《The Software Detective》28. Red stained carpet
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The Walters are a very wealthy family; they didn’t skimp on luxury. Especially when it came to their guest rooms. The bathroom was luxurious with a waterfall shower a touch sensor sink and soap dispenser, a bidet that would leave you cleaner than a newborn. I walked over to the sleeping area and there was a large California king bed. Someone neatly tucked the sheets and Comforter in. Two pillows sat in-between them with a note that read “If you prefer a weighted blanket, it can be found in the closet. We have a variety of weights to meet your preference.
Looking over to the windows, there were blackout curtains covering the windows. Next to the curtain there was a smart thermostat with a note above it. Walking over the note said, “Each room is temperature independent. You can adjust the temperature of the room to your sleeping preferences.” If this is how they treat their guest, how do they treat their family? I might have to disregard Bennet’s warnings and take Ania up on her offer.
I walked over to the bed and got into the covers. Oh, my god this might be the softest bed that I have ever slept on. I fell asleep almost effortlessly. I’m not sure if it was because of all the work I did throughout the day or if it was because of the lovely cloud I was laying on. Either way, I achieved the best sleep of my life that night.
The Walters were so wealthy they didn’t skimp out on alarm clocks, either. I woke up to the sound of an authentic blood-curdling scream. Wait, that might be real. Jumping out of my bed, I ran over to grab my clothes. I don’t want a repeat of what happened at the hotel.
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Walking to the door while putting on my shirt, I opened the door. In the hallway was a screaming and crying Zofia. She was sitting on the floor against the wall of Ania’s room. When I reached her, she jumped up and held onto me burying her face into my chest. Confused, I looked over to see Ania laying on the floor near the bed, her head facing the door laying on its side, with puke coming from her mouth. On the ground was the glass she had last night spilt on the floor coloring the carpet red. From the looks of it, she must have been in great pain as she laid there with her body contorted in all different directions.
“What happened!” August shouted as he ran towards us. Bennet was close behind him.
“Forgive our sloppy entrance Tom, if we walked, the story would be over.” Bennet said.
“It’s completely fine. I think we need to call an ambulance.” I said, motioning over to the door.
August looked into the room and saw the condition his daughter was in. Fell to his knees and tears started flow down his face. “My baby girl!” He said screaming, then putting his face into his hands crying.
Bennet pulled out gloves from his tailcoat and walked over to the body. He took a knee next to Ania and examined the body.
“Get away from him, Zofia. He did this! No one else could have done it. You murdered my daughter.” August said pointing at me. His sorrow had morphed into anger. He was looking to blame the first person he could find.
Zofia, hearing the cries of her father, broke away from me and backed up slowly.
Then, springing up from his knees like a cat, he pounced on me and pinned me against the wall behind me and held me by the collar. “Confess bastard, you did this, didn’t you! When I am done with you, you’ll be sleeping underneath a bridge. You won’t even have a mattress to sleep on! All you will have is a sleeping bag with the bottom ripped open so your feet will get cold because another hobo stole your socks! You’ll be fighting with racoons for a 3-day-old half-eaten burger! You’ll be…”
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Before August could launch more oddly specific insults at me, Bennet put a hand on his shoulder. “Master August, let the boy go. He didn’t do this.”
Letting go of me, he slapped bennet’s hand off my shoulder and turned to me. “What do you mean Bennet! Are you saying that my daughter did this to herself?!”
“I wouldn’t say this was of her doing, but rather she had a seizure and choked on her vomit, sir. Her death was from internal causes, meaning she died of natural causes.” Bennet said, putting his hand on August shoulder again.
The anger on August's face slowly melted away and revealed the despair that was underneath. That despair that only a parent who has lost a child would know. “I need to be alone, Bennet. Please cancel all my meetings and handle everything in my absence.” August said, sliding the butler's hand off his shoulder and walked down the hallway with his hands in his pockets.”
“It shall be done, Master August.” Bennet said with a slight bow. When he stood straight again, he faced me. “It seems you are lucky I've still retained some knowledge of when I was an EMT, otherwise things could have gone in a completely different direction.”
Bennet walked over and closed the door to Ania’s room. Leaving her cadaver alone in the room once again. “Now Tom, we will have your things and your room moved to a different location. In the event you will need to stay another night. This time away from the daughters, so you are not accused.” Bennet said, pulling out a notepad. “Also, to excuse Master August’s behavior and assault against you, we will be adding an extra $30,000 for you onto of what we were going to pay you and Master Brett for your services. Does that seem reasonable?”
“Uh yeah, that’s more than reasonable, thank you.” I said.
“Splendid, now…” Bennet said.
“What’s going on here? I saw daddy before on my way here. He was a total mess.” Rue said interrupting Bennet.
“It’s Ania, Rue! She’s dead,” Zofia said, falling to her knees crying again. Bennet walked over to her picking her up.
“Come with me Tom, we will discuss what is left to complete the security system.” Bennet said with his arm around Zofia as she continued to cry.
Rue rushed over and opened the door to the bedroom. With hands over her mouth, she looked in horror as she looked at her sister’s body. I turned to follow bennet and Zofia. Realizing this must have been hard on Rue to see her sister die in such a horrific manner, so I turned around to see if she needed a shoulder to cry on.
Rue stood there in front of her older sister's corpse. With both her hands on her mouth, there was not a single tear. Just a gleeful smile peeking out from her covered mouth.
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