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.

April 4. 1860. Wednesday

It seems I was wrong about Derek. There seems to be a complication with some of Williams bank accounts. It seems like we need a password for the biggest of them. Derek has asked me to look for it somewhere in the castle. I have put Francis on the job, for now.

 I better go see to the care of Miranda. It’s been quite some time since I last checked on her. Forgive me, William, old friend.

April 1. 1860. Sunday

For some reason, I do not think Derek really wants to come over next week, as we discussed earlier. I think he is blaming me for Mia’s disappearance. He has not said anything, but I still think he does. We had planned to go hunting rabbits, even if the turnout might not be the most satisfactory. When he wanted to cancel, he just wrote saying “I am sorry, Jarrod, but I am wanted at my father’s old lawyer. He said it was urgent. Maybe next week?” I am almost sure he hates me. His father, William never hated me. That man was kind and helpful to all. I shall praise his memory!