Capítulo 38: Back again

In Nash's office, the four men gathered. They were standing around the desk. Nash placed his hands on the desk and looked around.

"First, I will present what I have learned and then you guys can speak, first Benton, then Elfric and finally Hale," Nash said looking at the men.

"Nell went to her uncle's place and went to an inn on its way. The innkeeper didn't see her after that. He also told about a man who was in the inn the day before. He gave me a paintbrush that was dropped by that man," Nash said placing the paintbrush on the table.

"Hallie went missing in the capital town when her maid lost her. Again, the maid saw a similar-looking man like the innkeeper saw."

"It is also curious that a similar-looking man was spotted by Piper's seller and Ash's bodyguard."

"Sir, a nun who was at the Chesterfield temple and the launderers of Chesterfield also said about a weird-looking man," Benton said.

Nash's eyes widened. "Tell me how they described him."

"It was said that he had a crooked nose. His face was pimpled and he had a slouching back. He carried brushes and called people 'art defilers'." Benton replied.

The eyes of Elfric and Hale widened. Nash saw that. "It seems that a similar-looking man also appeared in your scenes."

Elfric and Hale nodded to that.

"Well then, we have our suspect. Now we need to find. Based on the location of the crimes, he should be Dihel. I also sensed the crux from the brush in the capital town. So I think he should be living near here," Nash said crossing his hands.

"I will report this to the king so that we can find this man," Nash said walking to the door.

He climbed onto his horse, holding its reins and went to the palace.

A council was being held when Nash reached the palace.

"We should find someone else. This finder is taking way too long," one man complained.

"Yes. The culprit could have fled by the time we find him," another added in.

"But who else is there?"

Nash's shoes echoed through the hall and every eye fell on him. Nash went to the king and bowed.

"My grace. I have a possible culprit. He should be living near the capital town. He is possibly a madman and an artist. He had a crooked nose, pimpled face, receding hair line and a slouching back. I request you to put a few Mansabdar for finding this man."

"You only found this much after such a long time?" The blonde man scoffed.

"Silence, I will do what is needed," the king said.

"Thank you my grace," Nash bowed and exited the palace. He went back to his office and saw that his men were waiting.

"What will we do now?" Hale asked worriedly.

"Now we wait," Nash said sitting on his chair.

Two days after, Nash got a calling from the king.

'Finally,' he thought. He put on a black overcoat over his white shirt, a black top hat, grey pants and brown leather shoes. He went outside and got on his grey horse and went to the palace.

He went between the council to the king and bowed.

"Thank you for coming Nash. A butcher in the north side of the capital town had reported seeing a man as you described. He also said that the culprit's name is Marvin and he has been living there for some time."

"I thought about you and felt that it is only right if you are there when we catch him," the king said.

"Thank you my grace," Nash said bowing.

Nash, Benton, Elfric and Hale along with three Mansabdar went to the place where Marvin lived. Nash went to the front door with everyone standing closely behind. Nash knocked on the door three times loudly.

"Open the door, Marvin," Nash shouted.

The locks unhooked and a gap appeared. From the gap, a man peered out. He had pimples and blood clots all over his face. Black pupils gazed from his sunken sockets. His dirt grey hair was long and thin. His dry blue lips shivered.

"Art defiler?" He muttered stupidly.

Nash placed his shoes in between the gap and pushed the door. Marvin flew back and the door opened with a creak. Marvin crawled and tried getting up, but the Mansabdar pinned him down.

"Art defilers!" He screamed.

Inside Nash saw three easels with canvas over them. One painting had a picture of a bouquet, the second had a group of naked women and the third had a picture of something that looked like a cocoon.

Further inside, Nash saw the kitchen. Vessels that were thrown around haphazardly with mould growing in them. Nash smelled rotting eggs and moulded brown bread. He tried searching for more rooms, but there were no more.

Nash went back angrily thumping his feet on the ground toward Marvin. He sat down and pulled on Marvin's hair.

"Where are the women?" He shouted.

"Art defilers... Art defilers..." Marvin muttered stupidly.

Nash stood up angrily and walked around. And then he noticed something. He knelt and tapped on the floor.

"It is hollow," he said to himself.

"There is a basement," Nash said looking around. His eyes met with a carpet. He went to it, removed it and saw a wooden door with an iron hatch. Nash turned towards the men and called them. Benton, Elfric, Hale and a Mansabdar came to his aid.

Nash and the Mansabdar opened and pulled on the door. It opened with a crack, showing stairs to the darkness. The Mansabdar went to the horse to get lamps. Meanwhile, Marvin kept on struggling.

The men lighted the lamps and went downstairs. Nash's nose was violated with the smell of blood and gore when he reached down. He felt his stomach hurl and his eyes water. He closed his mouth to prevent himself from vomiting. Behind, Hale was puking out his guts. Nash raised the lamp and lit up the room.

Inside he saw naked women tied to a dozen poles. Their bodies were wounded with blades. Blood and pus flowed from them. Nash went to each woman and found that all were dead. Nash felt his shoes stick to the ground because of the piss and blood. He felt rage rising inside him. He went up and dragged Marvin outside the house.

"You bastard," he screamed.

They dragged Marvin to the court while Marvin muttered stupidly.

Marvin was put in front of the king with his hands and legs in shackles. He sat there on his knees muttering stupidly. The King listened to Nash and the Mansabdar. Anger boiled him.

"This man will be hanged and quartered publically," the king roared.

Soldiers came in and took Marvin to the dungeons. The King called in Nash.

"For the services of Nash Wintere, I gift him hundred graeae."

Nash went to his office and lay on his bed. He couldn't sleep. He felt that he was missing something. He saw the face of Marvin, ugly and dumb. He saw the women and remembered that there were more than ten. He stood up and decided to go back there yet again.

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