Despite the sometimes murderous passions of some of the villagers, the Village's police-station was never crowded. More often than not, sgt. Bagheera's day consisted of coffee-breaks and a nice stroll through the Village. Every now and then he fined a tourist for parking or smoking where this wasn't allowed and occasionally there was a brawl at the pub, but over all his shifts were quiet, not to say boring.
That afternoon he was filling out some papers when there was a knock on the door of his office.
" Come in."
Markus Anderson entered and sgt. Bagheera frowned. He had seen the boy a few times before, and in his mind he had classified him as a hippie and a tourist.
" You can leave the dog in the corridor. What brings you here?"
" I was at the Nascent estate and..."
" What were you doing there? I just saw lady Helen at the village square and I know that her Aussie friend was in the Whishing Well."
" It's not what you think I..."
" Trespassed?"
" No! My dog jumped through the gap in the wall and I followed him."

Sgt. Bagheera was sceptical, but he nodded nevertheless.
" And?"
" Hound began digging and he found a skull. A human skull!"
" Beg your pardon?"
" A skeleton, in the wood behind the manor."
" Are you making fun of me young man?"
" No, it's true. I came straight here to tell you. You must come with me."
" Allright then, but I warn you that if this is a hoax I'll fine you."

He followed the boy back to the estate and rang the bell. Then he realized that lady Helen wasn't home and he climbed through the gap.
" Show me where you found it."
The boy guided the policeman through the wood and showed him the place where Hound had been digging.
" I have thrown back most of the sand, so they wouldn't find out."
" Who wouldn't find out what?"
" The old lady, that we have found him."
" Old? She's hardly more than fourty years old. Anyhow. You want me to start digging myself?"
The boy nodded and sgt. Bagheera kneeled down reluctantly. He began digging with his bare hands and it didn't take long until he uncovered the skull.
" Well, I'll be d... She didn't, did she?"
" Did she kill him?"
" Eh? No, no. No one is guilty until the judge says so. Please step back lad. This place is now officially a crime scene. I've to phone the guys from the Town. Until they have examined this spot no one is allowed here without authorization."




PS. patterjack told me he prefers the skull NOT to be lord Nascent's.