Tales of Life and Daph by Phillipa Nefri Clark

Author:Phillipa Nefri Clark [Clark, Phillipa Nefri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phillipa Nefri Clark

Audrey was back in her own seat and Rupert was at the podium reading notes. John and Ted were again chatting and nobody seemed to notice when Daphne sat and reached for her wine glass. On the other side of the room, waiters served entrees table by table.

Daphne rubbed her stomach when it growled. She’d had a piece of fruit and one chocolate in their suite but nothing else for hours.

“Good evening to you all. Celebrants and partners. Welcome to the gala dinner and awards night from your committee and executive. I’m Rupert Witherspoon.”

There was a ripple of laughter. As if anyone didn’t know the president.

“I see our entrees are being served so will make this quick. We’d like to extend our thanks to the hotel staff and management for once again creating a warm and comfortable environment for our conference. And to the committee, I wish to make my own special thanks for the hard work undertaken over the past year.”

There was clapping until Rupert raised a sealed envelope.

“This is first award of the evening. I’d like to ask our treasurer up to present it. Gloria, will you join me?”

More clapping as Gloria pushed her chair back and made her way to the podium with a wide smile. She accepted the envelope from Rupert, who took a few steps to one side.

“Look at you all! Isn’t this a lovely evening in this lovely hotel? Well, because I can see entrees heading to my table, I’m going to hurry along and announce the winner of our fundraising category. As you know, each year we run a different effort and our most recent one was dear to my heart, being a wonderful raffle for prizes from Victorian chocolate makers. Yum. One person sold such a lot of tickets and I’m pleased to celebrate their contribution.”

She opened the envelope and slid a folded sheet of paper out.

“I love this bit because I have no idea who the winner is. Oh, and there is a lovely glass trophy on offer.”

Gloria unfolded the paper.

“How cute. It appears to be written in a poem.”

Even as Gloria drew a breath to speak, a premonition of doom clutched Daphne’s stomach.

“There’s no way in and no way out

No matter how you try

Before midnight there is no doubt

That one of you will…die.”

The entire room gasped.

“No, but…what is this? Rupert?” Gloria handed the sheet of paper to him as he reached her. She fanned herself with the envelope.

Reaching for John’s hand, Daphne knew this was from the original poet, if one wanted to be so generous. Or else someone able to copy a style. She glanced over at Stacy. She wasn’t in her seat.

“Guests, please calm down.” Rupert spoke over the rising talk. “This is clearly a joke. A very poor taste in joke. Nobody is dying unless the author meant dying of laughter at such a lame poem.”

“But what if there’s a serial killer loose?” Somebody called from a back table and a few people murmured in agreement.

“As nobody has died, how can there be a serial killer?”

Jessica stood.

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