The Chase for the White Mist - Chapter Two

Lady Evelyn Whitecroft

Alex and Mev were staring out the small window in the carriage, as they pulled up to the Whitecroft’s townhouse in the Frost Hills. A lovely neighborhood on the hillside of the city with a view of the whole city. A long line of four story houses stood side by side along the long road snaking its way up the hills, showing a fantastic view of the city beneath. 

The townhouse Alex and Mev stepped out in front of, had painted outer walls in a dark red almost the color of blood, matched with white marble columns creating an outhang and a small balcony. The afternoon sun lit up the whole place an amazing play of colors. 

Alex walked up the small staircase to the front door, while Mev stood a second impressed by the display. 

“Are you coming, Mev?” Alex asked with a concerned smile. “You’re okay?”

“Uhm? Oh yeah, yeah yeah. This place just reminded me of somewhere else. Nevermind that, we have a victim to question. Let’s get to it.” Mev replied with a startled tug in her voice, something Alex wasn’t accustomed to. 

“If everything is fine, I’ll knock.” Alex knocked on the door. A short while after a short heavily built dwarf in an immaculate black suit opened the door.

“Good afternoon and welcome to the Whitecroft estate, How can I help you?” the dwarf requested in a pleasant and polite tone.

“Good afternoon my good sir. We are here to talk with Lady Evelyn Whitecroft about a case she is involved in. Is she available?” Alex said in his most polite tone.

“And may I inquire who I am speaking with?” dwarf inquired in the same pleasant voice. 

“Yes of course, I apologize. I am Alexsander Chalignis and this lovely lady is Meave Saoirse. We are private investigators, investigating the missing gemstone for Mr. Basiri.” Alex replied cheerfully. 

“I see. Come in.” the dwarf replied. “You must excuse the Lady, she was hosting a dinner party last night. You can make yourself comfortable in the study, while I let the Lady know of your arrival.”

Alex and Mev looked at each other as they followed the dwarf up a set of stairs and down a hallway past a small gallery, display cases lined the wall all of them shining with one interesting trinket after the other, together with a couple of suits of armor and beautiful paintings. They stepped into a study next to the gallery. There were bookshelves from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling. 

“Please, wait here.” the dwarf said as he turned on his heel and left. 

“Nice place.” Alex marvelled at the study, sitting down. “It seems we have a couple of minutes before Mrs Whitecroft is ready. Let me tell you about this gem, the White Mist.”

“Absolutely, but are you sure we have time for it?” Mev wondered, while browsing the shelves.

“Yes, it should not take too long.” Alex dismissed. 

“Firstly, I don’t know if any of this is true. That said, the White Mist is supposedly one out of a set of four gemstones, where only two have ever been found or even talked about, the White Mist as you know and the Bloody Flame. The White Mist is said to hold the power of the elemental of air. Flying, controlling the wind, thunder and lighting, stuff like that. I thought until today that this was a fairytale. But if this gem actually existed, it would mean….”

“It would mean there are two gemstones out there with similar power.” A pleasant female voice interrupted, as a beautiful human lady stepped into the study, wearing a pearl white skin-tight dress, her hair and markup was immaculately done. “We now know or we can soon confirm the White Mist exists and there are rumours that the Scarlet Siren has the Bloody Flame on her person. But that has also not been confirmed yet.”

“Lady… Lady Whitecroft?” Alex stumbled out, while getting out of the chair, he just seconds ago sat down in. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am…”

“Mr. Alexsander Chalignis?” Lady Whitecroft finished, waving off Alex’s half attended bow. “...And you must be Meave Saoirse? I am pleased to meet the both of you.” 

Mev stood holding a book in one hand, trying and failing to wave with the other. “The pleasure is all mine?” The end of the sentence turned into a question. 

“I hear you two are investigating my missing diamond for that thief Amir Basiri, to clear his name?” Lady Whitecroft almost spit out venom at Amir Basiri. 

“Lady Whitecroft, I must insist you refrain from using such terminology about my client.” Alex said with forced politeness “After all, innocence until proven guilty, which we are here to investigate. The diamond has not been found yet and there is no proof Mr. Basiri stole it.”

“Very well investigators. What is it exactly, I can do for you?” Lady Whitecroft requested, clearly taken back by Alex’s forcefulness. 

“Thank you, Lady Whitecroft. As a lady with a reputation as a collector with an impressive collection of magical artifacts and historical art pieces, would have many connections around Austpolia, even in these troubled times.” Alex said, gone was the forceful nature, it had turned into something akin to charming. “What made you reach out to Mr. Basiri to help facilitate the deal for the white mist? Mr. Basiri is fairly new in town and does not have a reputation yet.” 

“Mr. Chalignis, oh my. I am surprised you have to ask this, I am always looking for new partners. And If I can help someone build their business at the same time? Well why would I not?” Lady Whitecroft almost purred. But something about the way she said it, felt off in a way to Alex. 

“A noble endeavour.” Alex nodded with his charming smile. “The White Mist was stolen somewhere between midnight and this morning. Can you tell us a bit about your whereabouts in this timeframe, Lady Whitecroft?”

“Well, now Mr. Chalignis, are you accusing me of stealing my own purchased diamond? Why would I ever do that?” Lady Whitecroft laughed. But it felt forced, just a bit, at least to Alex.

“It’s a standard question. Can you answer it?” Mev almost spat out, but remembering the situation around her, added: “Please?”

“My my, Miss Saoirse, no need for that.” Lady Whitecroft said with a hint of a glare, but maybe Alex could have made it up. “I find the very notion laughable.” 

“I am afraid we are going to need an answer, nonetheless.” Alex pressed once more, he didn’t understand why he felt so alarmed by this lady. 

“Very well investigators. I was hosting a harvest equinox celebration dinner, I was here all day and night. Feel free to ask any of my staff or my guests. Everyone would say I was here.” Lady Whitecroft looked a bit irritated.

“Thank you Lady Whitecroft. Is it not the first day of high fall today? Why celebrate yesterday?” Alex wondered out loud. 

“It is.” Lady Whitecroft said, her patience wearing thin. “But since I was supposed to receive a powerful artifact today. One, I have been wanting for a very long time. I had planned a reveal party for this occasion today. One, I now have to cancel.” 

“I do apologize, criminals rarely take other people's calendars into account.” Alex said a bit too dryly, catching his mistake and added: “We have one more question for you for now.”

“Yes, mr. Chalignis, please. I have other things to attend to.” Lady Whitecroft said with an increasingly cold tone. 

“Do you happen to know someone who goes by the pseudonym the Collector?” Alex was staring directly into Lady Whitecroft’s eyes, looking for any falsehoods. 

A second or two went by. Lady Whitecroft’s eyes dotted back and front behind Alex and Mev, before she with an impressively calm tone said “The Collector? No, I do not. Why do you ask?”

“He was the provider of the White Mist, I was just curious to know, if you had heard of him.” Alex said with his charming smile, this time no need to force it. He had seen recognition in those intelligent eyes.

“We will take our leave now, we apologize for the inconvenience, have a lovely evening Lady Whitecroft,” Mev said in the politest tone she could muster. Alex only nodded and bowed as they left.

“Farewell good investigators, I hope you solve this quickly.” Lady Whitecroft bid a goodbye, her tone close to something akin to a threat. 

The pair was finally outside again, both of them signed hard and looked at each other and bursted into laughter. 

“That did not go well, Alex.” Mev said, still chucking a bit, as they entered the carriage.

“I wouldn’t say it was all bad. We did learn she is hiding something.” Alex smiled back at Mev, leaning back in his seat, looking out the window. “Let us see if we can’t find our carrier in the pub tonight and tomorrow we will have a chat with the staff and some of the dinner guests.” 

They rode down the Frost Hills, enjoying the early evening view of the beautiful port city, pondering the mystery before them. One powerful artifact, three people, but who stole it?