Case 2 - The Recollection of His Memory

"Would you like a cup of tea, Mr. Hills?" As a man signals for his Butler.

"I appreciate the hospitality but I'll pass, may I ask what your name was again?"

"I am Wesley Gordan, and this is my sister, Belle." Introducing themselves whilst the three of them, sitting on exclusive chairs in a large living room of a large mansion.

"As for the reason of your summoning, we would like you to find something."

"And what would that be?"

"About that... we don't know what it is. After the death of our father, which would be a month ago, we found a letter that was left for us from our late-father.

The contents was about something that he wanted us to have, but it wrote of nothing about where it could be."

"I see..., it's decided then, I will gladly accept."

"I decline. Mr. Hills, your service is not needed." Belle repudiates as Victor's expression turned indignant.

"Belle! Behave yourself!

Apologies, Mr. Hills, she's very much immature." Wesley apologises as he chides Belle.

"Brother, this is something father left us, we shouldn't be having outsiders like him look for it. And besides he seems too young to be reliable."

"Then what do you suggest we do? We've already been looking for it for a month."

"I will find it, by myself." Her eyes fill with determination as his brother starts to reconsider how he should handle the matter at hand.

Then abruptly, Victor exaggeratedly guffaws, hugging his own stomach, as if he was having convulsions.

"You? What could a snotty little brat like you do? It is true that I am younger than most detectives, but compared, I am pretty good myself, at least better than you.

And I would guess the reason you're still living with your brother is because of that fowl little mouth of yours, I am older than you so show some respect."

Victor taunts as to recriminate Belle.

"You rotten narcissist, fine, have it your way. You may investigate, but if I find it before you do, I'll have you do as I say.

Do you accept or will you cower?"

"Very well, I accept. But if I find it before you do, you will have to apologize to me."

"So be it." Fiery glares start to cool down as Victor and Belle both agree on the proposition.

"Mr. Wesley, could you show me the letter you mentioned?"

"Yes, of course." Wesley answers as he signals the Butler for the letter.

The Butler than pulls out a letter from his suit.

"To my dear children, Wesley and Belle. If you're reading this, it probably means I have passed but sorrow not.

I am blessed to have children like the two of you, I am very happy to have made so many wonderful memories with you two.

I enjoyed the time when we played in the yard, I hope the two of you enjoyed it as well.

Now that I've passed, I leave my fortune to you Wesley, but of course Belle is always welcomed to stay as long as she wants.

Within the things I leave for you, there is one that I hope the two of you cherish.

It is a memoir that values the most out of them all.

By the time you see this I will already be reunited with your mother, I wish the best for the both of you.

With loving memories, Tom Gordan."

Is what was written in the letter.

"Quite the loving father he was." Commented Victor as he returns the letter.

"Where was the letter found?" "In my father's study."

"Could you take me to this study then?"

Wesley nods to reply Victor as he stands up to lead the way with Belle following behind them.

The door opens to reveal your standard study except that there was rows of collective items of the genre baseball.

"Was your father a fan of baseball?" "Very much so."

Replying Victor as Wesley takes a glance at his watch.

"I almost forgot I had some matters to attend to, I have to go now, if you need anything just tell Barry, his the Butler.

As for you, my dear sister, restrain and behave yourself."

Belle rolls her eyes as she watches her brother leave.

"I didn't notice that you were still here. Keeping me company?" "Not like I wanted to, but I must make sure you don't break or steal anything."

Victor then picks up a framed photo that was sitting on the desk. The photo was of Belle and Wesley with their parents when they were still very young.

"You're probably thinking where my mother is by now. She passed when I was six, the photo was taken the same year she died from illness."

"Were you close?" "Not close whatsoever, neither me nor Wesley shared much memories with her."

"If she had lived longer, do you think that you could've shared more memories with her?"

"Maybe, but there's no point in talking about it anymore." Belle becomes a little upset and leaves the room.

Victor then turns to question Barry, "How long have you been working here, Barry?" "A bit more than 20 years."

"20 years huh, what was the past master like?" As Barry prepares to answer he let's out a long sigh. "He was very kind to all the attendants of the house. He cared very much for his family.

Even though he was very busy with work, he would spend as much time as possible with his family.

When his wife passed he would practice baseball with the young masters almost everyday."

"One more thing, the cause of the past master's death?" "He died from stroke, just like his uncle and some of his relatives."

"I see… thank you for sharing."

After walking around the house without finding anything Victor finds his way back to the living room.

"What would that something mentioned in the letter be? What could it be? What if…" as he was deep in thought, he felt a pat on his shoulders, he turns to see Belle.

"There's something I would like to say… would now be fine?" "I guess, go ahead." "I… I am sorry about earlier."

"About earlier?" "Like I said, I am apologising for insulting you! Do you have to make it so hard for me?"

"Hard?" "You know what? Just forget anything happened." In a slight tantrum Belle hurries and storms away.

"What's the matter with her, there's no need for her to think too much about a simple apology. -think too much… I see… it was obvious from the start."

Sitting on the couch as he ponders much much more deeper into thought.

A while later, Barry walks swiftly pass the living room towards the front door.

"Welcome back, Wesley." He greets as Wesley passes him his coat. "I have some news about what the something is."

He announces as he gets Barry to bring Belle down. When Belle arrives he starts to explain, "The matter I attended was a little discussion with an old business partner of our father.

After settling down some business, we had a little chat.

He said he was a baseball fan as well and he used to watch the matches with Dad.

Then I asked if he remembered any details from then, he said that Dad didn't talk much when watching the matches, but he said he does remember when they were watching a match between The Black Cats and The Golden Bulls, Dad said that it was his favorite team's match.

And since Dad was obsessed with baseball, I thought the thing he left was somehow connected with baseball as well.

But the problem is, all Dad mentioned was that one of the two teams was his favorite but he didn't specify which one."

Then as if she had discovered the theory to everything, Belle jumps up excited and widens her jaws to speak.

"Barry, are you familiar with the collection in the study?" "Quite a bit if I do say so myself. I was even with your father every time he went to the auction."

"Did Dad collect anything from either teams?" "He collected a few from both teams."

"�� he was very obsessed with baseball, and if it was his favorite, he would've paid a high price for it. Barry, which one values the highest?" "That would be a baseball glove signed by all the members from The Golden Bulls."

"To the study then!" She commanded as she marches up to the study with Victor and Wesley following in behind.

"Barry, which one is it?" "This one." Answering as he points to a worned and dirty glove. "Isn't this the glove dad used when we were little?

Are you sure this is the one, Barry? Knowing dad, there's no way he would use it if it was the most valuable one."

"I am very much confident that it is." An expression of disappointment crosses Belle's face as she loses confidence. "Then what about the second most valuable item in his collection?"

"That would be a bat signed by the ace batter from The Black Cats." "That must be it! I found it!"

Once again feeling much confident, she turns to Victor, emitting an aura filled with glory and pride, grinning.

"It seems I was right about not needing to hire a detective."

"Congratulations Miss Belle, you are correct." Applauding as Victor congrats her.

"But disappointingly, you were correct." His words obfuscated them as Victor walks forward and points at the worn and dirtied glove.

"This, is what your father meant.

Ask yourselves, do you really know your father as well as you believe?

I wasn't sure of it until I saw how the two of you recognized the glove."

"What do you mean?"

"It all goes back to your mother, she didn't have much memories with the two of you because she passed early.

Your father was fully aware about it. And not just that, he was reminded that due to genetics, he was at risk of stroke.

Realizing that the time he had could be cut short anytime soon, he was pushy about practicing baseball not because he wanted to play baseball, it was because he wanted to have fun with the two of you.

According to the letter he wrote, he treasured memories more than anything. He treasured memories with his own children more than his money and baseball.

That's why he used his most valuable item in his collection when he played with the of you, using his most priced item, he showed that he valued his own children more than his collection.

Your father really liked baseball, but he was never obsessed with it, he had always been obsessed with his own children."

Silence befalls as Wesley collapses down on a chair, depressed by the weight of guilt on him.

Speechless, sitting on one of the chairs in the study, eyes dead and colourless. Belle leaning against the wall with her back, holding her mouth with her hands as tears roll down her cheeks.

"Mr. Hills, could I ask as a favor that we provide them with some time and space?" Victor nods to respond and returns to the living room with Barry.

"Barry, how close to the truth was I?" "What would you mean by that, Mr. Hills?"

"By sharing your thoughts on what kind of a person the past master was, you knew what the something he mentioned was, didn't you?"

"It seems you've figured it out. Yes, indeed I knew. But I wanted them to discover the truth themselves so that they would really understand how much the late-master loved them."

"You are quite the hell of a Butler, Barry."

"Thank you, for the compliment and in helping and going along with our little case." Barry thanks him.

"I guess I'll be going now." He walks to the door and opens it.

Just before leaving he turns to Barry and says, "Barry, one more thing. Tell Belle, one day, I'll come back to get my end of the deal… some day."

Then leaving as Barry watches him leave with a soft and gentle smile.