Kirin Diaries: Kirin, #3

By Kaye Wagner

After weeks of reckless adventure in the Middle City with the wild young detective Kirin, Anna finds herself locked away in the seclusion and luxury of her home behind the clear walls of the Higher City. As she wastes the days away in punishment from her strict mother, Anna stumbles upon a clue leading her to the mysterious figure behind the death of a Lord in Parliament and his link to the leader of Mad Bombers tearing the city apart. Eager to share this piece of information with detective Kirin, Anna sets out for the city once again to solve the mystery of a murder and confront the potential danger of a new bomber on the prowl.

Story 05: Suburban Lives

Story 06: Greater City Heights

Story 07: Everything but the Girl

Story 08: Twin Diaries

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pendown Publishing
• Release date: Oct 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516389766

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Kirin Diaries

By

Kaye Wagner

Text copyright © June 2015, Kaye Wagner

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All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission from the author.

Contents

Story 05: Suburban Lives

Story 06: Greater City Heights

Story 07: Everything but the Girl

Story 08: Twin Diaries

Author Notes:

Story 05: Suburban Lives

Anna shuffled in her coverall sweater and conservative dress, sitting upright in the soft cushion of an ornate chair as she rested her closed palms on her knees. Sighing lightly, she let her eyes look over the large and decorative living room, all too familiar with its marble floors and pearl white walls shimmering against the decorative furniture filling out the empty spaces while carpets of expensive threading laid strategically through the area. Anna knew this place well— having crawled over these floors, laughed with her sister in front of the fireplace at the head of the room, scolded by her mother by the grand piano, and read to by her father on the couch with the view of their garden. This was her home, so she was accustomed to these lavish surroundings, unaffected by the shimmering glow of the expensive goods filling out the space around her. However, as she shuffled in her seat, she looked on as if none of these familiar feelings mattered as a foreboding expression wore on her face.

As she sat with a stiff back, a knock on the wall beside the large opening entrance to the room caught her attention. There she saw an older butler in his black suit appear to her. Easily recognizing the man, Anna called out to him.

Gaston. Anna said looking at the butler as he bowed his head slightly.

Young Lady Anna, Mother Maudlen has arrived. The old butler said to the tensing of the nerves of Anna.

Thank you for the warning.

My pleasure, Young Lady Anna. He bowed before exiting again. Anna sighed as he left, knowing that her inevitable interaction with her mother was coming. As this thought passed through her mind, the sound of clicking heels against the floors outside the living room caught her attention. Like an army of tap dancers, the sound of shoes hitting the floor echoed loudly, warning Anna of who was arriving. Taking in a deep breath, Anna shuffled in her seat, glancing at the open entrance to the living room, waiting for the inevitable arrival of her mother, which came in a crescendo of clicking heels as maids entered the room holding bags while a stylishly dressed older woman in beige designer clothes stepped into the room surrounded by assistants.

Anna gasped a bit at the sight of the stylish woman in the beige suit-dress, recognizing who she was in an instant. Mother. Anna said as she saw the woman in the stylish black shades talking on her glass mobile, ignoring Anna’s presence as assistants gathered around her, taking notes.

Not like that, Honey. Anna’s mother said on her mobile, ignoring the nervous Anna sitting in the middle of the room. We need things just right for tomorrow’s ceremony. With all the Dignitaries coming for that silly sport today, we need to be prepared with the best festivities for a diverse crowd. And the Music Academy is simply an unsuitable venue for our sort of style. I want the Gala to be at the Grand Hall at the heart of the Higher City and nowhere else. You hear me? She listened for a moment as her assistants waited for an answer from Mrs. Maudlen. And they eventually received one as she began nodding her head in satisfaction. Good, she snapped her fingers to her assistants, getting them to start writing again. Nice to know all that power can get some things done in this city, Honey. I’ll see you after your meeting. Love you. she said with a kiss to the mobile before clicking it off and speaking to her assistants. You heard it girls, start sending out the reservations for the party and contact the caterer with the menu items I suggested. She said as three assistants rushed away while Mrs. Maudlen looked at the last one there. I need you to get in contact with the decorator Megan, get her to come over; I want to go over the design patterns again before we begin setting up. And tell her to come fast—we only have a day before the party. She clapped her hands to the instant reaction of the young assistant, who scurried away, leaving the maids there, to which Mrs. Maudlen addressed. And what are you still doing here? she asked with a raised eyebrow. Take my bags upstairs and lay out the dresses for me, I’ll be damned if I spent a few hours picking these things for the girls and they don’t try them on.

Yes Ma’am. The maids said as they picked up the bags they had resting on the ground, rushing away with them until the room was left empty except for Mrs. Maudlen and the nervous Anna sitting in her seat. As the last maid exited, Mrs. Maudlen immediately set her attention on the nervous Anna, striking a thoughtful pose as her covered eyes seemed to be burning holes through her shades, concentrating on the anxious Anna.

Mother. Anna muttered again to the immediate reaction from Mrs. Maudlen.

Who said you can speak? Mrs. Maudlen commanded while walking over to Anna. In fact, who said you can get out of your room after two weeks of extra punishment?

Anna lowered her head at her words. You, Mother.

Yes, me! she said dramatically. And I’m the one to tell you when to speak, so don’t speak until I tell you to. She said calming her increasingly heavy tone with a slight gasp of her breath. Where did I go wrong with you, child? she shook her head in aggravation. To sneak out of this house, out of all the protection and comfort me and your father worked so hard for, to throw it all away to hang out with some vagabonds of the Lower City. She said looking at Anna. "What do you have to say for yourself, young girl?

I’m sorry Mother. Anna said with a pained look in her eyes. I didn’t mean to trick you or fool you. I just knew you wouldn’t let me go there. And I really just wanted to see the city. She paused for a moment. I knew it was dangerous, and I only meant to do it once, but I’ve met good people there, some friends, and I saw some interesting things that I couldn’t resist going back to see. Besides, mother, it was the Middle city, I thought it would be safer.

Oh please, Mrs. Maudlen shook her head in disappointment. It’s all the same to us, Anna. You should understand by now that everything below the Higher City is simply something beneath us, Middle City to the Lower, it’s all beneath us. It’s all the Lower City, Anna. She said coldly. And you, she sharpened her expression. I can see it in your eyes. After two weeks of punishment—studying, dieting, ballet, music lessons, and stage work, doing all of that obediently, I can still see the fire in your eyes. Don’t think I don’t notice it behind that veil of obedience. You still want to go back out there. She said to the vehement headshake of Anna.

I don’t. Anna said unconvincingly to the notice of her mother before she sighed in resignation. I mean, I do, but I know how dangerous it is out there, and how reckless I’ve been. I honestly do, Mother. She said to the somewhat pleased eyes of her mother before she continued. But you have to understand Mother, the people I was with were good, they never put me in a position where I couldn’t fend for myself. Nor did I myself.

Hah, Mrs. Maudlen chuckled haughtily. You think of me as a fool who doesn’t know what you’ve been doing out there? I heard of your romp into the Lower Third, that gang infested area, doing chores for lowly tenants in that building, working like a dog for some shady detective agency. You call that being safe?

It’s not shady work. Anna replied steadfastly. They do good things for the city, help real people out, more than I ever done during those charity events where we just stand there eating in our best clothes in a fancy ballroom, donating money to something that never produces any evidence of a positive result. She said annoyed. If you really knew what I was doing, you would know that even the City Guard Inspectors appreciate their work—they solved numerous cases concerning the Mad Bomber and other criminal cases.

Who cares what the Middle City Inspector thinks, what I think matters more and what the High End City Guard thinks is a close second, and what they know about your little pal, Mr. Legendary Detective, she chuckled at the name. Or whatever. He’s a menace, causing damage throughout the city, burning down buildings, interfering with business, inciting the wrath of the Unions, and gangs alike—the boy is nothing but trouble Anna, and I will not have one of my daughters next to that sort of dangerous person.

But it’s—

It’s what I say it is! Mrs. Maudlen cut off Anna’s words as she took off her glasses, revealing her stern green eyes. And what I say is, as your mother, someone that gave birth to you and cradled you in their arms amongst the ten other midwives in that room that pampered and massaged you while singing lullabies, your father that has built a fortress around you for your health and education—that you owe us all who have given everything to you a bit of respect for our guidance and our words, because we don’t say them lightly, and we don’t do this to punish you. We know the world you so desperately want to see, and one day you will, but don’t forsake us for wanting you to be prepared for it when that time comes. She said pacing the room in frustration. And let me tell you one thing little girl, that time isn’t now. You’re five years too young to even know how to deal with the real world.

Well, Anna said with a slightly stubborn look in her eyes. Maybe I would be prepared for the Big Wide World out there if I wasn’t trapped inside this mansion like I was in a prison. All you have us do all day is lessons with the tutors, dieting with the chefs, exercising with trainers, practice with the piano and cello teachers—and when you do let us out—we only go to Music Academy or the Theatre. We barely get to play around with our neighbors. Or do anything else ‘We’ would ever want to do. So yes, sometimes I do feel like going out on my own, and doing something that only I can do without your help. So yell at me all you want, but don’t shout me down when I’m doing what I want in my own time, not yours.

Enough! Mrs. Maudlen shouted at the stiffened frame of Anna still sitting in her seat. You will do things on my time, not yours! she shouted as she turned away from Anna, looking towards the window with a pained expression on her face before glaring back at her daughter. After all, this is my house, and you’re living under my care. And lastly, we know better than you, that’s why. she sighed lightly as she shook her head in aggravation. You may think you know this world through all the books you read, from a library we collected for you children. But those books are limited, and nowhere near complete in their knowledge about surviving in business, socially, politically, or otherwise in this society. Anna’s mother slowly walked over to a couch on the other end of the room, taking a seat there. We’re your parents Anna, we want what is best for you, and you going out to the Middle City without protection or knowledge to navigate yourself in between the nuance cultural divides there is not that. She said looking at the slightly sullen frame of Anna. She then tapped her hand on the seat next to her as she called out to her daughter. Come here, Anna. She said to the hesitant glance of Anna. I won’t bite, just come here. she said with a piercing stare that provoked the hesitant Anna to stand up and walk her way over to the demanding woman sitting across from her.

Anna nervously walked over to her mother, reaching her with measured steps, only to feel the sudden grip of Mrs. Maudlen’s hand on her own, pulling her towards the seat on the couch beside her before her mother suddenly held her tight by her side.

There you go. Mrs. Maudlen said hugging the uncomfortable Anna closely to her side. This is where you should be—with family, not strangers. Mrs. Maudlen gently caressed the head of Anna as she leaned it against her own. You worry me Anna, why can’t you see that?

I see, mother. Anna said apologetically. I’m sorry.

That’s fine. Mrs. Maudlen said with a saddened look in her eyes. You’re just being you. she chuckled. I once was the same, always wanting to see things that others were involved in. But my sisters would do for me what I’m doing for you. They would always shield me from the world, their world, only offering the glimpses of beauty they found in it while I studied and learned, working my way into an academy.

Anna looked on with interest at her mother’s words. You have sister’s Mother?

Three. Mrs. Maudlen smiled. Unlike you, I didn’t have a mother, but they were good replacements. They took care of me as if I was their own daughter, and treated me as such until the end.

The end?

Anna’s mother wore a sorrowful look in her eyes. Regrettably, they all passed away, long before they could see where I am now, before they could see my lovely daughters, before they could see you. But they would most certainly be proud if they ever did.

How? Anna asked with concern. How did they die?

The city. Anna’s Mother answered solemnly. They worked within it, became skilled in surviving there, but in the end, if you’re not careful, it can consume you whole, no matter your good intentions.

Anna turned away in slight dejection of her mother’s words, finally understanding the source of her worries.

For you, Anna’s mother said in thought. To be found in a Lower City Hall with a bomb and a dead member of parliament. You have to understand the shock and worry a mother would have after hearing about that, that my daughter was in the middle of a High End Sector investigation.

High End Sector? Anna said with a raised eyebrow. Why would the High End Sector investigate about a Local Minister death? Isn’t that for the Mid-Level City Guard to handle?

Not when it’s a Member of Parliament for the Higher City. Anna’s mother chuckled. For Lord Norris to be caught with his pants down in the Lower City Hall, such a disgrace for someone known for his perfect attendance to the Higher City parliament meetings. It’s causing quite an uproar here—a disgrace so pure the gaggling ladies at the Tearoom can’t stop babbling their mouths with rumors.

Impossible. Anna said confused. I watched all the Parliament minutes since father’s been given the Honor. Lord Norris seems the most punctual to every meeting, never leaving early, voting every session, and always participating in the debates. It doesn’t make sense that he was in the Middle City during a Higher City Parliament session.

Well, Mrs. Maudlen said caressing Anna on the head. You can’t know what’s in everybody’s heart, honey. Sometimes people can hide their true selves for a long time before what’s hidden just can’t be covered in the shade of their lies or deceit. Mother said giving a caring look to her daughter Anna, holding her tight to her frame before she slowly pulled away, getting up from her seat. Anyways, she said hardening her demeanor as she straightened up her dress suit. Tonight, we’ll be attending a Gala at the Grand Majestic Palace after the silly game tonight.

Gala? Anna looked on in shock. Shouldn’t you take Marie, that’s the sort of thing she loves. she said to a sudden interjecting voice shouting from the entrance of the room.

Yeah! Marie, Anna’s older sister, said bursting out from the hallway into the