Seductive Suspect

Various bottles lined a narrow table in the far corner. I approached it, nearing the center of the room. A loud clap of thunder and lightning shook the floorboards beneath my feet. The lights extinguished completely, plunging us into darkness.

A chorus of surprised cries filled the air. The room was pitch black, and I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face. I groped around in an attempt to get my bearings. When I shuffled forward, my hip collided with something heavy and stationary, and I recoiled. The pool table?

A deafening pop exploded somewhere to the right of me, accompanied by a flash of light. Wincing, I covered my ears. More confused chatter set the room abuzz.

“What was that?”

“Ow! Get off my foot!”

“Everyone, stay calm! Don’t move!”

I remained in place, one hand on the pool table, and no one bumped into me. Efforts to discern the individual voices proved futile since I hadn’t known these people long enough. Recalling the different characters I’d met, I wondered if the blackout was somehow part of the planned events. Could this be the beginning of the mystery?

A single, wan beam appeared near the door, illuminating Victor’s head and shoulders. He’d found at least one flashlight on the premises after all. “Ladies and gentlemen, please stay where you are. I hope this power outage is temporary, but in the case of—”

The lights came back on before he finished the sentence. Everyone cheered, but an ear-piercing scream cut through the hubbub. I jerked toward its source and gasped.

Mr. Steele lay face down beside the pool table. A small hole marred the back of his blazer. As we all gaped at him, a dark red puddle slowly seeped out from beneath his body. Several feet away from his head, a gun rested on the floor.

Victor hurried over, nudging people aside until he saw what had captivated our attention. Shock and concern washed over his face. “Oh my…” Regaining his composure, he cleared his throat and straightened. “My dear guests, in light of recentoccurrences, I think it would be best if you all retired to your rooms for the night.”

“Now?” Big Guy shook his head. “The party’s just getting started!”

“Please.” Victor stepped back and gestured toward the door. “The storm may cause us to lose power again and, due to these other…unexpected circumstances, you need to return to your rooms. Now.”

His tone left no room for argument. We shuffled out of the library into the foyer in one huddled clump. As we moved up the staircase, murmurs rumbled around me about how the mystery portion of our weekend had started, amidst speculation about what clues we’d receive the following day. I agreed with those who admired how realistic the murder scene appeared and the perfect coordination with the thunderstorm’s effects. Whoever had outlined and orchestrated our little story, they’d done a good job of surprising us and piquing our interest.

On the landing, we parted ways, and I headed toward my room. Colonel Mandrake guided me to my door, his hand at the small of my back. “I very much enjoyed meeting you tonight, Miss Harrington.” He smiled at me. “Sleep well.”

I said my goodnights and slipped inside my room, cheeks warm. The evening had been pleasant, even fun, though shorter than predicted, like Big Guy had complained. At least I’d had a good time, and I anticipated the rest of my stay at the lodge.

Even after I took off my dress, the colonel’s touch lingered on my skin. At this point, I found him as intriguing as the unfolding mystery and couldn’t wait to learn more about him. Hopefully I’d get the chance to know the real him, and not just the character he portrayed.

While I changed into my pajamas and prepared for bed, I contemplated the evening’s events and tried to piece together some clues. Nothing in the characters’ backgrounds stood outto me yet, and my efforts to remember who stood where when the lights went out fell short. “I’m sure we’ll learn more in the morning,” I mumbled, climbing into bed.

After setting the alarm clock so I’d have time to shower before breakfast, I switched off the lamp on the nightstand. With a lengthy yawn, I snuggled under the covers, tired from the day of travel and subsequent activities. I waited to drift off to sleep, but something tugged at the back of my mind.

For some reason, I kept thinking about Victor’s expression when he first saw Mr. Steele lying on the floor.

Day Two

Chapter Two

I exited the bathroom to the relentless rhythm of rain pelting the balcony outside my window. Despite the gray clouds and downpour, I saw the tall evergreens and rolling hills surrounding the building. The lodge appeared to be the sole structure in the area, the perfect choice for a secluded weekend escape.

At least the thunder and lightning had let up overnight, I mused while drying my hair with a towel. If I was lucky, I’d get to take in the beautiful view in the sunshine before leaving. The dreary weather did little to dampen my spirits, and I looked forward to getting back to the mystery with the other guests.

Specifically Colonel Mandrake, if I was being honest with myself.

Once dry, I contemplated the contents of my wardrobe, but a shriek ripped through the quiet morning, followed by a thud. Pulling the bathrobe tighter around my body, I hurried to the door. When I opened it, a half dozen guests stood in their doorways. We looked around at each other, confusion displayed on every face.

Big Guy walked over to the railing and peered over the side. “Holy crap!”

I tiptoed closer to him, pulse racing, anxious about what I’d find. Though I didn’t want to look, I forced myself.

Below us, Ponytail’s body sprawled across the floor. Her limbs stuck out at unnatural angles, and her head didn’t seem aligned with her back and shoulders. Big Guy ran down the staircase, his footsteps thudding on each step as he approached her. She didn’t move.

A pit of dread formed in my stomach. The rest of us followed him. Victor came into the foyer, his jacket unbuttoned and hisbow tie unfastened. Babette and Ruth entered after him. The former clutched her feather duster, while the latter carried a teacup and saucer.