ARCHIE

It’s been five days since the event in my waiting room. Megan submitted the report of the coroner to the general council and a decree was issued that samples of all the drugs I administered to my deceases patients be tested. I knew what the results was going to be already because Megan had taken it upon herself to inform me. I expected them to find the same type of poison found in the victim's body inside my drug. I was already working on the speech I was going to give in council to defend myself, but when I read the result brought to me by the council guards this morning, my mood brightened up. It said my drugs were clean.      

    The next day after Megan’s visit, I went to inspect the bodies of my diseased patients for myself. I took my coroner with me, so I was certain I could believe the report. He confirmed to me that they had indeed been poisoned.  

I would never intentionally harm my patients but I wasn’t naïve. I knew how delicate those drugs were. The slightest variation in composition could be fatal.

Was someone trying to blackmail me or did I really manufacture the drugs wrongly?

I concluded that if the latter was the case, I really was responsible for those deaths, and would willingly take responsibility for my actions. But if the former was the case, someone, most likely Megan, was involved in this. If Megan was involved, she most likely has the council involved. All that was left was the final sentencing.

    Thankfully, I had been wrong. I was innocent, thanks to the result of the drug testing. The council let me go for now, but I was to remain in the capital until the case was resolved, just in case I was needed for further questioning.

***

    Eve walked into my bedroom holding a bowl of cereal. I’ve asked her not to do that countless times, but she never listens.

    “What did the council say?” she asked as she sat on my bed.

    “They let me go for now until further investigations.

She paused for a second. “What further investigations?”

    “Someone at the council tried to insinuate that I could have changed the drugs before submitting it for evaluation.”

    She nodded her head as she contemplated the theory for a second then resumed eating her cereal.

    “Are you trying to think objectively, as usual?” I asked with sarcasm.

    Her nonchalant attitude toward this case this entire time has been very provocative. Thankfully, all of this was finally over. It was very hurtful that I had received no emotional support from her this entire time, but maybe she didn’t understand how serious this was.

    “It’s a very reasonable speculation,” she replied.

She is really pushing it this time?

    “So, you agree that I could have changed the drugs?” I placed my hand on my chest emphasising my point.

    She smirked “You didn’t, I did”

What was she talking about?

    My brows furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

The sound of hurried footsteps approaching my door disrupted us. What was going on?

    “We are not done talking about this young lady”. She rolled her eyes as I went to answer the door.

    Tory stood there with a panicked expression on her face.

    “What is going on?”

    I looked beyond her to the empty corridor. Why had she been running earlier? Things were already crazy enough around here.

    “My Lo...rd.” she said, panting profusely, “the council guards are here.”

    “What for?! Take me to them immediately”. Giving Eve a final chiding glance, I shut the door behind me and followed Tory as she led the way to the guards.

    “What is the meaning of this, Gerald?” I bellowed at the chief guard the moment I sighted him. “How dare you make a scene at my home?”

     The council had sent four guards to my home. Four meant something was terribly wrong. I didn’t want to think about the reason they were here. If this had anything to do with what I heard Eve say... No, it just couldn’t be. I must have misheard. This was just a big misunderstanding.

    “My lord,” he said with a bow, “your ward has been summoned.”

    I froze. Did they want Eve? What could they want her for? Did it have anything to do with what she just admitted to?

    She suddenly cleared her throat beside me. I hadn’t even realised she was following me.

    She stepped forward and offered herself to the guards.

    “I won’t let you take her. She has nothing to do with the council. This must be a misunderstanding. I will come with you to the council.”

    The guards turn to Gerald in confusion. They clearly didn’t agree with my logic, but they wouldn’t dare to refuse me.

    “It’s okay Archie. You are putting them in a difficult situation. I’ll go with them. It’s all right.”

    She gives me a reassuring smile before leading the way out of the house.

    What had just happened? “Tori” I shouted, “ask the butler to get the car ready, am going to the council.”

    I move into motion quickly. Rushing to my room, I change into something presentable and hurry down. Tori was standing by the doorway with the butler beside her. They both had a worried expression on their face.

    “My Lord, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to council right now. If you cause a disturbance there, Miss Eve would only get into more trouble,” Tory said.

    She was right. Going there right now might end up escalating the whole situation. I listened to reason and stayed back. I would get to the bottom of this mess when Eve returns.