Mystery and Suspense at the Cavendish Mansion

I     - Ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon, says a male voice.     It was morning, in Calcoene region, a small town from Amapa. They were all gathered at the Cavendish Mansion, quite far from the city, a large old house, 19th century style, that resembled the architecture of great old ranches. A great door that leads to a large living room, and, in the middle, large stairs that lead to a great hall on the second floor, that, on the left and on the right, leads to the rooms. On the right side, as you enter the door was the kitchen. On the outside, a dark colour paint, was giving the house an old look. In front of the great door there were large stairs leading outside. On top of the stairs, a roof, that covered half of the stairs, with a large central window, the second-floor window, where more rooms were situated.  Somewhat more in front of the mansion, an unpaved road. A few trees in front, but many on both sides, suggesting that there was the forest. To get to the main stairs a footpath, made of basalt stones. - Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?      Who says this phrase, and the other one too, is the lawyer Adolfo Perez, that represented the mansion’s landlord. The Landlord is Henry Cavendish, an English gentleman, that recently passed-away, at 86 years old. He arrived in Brazil, in the 60’s and became rich farming cows and buffaloes, but as he got old, his business started to get worse and the only valuable thing left was his mansion, his farm’s main branch and the large plot surrounding it too.  -His will reading is going to happen at this moment.      Dr Adolfo Perez is opening the file. His situated in front of a large round table, together with the mansion’s butler Alvaro Lopes and a few other people, house maids, gardeners, cow-herders that worked occasionally on the farm, without any other ties to the farm. Henry was single, he did have a daughter, Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton, that died of an illness when she was a child, and this event made him deeply sad. Single, old, he didn’t have anyone. A foreigner, he was kept apart of possible relatives that lived in England, which he didn’t have any contact with. It was Henry himself that redacted his will, organized by his butler. - I will start the reading, says the lawyer Adolfo Perez. - I, Henry Cavendish, fully conscious and mentally capable, I leave all my assets to ...    During this half time, the butler, Alvaro Lopes, smiles thinking he is the fortune’s beneficiary.  - to.... Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton.       The butler finds it weird and starts protesting: -It’s wrong. Elizabeth Cavendish was his daughter, but she died ages ago. Outrageous. This will is wrong. The lawyer Adolfo Perez declares: -I am sorry but it is true. This is the name. The butler replies: - But this is his daughter’s name. She died, so she cannot inherit anything. This will is not valid.    The lawyer continues the reading and declares: - Wait. There is a number here, a CPF number. This number corresponds to the CPF number of my assets inheritor. And she should get everything I left. - But who is this person? Asks, the butler. - I don’t know, I must discover yet, because she is the late Henry Cavendish’s inheritor. And that is what I am going to do, I will find out who she really is.                           II   - Elizabeth, wake up. It’s already 6 in the morning. - Just a little more. - No, no you can’t. We should start working.       The one waking Elizabeth up, was a friend, at Frei Galvao Orphanage, São Paolo capital ran by the Carmelite nuns. It was a big orphanage, the size of a city block. Each intern had a bed, but the room was big and shared. Many queued up beds, like school desks. Each girl had, besides the bed, her own clothes, simple ones, usually dresses. There were no individual wardrobes, but they could keep their clothes in suitcases beside each bed.  They were in shared beds. On the side of the large room there was a shared dining area, where the girls ate their breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There were large tables, lined up too, with chairs for every one of them. At the end there was the laundry, with industrial washing machines, where some of the interns worked. It was a large room, where there were ironing tables for the interns to iron clothes. Elizabeth was working there. There were too, in another room, many sewing machines, used by other interns.   The orphanage offered these services to the outside community. The interns worked, earned a salary that they could spend on themselves, but not on luxuries, because the Carmelites preached poorness. There was a chapel where the interns could pray, and the other half of the orphanage was a large patio, that looked like a little square, where they could spend time. There was a large grey wall, surrounding the orphanage. In charge of all these was the mother superior of the convent. Her name was Georgina Freitas. She was around 50 years old. She was strict, and the interns knew little about her, some of them thought she was abandoned too as a child, but they loved her dearly. She was the mother they never had. Strict, but fair.  - That’s fine, I am going.      Elizabeth goes to the bathroom to wash her face. A short young lady, black long hair, about 16 years old. She was wearing a large dress that covered all her body. She didn’t use trousers. The orphanage, very strict, prohibited their use by the interns. She got there when she was a baby, abandoned at a church nearby, in a Sao Paolo neighbourhood. Raised by the orphanage, she didn’t have anyone related to her. She didn’t receive visits, but she was allowed to go to a few places, usually not far from there. Elizabeth Didn’t know much about the outside world. She had read a few books and magazines bought outside. She didn’t have a TV, but with her salary she bout a mobile phone; she didn’t have Whats App nor f*******:, it was something prohibited in the orphanage, by strict rules. - It’s time Elizabeth, said the mother superior seeing her leaving the bathroom. - I know, I know, I’m coming.     Elizabeth went to the orphanage chapel to start the daily prayer with the other interns. After that, they went to the shared diner, with large tables, where the girls got together for breakfast.  - Did you know that Fisto got caught trying to enter here? One of the girls said to Elizabeth. - What did you say? -What you heard, one of the nuns caught him trying to jump the wall and he said he was coming to see you.  - Oh s**t, this guy is going to get me in trouble, replies Elizabeth.  Mother superior arrives where she was: - Elizabeth, after the breakfast come to my quarters, I want to talk to you.  - Oh, not this, she replies.     After the breakfast, that consisted of a simple meal, bread, some fruits and coffee, Elizabeth went to the mother superior. It was a small room, with a desk, and a chair in the middle. Behind there was a window with a patio view. There were other chairs too, smaller, in the corner, three altogether, a wardrobe on the right side as you walk in, and a smaller stainless steel chest of drawers for archives on the left side.   - Elizabeth, did you know that a boy was caught on the orphanage’s wall, observing everything inside and he declared he wanted to see you? - They’ve told me Mother. - Elizabeth, you are 16 years old. You are young, many study here to become nuns, but not you. You are free to leave whenever you want, but we cannot allow friends from outside, or boyfriend, entering here.  - He is not my boyfriend. I met him when I was out. I went to a regular lounge, I wanted to try something new, I had many drinks… - Did you drink? What? Mother superior, reacted. - It was a stupid thing to do, beer, I had some, but I got sick, I am not made for drinking. So, this Fisto guy, who studies to become a nurse, helped me and then asked for my phone number, I gave it to him and we talked. I told him I live in this orphanage. I think he just wanted to see me.  -That’s fine, I’ll overlook it, but I hope it’s not going to repeat, talk to him, ask him not to come back, said the Mother.  -That’s right, I will do this.       Elizabeth left the room and went to the Launderette where the work was. The orphanage supported itself with donations and inside jobs too. There was a launderette where many of the interns washed clothes for people from the outside. Elizabeth was washing and ironing.  - Hey, what happened there? Asked the girl, that warned Elizabeth in the dining room. - Nothing, just a normal telling-off, let’s keep going.     While she was working, the Mother Superior called Elizabeth to her quarters.  - What now? Elizabeth worries.     Arriving in the room, the nun says to her: - Elizabeth, a letter arrived for you. - Strangely, she said, from whom? - It’s anonymous, do you want to open?     Scared, Elizabeth feels the letter, and then she opens.  It’s a birth certificate and a CPF card. They are both surprised. - Elizabeth, have you got the documents, did you get them? Asks the Mother. - No, I have never thought of such a thing. -This is an orphanage, said the Mother. We gave you the name Elizabeth but we have never registered you, because we thought that whoever was going to adopt you, they were supposed to give you documents, only legal parents can do such a thing.  - I know, but let me have a look. Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton. What a crazy name is this one? Asks, Elizabeth, frightened.      The Mother grabs the birth certificate. - It states here that you were born in Calcoene, city of Amapa. - Must be a joke, says Elizabeth. - It’s not a joke, your registration is valid. According to it, you are 16 years old, the same age that I thought you are, because you were a basically a newborn when we found you, said the Mother. -Could be a mistake, must be another Elizabeth here. The orphanage is not that small, why would it be me?  - Because you are the only intern by that name, we didn’t give you a last name, but the name Elizabeth is only yours. They have even your father’s name here, Henry Cavendish. This name is not unknown to me. Unknown mother. Interesting usually is the opposite. Usually the one unknown is the father. Here you have your documents, keep them safe.      Elizabeth takes the documents and heads to her room. At night after the work is finished, she goes to bed and examines again what she received. - Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton, must be a joke, she says.     She was putting away in her suitcase, the documents she received, when the phone rings. She takes the call. -Hello. - Hello, says the person on the other side. It’s me, Fisto. - Fisto, you got me in trouble today, did you know that? -Sorry, I just wanted to see you, know how you have been. You were sick the other day.  - I am fine, thank you. But please, don’t do this again. - It’s because they won’t allow visits unless they are relatives, which is strange, how will the relatives visit, at the end of the day, orphans have no relatives, says Fisto. - I know, I know. I think they have these rules so no one would visit, really. - Besides this, you know what I am, tell mother Superior there’s no danger of any kind, at the end of the day, you know I am…      Elizabeth interrupts: - I know what you are, Fisto, there’s no need to repeat it. -That’s good, that’s good, I just wanted to clear any controversy that could have remained with you.  - All good, but this is an orphanage ran by nuns, even though you are what you are it’s not right. They could think we are involved in some way, it’s complicated for me, they are strict here. - I understand, we talk later, a big kiss. - Kiss, kiss         III   - Elizabeth, you have a visitor, said the orphanage’s Mother Superior.      Elizabeth was at the Launderette, working: -Visitor? Who? She asks frightened, looking at her colleagues, surprised too.  - Go there to see who it is, said one of her colleagues.      Elizabeth went walking beside the Mother.  - I never get any visits, who is this person? Fisto tried to visit me and he was stopped. Is it a woman? - No, it’s a man, said the Mother. -Then why you allow this visit? A man, I don’t know any, only Fisto and it’s not him, right?  -I don’t think so, said the Mother. -Why then?  - Because, he wants to talk Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton, your new name -Maybe he can unveil this mystery, said Elizabeth. - Exactly Elizabeth, that is why I allowed this visit. It’s going to take place in my room.      Elizabeth and the Mother enter the room. The one sitting in the chair with his back turned, was the lawyer Adolfo Perez. He stands up and sees the two women entering the room. - Are you Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton? Asks the lawyer looking at Elizabeth. - I think it is me, at least since yesterday, she says, shaking the lawyer’s hand. - That’s good then, I’ll go straight to the subject, says the lawyer.     The Mother sits in her chair, while Elizabeth pulls another one from the table’s right corner and the lawyer Adolfo Perez goes back to his seat. - Elizabeth, you are the only inheritor of Henry Cavendish, an English noble that lived in Calcoene city, Amapa, an estate from North Brazil, near the Amazonian Forest.       Elizabeth, frightened, declares: - It must be a joke, I don’t even know where this place is. I don’t even know this Henry.      The lawyer pulls some documents out of his suitcase. -It’s all written here. All the deceased’s goods belong to Elizabeth Cavendish Stanton. The will was read at registered at the Council House.       The Mother starts reading the will. Elizabeth, still frightened, declares: - Is he my father? - We don’t know, said the lawyer. Henry lost a daughter long time ago, in England, but in his will, there is a CPF number from Brazil, a record, that indicates that the inheritor has this CPF number assigned to her. We didn’t know where this detainee was, where this Elizabeth lived. We found out that Henry Cavendish was a great supporter of this institution.    The Mother interrupts her reading and says: - Of course, the name was familiar. Yes, Henry Cavendish.    The Mother opens the drawer, pulls out some files, and looking at them one by one, she finds, receipts of donations made by Henry Cavendish to the orphanage. -He was a great man, said the Mother. His support helped us feeding many of these girls, most of them abandoned by their families, when they were children.     The lawyer looks at Elizabeth and says: - Have you got any documents to prove that you are Elizabeth, a CPF number? - Yes, she says. I received the letter yesterday, I will get it for you.    She goes to her bed, puts her hand in the suitcases under her bed, where she kept her belongings and finds the envelope with the birth certificate and the CPF. She returns to the room.     While Elizabeth was gone, the Mother asks the lawyer: -Is it possible that Elizabeth is the only inheritor of Henry Cavendish? Strange, could she be his daughter, doesn’t make any sense. She is 16 years old and Henry lost his daughter in England, before he arrived in Brazil. There’s records of donations made by him older than 20 years. - Maybe, but I need to see the documents. It’s a lead, I only have this CPF number in the will. Henry left clear that the inheritor is Elizabeth, the owner of this CPF, said the lawyer.      Elizabeth arrives in the Mother’s room and hands the CPF to the lawyer. - Without a doubt. It’s all here. The numbers match, have a look.     The lawyer shows the typed number together with the CPF, to Elizabeth and the Mother so they could see the parity. - That’s right Elizabeth, it is you. - I can’t believe it, I finally find my father and he dies, says Elizabeth.     The Mother is meditating. -Well, then, my job is done, says the lawyer. Elizabeth, now you have a house, a ranch, to be precise. You must go to Amapa to repossess everything. - But, how? Said Elizabeth. How will I go there? - She can’t, said the Mother. She is only 16 years old, she can’t just leave this place.  - But she must go, accompanied by someone older, obviously. I could be that person, I could represent you. Pode ser eu, diz o advogado, posso ser o seu representante. Elizabeth, can you travel to Amapa? - Just like that? Declared the Mother. She can’t go on her own. - Your holiness could go with her, or one of the nuns, said the lawyer. -I can’t, and neither of the nuns, said the Mother.      Elizabeth declares: - Maybe somebody can, I know someone that could, wait here.      Elizabeth went to her room, got her mobile phone and called Fisto. - Hello, said the voice on the other side. - Hello, Fisto? It’s me Elizabeth. You won’t believe it. I’ve inherited a fortune. -How is that? Declared Fisto. -What you heard, I can’t believe it myself, but I think I found my father, he died and left me a ranch in Amapa.  -What craziness is this one, it’s a scam, be careful, said Fisto. - No, it’s not, there is a lawyer here at the orphanage, with all the documents, the will, everything, the Mother saw it and sustained it. I want you to come with me, I need someone older, how old are you? - I’m 25, but going with you, to Amapá? - Are you working? - No, it’s hard to work with my health condition. - Condition? What health condition, what’s wrong with you Fisto? - I will tell you one day, but, I do want to go, I have nothing to lose, I am not working. - Perfect, let’s go together. I will let them know I found someone, talk to later, I call you.      Elizabeth returns to the Mother’s room and says: -I can go, I have a friend that is going with me, he is older than me. - Can she go, Mother? Asked the lawyer. - Sometimes she is allowed out, she could be let out permanently only if she finds a family, but as the documents show, she had a father that died and she has goods to inherit. If she goes with someone trustworthy, I won’t obstruct it. - Great, Elizabeth, you must go to Calcoene, a city on the coastline of Amapa, when you get there, you call me, here’s my card, I will be in the city, said the lawyer. If you want I could lend you some money for the trip and personal expenses in the city. I already received a good fee from the deceased, Henry. - I will take it, said Elizabeth.      The lawyer hands her exactly 3000 reals. - Oh, my god, that is a lot, said Elizabeth. - Don’t rush, said the lawyer. I will go now, I am driving, but you can follow afterwards. -That’s all right, said the Mother. - Well then, it’s been a pleasure, said the lawyer Adolfo Perez, greeting Elizabeth and Mother. - I will be waiting for you.      The lawyer leaves. - Well, my daughter, are you sure about it, it’s very far away, in another place, said the Mother. - I am sure about it Mother, you know I won’t be able to live here for too long. When I will turn 18 I must leave. No one will adopt me at this stage. I have no profession and now, good or not, I have a father, such a shame he is deceased. - May God and Virgin Mary be with you, my daughter, said the Mother, standing up and hugging Elizabeth, that responded to the hug.           lV     - Come on, where is Fisto, the taxi is nearly here, said Elizabeth.  - How are you going to get there? The Mother asked Elizabeth. - By bus, it will take longer, but is cheaper.   It was in the morning, chilly, weak sun. The mother and Elizabeth were outside the orphanage. The Mother with her nun costume and Elizabeth with different clothes. A long, black dress, covering half of her shin. A group of interns gets near Elizabeth.   - We made a kitty and we will give you the money to help you more, there. - Thank you, girls. - When you get rich don’t forget about us, said one of the girls. -Even if I wanted, I couldn’t forget about you, but I don’t know yet what I am to find there, maybe this fortune is only an illusion, but if it’s real I will call you to come to visit me.      The Mother pulls Elizabeth away from the girls and says: - Call this Fisto and tell him to wait at the corner, I don’t want you to get in the taxi with him, here. I don’t want the novices to think of other things. - There’s nothing between us, besides this Fisto is... -It doesn’t matter. I want it this way, said the Mother - That’s fine.      Elizabeth picks the phone and calls Fisto. - Hello. - Hey, Fisto, it’s me. Are you nearly here? - Yes. -Stop at the corner, they don’t want to see me getting in the taxi with you.  - Let the taxi go and come to the corner, responded Fisto. - Are you not coming anymore, why?  - I am coming, it’s because I got a car, we’re driving in it. - Do you think is better?  -Yes, everything is far over there, we will need it, you didn’t even buy the bus tickets, you were going to buy them at the counter, there’s no need for it anymore. - All right.      Elizabeth turns around facing the group and says: - Guys, I’m going, I’m getting the taxi at the corner.  - All right, my darling, said the Mother. We will miss you. - Ok guys, thank you for everything.      Elizabeth departs with her wheelie suitcase, in direction to the corner while the nuns and the girls wave her goodbye. At the corner, she sees a black car getting near and parking nearby. - Is it you? Asks, Elizabeth. - Yes, it is me, said Fisto. What do you think? Nice, isn’t it? -Where did you get it from? - I stole it.      Elizabeth laughed, while opening the back door and struggling to get her luggage in. - Are you not going to help me? She says. - I will, with the power of my mind. -Real funny.      Elizabeth gets the bag in, closes the door, opens the front door and enters. - Big car. - Yes, it’s my dad’s. -How come you never spoke of him?  -We don’t talk much, he gave me this car, maybe because of my condition. - What condition? Unemployment? -You’ll know it, one day. - Ok, then, are we going? - Yes, we are, I got us a map and now we will hit the road.      The car leaves, crosses the small town, from Sao Paolo estate and enters the highway, in the direction to Amapa, heading to the unknown.