by Ruby Loren
I looked down just in time to see a scaly tail slither out of my way. Trusting my instincts, I froze. There was a loud hissing noise. I slid my eyes to the left and slowly turned my head. A two metre long mamba had reared up into threat posture. However, I noticed it hadn’t fanned its narrow neck flaps out. This snake was not a morning person, but I didn’t think it really wanted to attack me. I took a deep breath and stayed still, trying to feel what the snake felt. Visions of being bitten danced in my head and I wondered what the effect would be if these snakes were super-venomous. Was the anti-venom readily available? Would I ever be able to get to it in time?
I released the breath.
I wouldn’t need any medicine. I wasn't going to be bitten.
Still keeping one eye on the snake I slowly but surely moved my foot forwards, taking my time and trying to sense the snake’s mood. I closed my eyes for a second and thought.
It felt… nervous.
I was doing okay then. Slow but steady and move away. I took another smooth step and then another, telling myself to remain calm and hoping that the feeling would be echoed by the snake. I took another step and the snake sank back down to the earth and slithered away behind a rock. I’d done it. I hadn’t been bitten.
I turned to face the far pit wall and discovered I was within touching distance of the ladder. I rested a hand on the chromed metal, scarcely able to believe I’d made it all of this way.
“You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?” someone drawled.
I looked up, straight into the face of Eleanor Landy.
“Well, I had hoped,” I admitted.
We both stared at each other. I waited for her to make her move.
She lurched towards the ladder and I moved at the same time, jumping and placing all my weight on the rungs. The ladder had to be removable - hence why there was only one ladder for all three pits. They probably used it to pick snakes up from above, without risking any escaping through the basement door. I’d known she would try to pull it out and leave me in the pit until the mambas warmed up and the inevitable happened. By latching on, I hoped my full weight would be enough to stop her from lifting up the ladder, which hooked over the side.
It turned out I was right. I was still silently thanking the extra slice of cake I’d had earlier that day, when Eleanor started to climb down the ladder.
I stopped climbing as she bore down on top of me. Unless I wanted my hand stomped on, I had to let go. I stepped back onto the floor, ready to jump back on if she tried to get rid of the ladder. Instead, she leapt down to land in the pit, facing me with the ladder between us.
“You really didn’t think one of us would be watching?” she mocked.
I shrugged, trying to be simultaneously aware of Eleanor and the movements of the snakes around us. They’d begun to wake up, but that didn’t seem to bother Eleanor. She took a step forwards and I saw her intent. She was hoping to push me over, so I'd fall on a snake. Being bigger than me, (as most people were) she definitely had the height and weight advantage. I would just have to stay out of range - but without letting her gain control of the ladder. If she managed to get up it and out of the pit before I could latch on again, I’d be finished.
I took a long slow breath and the game of wits began.
My first step was backwards. I knew there were snakes nearby, but I wanted to bring Eleanor way from the ladder, without putting too much distance between it and myself. She stepped after me, walking as casually as you like despite the danger. I was forced to take another couple of steps back, faster than I’d liked. Something moved in front of me and I saw another slim grey body block the path behind Eleanor’s feet.
They were moving more quickly than they had been. I felt the first rays of warmth on my face and knew the snakes sensed it, too. It wouldn’t be long before they were all out of their burrows, basking in the sunlight. A drop of sweat slid down my back.
Eleanor looked at the snake between us and stepped over it - way too quickly. The snake sensed her movement and hissed loudly, rearing up in threat posture. I looked into its inky black mouth and tried to subtly edge away from Eleanor. If she got within reach of me, I knew I would be finished. She’d toss me straight at the snake and then leave me to die in the pit.
I heard a second hissing sound from behind me and knew another mamba had taken offence. I kept my breathing steady and willed my heartbeat to slow. While it was important to remain calm in this situation, if I were bitten, staying calm was also my best chance of survival.
But I really, really didn’t want to be bitten.
With the snake behind me, I knew I couldn’t go backwards. I also didn’t know how aggressive it was feeling without laying eyes on it. It could be about to dart forwards at any second! It took all of my willpower to not spin around and look. Instead, I focused on Eleanor and tried to ever so subtly move sideways, further out of range. I could only pray that the snake behind me wasn’t poised to attack.
Eleanor grinned at me, looking every inch the mad psychopath I suspected her to be.
“Time to die,” she said and lurched forwards.
It took every ounce of self control not to dart away from her. Instead I stood still - just another rock in the snakes’ landscape. I even shut my eyes.
When I opened them Eleanor was stumbling backwards with one hand fixed to her face. She pulled it away and I saw two thin trails of blood before the snake struck again, this time biting the arm she’d thrown up to shield herself.
“You! You’re not getting out,” she said, taking another step back in my direction. Too late, I realised she wasn't going to stop, even though she’d been bitten. Every instinct within me screamed to run and damn the consequences but my head warned that there was still a snake rearing up behind me.
Eleanor stormed over and I stayed where I was, fixed to the spot. She stretched out her hands, aiming for my throat but a grey-brown blur shot in front of my eyes and she staggered back. She gave a frustrated scream of rage at the snake, who had sprung from behind me. Her work boot clad foot came up. She moved to stomp on the snake, but it was faster, darting out and striking her bare knee.
She looked straight at me with bloodshot eyes and the fury faded to confusion. Her hands moved to her chest, clutching her heart. I watched, open mouthed, as she dropped to her knees and slipped sideways. The snakes both lashed out again as she fell, but she was past caring.
Eleanor Landy was dead.
I stayed still, knowing my own heart was hammering in my chest despite all of my attempts to remain calm. I didn’t know what they’d done to these snakes, but in typical cases, you had 45 minutes before you collapsed. She was dead in around 30 seconds.
Now that the erratic movement had stopped, the snakes seemed calmer. There were far more of them about now, and I would have to pass four or five on my way to the ladder, but I hoped I could do it. I would have to do it. It surely wouldn’t be long before someone came looking for Eleanor Landy and I doubted they’d make the same mistake she had.
I kept myself poised and walked as if through water, taking my time with every step and never reacting to the movements of the snakes I stepped over. I was not a threat, just a slow moving thing they could ignore. When I reached out and touched the metal ladder again, I thought I was going to collapse with relief.
I pulled myself up the ladder, one rung at a time, still forcing myself to stay calm. The rungs were spaced pretty far apart and I hadn't come all this way to fall off a ladder. When I rolled over the lip of the pit and pushed up to my knees on the cool concrete, I only wasted a second to reflect that I was okay. I wouldn’t be out of the woods until I was safe with the police and the criminal masterminds had been arrested.
I looked around. The summerhouse was set up like a mad professor’s chemistry lab, with beakers and tubes everywhere. I noticed a booth, filled with a sofa and TV monitors. That must have been how Eleanor had known I was making my escape. Fortunately, the room was now empty.
When I
made it out into the sunshine, it felt like the dawn of creation. I was alive and I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Harrison or Trinity. If I could just find a phone, I’d be in the clear.
I did one better than that.
When I approached the critical care unit, using the flowerbeds for cover, I saw two police officers standing outside the building. My heart leapt and I took a step forwards, only for Trinity Snidely to step out of the unit. I froze on the edge of the flower bed, wondering what to do. Experience had taught me to not underestimate Trinity, or the lengths she would go to get the inheritance and cash in on the Serpentine Emerald.
As much as I wanted to jump out and present myself, there was no telling if she were armed, or even had some of the knockout venom to hand. I would just have to wait it out. If the police officers left, so be it. I would just have to find a phone.
Whatever I did, I knew it had to be fast. It wouldn’t be long until Harrison found Eleanor and discovered I was missing. This would be the first place they’d look.
A minute later, Trinity walked away from the police officers, all of them laughing at some comment she’d made. My mouth set in a grim line. They wouldn’t be laughing soon.
I waited until she was out of sight and then walked into view.
The police officers’ faces were a picture. “You… y-you’re meant to be dead,” one of them stammered until the other one elbowed him in the ribs.
“Are you okay? We were under the impression that the accused had, uh…”
“Murdered me and hidden the body,” I finished for him. “You’ve got the wrong man.” I’d always wanted to say that!
The police officers looked confused and I realised I didn’t have time to give them the whole story, especially as Trinity and Harrison could try for another cover up any moment now. If we all ended up back in the basement, it would be a disaster.
“Please call for back up. Tell the police that there’s a basement beneath the summerhouse in the grounds of Dracondia Manor. It can be accessed through the manor itself. In the basement, you’ll find Mr Crawley, the vet. He needs to go to hospital. You’ll also find George Ashdown. He didn’t kill anyone, but he’s not exactly innocent either,” I said. George had a lot to answer for. “And tell them to be careful. Just beyond the basement there are three pits full of highly venomous snakes. I suspect they’ve been genetically modified, somehow. Their venom is even more potent than it is normally.”
There was a brief scramble of movement while the officers made calls using their radios.
“Okay, they’re on their way, Miss. Would you mind coming with us to the station?” they asked.
I looked into the building behind us and saw that the crime scene hadn’t been fully cleared. Blood still splattered the walls where the vet had been shot and Marie had died.
I hoped Lowell was okay.
“Can we go into my office? I have a kitten and I’m not sure if anyone’s been taking care of him.”
One officer looked to the other. “Oh, don’t worry, he’s being looked after by some of the zookeepers here. Seeing as this is a crime scene, the animals that were in here have been moved to an empty room in the building. Your kitten is there with them. Mr Adagio insisted upon it.”
I sagged with relief before my thoughts turned to Lowell Adagio himself. “What have you done with the private detective?” I asked.
“Well, he’s still being kept for questioning. He’s been claiming that he was drugged by touching a stolen knick knack from the house. We figured we’d entertain him, but when we went to look at the place he told us to, there was nothing there.”
“Trinity must have got there first,” I observed.
The men looked confused again.
“I have a lot to tell you. Believe me when I say that Trinity Snidely and Harrison Marl are the masterminds behind all of this. Harrison shot Marie. His partner, Eleanor, murdered Jackie. She’s dead now,” I added, probably a mite too cheerfully.
“Dead?” An officer queried.
I noticed they were starting to look nervous around me.
“I had to escape through a pit of black mambas and she tried to stop me and got bitten.”
I shrugged. I was not going to even pretend I felt sympathetic about that. “Can we go and get my kitten? Then I’ll go to the station with you,” I promised.
What felt like an age later, I walked out of the police station with Lowell. Lucky was in a pet carrier by my side. I hadn't wanted him out of my sight after everything that had happened.
It turned out that the police had already been doubting the story that had been laid out for them, especially when it was clear there had been other people present at the crime scene. Marie’s last act of fighting with Eleanor Landy might have been the thing that saved Lowell and got the case cracked.
“I’d have come for you,” he promised when we walked into a local cafe and sat down with a cup of coffee each. Usually I’d have gone for a hot chocolate, but boy did I need some caffeine right now.
“Thanks, Lowell, but I think it might have been too late for Mr Crawley,” I said. I’d been relieved to hear that he’d still been conscious and lucid when the police had raided the summerhouse basement. Trinity Snidely and Harrison Marl had been arrested and there were also some questions for Lord Snidely to answer, regarding his experiments. Being rich didn’t mean you could get away with breaking the rules.
Even as we spoke, the house was undergoing a deep clean to remove all of the venom spiked heirlooms. Those who had been affected by it had been cautioned by the police. As they’d been victim of crime themselves, any theft charges had been dropped on the premise that none of them would sue Snidely. I still couldn’t believe Kerry had been a part of it. I’d heard one of the other keepers say she’d been in trouble with the police before because of crimes committed to support her gambling addiction. It just went to show that first impressions could be horribly misleading. Perhaps she’d reform after her near death experience. She had a second chance and I hoped she wouldn't waste it.
I took another sip of my coffee and looked across to find that Lowell was watching me with admiration in his eyes. “I’m so proud of you for escaping through that snake pit and keeping your head when Eleanor Landy didn’t.”
I’d told him the whole dramatic story. To me, it still sounded like something straight from a James Bond film. “I just did everything I could to make it so I didn’t look like a threat to the snakes and I got lucky,” I admitted, knowing that despite everything I’d done right, I’d still been rolling the dice. One wrong step and I could have ended up just like Eleanor. “Snakes aren’t really aggressive, you know. They’re nervous of humans and act defensively.” After my experience, I’d finally accepted that was true.
“So, what now?” Lowell asked.
“I still need to finish the report. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But I came here to do a job and I need to complete it and hand it in to the Snidelys.”
Lowell raised a dark eyebrow. “Even though Lord Snidely isn’t exactly guilt-free?”
I pursed my lips. “Well, we still don’t know how much of the experimenting was his idea, but yes, he’s not innocent.” I sighed. “At his age, I’m guessing they’re not going to make a big deal out of it.”
Lowell nodded. “You’re probably right. A slap on the wrist and a ‘don't do it again’.” He paused between sips. “If it’s okay, I’ll hang around with Lucky while you go up to the manor to hand in your review and do your thing. If you’re not back within the hour, I'll send out a search party.” He winked at me.
I smiled. “You’d better make that two hours. I think it might distract from my presentation if the police burst in halfway through.”
“Well, that all sounds brilliant,” Joan Snidely said when I finished reading through my review. We'd stopped along the way to discuss a few ideas and I thought Snidely was definitely going to go from strength to strength in the near future… especially as the snake pits were being done away with.
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Lady Snidely must have been thinking along the same lines, as she looked out of the big bay windows at the distant summerhouse, sucking on the arm of her glasses. “I still can’t believe I was so clueless! Harold never told me about his secret laboratory. I suppose that’s what I get for marrying into the family. I thought it was just, you know, a man shed! Some place he went to get away from being nagged. I never knew what he was doing in there, and with that witch’s assistance, too! To think I was the one who invited her to work here!” Her cheeks showed two pink spots of colour. The Snidelys now knew the whole story of how Trinity had been vying for an inheritance but hadn’t been willing to wait and see how the dice fell.
“Is the emerald back in its place?” I asked.
“It’s safe,” she acknowledged. “We actually decided to keep the fake one on display. It was such a good copy after all and, who knows? It could be the key to foiling the next master thief who decides to take on the Serpentine Emerald’s curse.” A little smile graced her lips. “It never ends well for anyone who takes the emerald, does it?”
I was forced to admit she was right. While I wasn’t thrilled about being caught in the crossfire, two of the thieves were on their way to prison and the third was dead. They’d definitely been punished for their crimes.
“There’s just one thing I don’t understand,” I began, thinking back to that fateful night when George Ashdown had turned up at the critical care unit with his sick snake. “Lowell and I saw Lord Snidely get into his car and drive off after he’d theoretically been taken ill. At the speech, he even looked like he was showing some of the symptoms of the venom,” I said.
Lady Snidely sighed and pushed her reading glasses back up her nose. “Well, there are a couple of reasons for that. Trinity passed along the information to us that George was back here. Harold had given him a chance to prove himself, but the boy had walked out of our employment a couple of weeks before…” she frowned “…apparently managing to steal some of our snakes in the process!