Chapter III: Alice Potter

"Detective Alice, Inspector Sachi assigned you to another case."

"What? But my current case is not yet done." Alice ask in confusion and frustation. She investigated so much for this case. But now they wanted her to just discard it?

"But the victim's relative wanted the police to stop investigating." Her assistant said.

"Why?"

"We don't know yet. But you know we cant take an action if the relatives doesn't want to. For now you should concentrate on another case." Alice cant help but to sigh. She almost have the culprit. She just need more evidence to catch the murderer but now it is back to zero.

"Fine. As if I can do something about it. Anyway give me the details of the other case." Alice instructed and the assistant immediately obliged.

"There's a man found dead at the Loire River and the police already started the investigation. They concluded that the cause of death is the two gunshots from the chest. Here, this is the pictures..." The assistant show the pictures to Alice and she examined it.

"And the relatives?" Alice asks.

"They look eager to know the killer don't worry." The assistant must have read on what's running through Alice mind.

"Good. Because I cant lose another case again. Specially if I work hard for it." Alice stated sarcastically and the assistant just shook his head, already used in Alice attitude.

"Anyway, Inspector Sachi want you to start investigating tomorrow."

"Yeah right, whatever."

"I'll take my leave then detective." Then the assistant is gone.

Alice sigh once again and leaned on her chair tiredly. She didn't even have a chance to rest and there is another case already.

Then a white envelope that is place on her table caught her attention.

That's right. Señorita Laura invited her to a party tomorrow. Stupid of her to forget it.

'Maybe I'll go after the investigation. Señorita Laura will surely not allow me if I said I cant come anyway.' Alice thinks.

.

"Don't forget to investigate the persons that is with the victim before the incident happened. Give me the details once your done." Alice said, instructing her underlings.

"Yes detective."

"Inform me if something happen. You may go now." The two guys bowed before leaving.

Alice closed her eyes tightly because her head is starting to throb. The case is difficult more than she imagined. There is no witness and the weapon is nowhere to be found. The murderer must also good because there is no fingerprint detected.

Alice look at her left and notice the unexpensive gown that is hanging on the wall.

Oh. The party.

The detective immediately rise up on her sit and started to fix herself. She wore the gown and put a light make up, enough to cover her pale lips because of lack of sleep.

When she look at the mirror and check if she's ready to leave, she grab her pouch and head outside.

"Where to madame?" The chauffeur asks once she's inside the vehicle. Alice tell the place and when the vehicle move, its her cue to finally rest after all the hard work that she did today.

Alice look outside and notice the clouds looking so dark even if its still afternoon. 'Maybe it will rain later.' she thinks.

The detective just relax on her seat and close her eyes. Once again she will attend a party that she doesn't belong to. If she only have a choice, she will decline the invitation. But then again, Señorita Laura is really persistent.

After an hour, the chauffeur informed her that they have arrived. Alice lets out a breath that she doesn't know she's holding. She was so late. Alice is afraid the elders might start to think that she wont come. So when the vehicle stop moving, she instantly went outside, and pay, then run like there's no tomorrow.

"Is Señorita Laura and Señior Victor inside?" Alice ask the guy who looks like a butler.

"Detective Alice are you alright?, And Señorita is looking for you a while ago." The butler said.

"Im fine thank you, but I think I should go inside." Alice gave the invitation then went inside. The maid immediately approach her and escorted her to the party.

Once they arrive, Alice thanked the maid and head inside. She look for the elders and find them talking to an old man and a lady.

"Im sorry im late Señorita Laura and Señior Victor. I just have so much things to do." Alice apologized.

"Its fine Alice. We're glad that you made it." Señorita Laura dismisses and smiled at her that she reciprocate. Then the old woman look at the persons she is currently talking to.

"Anyway, Lord Gilbert..Lady Doreen, I would like to introduce you the person who helps us in our son case, Detective Alice Potter." Señorita Laura introduce her and she immediately bowed her head.

"Please to meet you my lord, my lady. Im Alice Potter." She introduce herself politely.

"You're a detective?" Lord Gilbert ask.

"Yes I am."

Then the old man suddenly turned silent and Alice doesn't know if she offended the old man or not.

"Lady Doreen are you alright? You look pale." Señorita ask the lady so Alice also look at her. She really look pale.

"I-i,..yes im fine. Just feeling...a little dizzy." The lady said. If she heard it right, the lady's name is Doreen.

"Do you want to rest? We have a guests room." Señior Victor offer but the latter declined.

"Thank you but I think im fine."

"Maybe she just lack sleep or probably hungry. That usually happened to me." Alice suggest remembering her also past experiences.

"Maybe you're right, Lady Doreen must be hungry. We will head to the buffet then, if you'll excuse us." Lord Gilbert said and bowed before taking their leave.

"Come on Alice, we will introduce you to the other guests." Señorita Laura said and Alice shook her head.

"Señorita you don't need to do that. Its not like im important person or some-"

"Alice, we treat you like a part of our family already, ofcourse you're important." Alice cant help but to smile. Señorita took the cue to grab her hand and pull her somewhere.

And truth to her words, Señorita Laura really introduce her to the other guests.

"Prince Alistair are you enjoying yourself?" Señior Victor asks the guy that looks like her age wearing a royalty coat. Alice gasp when it finally sinks in to her that the guy is indeed the prince.

The prince is invited?

"I am Señior." The prince answered and Alice freezes when he looks at her. Noticing it, Señorita immediately introduce her.

"You're highness, this is Detective Alice Potter." Alice bowed as sign of respect.

"I know." The prince said, making Alice gasp again.

'He knows?'

"Make I ask how? your highness?" She ask instead.

The prince just shrug.

"Maybe I already saw your name on the newspaper or somewhere." He replied plainly, but still looking intently at her.

Alice doesn't know what to say and starting to feel uncomfortable with the way the prince stares at her but thankfully, Señorita Laura break the silence.

"Scholar Francis, how's the party?" Alice then notice the other guy beside the prince who looks like the same as her age also.

"Its good Señorita Laura. I would like to thanked you again for inviting us here." The scholar said politely. Base on his looks and the way he speak, Alice already conclude that the scholar is a kind person.

"Its nothing Scholar Francis. Anyway do you want to have a tea with me at the lounge?" Señior Victor offer.

"Yes we would love to." The prince said.

"Do you want to come Alice?" Señorita Laura ask her but she just shook her head.

"I think I'll just stay here." She decline.

"Then I will also stay."

The three men take their leave and Alice notice the look that the prince gave her before leaving.

She wonder why.

Alice doesn't know how long she's preoccupied because when Señorita Laura started to talk to her, she notice that the other guests are gone.

"Where are the others Señorita?"

"We offer them our guestroom since some of them want to rest." Alice feel sleepy by just hearing the word 'rest'. After all she's been so restless this past few days.

"And Señior Philip went to the lounge to probably have some tea also." The Señorita continued.

"I see..." She doesn't even notice them leaving.

"Anyway are you fine by yourself?"

"Ofcourse I am Señorita." Alice said and the Señorita make her way, leaving Alice alone. But it doesn't take long of being alone when Madame Leticia joined her.

They started to have a chat and somehow, she's comfortable talking to Madame Leticia.

"Do you want to join Señorita Laura?" The Madame ask her and Alice nod. The two of them go to Señorita Laura and Alice notice that she's talking to the Lord and the lady earlier.

After a brief moment, the lord excuses himself leaving the four women.

"So you work as a detective Miss Alice?" Madame Leticia started asking.

"Yes Madame."

"Detective Alice is the one who helps us to catch the person who killed our son. The police believes that it is a suicide case but detective Alice prove them wrong. That's why we owe her so much." Señorita Laura mentioned and Alice cant help but to feel flustered because of the praise.

"Señorita Laura you flatter me. I did that because it is the right thing to do and it is my job. You know, I always believe that 'There is no peace without a-"

"Justice." Alice stops and look at the lady in surprise.

"How did you know my principle?" Alice asks with amazement. But Lady Doreen looks taken aback.

"O-oh? Nothing. You're a Detective so I assumed that your number one priority is the justice." She reasoned.

"I see..." Alice said, suddenly not convinced.

"Anyway, Lady Doreen I heard you're dating the Earl from the Montenor manor." Madame Leticia brought up.

Lady Doreen looks like she's about to say something when a maid barged the room.

"Señorita Laura! Somethings bad happened!" Alice notice the terrified expression of the maid and her detective instinct immediately tell her that somethings really bad happened.

"Lord Jeremy found dead at the bathroom!"

And she's right.