03 Mystery Solved
Author: Kaiser Ken
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

"If you're messing with me, I swear I'll strangle you with my bare hands," Ashley added.

"We'll get to the revelation shortly, doll," Doyle replied. "What about the paycheck?"

Ashley fished into her purse and removed a paper bag. Doyle extended his hand to relieve her of it, but she held back and shook her head.

"I've brought your three thousand dollars, Harry. I'll give it away, but first, you must tell me what you discovered."

Doyle shrugged. "Fine. I'll do you one better. I will show you what I unearthed."

The dashing detective opened his Prius' back door and invited Ashley in. Once they were inside and the tinted windows were up, he booted up a laptop and placed the mouse pointer on a video file.

"This will not be easy, doll," he warned. "I'm going to play it, but you can stop watching anytime if it is too much for you."

"Why are you being so ominous? Who is the culprit?"

"See for yourself."

Doyle clicked play. The video looked like it was taken from a CCTV security camera. Three masked figures stood inside an empty, abandoned garage. Two other men entered the garage through an overhead door. One of them had a person mounted on his shoulder.

"This footage was recovered from an abandoned garage in Alpine Hills. It took me years to hunt this down."

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Alpine Hills? That's where Palmer estate is!"

"Keep watching," Doyle instructed.

The man carrying the body approached the three waiting figures and deposited the load on the floor. Ashley tried to make out the abducted person's face. 

"Oh, my God! That's-"

"Arthur Palmer, your father, yes!" Doyle completed her sentence. 

One of the masked figures produced a handkerchief and a black bottle. He poured the contents onto the cloth and doused Arthur's face. The man returned to consciousness momentarily. He opened his eyes and began to struggle.

"Oh, my God! He's awake!" Ashley exclaimed.

Then, the masked figure pulled out a serrated knife and began stabbing the body repeatedly. 

"No!" Ashley wailed, covering her mouth in shock. In the video, Arthur was helpless as holes were punched into his guts and chest. He died within minutes, sputtering blood. The red liquid spewed out onto the floor, forming a puddle.

Tears rolled down Ashley's cheeks. "That's why the police never found Dad's body!" she wailed. "He was abducted and murdered!"

Ashley suddenly felt cold. She wrapped her arms around herself to prevent her body from shaking. Doyle raised an arm to comfort her, but then he changed his mind and paused the video.

"Are you sure you can watch further? We can directly take it to the police."

"I'm okay… Let me watch all of it…" Ashley murmured, her lips quivering. Her fear somewhat subsided after Arthur died, and his body became motionless. Now, she wanted to know who the murderer was.

After committing the brutalities, the masked figure had watched Arthur die slowly and painfully, occasionally clapping his hands in enjoyment. After a few minutes, he turned to leave, removing the mask on the way. Ashley squinted at the video, and then her eyes widened. She could recognize the murderer! 

It was Scarlet! Scarlet Palmer! Her stepsister!

The world seemed to collapse around Ashley. Her stomach lurched, and she felt queasy. She got out of the car and threw up into a bush. 

"Fuck! What the fuck! Scarlet did this?!"

"But why?! It can't be real. It's a mistake, Harry!"

"I know this is a lot to digest, doll," Doyle told her. "But I have a flash drive full of W******p chats in which Scarlet had elaborate discussions with her goons to kill Arthur Palmer."

"But it does not make sense!" the young woman exclaimed. "Scarlet loved Dad! Why would she…?"

Doyle nodded. "I can't speak as to her motives yet. If I were to guess, it would be because she wanted to take over his company. Anyway, the evidence is damning and enough for a conviction. Should I make the call to the cops?"

Ashley's mind raced, and she eyed the detective without emotion. "No, not yet, Harry. Do you have a backup of the video and the data?"

"Of course I do."

"Send me the video via email and delete everything. If this information is leaked to competitors of Palmer Industries, the entire company will topple within hours. The court reinstated me as Chairman today, and I need to preserve Dad's legacy."

The detective protested at first but finally did as requested. Ashley handed Doyle his payment and hailed an Uber.

"I will hold on to the data till midnight just in case you change your mind!" Doyle called after her, but Ashley was barely listening. Her eyes were on the approaching taxi.

"Take me to Palmer Estate," she told the driver.

On her way, Ashley texted Jake. 

[Ashley: The court has reinstated me as Chairperson of Palmer Industries. My revenge has begun.]

[Jake: It's a temporary order. Scarlet and I will make sure the verdict is overturned.]

[Ashley: Did you know Scarlet killed my father? Do you want to be in business with a criminal like her? Do you wish to join her in prison?]

[Jake: What nonsense is this? Do you have any proof?]

[Ashley: I have evidence! Come to Dad's place if you want to know the truth!]

Related Chapters

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   04 Confrontation

    Palmer Estate was a sprawling property spread over three thousand acres. The primary residence, Palmer House, was a Chateauesque-style mansion built between 1856 and 1892 by Reginald Palmer, the late founder of the family. Palmer House was the largest privately owned house in the city, with over fifty thousand square feet of floor space. Jake Grayson was undoubtedly the wealthiest in the city, but the Palmer family was literal royalty. Ashley was ushered into the house by a Head Butler whom she did not recognize. "Who are you?" she asked him quizzically. "Where is Marvin?" Marvin had been Head-butler even before Ashley was born. He had practically raised the little girl when her mother passed away. The servant looked at her garb and frowned. Ashley's clothes were shabby, and it seemed she hadn't conditioned her hair for weeks. Even though she was technically wealthy again, the young woman didn't have time for a makeover before returning home. "I am Levi," he replied, trying har

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   05 Ashes To Ashes

    "Why did you do it?!" Ashley asked in a fury. "Was it even worth it? I have already been reinstated as Chairperson!" Scarlet laughed hysterically, pointing at her stepsister. "You ask why? Because Dad always loved his firstborn daughter more! I had to live under your shadow! All my life, I received hand-me-downs. Always second priority! Arthur always favored his previous princess, Ashley!" "You never deserved or earned the happy life you lived! Did you think I would torture myself, watching you have a loving husband? Or let you become the Chairperson of Palmer Industries? There's no way I'd let any of that happen! So I destroyed everything!" Scarlet's eyes were wild and flaring as if she was possessed. "You need a psychiatrist, Scarlet," Ashley said, deeply disturbed by her sister's outburst. "But first, you will go to prison!" "What is going on?" a voice asked from the door. Ashley turned to see Mary Palmer, Arthur's second wife and mother of Scarlet. Mary was in her forties b

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   06 Rebirth

    Ashley woke up with a start. Her heart thumped like a hammer inside her chest. She remembered being cold and near-death. Now, she was suddenly warm and flushed. As Ashley’s eyes adjusted to the light, the young woman realized she was on a toilet commode with her trousers and panties down. Did she fall asleep while taking a leak? That would be ridiculous. The brutalities that happened to her seconds ago were too real to be a nightmare! Ashley’s own family killed her. Scarlet, and Mary—the monsters in her life. Ashley pulled up her lowers, flushed the toilet, and left the cubicle. It was the executive washroom of the Grayson building. "I'll splash some water on my face. That should get my bearings in place." Ashley went to one of the luxurious Whitehaus basins and looked into the mirror. What she saw almost made her fall over in shock. It was impossible! She looked almost a year younger. The dark circles, the signs of impoverishment, the dehydrated skin—everything was gone! Ashl

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   07 Romance

    Even though Ashley's inner being rejected him, her body was instantly aroused by Jake's touch. It had always been like that. Jake was a maestro when it came to sex or even foreplay. He was a fantastic kisser, and he knew all her weak spots. In her previous life, as a slave of the Grayson family, Ashley couldn't remember the last time she had been touched amorously. The young woman, with shattered self-esteem, had no sexual drive. The married Jake of the future had treated her like a disease, ignoring how attractive she was. Perhaps he felt guilty for betraying his wife? Right now, it felt like years... no... decades since Ashley had been touched so tenderly. Her body felt like it was freshly thawed from ice. Jake caressed her thighs and slid a sneaky hand between them. Ashley pressed her knees together on instinct. She didn't want him to know how hot the fire was between her legs, how wet she was already. Jake raised a questioning eyebrow. Why was Ashley resisting his advances? T

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   08 Finding Tessa

    "Whoa! That's a surprise," Jake declared. It was always him pleasuring her. She never took the gear stick into her possession. "An eye for an eye," Ashley said with a grin while pulling out his erect member. The beauty marveled at the size and mentally patted herself on the back. Jake was a future rotten guy, but presently, he was a Chad. Ashley wet her right hand and grabbed his monstrosity, sliding up and down slowly for minutes. Then she started jerking him off faster. Jake closed his eyes and leaned back. She sped things up real soon. What was the hurry? "Hey, slow down there, cowgirl!" Jake pleaded, breathless. However, Ashley's hand went up and down like a plunger, making him climb the orgasm hill faster. And then it happened. Jake exploded. Ashley dodged at the right moment, and his load splattered into the back of the driver's seat. Jake let out a long moan and shivered, with his hips tensed. "Mother of freaking God!" he exclaimed. "Full marks, Ash!" Ashley wasn't payin

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   09 Cornered

    Ashley turned to the receptionist. "Could you tell me Tessa's room number? Don't be alarmed; we are soon to be sisters-in-law. My wedding's tomorrow, so I need to discuss a few things. But Tessa's phone is switched off." Bella was reluctant, but it was difficult to say no to someone from the Palmer family, who could purchase the Marigold Hotel with a snap of their fingers. Besides, the union between the Graysons and the Palmers was the talk of the town. It was usual for the bride to barge into her future sister-in-law's room a day before the wedding. "Miss Grayson is in Suite No. 4," Bella said. "But she doesn't want to be disturbed..." Ashley ignored her and rushed into the elevator. On the way up, she tried to put things together in her head. The back panel of the elevator was a mirror, and Ashley observed her reflection. She had missed looking like that. After their wedding, Jake ruined her beauty and health by imprisoning her in a maid's room. She was treated worse than a serva

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   10 Tooth And Nail

    "Get inside now!" Ashley called out, lunging at Tessa and shoving her roughly inside. The girl was taken aback. Both of them fell into the room in a heap. Ashley jumped to her feet and locked the door behind them. "Listen…" Tessa mumbled, getting to her feet. "Please let me be and leave my room. I have an important photo shoot with TEEN VOGUE. I know you are the Palmer Princess, but you can't bully me like this! Even as a prank!" Ashley turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Do they call me the Palmer Princess? That's a terrible moniker." Tessa bit her lip. "Aren't you acting like a spoiled Princess right now? Locking me in my own booked room? What's wrong with you? Has the anxiety of marriage gotten to your head?" Ashley shook her head. "I'm trying to save you, so don't get in the way. Your TEEN VOGUE interview is scheduled for next week. This one is fake! Didn't you see that hulking guy? Did he appear like a normal hotel staff to you?" The girl winced and shrugged. "I didn't rea

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   11 Explanations

    "Let me get this straight. You woke up A YEAR IN THE PAST after your stepmother and stepsister KILLED you?" Tessa asked over the bubbling noises of the jacuzzi. "That is AMAZING! Like a second chance reincarnation novel!" She was literally bobbing up and down in the bathtub. Ashley's sharp gaze made her freeze. "I mean, of course, it is not that amazing. Especially considering what happened to you was tragic…" she trailed off. After escaping from the hotel, the girls retreated to Malory Towers, the tallest skyscraper in the city, owned by the Grayson family. Their first stop was Tessa's master bathroom on the forty-fifth floor. The girls felt they deserved a break after the horrors encountered earlier that day. The bathroom had a glass-bottomed spa bathtub with Amazonian crystal sides. With Pietra Firma tiles, a champagne ice wall, and double vanity bidets, it was an exhibition of the filthy rich. There were two walk-in showers, a double massage couch, and super-chic mirrored furn

Latest Chapter

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    35 Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater 2

    Jake tilted his head and regarded her with a smile. He liked flattery, especially from a beauty like Claire."Tomorrow, I'm gonna tell this story to my college friends," she murmured."What are you going to tell them?""Whatever happens tonight…." She trailed off as Jake took a hand to her thigh."Go on," he said, feeling the entire length from her knee to her hip."On second thought, I will not tell them the entire story.""Oh, really?" Jake grinned, leaning in and kissing her neck. "Will you be embarrassed by what happens tonight?""Maybe."Jake kissed her on the lips. "Good. I want you to be."Claire nodded. The wine had made her dreamy. Jake stood up and took her hand. He led her to the other end of the balcony.The girl was excited. Her heart was hammering like crazy. It was finally happening! Everything had fallen into place.Jake pulled her close. His hands went behind her and grabbed her buttocks. 'Ah, this feels good,' he thought. 'No silicone. Just a well-toned natural ass.'

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    34 Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater

    Jake shook Claire's hand for the right amount of time and let go. 'Very professional,' she thought. He made constant eye contact and did not stare at her body as the other billionaires did. Part of him was aloof, as if he was somewhere else."I will take your leave, then," Rory announced. "The guys need a babysitter."Jake nodded, and Claire gave him two thumbs up as he left."Please join me," Jake invited her to the other end of the gallery. There were high-backed lounge chairs large enough to lie down. A low single-block dining table was aligned with them.Claire sat beside the billionaire, facing him, her legs crossed. "Thanks.""I noticed when you went to the bar; you ordered cranberry juice. Are you not allowed to drink? Any photoshoots or events coming up?""It's not that, Mr. Grayson-""Please call me Jake.""Hmm. It's not that, Jake, I do drink, but with the right company.""I can't promise to be the best drinking partner but, let's see what we have here–"Jake removed a tinte

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    33 Claire Meets Jake

    "Don't forget to smile," Bono always reminded her. Powerful men had no interest in a dull and disobedient face.Chicksaw had barely looked at her face. He had a scotch in one hand- his fifth of the evening. His eyes crawled over her from bust to hip, over and over. Spencer kissed her hand, and his lips lingered on her skin a while longer than comfortable.Perry was the most daredevil. "That body is to die for, girl."Claire felt more flattered than offended. 'These are men who could have any girl they wanted, and yet they are interested in what I have to offer,' she told herself."Thank you," she replied with her least flirtatious smile."Last but not the least, Kumar Rajesh, the Assistant District Attorney," Rory said."Welcome to the party, ma'am," Rajesh said, his sharp eyes meeting hers. 'Perhaps the only gentleman at the party,' Claire surmised. "I must ask," she addressed the elite group. "I was looking forward to meeting the host of the party. Has he retired for the day?"All

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    32 Cream of the City

    "Hi! Miss Fox, is it?"Rory James was the only casually dressed guest in Elysium Hall at the moment. He looked not very different from his YouTube videos. The close-cropped ash-blond hair, the youthful charm, the Versace pullover cardigan with Escada jeans. Everything spelled Rory James in caps. His casual wear was more expensive than most of the suits at the party, though. Even then and there, at the bachelor party of his best friend, he was promoting brands like Nike, Apple, and Rolex. The truth was, Rory liked suits and formal wear over casuals. His boyfriend shopped for them both at Armani and REISS. However, both his love for the tuxedo and his sexual orientation were best-kept secrets. Only his inner circle was party to his preferences and inclinations.Rory had to keep up the image of the cool, straight, urban, and carefree guy. It defined his internet personality. Anything different would be damaging to his social media image.Rory had sprung into action on Jake's request and

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    31 Jake Seeks Claire

    Claire's victory in the Miss World Norwich contest was no fluke. The judges had unanimously voted for her. She was genetically gifted, with her nordic blue eyes, facial symmetry, high cheekbones, and flawless skin. Her Swedish descent from her mother's side had mixed well with her father's Connecticut genes to produce a one in million beauty. Claire had crafted her god-given gifts into a masterpiece. She looked around and saw the 'hot models' at the party. "Where are these other girls from?" she asked Bono. "Pfft! Them? Talent agencies. Luxury strip clubs. Escort services. The organizers paid a steep dime to get the best girls. But they are all uglies compared to you, baby." "Thanks, Bono." Her manager did exaggerate her beauty sometimes. Nevertheless, he was not wrong this time. The girls traipsing around as if the place belonged to them were undoubtedly attractive from their shapes and sizes. However, nobody came close to Claire in sheer beauty. She turned more heads than al

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    30 The Bachelor Party

    The 50th floor of Malory Towers had a banquet hall so spacious that it dwarfed the town hall of Norwich City. Ten years back, when the 50th story was constructed, Jake's late father, Richard Grayson, had named the cavernous den Chive hall after a street he grew up on. Chive street belonged to rural Scotland. The name was reminiscent of Richard’s journey from a hapless boy on the streets of central Scotland to the wealthiest man in one of the leading cities in America. His rags to riches story was fit for a movie screenplay. Unfortunately, Richard suffered a heart attack three years back, leaving his staggering empire for Jake. His son was a swashbuckling businessman and took Grayson Enterprises to greater heights. However, he did not share the same roots of sentimentality characteristic of the founder of the company. The previous year, Jake had renamed the banquet space to Elysium Hall. Regardless, Elysium Hall lived up to the grandeur of its name. The ceiling, fifty feet high, was

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    29 Knight in Shining Armor

    Ashley watched the scene with a gaping mouth. Once the action stopped, she immediately exited the van. She picked up the gun that had skidded near the front tires."Who are you?" Ashley shouted, aiming the gun at the stranger. "Show me your face!" In the van's fog light, the man turned around with a flourish. He raised an arm and opened his man-bun. Shoulder-length hair bounced down the Frenchman’s face.Guiscard! It was Chevalier de Guiscard!"It is me! Chevy, ma'am!" he said, ruffling his hair."Oh, my God!"Ashley pulled the trigger. Bang! The target took the bullet and collapsed. She had shot Nicolai, who had been trying to inch closer to a dropped gun."Good shot," Guiscard said.Ashley walked towards him. "Give me a minute."He nodded. "Sure, ma'am."The young woman headed to where Pavlov lay, writhing in pain. As Ashley approached him, he grimaced with disgust.“Jebena drolja (Fucking slut)! Daj mi pistolj! (Give me the gun)!” "You like hitting women, don't you?" Ashley fired

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    28 Take Three, Action!

    Ashley's eyes opened a crack. The surroundings were cramped and dimly lit. She lay on her back; her wrists and feet were bound with duct tape. The place smelled of mildew and armpits. A splitting headache and nausea hit her, but she held back from groaning. Ashley's eyes had adjusted to the lighting, and she could see two thickset men looming over her. The Serbs! Zetelica!They seemed to ignore her for the time being, assuming she was knocked out. It took Ashley another minute to realize that she lay on the molded carpet of a vehicle in motion. 'A van? A large wagon?' Because of the poor lighting, her captors did not notice that she had returned to her senses.A blinding migraine overwhelmed her for a few seconds. Ashley let the memories of the day flood back. 'Let me review the situation. The testosterone capsules have worked, apparently. They dulled the longevity of the sedative that Milan gave me in the coffee. I woke up much earlier than I was supposed to.''But then, what

  • Eve Of A Thousand Wakes   

    27 Back To The Future 2

    The little girl shook her head and let out a fresh spurt of sobs. Evelyn bit her lip. How much suffering has Ashley been through to travel back into her childhood? Regardless of age, the girl was her daughter."It is okay, sweetie," Evelyn said, "I do not think you have much time left here with me, so let me tell you this quickly. Be patient and strong no matter how painful it gets. It is all for a purpose. Remember that.""What purpose? I cannot do this anymore, mom! Please help me! It is too much!"Evelyn regarded her dewy-eyed daughter. 'She is going to fall apart this way.'"Hey, sweetie, do you remember Toby?" Ashley looked up, trying to remember. "Toby?" the little voice squeaked."Let me remind you. Toby was this nuisance from 3rd grade in school. He was a real you-know-what. One day the boy picked on you and pulled on your pigtails while singing a funny song. Everyone in the class laughed at you."Ashley opened her mouth, trying to recall the incident. She had a vague recoll