Entry 31

Miss Melas' eyes widened and rather than providing a translation as she had usually done, she remained silent.

Juniper had become noticeably anxious in the stillness as her leg started to bounce much to her partner's annoyance.

Shirleigh placed a hand on Juniper's restless leg, calming it if only for a moment.

"Miss Melas," Shirleigh's voice cut through the silence. "What did she say?"

Niki Melas turned to the partners, stealing a few glances at Winona Kemp, who had grown visibly agitated.

"She..." Melas turned the words over in her head, not because she was uncertain of what was said, but because she was appalled by them. "She says she's...pregnant..."

"And the child is Angeloupolos'," Shirleigh stated.

Melas slowly nodded.

Juniper was stunned and silent, but Shirleigh feared this was the reason for Kemp's actions.

"Ask her where Angeloupolos is now," said Shirleigh staring into Kemp's eyes, unmoving.

Melas nodded in acknowledgement and turned to Kemp who was trying her best to ignore Shirleigh's icy gaze.

"She says she doesn't know," said Melas. "She hasn't seen him since the day the wedding was supposed to be held."

A brief silence lapsed.

"Ask her if she's taken a bath recently," Shirleigh told Melas. "It is important that you say 'bath' and not 'shower'."

The unprecedented question was enough to snap Juniper out of her shock and a confused look took hold of Melas' features. Shielrigh, however, motioned toward Kemp as if to say 'go on, ask her.'

Melas asked the question posed by Shirleigh and Kemp's initial reaction was that of confusion, understandably so. She shook her head.

"She says that she hasn't taken a bath recently," Melas relayed.

Shirleigh rose from the table.

Suddenly Kemp appeared to grow rather self-conscious and added to her response causing Shirleigh's eyebrow to raise.

"Oh, she says that she primarily takes showers," Melas continued. "I believe she seems to think that you're saying she doesn't smell good..."

Shirleigh's shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"That is not what I was getting at at all. I will say that she has been a great help in this curious affair."

"Huh? Are we done?"

Shirleigh turned to leave the room and Juniper and Melas followed shortly after.

«I agápi kai o víchas den krývontai.»

Melas' eyebrows furrowed as she couldn't quite make out the last of what Miss Kemp had said as they left her residence.

"You figured something out, didn't you?" Juniper asked, a smile on her face. She noticed over time that whenever Shirleigh discovered a breakthrough in a case, a certain aura emanated from her. A confident aura. "Will you fill us in?"

"Miss Kemp is not pregnant."

"What?"

"As a matter of fact, it would be impossible."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Miss Kemp has had a hysterectomy," Shirleigh explained, stopping in her tracks.

"How do you know?" Melas asked.

"The bath question..." Juniper muttered. "That's why you asked about the bath. After having a hysterectomy, it is advised not to take baths or swim in pools for at least six weeks."

Shirleigh smiled.

"But the question was broad," Juniper continued. "How were you able to narrow down her condition as having a hysterectomy?"

"Did you observe anything unusual when we stepped into the house?"

"It was strangely cold," Juniper mentioned. "Especially for this time of year. Most people have the heat turned on. We all kept our coats on, but she seemed to be fine."

"I'm not sure if it matters," Melas began. "But she also appeared to be quite tired. As though she either can't sleep or she's been sleeping a lot recently."

"There was also the maid," Shirleigh added. "She mentioned that she was recently hired by Miss Kemp and often does the grocery shopping."

"Amazing..." Juniper stared in awe as she put the pieces together.

"What? I still don't understand it," Melas scratched the back of her head.

"Miss Kemp is exhibiting signs of menopause. Quite early, I would say, given her young age," Juniper explained. "After a hysterectomy has been performed, it is common for the patient to experience signs of menopause, which include hot flashes and insomnia. It is also advised not to do any heavy lifting after the procedure, which would explain why she hired a new maid to run errands for her."

"You were able to figure all of that just by looking?" Melas exclaimed.

"By observing," Shirleigh corrected.

"So, what do we do now?" Juniper asked.

"Angelopoulos' disappearance is still at large," Shirleigh placed her hands in her coat pockets, her focus set on something in the distance until someone brushed by catching her attention for a moment. She turned her attention to the sky, her hair becoming a chaotic mess in the breeze. "I say all we have to do is find him."

"Sounds easier said than done," Melas muttered and a thought suddenly struck her. "We have to go back..."

"Hm?" Juniper turned to face Melas, who had already taken off toward Miss Kemp's residence once more. "Miss Melas?"

Niki Melas had barged into the Kemp residence to find that the woman they were speaking with just moments prior had fallen unconscious on the table where she was seated. Seconds later, Shirleigh and Juniper found their way back into the dining room and it wasn't long after that that Juniper immediately began to administer aid.

"Damn it..." Melas clenched her fists by her sides as she observed Juniper and the maid move Miss Kemp's limp body to the floor. "If I had recognised it sooner..."

"Recognised what sooner?" Shirleigh wondered as she stood by Melas' side.

"She had mumbled something in Greek as we left earlier but I was unable to immediately translate it since I missed some of what she had said," Melas said. "Then it struck me that it sounded familiar. The phrase she used, which I determined was 'Love and cough cannot be hidden', is spoken at the end of a play that's been making its rounds back in Greece. It is a play of a woman who falls in love with someone but the feeling is unrequited and she eventually takes her own life at the end after delivering this phrase. It means that true feelings will eventually be revealed. I determined that Miss Kemp may have attempted to do the same as the woman in the play..."

They both watched as Juniper rose from beside the body.

"I was able to find a pulse, but her condition is critical," Juniper explained. "I had the maid contact emergency services and they are currently on their way. It is a bit too early to say, but I believe she poisoned herself. Though I am not sure what it was. All we can do is hope for the best."

»»————-　♔　————-««

"I knew I would find you here."

A man who had been standing beside a lone tree for some time whipped around as he heard the voice from behind. Thinking that he was alone, he was taken slightly off guard.

"Stephanos Angelopoulos."

Shirleigh stood several feet before him, her hands in her coat pockets, and the matching baker boy cap atop her head holding on tightly amidst the strong breeze.

"You must be the one the boss was complaining about," he said, turning completely to face her.

One of Shirleigh's eyebrows twitched.

"Said you've been a real pain lately and that you would more than likely foil these plans as well," he continued. "Truth is, you're not foiling anything. While you may be solving these crimes and helping out the people, it isn't inhibiting the boss in the slightest. In fact, they're all just distractions."

"Who are they?" Shirleigh stood strong in the wind, her coat creating an intimidating silhouette in the sunset. "Your 'boss'."

"I'm not at liberty to say. But the boss has written to you several times and yet you never write back."

"So these are connected," Shirleigh's hair now obscured part of her face as the wind tossed it around. "The Whitechapel Murders, the Drebber case, the..."

Shirleigh trailed off as she thought of Moriarty and the strange circumstances that surrounded her case.

"All distractions."

"This one too, then?"

Angelopoulos simply smiled.

"But you didn't want to partake in any of this, did you? A man who was about to celebrate the happiest day of his life. Money and family. Why would you throw all of that away for someone you don't even know? Your fiancée is worried sick, and Winona Kemp attempted to take her own life earlier today. Your actions are negatively affecting those you love, so why?"

"It's not like you to use that word."

Shirleigh's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. Not only was he right, but how would he know her stance on such emotions?

"Not that I have finished playing my role, it is time for me to exit," Angleopoulos' arm trembled as he reached into his coat pocket.

"Wait...!"

Shirleigh darted forward, tackling Angelopoulos to the ground. One of his arms lay outstretched, small tablets in the palm of his hand.

"I am unsure of who is behind all of this, but I will find out the truth and I will save you!" Shirleigh hovered over him, her expression determined and resolute. "All of you!"

»»————-　♔　————-««

Shirleigh arrived at the local hospital centre where Juniper and Niki Melas would be presiding after Miss Kemp's emergency.

"Shirleigh!" Juniper rushed over to her partner, a slightly worried look on her face. "Where did you go?"

"To meet with Stephanos Angelopoulos."

"What? Really? What happened?"

"It seems that this, too, was a part of a larger plot that continues to unfold."

"You mean this is also connected to the previous cases as well?"

Shirlgih nodded.

"Is he alright? Mr Angelopoulos, that is."

"He's fine," Shirleigh reassured her companion. "He is currently in police custody. Latimer is accompanying him to the station."

Juniper's gaze fell to the tile floor. Shirleigh silently observed her for a moment.

"How are you faring?"

"Oh," Juniper folded her hands. "I'm doing fine. I just can't help but think how awful a day this was for Mr Angelopoulos and Miss Latimer, considering they were supposed to get married. I feel even worse for Miss Kemp..."

Shirleigh hummed. "How is Miss Kemp?"

"The doctors say she is doing well and is on the road to a good recovery. If it weren't for Miss Melas' urgency, she might have been done for. I'd say she saved her life."

Juniper glanced back through the glass of Winona Kemp's hospital room, where Niki Melas could be seen performing a sort of prayer over the victim.

"Though it was a difficult case," Juniper said. "People were saved, and I would count that as a success in my book."

Shirleigh silently nodded as she watched Melas finish her prayer and leave the room.