EMBERS ON SNOW

I stared the failed group of cops of my reputed department.

I scrutinised them with my icy gaze before letting my eyes fall on the members of the accused household.

Three days ago a murder had happened here allegedly committed by the ghost of a woman, Aerial Mackenzie, who died decade ago due to unexplained reasons.

I stared at the brother of Aerial, a grumpy forty-year old man who stood with his wife. He was John Mackenzie and his wife, a pretty woman with blue eyes in her late thirties, Sarah Mackenzie. John Mackenzie was the eldest after Aerial; Lawrence Mackenzie was the youngest. I sensed some oddness in the wedded pair. They didn’t seem happy with each other. They didn’t have a child even after years of marriage. Hmm.

I looked away with a huff and leaned back on the couch of the Mackenzie mansion. I looked at the assistant of mine with irritation before gazing at Judy Mackenzie on wheel chair. The poor woman of early seventies had lost her daughter years ago and had been mentally deranged since then. She smiled, she laughed, she cried in pain, screamed in both excitement and fear impulsively. Her mental condition had worsened in years that had rolled by. I sympathised with her and her husband Arthur Mackenzie who stood behind her wheelchair watching his wife play with toys.

I eyed the maid who silently stood at the corner of the living room, Amanda Smith who worked in the house for twenty years.  

“And Ma’am, a violin was playing in the study room..” my assistant, Eric Gilbert said.

My brows rose with fake surprise. “Oh my,” I looked at him feigning astonishment in my voice, “That must have been very scary for you all, right?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He said not understanding my sarcasm. “The ghost has killed the servant. The case is dismissed.”

“Bullshit!” I said banging my hand on the coffee table. “Nothing like ghosts exists.” I looked at the shocked household members. “And nothing ever will. I know one of you has killed the servant, William Adams, and trust me I shall find out at any cost.” I narrowed my eyes in warning, “You can’t hide a crime in the facade of murder.”

John’s face went red with anger he was trying to hide. Sarah felt astonished at my accusation.

Nothing affected Judy but Arthur disapproved. “How can you even say that?” he said in his gruff voice. “You aren’t one of us so you don’t know anything about the house. You are disrespecting every one of us and especially the spirit of my daughter. Leave the house before she gets angry and targets you next.” He held Judy’s wheelchair. “It’s my wife’s eating time so excuse me.” And Arthur left with Judy as she whined for food.

John spoke harshly. “William didn’t believe in the story of Aerial Mackenzie. Even after repeatedly saying not to enter the study room when the violin plays every night, he did... and we see the consequences.”

I stood at once. “Is that a threat? A murder has been done and instead of finding it out, you are putting a ghost story?” I shook my head at them. “I’m staying here from tonight to till the day I either solve the mystery or die. And,” I looked at my crap team, “You all may leave. Thanks for the help.” My team seemed more relieved than sorry as they were freed of this case. Your suspension letters are on the way. “Just bring some of my clothes here by tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Gilbert answered.

“I would like to be in a humble room of the house, if it exists.” I said to the people of Mackenzie Mansion. “I would be fine on the hall couch too.”

“There is a guest room.” Lawrence Mackenzie said. “You should be comfortable there hopefully.” Even he didn’t seem happy with my arrival. “Amanda, take Officer Stone to her room and settle the dinner soon. Enough of drama.” He too left with a bored yawn.

I crudely massaged my tired eyes and continued studying the case file in my room downstairs.

Amongst the three Mackenzie children, Aerial was the eldest. After her it was John and Lawrence. Three of them had studied from the same school. Aerial was a music teacher while John worked in the same pharmaceutical company as his father Arthur. Lawrence worked in some VCR company. Sarah was a homemaker.

I leaned back in my chair.

I had enquired with Amanda when she came to give me a warning to not to leave the room at night and my dinner. None of them knew how to play violin except Aerial.

Maybe because...

Shut up. There’s nothing like ghosts. Just their lies were getting hold of me because there was no proof, yet. Even the maid must be paid to lock her mouth.

I looked at William’s pictures. Holes were mercilessly drawn over his face as if someone had got hold of him and kept hitting him with a sharp object until both his eyes were gorged out before a final attack over his heart.

I looked at Aerial’s autopsy. Heart attack. Although the report mentioned the ambiguity of the only possibility.

I scratched my chin thinking deeply. Somehow both the murders are connected or maybe not. But there is some link to Aerial’s death at present, if not directly. One thing is for sure that Aerial’s death is used to shroud William’s murder. If I can decode any one, the other won’t take much time.

Did Aerial know something that led to her death? Did William know the same thing that Aerial did hence meeting the same fate?

Who is involved? One person or the entire Mackenzie mansion? Or..

The wooden floor of the house creaked. It came from upstairs. Someone was there.

I saw the time on my phone. 2:36 AM.

That’s it. The culprit is coming out now to play the game.

I took out my revolver and tiptoed to the door. I listened carefully. The footsteps were coming down. The study room is downstairs.

What could the person want? Water from the kitchen? But they took filled jars. Hungry? But they all know not to leave rooms when the spooky violin is played.

When the footsteps grew profound, I knew I was right.

I touched the doorknob and slowly turned it making as less noise as possible. I snuck out of the room and trod softly towards the sound of the footsteps.

There was no one on the staircase. Only the sound continued.

Fear crept.

Holding my gun tightly, I walked gently to where the sound was coming from. The person was in no hurry as if moving like the carefree wind and not even minding to be less noisy.

The sound stopped.

My heart stopped.

A door was pushed opened.

I stood still, listening to the footsteps that must have entered a carpeted floor. A moment of silence continued.

The violin started playing.

And a woman was singing.

Chill ran down my spine.

Sweat beaded up my upper lip.

I slowly walked towards the sweet voice that gave goosebumps. I clenched my revolver tighter as I neared the study room.

The voice grew louder with my vicinity to the room. I could see the room was unlit but the shadow of a woman playing the violin earnestly was projected because of the moonlight from the study room window.

I looked around myself.

No one was awake.

Or no one wanted to be awake.

I wanted to go and check upstairs that which room was unlocked, wake everyone and show who was missing because certainly she came unrestrained.

But I didn’t want to lose her.

I stepped forward, just few feet away from entering the room.

The floor creaked beneath me.

I stood still. Shit.

The violin stopped playing.

The woman’s shadow turned her head; I could see the features of her face.

I could also see her smile.  

Fear rooted itself in me.

I raised my revolver.

The woman laughed a sinister laughter I had never heard in my life. It scared me. It made me numb.

She started walking out of the room.

My hand started trembling.

I imagined her face. A wide tearing grin with deep-set eyes. A bloody grin with diluted pupils of deep-set eyes.

And the laughter of a witch.

Just before she came out and I could see her face.

Something was thrown at me.

I ducked just in nick of time as the thing smashed the foyer wall, she had stolen herself away.

I heard her running madly, laughing madly and raced to catch her.

I caught sight of a white dress that she wore and ran to the sound of her voice in the blinding darkness.

“STOP RIGHT THERE!” I yelled at the slimy ashen piece that went with her. “OR ELSE I SHALL FIRE!”

A door was opened again. And the white cloth vanished behind it.

It was the backdoor of the house. I rushed.

A hand. There was hand on the doorknob I could see in the moonlit lawn. She was still there. Maybe about to run.

I ran and grabbed that hand immediately and said, “You bloody-.”

“Officer Emma?”

“Amanda?” I looked at the wide lawn, searching for a trace of her.

She was nowhere to be found.

“What are you doing here?” I asked her sternly pocketing my revolver.

“I heard your voice.” She said, “I heard you shouting from the house. I guessed you were probably in trouble...” she shrugged. There was guilt in her eyes. “I worried if something happened to you like William...”

Was it Amanda? She could be playing the violin, ran when I was behind her and now is making up a story. But..

I looked back inside the house.

The woman had come from upstairs while Amanda stayed in the outhouse. Was there any secret way from outhouse to the mansion?

“What is that?” I pointed out at the small bottle glancing from her nightgown .

“That is for Mr. John Mackenzie.” She held it out for me. “It’s for his cardiac and cholesterol. I had to give him before retiring to sleep but I forgot and didn’t have the courage to enter the house at night...” she seemed embarrassed.

I nodded. Everyone feared this violin wom-

A shriek came.

Sarah had fallen from the stairs.

 “How are you now?”

“Better.”

“Good.” I politely smiled at Sarah. She smiled back weakly and sipped the tea Amanda gave her.

After she had fallen from the stairs and gone unconscious in her own pool of blood, a doctor was summoned in the early morning hours. Thankfully, she was alright but remained inert due to both loss of blood and effect of medicines. She came back to her senses an hour ago.

I sat in her room while Amanda cleaned it. Lawrence had gone to bring some more medicines prescribed plus in search of a new servant. John was away for work.

“How did you fall?”

She stopped midway while sipping and looked at me. “I don’t know.” She sipped. “Just slipped in darkness.”

Or someone pushed you. “Okay,” I said. “Why were you out by the way? I thought no one comes out during night.”

Sarah gulped. “I.. I heard your shout.” She smiled. “I thought you were in trouble but look what happened instead.” She tried a stupid laugh.

“I see.” And glanced away.

There were bookshelves of anatomy and medicines, cupboards and a dressing table. But my eyes fell on the two bottles kept on the table near the bed. One empty, one full. The same bottle Amanda had last night.

“Why did he go today?” I asked thinking who leaves his wife like this. “He should have stayed.”

Amanda stopped.

Sarah paused.

A silence fell in the room.

My gaze fixed on Sarah as her expression changed. Her eyes darted as if to escape and hide tears. “He is busy.” She swallowed.

There was a fresh bandage on her head because of falling. But there were also scars on her neck and scratches on arms.

“He has a lot on his plate now.” There was a subtle hint of pain in her smile. “He loves me, I know he does. It’s just that... he can’t express it the normal way.” She looked at me. “I hope you had breakfast?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.” I stood. “My things have arrived. I just want to freshen up now.”

And took a leave from her room.

I surfed through the CCTV footage.

When my team had arrived to investigate the murder, they had fixed CCTV cameras in the house because of the ghostly claims of Mackenzie Mansion.

But due to the violin incident and the astonished loss of footage, nothing could be found.

The footage showed nothing was wrong. No violin. No one entering the room at night. Nothing.

It was a loop. A video loop.

I heaved and leaned back.

Someone had created a video loop and tampered the footage. No idea how in the presence of cops it happened in the house but it did.

A circle was made and dots were connecting.

I clicked my fingers.

I knew who the killer was.

“Lawrence Mackenzie.”

The entire family stood with a horrified expression. Even my crappy team recording everything was.

I yawned.

“Officer Emma? What nonsense is this?” Lawrence yelled. “What proof do you have against me?”

I smiled. “When William died, no one came out in fear. But when I screamed, Sarah came.” I glanced at her, “And she even fell. I wonder how hurriedly she must be coming.”

Sarah went cold.

“Mr. John, why does she have all the scars on her neck and arm?”

John looked at Sarah and then back at me, confused. “She said she got because she fell.”

“So Sarah loves to fall now and then isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?” John said.

“You know John; at first I had thought you are a wife beater. You left her alone this morning and I saw those scars.” I looked at her, “Dear Sarah said that ‘He loves me, I know he does.’ It took me some time but now I understood that she wasn’t referring to John but Lawrence.”

Sarah’s eyes went wide as did Lawrence’s. John stared silently.

“Sarah and Lawrence have an affair. Right?” I smiled at them. “Lawrence works in VCR Company. Obviously it wouldn’t take much time for you to create a video loop, tamper the CCTV footage and also make the sound of a violin in the study room. You used the fear to meet at night. William was new and daring. So he decided to decode the mystery but unfortunately you killed him because he found the truth. Amazing.”

“What?” John yelled. “Sarah? Lawrence? Is this true?”

“No, no-.”

“I have cleared the tampering and recurred the data by sending the footage to my IT specialist by the way. And I have seen the cleared recording. Do not lie.”

Lawrence grew silent. Sarah broke into tears. But John was in rage.

“How could you do this to me?” John raged. “You cheater-.”

“I wonder who must have overdosed Aerial’s food with some heart pills.” I smiled at Amanda and John.

They both stiffened.

I took out Aerial’s report that said heart attack. “A healthy woman with no history of any problems suddenly died that too with a heart attack. Isn’t it strange?” I looked at poor Arthur. “How much is the property Mr. Mackenzie?”  

“34 Million.” He said with tears in his eyes.

“So the property was supposed to be divided equally. But the two brothers, the two very greedy brothers decided to get rid of their elder sister so that most of the money goes to them. Everything was done. Aerial was killed. But Lawrence wanted more; so he charmed Sarah who couldn’t have a child with John. He met her every night both for pleasure and purpose by setting up the ghost story. He beat her when she couldn’t get John’s signature on property papers and killed William when they were caught red-handed.”  

John and Amanda along with Sarah and Lawrence stood like statues.

Arthur looked at four of them with tears in his eyes. He guarded Judy from them. “Get out of my house.”

I sighed. “Arrest them.”     

I already had proof against Lawrence and Sarah. They both would reveal the name of John and Amanda officially in court too.

“I liked the violin that was played last night.” I laughed.

Arthur looked at me in confusion. “No violin was played last night.”

What?