The Blacksky manor was large, substantial and old. It sat on the top of a wide, tall hill, the orchard spreading down the left side of the hill, pooling out as it reached the flatter ground. The slope wasn't steep but it stretched out, filling the sky. The house itself was squat and fat, the roof square and the courtyard walls loomed out at them. Logan had to admit, he was impressed. Barely any old, private mansions in use like this remained in modern Britain but it really managed to create a familiar feeling of the mysteries you'd find in an Agatha Christie book, with the old, mossy bricks and the uneven, rocky, gravel road leading up to the house in a wavey, snake-like manner.

Remus was very chatty. He talked freely about the town and the residents there, sometimes in a bored tone. Logan listened until he realised he wasn't actually going to learn anything about the case by listening to a madman go on about the butcher's' daughter having an affair with two boys in her class. So, he took the conversation into his own hands.

"What are your coworkers like?" He interrupted.

Remus looked at him with cold eyes. "We're like family. None of us would've murdered Ali, even if he was a bitch to everyone."

Roman hesitated. "It seems like no one really liked him."

"No one did. He was only nice to girls drunk enough to sleep with him and, even then, they had to be pretty fucking drunk," Grunted the driver, making a sharp turn in the uneven track, the Bentley rocking slightly.

"Can you give us some names of your coworkers? Perhaps one named Patton and another named Janus?" Logan inquired and Remus stiffened. "They found the body, didn't they?"

Remus braked suddenly, face filled with anger. "If you dare start accusing Janus of murder, I'll fucking slaughter you! Janus wouldn't do that, he's charming, beautiful, sensitive and sweet and he's not a killer!"

Logan raised an eyebrow at the outburst. "You'll slaughter me? That's a curious expression to use at such a sensitive time. And you didn't defend Patton-"

"Hah!" Remus snorted. "If you think Patton killed Ali, you're dead wrong. That man is a moral compass and a total wuss."

Roman scowled, hair slightly messy, probably from the driver's' sharp brake. "Can we keep going? I'm starting to feel carsick on this road."

Remus rolled his eyes, losing his hostility as he continued to drive along. "Some police officer you are."

~'^'~ 

As they pulled into the courtyard, Logan saw a curtain drop near the upper floor. Someone had been watching them come in. The courtyard around them was made of creamy bricks, stacked firmly in a wall that circled around them. A small fountain sat in the middle, wrapped in a thin band of grass. It wasn't too fancy, but it was definitely expensive. A silver statuette of a Chinese dragon was curled around an ornate pole, spraying water from its' mouth into a bowl of crystal clear water spread below it. The bowls' inner wall had other small, carved dragons in its' design while the outer rims played with cryptic, symmetrical patterns.

Remus parked the car smoothly outside a set of stables. Several long faces of horses raised their heads to rest on the pen doors, looking out curiously at the black Bentley. There were three that stuck in Logan's' mind. One foal, with tawny coloured hair and a black mane; a young stallion, black in colour with a dark grey mane and a white patch on its' nose; a mare, white in mane and colour, with black circles around her eyes and ears, making her resemble a panda.

The driver swung open his door, stepping out and closing it behind him. He walked first to Logan's' door, opening it, before heading to Roman. Then, he got the suitcases out of the boot and passed it to the detectives.

"Thank you," Logan said, nodding respectively.

"You're welcome, nerd," Remus grunted. "Patton said to treat you with respect."

Logan tilted his head. "Does Patton have some authority over you?"

Remus shrugged. "Officially, yeah. His family has worked for the Blacksky's' for generations, he's lived his whole life in this house and he's the Master's' Butler, what 'e says goes. Unofficially, he's the dad of the house, so yes."

Roman exchanged a glance with Logan. "Successful in his job and respected. That would make him reluctant to risk his position."

"Or feel secure enough to risk it," Logan replied. "My second case, the murderer was the most wealthy and respected man in the whole suspect list."

"I've already told you," Remus growled, making the detectives jump. "Patton is not the murderer."

Logan drew himself t his full height, looking down at the driver. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I've had a few run-ins with 'em, myself," He said ominously. "Would you like to meet your host, now?"

~'^'~

Inside, the house was decorated richly and didn't look at all comfortable. A painting of a young man greeted them as they entered. The man had light brown hair and healthy, rosy skin. His eyes were blue and piercing and he didn't smile in the painting. He wore a full suit, posing outside a modernised pool, a glass of fizzing cherry in his hand. There was rudeness in the cocky glare of his blue eyes and Logan glanced at the description.

Ali Blacksky, the Master of this House

"Not much of a looker, is he?" Sniffed Roman, raising an eyebrow at the painting.

"Nah, he didn't get the good looks," Snorted Remus in agreement. "Virgil was definitely the pretty one."

Logan sighed. "You said we'd be meeting our host?"

Remus nodded, getting back on track as he began to lead them up a flight of stairs to the left of the painting. "Virgil is waiting in the living room for you, please don't make a mess, I think Joan just cleaned it."

Logan nodded as he followed. "Of course."

"Down there is the cook's' room," Remus said, pointing down into a small a corridor that ended in a dead-end. "And the kitchen's opposite. That room's the dining room, there, and here's the private library-"

"Private library?" Roman interrupted.

Remus nodded firmly. "Strictly for the Master's' use, unless he says you can go in there. If one of us catches you in there, oh boy," He allowed himself a mean laugh. "It will not go down well."

"Do you know what's in there?" Roman asked.

"No, nor am I bothered. Here's the living room, the Master will  be expecting you."

The door before them was simple, with a doorknob. Logan took it in his hand and twisted it, only to find the door wouldn't budge. Remus snorted in mild amusement and pushed Logan aside, taking the doorknob and swinging open the door.

"It's a lil' stiff," Remus said simply. Then, he turned grandly to the living room, where someone sat, huddled in the shadows. "Oh, Virgil! The police are here!"

There was the sound of a page being turned and a sarcastic, annoyed voice said, "Oh, good. I'm so excited. Fetch Patton and Janus, will you, Rem? I'll talk to these two."

Remus bowed and quickly wormed through the detectives as he went to find who he was sent for. Logan and Roman stepped inside and Logan took a seat on a stiff, sinky sofa.

He narrowed his eyes. "What a lovely house you've now inheritated."

The figure stood up from the corner and stepped out of the shadows, holding a book low down by his side. "I know," Virgil Blacksky scowled. "It's a shame how I've gotten it."