Diana set out from her apartment the next morning, a little tired but otherwise fine. Argil had tried to insist on assigning her protection, but she had refused, knowing how hard it could make her job moving forward.

     Biking across town, Diana made her way to the Albrecht Confectionery, a factory outside of town where her next suspect, Blaine Albrecht, could be found. The man himself was waiting for her at the gate and waved to her as she approached.

     Blaine Albrecht was a stout man, about a head shorter than Diana. He wore a simple white shirt under a dark blue blazer, as well as a pair of matching pants and black wingtip shoes. He had dark skin with grey hair and was balding on top.

     Dismounting her bike, Diana nodded politely to the limping security guard who took hold of her bike, escorting it into the booth.

     “Mr. Albrecht, I wasn’t expecting you out here.”

     “When one of my colleagues turns up murdered, I make the case a priority.” Albrecht stamped out his cigarette and the barricade opened, “This is all such dreadful business, I’ll see you personally to my office.”

     “Thank you, sir.” Diana’s OI came up once more, scanning the security guard’s face as she prepared to take notes, “Had some excitement recently?”

     “Hm?”

     “Your guard seemed to be limping.”

     “Oh, him. He’s always coming in with injuries, but I don’t like to inquire into my employee’s personal lives.”

     “You seem to trust him quite a bit.”

     “He’s never done me wrong before.”

     Entering the factory, the passed by a few grungy mechanics and onto a catwalk, taking them up and over the main facility. Hundreds of machines worked away below them, creating all manner of candy from chocolate to rock, not to mention a terrible racket.

     “Sir, you said Mr. Chambers was a colleague of yours. Was he a business partner?”

     “Yes, he very much was. He invested a healthy sum of the fortune he inherited when I first started, we were good friends in college you see, and in exchange he gets a good portion of our profit.” It was hard to hear Albrecht over the machinery, but her OI helpfully supplied subtitles for the conversation. She could see by his own OI that Albrecht’s was doing the same.

     “How much of a portion are we talking about?”

     “Oh, at one time it was twenty percent, but in recent years I’ve talked him down to as low as thirteen percent.”

     “That’s still quite a lot of money to be losing.”

     “I would hardly call it losing, old Atticus was always ready if something went wrong. I’m not ashamed to say he bailed us out once or twice.”

     Albrecht opened the door to his office and waved Diana in, shutting it behind them and largely drowning out the noise. He circled around and took a seat at his desk, offering Diana a lollipop.

     “Have you had any disagreements with Mr. Chambers recently?” Diana asked, taking the lollipop with a grateful nod and pocketing it.

     “Oh, only the same old arguments all friends have. We argued over the weather, or over a game of golf, but they were trifling matters.”

     “Where were you at nine PM, the night of the murder?”

     “Well, I was enjoying a rousing game of Go fish with my young nephew, if I recall.”

     “Can anyone confirm your alibi?”

     “Yes indeed, my sister was there with us.” Albrecht nodded, “Though I’m afraid she didn’t do very well.”

     “Are you at all familiar with one Mr. Ethan Miller?”

     “Who?”

     “Diode.”

     “Oh, the young lad… a dreadful business. I do wish I could help clear his name; he seems like a fine young man.”

     “You’re familiar?”

     “Oh yes, I met him at an event last year. I can’t say I enjoy his music, but he was amicable enough, and fiery about every cent from the event going to charity.”

     “There was doubt about that?”

     “One Miss Hecate Williams was rather interested in taking a cut of the profit. I don’t believe she got a cent in the end.”

     “Hecate Williams, you say?”

     “You’re familiar?”

     “I’m afraid I am, yes.”

     “Oh, I wouldn’t talk like that around her. Though I can’t say I disagree with the sentiment!” Albrecht laughed heartily, “Will that be all?”

     “Yes, it will, thank you for your time.” Diana stood up, her OI shutting off as she did.

     “Of course. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call.”

     “I’ll do just that.” She nodded, making her way out of the factory.

     She swore she caught the guard grimacing as she approached, but he quickly hid his sour look and waved goodbye as she mounted her bike. Diana returned the wave with a quick smile and pedaled off, heading back into town with renewed vigor.