The Haunting of Venture School (Brassbridge Book 1) - Chapter 9

It's time I published a book I have written! This book is 15 Chapters...  (Chapter One)

Here is Chapter Nine:

Chapter 9

Victorina Steamwhisper stepped into the dimly-lit interrogation room, her shadow cutting a sharp angle across the floor. The click of her boots echoed, a solitary rhythm in the tense silence. Across the table, Eldon Gearhart sat hunched, his hair an unkempt tangle shadowing his face. His clothes, once the crisp uniform of an aspiring engineer, hung loosely on his frame, stained with oil and dotted with burn marks. As Victorina settled into the chair opposite him, she noted the wild glint in his eyes—a chaotic dance of fear and fervor.

Eldon's hands twitched atop the cold metal table, fingers tapping an erratic beat. His gaze snapped to Victorina's, locking on with unsettling intensity.

"Detective," he began, his voice a cracked whisper that grew rapidly in volume. "You must listen—I've stumbled upon a revelation so profound it alters the very fabric of our understanding!"

Victorina leaned forward slightly, her face impassive yet her hazel eyes sharp and calculating. She remained silent, granting him the floor to weave his tale.

"The ARC—it's not just a tool for harmonizing aetheric energy," Eldon continued, gesturing wildly as if to pluck his thoughts from thin air. "It's a gateway, a bridge to realms unseen! We've been looking at it all wrong."

He rambled on, theories spilling out like cogs from an overwound clockwork. He spoke of hidden dimensions and frequencies that resonated beyond human perception. His words tangled together—a mishmash of scientific jargon and esoteric concepts that threatened to fray at the edges.

"And there's more," Eldon pressed on, voice pitching higher. "The thefts—the strange occurrences—they're not random acts of delinquency. They're signs, manifestations of energies we've yet to comprehend!"

Victorina observed him with a clinical detachment befitting her detective's mind. Each outburst cataloged, each wild gesticulation noted in the ledger of her thoughts.

"You believe these... energies are connected to the ARC?" she inquired smoothly, her tone even but laced with an edge that demanded clarity amidst chaos.

"Yes! Precisely!" Eldon exclaimed as if she'd pulled him back from the brink of madness with a lifeline made of reason. "But it's more than connection—it's causation! The ARC doesn't just resonate with aether; it amplifies it! And when mishandled—"

He cut off abruptly, casting furtive glances at the corners of the room as though they harbored eavesdropping phantoms.

Victorina folded her hands on the table before her—a gesture of patience and control. "Mishandled how? What are you suggesting?"

Eldon leaned closer across the table, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "There are forces at work within Brassbridge."

His eyes darted around once more before settling back on Victorina with an earnest desperation.

"They've engineered these incidents—the malfunctions at school—to mask their true intent."

The word hung in the air between them like smoke from an extinguished flame.

Victorina considered this for a moment before responding. "And you have evidence to support these claims?"

Eldon slumped back into his chair, deflated by her question—a balloon pricked by reality's sharp point.

"I—I don't have hard proof," he admitted, rubbing his forehead as if he could smooth out the wrinkles in his logic. "But I've seen things."

His gaze found hers again, pleading for understanding—or perhaps absolution.

Victorina remained silent for a long moment before responding with measured precision. "Patterns can be interpreted in many ways, Mr. Gearhart."

His hands flew up again, framing invisible equations in the air. "But if we adjust our perspective—if we dare to look beyond what we know—we'll see that these 'quirks' align perfectly with instances where aetheric disturbances have been reported!"

Victorina tapped her finger against her temple—a metronome counting down seconds as she processed his words.

"You're painting quite a picture here," Victorina observed coolly. "One that requires more than supposition to substantiate."

Eldon nodded emphatically, urgency lacing every word now. "Give me access to my notes—my research! I can show you connections—patterns that will illuminate everything!"

Victorina regarded him for another long moment before rising from her seat gracefully yet firmly—a signal that this audience neared its end.

"I'll consider your request," she stated crisply while tucking away each thread of Eldon's tangled narrative into her mind's orderly compartments for later examination.

"Detective! You must believe me—we're on the cusp of something monumental!"

Victorina's piercing gaze remained fixed on Eldon as she settled back into the hard metal chair. His earlier outburst had left him panting, eyes darting around the room as if tracing equations only he could see.

She let the silence hang for a moment, allowing the hiss of steam pipes and rhythmic ticking of gears to underscore the atmosphere of the interrogation room. Eldon fidgeted under her scrutiny, fingers tapping nervously on the table as he waited for her response.

Eldon's leg bounced rapidly beneath the table as he struggled to collect himself. "I was conducting experiments—sensitive trials I couldn't perform during the day under watchful eyes." His fingers twisted in agitation, as if tuning invisible dials. "I was so close to a breakthrough..."

Victorina's eyes narrowed, homing in on his tells like a hawk sighting prey. "What exactly was the nature of these experiments?"

Eldon's gaze grew distant, lost in the intricate clockwork of his mind. "I was exploring resonance—the way objects vibrate at their own unique frequencies. I hypothesized that by attuning my devices to the ambient frequencies around the school, I could tap into previously untapped energy sources."

His hands fluttered and arced dramatically as he described his work. "I constructed a series of small prototypes—tuned oscillators designed to harness resonant harmonics." 

Victorina listened intently, scrutinizing both his words and physicality for any sign of deception. She interjected evenly, "And did any of these experiments involve the ARC?"

Eldon froze, eyes widening. He looked akin to a clockwork figure wound too tightly. "N-no, of course not!" He resumed fidgeting rapidly, as if to compensate. "I don't know anything about that!"

Victorina remained unmoved, pinning him with her piercing stare. "I see. Then what caused these prototypes to malfunction and create disturbances if the ARC wasn't involved?"

Eldon's mouth opened and closed wordlessly before he found his voice. "I must have miscalculated. The energy unleashed exceeded my projections." His gaze took on a faraway sheen.

Victorina cut him off. "Let's stay focused, Mr. Gearhart. What became of these prototypes?" 

His fingers resumed their frantic dance, twisting and flicking invisible switches as he muttered technical jargon under his breath. Victorina observed his descent into manic abstraction with clinical interest.

"Mr. Gearhart." Her sharp tone snapped him back to attention. "Have you shared your theories with anyone else?"

Eldon shook his head vehemently. "No, no. They'd never understand. The headmaster, the professors—their minds are too rigid. Too trapped by dogma." His eyes took on a distant fervor. "But imagine if they grasped the significance of my research! The doors it could open..."

She cleared her throat softly. "While theoretically intriguing, your unsanctioned activities violated school code and potentially endangered people's safety. You understand that, correct?"

Eldon waved a hand dismissively. "Mere technicalities. Once they see the value of my contributions..." His fingers danced faster, weaving images of acclaim and academic glory.

Victorina suppressed a sigh. Clearly there would be no easy logic or confession to neatly conclude this interaction. Eldon's brilliance was matched only by his unreliability as a narrator.

She stood smoothly, adjusting her duster. "That will be all for now, Mr. Gearhart. We will speak again soon."

Eldon scarcely seemed to notice her departure, fingers flying faster as if directing a silent orchestra toward some grand crescendo only he could hear. The door clicked shut, leaving his genius and madness alone in a room of indifferent steam and iron.

Victorina tapped her cog-shaped pendant. This time, she sent a more urgent signal—a warning that things were spiraling out of control..

Victorina watched as Eldon was led out of the room, his protests echoing off the cold, iron walls. She couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for him. He was brilliant, no doubt about it, but his obsession with the ARC had driven him to the brink of madness.

She quickly pulled out her notebook and began scribbling down notes. The ARC's mysterious powers had already caused strange occurrences at school, and she knew that Eldon's experiments could exacerbate the situation even further.

She glanced up from her notebook as she heard footsteps approaching from outside the room. It was Chief Harrington himself. He looked stern and serious, his eyes scanning the empty space where Eldon had been escorted out only moments before.

"What happened here?" he demanded gruffly. "Why was Eldon taken away?"

Victorina took a deep breath before responding calmly. "I discovered some unusual activity on campus related to the ARC," she explained. "I believe it may be connected to Eldon's experiments."

Chief Harrington frowned as he listened intently, his boots thudding against the metal floor with each step he took closer to Victorina's desk. "What kind of activity?" he asked gruffly. "And why did you think it was connected to Eldon?"

Victorina hesitated for a moment before answering honestly. "I found some evidence suggesting that Eldon may have been involved in stealing one of the ARC prototypes," she admitted sheepishly.

Chief Harrington raised an eyebrow at her revelation, clearly intrigued by what she had discovered. He leaned against Victorina's desk, folding his arms across his chest as he considered her words carefully.

Victorina hesitated again before answering honestly once more. "I found a design for an ARC prototype that matches one of our missing models." She pointed to one particular blueprint with a red circle drawn around it, indicating its significance in her investigation.

Back in the clamorous hallway, Eldon is released, his muttering persisting as he shuffles away, a lone figure becoming one with the throngs of the city. Victorina says they will wait until they gather more evidence.

He blended seamlessly into the bustling current of people, disappearing into the steady, murmuring flow of bodies that pulsed through the hallways. Victorina lingered by the doorway, rubbing the bridge of her nose, the weight of uncertainty and the unresolved mystery pressing on her mind.

His unsubstantiated claims of the ARC's capabilities and his fervent belief in its connection to the strange happenings at the school reverberated within Victorina's thoughts, demanding attention. She couldn't afford to ignore them, but she needed more concrete evidence before pursuing that particular line of inquiry.

With Eldon's disjointed words echoing in her thoughts, Victorina returns to her desk, her resolve hardening; she knows there is more to unravel, but the path is as shrouded as the steam-filled streets outside.

The room hummed around her, but Victorina was lost in thought, her mind racing over the day's events. Eldon's theories couldn't be summarily dismissed as mere ravings, yet they lacked the rigor and clarity that she demanded as an investigator.

She glanced down at the case file spread out on her desk, her gaze falling on a detailed schematic of the ARC - the very device that had been central to Eldon's ramblings. Despite the existence of three prototypes, its exact location remained unknown.

Her thoughts turned to Horatio once more. The headmaster had seemed evasive when questioned about the device's whereabouts, his responses filled with carefully couched phrases and hesitations. Victorina couldn't shake the feeling that he was not being fully forthcoming, that there were pieces of information he was choosing to withhold.

She knew she had to tread carefully. Horatio was a respected figure in the community, and any hasty accusations could damage her investigation irreparably. She would have to rely on her wit and intuitive deductions to draw out the truth, to uncover whatever it was that Horatio was hiding.

Victorina tapped her pencil against her lips thoughtfully. She needed to gather more evidence, to find that critical piece of information that would confirm or refute Eldon's claims. The truth lay out there, shrouded in the labyrinthine network of corridors and hidden pathways of the school.

* * *

Heavy rain pattered against the tall windows of the Gardik Police Station, the rhythmic drumming melding with the cacophony of machinery humming through the walls. The conference room swelled with officers, their uniforms a mix of gleaming metal and sturdy fabric, a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation that Brassbridge embodied.

Amidst the moist, charged air, Chief Inspector Harrington took his place at the head of the conference table. His brass-rimmed spectacles caught the dim glow of gaslight lamps, casting reflective circles on the papers before him. He cleared his throat, a commanding baritone that reverberated off steam pipes and stone walls.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've seen an upsurge in thefts and vandalism," Harrington began, his eyes scanning the faces of his team. The clinking of gears and hissing of steam seemed to fall silent as officers leaned in, pens poised over notepads.

"The targets appear random – from private residences to public establishments. The only constant is the methodical precision and audacity of these crimes."

Detective Victorina Steamwhisper perched on the edge of her seat, her mind whirring like the gears of her pocket watch. She etched notes in a swift script, every detail a potential cog in the intricate machinery of investigation.

"Brass Brew Haven," Harrington continued, "our very own hub for tea aficionados and gear-heads alike, was ransacked just last night. Jasper Ironsprocket reported his finest steam kettles missing – along with a significant quantity of exotic teas."

Murmurs rippled through the room like waves across a boiler's surface. Victorina felt a pang of sympathy for Jasper; Brass Brew Haven was more than a café; it was an institution.

Harrington's voice sliced through the chatter. "This is no petty thief. We're dealing with someone who knows our streets as well as any Gardik. I want patrols doubled and eyes sharp. Victor Alloyblade, I'm assigning you to head the investigation into these thefts."

A nod was all he offered in response, his mind already churning with strategies and suspicions.

The meeting proceeded with updates on other cases – petty squabbles turned violent, pickpockets too nimble for their own good – but Victorina's thoughts lingered on the pattern emerging from these seemingly unconnected crimes.

"Inspector," she said, her voice low but firm. "I have a theory about these thefts."

Harrington raised an eyebrow but gestured for her to continue.

"The precision you mentioned," Victorina explained, "it's not just skill; it's intimate knowledge – someone who understands both our routines and Brassbridge's labyrinthine alleyways."

"And you have someone in mind?" Harrington's question was more challenge than inquiry.

"Not yet," Victorina admitted. "But I believe there's more at play here than mere thievery."

Harrington considered her words before giving a slight nod. "Then uncover it, Detective Steamwhisper. That's what you do best."

As Victorina continued to study the map, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The clusters of pins and gear-shaped stickers marked the locations of known criminal hotspots, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on.

"Vicky," Harrington said, his voice firm, "we need to focus on this unauthorized steam tech usage. It's becoming a serious problem."

Victorina nodded, her mind already racing ahead. She knew that the "Gear-Grinding Ghost" case was a high-priority one, stirring rumors and fear among Brassbridge's citizens. She would have to find a way to connect the two cases.

She glanced up at Harrington, who was studying her intently. "I understand your concern," she said, "but I believe there may be an overlap between our cases."

Harrington raised an eyebrow. "An overlap? How so?"

Victorina hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Well," she began, "the Gear-Grinding Ghost is rumored to be using advanced steam technology to carry out their crimes. Could it be possible that they're using similar methods in these unauthorized steam tech cases?"

Harrington considered her words for a moment before nodding slowly. "It's an interesting theory," he said, "but we need evidence to support it."

Victorina nodded in agreement. She knew that it wouldn't be easy to gather evidence against such a cunning and elusive suspect, but she was determined to do whatever it took to bring them to justice.

She stood up from her seat and walked over to the map on the table, tracing the locations of the hotspots with her finger. She knew that she would have to work closely with Harrington and his team to ensure that every prominent hotspot was covered during their sweeps of the city. But as she studied the map, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on – something that connected all these seemingly unrelated crimes.

As the meeting began winding down, Chief Harrington emphasized the importance of adhering to procedure, his gaze sweeping across his team. His expression conveyed both the weight of responsibility and his confidence in their abilities. The Gardiks straightened in their seats, their faces a mixture of determination and resolve.

Victorina's eyes met those of Detective Victor Alloyblade, and they exchanged a knowing glance. Alloyblade was a seasoned officer with a keen mind and a knack for solving complex cases. Victorina suspected he would be interested in delving into the Brassworks mystery.

As the clock ticked down, Victorina felt a sense of urgency. The Gear-Grinding Ghost investigation was high-priority, and every moment counted. She glanced at Harrington, who nodded slightly, as if to acknowledge her unspoken determination.

The meeting adjourned, and the Gardiks filed out of the conference room, their footsteps echoing through the station. Victorina quickly gathered her case files and made her way to her desk. Alloyblade and Steamspark followed close behind.

"So," Alloyblade began, leaning against her desk, "what do you make of all this?"

Victorina shrugged. "I think there's more to these thefts than meets the eye. The precision with which they're being carried out suggests the work of someone who knows our routines and the city's layout intimately."

"And you think it's connected to the Gear-Grinding Ghost?" Steamspark asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"It's a possibility," Victorina said. "The Ghost is using advanced steam technology to commit their crimes. The thieves could be using similar methods."

Alloyblade nodded. "It's worth looking into. I know someone who might be able to help us."

"Who?" Victorina asked.

"Percival Pistton," Alloyblade replied. "He's an inventor and engineer. He knows everything about steam technology."

"I'll see if I can track him down," Victorina said.

"Good," Alloyblade said. "Let's meet back here in an hour and compare notes."

Victorina watched as Alloyblade and Steamspark walked away, then turned her attention back to the case files. She knew that solving the Brassworks mystery and catching the Gear-Grinding Ghost would require all of her skills and determination. But she was confident that with the help of her colleagues, she would succeed.

As she delved into the files, Victorina couldn't help but wonder if there was a connection between the Brassworks case and the Gear-Grinding Ghost investigation. Could the same person or group be responsible for both crimes?

She knew it was a long shot, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye. And she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter where it led.

Victorina exchanged a glance with Alloyblade and Steamspark. It seemed that the dots were starting to connect.

"I think we need to pay Percival Pistton a visit," she said.