Mysterious Mister Part VIII, A Historical Mystery Set in 19th Century New Orleans

She led him to a room with the door open, one that her and the Madame had agreed upon earlier because in the closet was a back staircase that led to the rear entrance where the Commissioner General would be coming in to take Simon quietly away.

She closed the door softly and turned back toward Simon who was removing his neck cloth and unbuttoning her shirt like a randy young boy. She went over to the closet and knocked quietly two times and tapped her foot once, the code she and the Commissioner discussed earlier. Nothing happened. She looked back over to Simon who had removed his shirt and was working on his shoes.

"Deidre, my sweet little flower what are you doing, your honey bee awaits."

"Oh nothing, I am just making sure we are not disturbed for I am sure we need hours and hours and this is a little code we use here to let all the girls know which rooms are taken." With his knowledge now she knocked loudly twice and tapped her foot.

He looked at her strangely and nodded but didn’t ask any questions as his fingers now came to rest upon the buttons of his pants and at the moment she was thinking about running out and giving up this charade when she heard the closet door open.

"Thank God, Commissioner…" Her voice caught in her throat. "Edward what ?"

Simon looked up and saw Edward and his eyes widened in fear. He jumped off the bed and started toward the door but Edward was too fast and large and he was upon Simon before he knew what happened.

"Dear simple Simon. You thought you could escape and I would not find you but as you can see you were wrong."

Edward pulled out a knife from his belt and held it up to Simon’s throat. "Now you will tell me where it is."

"No, never. I will take it to my grave."

Edward shrugged and dug the knife in deeper to his throat causing dark red droplets to rain down onto Simon’s bare chest.

Marguerite had been standing by the closet frozen until she saw the blood. She made a dash for the door.

"I wouldn’t do that if I was you Marguerite. I will kill you in a split second if you leave this room."

She stopped. "What in the hell is going on Edward. I thought this man stole money from you and has been on the run and where is the Commissioner."

Edward pushed Simon onto the bed then grabbed Marguerite and set her down next to Simon. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Simon then her.

"You have a big mouth for such a little girl." He spat at her.

She had to bite her tongue to keep from calling him every insult she knew.

"Let’s see. I am feeling generous so I will answer your questions. Simon, dear Simon worked in my family’s house for many years and after my father died, he became my mother’s confidante. Why you ask, I couldn’t tell you. There is a certain chest filled with all accessible currency and jewelry my family has to their name which my father had buried as to hide it from his greedy, degenerate son, that would be me. He told my mother of course, and upon my mother’s death 2 years ago she told this shabby piece of manure." He looked at Simon with murderous intent.

"When I found out he knew I tried nicely at first to get him to tell me for I deserved it and I was sure he would take it for himself which apparently he did, as he is now so flush with money but he refused and he disappeared. He was hard to find but I had heard of you and you did not disappoint. I have also been looking for you."

Before she had time to ask anything else Edward hit Simon squarely in his jaw.

"Tell me know, how much is left. Now" He roared and Simon began to whimper.

"None sir, none is left. I only meant to use a little to make sure you couldn’t find it and to keep it in safe keeping until your sister was old enough. Your parent’s wanted your sister to have it not you. But a little bit turned into all of it and I am sorry. Terribly sorry. I loved your mother, truly."

Edward smiled at Simon and patted his head before he took the knife in his had and rammed it into Simon’s side.

Simon slumped back, his side gushing like a dark, murky river, his lungs gasping for breath. He laid their choking and sputtering until he made no more sounds.

Marguerite was scared, but more than that she was livid. She considered herself a good judge of character and truly did not see it coming.

"Now for you, Marguerite or should I said Lady Hanover ."

She looked at him strangely. "Who?"

"Why that is you, fair maiden." He pulled a chair over to the bed. "Do you mind?" He sat before she could answer.

"I am going to tell you a story, your story. Your parents were Lord and Lady Michael Hanover. Your father was the ninth Earl of Anchoring. You may not know, but this is a very old and lofty title. Anyway about twenty-three years ago they had a child, a girl, which would be the fulfillment of a long standing contract. This child would marry the first son of the Posey family who would receive a huge sum and lands, and this son would also receive the Earldom upon your father’s death, even if they eventually had a male child. This was drawn up years ago in order to keep peace and was what my family has been counting on to bring us out of the slumps of genteel poverty for decades. However, your father was a proud man and he could not bear to lose his family’s title to us, although his father and my grandfather had drawn up this contract in perfect understanding. The contract was only for the first daughter so by sending you away to never appear again, it was over. My family had nothing and yours continued to have everything. Your father ruined my life, however he died before I could kill him and your brother already inherited so there is no point in marrying you now, I just plan on killing you."

His eyes looked wild and dangerous. He lifted the gun in the air.

"No!!!" She screamed out in horror, a deafening, blood curdling plea.