The Case of Blackthorn Mansion [closed to Apollo, Stiles, and Heiji]

[detectiveofthewest]

"Dear Mr. Justice,

My family has recently suffered a great misfortune, of whose exact manner I am loathe to discuss by letter. An acquaintance of mine suggested that your law offices may be able to provide some remedy. I pray that this is the case.

Enclosed are instructions to the family estate. I hope you will forgive me for this impersonal manner of address, but if you can at all find it within your heart to lend an ear to my troubles, you would have my eternal gratitude. I shall be waiting for your visit on the date provided.

Best Regards,
Violet Blackthorn."

Heiji looked up from the letter and the swirl of the writer's signature. After a moment, he folded it up, and handed it back to Apollo. "Hey, I've actually heard of these guys. Real old family, used to make a lotta donations. High-society, but now it's down to two or three people."

The neighborhood of Viola Blackthorn's house certainly seemed to be a storied one. One particular house, grey, stately, and slightly dilapidated, rose at the end of the street. It was to this house that they'd been summoned, and it was indeed quite large -- practically a mansion. A heavy oak door served as its entrance, with a lion's head door knocker mounted on its face. The lawn was immaculately kept.

Oddly, they'd been directed to the service entrance, not the main one. Or maybe this was by design and Miss Violet Blackthorn simply didn't want Mr. Apollo Justice and co. using the door meant for high society. In any case, they'd arrived just in time; the sky was darkening with the rain clouds that promised quite a drenching...

Comments

[apolly]

Heiji Hattori is unpredictable, and Apollo has accepted this since day one.

He plainly looks down at the letter in his hands, an envelope that arrived to his office just that morning, but this might've been his fault if he was being honest. He brought it to school to read the rest on break, and apparently Heiji patting him on the back was enough time to get the gist of what was on that paper.

He's actually surprised they arrived at the same time and everything. Apollo barely had a few minutes to inspect and judge the house's painting job before Heiji's car showed up.

Fantastic. And Stiles, of all people, is here too. Stiles.

This is actually his first time meeting Stiles, since he has only heard about the kid from word of mouth.

"So you know more than I do." A statement, not a question. As much as Apollo's irritated, at the end of the day, Heiji being here could actually be a benefit.

"Okay, that's cool. But why is Mr. Stiles here?" He points to said Stiles, because he thinks he at least deserves to know that much.