by Sonia Parin
They strode out to the foyer, the clue scrunched up in her hand. All the other couples headed off in different directions, everyone appearing to know what they were doing as they got into the spirit of it.
“Here comes another ball.”
Lexie watched it bounce down the stairs. “Fetch it.”
Luna gave her a sideways glance. “You’re serious?”
The ball bounced right past them.
“They’ll take points away from us. Fetch it.”
“You fetch it.”
“At least run after it.”
“I’ve just had lunch. My mother always told me to avoid any strenuous exercise after a meal or I’d upset my digestion.”
“Fine. At least help me out with the clue. Find the third one on the left, take ten paces and look up. Come on. Let’s walk and talk.” They strode out to the patio and gazed out onto the gardens.
“The third one could refer to a series of something,” Luna suggested. “How about trees? They’re planted right alongside the wall surrounding the house and gardens.”
“But there has to be a starting point,” Lexie reasoned, “The third one from where?”
“From the gates?”
“It won’t hurt to try, and we might get points for making an effort.” As they followed the path to the gates, Lexie watched the other couples searching the perimeter of the grounds. “I’m guessing they received similar instructions with slight variations.”
A cheer erupted. They turned and saw the pink couple, Lauren and Lance, high fiving each other. With their task completed, they headed back inside the house.
“And then there were eight,” Lexie murmured.
“There are nine couples, including us, so now there are seven still looking... and us.”
“Are you sure?”
“The blue couple. Pink. Beige. Red blazers and black trousers. Zoe and Zachery. Bill and Susan. The orange couple and the powder blue couple.”
“You were actually paying attention.”
“I can’t help being observant. It’s part of my predatory nature.”
They reached the gates and counted three trees. “Take ten paces. It doesn’t say in which direction we should head.”
“You’ll have to try all possible combinations.”
“I suppose you’re going to sit and watch me?”
“Yes. The sun’s lovely. I’m going to soak it in.” Luna stretched out and yawned. “I’ve been thinking... while we’re here, we should do something touristy. I wouldn’t mind visiting Lancaster Central Market.”
“How do you know about that place?”
“I just do. Anyhow, they have lovely handmade Amish goods. I’d love a quilt, something I can call my own. If you get me one, I promise I’ll look after it.”
“Yeah, sure. Sounds good. I wouldn’t mind getting out of here for a while.” Lexie took ten paces back and looked up. “I’m looking at the sky.”
“So when can we go?”
“Huh? Where?”
“To the market. You’re going to get me a lovely handmade quilt.”
“Handmade... That sounds expensive.”
“You have your inheritance money.”
“I have an allowance to live on and it doesn’t include funds for extravagances such as handmade quilts.”
“Put it down as a business travel expense.”
“But we’re not here on behalf of Crafty Investigations.”
“We could be. There’s still plenty of time for someone to turn up dead and then you could get me a lovely quilt and write it off as a work expense. Please say yes. Give me something to look forward to.”
“Will it put an end to your whining?” Logically, she knew she should take ten paces to the left, but instead, she took ten paces to the right, walking past their starting point. When she looked up, a ball rolled off a tree and bounced toward her. “I think they really want you to get that ball.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious to know how the ball rolled off at exactly the moment you saw it?”
Lexie looked up at the tree. “I’m guessing there’s some sort of mechanized system triggered by... Okay, we really are being watched. This is starting to feel creepy.” She picked up the ball and studied it. “I’m holding onto it as proof that we completed the task.”
“In your place, I’d throw it over the wall,” Luna suggested.
“You would not, Miss Goodie Two Shoes. What’s come over you?”
“What can I say? There are times when I like to live vicariously.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but there is no way I am being labeled a late bloomer and kept back to do another program. So pull your socks up and remember, you’re the one with the pre-existing condition.”
“I’d like to know where Marcela Taggart got that from.”
“Clearly, she received the information from the psychiatrist who is in cahoots with the coven’s disciplinary board which acted in response to a complaint. That should be our main focus. Find out who lodged the complaint.”
“And then what? Lodge a counter complaint?”
“There has to be some benefit to being the incoming High Chair. I’m not saying I’m above coven law, but surely there must be some court of appeal. It’s not as if I did anything wrong and—” Lexie looked around to make sure no one could hear her.
“And?”
“I lost the thread of the conversation.”
“I think you were about to say you are not entirely free of blame. I tend to pick up on your vibes—”
“You’re blaming me? You’re responsible for us being sent to the psychiatrist. I didn’t tell you to bite me.”
“You asked for it.”
Lexie drew in a deep breath. “Okay, so there might have been some provocation on my part, but you deserved it, the way you were acting all hoity-toity...”
They swung away from each other. After a few minutes, they both sighed and turned back. At least they were no longer growling at each other.
“Great. Now there’s only one other couple left and us.”
Luna tilted her head. “Out of curiosity, if you had to pick someone as a murder candidate, which couple...or individual would you choose?”
“No one’s getting killed.” Looking at the ball, she frowned. “Here’s another clue written on the ball. What comes down must go up.”
“In whose universe? You’re right. They’re playing with us.”
Lexie turned and saw the couple in red blazers making their way back inside the house, their pace brisk.
“We’re the only ones out here.” Lexie scooped Luna up and hurried inside.
“Where’s the fire? You’re making me bounce,” Luna complained.
“We need to keep up with the others. Come on. Don’t reverse roles. You’re supposed to be the cautious one.”
“I guess I’m embracing the inner rebel. And if you don’t stop bouncing me around, you’re going to be wearing my lunch.”
Lexie strode into the foyer but didn’t see anyone else around. “Where did everyone go?”
Hearing the distinct sound of a ball bouncing, they looked up.
Luna purred. “They are fixated with balls. Here comes another one.”
They both stood at the foot of the staircase watching the ball bounce down the steps.
“What if we’re supposed to collect all the balls we come across and they do a count at the end of the day?”
Luna looked over her shoulder. “You should get it. Just to be on the safe side.”
Lexie grumbled under her breath. “Did you put on weight? You’re feeling heavier than usual.”
“You’re imagining it. I don’t feel heavier.”
“You must be in denial. Two weeks of inactivity has gone to your butt.”
Luna pressed her nose against hers. “If you don’t have anything kind to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all...”
They looked at each other cross-eyed.
“Are we going to spend the entire time w
e’re here arguing?” Lexie asked.
“Quick. Put me down.”
“What’s wrong with you now?”
“Nature calls.”
“Use the litter box,” Lexie called out as Luna sprinted up the stairs. “I don’t want to have to clean up after you.”
As she waited for Luna to return, she strode around the foyer and tried to locate the cameras. “Nothing in the corner,” she murmured and stepped up to study a portrait. She moved from side to side to see if the eyes would follow her around, but they didn’t.
Hearing a soft yelp, Lexie turned and looked up. “What was that?” Her voice hitched with excitement and a tinge of anticipation. “It sounded as if someone was caught by surprise,” she told herself.
What followed could only be described as a gasping scream, as if the person couldn’t quite draw in enough breath.
She rushed to the stairs, only to stop. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the ball bouncing back into the foyer and then away again, almost as if it had a life of its own.
She raked her fingers through her hair and growled.
“What’s wrong with you?” Luna asked as she sauntered down the stairs.
“Did you hear the scream?”
“No.”
“I heard it all the way down here. How could you not hear it?”
“I was... humming.”
“Humming?”
“Okay. I was singing. I have a shy bladder and I couldn’t help feeling someone was watching me so I tried to distract myself with singing.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t hear the scream.”
“Did you investigate it?”
“Well... no. I was sidetracked by the ball.”
Luna yawned. “I wonder if they’ll be serving afternoon refreshments. A bowl of milk would sit well with me right about now.”
“Can you please focus? Do we follow the ball or investigate the source of the scream?” She felt almost immobilized with indecision. So much seemed to depend on what they did next. What if it had all been about making a quick decision? What if...
“Argh!”
“I’m all for following the pretty ball. It actually sounds like less work,” Luna said and meandered off in search of the ball, with Lexie following on her heels, even though the scream had come from upstairs...
As they reached the sunroom, Lexie swung around. “This is ridiculous. What was I thinking? We need to go see if someone needs our help.”
They returned to the foyer only to find everyone making their way down the stairs, chatting and laughing together.
“Well, that was something,” Zoe remarked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“What happened?” Lexie asked.
“We just had our innate response times tested. We were all upstairs following our clue. What comes down must go up... Anyhow, Zach and I arrived first on the scene with everyone else coming in equal second. I believe that puts us in the lead. Also, we now have our next set of clues.” She waved a piece of paper.
“What about the scream?”
They all looked at each other.
Zoe shrugged. “I thought it was someone celebrating their find. They’re serving coffee in the sitting room. Are you coming?”
Lexie nodded. “In a minute.” She turned to Luna. What now? she mouthed.
“I’ve never failed at anything,” Luna said in a small voice.
Lexie waited until everyone had gone into the sitting room to say, “We should go up and see if we can find the clue. Otherwise, we’ll be leagues behind everyone else.”
She took the stairs, two steps at a time with Luna belatedly jumping into action and sprinting past her.
“I suddenly have the urge to win at something. Race you to the top of the stairs.”
Lexie caught up with Luna who was sniffing outside a door.
“Did you pick up a scent?”
Luna gave a small nod. “I think we’ll find more than we bargained for in here.”
The door stood ajar. Lexie eased it open. “It’s someone’s bedroom.”
“We haven’t had much luck walking into people’s bedrooms,” Luna cautioned, “I vote against it.”
“If anyone asks, I’m going to say I followed you in.” Lexie strode inside and looked around. Two suitcases sat at the end of the large bed. She strode around it and, deciding to be thorough, looked under the bed. Nothing. Stepping back, she peered out the window and saw a van driving away.
Lexington Catering. Maybe she could call them and have them deliver some pizza...
“See any dead bodies?” Luna asked.
“Something tells me we’ll be fine,” Lexie murmured, “We tend to find dead bodies when we least expect them and... We’ve been expecting... hoping something would turn up. Chances are, nothing will.”
Luna purred softly. “Don’t say that. We need a dead body to get us out of this ridiculous team building program.”
“I thought you just wanted to sunbathe and wile away the time. If we find a dead body, we’ll have to work as a team.”
“Oh... I hadn’t thought of that.”
Lexie picked up a vase and looked under it. “Keep your eye out for a clue. I don’t know where the others found theirs, but it has to be somewhere on this level.”
Luna leaped up onto the bed. “This feels rather comfortable. Wake me up when you’re done snooping around.”
Lexie checked the wardrobe. “Nice and roomy. It would have made a great landing platform.” Next she checked the en-suite bathroom. “Okay. I found something.”
“I hope the clue doesn’t involve walking around the grounds. I’m all for a bit of exercise, but I prefer it to be spaced out.”
Lexie backed away from the en-suite.
“You look pale.”
“I found... something.”
“How bad is it?”
“Come and see for yourself.”
Luna sighed and sauntered over. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
Lexie stretched her hand out and pointed toward the bathtub.
Luna stared and blinked. “Oh. I see.” She looked up at Lexie. “Are you going to blame me for this?”
Chapter Four
“Jeeves!” When she didn’t get a response, Lexie pressed the red button on the bedside table.
“What are you doing?” Luna asked.
“We need to report this.”
“How may I help you?” Jeeves asked in a cultured tone.
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
“Yes. You are coming through loud and clear.”
Lexie spoke with calm urgency. “Marcela Taggart needs to come upstairs to Lauren and Lance’s suite. There’s something she needs to see.”
“Could you be more specific, please?”
“We... my feline companion and I, found... a couple in a bathtub.”
“If you strayed into the wrong suite, I suggest you offer your apologies and leave.”
Lexie gave an exasperated shrug. “You don’t seem to understand the situation—”
“We, at Gainsborough Mansion, excel at conflict resolution. If a complaint is lodged against you, all parties concerned will sit down and reach a mutually satisfying compromise.”
“Am I, by any chance, speaking to a recording?”
“If you have found your clue, please make your way to the downstairs lounge. Refreshments will be served shortly.”
“About time.” Luna scampered over to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Didn’t you hear the butler? Refreshments are being served. Open the door.”
“There are two dead people in the bathtub and you want to rush off for afternoon refreshments? I thought you wanted someone to get killed?”
“Their timing sucks... I didn’t think it through.”
Lexie stabbed her finger on the bedside table button again.
“How may I help you?” the voice asked.
“This is an emergency.”
“In case
of fire, please make your way to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.”
“It’s not that type of emergency,” Lexie growled, “Can you put someone else on?”
“Please state your emergency.”
She spoke as clearly as her rising temper would allow. “There is a couple in the bathtub and they are dead.”
“Please be advised, the use of the communication device for amusement purposes is frowned upon and will reflect badly on your final results.”
Luna scratched the door. “Just holler out Marcela’s name.”
“And send everyone into a panic? What if they leave? They’re all suspects. They were all up here when I heard the scream. In fact... why didn’t any of them react to it?”
This was all too strange. Ever since they’d arrived, she’d had the feeling they’d been duped into coming here. From the start, there had been something questionable about the edict they’d received forcing them to attend the appointment with the psychiatrist. That alone had raised questions. The way they had been transported to Gainsborough Mansion more than suggested this place had links to a coven and that always spelled trouble.
Now she couldn’t help thinking someone had contrived a plan to get both her and Luna here. Could this be Mirabelle’s doing? Had she been asked to look into strange happenings at Gainsborough Mansion? And if she had, why not be honest about wanting Lexie to look into it? “Think about it.”
“What?”
“Weren’t you listening to my thoughts?”
“Actually, no. You told me not to.”
“Since when do you obey me?”
The back of Luna’s fur sprung up. “That is not how it’s meant to work and if you had been listening to my objections, we would have sat down and clarified our roles. I. Do. Not. Obey. Because I am not in your service. We. Are. Equals.”
“Are you about to break into a song and dance routine? This isn’t the time to tackle your grievances. We’re both stuck in a situation we don’t like and now...”
“What?”
Could she... they walk away from the two dead people lying in the bathtub? Were they really dead? What if they were nothing but props? She’d felt for a pulse and hadn’t found one, but it might have been set up that way.
Luna sauntered over to the en-suite bathroom. “They look quite dead.” She sniffed the air. “How do you think they died?”