Hotel, Aaron and Darcy's room, 1:00 AM
When they came back from the show, they quickly ate something and changed into pajamas so they don't have enough time to clean up and now the room is a mess.
"I'D BETTER GET A raise after this!" Darcy has her head covered with a piece of cloth for the headache, wrapped in blanket herself. Aaron is just fine as always which makes Darcy wonder which one's the normal one.
There is a knock heard on the door. At this time of the night!?
"WHO THE HELL-" She stops to take a deep breath, remembering she promised herself to be nicer from now on. "Would you mind for a second?" She lazily walks to the door and opens the door with an obviously annoyed face then jolts when she sees a young man.
"Miss. Palmer." He bows. "I'm Hamilton, the prison warden's assistant." He has a formal suit, hair brushed back and mustache styled with gel. His skin dark and glassy like a perfect cup of hot chocolate. Which makes Darcy feel a little insecure for her messed up look.
"I know its late night but I really need your help now." He looks kind of nervous and even scared.
"What is it?" She is taken back; she lets the door fall open a little more. Aaron comes with a cup of herbal tea.
"Mr. Dallas…" His voice shakes. Well this isn't good at all. "I-I think he's gone."
Oh, Dallas! The prison warden of Philadelphia and a close friend of Chief who was also invited to the opera. Darcy nods to herself.
"He went to the café for breakfast early this morning and he isn't back yet."
"Mr. Dallas?!" Aaron and Darcy grin at each other, not caring about the seriousness of the situation and his worry. "Well he was a playboy after all…" Darcy says and Aaron chuckles behind the cup.
"N-no. I-It must be more serious than that, please help me!" He bursts out tears and their faces fall. "Please help me find him. If I return without Mr. Dallas id get fired!" Tears roll down his face and he falls on his knees, begging them. They watch him emotionlessly and Aaron sips loud at his tea.
Hamilton squints, remembering he should hire them. "W-we'll pay good money!" He looks up at them and Darcy's eyes widen at the word 'pay'.
She looks at Aaron who pout in satisfaction and back at him. "In that case, my child, we'll be very glad to." She smiles.
Dallas' room, 10:00 A.m.
The door of Dallas' room is hanging open, rolled newspaper from yesterday still on the floor. Darcy and Aaron decided to take a look into his room for evidence, to find answers to their questions.
Hamilton nervously cracks fingers, not having a clue what they are doing. "Uh, I'm not a cop but shouldn't we be looking for clues in the café?"
"The answer is at the beginning of your question." Darcy says, tone dry and strong. Hamilton squints and nods.
They just throw everything here and there, wearing latex gloves because they don't want to wipe the possible finger prints off.
Darcy Finds a photo and narrows eyes, it takes a little long for her to realize what it is and her eyes widen, crumpling the photo before throwing it away.
Hamilton who has been keeping an eye on the hallway for a few seconds, panics watching the mess. "what- why- what are you doing?"
"Searching for clues" Darcy jabs a finger matter-of-factly, her other arm resting against the fireplace mantel. One of the decorating items fall and break, making Darcy's brows raise.
"I don't want to interfere but-"
"-then don't" Aaron spits then picks up a ceramic decoration and finds an envelope under that. "Miss Palmer! A letter-" He throws the ceramic decoration across the room and Hamilton runs to catch it and does.
Darcy snatches the paper out of his hand. "Let me seeeee…"
Hamilton and Aaron stand behind her. She rips the pocket open and pulls out the letter and squints as she unfolds it. There was only a middle finger drawn and 'flipped you off' written under.
Hamilton and Aaron go pale and their eyes widen. They look at her from the corner of their eyes, Her eyelid twitches.
Aaron tries to distract her. "Uh, miss Palmer I think we should-" He moves to catch it but she tears it to very small pieces. Then takes a deep breath and looks at him. "Anything else? Something valuable? Worth to kill for?"
Hamilton places the ceramic object somewhere safe. "Valuable? Well yes actually. A box, chest, idk." He shrugs, giving useless clues in his idea. "And there wasn't anything worthy inside just some crystal dogs. They didn't worth a buck but looked expensive." The collection of dog shaped crystals he carried everywhere with him.
"Well I don't see it here." Darcy stood upright; face tilted to side as she looks around.
Probably because they do worth. She thinks to herself.
"Oh, they meant so much to him. I think they shall be somewhere he could keep an eye on." He scratches his chin nervously, looking at a corner. "Like…under the mattress or under the…"
Darcy flips the pillow with her cane, revealing the chest under. "…pillow… right!" Hamilton snaps. Aaron holds the chest with a hand, carefully opening it with the other then gasps. "Miss palmer! One piece is gone!" She takes a look.
He is right, one of the 6 pieces is missing. The foam in the box is shaped like it probably because of weight, or pressing.
"What is this here?" He points at wiped stains in the box, ink stains. She hums "I believe it's a stump. The robber tried cleaning the ink stains."
Darcy turns to Hamilton. "Did he ever mention about this one?" Aaron does the same and Hamilton flinches at first then nervously laughs raising hands in surrender. "Y-you guys don't think I stole it, do you?"
Darcy throws her cane up and catches it from the middle. "Of course not." She says smiling, which is scarier than her anger. Aaron gently shuts the case close.
"The person who did this, is a criminal with severe penalties who knew exactly where Dallas keeps his stump. They had eyes on him for a long time, waiting for this moment. But you…." Darcy waves hand in air while speaking. She dramatically pronounces the word 'you' to scare Hamilton.
"You could steal it whenever you needed to. And nobody would notice." Darcy mumbles as her eyes narrow suspiciously. Hamilton gulps, visibly shaking. "I… swear I didn't."
Her devilish smile turns into a sweet, innocent one instead and shrugs. "Just kidding!" Hamilton sighs in relief and faints.
Which makes Aaron laugh a little as he takes off his gloves. "Ma'am, I suggest we go check the café now." Darcy jabs a finger, chin up. "Splendid, son! To the café." She guides the direction with her cane and they walk past Hamilton carelessly.