Shirriff Maggot shook his head, shaking himself out of having stared at the wall for a good five minutes. “I can’t believe this. A Hobbit, murdered?”
“There, there was no way she could have done it to herself,” said Will, his voice taut. He, Robin, Daisy, and Primula were standing in the Shirriff’s office, facing Drogo Maggot at his desk.
Drogo leaned back in his chair, his face still blanched from the news. “I, I don’t even know what to do. No Hobbit has been murdered since the Scouring!”
“And by another Hobbit, no less,” muttered Daisy.
Drogo blinked as he glanced at her. “What makes you say that?”
It was Daisy’s turn to blink in surprise. “Well, there’s no other explanation. There are no men, dwarves, or orcs in the area.”
“That we know of,” said Robin.
“We would know if there were,” muttered Drogo. He glanced up at Robin. “Believe me, we’re good at noticing them, far better than them at noticing us. And we have seen none.” He glanced at Daisy. “Which means Daisy’s come to the right conclusion, only another Hobbit could have done this.” Drogo sighed and passed a hand over his face. “And while it’s the only explanation, I still can’t believe it. Why? Why now? Why Stella? Why … like that?” He brought his hand down to his chin before glancing at Will. “But, until we find out, you do realize this would make you the prime suspect?”
Will’s eyes widened and took a step back. “Wh-what? Me? Why me?”
“It took place in your bar, and you two did have that argument last night about her buying the Green Dragon, again.”
“Yes, we were at it again. But there was no need to kill her over that!” exclaimed Will. “Besides, Adelaide and Porto had also shown up yesterday. Why didn’t I kill them?”
Drogo shrugged. “They weren’t there.” He stood up and sighed. “Listen, prime suspect does not mean you did it for sure. Come now, there’s been enough young rapscallions going around thieving from other farms for you to understand that.”
Will sighed. “That may be, I still don’t like it.”
“That’s understandable, but this is only until we find the right culprit.”
Will sighed again and rubbed his forehead. “I know, you’re right.” He glanced at Drogo. “Then please do hurry up and find whoever did this.”
Drogo pursed his lips. “That’s the thing, I don’t think I can make this quick. This is the first murder I’ve ever handled. And those rapscallions are at it again, so my team is spread thin.”
Daisy stepped forward. “You just need one or two to take care of this.”
Drogo rubbed his temples and sighed. “That’s just the thing, I don’t think I do. I mean, I can take a look to be sure, but I am pretty sure I sent everyone out after those rapscallions.”
“Can’t you take one or two Hobbits off the chase and send them to the Green Dragon? The murderer has struck once, who knows if he’ll strike again!” Primula exclaimed.
Drogo glanced at her. “What makes you think he will strike again. Stella could have been the only one he wanted to kill.”
“By that logic, then Will is no longer your prime suspect, as he would also go after the other two,” pointed out Robin. Will and Drogo shot him hard looks. “What? It’s true!”
Daisy sighed. “But he still must be considered a suspect since it did take place in his Inn.”
Drogo pointed at her. “She gets it.” He paused, blinked, then his eyes widened with sudden realization. “Daisy Took, would you like to be an honorary Shirriff?”
Daisy blinked. “What? Whatever for?”
“So you can solve this mystery. You’re honest and you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Plus, being a Took helps in matters like this. What do you say?” He quickly walked over to a desk and snatched up a red feathered cap and a sash. “And it’s just until this is over, I promise.” He glanced at Primula. “Maybe you too, if you want.”
Robing stepped forward. “What about me?”
Drogo shook his head. “You’re working for Will. No can do. Clash of interests and all that.”
“What? But I would be fair too!”
“I still need you to run the Inn,” said Will firmly. “Should I have to go anywhere for my safety, you’d be in charge. You can’t leave your post, or Mungo and Andy.”
“But, I want to help!”
Will placed a reassuring hand on Robin’s shoulder. “And you can, but your first priorities are to the Green Dragon. Then you can help Daisy and Primula with anything.”
Daisy spoke up. “Besides, if the culprit returns to the Green Dragon, you can be there to keep an eye on them. We will need someone we can trust to watch the Inn.”
Robin sighed. “Oh, alright.”
Drogo turned to Daisy. “Does that mean you will accept?”
Daisy glanced at Will, Robin, and Primula before sighing and turning to Drogo. “Yes, I accept.”
Drogo’s face flooded with relief. “Thank you.” He turned to Primula. “And what about you?”
Primula glanced at Daisy before turning to Drogo and nodding. “Yes, I accept as well.”
Drogo sighed in relief. “Thank you.” He went to the desk and snatched up another cap and sash. He turned to the two lassess. “Do you, Daisy Took, and you, Primula Baggins, hereby swear to uphold peace and justice in the Shire and to be fair in all your dealings with other Hobbits, no matter how annoying they are?”
“I do,” Daisy and Primula said in unison.
“I hereby appoint you honorary Shirrifs of the Shire.” He handed Daisy one cap and one sash and handed Primula the other. The lasses put on their sashes and caps. Drogo let out a huff. “And your assignment is to get to the bottom of this. Find out who killed Stella Proudfoot.” A shudder passed through his body. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”
“Neither can I,” whispered Will.
Drogo walked around to his desk chair and sat down. Heaving a sigh, he passed his hands over his face. “And now I have to tell the family, which will then allow the news to spread. And news like this will spread like wildfire. If only we could proceed without anyone knowing, we could catch the crook by surprise.”
“Maybe the crook will stay around and think we’ll let it pass over or …” Daisy bit her lip as she cast a sideways glance at Will. “Or we lay the blame on the wrong person.”
“But then, how will we know for sure?” Drogo asked, sweat starting to bead on his brow.
Daisy placed her hands on the desk. “I will be thorough, and I will trust my gut. So when I say something’s wrong, or this couldn’t be the culprit, please listen to it.”
Drogo bobbed his head. “I-I will.”
“That being said, I think I should go with you to inform that family of Stella’s … passing.”
Drogo blinked. “Why?”
“I am on this case, maybe they know something that could help us figure out who did this,” replied Daisy matter-of-factly.
Drogo nodded slowly. “You have a good point there. Very well, you and Primula may come with me to inform the family.”
“What should we do with the body in the meantime?” asked Will. “While what happened to her was horrible, I can’t leave her in my kitchen while you speak to her relatives.”
“Well, you could move it to the back of the Green Dragon,” said Primula.
Drogo winced. “But we will need any clues the body could give us.”
Daisy snapped her fingers. “I know! Primula, Robin, take as many notes as possible, write down every detail that you can see about the body and around the body. Leave nothing out. Maybe even draw a picture if you can. Look for any other clues as well. Then you can take a blanket, or something, wrap the body in it, and then place it in the back. We’ll find out where the family wants us to put it when we’ve told them.”
Robin and Primula saluted her. “Yes ma’am!”
Drogo smiled. “Brilliant Daisy!” He turned to the others. “Well, I guess we have our orders. Let’s get this over and done with.”
Robin scoffed. “Yeah, no kidding.”
The five left the building and split up. Robin, Primula, and Will went back to the Green Dragon to take care of the body and look for any clues. Meanwhile, Daisy and Drogo went to the Proudfoot residence to inform the family of the dastardly news.
Drogo walked up to the door and knocked. Daisy stepped up to stand next to him. He shot her a look and sighed.
“I am glad you are here though. Like I mentioned, this is a first, and well, I have no idea how to handle this.”
Daisy smiled soberly. “Anything to help.”
The door was opened by a lass of no more than ten. She swung it open when she recognized the visitors. “Oh! Shirriff Maggot!! Daddy is getting ready to go see you!”
“Well, I have come to see your Daddy, me and Miss Took. May we come in?”
The lass bobbed her head. “Yes!” She then turned and ran further into the Hobbit hole. “Daddy! Daddy! Shirriff Maggot is here! And Miss Took! Daddy!”
Drogo and Daisy walked into the hall, closing the door behind them. They only waited a minute before the lass’s father, Stella’s son, Frederick Proudfoot, walked into the hall.
“Well, this is timing. I was just coming to see you. Mother’s gone missing!” Daisy and Drogo shot each other a look. Frederick glanced from one to the other. “What? What is it?”
Drogo sighed. “Frederick, Daisy … Daisy, Primula Baggins and Robin Bolger already found your mom.”
Frederick sighed with relief. “Oh that’s wonderful!” He glanced behind them. “So where is she? Why isn’t she here?”
“They, um, they found her at the Green Dragon …” Drogo began.
Frederick blinked. “Why would she be there at this hour?” He turned to Daisy. “What did she say?” He blinked. “And why are you dressed as a Shirriff?”
“She, um, she … Frederick, she …” Drogo paused.
Daisy glanced at him and sighed. She stepped towards Frederick and laid a gentle hand on his arm. “Frederick, she couldn’t tell me anything because … because she’s dead.”
Frederick staggered back into the chair in the hall. He grabbed a hold of the arm, but didn’t sit down. “Wh-what? Are, are you serious?”
“Very serious,” said Daisy, her voice barely above a whisper.
“When? How?”
“Sometime in the night,” replied Daisy. “As for how …” She let out a huff. “Frederick, someone killed her.”
Frederick’s eyes widened as he fell into the chair. “Murdered?”
Daisy and Drogo nodded. “Yes, I’m so sorry,” said Daisy. She pointed to the sash she was wearing. “This is why I’m a Shirriff, an honorary Shirriff. Drogo asked me to find out who did it and why. So, I need you to tell me everything that happened or was said in the past few days that seemed odd to you.”
“I-I can’t think of anything. Mother always went about her own business, and sometimes we weren’t privy to it. Yesterday, yesterday was no different. Besides, well, her staying out all night, only to be … you’re sure she’s dead? This isn’t some cruel prank you’re playing on me?”
Daisy sighed. “I almost wish it were. But there’s no question about it, Frederick, she is dead.”
Frederick rose and grabbed her arm. “Show me.”
Daisy sighed and nodded. She and Drogo escorted Frederick to the Green Dragon. Robin, Primula, and Will had just finished cleaning things up. A shiver went down her spine as they showed Frederick his mother’s body. Stella’s face was frozen in an expression of anger. Daisy thought she noted a hint of fear as well, but couldn’t be sure.
Frederick staggered back upon seeing the body. “Wh-who would do such a thing?”
Drogo sighed. “That’s why I made Daisy and Primula honorary Shirriffs, they’re going to get to the bottom of this … soon, I hope.” He waved a hand at Stella. “In the meantime, where would you like us to put her body? We shouldn’t leave it out in the elements for long.”
“I-I don’t know … I would need time to make the funeral arrangements.”
“Right.” Drogo turned back to the body. “But we also can’t leave her here.”
“Um, I, uh, I have a shed in back yard,” piped up Robin. “We, we could put her there until the funeral.”
Frederick nodded. “Yes, yes that should do for now, thank you.”
Drogo sighed with relief and patted Robin’s shoulder. “Yes, a wonderful idea. Thank you.” He turned to Will. “We should move her now.”
Frederick backed up and collapsed in the shade of a nearby tree. “I just, I just can’t believe she’s gone. And like this.”
Drogo turned to Daisy and Primula. “Stay with him, please. We’ll be back shortly.”
The lasses nodded. “Of course.” They walked towards Frederick. Daisy glanced back and noticed how the shadow of the tree branches fell over Stella’s body, like a gnarled hand reaching out for her. A shiver went down her body and was glad to see Will and Drogo pick up the body and follow Robin to his shed. She turned back to Frederick, and the two stayed with him while he grieved.