two along the way.
“Here’s your room, dear.” Myrtle opened the door
to a room that was rather nice, if a bit dreary in terms of interior design. A
large four-poster bed dominated the room but there was also a writing table,
two chairs, a changing screen and a small washbasin, as well as a closet. Li’s
bags were resting on the floor next to the bed. “I hope you’ll find it
pleasing.”
Not wanting to let on that her own home was less
than half this size, Li merely shrugged her shoulders and said, “It’ll do… it’s
only one night, after all.”
Myrtle made a clucking sound, as if she were
terribly embarrassed by the accommodations. “Have a nice rest, dear. If you
wish, come and join us in the parlor at your convenience. Otherwise, I’ll have
Sebastian fetch you at a quarter to twelve.”
Once she was alone, Li went quickly to the smaller
of her two bags. From an interior pocket on the bag, she produced a tiny
flashlight. Stepping over to the window, Li stared off into the thick woods
that lined the back of the property. She flashed her light several times into
the gloom, sending a message in code.
Within seconds, a reply came back, a series of
flashes that told her that Gravedigger was in position. Li wondered how
Gravedigger planned to safeguard her during the reading of the will but she
pushed the idea out of her mind. She trusted her friend.
She had just started unpacking her bags when a
rapping on the window made her jump. She turned back and saw a fearsome
silhouette – the lithe body of a woman, swords and daggers sheathed at her
sides.
Li opened the window, allowing Gravedigger to drop
to the floor. “How did you get up here so fast? We’re on the third floor!”
“I’m fast.”
“That’s what all the boys used to say.”
Gravedigger grunted. “How many people are
downstairs?”
“Let’s see… There’s a strange old woman named
Myrtle – who might actually be a man in drag – and then there’s a lawyer named
Jenkins; a butler named Sebastian; and a trio of other relatives.” She named
them, making sure to remark on how handsome Cedric was.
“Don’t get distracted,” Gravedigger warned. “Have
you seen anything unusual?”
“You mean besides the spooky house, a guy in drag
and the fact that the Headless Horseman is buried outside? Not a thing.”
“The Headless Horseman?”
“Yep. Buried outside in the cemetery. Unmarked
grave.” Li snapped her fingers. “Oh! And according to Myrtle, old Maxwell was
involved with an occult group called the Sons or Daughters of Malfeasance.”
“You don’t remember if they were called the Sons
or Daughters?”
“No, that IS their name. Sons or Daughters.”
Gravedigger shook her head in amazement. “I might
have heard of them… supposedly they could shift their gender, amongst other
things.” She turned back to the window but stopped when Li touched her arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Exploring. I want you to go downstairs and get to
know these people. Maxwell Hendry’s name was in Goldstein’s files, along with a
notation that he was a dangerous person. If Josef thought he was worth keeping
an eye on, that makes me really curious about what all the mystery surrounding
his will is really about.”
Li nodded, then added, “Are you okay, though? It’s
your first time out and about since… the explosion at Meeks’”
Gravedigger pulled away, her voice going icy cold.
“I’m fine. Now go do your job, please.”
Li watched her friend vanish out the window. After
a brief sigh, she did as Charity ordered.
It was time to go to work.
Chapter III: A Legacy of Evil
Cedric grinned when Li stepped back into the
parlor. He rose from his seat and moved to join her. “You found your way back!
I’m impressed. I got lost twice the first time I tried to navigate my way
through this darkened maze!”
Li allowed Cedric to guide her over to the
fireplace, where two seats were nestled close together. There was no sign
“Here’s your room, dear.” Myrtle opened the door
to a room that was rather nice, if a bit dreary in terms of interior design. A
large four-poster bed dominated the room but there was also a writing table,
two chairs, a changing screen and a small washbasin, as well as a closet. Li’s
bags were resting on the floor next to the bed. “I hope you’ll find it
pleasing.”
Not wanting to let on that her own home was less
than half this size, Li merely shrugged her shoulders and said, “It’ll do… it’s
only one night, after all.”
Myrtle made a clucking sound, as if she were
terribly embarrassed by the accommodations. “Have a nice rest, dear. If you
wish, come and join us in the parlor at your convenience. Otherwise, I’ll have
Sebastian fetch you at a quarter to twelve.”
Once she was alone, Li went quickly to the smaller
of her two bags. From an interior pocket on the bag, she produced a tiny
flashlight. Stepping over to the window, Li stared off into the thick woods
that lined the back of the property. She flashed her light several times into
the gloom, sending a message in code.
Within seconds, a reply came back, a series of
flashes that told her that Gravedigger was in position. Li wondered how
Gravedigger planned to safeguard her during the reading of the will but she
pushed the idea out of her mind. She trusted her friend.
She had just started unpacking her bags when a
rapping on the window made her jump. She turned back and saw a fearsome
silhouette – the lithe body of a woman, swords and daggers sheathed at her
sides.
Li opened the window, allowing Gravedigger to drop
to the floor. “How did you get up here so fast? We’re on the third floor!”
“I’m fast.”
“That’s what all the boys used to say.”
Gravedigger grunted. “How many people are
downstairs?”
“Let’s see… There’s a strange old woman named
Myrtle – who might actually be a man in drag – and then there’s a lawyer named
Jenkins; a butler named Sebastian; and a trio of other relatives.” She named
them, making sure to remark on how handsome Cedric was.
“Don’t get distracted,” Gravedigger warned. “Have
you seen anything unusual?”
“You mean besides the spooky house, a guy in drag
and the fact that the Headless Horseman is buried outside? Not a thing.”
“The Headless Horseman?”
“Yep. Buried outside in the cemetery. Unmarked
grave.” Li snapped her fingers. “Oh! And according to Myrtle, old Maxwell was
involved with an occult group called the Sons or Daughters of Malfeasance.”
“You don’t remember if they were called the Sons
or Daughters?”
“No, that IS their name. Sons or Daughters.”
Gravedigger shook her head in amazement. “I might
have heard of them… supposedly they could shift their gender, amongst other
things.” She turned back to the window but stopped when Li touched her arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Exploring. I want you to go downstairs and get to
know these people. Maxwell Hendry’s name was in Goldstein’s files, along with a
notation that he was a dangerous person. If Josef thought he was worth keeping
an eye on, that makes me really curious about what all the mystery surrounding
his will is really about.”
Li nodded, then added, “Are you okay, though? It’s
your first time out and about since… the explosion at Meeks’”
Gravedigger pulled away, her voice going icy cold.
“I’m fine. Now go do your job, please.”
Li watched her friend vanish out the window. After
a brief sigh, she did as Charity ordered.
It was time to go to work.
Chapter III: A Legacy of Evil
Cedric grinned when Li stepped back into the
parlor. He rose from his seat and moved to join her. “You found your way back!
I’m impressed. I got lost twice the first time I tried to navigate my way
through this darkened maze!”
Li allowed Cedric to guide her over to the
fireplace, where two seats were nestled close together. There was no sign
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