Chapter Text
Mr. Inference enters the agency that day to a letter addressed to him from one D.M.
At the agency, everyday he and his assistant are bombarded with case commissions. Most are mundane tasks; missing pets, help requested from the police station, and the like. However, from this particular man, Inference knows that it won't be a walk in the park.
Lady Truth hands it to him with a smile on her face. "Seems like business is really picking up!" she says happily. Inference turns the letter over in his hands before sighing and opening it up.
"Doesn't seem to be picking up with the right people, though." Inference mutters distastefully.
D.M. is a man who is interested in anything and everything beautiful–art, fashion, humanity, dramas, as well as what he calls the hunt. It's entertainment Inference seldom enjoys, and one he barely understands. However, D.M. is an influential man. If he has a commission for the agency, well, Inference really has no choice but to take it in the long run.
After all, there's no way he'll be able to investigate "that" without D.M.'s help.
The letter reads short, so it takes no time at all for Inference to scan it.
My dear detective…
Inference is cringing already.
I've heard you're back in town; how was the train ride home? I cannot tell you how happy I am knowing you're back.
He can almost hear the smirk in D.M.'s voice; that bastard always had a way of knowing exactly what was going on at any point in time, so of course he has to know about the impromptu murder investigation that took place on the train ride back from Inference's latest case.
I know you'll relieve me of my worries. In the past few months, I've fallen for the Golden Rose Theatre's leading actress, Lady Bella. While I have professed my feelings for her, she kept her distance to avoid public scrutiny. However, she confessed her reciprocation through a letter to me. How romantic!
She even gave me a keepsake, which should be found with the letter; don't get it dirty, please. Yet, for reasons I don't have the answer to, she cut off communication with me and refuses to see me. I want to find out what happened. I hope to see you getting that answer.
Your good friend,
D.M.
"This might be one of my most troublesome cases yet." Inference mutters, putting the letter down. "Do you have the keepsake that came with it, Truth?"
Truth nods, rummaging around behind the counter and presenting a scarf of immaculate quality; even with Inference's poor eye for fashion, he can tell that the embroidered flowers are expertly done. Lady Bella sure must be living a lavish life, Inference thinks as he pockets the scarf. He'll have to do a little more research on the theatre today, but tomorrow he supposes he'll pay the place a real visit.
To be honest, entertainment isn't Inference's strong suit. While he's heard of the Golden Rose Theatre, he knows nothing about its troupe, nor the woman known as Lady Bella. He decides to take refuge in their archives for the day, leaving Truth to man the front desk. She wishes him good luck cheerily, and his heart aches for the girl. Despite their past in the orphanage, isolated and scorned, her smile is as bright as ever.
This is no time to get sappy, though. Mr. Inference has a case to research.
He starts by digging out newspapers from the last few months, if D.M.'s timeframe is accurate. After flipping through several, some highlighting the theatre's newest show, he finds one–Up and Coming!!! Learn the History of the Golden Rose Theatre.
Bingo. Mr. Inference takes it out of the stack of papers on the wooden table next to him and opens it up, lounging back in his chair.
In the article, it states the Golden Rose Theatre was established ten years ago, founded by a man named Burke Lapadura, albeit the quotes from the troupe members in the article seem to call him "Scrooge". The most successful showing the theatre has was called Lachesis' Coin–a story about Lachesis, one of three sisters. Her family pressured her into greatness, however she succumbed to this pressure and ultimately killed herself in exchange for freedom. Their upcoming play Atropos' Ropes is the sequel; it opens on a scene of Lachesis killing herself and her sister, Atropos, discovering it. Instead of telling anyone, she decides to take her sisters identity and live out a dream in the spotlight as Atropos disappeared.
It's rather grim, but Inference understands why it'd be so popular.
He closes up the newspaper, content on the information he has now. Tomorrow, he'll be visiting the theatre to get to the bottom of this.