Responses
Since from the start, the Duke is already introduced as some, suspicious innocent person, so it's not much of a news that he is the bad guy. It's not a transition, from an innocent to murderer. It's so freaking obvious from the start.
's what I said. It was obvious.
Wayton probably spiked one of Louis' drinks with that White Kill drug and told him to wait outside as to not make anyone notice. But then Maetel came along and snatched him away first. It's obvious it was the drug, by the way he behaved and his memory loss.
But it's more than obvious, from the very first time he showed up, that it was probably Wayton who's the killer.
Because first of all: The victimology is too obvious.
The story will either use it to make room for Louis to be kidnapped at last or for him to be the reason this type of person is being snatched in the first place (or both, as in: he's the reason the victims are being chosen and he himself will be caught later on, too - that's also possible).
Now who would try and substitute Louis, if not Wayton, who was stood up, eventhough he already drugged him, to make him easy prey? And yes, I still might be wrong, but the story introduced a LI that's hard to swallow. For real, I don't like Maetel. Be it as it may, this investigation is neither a joke nor a game. Why put innocent lives on the line for his personal interests? Seriously?
So when they introduced a nice guy, that looked better from any perspective, they have to taint him now, otherwise, readers might still prefer the subjectively better option over Maetel. Making him a crazy murderer would do the trick for sure.