Murder in the Dark (Book 1 Off the Beaten Path Mystery Series) by Steve Demaree

Author:Steve Demaree [Demaree, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-04-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

No one wanted to be left behind in the dark, so everyone was punctual when the group congregated in the upstairs hall at 4:30. Well, those who wanted a snack were punctual. Charlie was surprised to see that Miss Pride didn’t join the group. Maybe the librarian was exploring the nether regions of the hidden staircase, or had found her way out. Maybe the same was true of the mortician, Elbert Hitchings, and the taxidermist, Ed Smithers. Neither of them showed up for snack time, either. Charlie wondered if that meant more light for the ones who joined the group, since not as many people would be sharing the candle, which incidentally had burnt down to the halfway point. The mystery author knew that fewer people at snack time meant fewer people to study, but dinner wouldn’t be far behind snack time, and Charlie couldn’t picture anyone skipping dinner. Christmas yes, but not dinner.

On the way down the steps, Charlie, always one to engage someone in conversation, walked beside their illustrious leader to see what he could learn.

“Say, Your Honor, It looks like we don’t have a lot of candlelight left. Do you have a backup plan for when this candle flickers for the last time?”

“No. Maybe God will provide another candle.”

“Or, the murderer. Or Mr. Manchester.”

“I wonder if what you said is redundant.”

“I wonder, too. But if someone provides another candle for us when this one is no more, it would be better to light it than to curse the darkness.”

“I think I’ve heard that before.”

“JFK I believe it was.”

“Actually, a guy named Peter Benenson said it first. Kennedy stole it from him.”

“Actually, it’s an old Chinese proverb, and back in 1962 Adlai Stevenson said it about Eleanor Roosevelt.”

“Well, let’s give the old Chinese credit. They’re older than anyone else.”

“So, Your Honor, what have you learned this weekend?”

“Not much, young fellow. I still can’t figure out who was so determined to get all of us out here in this wilderness. And why would someone want me to join a group like this?”

“It depends on whether or not the person who invited us is intent upon revenge.”

“Well, I can see how someone could be upset with one of my rulings, but you haven’t written something bad about someone in one of your books, have you? Some thinly veiled tell all? And I’m sure the teacher and the librarian couldn’t have done anything that would make someone that mad.”

“Judge, I can’t disagree with you on any of that.”

“If this turnout is any indication, our numbers are dwindling. Of course, I won’t pay any attention unless someone else doesn’t show up for dinner. I wish we had some way of getting inside these rooms and finding out if our missing members are hiding out or not. That private detective showed up, but no one has seen him, except the butler. Why would someone show up early and then never make an appearance after that? He didn’t even show up for dinner last night.

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