Dr Rudi popped a cigarette from the pack as Dr Suria confirms their location. It was a colossal building with a wide green field at its entrance. The structure was of Georgian architecture with its white pillar columns supporting the slate roof. The face of the box-like home had double hung windows evenly and neatly distributed across it. Two Doberman Pinschers, one black another copper, bared their fangs and snarled at them from across the black grill gate intricately decorated with vines. The doctors did not flinch. Dr Suria pressed the doorbell on the intercom and a classical ding-dong reverberated from the building. It took a moment for the screen to light up.
" 'Ello, who is zis?" The hoarse voice belonged to Mdm. Chienne, the face under her powdery ghastly foundation was worn and wrinkled. Her sunken eyes were smeared with a thick eyeshadow and curtained by extensive mascaras. The only colour that contrasted her pale skin and thinned blond hair were her olive irises and her glossy stark red lips.
"We are detectives Mdm. Chienne we'd like to ask you some questions."
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Dr. Suria wanted to comment that Chienne's choice of settee was very English before taking a seat but decided otherwise so as to avoid stirring Anglo-French rivalries. Mdm. Chienne took a sip from her pink cigarette holder and let out a wheezing blow.
"Sorry about Loup and Louvel errlier, ze dogs keep me company in zis quiet mansion. So zetectives, what is it zat you want to know?"
"Mdm. Chienne I would like to know your relationship with a Mr. Herman Hatorno." Dr Rudi plunged straight into it.
"Mizter 'atorrrrno, zat devil. Ze man wanted to take my daughterrr Tanya away from me. Just because 'e is ze biological fahserrr doesn't mean 'e can just take my prrrecious Tanya whenever 'e wished. I was ze one who took carre of 'er, nurrturred and fed 'er."
Dr Suria stepped up, "You do know that it is his legal right to claim his daughter right?"
"Yes I am aware zetective. One day he and 'is son Adi came 'ere for a visit, said zey just wanted to see zeir daughter but ended up trying to take 'er from me. I refused them frrom even seeing Tanya and asked zen to leave immediately. Bastards! Saying zat zey didn't want to claim ze ahserr twin from a Mr. Suriati just because zey have been a family far longer zen we have. 'Ow is zat fairre, detective?!"
"Well Mdm. Chienne, ze thing...the thing is, both Mr Herman and his son, as well as the other twin from the orphanage was found murdered a few months back. Do you have any idea of this?" Dr Rudi leaned forward for her answer.
"...Are you calling me a murrrderrer zetective? I may 'ave hated zat man to the bones but I am not a murrrderrer! I 'ave never 'eard of zat man ever since zat day and am glad it is so."
"I guess only we can tell." Dr Suria pulled out a slip "we have an authorised search warrant on your premises"
"Go ahead missuere and madamme. Sorry Tanya's off to school now so she won't be in 'er room."
Dr Rudi spoke privately to Dr Suria, "Search every crevice, every corner, Suria; especially for any sign of evidence removal. Disposing of so much flesh and bone would require something to either grind the bones to powder or some form of acid to dissolve them."
The detectives spent hours searching the house, leaving no stone unturned; but still, not a single hint was found indicating Mdm. Chienne as the culprit.
Dr. Suria glanced at her silver Rolex. She called Dr. Rudi over and tapped on the device several times, as if to say, "It's late."
"Maybe it's not her Dr Rudi. We can't waste all our effort and time on her when there isn't any evidence linking her to the crime aside from a flimsy motive at best."
Dr Rudi was convinced that they just had to start somewhere, but this certainly wasn't the place. The residence was clean as a whistle. It was time for them to look for Mr. Suriati for further enquiries.
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Mdm. Chienne escorted them to her gate.
"Zank you for your time and effort zetectives but you are barking up ze wrong tree." She gave a dismissive wave with cigarette holder still in hand as the doctors walked towards the gate.
On their way out, Dr Rudi saw the two Doberman Pinschers fighting over a toy bone, intimidating each other with growls and thrashing the thing.
He rolled his eyes away as he resumed walking to his Maserati.
"Dogs..."
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