The Butler Didn't Do It

Bloody Dawns and Doubt

There was already a crowd at the professor’s door by the time Brett had thrown on some clothes. He saw many were freaking out, wanting to help but also not wanting to contaminate the crime scene. Some of the other’s were comforting Michelle who appeared to be in shock. Others were rushing around.

“Where’s Rodgers?” He heard a voice scream.

“Where’s a goddamn phone?” Someone else hollered.

“Is he dead?” One voice half sobbed.

“Michelle just breath!” Brett thought he heard a sound reminiscent of someone being slapped.

“Someone get Davidson!” Lars yelled, trying to gain order.

But like the supernatural force he was Davidson appeared with his name. No one needed to fetch him. Maybe that’s what makes a good manservant, Brett pondered.

“Out of my way,” Davidson said curtly to his staff, who were attempting to fill him in. As if hearing the word “dead” shouted through the halls was not enough to surmise the situation. He walked into the room, Brett followed as close as he dared.

He wished he hadn’t.

Lying on the floor was the body of the professor. His glasses had fallen off somewhere in the room. He glass eyes had no need for them, they stared unseeingly out at the staff who were a mix of horrified screams and shock and tears.

What did he die of?

I’m not sure and I don’t think it would be wise to get to close. He is most assuredly dead.

How could Davidson be so calm?

“Alert the authorities, Lars.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And see to it that everyone goes downstairs, together. We don’t want anyone to contaminate the scene.”

He turned to the guests, who’d accumulated in the halls, drawn by the shouts of those who’d found the body. “Please return to your rooms, I’m afraid you can’t leave until the police arrive. I shall make sure a proper breakfast is delivered to you.”

“Who cared about breakfast?” Lady Audrey said.

“There’s another murderer!” Didi declared.

“I want to leave.” Stated Paul.

“If you do that will only make you seem more suspicious. I recommend staying in your rooms until detective Quincy arrives.”

Seeing there was no room for arguing the guests returned to their suites.

Detective Quincy arrived with several men within an hour.

The staff was forced to stay downstairs and give statements. Brett told them where he was several times.

One thing nagged at him though, every officer kept asking about Gregory. In particular, if Gregory had talked to him last night. Brett told them yes. He confirmed the time. They asked about Gregory’s state of “mind, which was alarming. Brett became defensive.

As well as anyone who was being accused of killing a girl

“Would you say he was angry?”

Only at me, Brett thought though he answered, “No”

“Then he was calm?”

“No.”

“Well, what would you say his state of mind was?” The detective pressed him.

Brett thought for a moment before settling on a safe answer. “Tired.”

“That’s an interesting answer

“He’s been questioned before. Why are you asking me all of this, why not just ask him yourself!” Brett was frustrated that they only had their focus on one suspect.

Detective Quincy didn’t answer, he just looked at Brett, sizing up the situation.

“How good of friends are you two?” Quincy finally asked.

“We are, I mean, we were very close”

Quincy picked up on the word choice without hesitation. “Were?

Brett didn’t want to go into the inner workings of his friendship history with a cop. He could barely manage to face it himself. “It’s a long story.”

The detective let it go for now. He continued, “I’m told that you and Gregory had a confrontation last night.”

“I didn’t have a confrontation,” Brett said defensively.

“So he was the aggressor?” Quincy asked, notebook and pen poised.

Brett realized he was only going to get his friend into more trouble. Time to keep my mouth shut. He crossed his arms in front of him. “If you want to know about our conversation then you can ask him.”

“Oh, we plan to, when we find him.”

This threw Brett, “What do you mean, ‘find him’.”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Your friends run off.” The detective coolly answered. He didn’t let Brett voice his surprise. The detective was busy and left the room without saying goodbye.

Brett walked in a stupor to the kitchens. Along the way, he heard the people talking, rife with theories.

“I can’t believe it...He seemed like he had it all together.”

“It’s always the nice ones who surprise you.”

“I wonder if he killed that girl!”

“She ran away though, right?”

“But the professor was her father!”

“Maybe he saw, like, everything in a dream.”

Very little work was getting done this morning. Because the police were searching the premises there was very little work they were allowed to do. They were loitering around the gossiping. Unsurprisingly the gossip was about the murders and Gregory.

Lars, in particular, seemed to be enjoying the golden boy’s fall from grace. “I wonder what the butler equivalent to going postal is,” He laughed

He friends found this hilarious. Brett listened until he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Lars looked at him as if he were a bug. “No. Thanks to your psycho friend. We’re stuck here until the police say we can leave.”

“Do you think they’ll catch him?” One of the maids asked breathlessly.

He patted her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” She giggled.

Another butler on the others side of the room piped up. “Do we have to stay if they don’t catch him? I don’t want to die in the middle of the night.”

There were several murmurs of agreement that rolled through the room like a ripple. It seemed that Gregory running off had erased any hope of innocence on the minds of anyone except the most ardent believers. Brett looked over at Tanya, Max, and Wen who were huddled together. I wonder if they are some of those believers. It didn’t sound like it last night. When he looked around the room his eyes caught Lucy’s, who shared the same indignant anger that Brett’s eyes had. Her convictions would be harder to shake, Brett thought gratefully

“Excuse me, I need your attention.” Davidson entered the room, looking put together and calm, as if the earlier murder had been nothing more than a butter-dish disaster at the breakfast table, addressed the room. All the staff stood up, waiting with bated breath for what news the manservant had.

He waited for complete silence. “I have decided that rumors are more dangerous for moral than the truth, so here are the facts. The professor was indeed killed last night, sometime between the time of 3 and 4 in the morning. According to the police, he was stabbed.” He stopped, waiting for the murmurs to die down before he kept going. “As of now, the former butler Gregory is missing. He is believed to have run off and the police are searching for him now. They’ve searched the entire house but found no sign of him. His things are gone. He is the prime suspect at this time. If anyone,” he eyes glanced at Lucy and Brett, “knows anything of his whereabouts they must go to the police. Anyone who does not will be considered an accessory.”

Guess that explains the “former” butler line Lars muttered to one of his friends. But he was thankful that Gregory was not in prison.

“I know this is troubling for all of you. But this is all the information I can offer you at this time.” The manservant concluded.

A maid raised her hand. “Sir, will Bowers Manor be closed?”

“That remains to be seen.”

“When will we know?”

“Now. Lord Rodgers wants everyone in the Grand Ballroom.”

The guests were already seated n chairs waiting for the servants to arrive. They’d obviously already been briefed on the day’s findings. They looked agitated.

Didi pointed her finger at the incoming second class, “How do we know one of them isn’t an accomplice?”

“Didi!” Her mother chastised her.

“She’s right, it’s possible he wasn’t acting alone.” Paul threw in.

“Are you suggesting that one of us is a killer?” Tanya asked.

“I know one of you is a thief,” Didi spat.

“Just as I know one of you is a liar,” Tanya said Softly.

Didi wasn’t going to take that sitting down. She stood up and pointed at Tanya, “See how she talks back!

“We found your necklace in the back of the closet, leave the lady’s maid alone.” Her mother said tiredly.

Paul, for once, agreed with his ex-wife.

“She’s the only one capable of serving you sweet plus,” he eyed Tanya suggestively, “who would play such a good second in Tennis”

Tanya’s jaw clenched but she remained silent. Didi looked just as furious as her but her anger seemed misdirected.

Rodgers took his place in the front of the room

“Hello Ladies, gentleman, my dear staff.” He put his hands in front of him, as if in prayer and took a deep breath. And then he began. “As you know a terrible tragedy has occurred. I would like you to know that you shall be refunded for the time you did not spend here. And staff shall be paid for the time they have already put in. But I implore you, know that we are doing everything in our power to catch whoever did this and we would love it if you continued to grace us with your presence.”

The silence almost echoed through the room. Audrey was the first to speak, “I think we’ve had enough of the manor’s hospitality.”

Paul, however, had other ideas.

“I think we owe this place another chance. After all, it’s not the fault of Rodgers that one of his butlers went rogue. I for one am ready to stay and enjoy the rest of my stay here. What do you say, Didi? He turned his charming smile towards his daughter.

“Ready to play that game of tennis we’ve been meaning to play?”

Before Audrey could interject Didi was on her feet embracing her father.

“Oh yes!

Paul smiled down at her, and then he looked over at a fuming Audrey.

“You can always pick her up at the end of the week.”

“If she stays, so do I.”

Sylvie stood up next. “I shall also stay.”

Brett snuck a look over at Davidson. The manservant was glowing. Wow, he’s really got a thing for that woman.

One by one all of the guests agreed to stay. Samantha said she’d stay because Paul remained. Marina because as she put it, “Where else would I go Rodgers?”

Jeff stood up, “I think this is the most exciting of historical reenactments I’ve ever seen and my friends and I are happy to stay on with,” He added, “increased security. Never know when a crazy person will appear.” His eyes found Brett’s and he smirked.

Rodgers nodded of course. “It just so happens that Lord Quincy”

Detective Quincy emerged from the other side of the room. He was now dressed as the other male guests. He looked put upon like this was an arrangement that had been struck, but not completely to his liking

“Lord Quincy is an armchair detective. He has also brought two servants with him.” Brett then noticed two of the cops who often accompanied Quincy were pulling at their unfamiliar servant costumes.

“Why do you get to be a lord?” Whined the taller of the two.

“When do women get to wear pants?” The other grumbled.

“We’ve agreed that it is in everyone’s best interest if the detective and any police who remained behind were properly attired. These people are paying for the experience after all.” Rodger smiled wide, happy he’d won the battle of wills that must have taken place between the two.

“Wouldn’t want to detract from the experience now would we?” Quincy sarcastically quipped.

“Not unless you want me to withdrawal my invitation and you can get all the paperwork to take over my home and business.” Rodgers threatened nicely. Detective Quincy didn’t say anything. Rodgers continued. “Please let Lord Quincy now if you see or hear anything. Now, what do you say we say a silent prayer for those who are no longer with us.”

He bowed his head and everyone in the room followed suit. Brett peaked his head up. He saw that though most of the room had their head’s down one person did not. Detective Quincy’s eyes were on him. I miss nothing, they seemed to say.

And, for the first time, Brett truly felt the gravity of his situation.