Chapter 6: "The Mare In The Picture."
As I looked down at the pieced back together photograph, Dr. Seastone leaned in to see as well.
"Who's that?" She asked.
I collected my thoughts, as I came to a reasonable answer:
"I-I...I don't know."
I had no idea who this pony in the picture beside Mr.Regal was. I'd never seen her before in my life.
I was surprised at not seeing Ms. Regal in the photo with him. I mean, who else would be in a photo with Mr. regal besides his wife?
Instead the mare looking back at me from the photo was a beautiful starlet looking unicorn mare. She had gleaming green eyes and a thick wavy blonde mane. With the sequined gown and scarf, she looked just like a movie star. She smiled out at the world from film, but I saw something that didn't seem right.
Her eyes didn't match her smile. Though she smiled warmly and full of life, her eyes, though beautiful were locked away from the light. Cold and unfeeling, like she held a great sadness or worry in her heart. I found myself feeling sorry for the mysterious starlet mare. What secret was she keeping that made her eyes turn away from the world like that?
Examining the rest of the photo, I saw that Mr. Regal was standing proudly beside her. They must've know each other well. Looking into his eyes, I saw no trace of doubt or worry meaning, whatever secret the starlet had, she had not told Mr. Regal.
We kept looking at the picture, as if expecting the starlet to confess her secrets then and there. But unsurprisingly, she stayed silent, and we said nothing as we took our leave from the room, both too lost in thought to even bother with conversation.
Trottingham De La Grande Lobby, 11:25 am
We sat across from one another in the posh hotel lobby, conversing our own thoughts as to to reason behind the starlet.
Dr. Seastone tapped her glasses in thought. Iv''e never seen that mare before. Do you think she could be the killer?"
I shook my head. "I don't think we can say so for sure. Not until we find out who this mysterious starlet is."
"But who would know?"
Dr. Seastone had a valid point. Who would know the identity of our mysterious starlet? Ms. Regal probably knew nothing at all of her as I'm sure she would've mentioned it before. And obviously, Mr. Regal was beyond asking anything. Then I got an idea.
"What about the police? They should have records of every citizen in Mareiposa. Perhaps they have something on our starlet."
Dr. Seastone looked puzzled. "You wanna ask the police? I don't know, from what I've seen the police aren't very reliable in this town."
She was right. The inspector was not the greatest at his job. Nor the nicest. But Goldbloom was. She was the only one of them all, who actually cared about solving this case. She would help us. I knew it.
"I have a friend in the police. She's not like the rest of them. Shes one of the good ones. She can help us find info on our mystery starlet."
Dr. Seastone still looked a little perplexed, but shrugged and said "Fine by me. Lets go then!"
Both set on the same goal, we left the hotel, heading for the police station.This case now had one giant piece added to the puzzle. The identity of this mysterious mare, could be the clue to finally put this case to rest, and bring Mr. Regal's killer to justice.Goldbloom would be able to find out who she was. I was sure of it.
Polizia De Mareiposa 11:32 am
The police station was surprisingly vacant. Either every cop in the station was out working on Mr. Regal's case. Or they didn't care enough to even show up the the station. Both were an incredibly likely possibility. The only police in that station that I could see, was Goldbloom herself.
She sat at a tiny desk on the far end of the station, busily working on a computer, with her desk covered in files and papers. She looked up from her studies, and smiled at us.
"Oh, Ms. Meir! I wasn't expecting to see you come to the station. Did you need something?" she asked with a smile.
I smiled back at her. She was so nice, and seemed like she would definitely help us. "Yes, actually Lieutenant."
We walked up to her then assembled the picture once more on her desk. "Do you know the mare in this picture? Maybe have any record of her in your cabinets?" I asked politely.
Goldbloom's eyes scanned the picture as we stood there patiently. It wasn't a lot to go on as it was ripped up, but we had pieced it back together as best we could and you could clearly see the starlet standing beside Mr. Regal.
"Hmmm...
"Well?"
"Let me check the files."
Goldbloom suddenly scooted her chair across the station at break neck speed, stopping at the filing cabinet and began rifling through it at amazing speed and efficiency. Goldbloom was clearly very good at her job. In many instances, she moved so quickly, I lost track of her, not realizing she had already returned with the file we were looking for.
"Her name was De'belle Divine. She was a very famous movie starlet back in the early days of cinema. Why she is in this photo with Mr. Regal, well, I can't say."
Goldbloom set the file down on her desk, and opened it for all of us to see. Within was every detail the public had on Ms. De'belle.
She was of average height and weight, with a blond mane and a sunshine color. She had no known criminal record, but did have a few affairs here and there. Though not one mention of Mr. Regal.
She was very famous in her day, and starred in many of cinemas most legendary films. Stallions Prefer Blondes, Midsummer Nights, The Princess and the Chauffeur and more. (I had personally seen Manehatten Jungle when I was a filly.)
Wait...was?
Then I saw the file stamp: MISSING. Ms. Divine had gone missing 15 years ago. She had not been seen since.
I looked up from the file. "Lieutenant Goldbloom? Do you know how she went missing?"
Goldbloom nodded. "She vanished from her hotel suite, late at night. No witnesses, and no one had any idea where she had gone off to."
"They searched for her for years, but they finally had to give up. She has never been found, dead or alive."
Dr. Seastone and I looked at one another. Both of us were thinking the same thing. Whether she was missing or not, Ms. Divine had something to do with this case.
The more pieces of the puzzle we uncovered the more pieces of it there seemed to be. This whole thing was connected somehow. Mr. Regal had been killed in his own home by an unknown assassin. Then Argyle had been killed by a mysterious bomber, and now I was next on their list. But how did Ms. Divine fit into all this? She had been missing for years. Why did the bomber have the other half of the photo?
There was no doubt now. Debelle Divine had a major part to play in this whole thing. And I had to find out what.
"Thank you for your help, Lieutenant."
"Hold on Meir. You can't be thinking that she has anything to do with this case, do you? She's been missing for years. Why would she have anything to do with all of this?"
"That's exactly what I would like to know, Lieutenant."
With that me and Dr. Seastone left the station, after thanking Goldbloom for her help one more.
This case had just become more complex than it ever had. And I couldn't shake the feeling that Ms. Divine was at the center of it. she had known Mr. Regal. So could that mean she could've killed him? I wasn't sure.
Dr. Seastone decided to head back to the hotel. She said she would keep an eye on Salah and his sister for me, while she did some more digging on them herself. They also played a crucial role in all this, as well. After all, Salah had been hired to take out Argyle before he could talk to me about the Phantom.
And there it was again: the Phantom. Who were they? What role did they play in all of this? How did Argyle have information on them, and why did he feel he needed to tell me, specifically? Why not go to the police? I should think info on the most famous master of disguise in history would be more valuable to the police than an ordinary doctor from another country.
I had discovered the identity of the starlet in the photo. Now I needed to fit her with the other pieces of the puzzle.
I decided to investigate my next lead. I had found the Mareiposa Maulers cap in the sewer, that Salah had used as a disguise. The cap had come from the Hat's Off Hat Shop, downtown. If I went there I may be able to find out exactly what Salah had done there, and maybe find out where he would be heading to.
I was prepared to face him, if I had to. I couldn't run from him forever. And he was after me anyway. If I was to get answers from him, it would be face to face. But I didn't have to go at it alone. If I found out something, I could tip off Goldbloom and she would bring a squad to arrest him. Then I could get my answers from him safely, while he was in hoofcuffs. Not to mention, I had Dr. Seastone looking out for me too. If he did anything, she would let me know.
With my plan in mind, I headed downtown by the sidewalk, and after a few minutes, could easily spot the large top hat shaped building nestled between a dress store and a candy shop. The sign read "Hat's Off Hat Shop" in bright friendly letters. I took a minute to compose myself before I let myself in the door.
Hats Off Hat Shop, Downtown Mareiposa, 12:00pm
The scene before me was like the inside of a young foal's toy-box. Every wall was lined with every kind of costume and hat you could name (as well as many that you probably couldn't.) The walls were painted in bright inviting colors, that matched the personality of its colorful proprietor. A smiling young mare with a fluffy white mane and colorful suspenders with an array of buttons, stood behind the counter. Even her purple eyes seemed to smile at me, from behind her tiny glasses perched on top of her muzzle.
"Hello miss! Please come in, make yourself at home." she said, speaking in a friendly and warm tone, that caused me to smile back.
"Thank you, miss?"
"Oh, call me Top Shelf, ma'am. What sort of costume were looking for today?"
"Forgive me, but I was actually just looking for some information."
Top Shelf's warm and friendly demeanor didn't drop an ounce as she nodded her head. "Of course. How can I help you?"
Questioning (Top Shelf, Proprietor of Hats Off Hat Shop, Possible lead on Bomber's client, 12:01pm)
"Did a dark stallion with a hoof shaped scar come in today?"
"Yes, ma'am. He came in and bought a Mareiposa Maulers cap from the rack over there. As well as a Mime costume."
The words hit me so hard, I actually lost my balance for a second. "A-A Mime costume? Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. He bought one from behind the counter here. A size L if I'm not mistaken."
She looked at me with great concern. "Are you alright ma'am?"
I was breathing heavily, and my mind was now flooded with thoughts. The bomber had been the mime! He had to have been! He was the one who attacked me back in the chateau! My face clearly showed what I was feeling. a mixture of shock, realization and nausea all at once. It didn't feel great.
I took some deep breaths, and calmed myself, as I asked her my next question.
"Did he have anyone else with him?"
"Yes he did. His sister. Had to be, with how much they looked like one another."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing really. Just said she liked the place, and tried on a bunch of costumes. Then she asked me what my favorite thing to eat for breakfast was, and left with her brother. Strange mare, that one."
"Did either of them say anything about a client? Or where they would be heading?"
"Now that you mention it, the sister was going on about something like that. But the brother kept shushing her. Must not have wanted her to be talking about it."
So his sister knew about it as well. Ralah, was her name. I knew she was after me as well. but she'd never actually met me. Maybe if I found her and told her I was someone close to her brother, she'd tell me everything. It was risky, but I had to give it a shot.
"Did she say anything at all about herself specifically?"
"Not really. Just that she would be going for ice cream later on today. Her brother said he hated ice cream. Now that's just plain crazy: What pony doesn't like ice cream?"
"Did she say exactly when?"
"Some time around noon, I think. Should be there about now. The place is right down the street a few blocks over, if your looking for her."
"Thank you! You have no idea how much you've helped me!" I exclaimed happily.
"Don't mention it. I can tell you're one of the good ones. Go see what those two characters were up to. And tell them I want my costume back. Jerk didn't even pay for it properly."
I thanked her one more time, as I departed the colorful place, after giving back the Mareiposa Maulers cap. I didn't need it anymore, and it was hers to begin with.
I was now heading to the local ice cream parlor to have a friendly chat with the sister of a serial bombing terrorist. I knew it wasn't the best plan, but she knew about the client that had hired Salah in the first place. He had been the mime. Were they the ones who hired him for that as well? So many questions buzzed around in my head, but I made quick order of them as I came to the parlor.
Gelatoteca Nico Ice Cream Parlor,12:14 pm
I saw none but a few customers sitting outside enjoying their ice cream. I took a seat and tried to make sense of my thoughts. Salah apparently hated ice cream, so that meant he wouldn't be coming if his sister did show up. According to Top Shelf, Ralah was to be coming here around this time for ice cream. And yet it was now 12:14 and I saw no sign of her. Where was she?
And sure enough, as the thought had just entered my head, did Ralah come strolling out of the shop, with a mountain of ice cream resting on a small cone, and took a seat right beside me at my table.
I couldn't think anymore, as my whole mind went totally blank. My breath caught in my throat as she looked over at me.
"Hiya! This seat taken?"
I couldn't speak. All I managed to do was shake my head slightly. This seemed to be a reasonable answer to her, as she smiled cheerfully.
"Okay, thanks!" And then she took a huge bite of her ice cream, spraying sprinkles and chocolate pieces all over the table. It ran down her chin as she looked up at me again.
"What's your name?" she asked with a mouthful of dessert.
She didn't know who I was. Good.Maybe this would work after all.
I steeled my nerves and tried my best to seem intimidating. "What's yours?" I asked. Would she actually reply?
"Ralah A'dinn." (Apparently, yes.)
I thought of the names of my favorite authors, and picked the name of the one who I had read the theories of unicorn horn growth: Dr. Forceps.
"Forceps. I'm a doctor." I replied, keeping my stern demeanor up.
Ralah took another bite of her ice cream. "That's cool. I'm a designer."
"Designer? Like clothes?"
"Nah. Costumes and stuff. I design them for my brother and me to wear, for our...um, hobbies."
"Hobbies? Like what hobbies?"
"Oh, I shouldn't say. My brother would get mad, cause its a secret. Between him, me and our client."
I had to push her for more. But I couldn't risk saying something that would reveal me as her target. I instead decided to pour on the charm. She seemed nice enough, so it shouldn't have been too hard.
"Do you have any friends that you've told?"
"Yeah. A few. Why?"
"Well, I thought since we were friends now...
"We...we're friends?"
"Why not? You tell me your secret, I'll tell you mine."
"You have a secret?"
"Yep. And I'll tell you, once you've told me yours."
She sat there with a glassy stare for a minute or two. Just watching with her face covered in ice cream and sprinkles. Finally she smiled and scratched the back of her head. "Well...I guess since we're friends, I could tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone. Okay?"
It had worked! I was finally going to get some answers. I nodded and smiled back. "I promise."
She looked around to make sure no one over heard us, then leaned in and brought her voice down to a whisper. "Okay. Here it is."
"Me and my brother were hired by this guy called Marquis. He paid my brother to retrieve a briefcase from someone. As for me, he paid me to track this mare, named Morning Meir. Something about her messing around in things she doesn't need to ,or something."
I got nervous at the mention of my name, but I continued to listen to Ralah's explanation.
"So we track the briefcase down to this pub. And we wait while a friend of ours picks it up. Then while I went back to our suite to wait for my brother, he went to exchange the briefcase with our friend, and give him his payment."
Suddenly the happiness in her eyes dropped,as she suddenly looked quite solemn. "But then...the whole place went up. My brother made it out, but...Argyle."
I couldn't hide the surprise on my face. My heart was now beating out of my chest as the whole scenario finally laid down around me. It was next to impossible to believe, but here was his sister telling me everything. And she was not lying either. The tears in her eyes were truthful enough.
I struggled to speak proper words. I was nearly in shock from what I had just heard. "Y-You mean, your brother didn't bomb the cafe?"
She looked at me with a mixture of both suspicion and anger. I had clearly upset her. "No! Me and my brother are thieves, not killers! We would never hurt anyone, let alone kill them! Especially our friends."
"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean-
"Hey, wait. Why would you think my brother bombed the cafe?"
She had found me out. There was no point trying to fool her any longer. I had to come clean. If Ralah and Salah weren't killers than I had nothing to fear from them anymore. I owed her an explanation.
"I-um, well...I have a confession to make."
Just as I was about to speak, another much more mean sounding voice spoke directly behind me.
"And what sort of confession, is it?" the voice said.
I slowly turned my head to meet the scowling angry face of Salah. Who had trotted up directly behind me.
He smiled. "Morning Meir. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."