A discussion

Redmond paused in the middle of the lawn and stoked his beard reflectively.

‘Why not?’ he said to Alexia finally, ‘the court’s too large a place for me to monitor everything and I’m understaffed as it is. Hudds was my best detective and it seems like I’ve lost him for the present. Another pair of eyes will come in handy.’

And another pair of tits, Redmond added mentally. Especially a pair with unlimited access to anywhere they could wish to go.

Alexia squealed in delight almost like a giddy schoolgirl and hugged Riolta. This created even more of a scene as the two stunning babes jiggled up and down, their huge boobs bouncing, much to the surprise of the assembled courtiers milling around in the small garden, most of whom were taken aback by the amount of indiscretion shown by the pair of suspiciously shiny-faced, busty minxes, not to mention the fact that Redmond’s trousers were protruding outwards as though he had a tentpole stuck down them.

‘Let’s get to somewhere more private and take stock of the situation,’ suggested Redmond, pressing on over the manicured lawn and leading Riolta and Alexia to a doorway on the other side of the open courtyard that was flanked with pillars. Turning the brass handle, Redmond took a peek inside and saw a flagstoned hallway. Proceeding down it, the captain took his two mischievous charges a few paces and opened another door. This room turned out to be a small library, a square chamber with bookshelves all around the walls that were crammed with leather-bound first editions, scrolls, maps and the like.

‘This will do for the moment,’ Redmond said, and sat down at the table in the middle of the room. Alexia sat across from him, while Riolta, ever curious, perused the shelves.

‘Fun and games are all very nice,’ continued Redmond, ‘but we still have to catch a murderer and we’re no closer to knowing what’s going on around here. I’m sure Hudds has some theories but we haven’t got access to him at the moment. And Harold seems to have vanished.’

Alexia, already bored, pursed her lips and made cum bubbles issue from her mouth, the frothy glue sputtering out and forming a trail that dangled from her chin, one of her hands idly twirling a strand of her blonde hair.

‘Alexia, you brother’s having a party tonight, correct?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘What sort of affair is it?’

‘Oh, nothing special. Just dinner in the main ballroom with all of the important houses invited. Music, dancing, games. Quite boring really.’

‘We can count on the beast to liven things up should he appear,’ put in Redmond.

‘Why can’t the court postpone the balls until the beast is caught?’ asked Riolta, frustrated, ‘it seems to be they’re deliberately making things difficult for themselves.’

‘Expense,’ put in Alexia, ‘dear brother’s been planning this party for months. Do you want to go and tell him to change the date? The food will spoil, the entertainment will still have to be paid, all the arrangements altered. We’re rich, but even we can’t throw money away. The only thing more expensive than holding a ball is calling it off.’

‘In any case, we want to get our man,’ said Redmond firmly, ‘a ball is the ideal scenario to bring him out again. The last two murders have been very close together. He has the taste for it now. We want to bring this thing to an end. Tonight, if possible.’

‘Good thing I’m invited, then,’ said Riolta, ‘Leo asked me to accompany him.’

‘And Hudds is going with Emmanuella.’ Redmond said.

It seemed ridiculous that the young officer was going to go to the ball with the most famed beauty in that part of the world, and at her insistence, but no-one laughed. Riolta allowed herself a small smile. Her sexual protégé had seen his stock rise under her aegis.

‘I’ve got to be in there too,’ Redmond announced firmly.

‘Oh, you can be my date!’ Alexia squealed impulsively, ‘Mummy and Daddy will be so annoyed when they hear back home that I’m courting a Watchman!’

‘Captain of the watch, miss,’ Redmond harrumphed, a little offended. Riolta smiled again. Redmond collected himself, ‘well, this is capital. Riolta, I want you armed. Can you get a bow into the main ballroom between now and the evening and hide it? You still have a few hours.’

‘Yes I can.’

‘Do it. And are we any further in on suspects?’

‘I would say not.’

‘Bound to be the person we least expect. And I suspect everyone.’

‘So what do we do now?’

‘As I said, clean-up time for you two. I’m going to see if I can locate Harold and maybe conduct some other investigations along the way.’