//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The sign of four // by keithsterling //------------------------------// Its 15:30 hrs Canterlot City Morgue, basement area, Civilian Sector: Judicature Ward, City of Canterlot, and the Capital City of Equestria. The Canterlot city morgue is a single-story brick building with a basement. The basement area of the city morgue is lit by several fluorescent lights. The floor was lined with several stainless steel tables to perform autopsies. Standing at a silver stainless steel mobile cart in one corner of the room was a beautiful lightly colored dark blue, fully grown unicorn mare. Her crimson red mane and tail were gathered in a tight bun hairstyle to keep it from dragging on the white subway tiled floor of the autopsy room. She was attired in estate blue colored surgical scrubs to protect the dress she wore underneath and booties to protect the shoes on her feet. On her five-fingered hands were two pairs of blue latex gloves. She was flipping through two concluded coroner's reports for two victims of the serial killer. This unicorn mare was Lady Seer Silverlight, the Royal Medical Examiner for the City of Canterlot. A moment later, the swing doors of the autopsy room were opened by Royal Investigator Alysia Silverlight, the great-niece of Royal Medical Examiner Seer Silverlight on her grandfather's side. After talking with her Aunt Blueberry about her Grandmother. She was called by her great aunt Seer to stop by the city morgue because she found something exciting about two of the victims of the serial killer. "Hello, Great Auntie Seer you want to see me," Alysia said friendly as she hugs her great aunt. "I did Great niece I was going back over the first two victims’ coroner report. I didn't notice a certain fact went I concluded it the first time." Seer explains point with her finger at two DNA strands noted in the report. "These two victims the first victim, Mr. Nara North Star, and Miss Deanna Paradise are a brother and sister they share the same parents DNA." Seer explains as Alysia still couldn't figure out why her great aunt called her. "That means nothing to the case Great Auntie these two victims were modified ponies that why the killer targets them." Alysia said bluntly as her great aunt sighed softly at her. As she called up some information in the form of newspaper clippings on a laptop computer next to her and turn it toward Alysia. "That not why I called you Alysia have a look at this brother and sister was the subject of an investigation by your father, went he was the Royal investigator. After I found out I look back over the other case files and discover the fifth victim of the Serial Killer, one Mr. Ashton Lancer was a subject in the same investigation." Seer explains as Alysia reel with astonishment. "What!?" Alysia exclaims "So three of the victims of this Serial Killer were the subjects in an investigation, by my father do you have any more information about this case my father was looking into Great Auntie?" Alysia inquiry as Seer shook her head. "All the information I found out about was of public record. It doesn't reveal the focus of the investigation or why those three particular ponies were the subjects of the investigation in the first place best go talk to your father about it." Seer suggested as Alysia left the city morgue to head to the Grand Royal Palace. It a few hours later, Canterlot Grand Royal Palace, the main foyer of the palace, public area, and the government office's section, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot and Capital City of Equestria After concluding her business with her Great Aunt Seer at the Canterlot City morgue and downloading the news clipping onto her MCV of the case, her father was working on. She drives over to Grand Royal Palace to talk to him about the case he was investigating that involved three of the victims of the killer. Went she arrive at the Grand Royal Palace it is unusually busy today the main foyer of the palace leading into governmental offices section of the palace is packed with ponies waiting for their meeting with governmental officials. It took her good few hours to make it through the main foyer to the Royal family private business area, were her families offices are located. Once in the private business area of the palace's it was clear shot to her father's office across the hall from her Aunt Aurora's office. In the waiting room of her father's office sitting behind a solid oak desk reading a fashion magazine was engaging blue colored unicorn mare with yellow mane streaked with orange wearing a fit and flare skirt suit. This unicorn mare is her father's Executive Secretary, Angeletta Ribbon. "Excuse me, Angeletta is my father in his office today?" Alysia inquiry as Angeletta looks up from her magazine with a startled gasp. "Oh, your highness, I am sorry I didn't hear you come in. How can I help you?" Angeletta inquiry stuffing the magazine back into the drawer of her desk quickly. "It fine, Angeletta I just ask you if my father is in his office today." Alysia inquiry "I am sorry, Alysia but your father is not in his office today there was unexpected important royal business to take care of today. He came into his office, grabbed his briefcase, and ran out. He told me to rearrange his appointment for today. So I am waiting on a few return calls from those appointments, and I am heading home." Angeletta explains as Alysia turns and walks back outside. A moment later in the white-tiled hallway of the Royal family's private business area, a 6ft 10in magnificent looking dark blue colored older unicorn mare with crimson red mane and tail walks out of one of the smaller office in the area. She was attired in a navy blue pantsuit and taupe colored pumps. Across her chest was a leather crossbody bag, and in her hand, she held the handle of a brown briefcase. This older unicorn mare is Lady Serena Silverlight, the other great aunt of Alysia and Canterlot Royal District Attorney. "Huh?" Serena exclaims, spotting Alysia standing outside her father's office a bit disappointed. "Hey, Alysia!" Serena calls catching the attention of her great-niece, who seem to cheer-up a bit upon seeing her Great Aunt Serena come walking toward her. Went Serena is standing in front of Alysia, she hugs her. It's been some time since she last saw her great-niece around the palace. "Hello, Great Aunt Serena." Alysia response backs as she returns her great aunt hug. "Greetings, great-niece what is wrong, Alysia? You don't look too happy about something." Serena comments as she set her briefcase down beside her. "I needed to talk with my father about a case he was investigating went he was the Royal Investigator. It might be important to my case. But he not here." Alysia said, her face drawn. "You know Alysia I have prosecuted several cases for your father that he has investigated, if I was giving the case, I would have the case files in my files. So Alysia, what is the case you are interested in?" Serena's inquiry as Alysia shows her great aunt the newspaper clippings she got from her other great aunt Seer. The newspaper clipping sparks a memory in Serena's mind. "I remember that case, and I do have a case file on it in my office," Serena said bitterly as she picks up her briefcase and heads back to her office, followed by Alysia. Lady Serena Silverlight's office is smaller than Alysia's father's office but beautifully decorated with a hint of mare's hand. The carpeted floor was soft and cushy underfoot a fantastic feeling. As Alysia enters her great aunt's office, she watches her great aunt Serena removes her pumps from her very sore feet and padded around her office barefooted. She explains to Alysia that she been wearing these pumps all day, and she fears that her feet will revolt against her if she didn't remove them soon. Alysia chuckles and tells her great aunt if she was not on duty and wearing boots, she would join her. The two mares have a good laugh together before return to business. With that, Serena sits down in front of her holo computer on her desk. She begins typing on the holographic keyboard, looking for the case number. A moment later, Serena stands back up and walks over to the furthest file cabinet in her office and crouches down in front of it. She pulls the drawer out and rifles through the contents until she retrieved a thick folder. With the folder in hand, she slams the drawer shut with her foot and brings the folder over to her desk. She sets it down in front of her great-niece, who begins to flip through it. "This case is the first one that makes me and your father furious. For several months your father investigated The Sign of Four Company the main business of this company was local real estate during several weeks' buildings owned by the company mysteriously burn down, and the insurance money was collected. Unfortunately, those ponies that rented the units in the buildings were not compensated for the loss they lost everything in the fires." Serena explains as she takes a deep breath before continuing. "Your Grandmother and Great Aunt sadden by ponies that’s lost everything in the fires, order your father to look into the incidents to try and get compensation for them. At the very start of the investigation, the company started to stonewall your father's investigation into the fires. It was not till a mysterious restaurant fire pulled your father away from the company. That went the four owners of the company disappeared with millions of bits in their pockets." Serena said irately as something Alysia's great aunt say got her attention. "Great Auntie Serena, you said that the company had four owners. Only three have been identified and connected to my current case, who was the fourth owner?" Alysia inquiry as Serena flips through file folder for the pictures of the owners. "The fourth owner name was Isis Wishes a unicorn mare and here a picture of her," Serena explains, pointing at a picture of breathtaking beautiful white unicorn mare with a golden blonde mane. "By grandma light she looks like Grandmother," Alysia exclaimed, shocked as Serena looked at Isis Wishes photo. "This unicorn looks nothing like your grandmother Princess Celestia, I am sorry Alysia." Serena correcting as Alysia shook her head. "No, Great Auntie Serena I mean what she looks like now she changes her mane and tail color." Alysia explains bring up the photo she took of her Grandmother went she met her for lunch today. "By Celestia's light. She does look like your Grandmother if you add a pair of wings on her back," Serena explains as Alysia's eyes moist with joy after notice the message from her aunt Blueberry on her MCV. "Great niece, why are you crying?" Serena inquiry noticing the tears running down Alysia's cheeks. "Grandma is conscious and talking," Alysia said joyfully as she quickly explains to her Grand Aunt Serena what happen to her Grandmother, that she was attacked by the killer who thought Alysia's Grandmother was this Isis wishes.