April 29. 1860. Sunday

At last, I found it! I knew it was somewhere in the castle, but I never knew where. Now, finally it is for the world to see! The painting of William Crowley, painted twelve years ago right outside his own castle. This castle! It was a present from Mia and Derek combined for his birthday. Of course, it was not ready when he got the present, the man obviously had to stand model for it, but it was all paid by his children. 

For years it has been missing. Just earlier today I went into a storage room, and there it was, rapped in cloth and tucked away like it was nothing. The man could not possibly have done this himself. Why would he hide a beautiful picture of his glorious self? No matter now, anyways. I shall hang it back into view, in the library. There, I will be able to see him most frequently. I have sent for Derek. He will be so surprised!

April 25. 1860. Wednesday

Mr. Fitz is having difficulties determining the reason for Miranda’s sudden outburst. (Mr. Fitz, of course being the clock worker.) He claims that the girl must have triggered some hidden mechanism somewhere. It is all I can get out of him at this point.

Derek was so kind as to visit me here, yesterday. We mostly talked of the incident, but there was one thing I want to write down to remember. Just in case I forget. He said he had received a letter just recently from a mysterious sender, only signing wit the initials “F.T.F”. In it, the mysterious person had written for him to give a message to me. This was after writing about some nonsense about knowing William well and wanting some sort of payment.

The message was, in short: “Always the left handle, Jarrod. Just in case you are ever lost.”

 I do not know why that had to go thru Derek, if it was not also a message for him. I must say, this situation as just getting stranger by the day. What is next? Ghosts in the walls?

April 20. 1860. Friday

After thorough study of the armory, we still have no clue how Miranda could have been triggered. There must be something wrong with the mechanisms. I will see to it that they are well looked after from this point on. I have hired a skilled old man, who works with clocks on a daily basis. I have even decided to make the armory his workshop, to compensate for the bother of having him moved. Don’t let anyone say that Jarrod Hale was not a generous man.

April 15. 1860. Sunday

They found her in the armory. Mia’s dress was drenched in her blood from when she tried to stop the bleeding. Miranda shot the missing maid. She suddenly appeared out of thin air inside the armory, they said. All four doors to the outside were locked. There was no way she could have gotten inn. Right in front of Miranda, we found her. Who could have done this? What could have triggered Miranda’s mechanisms?

It was a rather expensive dress. Now it is forever ruined.

April 13. 1860. Friday

Another letter from William came today. It is yet another Friday the thirteenth.  This time, he confused me greatly. His lawyer just came by with it and left again. He didn’t say anything about the problem Derek had been having with William’s old accounts. This is what it said.

“if I am not mistaken, castle Crowley now has but one owner. When reading this, you will not understand how I know this, but trust me, I have reasons which will be explained in time. Even if it is not the best thing to do, I hope you have kept Miranda in good shape. I apologize if my last letter was a bit confusing and/or rude, but it was absolutely curtail that my instructions were followed.

I do not have the delusion to think the townsfolk has been overjoyed to talk about me and my affairs to you, since I was nothing but a nuisance to them from day one, apparently. Of course, in time they did have their reasons, yet nothing was ever proven.

Now, Jarrod. For your sake, I hope to god nothing has happened yet. But it will, my friend. It will!

Keep Miranda ticking!

William Crowley”

I only have one major question about all this. How could he know I was the one to be here alone?

April 8. 1860. Sunday

Miranda seems to be doing fine, but the last few days she had started acting strangely. There is slight movement in the machinery that seems to do nothing at all. It is strange. I will ask to have it looked at. I am sure Francis can find a solution to it.

One of the maids has run away with one of Mia’s dresses. We cannot find her, but I do not really care too much. I just need to find another maid now. What a bother.