//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Architect // by keithsterling //------------------------------// Its 1600 hrs Equestria Standard Time, that same day an hour later, Trucker estate, Italianate style mansion home, Corona Del Mar Neighborhood, City of New TrotPort beach, Coltifornia, Private office of Mr. Trucker. The trucker estate is two stories tall brick building with tall rectangular and narrow arched windows along the home's face, leading up to the front decorative entrance with columns and brackets; a double door leads into the house. Standing in the private office of Mr. Trucker was nice looking yellow earth pony mare with a pink colored mane and tail. Her good 5ft 8in equine figure was attired in a Tuscan teal-colored short-sleeve fit and flare dress. Why on her ten inch long yellow bare feet with hot pink colored toenail polish were black heeled sandals. This earth pony mare was Housekeeper Lark Milkweed, a long term servant for Architect Shelby Trucker. "As I told the Detective Mr. Amberlocks arrived at the estate at 4:00 pm the time Mr. Trucker asked him to come, they stay in his office for one hour doing what looks like paperwork. Went they were done at about 5:00 pm, Mr. Trucker told me he will take Mr. Amberlocks to see the newly finished build home in the Crystal Cove Beach neighborhood. As Mr. Amberlocks was excited to see the home. At 9:00 pm, I went down to home in Crystal Cove Beach neighborhood to see if Mr. Trucker need some help because he was late. That went I found the crime scene and told the PD that Mr. Trucker came to this home with a lawyer Mr. Amberlocks." Lark explains as Luna and Somnus look at each other very subtly as they dismissed the housekeeper from the office, and she comments that now she needs to find a new job with the death of Mr. Trucker. "What do you think of that account Auntie from the housekeeper?" Somnus' inquiry as Luna sits behind Mr. Trucker's desk with all the financial papers from a nearby safe look like it had been gone through looking for something. "All I can say, my little Somnus, it very convenient that housekeeper went down to the neighborhood just as the PD was there." Luna comment looking at the financial papers on the desk in front of her. "That what I got to Auntie. Plus, she knew exactly what time Mr. Amberlocks arrived at the home and how long they stay before leaving. From what neighbors told you, Mr. Trucker and Mr. Amberlocks were at the home at 6:00 pm together." Somnus commented as he looked outside and noticed an earth pony construction stallion walking by on the sidewalk. "Somnus, do you want me to go through Mr. Trucker's financial papers on this desk? Something looks odd about some of these numbers." Luna comment as Somnus shook his head and left the house. A moment later, Somnus left the estate and caught up to the earth pony construction stallion that walk by the home. "Hey, stallion!" Somnus called as the construction stallion blink excessively went he saw who called to him. "Yes, your highness?" The construction stallion said his voice cracking as he spoke to the only son of his ruler Princess Celestia Silverlight. "I noticed that you are a construction stallion (the stallion shook his head). Did you ever do work at the home in Crystal Cove Beach neighborhood?" Somnus asked as the construction stallion's face flushed with indignation. "If your highness is talking about that craftsman style bungalow that burn down. My construction firm did the finishing details on the woodwork. It was the worst job my company ever took from that Architect that designed it." The construction stallion said sourly as he snorted. "How so, Stallion?" Somnus asked. "Well, your highness, my company has done several jobs for that Architect. Early on, he paid very well, but in the past few months, his checks started to bounce, and he started using cheap building supplies to build. The cheaper the material, the more unsafe it became, so my company turns down all work from him. One of my carpenters, on the other hand, took a job from him, and I have not seen him since." The Construction stallion explains. "One more, question stallion." Somnus comment "Yes, your highness?" the Construction stallion asked. "That worker went. Did he take the job?" Somnus asked "About a week ago." The construction stallion answer as Somnus gave the stallion a small bag of bits for his trouble. "So that worker has not been seeing for a week."Somnus comment he walked back toward the home and met up with his Aunt Luna, who had a huge smile on her snout. "You look like you found something, Auntie?" Somnus asked as Luna shook her head. "I did Somnus why going through Mr. Trucker financial records in his office. I discovered that Mr. Amberlocks will inherit nothing but some outraged creditors. It looks like Mr. Trucker is a good Architect, but a horse paddy business stallion. Several of the properties he develops have sold far under market value, putting him deep in debt." Luna explains as she takes a breath before continuing with what she found. "Plus, several very valuable property deeds used as cross-references are missing from his financial records. He has any money being siphoned into Mr. Stop's account at the Royal Bank of Equestria in Canterlot. So contact your mother and ask her to freeze the account of Mr. Stop, the crown suspect that the pony that owns the account is a fake." Luna explains as Somnus dial his mother's private holo phone number on his MCV. A moment later, the holographic head of Somnus' mother, Princess Celestia Silverlight, appears in front of him. "Hello, baby, and you too, sister. Why have you called me?" Celestia inquiry "Mother, can you freeze an account belonging to Mr. Stop at the Royal Bank of Equestria in Canterlot and see what the last transaction for Architect Shelby Trucker was," Somnus asked as his mother was a bit puzzled with the request from her son. "I can, Somnus, but I need a reason to do so," Celestia said as Somnus shook his head. "Mr. Stop is the fake name of Architect Shelby Trucker; we suspect him of killing a carpenter and intentionally setting one of his buildings on fire to cover the murder and fake his death. So he can disappear with the money he siphons into Mr. Stop's account." Somnus explains as Celestia blink with surprise. "I understand, baby," Celestia exclaims. "Before you freeze the account, mother, see what the last transaction was for Mr. Trucker?" Somnus asked as his mother looks it up for him. "The last transaction for Mr. Trucker was credit card uses at a motel in downtown Los Ungulas about a week old," Celestia explains as she sent the address of the motel to her son MCV. A few hours later, at the motel in downtown Los Ungulas sitting in the lobby, was a plain-looking pale blue earth pony stallion with dark blue with a fading pink streak mane and tail. He's very fit 5ft 7in equine figure was attired in gray texture suit. On his ten and two thirds, inch socked pale blue bare feet were brown oxford shoes. This earth pony stallion was Architect Shelby Trucker. He is soon joined by his Housekeeper, Lark Milkweed, carrying a suitcase with her, and she kisses him on his lips. As the two earth ponies stand-up to leave the motel to disappear with the small fortune, he siphons into Mr. Travis and Ms.Tam Stop account of their new identities. Police Detective Suzanna Lightly arrives at the motel with her ponies to arrest Architect Shelby Trucker and Housekeeper Lark Milkweed for the murder of a carpenter. Meanwhile, in the Westcliff neighborhood of New TrotPort beach, Lady Goldie Amberlocks and her son Lawyer Ewing Amberlocks sit in the living room of their home enjoy the spectacular back bay view and the harbor, After Somnus and Luna cleared her son of the murder charges. At the Solar wind estate in the golden horseshoe neighborhood of the City of Grazing hills, Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight finishes up his report of the case he and his aunt Luna completed. With the last touches to the report in a blink of an eye, the report is sent to Princess Celestia Silverlight in Canterlot. "Have you finished the report, my Little Somnus to your mother?" Luna asked, walking into the study carrying her purse with her. "Yes, Auntie just sent the report to mother in Canterlot. Are you ready to go to Rodeo drive?" Somnus asked as Luna shook her head, and Somnus join her. "I am Somnus; I am think went we get back from the shopping trip to Rodeo Drive. My feet will be sore, so I will allow you to try and force me to give up the throne by tickling me." Luna says playfully as the two ponies left home to head to Rodeo drive. "It deals Auntie. You will give up that throne went I get done with your feet." Somnus comments as Luna chuckles.