Vaughan Elton leaned back in his velvet chair, fingers drumming on the gilded armrest, his lips curling into that grating, high-pitched giggle. It spilled from him without restraint, more like the sound of a squeaky hinge than genuine amusement. Albert stiffened at once, his jaw tightening. Of all the affectations of the Eltons, that incessant tittering was the worst.
"My apologies," Vaughan began, though the giggle still fluttered at the edge of his voice. "I would have received you yesterday at the wedding, detectives, but alas — politics before pleasure. Always politics and when all eyes watch, you can't help but play along,"
He spread his gloved hands in mock helplessness, eyes glittering with the smugness of one who knew he held the reins. "So, let us proceed. Two questions only. Choose wisely. You will find the answers… enlightening."
Raleigh cleared his throat, eager to speak, but Albert raised a hand sharply, silencing him. The young detective leaned forward, voice steady and deliberate.
"That night," Albert began, "the night of Raymond Hanns' murder — who actually reported the case? There is a conflict over the original source and time of the report, none of it makes sense,"
For a rare moment, Vaughan's irritating laughter stilled. His brows arched, and then, with a delighted clap of his hands, he leaned forward. "Oh, very good. Very good indeed!"
Lady Amelia's eyes gleamed as she fixed her gaze on Albert. "Such a smart and fascinating thing," she murmured, her voice dripping with something almost sultry. "And such beautiful eyes."
Albert shifted in his seat, the hair on his neck prickling. He wanted nothing more than to leave this pink-and-gold madhouse.
Vaughan lowered his voice, conspiratorial. "You understand, detectives, that once you leave this house, you were here for tea and nothing more. What I tell you is not… to everyone's taste. But the truth — the report came not from the Hanns. It came from Lord Madeiyas."
He let out another shrill giggle, delighted by the weight of his words. "Now, your second question."
Albert hesitated. Raleigh looked at him, expectant, but Albert could feel Amelia's eyes boring into him, amused, mocking. The silence stretched. Then Albert leaned in again.
"If you know that then you know what was in the original report, the hann's report?" he asked, his tone firmer now.
The effect was instantaneous. Vaughan clutched his chest theatrically, his eyes sparkling as though Albert had just recited poetry. "Oh, I am impressed!" he giggled. "He is sharper than most."
"Oh, I like this one," Amelia purred.
Vaughan nodded solemnly, then leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The second report was in fact Lord Madeiya's doing, a messenger on a horse back was sent to get the police along with the events that transpired that night, The rider, I believe the rider happened to be one of madeiyas. It was… intercepted. Paid for. Lord Madeiyas saw to that. He is always snooping into people's affair, calls it a necessary evil for peace between his kind and us,"
Albert's stomach dropped. Raleigh looked as though the rug had been pulled out from under him. The neat lines of the case twisted into shadow. If that was true, then the entire story the police had built rested on a possible substitution.
Vaughan sat back with a sigh, clearly savoring their discomfort. His giggle returned, echoing in the silenced hall. "Two questions, detectives. No more."
Albert leaned forward, pressing, "Then what—"
But Vaughan only wagged a finger and shook his head, that hideous titter bubbling up once more. "Two questions. Always two. You got your two questions."