. I had asked her to discontinue the medications but she had disagreed,” replied Alexei.

“That means, she may have been drowsy when someone tried to kill her. Which could certainly be you too,” said John pointedly. He had remained silent the whole time. Now he came forward.

“I won’t speak a word in favor myself, because I know it is useless. I had every reason to kill her. Discord, opportunity, everything,” Alexei lowered his eyes.

“And that’s the precise reason why I think you didn’t do it,” John crossed his arms, “Committing a murder takes a lot of courage. You don’t seem to possess that. Though we’ll keep you as the primary suspect still.”

Alexei simply shrugged.

“Did Midore love music? I see a lot of musical instruments here. There is the grand piano, a flute, and a few antique instruments I don’t recognize.”

“Yes, she used to play them. I still remember her playing them when we were in college,” Alexei was lost in his thoughts again.
His eyes were moist suddenly.

614 words...
TO be continued...

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Dedicated to my Muse tanuandchamp for being the best guide ever. Lots of love for you.
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