The Chase for the White Mist - Chapter One

Amir Basiri

“This is quite the place, isn’t it Mev?” Alex exclaimed as they came around the corner of the always busy main street of Frosthall, but especially busy today. 

“Yeah, you could say so.” Mev replied, looking up at the store front, reading out the sign “Exquisite Jewels and Jewelry”. 

The front of the Boutique was well cared for, the wooden facade was freshly painted in a pleasant sparkly dark green color, giving the store front the effect of looking like a gemstone. Beautiful, yet subtle. Big windows displaying the newest in jewelry. 

As the investigating duo entered the jeweler boutique, they were met with an immaculately dressed half-orc. The gentleman was wearing a dark green pinstripe suit with something sparkly, giving the half-orc an exquisite look. His hair was salt and pepper, almost in equal measures filling out in strips, pulled back in a slick manner. His beard was short and well kept, showing off his natural handsome features and his brown green skin. 

Alex stopped for a second to take in everything in the shop, the wares, the podiums and displayers, the counter and all the signs of a nervous man. 

“Good morning, we have come per your inquiry mr. Basiri.” Alex’s cheerful voice rang out in the small room. 

“Who may I ask, is inquiring?” the immaculately dressed half-orc asked with a deep voice.

Alex smiled with his usual charm and nodded to Mev. “I’m Alexsander Chalignis from the investigative duo Alex and Mev.”

“Hold on! I didn’t sign off on the name!” Mev disagreed from her short stature. Being a halfling, did not give one a lot in terms of height, but what Meave Saoirse missed in height, she made up for in personality. “Didn’t we agree to “Chalignis and Saoirse"?”

“Not now, Mev! Can’t you see we are with our first client?” Alex forced out with keeping up his smile. 

Alex looked at the well dressed half-orc and repeated “Mr. Basiri, We received your inquiry and we’re here to help. Please tell us everything that happened and spare no details.”

Mr. Basiri took a step back and looked Alex up and down, seeing the light gray vest, dark gray slacks, the collared white shirt under the brown coat, messy brown hair, sparkly green eyes and the small tip to his ears marking him as fey blood, most likely half-elven. Mr. Basiri asked “Mr. Chalignis, how did you know?” while leaning into a formel bow. 

“Well, there isn’t much to it really.” Alex waved off with a smile. “Why don’t you tell us what happened?”

“Yes, well, I might as well start at the beginning: a couple of weeks ago, Lady Whitecroft reached out to me, inquiring about a diamond she wanted to buy and she wanted me to broker the deal for her.” 

“Wait! Do you mean ‘the’ Lady Evelyn Whitecroft?” Alex asked in surprise. Mr. Basiri only nodded knowingly. 

“Who is Evelyn Whitecroft?” Mev asked in confusion. The two gentlemen looked at her in astonishment. “What? I’m new in town.”

“Not that new.” Alex scuffed. “She is an eclectic collector of rare items and her deceased husband was from one of the richest families here on Austpolia. She has her manicured fingers in everything from art to magical artifacts. On top of that, she is an exquisite beautiful lady and a bit on the demanding side.” that last part comes out under his breath.

“Sorry to interrupt you Mr. Basiri. Please continue.”

Mr. Basiri nodded once and continued: “Like I said, she wanted me to broker the deal for a very valuable diamond. This was not any diamond, mind you. This was the White Mist. It was first after the deal was set in motion that I learned the history of this diamond, the White Mist.” He finished on a nervous note, a bit too perfectly nervous Alex thought.

“The White Mist, I thought it was a myth?” Alex asked. Mev looked confused at Alex about to say something. Alex shook his head and Mev shut her mouth. 

“If only it was a myth, Mr. Chalignis.” Mr. Basiri mumbled in a sorrowful tone, mostly to himself. “I wish I had never agreed to the deal.” 

“What was that, Mr. Basiri?” Alex inquired as the room turned quiet. Dramatic pause?

“Hm? My apologies. Where was I?” Mr. Basiri sprang back into action.  

“Right, she had asked me to broker a deal for the White Mist. I had barely gotten the word out that I was looking to acquire a diamond with certain requirements, before I received a letter from someone who only referred to themselves as the Collector. The Collector informed me, they had such a diamond and they were willing to sell it. We corresponded back and forth, and found agreeable terms for the deal. I was to send a courier to Aros and collect the gemstone there and they would send someone to deliver it there. That was when I hired Ray Reed to collect the gemstone and deliver it here. I had heard about Mr. Reed from several business acquaintances. Leaving me to believe he was a trustworthy man. I hired him to travel to Aros to pick up the gemstone and deliver it here. I never informed him what he would be transporting, but given my line of work and reputation, I would assume he had an idea about what could be in the crate.”

“And you know for certain he didn’t open the crate to have a look at the goods?” Alex requested. Pride? Interesting.

“Yes, with absolute certainty.” Mr. Basiri insisted. 

“How? I am sorry to ask, but we need to know as many details as possible. If we are to solve this and clear your name.” Alex inquired with a gentle tone.

“Yes of course. The crate was magically sealed with a password that only a selected few knew about, the collector, Evelyn and myself.” he replied with a resigned yet polite tone. 

“But let me finish the story.” Mr. Basiri continued. “Everything was going smoothly, I had a high profile client, the item requested and a way to transport it. Mr. Reed was on his way to pick the crate in Aros, when an old acquaintance who happened to know Lady Whitecroft was purchasing the White Mist through me. He was curious as to why I would get involved with such an item. When I asked why, he told me about its supposed power and legend. You could imagine the horror when I realized I had gotten myself into. But if nothing else I am a man of my word. After all, if you do not have your honor and your word, what do you have? I digress, I had agreed to handle this deal, so I would. There was also no way for me to back out at this point.” there is nothing off about this, a bit too perfect. Almost like it was practiced. 

“Hold on, I need some more information about this White Mist.” Mev exclaimed. 

“Mev, I assure you I’ll tell you all about it later.” Alex reassured. Mev looked up at the half elf and mumbled something about what she would like to assure for him. “Mr. Basiri, please continue.”

“Very well, the weeks came and went, and the date of the delivery arrived yesterday. I had been beside myself with concern. Mr. Reed arrived on time with the crate, I paid him and he left with a somewhat disconcerting smile on his lips. “A pleasure to do business with you!” he had said. I decided the best thing was to check the White Mist for myself and it was beautiful, not only the shifting colors of white and soft smooth soothing pulse, almost like a heartbeat, the cut too, perfect in every way. I did not dare to pick it up. So, I sealed the crate again and left it here in the shop, when I went upstairs to work through my ledges, inventory and proposals for new clientental. This morning, I arrived early at the shop to prepare everything for when Evelyn Whitecroft was to pick up the gem. I had set up everything and only needed to place the Diamond on its stands, as I opened the crate, something felt wrong. There was something missing from the process and the gem was gone. I of course instantly got in touch with Evelyn Whitecroft and the cityguard. But they all believe I did it.” Mr. Basiri finished the story with a sob. Alex noticed the half orc’s eyes were dry.

“Intriguing story, mr. Basiri. Thank you for telling it.” Alex said in a polite tone. “I have some questions for you, if it is alright with you?”

“Please go ahead, mr. Chalignis” mr. Basiri said, visibly nervous. “That is why you are here.”

“Thank you, mr. Basiri. First, can anyone confirm your whereabouts at the time of the crime?” Alex asked. 

“Yes, my assistant Harldor was with me for most of the evening. He did leave earlier than me. But he should be able to validate my whereabouts.” mr. Basiri answered after thinking for a moment. 

“Great, please let him know we would like to speak with him.” Alex replied with a smile. “Do you happen to know where we will be able to find Ray Reed? We need to talk with him as well.”

“Unfortunately, I do not have his address, but I remember him mumbling something about a Frozen Goat, I believe it is a pub he was planning on going to.” Mr. Basiri said with an apologetic smile.

“Much more than we were hoping for.” Alex reassured with a polite smile. “Mev, the Frozen Goat is by the dock, correct?” 

“Yeah, only a couple of minutes walk from the grand square.” Meave replied after a short minute. She was noting something down. 

“The last question I have for you mr. Basiri for now. Do you know how the seal on the crate worked? You mentioned a password, and only you, Evelyn and the Collector knew it.” Alex requested. 

“Sadly, I do not know. I know very little about magic and its workings. I was only told a password and that we three were the only ones who knew it.” Mr. Basiri replied with a somber tone. Hm, there is something false about the statement.

“It was a long shot anyway. Thank you for your time, and rest ashore. We will get to the bottom of this.” Alex assured. 

“Thank you so much Mr. Chalignis and Miss Saoirse. This will gravely affect my reputation. I hope for a quick resolution.” Mr. Basiri, all but begged. 

“No need to worry, we have the case cover.” Alex reassured Mr. Basiri once again, as Alex and Mev left the small Boutique. Mr. Basiri nodded his thanks once more.

“So you really believe he’s innocent, Alex?” Mev questioned with some doubt, as she squinted up the slender half-elf she had gotten to know over the last couple of months. 

“Nothing is carved in stone yet. But if he is not innocent, he is one great con artist.” Alex replied weary, the confidence all but drained out of him. “ but there is something off about him though.” it came out under his breath.

“Hm?” it sounded distracted from Mev.

“Let’s go have a chat with our victim!” Alex said with more vigor.

“The Frost Hills I assume?” Mev announced, while the investigator pair went around the corner and on the main street of downtown Frosthall.

“Yes my dear Meave! We are going to the den of wealth and power, the Frost Hills!” Alex smiled.

“She is surely not pleased about the misplacement of her artifact.” Alex remarked as the two blended in with the crowd of people moved up and down the busy street.

“Alex, you really need to tell me more about this diamond.” Mev protested.

“I will, I will. But first I have a couple of errands to run.” Alex deflected. “I’ll pick you up with a carriage in an hour at Millers’ corner and main street.”