EPISODE FIVE

'the castle on the building'

"THERE WAS MORE to the file he sent me," Leon said, holding a mug of tea to his lips while one hand was as on his hip.

I copied this movement, bringing the mug to my own while keeping a view of the boys. Back in work mode, we all moved to another door in Dr. Hamel's office. This one less bright and less smelling of sharp disinfectants; more wood and a lower lighting. Dr. Hamel held court behind his own desk after offering a fragrant tea that smelled starkly of flowers, Leon was standing, unable to look anything less but a picturesque model yet something in his demeanor, his expressions, his tone - was wrong.

But I kept mum, sitting beside the inspector quietly, who offered me a load of sugar to which I politely declined. He took a spoonful and dunk it into a swirling black.

I tried not to wince.

"I've already opened it, but it was requested that I watch it in a place far more suitable for immersion. In his taste."

"In Dominic's taste?" James frowned. "That doesn't sound safe."

"It's only a video... but we both know how dramatic Dominic can get." Leon set down his mug, his expression curiously wrong in all the small ways. It was the same strategising, figuring out the puzzles look he got when he was deducing and picking apart things, matching them, and then finishing with an aha! once he's figured out his puzzle.

But there was an air to it, a curve of certain feeling of wrongness...

"He's theatrical," he continued, voice a crisp, cool undertone. An assessment of a character, of a puzzle. "Dominic liked to play with games he can't control. In a way that he makes the board, figures out the gameplay, then throw completely ambiguous characters together and watch them make it interesting. They can all have one thing in common or nothing at all. Dominic was many things, he maybe a great friend in many ways, but he was also sadistic. Watching people play his games whether they liked it or not is a personal pleasure. Part of his repertoire was to make a play and watch it burn."

Leon stood straight, expression grim. "A summarisation won't do the entire charade justice, but to keep it concise until we can watch it: Dominic knew exactly he was going to die. He kept it classic. A textbook mystery novel. He invites seven people in the premise of a party. But this time, these people - according to him - had one thing in common."

No one wanted to voice it, but the sneaky little suspicion in our heads did not go unheard. Leon was the one who answered in the end, his face, curiously blank.

"They all wanted him dead."

... To drop a bomb like that needed an incredible explanation, and we all blinked, impatient for more, but Leon merely shook his head and insisted on about Dominic's place.

"Why Dominic's?" Dr. Hamel asked, spinning a pen between his forefinger and thumb.

"Because that's the crime scene," James said, his face stiff. "It's just been cleared today. Part of the video I got was to let Leon 'work as he usually did'." He rubbed his face. "Even cold, he's not going to make this easy, bloody hell."

"And part of the video I got insisted we watch the other video, the longer one, in his house," said Leon. "I've skimmed it at best, and he introduces people - suspects. Mentioning a party that he was going to make. 'Revealing their deepest, darkest desires'."

"And that's Off-ing him, huh?" James raised an eyebrow.

"Apparently. I don't know. Wendy and I will be going first if you'll allow it. I know both of you are still on duty." Leon stuffed his hands on his pants' pockets, appearing nonchalant. But I can see his impatience. The itch to move and do something.

James nodded. "Do whatever, the job's done there either way. We didn't touch anything apart from the bagged items. They're all marked what and where, but I can give you a list of everything before it was fished out for the labs. Best to follow through with a dead man's wish," he grumbled.

Dr. Hamel nodded. "We'll be there later tonight."

"Where are you going to stay by the way?" James asked, standing up. "You should probably sort that out, as well as Wendy's transportation back. If you want to head straight for Dom's penthouse, I can give Wendy a ride b-"

" - No need for that," Leon cut him off sharper than he must've intended because he cleared his throat right away, answering normally after. "Wendy's coming with me."

James raised an eyebrow at him. Then me. I nodded. I'll be okay. "... Alright. I'm sure you'll be fine at a five star. There's a Ritz close to Dom's penthouse."

"We'll be fine." Leon said it in a way that made James look at him. Properly look at him the way I've been noticing. Leon turned to me. "I'll get the car out at the front."

As he left, Dr. Hamel stood up and James walked closer. I felt cornered but not threatened. It was Dr. Hamel who spoke first, his voice low and clear.

"I know this is a lot to ask, Miss Cain, especially coming from me, but we can't deny that Leon favours you. Or at least, eased by your presence. If you find a way to monitor him -"

James made a face. "Isn't monitor too strong of a word?"

"Regardless, if you could find a way to keep your eyes on him so he wouldn't do anything rash, or stupid, if you could keep him from hurting himself - or others, I would very much appreciate it."

"I can see where you're going with this, but how can you be sure I can do anything if he puts his mind to it?" I think we could all agree that Leon Song was not someone who could be stop once his mind was set.

Dr. Hamel sighed. "I understand your concerns, Miss Cain. But from what I can see, you're the only person he's letting in his headspace. The only person who he's permitted to be close enough to stop him."

"... Right," James finished the thought, giving Dr. Hamel a weird look, then spun me by my shoulders to the exit. "Now that you've had the serious talk with the mother in law, Christ, let's escort you out."

"I heard that!"

"You were supposed to, you creepy bastard!"

As soon the door swung close, he offered a hand for me to walk ahead. At our ascend up - with the inspector muttering, "fucking stairs" - James spoke up, his voice loud against the small space filled with nothing but echoes.

"He's not wrong though. Despite the creepy phrasing, something about you since the Library case has made a strong presence on Leon. You're someone who he's become dependent on."

"I'm - "

James shook his head. "What you do with that fact is completely your choice, Wendy. Mor was right; you're the best person who can talk to him if he does or thinks of doing something in a flash that could potentially endanger him or someone else. But I have to warn you, if you do want to continue with this case as someone close to Leon, the world that you're about to enter, Leon and Dominic's, isn't a nice one. It may look posh and pretty on the outside, but you realise it's actually a horror film waiting to happen."

I stopped and turned. "What? What's that about?"

James looked flustered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, you'll see what I mean. Something about this is so much more than a murder announced by the victim hours before he was killed. This case isn't going to be pretty, I've already understood that. But it's not just because of Dominic, or even the whole video thing. It's also the setting. It's people. The circles Leon and Dominic came from isn't... I guess the word for it, is easy."

James sighed and smiled wryly. "I guess, it'll be easier for you to understand when you've actually been there firsthand. If it makes you feel any better, the first time I got in that circle myself I was a rookie copper and I hated every bit of it. I hated both of them too back then, but especially Dominic. Pompous prat..." He blinked, swallowed, then nodded ahead again. "But I'm sure you'll survive. You seem stronger than you look."

---

The ride to the penthouse was a stonewall quiet affair. It wasn't awkward as it was tensed. Leon was busy in his mind, his body almost moving on autopilot. The only rise I saw out of him was when we met the guard of the building that was made of nothing but glass and pristine. You could just tell from the street that this wasn't what you call the usual suburbs that had their cup of tea with pleasant old ladies. Leon had put on his usual affair of smiles and charm, an automatic response with the card the inspector gave and a password key for the building, and we were in.

From the parking to the elevator ride, it was dead quiet.

When the elevator opened, I was already overwhelmed by Dominic's penthouse. His floor was a house mansion on its own, situated at the very top like a sparkly crown atop a head, and it needed two passwords to enter.

A dark interior was what greeted us. For Leon, this could be a surfacing memory, but this was new to me. Everything was black - from the matte tiles to the glossy walls to the uncomfortable looking sofa set in the middle with a circular pit that seemed to be some sort of indoor camping fire encased in glass, and the black fur rug that popped underneath it.

I could see hallways reaching past it all, and the open floor to ceiling glass windows that was covered in heavy black curtains that was directly opposite us across the massive living room space. From where there is glass and black theme, it was all lined and hinted in gold. On either side of the elevator itself was a twin set of golden panthers in a frozen state of prowling; front paws forward, eyes sharp.

Their eyes glinted in rubies.

Jesus.

"Welcome to the Prince Penthouse," Leon said, a faint smile on his lips. "You must be hungry. We'll have to wait for the other two to arrive before we start on the video, so we better eat first. And maybe explore the rooms? This way, you can familiarise yourself with the crime scene."

"Do you know how to cook?" I asked as he pulled apart his coat and gestured for mine. "I can make something if you'd like." Then I blinked. If there's even ingredients in this place. This looked nothing of a warm house where you can picture a fully stocked fridge.

Leon smiled gently as if he read my mind. "Yeah, even without the Inspector pulling apart evidences inside a fridge, Dominic never really used it. Or his kitchen. I'll call someone downstairs to bring up some food."

"You can do that here?"

"For the Prince Penthouse? They will. I'll make the call. Make yourself comfortable."

As he left... to call somewhere, I blew a raspberry. "Alright then." This was what Quinn and James warned me about. Or not even it. This isn't even a peek in itself, this was just before the show where you can see everything without the play itself. You can see the set, the props, but not the actors.

This was a scene before the scene itself. The stage in bare bones and organs ready to function. Ready to move to life.

As his voice rose in the polite, cheery tone he used with the guard across the silent suite, I floated away and started noting. This was what he asked and this is what we came here for. And this was the best thing I could do for him.

There was one hallway and a staircase at the end that had another hallway and more rooms. There were a total of nine rooms, with the master's with double doors designed in glossy ornate carvings and the edges in golden roses and vines. None of the rooms but the master's opens up on the second floor, and as soon as I heard the click, I closed it back up. The rooms at the bottom were mostly closed as well, saved for what I presumed was an office with an expanse of a library (had my fair share of those enough that I closed it just as fast), and a private dining room that opened by the knob but was caught up in yellow tape all over the door. I didn't force it open.

The room felt like a puzzle itself, but I focused on the rest of the details. How large the paintings and tapestries of modern and art as old as 17th century filled the walls on the hallways. How there were potted plants in its corners like perfectly capable soldiers, armed and ready. And even though I wasn't proficient in plants or general plant knowledge, they obviously weren't normal house plants. They were wild and smelled strong. Obviously foreign.

The curious thing about it was how the rooms felt cold and empty, even the closed ones when I checked with four of my fingers stuck underneath the small opening of the door, but the hallway felt warm and plants, as I touched one leafy branch, was wet with moisture that obviously helped it grow.

The black backdrop was a set, and everything that was put to decorate it was meant to be looked at. Like it demanded to overwhelm you and nothing else. It was a close to empty stage with little props. But in its limited quantity were sharply decorated quality. You look at everything at once and the room suddenly feels small. Overwhelming. You want to avert your eyes but the feel was caging, hopeless.

It was a small panic attack waiting to happen.

When I went back to the living room, the heavy curtains were opened to reveal the top most of the London skyline and a pool that moved with the faint breeze and showed the dark clouds as it moved in a slow procession of grey.

Leon was sat on one edge of the elongated sofa and the glass campfire in the middle was faintly burning. He smiled as a welcome to my arrival. "What do you think?"

"Of the penthouse?"

"Hm."

"Nothing short of cold grandeur, but even you know that."

"Yes, well. People like things that catch their eye. Dominic had a taste of the things that really catch the eye." He tilted his head. "You've configured more than that of course. You look things beyond that. You find the niches and uncover them. What can you tell me about Dominic Prince?"

"Based on his house?"

"Based on how he lives. Lived."

We both ignored his mistake. "Honestly?"

Like an indulgent parent, he smiled again, nodding. "I expect nothing else."

"This is a house but not a home. It feels more like a museum than anything. It isn't just that it doesn't feel lived in, it was centred to look like that. It was on purpose. The all black backdrop, the things - to the very little details of plants, its pots, and even the heating system of the house separated in hallways and in rooms, vents blowing separately and specifically for the plants that was bought from obvious tropical countries that had less cold and more warmth - everything about this place moved in a synchronised production to display. To just exist. Like a human body."

Leon blinked. "And what does that tell you?"

"Same thing as what everyone said so far, except a little better. Dominic Prince liked a production. He liked the audience. The feel of their gazes. He liked the attention. But best of all, he liked the feeling of shock. Of almost the most unpleasant emotion he could elicit. He liked that he could disturbed."

I sat down opposite of him. Not as carefree in pose, but it I matched his eye level. A couple of inches in height could do that. "You were right. He was sadistic. Not as much as truly disturbing thought, but enough to have pleasure in eliciting unpleasant emotions from people. But you know what I also thought?"

He cleared his throat. His face had shifted at my little speech, but he hid it almost perfectly. 

"Yes?"

"That Dominic Prince was lonely. Before you can achieve an audience, you have to charm them to get them closer. Like a moth to a flame. But to be a ringmaster to that kind of thing, no one would've liked you."

"Hm. So it's really not a big thought that he died around the people that hated him?"

"Et tu, Brute, indeed."

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NEXT

EPISODE 06

THE MAGICIAN TELLS ALL

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!!!

From the last notice, please send in your queries for a Q&A session before episode 06 is posted! Let's make this depressing start a bit fun lmao

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