When I checked the files, it turned out that Jane was accused of theft.
The one who filed the complaint was her employer, Mr. Essel. He claimed that 20,000 gils had been stolen from the safe he had in his study.
The safe contained a total of 170,000 gils, but only 20,000 gils were stolen.
It was in the evening when they compared the account books with the contents of the safe, and that’s when the theft was discovered.
The police, upon receiving the report, conducted an investigation, and it seems that they found 20,000 gils in Jane’s pocket, leading to her arrest.
However, as someone who knew Jane, I found it hard to believe.
Since I couldn’t get detailed information from the prison file alone, I decided to ask Inspector Jaguar and requested to see the police records.
“From what I can see in the statement, Jane did not admit to the charges,”
“It seems she’s claiming that someone put the money in her pocket without her knowledge. The situation doesn’t look good for the suspect, though,”
The Essel family was a a merchant family, but their store was separate from their residence.
Jane was the only servant in their home, with no one else coming in or out, which further complicated the situation.
“I hate to say this, but do you think Mr. or Mrs. Essel could have put the money in Jane’s bag?” I asked.
“Why would they do that?”
“Well… maybe to frame Jane and get rid of her…”
“It’s hard to believe they would fabricate a theft accusation just to dismiss a mere maid. If they didn’t need her anymore, they could have simply let her go.” Inspector Jaguar said.
As those words were spoken, I couldn’t help but agree.
“But why would she steal the money and keep it in her bag? She must have known she would be suspected.”
“It’s not uncommon for people to act impulsively and steal. Perhaps she intended to return it later, but Mr. Essel was in his study, and she couldn’t put it back.”
Based on the tone of the conversation, it seemed that the inspector believed Jane to be the culprit.
“Was it only money that was stolen?”
“As far as we know, only cash was reported missing.”
After visiting the Londia Police Department, I learned two things.
First, Jane was likely to be found guilty and receive a prison sentence.
Second, I realized my own powerlessness in the situation.
“Don’t let it get you down, Barton.”
After I left the police station, Kimberly, who had turned invisible, appeared partially transparent and comforted me. During daylight, fairies could become transparent.
“Even so, it’s still a frustrating feeling,”
Between my duties as a prison guard and the lack of time to play detective and uncover the truth of the case, there was very little I could do. The most I could do was keep an eye out to ensure Jane wasn’t mistreated inside the prison.
“Do you think Jane is really the culprit? I just don’t think she’s the type to do something like that,” I pondered.
“Well, how about hiring a private investigator then?” Kimberly suggested.
Apart from the police, there were several individuals in Londia City who worked as private investigators. They put a lot of emphasis on science and conducted highly logical investigations. However, I had heard their fees were exorbitant, far beyond what I could afford with my limited savings.
“I think it’s a good idea, but there are two problems,” I replied.
“What are they?”
“First, I have no idea where to find a private investigator.”
“Don’t they usually hang around in bars or something?”
Kimberly suggested, but that was just her wild imagination.
“The second problem is that I don’t have enough money.”
I hear that a private investigator would cost a minimum of 500,000 gills, at the very least.
It was far beyond the means of a poor prison guard like myself.
“What if we could conjure up the money by selling a magic scrolls?” Kimberly suggested.
“That might be possible, but who would buy it? Besides, we’re running short on time.”
Jane’s trial was in three days.
Even if we managed to hire a private investigator, would we be able to identify the true culprit by then?
“Well, I guess I can introduce you to a special detective,” Kimberly said.
“Huh? You know a private investigator, Kimberly?” I asked in surprise.
“Not exactly. The best investigator is right in front of your eyes, Barton.”
In front of me was nothing but a translucent fairy, with the scenery behind it visible through its figure.
“Are you trying to say that you’re the detective?”
Kimberly proudly straightened her chest and nodded.
An investigator is supposed to conduct scientific investigations, right?
Fairies and science?
They don’t seem like a good match at all…
“Do you even know what scientific investigation is?” I asked.
“Scientific investigation? Is it something tasty?”
I don’t think this would work.
“Don’t worry. I’ll sneak into Essel’s house and gather some information for you,” Kimberly stated.
If that were the case, I could entrust her with the task, although it seemed more like being a thief or a spy than a detective.
“Just be careful not to get caught. I won’t be able to help if you end up being captured and sold off somewhere.”
“Don’t worry. Leave it to this great detective!”
With a hint of unease lingering within me, I accompanied Kimberly and saw her off at Mr. Essel’s house.
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