Mayhew froze, his calm expression that almost never broke finally shattering for just a moment. His hand stayed hovering above the chess piece he wanted to move, but no move was made.
He didn't understand. Why—Why would Konrad ask him that question? How would he even know to ask it?
Was he the one that had been stalking him and Margret? Maybe the group of old men and Helena had figured it out and relayed that information to Konrad. Or maybe—
The detective slapped himself mentally.
'Calm down, and stop throwing accusations around aimlessly. I just need to ask Konrad, I'm sure that he will explain himself.'
The detective played his responding move, reclaiming his usual calm expression at the same time.
[Rook c1]
"Konrad, you do know that question is a very personal one, right?"
Konrad sighed and scratched the back of his head. A somber expression appearing on his face.
"I'm sorry, Mister Mayhew. I just get too comfortable when I talk to nice and honest people like you. It makes me want to open up."
He made his move as he spoke.
[Bishop d6]
"If you don't want to talk about it—then that's alright. I just wanted us to have this conversation, because I can heavily relate to your situation."
The detective's suspicion did not go away entirely, but a newfound emotion of pity did invade his heart. With that pity also came Mayhew's beliefs in what he was meant to do, and what he was meant to be...
A brother. A father. If a person was lost due to not having a family to guide them, then Mayhew was happy to fill that role for them.
Family was the light that everyone held hope for. Because even without any blood relation, any person could act as family toward another.
Having these thoughts, the detective finally managed to relax and played his next move in confidence.
[Queen f3]
After playing this move, Mayhew looked at Konrad with a small smile on his lips.
"If it makes you feel better, then—sure, we can talk about it. But please, next time try to find a better way to open up that type of conversation."
Konrad nodded with a smile of his own.
Both of them made moves on the board. Exchanging again, though this time it wasn't their knights but their bishops.
[Bishop xf4]
[Queen xf4]
"Well, to start things off, I have to ask you something. How did you know about my parents? I don't remember telling Helena anything about it."
Konrad spoke as he looked down at the board with the gaze of an experienced chess master.
"Well, Mister Mayhew, I don't know if you know this, but here in Pustków, people really like to share information with each other—especially when it comes to people who aren't from here. Lots of people told me about you before I even met you."
As he explained, Konrad also didn't forget to make a move on the chess board.
[Short Castle O-O]
"And so by word of mouth, I got a pretty good picture of you. A few small details from what the locals saw of you gave me the idea that you were like me. Then talking to you face to face only strengthened that idea."
Mayhew couldn't help but sigh inside his head as he heard Konrad's explanation.
'Looks like my weaknesses as a detective are starting to pop their ugly heads.'
His detective strategy of taking his time and warming himself up to the locals definitely had its positives. But it also had its negatives, and this was one of them.
"So that's what prompted you to ask me that question?"
Konrad looked up at the detective and nodded.
"As I said before: I heavily relate to your situation, Mister Mayhew. Being far away from home—in a hostile environment while having no parents to guide you through it. Reminds me of a cold walk I once took."
As Konrad spoke, Mayhew looked at the board with a serious face hidden beneath a casual expression.
'I still have the advantage... why do I feel so nervous, though? There is no way for him to breach my defenses, and after we trade everything, I will have the upper hand due to my superior structure. I still don't get it.'
Meanwhile, the chess master continued:
"What about you, Mister Mayhew? Have you ever taken a cold walk before?"
The detective at this point wasn't paying much attention to Konrad's words as he was more so focused on the chess piece he was about to move.
[Rook fe1]
Mayhew looked back up and let out a cough.
"Your move, Konrad. Also, sorry, but what were you saying? I kind of got lost in the game."
He chuckled as he said the last line.
But Konrad did not seem to find it very funny.
Though his expression did not turn sour, his usual polite and calm look disappeared for just a few seconds.
Konrad made his next move without hesitation, as if he had already planned it ten moves ago.
[Pawn f6]
The browned-haired detective rubbed his chin as he watched Konrad's move.
'It just doesn't stop. Piece by piece, it's just putting more and more pressure on me to keep my defenses perfect. Was that the element I was missing? Pressure.'
In that instant, the game picked up a pace that Mayhew just couldn't describe with words. There was no more talking, and the chess pieces became the only priority.
[Knight f3]
[Pawn a5]
[Rook cd1]
[Pawn b4]
His deep hazel eyes looked at the board with focused intensity.
'Here he comes. I need to keep my shell perfect on all sides of the board.'
On the other side, Konrad was switching between looking at Mayhew and the board. A calm but slightly cold expression on his pale face.
[Knight d2]
[Pawn bxc3]
[Pawn bxc3]
[Bishop a6]
The detective wiped his brow.
'Not good. I'm starting to open up.'
[Bishop e2]
He tried to keep himself centered and structured. But Konrad simply didn't care. The chess master continued to assault Mayhew's position without the slightest bit of hesitation.
[Bishop xe2]
[Rook xe2]
And with these moves, Mayhew's advantage was completely gone—just like that.
The detective took a glance at Konrad.
The young man sat there with a distant expression, as if he was taking a trip down memory lane. But Mayhew had no time to interpret this as he was busy fending for his life on the chess board.
[Knight a6]
[Knight b3]
[Rook fb8]
[Rook b1]
At this point, the detective was now fully sweating. Wiping a drop from his forehead, he couldn't help but look at the board with a gloomy gaze.
It was simply too much. The pressure from Konrad's pieces was making Mayhew make mistakes. And without a perfect defense, the detective was like a turtle without its shell. There was nothing he could hide behind, and he knew it.
Still... he didn't resign.
[Pawn a4]
[Knight d2]
[Rook xb1+]
[Knight xb1]
[Rook b8]
Konrad looked at the board, a small smile slowly forming on his lips.
[Rook e1]
[Rook b2]
[Pawn a3]
[Queen b7]
And finally came the set of moves that ended the match.
[Queen f3]
[Rook xb1]
[Queen e2]
And then:
[Queen b2]
With that move, Mayhew silently reached his hand out and shook that of Konrad's.
There was nothing he could say; he had been simply outplayed. A silent resignation was the least disrespectful way he could go out.
And with that, the chess game between the detective and Novak had ended—abruptly, so to say the least.