Murder at Chessboard Manor.
Click this for the back ground music, return for the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL39dg7TII8
Please read this in the style of an old English aristocrat telling the tale...
The Mystery of Chessboard Manor: The Queen's Gambit Decline.
It was a stormy night at Chessboard Manor, a sprawling Victorian estate hidden deep in the English countryside. The great house, with its looming turrets and intricate checkered marble floors, was an ode to order and strategy, a sanctuary for the royal chess family: King Magnus, Queen Botez, and their close advisors—the shrewd Bishop Ding, the audacious Knight, Sir Hikaru, and the towering, unyielding Rook Sir Anand. Beneath them served the pawns, the quiet but essential workforce who toiled in the foreground, often overlooked but always present.
The evening began as many others had, with a lavish banquet in the grand dining hall. The household dined under the flickering glow of candelabras, surrounded by portraits of their ancestors—kings, queens, bishops, and knights of eras long past. As the rain lashed against the stained-glass windows, the tension among the household was palpable.
By midnight, a piercing scream shattered the uneasy calm. When the staff and advisors rushed to the study, they found Queen Botez slumped over her writing desk, a chess timer clock smashed against her temple. One side of the clock showed just one second remaining.
Inspector Gotham Arrives.
Inspector Gotham of the Federation Investigative Detective Executive (FIDE) arrived early the next morning, stepping out of his carriage with an umbrella and a briefcase filled with notebooks, tilt charts, and puzzles. A man of medium height and wire like build, Gotham carried himself with the confidence of someone who thrived on unravelling the most intricate mysteries. His sharp bespectacled eyes missed nothing. By his side was his assistant, Captain Nelson Lopez, a broad-shouldered and quick-witted officer with a penchant for tactical thinking.
"The queen is down, struck with her own game," Gotham mused as he surveyed the scene in the study. The shattered chess clock lay on the floor, its brass casing dented and splattered with blood. "A brutal irony. But why would someone choose a chess timer for murder? And the single second left on one clock—what could it mean?"
The Suspect are gathered in The White Drawing Room.
The suspects gathered in the drawing room, a sprawling space with checkered tile flooring and gilded furniture. The rain continued to pour, trapping everyone inside Chessboard Manor. The household’s members looked uneasy, their faces a study in grief, suspicion, and concealed emotions.
King Magnus: The grieving widower sat at the head of the room, his hands trembling. "She was my queen, my guiding force on this board of life," he lamented, though his words seemed to lack any real conviction. He has a secret desire for another, one far to lowly for a crown.
Bishop Ding: The bishop stood by the fireplace; his gaze fixated on the flames. A man of strategy and subtlety, he was known for his sharp intellect and deep insights. "Tragedy often comes from within," he said cryptically. "The queen had many enemies." Bishop Ding had no love of the queen who oft made fun of the bishop and called him a believer of fairy tales.
Sir Hikaru: The daring knight, known for his flair and unpredictable moves, leaned against a window, his arms crossed. "I was in the stables," he insisted. "Practicing my manoeuvres. I have no time for dabbling in politics or plots." Few knows the anger in the heart of Hikaru carried since the queen called him a pumped-up stable boy.
Sir Anand: The towering rook, a bastion of mental strength and loyalty, stood near the doorway, his expression unreadable. "I was guarding the grounds as always," he stated flatly. "I never stray from my post." Sir Anand had no time for Inspector Gotham, Gotham was in a secret society where it was known they oft sacrificed young and gullible rooks.
Beth Harmon: The youngest and most unassuming of the pawns, Beth had risen quickly among the ranks of the household staff. Her intelligence and poise set her apart, though she had always kept her ambitions hidden. She was often found in the basement with a janitor who was her close friend, Mr Shaibel, everyone knew they plotted the demise of the queen.
The Clues.
Gotham crouched by the desk in the study, his sharp eyes scanning every detail.
- The chess timer clock: "A symbol of control, precision, and tension," Gotham murmured. "And yet, its use here feels personal, deliberate. The one second remaining... a message?"
- The position of the body: Queen Botez had collapsed onto the chessboard-patterned carpet, her hand clutching a broken pawn piece.
- A scrap of parchment: Tucked beneath the clock, a note read: "The game is always played to the end, no matter the cost."
- The window: A faint smudge on the glass suggested someone had watched the queen from outside before slipping away.
The Interrogations
The suspects were questioned one by one, their alibis scrutinized, and their emotions analysed.
King Magnus: "Your Majesty," Gotham began, "your grief seems genuine, yet some might say you benefited most from the queen’s reign." "I was a loyal king," Magnus replied, his voice trembling. "But Queen Botez: she was... demanding. Still, I loved her!"
Bishop Ding: "You are a man of faith and insight," said Gotham. "What insight can you offer into this tragedy?" Ding steepled his fingers. "The queen ruled with an iron will. Power attracts both loyalty and resentment. But murder? That is the ultimate sin."
Sir Hikaru: "Your movements, Sir Knight, are known to be erratic. Where were you last night?" "In the stables!" Hikaru snapped. "Practicing jumps. If you doubt me, ask the stable boy."
Sir Anand: "You claim to have been guarding the grounds. Did you see anyone near the study?" "I guarded the king, not the queen," Anand replied curtly. "Her affairs were her own, we had not linked together!”
Beth Harmon: "Beth, you were near the study before the crime. What do you know of this note?" Beth’s pan faced gaze was calm but intense. "I serve this household, Inspector. What would I gain from such a horrible act?"
The Revelation
As the rain lashed against the windows, Inspector Gotham assembled the household in the grand hall. He paced slowly, his voice carrying the weight of inevitability.
"This was not a crime of passion, but of calculation," he declared. "The weapon, the timing, the note—all point to a deliberate act meant to send a message. The queen’s killer sought not just to end her life but to upend the balance of power."
He turned toward Beth Harmon, who stood apart from the others, her hands clasped tightly.
"It was you, Beth," Gotham said, his voice cutting through the silence. "The pawn who dreamed of becoming a queen. The single second left on the clock—your silent declaration that her time was up."
Beth’s composure cracked, and she fell to her knees. "Yes," she confessed. "I loved the king, but she kept me in the shadows. I had to act. I had to claim my place beside him through promotion."
The Endgame
Beth’s confession sent shockwaves through Chessboard Manor. The pawns whispered among themselves, marvelling at one of their own who had toppled the queen.
King Magnus, ever indecisive, declared, "Beth shall be pardoned. The past cannot be undone, and I... I need a queen to guide me, this is my Royal command”.
Beth ascended to her new role, her journey from pawn to queen complete. Yet Inspector Gotham offered a final warning as he left Chessboard Manor.
"Even the smallest piece can change the game of life. But remember, Beth—once you’re a queen, every move you make is fraught with peril. Beware the board, for it has a long memory."
And with that, Gotham and Lopez disappeared into the mist, leaving Chessboard Manor forever changed, its pieces rearranged in a game that would never truly end, all guarding the secret knowledge of murder most foul that was rewarded with a crown. The other lowly pawns began their plotting, that they may topple the new queen and become queens themselves!
