Chapter 472 - 472 The search (1)
The Duke's Masked Wife
472 The search (1)n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âWe got here as fast as we could, but it was too late. He stabbed himself in the chest. The doctor says he aimed close to his heart.â
Edgar looked down at Simon who laid still on a table. It was quite the news when he was informed Reed and Caleb had caught Simon and Peter was wounded.
âWe should have acted quicker and stopped him from stabbing himself. Weâre sorry,â Caleb apologized. Simon should be alive to be punished for what he did.
Edgar didnât see the need for an apology. âThere was nothing more you could have done. He intended to die once he was found out. I rather the two of you not be injured in a fight-â
âSo everything is fine as long as it is only Peter who gets injured!â Peter yelled from the bed he was laying on. âThe doctor said that I am lucky to be alive after bleeding so much. If Simon had pressed that dagger into me any further, I would be dead too!â Peter argued.
âPeter, you said you lived a colorful life. Shouldnât you know how to fight?â Edgar asked without looking at the loudmouth priest.
âI am not used to fighting anymore!â Peter replied. âIt doesnât come naturally to me anymore. This bastard here told Simon that he didnât care whether I was alive or not,â he pointed at Reed.
Reed rolled his eyes at the priest who should count himself lucky to be alive. âI did,â he stood on his word.
âI am getting out of this town tomorrow,â Peter muttered.
.....
âCan all of you shut the fuck up?â Edgar snapped as their bickering was the last thing he wanted to hear right now. âCaleb, go to the town guard and have them come for Simonâs body. They will need to send a group to join me to look for Kate and whoever is alive with her.â
âRight,â Caleb answered, hurrying out of the room to do as he was ordered.
âCome with me, Reed. We need to get a head start searching for Kate,â Edgar said, looking away from Simonâs body as he walked out of the room.
âHe went as far as to kill himself. Do you think Kate is alive?â Reed asked as he doubted they would find her alive.
âOur job is to find her and anyone else Simon was hiding. Dead or alive,â Edgar replied. It was an equal chance that Kate could be dead or alive. It depended on if Simon suspected her of exposing him.
Edgar and Reed left the doctor and got into his carriage to go to Simonâs house. There was no telling what awaited them in Simonâs home. Edgar was informed of the fact Simon wanted them to continue the search for the women he took. What Simon had done was far from over.
âShould you send word to the Duchess that you will be away for a long time?â Reed asked as Edgar had not returned home since they met with Simon early in the day.
Edgar tapped his fingers on the door of the carriage as it began to move. âI should. She is probably worrying her little heart. He should still be alive so I could have killed him for taking me away from my wife and children for so long. We need a long trip after this.â
He should be at home laying in bed with Alessandra right now, witnessing the small changes in her body as their children grew. The only bright side was the fact Simonâs death meant he would no longer be dealing with this case soon so he could enjoy more time with his family.
Reed looked at Edgar tapping his fingers. âYou are worrying your little heart out too. Worrying sheâs stressing herself waiting for you to return. Before we arrive, answer me honestly. Do you want to see Kate still alive? After everything she had done to your wife?â
âI would like to see her punished, but not under these circumstances,â Edgar replied. No one deserved to die from Simonâs twisted games. âWeâll drop her off at the court to be punished for what she did to Alessandraâs face right after.â
âWeâre saving her from her crazy dead husband just to have her imprisoned later,â Reed thought. After everything leading up to this point, Reed found it funny how Kateâs life depended on Edgarâs help.
The ride to Simonâs home remained silent as the two tried to think of what might be awaiting them. More than an hour later, Edgarâs carriage arrived at the front of Simonâs home, but there was something different compared to the last visit.
âThere are no servants here to watch the gates,â Reed said as he opened the carriage door for him and Edgar. The gates of Simonâs home were wide open, welcoming anyone from the road inside. Reed kept his hand on his sword since he got a bad feeling.
Edgar looked around at the property which was more silent than before. All that was heard was the high wind shaking the leaves on the trees. At night, Edgarâs estate was never this silent. There was always someone still awake at this time keeping a bit of noise. Either his guards, the servants, or the animals.
Even though Simon had died faster than he probably anticipated, Edgar didnât trust blindly walking into Simonâs house which was full of servants loyal to him. They had not the slightest clue if Simon had laid out traps for anyone coming to get him. Simon was not to be underestimated in his death. This was still the man who went unnoticed as he took women from town.
Instead of going to the front door, Edgar went to a window with Reed who busted it open for them to enter. They had created a loud enough noise for anyone at home to come running, but the house continued to be quiet.
As the two entered, there was no one to come confront them about breaking into Simonâs home.
Edgar was the first to notice why the house was so quiet. âTheyâre dead,â he said, going toward a maid who laid dead right at the bottom of the stairs to go to the second floor. A knife was stuck in the back of her head. She wasnât the only one.
Edgar stepped over her body and followed the bloody prints of someoneâs shoes which led him into the kitchen to discover a more bloody mess.
âHe already killed anyone who might know where Kate is,â Reed muttered. It was why Simon was so sure they would not be able to find who he was hiding. Once again, he didnât think they would find Kate alive. âHe probably figured out we knew and went on a killing spree. They kept his secrets only to be killed by him in the end. It looks like they were about to make dinner,â Reed said, as vegetables and meat were placed on the counters.
âSearch every room in the house now,â Edgar said, leaving the kitchen to do a deep search of the house.
Unfortunately, he was not given an outline of Simonâs house. Simon had made a move quicker than Edgar expected. They were searching blindly and were at risk of missing any secret rooms Simon had.