This is going to be a very different story for me but rest assured it will contain all of our favorite elements. Rated M for language, situation, and eventual smut!

Clue Me In: A TVD Mystery

Prologue: Richard

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

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I have worked for exactly three families during my lifetime. Each family has their own quirks, their own way of doing things, and their own way of viewing a hired hand. I'm a simple man, a humble man, and certainly a man who understands his place in life. I have followed the direct orders given to me by my employers and I have arranged their lives to fit neatly into routine. I have, however, only experienced one request in my lifetime that has troubled me.

Perhaps the beginning is the best place to start when it comes to these matters. I grew up in Mansfield before apprenticing to be a butler as they say in America. My parents are simple people, a butcher and a housewife. I have three siblings but only one is still alive today. When I was 18 I married a horrid little woman before she...well that's of no interest in these proceedings. In fact I should probably move ahead to my first true job.

The Duke and Duchess were a fine choice as my first employers. They were simple folk who required very little outside of a tightly honed routine. Breakfast at six, followed by tea in the sitting room with light conversation until noon, followed by a small lunch and an afternoon walk. Their routine culminated in an early dinner followed by some needlepoint by the Duchess and some reading by the Duke and then an early bed.

My days were simple, nothing out of the ordinary occurring during my five years there. It was a simple time and a joy to work there. I never wanted for better pay or a better lot in life while I was there. It was the death of the Duke that sent me onto my worst job.

The second job was a horrible experience that could very well be an entire novel on it's own but I shall not bore anyone with those proceedings. Suffice to say I followed him across the Ocean and ended up in dreary New York City. Many of these Americans seem to adore that city but all I see is trouble. Crime runs rampant and the theater is quite laughable. I'm sure it's enjoyable enough but Shakespeare should only be performed on a British stage.

After fifteen years of horrible routine and absolutely horrible benefits, I left his employ and sought something in the country. England had bored me after the fast pace of America but I still wanted something with a lush countryside. I also wouldn't mind children either since it was becoming clear I would have none of my own.

I found that third home entering into the employ of one Giuseppe Salvatore. He was an incredibly wealthy man, one who rivals the wealthiest in England but he seemed to dislike the reminder. Under his employ I quickly realized I was hired in order to aid him and no one else. He was a generous man and I found I was happy for the first time as an adult.

The family was odd, a strained marriage with two incredibly different boys. A few years apart was the same as decades when it came down to it. They were opposites in every way. Young Damon was the hellraiser, the one who snuck girls in and then forgot to sneak them out in the morning. Master Stefan was the quiet one, the bookish one, and the one who was to truly inherit the family fortune.

Giuseppe had made that clear over the years once Damon had gone on a new bender. A beached Yacht and a loss of 100 grand and he was cut out. He left Mystic Falls and no one heard from him until he showed up with his young bride three years later. She was a local girl who had somehow discovered him in Europe. One whirlwind romance later and he brought the girl home thankfully not pregnant.

Guiseppe had taken one look at Katherine Pierce had thrown them out of his house. She was not the sort of girl who belonged in the Salvatore family. A dark cloud descended over the Manor as the marriage between Guiseppe and his wife completely disintegrated as Stefan went off to college. Soon enough we were alone in the old Manor and routine became paramount.

It had been clear while Giuseppe seemed to favor the younger Salvatore, Damon had truly been his favorite. Damon was the one who made him feel young, who made him remember what it was like to be child again. It destroyed Giuseppe to cut Damon out and I saw the life leaving him. He became reclusive never leaving the Manor and disappeared from public life.

The money sat there accruing interest and multiplying making Stefan Salvatore a potentially rich man. There were stories of Stefan's piety and his generosity but Giuseppe began to wonder if he had made the right decision of cutting Damon out of the will. A call was made but he only received a letter in return.

Something had happened; a horrible accident of sorts and Damon wouldn't come home. Giuseppe blamed himself of everything and had a horrible time about it. Weeks went by of him in his room, refusing my attentions and eating barely anything. He didn't speak of the accident but I realized then something had changed within the Salvatore family but I couldn't put my finger on it.

It was three years after the end of his marriage things became odd to say the least. It started out ordinary enough it was only when we began to talk things became strange. After all, how many men predict their own murder?

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"I'll take my coffee on the patio, Richard," he said calmly. He was dressed casually today, a blue button-down shirt and tan slacks. He was a man who often dressed as if he worked in a Fortune 500 company instead of a wealthy, retired gentleman. He held the Wall Street Journal in one hand and the New York Times in the other. He often read while drinking his coffee.

"Of course Sir," I offered as I followed him outdoors. He took his usual seat under the shade of the canopy but he poured two cups instead of one.

"Join me Richard," he said softly. I had become his confidante after a few years of service but he never offered me a chair like an equal. I sat the tray on the table and slid into the patio chair, sitting proudly against the chair indicating I was still on the job. "Relax Richard. I would like to discuss some things with you."

"Of course Sir," I replied. He must have wanted to discuss some changes in his routine and I relished the idea to begin organizing things again. Things had been monotonous over the years and I wished to stretch my legs, as it were.

"Katherine is dead," he began with a sigh. My ears perked at the news. He hadn't cared for her and everyone knew it but no one wished her dead. "They say it was an accident. She was drunk and tumbled off of their seventh floor balcony. Dead on impact."

"Well I'm sorry Sir," I offered lamely. "I know she was still family."

"Not of mine! That girl was trouble and I didn't care if she was John's daughter. She was ruining my boy's life and good riddance!" He said harshly.

"You said 'they say'," I asked.

"Yes. Officially it was ruled an accident," he replied.

"But you think differently?"

"She was murdered Richard," he replied. My eyes darted up to meet his and I knew he believed what he said. It was ludicrous to think that girl would have been murdered.

"Sir?"

"I suspect I should be next," he said quietly. He stood suddenly and went to stand by the railing of the patio. "I'm sure of it. Within the next few weeks I will be dead."

"I'm sorry Sir but that is crazy," I exclaimed. He shook his head sadly. "Sir?"

"When I go I have a job for you to do," he began. I tuned him out as I considered how off-kilter he was. What sort of sane man predicted his own murder? An insane one I suppose. "You should listen Richard. This is important and if it shouldn't happen then it was a sort of funny story for us to laugh about later.

"Of course Sir. What do you need me to do?"

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At this point in his story it is crucial to explain the directions Giuseppe left me before his death. Some are to be revealed now and others will be revealed later. At this point he gave me this set of instructions.

1. I was to make myself scarce for three weeks. Go to England to see my family or something.

2. I was to return October 15th and deal with the body, should it still be there.

3. Inform the ex-wife and his two sons as soon as possible.

4. Send letters to eight individuals naming them as beneficiaries of his will in conjunction with his heirs.

5. Send one letter to one Miss Elena Gilbert which was already written and prepared.

I returned on October 15th and discovered his body on the Parlor floor. His body was cold and it was clear he had passed days beforehand. I called the authorities and began following through with his wishes. Each day passed in silence as I wrote eight letters and arranged the rest of his directions. Only one letter remained sealed and I held the letter for Miss Elena Gilbert in my hands for days as I considered discovering what was so important about her. Why was she the only one to receive a letter in his own hand?

At this time it is thought wise to introduce these people who will soon descend onto the Manor in a matter of days. It is dire for all that is written here to be as clear as possible for posterity sake. After all the killer must be caught and to be clear, the killer is one of the people listed below. I do not know at this point if they have also killed Katherine Pierce but Giuseppe was sure enough.

1. Alexis "Lexi" Salvatore: Age 44 Ex-wife of deceased. She married Giuseppe for his money although he firmly believed she loved him. Her only love became her son Stefan Salvatore. Carries and extreme dislike of Giuseppe's eldest son to his first wife. There has been some question about a dependency on drugs but it was never substantiated.

2. Damon Salvatore: Age 29 Eldest son of deceased. After his disappearance in Europe and subsequent marriage, not much is known about him. He is known as a playboy and somehow maintained his lifestyle although Giuseppe cut him off. Recently a widower it begs the question if he had grown tired of his wife and decided to move on without her.

3. Stefan Salvatore: Age 24 Youngest son of deceased. After Damon's fall from grace Stefan became the heir apparent and found himself suddenly tied heavily to his money. Tends to gamble and rumor has it Giuseppe refused to pay off his last bill. Is it possible he was desperate enough to resort to murder?

4. Alaric "Ric" Saltzman: Age 38 Younger Brother of Damon's mother. In all appearances he's a happily married man but rumors abound over Isobel's many lovers. He never quite cared for Giuseppe's marriage to Lexi and has since attempted to reconcile with his brother-in-law and was met with mixed results.

5. Isobel Saltzman: Age 35 Wife of Alaric. A woman from 'new money' who loves the finer things in life. Known to take a special pleasure in her young servants to the point of getting herself into trouble with certain underage men. Not much is known about her dealings with Giuseppe but he did want her at his funeral.

6. Jenna Sommers: Age 25 Giuseppe's Chess Partner and local real estate agent. A somewhat bookish woman who prefers to lead with her knight. An incredibly attractive woman who always gets what she wants and in this case, the Manor was her target.

7. Bonnie Bennett: Age 27 Local Healer. A woman who practices her beliefs and puts little stock in relationships. Dislikes the wealthy as a rule but liked Giuseppe for his wit. The only person to see him during the three weeks I was gone.

8. Niklaus "Klaus" Trudeau: Age 35 Eldest Son of old Business Partner. Seems to be interested in something in the Manor. Not much is known about him but he's willing to use his body to integrate himself into new situations. It is unknown what he is looking for in the Manor.

9. Elijah "Eli" Trudeau: Age 29 Younger Son of Old Business Partner: The brains behind his brother. Doesn't seem too interested in Klaus' business but finds himself amused by the dynamics in the household.

10. Caroline Forbes: Age 25 Daughter of the late Sheriff. An event planner who has accepted her station in life. Loves finer things but stopped searching for them until her boyfriend Tyler helped her rise up. Unsure what the Sheriff did to deserve Giuseppe's good will but is completely willing to take advantage of the perks.

11. Tyler Lockwood: Age 28 Son of the Mayor and local Richboy. He has no intention of joining the family business or of doing much of anything. Dating Caroline but seems willing to play the field when she's not looking. Rumor was Giuseppe knew something Tyler didn't want to get out.

12. Elena Gilbert: Age 25 ? The only person to get a personalized letter from Giuseppe.

So there you have it. These are the important people who shall soon descend upon the Manor to hear Giuseppe's final wishes. What their stories hold and who killed Giuseppe's is anyone's guess. He had plans and I'm sure everything will be revealed. I am deeply troubled by the meanings behind the preceding events but I can only hope Miss Gilbert will be able to shed some light on the matter.

I will compile a brief account of Katherine Pierce's "accident" but I'm sure others know more than I do. I researched the accounts of the tragedy but Giuseppe was right, something didn't add up.

Katherine Pierce was a creature of habit and a woman who liked her routine. She always dined at a fancy restaurant alone since her husband was seemingly working. She would return home after exactly two glasses of wine and spend the evening getting a massage by a young man who gave a special type of massage.

That night she dined at the diner twelve blocks from home and ordered a salad and a cup of coffee. She seemed nervous about something and worried but she tipped and was polite (another oddity). She returned home an hour before her massage was scheduled and seemed to get drunk off of her husband's scotch (which she abhorred).

Sometime in the next hour, pumping music came radiating throughout the apartment. Countless neighbors filed complaints but the cops were not called. A little before eight, Katherine's body plummeted off the balcony and a nearby neighbor claimed she was alone on the balcony.

The death was ruled an accident but the husband was under suspicion. He was cleared within hours but the alibi was never released. The investigation was closed and she was cremated two days later.

Her story raised many questions and I could understand why Giuseppe thought it was suspicious. By all accounts Katherine loved her routine yet that night she was seemingly spontaneous. She was completely happy in her money and society yet she had reason to take her life in a gruesome fashion. From brief meetings I had thought she would be more likely to turn to pills. Either way it did seem a candidate for a second look.

All I know was the sealed envelope left for me with payment for the next year as well as one piece of paper. I read the line ten times before putting the questions away.

Trust Elena Gilbert

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DON'T WORRY! The next chapter will switch to Elena's point of view. I wouldn't dare tell you this story from Richard's perspective but he was the one to set it up. This story is my first mystery and I really want to do this right with clues, twists, intrigue, and of course the occasional sex scene. In the end a killer will definitely be unmasked (so to speak).

And who doesn't want Elena to play detective? Just think of the searches she can do with Damon! I imagine the clothes should come off eventually because he could be hiding evidence on his person!

I'm still working on the review replies for His Best Girl but I became oddly inspired to start this one! Over the weekend those will be completed and a page will be created on the blog for my new story. Check it out during your free time and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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