Now, it's Detective Time [MPC 38]

It happened about a week ago. The letter came via an ancient looking owl digimon. It flapped down narrowly missing Lissa; its extended wings gently catching at her shoulder as it landed. Circling back on itself, it landed at Lissa’s feet. It’s glowing scope-like eyes scanning her intently – after a minute, they flashed brightly once meaning she had passed inspection. Panting softly as it tried to get its breath back, the Aurumon dropped a letter which it had been clasping tightly in its beak at Lissa. As she bent down to pick it up, the Aurumon flapped its wings and soared away with some difficulty into the distance.

With fumbling hands, Lissa undid the letter. It had been closed carefully with a large red wax seal which bore an eagle. The letter itself had been painstakingly inked on a piece of parchment. 

Dear, Lissa and Veemon,

You have been invited to a dinner party at the Manor of the Garuda Family. Please find enclosed a map which will lead you
 to  my manor, also a proof of identity to get you past the guard. 

 We hope you find this well. 

 – G

Between the folded page was as it said, a large map which had seemingly also been inked with a large red cross at the destination as well as a feather so large, the bird that it was plucked from must have been enormous. Lissa looked down at VeeVee who had been reading over her shoulder. Even before Lissa had a chance to say “should we go”, Veemon piped up, his mouth oozing slightly. “Free food?! We are so in.”

The following week, Lissa and VeeVee arrived at the Manor of the Garuda Family as requested. The manor itself was a circular plot of land, immense in size, and was quite literally cut into the mountain side. Looking down would be a terrible mistake as beneath the bridge that led up to the building itself, there was literally an endless void. As they drew closer, a cavalcade of Digimon appeared, each dressed in an elegant tuxedo. Three Toucanmon with long brightly coloured bills bowed them in and pointed them down the long path to the house. Half way down the path, a digimon that caught them off guard due to camouflaging into the tall and well cut bushes that surrounded the path. The Deramon which held a large clipboard in one feathered arm stepped forward and asked for their names. Find them, it lay a large cross next to it and told them to carry on. As they passed they saw some burly looking Gryphonmon flying overhead, keeping a watchful eye over proceedings. “All this security,” Lissa whistled in an impressed sort of way.

The large marble-like double doors opened on their own as Lissa approached them and as she stepped inside, she realised that wasn’t the only thing that was marble. Both the floor and ceiling of this room was bright clear marble. The wall was decorated with tall elegant oil paintings of various Digimon and their was an over abundance of mirrors, all across the room. Quite suddenly a parade of Penguinmon crossed the hall. Each of them wore a tiny waistcoat and clutched a tray piled high with bright wine glasses and goblets. It was no surprise that Lissa’s favourite Digimon other than VeeVee of course was the little penguin digimon who waddled in line past her. Each bowing low, which caused the glasses to shake dangerously.

They were quickly picked up by another Penguinmon who led them into a large drawing room, filled to the brim with large comfy arm chairs. Across the wall was the largest book shelf, she had ever seen. From floor to ceiling, it was filled with heavy hardback books. In the nearest chair sat a familiar sight, muscular but monkey-like – wearing a bright white tuxedo which glittered when he moved. Across his face lay the bright pair of sunglasses as always. Smiling brightly, he stood up and shook Lissa’s hand twice. “The fancy pants hero, nice to meet ya’ again,” he said. Even though he was shaking her hands, his full attention seemed to be towards one of the mirrors.

“You invited us?” VeeVee asked, a little miffed at being ignored by Etemon. He smirked and shook his head twice, exasperatedly. “I got a letter, yhuh. It brought me here to his house but there is no hot tubs. What kind of place is this, yhuh.” In his hand was clutched the exact same letter and envelope that Lissa had been sent. “I see. That’s odd. I wonder who– ”

Lissa cut off as someone coughed and then a barrage of trumpets interrupted them. The Penguinmon stood in a line, facing each other and stern-faced. “Now announcing our master, the magnificent leader of the Garuda Family.” Slowly, someone stepped into the room – hands folded behind his back and head held high. Long wings folded behind his back and a tremendous chest which was looked like a cheese grater. Like most of his staff, he wore a black tux. Garudamon moved further into the room and sat in the largest arm chair which was almost like a throne.

He breathed in to speak but just as he did, something strange happened. Each of the lights above them, quite suddenly burst and the light suddenly vanished. The room was so dark that no-one had a chance of seeing one another which led to several cries of ‘oofs’ and ‘ouch’ as they stepped on each others feet. “That’s my beautiful tail you’re pulling, yhuh. Get off whoever you are…”

Another Penguinmon rushed in, holding a candlestick with three lit long candles. The room soon flashed with light again, not as bright as before but enough to see. “Master, are you oka--”

Everyone turned too the large throne and then they all simultaneously let out a shocked sigh. The chair was overturned and through the thick back lay a long sword which pierced it enough that the stuffing spilled. “What happened?”

Etemon looked shocked but the smirked, “Fun entertainment, guys. I see what you’re doing. But it won’t impress me that easily.” Lissa moved forward to stare down at the chair. The sword was long enough that it cut straight through one side of the leather and yet there was something slightly odd about it. “Our master! He’s gone!”

The Penguinmon scattered and ran through the house, terrified. Broken glass, plates and cutlery lay across the floor. Etemon smirked again and picked up one of the plates. “Nice effect. All that false terror. It’s quite convincing.” Everyone ignored him.

If this was one of those old detective drama’s everything could turn black and white and she’d be in a trench coat and a large hat. Lissa ignored everyone and bent down again. The sword which had cut into the material had only cut one side, having been stopped by a long metallic spring. So the blade couldn’t have cut into the Garudamon at all. So how had he ‘disappeared’ and who were the suspects. There was Etemon, who was saying this was all a false and party prank. Penguinmon who had been serving their master and VeeVee who had been mad at Etemon but not Garudamon. Maybe at the lack of food?

“If this was a murder. Which I don’t believe it was. I believe he was merely taken instead by someone.” Etemon smirked again – pointing a long finger at his head. “Don’t be dense. This is obviously a prank, yhuh.” Everyone ignored him.

Bending down again, she pulled up something from the thick leather on the room. It was a long dirty hair. Everyone looked at the furriest digimon around which was Etemon who looked back, still smirking. “OH! I get it, they’re trying to pin it on someone. That’s pretty clever. Good prank. Good game!”

No, that can’t be right. The hair was far too long to belong to Etemon. Again the looked around and their eyes caught in something else. Even so, as soon as Lissa turned back into the room. The Monkey in the shiny suit had made a quick exit and vanished.

“That’s enough. We got all we needed. This should finance our plans for some time.” came a voice from up the stairs. A cold and terrible voice. They were wearing a thick black coat which hid their face and body from view. Whoever it was growled and let out a howl of anger and anymore warning. The cloaked someone ran up the stairs and then out of sight as once more the lights fizzled out and the room was cloaked in darkness. Lissa followed but the upstairs was completely deserted. Except for a broken window in one of the bedrooms which had a hole big enough for someone to have jumped through. Lissa tuned at an odd whimpering sound coming from a corner.

Garudamon was curled up in the fetal position in one corner of the room. He was shaking madly and looking from side to side. “No, no. Don’t touch me.” Obviously, he wasn’t a brave digimon and had ran away and hid from sight like a coward. “They tried to kill me and took my riches. My riches. MY RICHES” By this point, he was bawling like an oversized baby. Quite embarrassing really, but still who exactly were those thieves. A mystery that needed to be solved.

And unfortunately for them. They had stolen from a party that the – Hero of Justice; Lissa Sophiar, ace detective – was attending. She WOULD get to the bottom of it.

Shortly after, the party was cancelled and Garudamon order that the doors, windows and all cracks to be locked and sealed and for all guests to leave and to never come back.

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