Gypsies, Traps & Missing Thieves

by Rachael Stapleton

  “Well, if her cousin isn’t here and her boyfriend didn’t show then wouldn’t it stand to reason that she left to go and look for them?”

  Mallory’s eyebrows drew together. She glanced over her shoulder and then back to Eve. “I guess, but she made a point of saying that they’d never met. They chatted online, and he invited her to come here, so how would she know where to look? Also, there were no other leftover envelopes for a man so, technically, if he’s part of the game then he should be here.”

  “Hmm, so you think someone tricked her into coming here? Maybe we should check her room,” Gloria suggested. “To see if her bags are gone. You know, to hunt for clues?”

  “That’s a good idea,” Eve agreed.

  “Wait a minute, you said she knew who you were,” Denise commented.

  “Yes,” Mallory replied.

  “Oh, you sweet gullible thing, that’s definitely a set up, then. How would she have known who you were?”

  Mallory laughed. “Touché. I’ve been played.”

  “How obvious,” Eve commented. “What do you want to bet this mystery revolves around finding the missing new girl?”

  “Who are you playing, Denise?” Mallory asked.

  “Gloria and I are journalists and we’ve come to write a feature on the famed Carnival owner. Isn’t that a hoot? Wendy Litesdimm and Deedee Hachett.”

  Gloria reached for Eve’s card. “And who are you?”

  Eve snatched her hand away. “Ah-ah-ah. Hands off, hatchet job. I’m not telling.”

  Spotting Lana and Harley standing behind the newel post at the far end of the foyer with their backs toward the others, Mallory started in their direction. As she approached, she noticed Lana pressing her fingers against her temple. “Well, where, then?” she whispered harshly.

  “How am—” Catching Mallory standing nearby, Harley turned. “Ah, Mallory,” he said, “Ready to play?”

  Mallory smiled. “Are you lost? You sounded flustered—”

  “Flustered?” Lana asked with a slight frown. She glanced back at Harley who simply shrugged. Lana shook her head impatiently. “We were just trying out our characters.”

  3

  D etective Kaden Bones opened the giant double doors to the Manor and held them open for Penny Trubble and Rebel Rouse to walk through. It was only 3 p.m. but the snowstorm had darkened the sky.

  Inside, the entryway glowed from Victorian lamps reflecting off the dark wood of the front desk, close to but not quite tucked beneath a large wooden staircase.

  “Did it say when they might reschedule?” Rebel asked as they shook the snow from their coats and stamped their feet.

  Penny shook her head, taking in the enormous fireplace in the lounge area off to the side.

  At the front desk, the guest services girl, a twenty-something year old named Lise Trix was whispering excitedly into her smart phone. She had hair the color of cotton candy and a reputation for being less than sweet unless of course you were Danior’s boyfriend, Emilion, a little known fact that drove Danior up the wall.

  “Hello, welcome to Caravan Manor. You must be the final arrivals.” she said while unwrapping one of the lollipops set aside for the guests.

  Rebel frowned and gestured to the phone wedged between her shoulder and ear. “Well, I am. Penny was supposed to be on her way to the airport. Are you busy? We can wait.”

  “Nope, it’s just my friend.” She set the phone on the desk and shoved the candy inside her right cheek. “I’ll call her back,” she said, her words a wet garble. Lise tinkered at the keyboard. “Oh, yes. I only have one room booked here for you, Rebel,” she said.

  Just as Penny stepped forward to explain she wasn’t staying, she heard, “Well, looky here!”

  Everyone turned in the direction of the voice and, as Penny had already surmised, there stood her pain-in-the-butt sidekick.

  Eve rushed down the corridor but stopped when she saw Penny’s face. “Why so sad?”

  Rebel stepped forward and hugged Eve. “Pen’s flight has just been cancelled. I think she’s in mourning.”

  “Hot dog!” Eve exclaimed.

  The dark and sultry Mallory Vianu appeared behind her. “Rebel! Penny! So glad you could make it. Take off your coats and grab a drink and a snack.

  Penny glanced over to the lounge area where bone white china plates were stacked in neat columns on the end of the buffet table. Hundreds of diminutive sandwiches had been artfully arranged on silver platters, and Penny felt her mouth water.

  “Everyone’s just gone off to change into their costumes but they should be down soon. Emilion will take your bags up to your room for you when he returns.”

  Penny smiled at Mallory and planted a kiss on Eve’s cheek while Kaden and Rebel headed straight to the welcome bar that Mallory had pointed out.

  Mallory brushed a cascade of fine black hair behind her ear and pulled Penny in for a hug, “Nana told me her tarot cards indicated that something would happen to ruin your trip. I’m sorry. I’d hoped she was wrong.”

  “Nonsense. This is great news.” Eve said to Penny and smiled a little too brightly. “You and Cody can take another trip. It’s better to be safe.”

  Penny scowled.

  “At least now you can join us in Danior’s birthday party fun,” Mallory said.

  Eve waved her arms to encompass the entire manor. “Solving this mystery with you guys will be a hoot! It’ll be just like Christmas at Slayed on the Slopes Resort but with less of that jerk face ex of yours.”

  Rebel caught Penny’s eye from across the room and held up a whisky tumbler. Penny nodded gratefully, and Rebel turned back to fix her drink.

  “I think you mean Sleighs & Slopes.” She lowered her voice, “and please don’t bring up Lucas in front of everyone—it’s tacky. Also, let’s hope it’s not similar, considering two people were murdered and another person was injured.”

  “Blah, blah, blah. We caught the bad guy.” Eve said.

  Rebel struggled not to smile.

  “Anyway, back to the point. So, you knew our flight was going to be cancelled?” Penny asked. “Is that why you asked me to stop by?”

  Eve nodded and grinned. “Busted. I didn’t know if you would. You don’t always listen to me, but otherwise Nana said you would have been stuck on the side of the highway. You’re welcome! Consider me your guardian angel.”

  Penny rolled her eyes. “Meddling employee would be more accurate.”

  “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.”

  “What else is new?”

  “You’re gonna have a great time and, of course,” Eve turned to Kaden who was now coming back from the bar with Rebel, “Detective Bones here will need to stay too.”

  Mallory cleared her throat and held out her hand to Kaden. When she pulled her hand away and straightened her shoulders, her leather jacket parted, revealing sleek curves beneath her thin, cropped sweater. With her cascading, shiny dark hair; sculpted cheekbones; and olive skin, she looked like a Spanish movie star. But Mallory’s eyes, much like the rest of her family’s, were a startling cross between blue and green.

  Kaden gaped at her, beer dribbling down his chin.

  “Of course. Detective Bones, you’re Jack Young’s cousin, right?”

  The detective nodded.

  “Nice to finally meet you. How long have you been in town?” Mallory asked.

  “I transferred over from the city just before Christmas. My mother still lives there.”

  “What do you think of our little Bohemian Lake, so far?”

  “I like it. I visited here, well not here, but my aunt and uncle’s vineyard quite a bit when I was a kid, and so it is like a second home, or rather a third home—my parents are divorced.” Kaden laughed at himself.

  “I get it. I bounced around quite a bit as well. Where does your father live?”

  “In Europe. He’s a musician, so he travels, but we lived mostly in Germany when I was younger.”

  Mallory’s eyebrows shot up.
“What a small world. We’ll have to chat later; it seems we have much in common, Mr. Bones.”

  “Thank you, Miss Vianu. That sounds like an offer I’d love to take you up on, but I have plans tonight so if I could get a raincheck?” Kaden said.

  Mallory blushed and nodded. If Penny didn’t know better, she’d say these two had chemistry. Eve gave Penny a sneaky side glance. It seemed she’d noticed too.

  “I don’t think it’s a very good idea that you leave,” Eve chirped, “Not according to Nana’s cards, but you do what you gottta do.”

  The detective frowned and walked to the window where the snow was now at near white out levels. “I think I’ll take my chances. I’ll just wait for you in the car, Pen. Text me in the next five minutes if you decide to stay.”

  “Well, I’m definitely staying and I haven’t been here since I was a kid,” Rebel said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

  “Really?” Eve exclaimed. “Well then, Ms. Always on YouTube here will just have to give you a tour.” Eve nodded toward the desk.

  Eve reached forward and tapped on the lollipop stick. “This interferes with your pronunciation, Trixie dear, so maybe you should lay off while you’re manning the front desk.”

  Glowering, Lise removed the lollipop. “The name is Lise Trix,” she said to Eve as she pointed to her name tag. Then she turned to Mallory. “I’m sorry, Ms. Vianu, but all of our rooms are booked up. I’m not sure where to put Ms. Trubble.”

  Eve looked her up and down and then turned to Mallory. “Oh, pish posh,” she said. “Surely she can squish in somewhere. Most of the rooms have double beds. She can stay in mine and Michèle’s room. It’ll be great!”

  Rebel and Penny exchanged a terrified glance. Eve was unstoppable when she got an idea in her head. Penny almost said she’d rather slide into the lake.

  Rebel coughed. “That’s silly. I’m her best friend and I’m here alone; it’s obvious she’ll bunk with me.”

  “Thanks for fighting over me, ladies,” Penny began. “but I was just checking some other flights. I’m sure Kaden can see me safely to the airport.”

  Eve shook her head and crossed her arms. “Nonsense.”

  “Have you looked out there?” Rebel gestured to the window.

  “Nana says all flights will be grounded within an hour. Besides, you’ll never get anywhere and then you’ll be stuck in the woods in a blizzard.” Eve pointed a knobby finger at Penny, “Don’t test Nana. You know she’s always right. You and that stubborn-ass detective can both stay here, at least until the weather clears. Besides, the game sounds really fun. It’s a Carnival theme.” She put her hand on Penny’s arm.

  Penny watched through the window as Detective Bones walked around the car once again. He paused to bend down for the fourth time and then returned. When he opened the front doors, a gust of wind blew in and Penny could see that the heavy flakes were swirling faster now. She also thought she saw someone all bundled up slinking around the side of the house.

  “Mal, where’s Nana?”

  “Oh, she’s upstairs with the event planner.”

  Penny nodded but said nothing.

  Kaden stomped his feet on the mat as he came back inside. “Looks like your friends are right. We’re not going anywhere.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, I must have driven over something on the way in. My tire’s flat.”

  Penny bit her lip. Bested by the old ladies again. Mallory, who Penny was sure was oblivious to Nana and Eve’s devices, grinned. She might not have been part of the plot, but she was clearly happy with the result.

  “That’s probably for the best, this road does become impassable in a bad storm. We’ve had some cancellations due to the weather so we can give you your own room. No charge. Let me just talk to Lise. We’ve blocked off certain areas because of the game but I have an idea,” Mallory said and walked a few steps to the desk.

  Eve clasped her hands behind her back and hummed along to the radio.

  Penny tapped Kaden’s shoulder and turned away from their audience. “Don’t you have a spare? You can change it and we can make it back to town, at least.”

  Kaden pressed his lips together and then let out a breath of air. “Well, I could try but it’s coming down pretty fast out there and my spare isn’t going to have the best traction. I’d hate to get stranded on the road somewhere or wind up sliding into the lake. I’ve heard from Jack that Nana’s predictions are usually correct and if she wanted us here, then it must be better than the alternative.”

  Rebel leaned in and smiled, “I’d also like to point out that it would be rude for you to leave Danior’s birthday party now since you’re not going away.”

  Penny gave Rebel cut-eye. Then she snuck a look at Eve over Kaden’s shoulder and imagined a cozy evening with friends by the fire. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. “Fine. I can stand it for one night and we’ll either head back to town or catch a flight tomorrow. How long can a snowstorm last, right?”

  They walked back to the desk, and Penny nodded to Eve and Mallory.

  “You make a good case for safety,” Penny said. “We’ll stay for tonight and re-evaluate tomorrow.”

  Eve clapped her hands.

  “Fabulous,” Mallory said and grinned. “Lise is working on the room situation. I’ll meet you all back in the parlor. I just need to let the chef know to set two more places and we’ll uncork another couple bottles of wine for dinner.”

  The Caravan’s employee Emilion Grastari appeared to collect the luggage. In true Caravan Manor spirit, he wore a costume. Penny had met him only once before but he seemed a good sport about playing whatever part he was given; today he donned a black low-cut leotard, and a painted-on moustache. Nana said it was part of the Caravan experience. Penny had to agree that their characters lent a certain ambiance to the place.

  “How about that tour, Lise?” Eve asked after Mallory had disappeared. “I’ll come along. I have a few questions. Plus, I want to hear about the ghost again.”

  “Ghost?” Kaden repeated.

  Eve nodded. “It’s a great story. I heard we’re going to be doing a séance tonight. Maybe the ghost will communicate. Come on, let’s get to it!”

  4

  E milion led the newcomers through the house. The large windows shared a view of the property, which sloped down toward the gardens. The snow was picking up and any lingering thoughts of escaping for a warmer climate fled as Penny watched it fall.

  “This is our main dining area. We also have a smaller more traditional dining room where the dinner theatre will be taking place.” Emilion swept his arm in the direction across the hall. “Normally breakfast is served in here from seven until ten, but things will be a little different this weekend since we’re role playing.”

  “Isn’t this terrific?” Eve said in Penny’s ear.

  Penny shifted her eyes away and saw a basket of envelopes and a rack of costumes.

  “Role playing. Oh, yes, I almost forgot.”

  “The best part!” Eve said. She patted Penny’s back.

  Emilion rubbed his neck and shook his head.

  “The best part of what?” Kaden moved to see what they were looking at.

  “Murder mystery theatre,” Eve said. She crossed her arms and nodded decisively. “There’s a prize for whoever unmasks the killer.”

  “The killer, great.” Penny groaned.

  Penny reconsidered the idea of braving the storm to go home. She was not a role-play kind of girl. Halloween, with all its dressing up and play-acting, was her least favorite time of the year—a little tidbit that had made her the odd kid out growing up in Bohemian Lake. The council always made a big deal about Halloween; there was even a local ghost tour that ran from September to November.

  “Apparently, this weekend will be a little different from their usual themed events,” Eve said, and patted Penny’s arm reassuringly. “They’ve hired an outside company. The theme is The Caravan Carnival’s Missing Coin. You missed the introduction earl
ier where they handed out everyone’s bio.”

  She started to go on but Emilion cleared his throat and gestured toward the door, leading them out of the dining room. They followed him down a corridor and into a stunning space where one room led into another like a maze until they were met once again with the wide, dark wood staircase. Mahogany wainscoting gave way to Victorian-style wallpaper halfway up the wall. Torches had been placed along the hallway every ten feet or so. Fortunately, they were electric, but the effect was still one of walking into the past. A large stained-glass window loomed over the staircase. The weak outside light was unable to do it justice. The stairs split in two directions. Emilion led them down the hall that ran to the right. His description of the paintings and sculptures solidified the sense that they were in a uniquely preserved Victorian mansion.

  “This will be your room, Detective.”

  “The name is Bones. Kaden Bones.”

  “Actually, it’s most likely Detective Debunk and Inspector Imperil. They’re creating roles for you and Ms. Trubble as we speak.” Emilion winked.

  “Let’s go in,” Eve said. “I want to see what your room looks like. All the rooms are decorated in a different theme. We got the red Victorian room.” She glanced at Rebel and Penny. “Yours is good, too. Blue, I think.”

  Emilion unlocked the door.

  The room was larger than Penny had expected, with crimson damask wallpaper. A carved wooden headboard loomed over the bed. A white and French grey bedspread matched the curtains, swags, and tassels that framed the windows. Penny crossed to the small sitting area and a window that faced the back of the property. Snowcapped fir trees and white-outlined branches were just visible through the falling flakes. The tops of the cars had disappeared under a blanket of white.

  “It’s getting pretty bad out there.” Eve noted.

  “Penny and Rebel, your room is across the hall.” Emilion showed Rebel the door. Emilion pointed to the end of the hallway. “Ms. Banter is a few doors down, and that door leads to the third floor.”

  “What’s on the third floor?” Kaden asked.

  “The Vianu’s suite, the attic and the turret room.” His voice became quiet and his expression indicated they should know what he meant by “turret room.”