Murder

Chapter 2

If you missed the opening chapter, start by readingThe Strange Affair at Bolt Hall.

Well, the Grand Ball passed by without a hitch and Lady Evelyn’s jewels remained safely around her neck.

The evening’s guests dispersed in a fairly ordinary manner, leaving just six people in the house overnight-
Hercule Bleriot himself,
Lady Eveline,
Bleriot’s faithful assistant, Miss Le Mans (a plain looking woman with no backstory whatsoever),

Catastra Albertine, Lady Evelyn’s daughter,

Inspector Ray Stings of Scotland Yard

and the family’s faithful retainer, Charlie Edams.

‘I rather fear,’ said Bleriot in a thick cod-French accent, ‘zat zis is not the last we shall hear of the fiend who goes by the name of The Big Cheese, mes amis!’

Everyone made their way to their respective bed chambers, none suspecting that only five of them would remain come the morning.

The Strange Affair at Bolt Hall

The first guest to arrive on that fateful weekend was Hercules Bleriot, the great European detective whose quick-witted sleuthing had solved many grand thefts and murders down the years, often making the local police force, and in many cases Scotland Yard themselves, look like bumbling nincompoops.

Lady Evelyn Albertine had invited Bleriot to thwart the the theft of her precious jewels which was scheduled to take place that Sunday evening, according to a bravado-fuelled letter from master criminal The Big Cheese, during a Grand Ball.

Bleriot’s early arrival allowed him time to set to work waxing his moustache before joining the assembled throng to assess them for a propensity for grand larceny.

Another departure

Not a physical one this time- just a departure in style. This caused me no end of difficulty and resulted in a huge delay to this post, so I offer you my sincere apologies.,,

Today we return to Netherford, home of yesterday’s disastrous performance from The Owl Leapers.

Just outside the village of Netherford lies Bolt Hall, the ancestral home of the late Lord Albertine and now the domicile of his widow, Lady Evelyn.

We see her here engaged in conversation following an afternoon tea with Father McVickers, the parish priest. Little do they know that they are about to become embroiled in the murderous events surrounding The Strange Affair of Bolt Hall.

Heading this post, you’ll see the original illustration which may give you a slight indication of the length of the arduous journey to reach this point.

Identified

I believe that I may have identified the body.
With the help of Mewtrier and Frank’s magick books, I hope to have him back with us very shortly…

The awful truth

Tests reveal that woodworm was responsible for the collapse of the nun’s bell. So there was an innocent reason for the whole sorry affair after all.

Or was there?

Wily Scot Fiona Bruce will leave no stone unturned in her quest for the truth.
What she discovered may upset some viewers. What a naughty nun. Why did she do it? Why?