The Circle Code Conundrum: The Second Holmes & Co. Mystery by Allison Osborne

Author:Allison Osborne [Osborne, Allison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-04T22:00:00+00:00

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Soon after, they all sat in the grand living room, hot cups of tea in front of them. The room was decorated by previous generations. Portraits and china cabinets sat against every wall, and the furniture rested upon a luxurious carpet. Red flowers wove an intricate pattern on the rug that was pleasing to Irene. A desk sat in the corner, full of paper that looked as if it hadn't been touched in some time. The total stillness of the room gave away its lack of use.

This was a room made for entertaining high profile guests, not for a new family to play with their infant child.

A storm brewed outside, the lightning cracking across the sky every now and then. Irene and Joe sat across a shallow table from the Groupers. Poor Mr. Grouper looked so ashamed that he slumped down in the cushions, shoving biscuit after biscuit into his mouth. Henriette, however, was attentive as ever. Back straight, hands placed gently on her lap.

Irene took out three pieces of paper, each with the decoded messages, and placed them on the table. Henriette's eyes widened, and her husband leaned forward, scanning them.

"Are those the messages?" he snapped. "Someone's after my wife? Who is it? Who's threatening you?"

He stood up and Irene followed suit.

"Mr. Grouper," she snapped. "If you cannot contain yourself, I will ask you to leave."

"Someone is threatening my wife," he said.

"Yes," Irene said. "Yet she is behaving better than you are, and she's the one being threatened."

Henriette stood and placed her hand gently on her husband's arm.

"Perhaps it's better if you go have some breakfast," she said. "We have some things to discuss and I fear it will only anger you."

He shook his head and Irene sighed. He would cause a problem if he stayed. Henriette would hold information back, and he would get upset at the narrative. Irene couldn't have that. He needed to go.

"Do you want him here?" she asked. "If not, I can remove him."

Henriette hesitated, giving Irene her answer.

"I am not leaving," Mr. Grouper said. "This is my house."

Henriette took her husband off to the side and spoke low and soft to him. After a moment of quietly arguing, she planted a kiss on his lips. He left the room and she returned to the couch.

"What did you say to him?" Joe asked, failing to keep the surprise from his voice.

Henriette gave a small laugh. "I simply told him that I love him and will explain it all to him once we are safe."

"Your husband had good intentions," Irene said. "I did tell him to ask you what the messages meant, but he refused."

"I admit," Henriette said. "Though the note shocked me, I dramatized my shock at the message to prevent anyone from prying, so I don't blame him for going to an outside source. I am impressed with you, Miss Holmes. That code is a tricky one, especially when you are only given three messages."

Irene felt a little pop of pride inside her chest but pushed it aside.

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