Page 20 of The Thief
“I am the only one. I occasionally have Bard up here to help me with a household problem but he is the only one that ever comes in here,” Alastair said, looking around.
“Is there anything out of place in here? Something that doesn’t belong?” Everett asked Alastair, noting how neat the room was.
If there was something out of place, Alastair should notice.
Alastair slowly looked around, taking the time to actually look at the room and its contents. When he noticed that there was a book out of place on the shelf, he walked over and pulled it out, taking the book off the shelf and opening it to the page marked with a piece of paper.
“This is a reference book for medicines. I know I have not been looking anything up as of late.” He opened the paper and read the contents and looked at Everett, showing him the paper. “This paper has information about a medicine called Tapoxon. It is a medicine we haven’t used in many years due to adverse side effects. It was only out for a short time before they removed it from use. It does more harm than good. This paper has the side effects on it and the name of the medicine. What do you think it would be used for?” Alastair asked him.
“If the side effects are as bad as you say, whoever wrote this piece of paper must have ulterior motives for its use,” Everett said, looking at the paper and then back at the book page.
“Do you think they will come back for it?”
Everett shook his head. “I couldn’t be sure if they will or not. Copy the contents and then put the book and the paper back. In a couple of days, check to see if it has disappeared or not. You will be able to tell if something is going on or not.”
Alastair nodded, took the paper from Everett, and put it back in the book. He looked at it one last time before putting it back on the shelf it came from. Heading to the small desk in the room, he pulled out some writing materials and copied down the contents of the paper twice, coming back to Everett and handing him one.
“This is for you. That way you have a copy as well.”
He took the offered paper and took one more look around before saying, “I have a feeling your footman Edward Holmes has something to do with the abduction, but I don’t have anything definitive on him as of yet. I would keep an eye on him though.”
He looked out the window and noticing where the sun was, told Alastair he needed to get going.
“If anything happens, be sure to let me know as soon as possible. I am leaving Ragan here so that he can take any correspondence to me if need be. That way you can guarantee its safe arrival.”
“Wonderful,” Alastair said, heading towards to the door of the sitting room, “It will give Ragan time to get to know Melody.”
Everett laughed, breaking the dark spell of the moment.
“That is who has been on his mind, eh? I am glad then that he will enjoy his time here.”
They both laughed as they headed down the stairs.
