Obvious suspect

The atmosphere in the interrogation room was tense. Elysia stood by the door, her eyes fixed on Evan, the mayor's nephew, who sat across the table from her. His expression was a mix of defiance and nervousness, the dim light casting shadows on his face.

"Miriam's investigation has revealed some troubling connections. Evan," Elysia began, her voice steady but firm.

"You might be the killer or the thief. We need to get to the bottom of this."

Evan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I swear, I had nothing to do with it."

"I was staying at an inn in Hillside when the murder occurred. I even bought wine there on that day."

Elysia raised an eyebrow, her scepticism evident. "We'll need to verify your alibi. Can you provide any more details?"

"I don't remember much," Evan admitted. "But I'm telling the truth. I stayed at the inn and bought some wine."

Elysia nodded, though her doubts lingered. "Alright."

"We'll look into it."

"But understand, if you're lying, we'll find out."

Evan grinned at her. "My invitation to stay the night still stands."

"I am not afraid of your bite."

"My answer is the same as in our last conversation," Elysia said, opening the door.

Evan walked by her. "What is one night of passion? You're a vampire."

"I am a human, and my life span is short."

"Indulge an old friend. Let me plough you once."

Magnus took Evan by the arm. "It's Time for you to leave. Do not leave town; you're a suspect."

Are you okay, Elysia? He did not touch you, did he? Magnus asked.

"No, he did not. He is a creep," Elysia said, dodging Magnus's hand as he tried to place it on her ass.

"Good, you are mine," Magnus said, spewing flames.

"No, I do not belong to you, chief," Elysia said, folding her arms, her red eyes drilling into his.

"One day, you will see what a nice guy I am," Magnus said as he walked to his office.

**********

The next day, Ignatius, Luna, and Elysia embarked on their journey to Hillside, determined to uncover the truth. The drive was filled with discussion about the case, their minds racing with possibilities.

"Do you think Evan is telling the truth?" Luna asked, glancing at Elysia.

"It's hard to say," Elysia replied. "But we need to investigate every angle. If there's any inconsistency in his story, it could be the break we need."

As they arrived in Hillside, the quaint village's charm did little to ease their tension. They parked near the inn and made their way inside. The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile, greeted them.

"Welcome to Hillside Inn. How can I help you?" she asked.

Elysia stepped forward. "We're here to verify the alibi of a man named Evan. He claims he stayed here on the seventeenth of the third month and bought wine from the inn."

The innkeeper's smile faded. "I'm afraid I don't remember anyone named Evan. We get many visitors, and keeping track of them is hard."

Luna's expression remained neutral, though her disappointment was palpable. "Could you check your records?"

The innkeeper nodded and disappeared into a back room. A few minutes later, she returned with a ledger. "I'm sorry, but there's no record of anyone named Evan staying here on that day."

Elysia exchanged a glance with Ignatius. "Thank you for your help," she said to the innkeeper. "We'll be on our way."

Leaving the inn, they discussed their next move. "Evan's story is already falling apart," Ignatius observed. "But let's check the wine farm before jumping to conclusions."

The drive to the wine farm was short. The landscape shifts from the village's cosy streets to rolling vineyards. They arrived at a rustic farmhouse, where an old elf and his grandson, a toddler, greeted them.

"Good day," the elf said, his voice gentle but firm. "What brings you to our vineyard?"

Elysia stepped forward, her demeanour respectful. "We're investigating a case and need to verify if a man named Evan bought wine here on the day of the mayor's murder."

The elf frowned, thinking. "We sell wine to many people, especially on busy days. I can't say for certain if we sold wine to this Evan."

Luna knelt beside the toddler, who was playing with a wooden toy. "Do you remember any specific details from that day?"

The elf shook his head. "I'm sorry, but no. We get a lot of visitors, and it's hard to keep track."

Elysia sighed, the frustration evident in her eyes. "Thank you for your time. We'll continue our investigation."

As they left the vineyard, Ignatius voiced their shared concern. "Evan's alibi has no consistency. No one remembers him, and there's no record of his stay at the inn or his purchase at the vineyard."

Luna nodded, her determination unwavering. "We need to confront Evan with what we've found. If he's lying, we must press him for the truth."

The journey back to Misty cove was filled with a tense silence, and each of us was lost in our thoughts. They knew that the next step could be crucial in uncovering the truth behind the mayor's murder.

Upon their return, Elysia found Evan waiting in the interrogation room. His expression was a mix of anxiety and defiance.

Elysia didn't waste any time. "Evan, we went to Hillside. The innkeeper has no record of your stay, and the vineyard owner doesn't remember selling you wine."

Evan's face paled, but he maintained his composure. "I swear I was there! Maybe they just forgot."

Elysia leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. "Your story doesn't add up, Evan. If you're innocent, help us understand why no one can confirm your alibi."

Evan's gaze darted around the room, his defences crumbling. "I... I didn't think anyone would believe me."

Elysia's eyes narrowed. "Believe what, Evan? If you have nothing to hide, tell us the truth."

Evan's shoulders slumped, and he let out a defeated sigh. "Alright, alright. I wasn't at the inn or the vineyard. I lied because... I was afraid."

Elysia's expression softened. "Afraid of what?"

Evan swallowed hard. "Afraid that I'd be blamed for something I didn't do. I didn't kill my uncle. I swear it."

Elysia's eyes bore into Evan's. "Then why lie? What we're you. Doing that day?"

Evan hesitated, the weight of his secret bearing down on him. "I was meeting someone. Someone who wanted me to steal something from my uncle."

The room fell silent, the revelation hanging in the air. Elysia's voice was steady but laced with urgency. "Who were you meeting, Evan?"

Evan looked down, his voice a whisper. "I don't know their name. They contacted me, offering me money to steal a document from my uncle's study."

Luna's eyes widened. "A document? What kind of document?"

Evan shook his head. "I don't know. They said it was important."

"Did you take the money?" Elysia asked.

Evan folded his arms. "Of course not. I need to stay honest. If I want to get into your panties one day."

"That will never happen, Evan. Forget about me. Find someone else." Elysia said, annoyed.

"How could I? You and that new elf, Luna, are the most beautiful women in town. You have been my desire from day one." Evan said, looking to the side. "One night of passion is all I ask. Then I can die a happy man."

That will never happen, she thought.

She leaned back, processing the information. "This changed everything. We need to find out who contacted you and what they wanted."

She nodded, her determination renewed. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Evan. But if you're withholding anything else, now's the time to come clean."

Evan's eyes filled with desperation. "I swear, that's all I know. Please, you have to believe me."

Elysia stood up, her voice reassuring. "We'll continue our investigation. For now, stay in town. We might need to question you further."

She felt relieved. She had known Evan for a long time. He was a regular guy like the rest in town. He had always proposed a one-night stand. He offered her his neck for feeding and ploughing her once. She knew it would not end at a one-night stand.

As she left the interrogation room, she returned to Silvi's Coffee shop, where Ignatius, Luna, and Elysia discussed their next steps. The revelation about the anonymous contact had added a new layer to the mystery, one that they needed to unravel.

"We need to trace the source of the contact," Ignatius said, his mind racing with possibilities. "There must be a way to determine who wanted that document."

Luna nodded. "Agreed. We should also investigate the mayor's study. Something there can give us a clue about the document."

Elysia's eyes filled with determination. "Let's start with the mayor's study. We need to find out what was so important about that document."

The afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows of the mayor's office, casting long shadows across the room. Elysia and Luna stood at the entrance, their expressions determined as they prepared to search for the document.

Evan claimed he had to steal a document but did not know which document. The room was spacious, filled with bookshelves and filing cabinets, and a large wooden desk dominated the centre.

"Let's get started," Elysia said, her voice resolute. "We need to find that document."

Luna nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the room. "If Evan was telling the truth, it has to be here somewhere."

They began their search, going through each drawer and cabinet. Elysia opened the desk drawers, sifting through stacks of papers and folders. Luna focused on the bookshelves. Pulling out books and checking behind them for hidden compartments.

Hours passed, and the office grew more cluttered with each passing minute. Papers were scattered across the desk and floor, and the air was thick with the scent of dust and old paper.

Elysia sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "We've been searching for hours, and there's no sign of the document. It should be here."

Luna, kneeling by a filing cabinet, looked up with a frown. "What if it's not here? What if it was moved somewhere else?"

Elysia's eyes widened as a thought struck her. "The town hall attic! Important documents and records are often sent there for storage. It might be there."

Luna stood up, her expression thoughtful. "That makes sense. Let's not waste any more time here. We should go to the attic."

Elysia nodded in agreement, and they began to tidy up the room. Placing the papers back in their respective places. Once the office was in a semblance of order, they headed out, their steps echoing down the hallway.

Luna reached for Elysia's hand as they exited the mayor's office. "We should get Ignatius to help us. His knowledge and skills will be invaluable."

Elysia smiled, grateful for Luna's support. "You're right. Let's go to Silvi's Coffee Shop and find him."

They walked hand in hand through the streets of Misty Cove, a bustling town alive with activity. Their bond was evident in their shared determination and unspoken understanding.

Arriving at Silvi's Coffee Shop, they pushed open the door. The familiar aroma of coffee and pastries greeted them. The shop was busy, but their focus was on finding Ignatius.

Spotting him at a corner table, engrossed in a book, they made their way over. Ignatius looked up as they approached, a warm smile spreading.

"Luna, Elysia, what happened? You look exhausted," he asked, setting his book aside.

Elysia took a deep breath. "We need your help."

"We searched the mayor's office for the document Evan mentioned but couldn't find it."

"We think it might be in the town hall attic."

Ignatius's expression grew serious. "That makes sense. Important documents are often stored there. Let's go and search together."

Luna nodded. "Thank you, Ignatius. With your help, we'll find it."

The three of them left the coffee shop. The town hall was a short walk away.

After entering the building, they made their way to the attic, the narrow staircase creaking under their steps. The attic was dimly lit and filled with boxes and crates of old records and artifacts.

Elysia set to work, opening boxes and examining their contents. Luna and Ignatius joined her, their eyes scanning for any sign of the elusive document.

Hours passed, but their determination never wavered. Each box opened brought them closer to the truth. Each paper examined a step towards uncovering the mystery.

"Let's call it a day, girls," Ignatius said, spotting a slight inconsistency on an old desk in the corner.

Elysia sighs. "That little weasel."

"He lied to you, the bastard," Luna says as she falls into an old chair. Dust kicked up in the air.

Ignatius noticed how short the two women's skirts were. They would never be able to sit on a public bench or kneel to pick something up. They had purple lace panties on. He struggled to focus on his task.

Ignatius inspects the desk. He had seen desks like this in his old life. He probed the underside of the desk. "Click." A small drawer opened on the side. Taking the scroll from the drawer. "Wow, this scroll is in pristine condition." He remarks with aw.

The scroll glow as he opens it. Primordial elven script flow from the scroll entering his body. The scroll shrinks in size till it disappears. Script appears before them the orb glows next to Ignatius. He translates for them. "You have gained rejuvenation aura. Luna has gained healing whisper. and Elysia had gained enhanced shadow step."

They look at each other. "We are growing stronger" Elysia said as she hugs Ignatius with joy.

Luna kisses Ignatius. "You are amazing you know that right."