Bella Brown, the amateur detective was reading the newspaper when Amy came running.
“Bella, there is a get together in our school because our school completes 50 years. Meg is coming and you? Your cousin Jessamine is also allowed.”
“Such a good news. Who says that news are not good?”
“Yes so you are coming, right?”
“Of course.”
That day st. Stephen high school was decorated with lights, garlands and was sparkling in the newly completed paint. Though the look was new but the excitement felt by the students remained the same. Bella saw Ikaria Fane and started talking with her.
“Bella, I am getting bored. I want to take a walk in your school’s garden.” Jessamine said
“Ok Jess.”
Jessamine took a walk in the garden. Then she saw Neil.
“Hey Jessamine! Are you not getting bored?”
“Yes of course.”
“What about a picnic near Greenfield park?”
“Good idea. Come on.”
They went to Greenfield Park and Kit; Neil’s best friend joined them. They were talking and playing. Neil challenged Kit to go into a cave nearby. They waited for Kit to come out but in vain. Hours passed by yet he did not come out. Then they called Bella.
Bella came and said “Did you go in and check?”
“No.” Neil said.
“Fools what were you waiting for?”
“You to come, Do not waste time, come on.”
They went inside the cave and saw Kit unconscious. They admitted him in a hospital. Bella decided to carry on some investigation in the cave. When she went inside she found a necklace, just an ordinary one and some newspaper. On the walls of the cave pictures of spiders were drawn. The newspapers were quite old and on one side she discovered a bag. In the bag she found a cell phone. She took the newspapers with her along with the cell phone.
The doctor declared Kit dead. Neil kept weeping the whole day because he considered himself to be guilty for it. In the cell phone a reminder was set written KIT DEAD. On the newspapers an address was untidily scribbled.
“Plot no- 89, Tennis Square, Hamsburg, New York.” Jessamine read.
“Should we go and check what is there?”
“We cousins love mysteries. Don’t we?”
“For sure. Come let’s go.”
“Take Neil as well. After all he is also a integral part of our team.”
They went to that place. An old bungalow stood there in the backdrop of clear sky and golden beaming and radiant sunlight. No person was there but an old guard, though he looked much younger than the bungalow.
“Good morning.” The man said with a smile.
“Good morning. Is this bungalow for sale?” asked Bella.
“No madam. But its new owner has just bought it. He rarely visits this bungalow. He may be interested in selling you. Please tell me your name.”
“Oh! Who is the new owner?”
“I don’t have any idea about his name as I have only met him once for a minute. Most probably Kit Manor. Please tell me your name.”
“Who was the old owner?”
“Ray Greyling. If you do not tell your name how shall I ask him to sell this house to you?”
“Veronica Brown. Thanks for the information.” Bella lied.
“You’re welcome.”
On reaching home Bella called the hospital-
“Hello” Bella said
“Yes madam, what favour do you expect from me?” the receptionist said
‘Can you give the phone to Dr Winget?”
“Yes sure.”
“Hello Dr Winget. This is Bella calling.”
“Yes Bella.”
“Dr Winget, can you give me the details of the death of Kit.”
“Yes Kit consumed or was given poison. When he came here his case was not at all serious but something mysterious happened and in the reports is telling that he died of poison. It is yet to be revealed if it was a murder or a suicide. Kit had regained his consciousness and said that he wanted to live so it couldn’t be a suicide so it could only be a murder.”
“If you come to know anything about Kit’s case then feel free to contact me.”
“Yes Bella sure. Oh wait Kit worked in this hospital so I can answer your queries.”
“How was Kit’s relation with all the workers?”
“Except Ray, Kit had no enemies.”
“Ray was Kit’s enemy?”
“Yes. Ray and Kit were tough competitors but best of friends. Their friendship started worsening when Ray sold Kit his ancestral house but Ray wanted to buy it again from Kit but he refused.”
“Thank you.”
Bella described the phone call to Jessamine and Neil.
“We can ask about them to Ikaria.” Neil said
“How?”
“Ikaria is Kit’s cousin and Ray’s friend.”
“Neil couldn’t you tell it before.”
“I had forgotten.”
They went to Ikaria.
“I really do not know anything. Ray had sold the house as he needed money. Kit had bought it and started living in it. After a month or two Ray came and wanted to buy it again in almost half the price in which it was sold to Kit. Kit obviously refused, anyone sane would. Ray insulted Kit and tried to snatch his job. Kit forgave Ray for everything but Ray insulted him so much that he had to commit suicide.”
“Why did Ray want the house?”
“That house was Ray’s ancestral house. I told him that he was committing a mistake by selling the house to Kit because it was Kit’s dream house and once bought even if Ray gave him thrice the amount he won’t sell it again. Ray wouldn’t sell the house in his dream even but he wanted money. That house for Ray was not merely a house but a family member.”
“Ok thanks.”
“I do not know if it was a suicide or murder but only I know that Ray has an important role to play in Kit’s death.” Neil said
“I think that we should go to the bungalow once again.” Jessamine said.
“Yes. But not we, I.”
“Ok”
The guard welcomed them with the same smile.
“The owner has come you can meet him.”
“Mr Ray Greyling, This is Veronica Brown. Is your bungalow for sale?”
“This is not a bungalow my dream house. It is not for sale.”
“I have already bought it from Mr Kit Manor.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“How is it possible he is dead?”
“How do you know?”
“Of course I know I killed him...............No, no, no, no. He is my best friend. Come in the house.”
After being seated Bella said “I know everything Ray. It got recorded in CCTV camera.”
“So you know it. Ok I confess- I loved this house more than I did myself but I had to sell it. I wanted to buy it again from Kit but he didn’t sell it to me. Apart from that we were both trainee and had tough competitions so I was jealous. I had access to many medicines and by mixing it I made poison. I went to Kit’s room and injected it.”
“I see.”
“You know right. But now I am going to flee through the secret door. I know the password but you do not.” By saying this he fled. Bella was trapped.
“I wish he doesn’t leave the city.” Bella said.
Then she remembered about the security lock in Ray’s mobile. The number was 1243. She tried it and it opened. She thanked her good luck. She called her dad and being a police officer he arrested Ray.
The house went to the govt. and they demolished it and made a playground for kids.
