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We were all sitting at the dining room table again. The book club ladies had disappeared, much to my chagrin. I had been looking forward to more of their shenanigans.
Nancy was pacing up and down.
“Someone has died, but we are getting closer to finding out who the killer was,” Nancy said. “It may not be enough to bring that poor girl back from the dead, but—”
“Hiya,” Valerie said cheerfully as she entered the room. “Do we have any ice cream? I’m famished.” The attitude from earlier had apparently returned.
Geoff turned red and looked around the table with a panicked expression.
“Valerie,” he hissed. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
“I know,” she said with a sly grin. “If any of you want to know what it’s like to make out with a ghost, now is your chance.”
Geoff pushed back his chair and turned to Nancy.
“Excuse me, Detective. I need to use the restroom.” He darted past Valerie and grabbed her arm to drag her along.
She let out a shriek of discontent but had no choice but to follow him into the corridor.
During this entire time, Nancy had remained calm. She really was committed to this character. Kudos.
We all turned our attention back to her and she gave us all a poised smile.
“We found fingerprints on the murder weapon,” she said ominously.
We all stilled.
There was a tingle that travelled up my spine. This was actually getting exciting.
“The fingerprints belong to Moira.”
Our gazes were pulled to Brenda who started fanning herself.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “Well, I did use the poker when the fire was burning last night.”
“And you have no reason to dislike or harm the maid?” Nancy asked.
“Of course not. I don’t even know her.”
“That ain’t true, innit,” Eddie said. “I saw them talking near my room and then leave when they realised I was watching them.”
“Is that so?” Nancy asked. “Does it have anything to do with the fact that you gave up your first child for adoption? A girl who would have the same age as Valerie?”
Brenda’s bottom lip started trembling. Wow. She was a good actress.
Geoff had picked the right moment to return to the room.
“What?” he asked as he approached the table. “You gave up a child for adoption?”
“It was b—before your time,” she sobbed.
“And Valerie was this child?” I blurted out.
“Indeed,” Nancy said.
Detective Black popped up next to Nancy. “And the plot thickens.”
After this minor plot twist, we had dinner. Miles had cooked a simple spaghetti, but it was delicious. Geoff and Brenda didn’t join us and I wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with Valerie popping up earlier. I do know that Geoff was very angry.
David stayed behind with us, though, and entertained us with a story about a drunk tour guide in Greece. I wasn’t sure if it was something he’d made up as his character or something that had really happened, but he sure knew how to tell a story.
So far, David’s character Dan hadn’t done anything suspicious, unless the meeting with Valerie in the garden was part of the weekend. Either way, it made him the most suspicious.
After dinner, Eddie and Alistair joined me for a game of cards in the living room. The fireplace was burning and the poker that was supposed to be the murder weapon was still missing. Nancy had left before dinner and would probably be back tomorrow again with another revelation. I couldn’t wait.
“Hey. There is already a card in the bowl.” Alistair pointed to the bowl on top of the mantelpiece.
“That’s way too early,” Eddie said in his normal accent. “Who do you think added a card already?”
“I did,” I said.
“What?”
“You did?” They said simultaneously.
“How could you possibly know already?” Alistair asked.
I shrugged. “Intuition. But I could be wrong. I’ve got two tries, remember?”
“Still. Who do you think it is?” Eddie leaned forward, his eyes big.
“I’m not telling. You have to guess yourself. It won’t be fun otherwise.” I winked at him.
Eddie and Alistair exchanged a look.
“What?” I asked.
“I think I know what you’re going to ask for every one of your birthdays from now on,” Eddie said with a sigh.
“I’m having a normal amount of fun, okay? You guys are having a blast too.” I pointed at them accusingly.
“True,” Alistair said. “But you’re having an extra amount of fun. It’s probably because this is so similar to you writing a mystery. Except that now you’re one of the characters.”
That was kind of what it was like.
I shrugged. “I don’t see why you’re complaining. At least in this case no vicious killers can come after me.”
Eddie and Alistair exchanged another glance.
“Or are you planning on installing cameras here too? And sticking to my side in case you need to box someone off me?”
Alistair cleared his throat while Eddie just glared at me.
“We did that because we care,” Eddie said.
“I know. I’m just saying, don’t complain about me enjoying a fake murder.”
“We’re not. We’re teasing you. There’s a difference.” Eddie stuck out his tongue.
“I love you too.” I stuck out my tongue as well.
“Gin!” Alistair calls out.
“Gin? I thought we were playing Texas hold ‘em?” I frowned.
“We are. I was just messing with you.”
Eddie smiled at me. “Look who is becoming a wild card.”
I giggled.
“I see. Now we are teasing me.”
“Don’t you feel special?” I asked and checked my hand again.
“So special.”
We continued playing for a few hours. Eddie went up to his room first. Then we went as well. Alistair walked me to my room.
“I can’t believe tomorrow is the last day already,” I said as I leaned against my doorpost.
“Yes, it went by fast.”
“Indeed.” Somehow I didn’t quite know what to say. I wanted to say something. Something...more. But the words were lodged somewhere in the back of my throat, refusing to come out.
“Well,” Alistair said. “I guess I should be going.”
“Yeah.” Again I was searching for words, unable to find them.
“Bye.”
I sighed as I watched him go. “Bye,” I said softly.
––––––––
I STRETCHED AND CHECKED my alarm, not feeling rested in the slightest. It was midnight. Why had I woken up? I was dreaming of something warm and fluffy.
“Snowball?” Detective Black asked. “Or Alistair?” He chuckled.
“Shut up,” I mumbled and realised my mouth was dry. Perhaps a steaming mug of tea would help put me to sleep.
I put on a robe and my slippers and opened the door. There was one light on at the end and one at the start of the corridor. They helped me find my way to the staircase and down I went. I took out my phone to use the torch. I hurried through the corridor and all the way to the back where the kitchen was.
The entire place was nice and quiet and I was proud to realise I wasn’t afraid in the slightest. Whatever curse I believed to be in place once, it had now been lifted. This was Miles’s home now and it felt like it. A warm, safe place. Perhaps a bit too big to feel properly cosy, but it was getting there.
I put the kettle on and secured my robe even more tightly, feeling a sudden chill. Were the French doors open? I held out my phone as I walked over. One of the doors was ajar. I opened it and peered into the darkness. I couldn’t see a thing.
“Were those voices?” Detective Black said from behind me.
I strained my ears. I thought I could make out a woman and a man talking, but the increasing loudness of the kettle made me close the door and hurry back to the counter. Whatever they were doing, it was none of my business. It could not have been part of the murder mystery weekend because nobody could have anticipated me getting out of bed and going down to the kitchen.
What if it was Alistair with that Valerie?
It was as if a hand made of ice grabbed my heart. No, no. I was being silly. Besides, even if it was them, it would be none of my concern.
“And yet you’d be concerned,” Detective Black said with a raised eyebrow. It made him look smug.
Great, I was never going to sleep. I poured myself some white tea and hurried up to my room. I wanted to try and forget I had overheard anyone and go back to my warm and comfortable bed.
I ended up reading to take my mind off things, then having to pee because of the tea, and finally fell asleep around two in the morning.
By the time Warren knocked on my door to announce breakfast, I was moody.
I dragged myself out of bed, washed up and packed the few items I had taken out of my suitcase since Friday. That way I wouldn’t have to pack tonight.
Everyone was already downstairs when I arrived. I scooped up some scrambled eggs and grabbed two slices of toast before sitting down between Eddie and Alistair.
I eyed Alistair as he took a sip of his coffee.
“Sleep well?” I asked him.
He nodded. “Yeah, I did. Did you?”
“Peachy.” I took a bite out of the toast. “You went to bed after you dropped me off at my room?”
He looked up at me with a question mark in his eyes. “Yeah. Why?”
“No reason.” I took another bite. “And you didn’t leave after that?”
He frowned. “No. Again, why?”
“No reason.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it and continued his breakfast while occasionally glancing at me.
“Estelle, darling,” he said after most of us had finished breakfast. “Want to go for a stroll in the gardens?”
I shrugged. “Okay.” Perhaps a little fresh air would lift my spirits.
We went to get our coats. Since I couldn’t find my scarf, Alistair lent me his. I wrapped it tightly around my neck, then realised it smelt like him and loosened it. I really had to do something about this crush.
“Ha,” Detective Black said. “As if it’s just a crush.”
“Shut up,” I said.
“What?” Alistair asked.
“What?” I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you okay?” We made our way outside and strolled past the side of the mansion towards the back again, just like we had the morning before.
“Yeah, I just didn’t sleep that well.”
“Why not?”
“Don’t know. I fell asleep, but then I woke up. Not sure why.” Perhaps I had a lot on my mind.
Alistair cleared his throat. “I was wondering, are you still in touch with your mother?” he asked.
I turned my head to him. He had his gaze fixed ahead of us.
“She’s tried calling me a few times. According to my aunt, she’s going to be released from the institution she’s at soon.”
“And your father?”
“He’s got a new family. He sends me birthday cards but I always throw them away.”
“I’m sorry,” he said and reached out to grab my hand.
If he hadn’t done that, I would have fallen flat on my face when I tripped over something. Instead, he caught me and we both turned to look at what I’d tripped over.
Nausea rippled through me.
“Oh, no,” I said. “That’s Valerie.”
“Yes.” Alistair’s voice was tight. “And she’s definitely dead for real this time.”