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Hetalia Cluedo! Book 4--Once a Widow Part 3

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Don't forget to leave your accusations in the comments to play the game! Winners will be listed at the top of part four!

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Feliks had discovered the the body when fetching a broom from the closet. Antonio's corpse fell out and on top of him, sending the poor man into shock. Francois and Sakura were still trying to calm im down in the dining room, while Arthur, Roderich, and Ludwig had followed me to inspect the body.

“Cause of death?” asked Ludwig.

“Off hand, I'd say gunshot wounds,” I replied. Antonio had a small, round hole in his stomach, just below his rib cage, and another in the chest. He had bled out, a huge red stain spreading from the wound, cascading all down the front of his shirt and down onto his pants. “Though it could also be stab wounds. We mustn't rule anything out. And without my tweezers or police equipment, I have no way of seeing if there are bullets in the wounds. We'll have to leave it for the autopsy.”

I inspected the body further. The scratch on his face had scabbed over, but I notice he had acquired new wounds since I had last seen him. A red bruise on his face, possibly he was slapped?

“The blood is still running. The murder was recent. Likely in the last twenty minutes, I'd say,” I continued.

“So someone committed a murder and hid the body just in time for dinner,” Arthur said.

“So it would seem,” I said. “Let's get back to the dining room.”

We rejoined the women and Feliks in the dining room, where the girls had finally gotten the servant under control. “What's the word?” asked Sakura. “Do you know who did it?”

“Antonio was killed very recently, as in the last twenty to thirty minutes,” I said. “Which means that any one of you could have committed this heinous crime.”

“'Crime' may be a stretch of zhe mind,” Francois said.

“Funny you should say that,” I said, approaching her. “As you were the last one of us to enter the dining room.”

“I told you,” she said defensively, “I couldn't find 'im.”

“A convenient alibi,” I scoffed. “Of course, there was one person who joined us after you. Feliks.”

“Me?!” gasped the still-in-shock servant. “I'm the one who discovered the body!”

“That means nothing; many times the murderer will report their own crime in a fool attempt to throw the cops off their tail,” I said. “And it didn't have to be you. Everyone here had motive. Could it have been the scorned fiancee? The protective servant? The jealous former fling? The concerned professor? The victimized damsel? Or the riled colonel acting on someone else's orders?”

“So what now?” Sakura asked.

“There are holes in the story that need filling in,” I said, taking a seat at the head of the table. “If I'm going to solve this murder, I need to know everyone's movements leading up to and during the time of the murder.” I pointed to Arthur. “Starting with you.”

“Me?” the Brit asked.

“I want to know what you had to talk to the Madam about earlier this afternoon, before I found you in the lounge,” I said.

“Must I?” he grimaced.

“Nothing says you have to tell,” I shrugged. “Of course, the cloud of suspicion would linger over your head.”

“Go ahead, Arzhur,” Francois urged. “Zhere's nozhing to  'ide.”

Arthur gulped a bit and sighed. “Very well.”

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FLASHBACK—4:06 P.M. AND ARTHUR'S POV
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“Wait for me in zhe ballroom; zhis won't take long,” the Madam said, escorting Detective _______ and Antonio out of the study. When the door closed behind them we both stood in silence for a minute. Then Francois opened the door a crack and looked around for any eavesdroppers, a habbit we adopted whenever the detective was in the house. I'm sorry, _______; I'm sure it's what makes you so good at your job, but you are a tried and true snoop.

Once we were sure _______ wasn't holding a cup to the door, Francois asked, “What did you wish to talk about?”

“You know what,” I said. “Why, Francois? I know sometimes we're at each other like cats and dogs, but I always thought...I thought that...you and I...”

“Arzhur, 'ow long did you expect me to wait?” she said. “I'm in my forties and you are not far behind me. We cannot play zhe 'romantic interests' for zhe rest of our lives. I want commitment! It's all I've zhought about since I finally decided to move on from Francis.”

“Well, I- F-fine! I'll give you commitment!” I got down on one knee. “Francois, will you marry me?”

“Arzhur, I am engaged!” she groaned. “Regardless of what you zhink of 'im, 'e made zhe move I've been waiting for from you for zhe past five years! You can't just suddenly decide you want to marry me now zhat I'm suddenly out of your grasp!”

“Francois, you know I love you! Please, tell me, what can I do to win you back?” I asked.

“Arzhur, please be mature about zhis--”

“I'm not going to lose you to him!” I insisted. “Please! Anything! Just tell me I still have a chance.”

Francois took a deep breath and thought for a minute. She glided to her desk and took a seat, resting her chin on her hands. Finally she said, “Arzhur, I am engaged.”

“Francois, I know, but--”

“I am engaged,” she repeated. “From what I can tell, zhat is zhe only zhing keeping you and me apart.”

I stared at her for a bit, not sure where this was going. “...Yes?” I urged her on.

“If you can convince Antonio to end zhe engagement, I will marry you,” she said.

I stared with disbelief. “B-but couldn't you--”

“I told you, Arzhur, I 'ave been waiting for zhis,” she said, defiantly. “I will not be zhe one to end zhis. Zhat is zhe term of my engagement. If Antonio will not marry me, I will marry you.” She rose from the desk and moved to the door. “Until zhen, I will be planning my wedding in zhe ballroom. Unless you would like to speak to Antonio before I get zhere?” She turned to me, expecting action.

I knew what she wanted me to do, but...I was defeated. I couldn't bring myself to confront him. She sighed and left the room. I left shortly after her to drown my sorrows in the lounge.

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PRESENT TIME AND YOUR POV
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“So you were given the opportunity to marry Madam Bonnefoy if you managed to get Antonio out of the way,” I said, contemplating the information. “Could it be that you twisted this into an excuse for murder?”

“I will not be insulted like this!” Arthur spat. “Yes I hated him, but I didn't kill him!”

“So you say,” I scoffed. “But I'm done with you for now. I'd like to question you now, Ludwig.”

“Vhat vould you know?” he asked.

“You cut our conversation in the lounge short, running out saying Sakura had taken your gun with her,” I stated. “Where did you go?”

“I chased Sakura down zhe hall,” he said. “I eventually caught her in zhe art studio.”

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FLASHBACK—4:53 P.M. AND LUDWIG'S POV
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I knew no good could come from allowing Sakura to hold onto my gun. Especially with that silencer attached, I knew she would get ideas. I wouldn't allow her to become a murderer, at least not using a weapon registered under my name. I could see her ahead of me in the hallway.

“Sakura!” I called. “Sakura wait!”

“Get away from me, Rudwig!” she shouted back.

“Sakura, give me back my gun!” I called, managing to close the gap between us a bit.

“And reave myserf defenseress against that Spanish pig? I don't think so!” she said.

I finally caught up to her and grabbed her by the wrists. She struggled in my grip, trying to break away. I noticed we were outside the art studio, so I gently pulled her inside and closed the door. As I continued to hold her, she continued to fight. I tried to grab the gun from her, but as we struggled one of us pulled the trigger and a bullet went into the ceiling. When she saw this, Sakura began to break into tears and her hold on the revolver weakened. I took the opportunity to slip the revolver from her hand and replace it on my person, where I knew it would be safe.

Sakura stopped fighting and finally began to cry. She pressed herself against my chest and allowed me to hold her gently. “I'm scared,” she sobbed out.

“You know Francois von't zhrow you out,” I comforted. “You and her have been friends for almost ten years, she vould never betray you like zhat.”

“Not unress she feers I betrayed her first,” she said. “And even if she doesn't throw me out, what's to stop Antonio from trying something again? I have no interest in him; especiarry if he's with Francois! If this marriage goes through, I'rr never be abur to feer safe in my own home!”

“I promise you, Sakura, ve'll zhink of somezhing,” I said, stroking her hair. “Vhy not sketch a little? Drawing alvays makes you feel better.”

She reached onto her desk and picked up the fine point pen in thought. But she sighed and said, “Normarry it does, but I'm not feering very inspired at the moment.”

“A change of venue zhen,” I offered. “Bring your pen and sketchbook to zhe lounge; a drink and a sunny spot by zhe vindow overlooking zhe roses vill put you in zhe mood.”

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PRESENT AND YOUR POV
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“And from zhere zhe two of us vent back to zhe lounge so Sakura could calm down,” Ludwig finished.

“And is the revolver still on your person?” I asked. In response, the colonel pulled the revolver from his jacket pocket and placed it in front of me. I first picked up the barrel and sniffed. Fired recently, though if what Ludwig said was true, that should be obvious. I then opened the barrel to inspect the bullets. “Where's the ammunition?” I asked. The revolver was empty.

“I don't know,” Ludwig replied. “It was full before. One shot in the ceiling of the studio, that means there should still be five bullets inside.”

“They must have farren out in the rounge,” Sakura said.

I turned to her. “Why and how would the bullets have fallen out in the lounge?”

“Werr,” she said, taking a seat in one of the chairs, “As Rudwig said, we went to the rounge so I could rerax and try to get a grip. But then...HE showed up.”

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FLASHBACK—5:20 P.M. AND SAKURA'S POV
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I had situated myself at the window, sketchbook and pen in hand and Ludwig watching over my shoulder. He was at least right on this account; sketching was calming me down. Antonio was still haunting my mind, but for now there was a distance between us and I was at peace.

But it wouldn't last. Ludwig and I turned to the sound of the opening door, and who should enter but the man of the hour? “Ah! Hola mi amigos!” he said cheerfully, as if he hadn't attacked me earlier today.

“Hmph,” I scoffed. “You have a rot of nerve, thinking I'd torerate being in the same room as you after that performance this afternoon. But I am not arone this time. I suggest you be on your way, or the colonel wirr dear with you properry.”

“Sakura,” Ludwig whispered, “Vhile I am more zhan happy to protect you, I don't appreciate being used as a veapon of mass destruction.”

“Now now,” Antonio chuckled, moving to the bar and beginning to fix himself a drink. “If we are to live in the same house together, we must learn to act civil, si?”

“Civur?!” I exclaimed, jumping up and slamming my pad and pen onto the table. “That's it! I can't stand this any more!”

I grabbed Ludwig by his coat and tried to grab the revolver from his pocket. He of course tried to stop me from doing something impulsive, but I was doing what had to be done. I managed to grab the gun but, before I could get in a decent shot, Ludwig knocked it from my hands and onto the floor, where I assume the bullets all fell out upon impact.

Antonio laughed at the stunt. “Some protector! Won't even allow you to act!”

“Laughing at a girl who just tried to end you life is not a vise move,” Ludwig warned, picking up his now empty gun.

“You wouldn't dare touch me,” the Spaniard teased. “Do you think I'm dense? Francois provides for all of you. I've watched all of you clamor to stay on her good side. The only person in Francois' inner circle not groveling at her feet is that detective, and it's easy enough to stay out of her way. She's no fun anyway; always covered up in those pantsuits and coats. You on the other hand,” he began approaching me, “You act like you're appalled by human touch, but at the same time you're always wearing those sleeveless dresses and short skirts. You're nothing but a tease.”

I was grinding my teeth listening to the whole monologue. I could tell Ludwig was losing patience as well. Once Antonio was within arm's reach, I took my chance. I slapped him hard across the face. I tried to storm away, but he grabbed my wrist hard. But Ludwig had my back. No sooner did Antonio grab me did Ludwig get a firm hold on him and pushed the Spaniard over the back of the couch. As soon as I was able, I stormed out of the lounge, Ludwig on my heels, leaving that bastard Antonio alone.

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PRESENT AND YOUR POV
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“And where did you go from there?” I asked.

“Outside, for a smoke,” Sakura replied. “Both of us.”

“And you were together the whole time?”

“No,” Ludwig said. “I had to use zhe restroom, so I left Sakura alone for about five minutes.”

“Hardry enough time to commit a murder,” Sakura said.

“So you say,” I said skeptically. I turned to the professor. “And where you you during all of this?”

“I vas in zhe library, grading thesis papers,” Roderich replied. “I've been very busy all day.”

“And you Feliks?” I asked.

“Like, in the kitchen mostly,” Feliks said. “In and out on occasion.”

“Were you there when Antonio came to check the fuse box?”

“Like, yeah, I was washing off the cake knife when he came in,” he said. “He toyed with the fuse for about, like, five minutes before giving up. Not much of a try if you ask me, but, like, he knocked out the kitchen power, like, twice in that time, so I was more than happy to see him leave.”

“And did he report back to you afterwords?” I asked Francois.

She shook her head. “No; zhat was zhe last time I saw 'im alive.”

“Which I suppose means he went straight to the lounge,” I thought aloud. “The question is, where did he go from there?” I turned to Arthur. “And what about you, Kirkland?”

“What about me?” he repeated.

“What became of you when Francois asked you to retrieve the candlestick?”

“I did just that,” he explained. “But when I got back to the study, the flame had gone out on the wick, so I had to dig through the drawers to find the lighter again. All-in-all, it probably took me about ten minutes to get back to the ballroom, but when I got back Francois was gone.”

“Sounds about right,” I nodded. “Francois had left by then to find Antonio.” I rose from my place. “I think I have everything I need from you for now. I say it's time to investigate the rooms in the manor. As it was the scene of so many of today's events, I think we should check the lounge first.”

I lead the way down the hall to the lounge. Inside, a few things caught my eye. The first was the pad of paper and the pen sitting on the end table by the window. Then were the bullets on the floor. “Five,” I counted. “All the shots are here. Which means the revolver could not have been the murder weapon.” Then I turned to the antique dagger on the mantle. “Feliks I thought you polished that dagger? It's covered in fingerprints.”

“What?!” exclaimed the servant. “Like, I just put that back an hour ago! What is it with, like, people and touching things in this house?!”

“Could it be zhe murder veapon?” asked the professor.

“Possibly,” I said. “But there's no blood on the blade.”

“Well, obviously any intelligent murderer would wipe the blood off,” Arthur said.

“Yes, but then the fingerprints would be smudged from the rag used to clean it. All the fingerprints on the blade are clean and intact,” I explained.

“So someone picked it up...and just put it back? For no reason?” asked Francois.

“I don't know, I really just don't know,” I said with a sigh. “For now, let's relocate to the study. Something is bugging me.”

We maneuvered through the halls to the study. Inside, the pistol was still on top of the desk and I saw the lighter still on the corner where Arthur left it before. “Could he have been shot vith Francois' pistol?” asked Ludwig.

I picked up the gun and sniffed. “Hasn't been fired. Couldn't be.” Then I noticed something was off. “One of the candlesticks is gone.”

“I told you,” Arthur said. “I lit it and took it to the ballroom for Francois. It's still there.”

“Wait—you left a lit candlestick unattended in zhe ballroom?!” exclaimed Francois. “She ran out of the study. We all followed after her to the ballroom. She ran inside, saw the still burning candle and quickly puffed it out. The wax from the candle had dripped all down the candlestick and onto the table. “Oh great,” she sighed. “We'll be chipping the wax away from the candlestick and table for days to come.”

“'We'?” Feliks asked skeptically.

“If you're all satisfied,” I said, crossing my arms. “I believe I finally have enough to close this case. I know who the murderer is.”
Who killed Antonio Fernandez? Leave your accusations below!

Suspects:
France
Germany
Poland
Japan
Austria
England

Weapons:
Pistol
Revolver
Pen
Candlestick
Knife
Dagger

Rooms:
Ballroom
Study
Kitchen
Dining Room
Art Studio
Lounge

Word your accusations like this: "It was (Country) in the (Room) with the (Weapon)." Good Luck!
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