Richard Blacknight stopped and opened his umbrella. The raindrops were falling close to each other and the effect was totally wetting, which was making the day more awful…if that was possible. The sky was dark and it was like someone covered up the world with an ugly grey blanket. Squashy mud was sticking on Richard’s boots. Shortly said-miserable weather.
Richard looked at the big country house in gothic style. All the windows were closed and the curtains were drawn. The paint was shelled off on some places. Richard didn’t see any lights in there, the entire house was lost in darkness. It was looking abandoned. And creepy. Well, that wasn’t a problem, he was used to creepy places. That was his job.
Well, now it was time to come in. He went to the door and ringed the doorbell, a quiet melody sounded somewhere deep in the house. The sound seemed so far, so Richard supposed that the house was bigger than it looks. Then he heard footsteps, quiet scratching in the lock and the door opened. There was standing an old lady with long gray hair strictly put in a bun. She was wearing long brown skirt and a white shirt.
The woman looked at the stranger. Richard Blacknight smiled.
-Hello. I’m the person you’re expecting-Richard Blacknight.
-Oh, good evening. Well, it’s still an afternoon, but it’s dark as an evening.-the woman tried to smile too, but it was obviously that she was pretending. She was looking like someone, who never smile.-Come in.
Richard stepped into the house. It was dusk in the hall. Old black and white photographs of people, who died long ago, were staring at the visitors with looks with reproach. The wallpapers were torn on some places. And everything was covered by dust.
-Wow, it’s quite…tumbled-down here.-noticed Richard, trying to not seem rude.
-I can’t change anything.-said the woman. He noticed that this sounded like she’s not allowed to change anything and that seemed strange to him.
Hmm…Weird.
He took a pack of cigarettes.
-Can I smoke in here?-asked Richard.
-Sorry, but not. I have problems with the heart.
Richard sighed. He was kind of addicted to the cigars and wasn’t really happy that he couldn’t smoke in the house. He couldn’t smoke outside too, because of the rain. And that meant that he won’t smoke for hours…a real horror for him.
-Okay, Mrs…
-Crow. Mrs. Grace Crow.
-Hmm.-Richard Blacknight took a little red notebook and wrote down something.-And what exactly is the reason you called me? What’s the problem?
Mrs. Crow looked at him examining and said quietly:
-Let’s go in the living-room. It’s serious and too long to explain.
-But you called me to solve the problem, right? So you just gotta explain.-noticed he.
-Of course I’ll explain everything. But first let’s go in and sit.
They entered a big room. All the cupboards and the little table in the middle of the room were covered with pink tablecloths and there were fake flowers everywhere. Richard could never understand what the point in the fake flowers is. What was wrong with the real ones? They smell good and they look much better. But after years of careful observation, he noticed that exactly the old ladies like the fake flowers. There was something creepy in the old houses like this one-everything was fake, there was no life.
Mrs. Crow pointed him a big couch near the table.
-Have a seat.
-Thanks.-he sat and smiled. His eyeteeth were longer and sharper than usual.
Yeah. Richard wasn’t an ordinary person. He was strange even when he was a kid. He could do things that the other kids couldn’t.
Like turning into a bat for example. And his eyes were turning red every time he got angry.
So what? He just couldn’t understand what’s wrong with being vampire.
Anyway, he got another unusual possibility, which was deeply connected with his job. He just loved uncovering mysteries. Since he was seven he could see things that the normal human beings just couldn’t see, like ghosts and other creepy things. And why? Because he was a vampire, of course. He wasn’t sure if he like it or not, but the important thing was that he was making money of this.
-Now, what’s the problem?-asked he.
-First I want to make sure you are the person I wanted to see.
Without saying anything, he gave her his business card. Grace Crow put on her glasses to read it and knitted her brows. Richard knew perfectly what’s written on the card:
“Richard Johnson Blacknight.
Detective on supernatural cases and professional vampire. Official website: www.richardblacknightghostkiller.com”
-Hmm. - Mrs. Crow gave him the card back.-Okay, Mr. Blacknight. Look what’s the problem. Five years ago my husband passed away.
-Oh, so that’s what was all about.-interrupted her Richard.-You want me to bring him back to life. Well, sorry, I can’t. I don’t do things like that.
-You’re wrong, Mr. Blacknight. Let me finish, all right? First I have to tell you how my husband died. He fell through the window of his bedroom. But…-she leaned closer to him.-But I think someone pushed him. Killed him, I mean.
-Well, that’s interesting. And what makes you think someone did that?
-Because I think Harold…my husband I mean, I think he’s trying to tell me the name of his killer. Since 2009 I’m getting messages from him.
“Great.-thought Richard.-Another freak!” But he decided to be polite.
-What kind of messages?-asked he.
-On the mirrors…
-What?
The woman looked at him in a strange way.
-Never mind. Will you take the case?
Richard wondered for a second.
-Well…okay. I’ll do it.
-Thank you!- Mrs. Crow smiled.-I appreciate that, really. When will you start?
-Right now.
He could say “no”. He could start the work later. But something made him agree. Well, so what if he try? He knew he won’t lose anything anyway.
He tried to smile again. Richard knew he look good when he smiles. He was good-looking anyway, tall, thin and fit, with black hair and big brown eyes (but they were red every time he got angry). The problem was that when he was too serious the deadly-white skin and that he wasn’t breathing was too obvious. Well, the death wasn’t big problem for him, at least he didn’t have to sleep in a coffin-it was very uncomfortable.
He stared at the woman and wondered if she’s telling the truth.
-Can you show me his bedroom? The place your husband found his death?-asked Richard.
The woman nodded.
-Follow me.
They went out of the room and got into a dark corridor. In the bottom, there were stairs. Grace Crow started going upstairs and Richard Blacknight followed her.
-Your husband, did he has enemies?-asked Richard.
-Oh, no. Everybody loved Harold.
-Then why are you so sure someone killed him? There has to be a motive.
The woman didn’t answer. She turned left to another corridor and stopped in front of a big dark wooden door.
-Here it is.
Richard went to the door and came in.
This room was lighter than all of the others. There was big bed, carefully covered by white sheet. Everything was in great order. In the far end of the room, there was a big window with a view to the backyard.
-That’s the window he fell through, right?-supposed Richard.-Can I take a look?
He didn’t wait the answer and went to the window. First he took a good look at the sill and the window-frame. Then he opened it and bended over the edge.
-Be careful, Mr. Blacknight!-said Grace Crow.
-Hmm.-Richard came back into the room.
He took a small red bottle out of his pocket and drank a little. “That’s better.”-he thought.
-Was the window opened when you saw your husband for the last time?
-Hmm, I don’t remember…Maybe yes. No, no, wait. It wasn’t, I remember. I told Harold to open it, because the weather was really hot, but he said “no”. I don’t know why.
-So you’re sure the window was closed?
-Well, I think so.
Richard looked through the window again.
-Can I try something?-asked he.
-Yes, sure.
-Thank you.
First he bended again, but obviously he didn’t like the result. Then he carefully stepped on the sill…and jumped.
-Mr. Blacknight!
Mrs. Crow went to the window panicked. She was looking like she’s about to have a heart-attack. Richard opened his eyes. He was fallen in the bushes under the window.
-Hmm, I found something interesting.-muttered the vampire.
He stood up.
-Mr. Blacknight…Are you all right?
-Yes, Mrs. I’m fine.-shouted he up to the window, where Grace Crow was.
-But…you jumped of the second floor!
-I know. Are you trying to tell me something?
-I…No. I’m just…surprised you’re okay. How…
-I’m a vampire. I can’t be hurt, I’m already dead.
-What…
-I have interesting news, Mrs. Crow!-interrupted her the vampire. He put his tie right, took a leaf out of his hair and continued:-Your husband just couldn’t fall. It’s impossible.
* * *
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