"What will they be performing here next?"
Shade asked curiously. No physical tickets were given when purchasing admission here, and the stage set offered no obvious clues.
"I'm not sure either."
The priest said this as he looked around, preparing to find someone. He had investigated Mr. Vincent Taylor beforehand and knew what he looked like.
"Priest, you're being far too inefficient. Come with me. I'll take you to find him."
With that, he pulled the priest toward a small side gate in the courtyard, intending to head backstage.
"Detective, do you know people here?"
"Of course I do, though I wouldn't say we're particularly close."
A few minutes later.
"Oh, look who it is! Detective Hamilton, what brings you here? Little Hank at the entrance didn't make you buy another ticket, did he?"
Outsiders were not supposed to be allowed backstage so casually, but the gatekeeper had met Shade last time. After letting Shade and Priest Augustus in, he immediately went to find the troupe leader, Mrs. Marian.
The woman, dressed in a red gown with an apron tied over it, welcomed Shade warmly. Shade shook his head to say the ticket was nothing, then introduced Priest Augustus as his friend before explaining why he had come:
"I'm investigating a difficult case."
Mrs. Marian nodded knowingly and invited Shade and Priest Augustus upstairs to talk. A wooden wall divided the courtyard in two, and on the backstage side stood a short two-story building. The actors on the 1st Floor were busily applying makeup and getting dressed. The upcoming performance appeared to be a story about a hunter, a Princess, and dwarves. Shade saw a troubled-looking man diligently painting a red apple black to show that it was poisoned.
Mrs. Marian led Shade and Priest Augustus through the crowd. The