Murder Games (19 page)

Kyle nodded. “Go on,
I’ll be right there.” As soon as the door closed behind the groundskeeper, Kyle pulled out his cell phone.

CHAPTER
seventeen

“My friend is
missing.” Kyle handed the deputy his smart phone. He pointed to the picture he had taken of Grace the night before in the nursery. “This is Grace.”

“When
was the last time you saw Ms. Holliday?” Deputy Blake Rhodes, a big burly man of about forty years of age, pulled out a notebook and pen.

“About
three hours ago. Maybe three and a half hours now.”

The
deputy stopped writing and looked up. “Three and a half hours? Are you sure she’s missing?” He glanced over Kyle’s shoulder.

Kyle turned around. Rupert, Ivy, and Laura were standing behind him, each alternating between looking confused and concerned. He turned and faced the
deputy. “You don’t understand what’s been going on here.”

“
I see. Did you and Ms. Holliday have a fight?”

“No
, we didn’t. Listen, a lot of strange things are going on here. Last night, she saw someone drag a dead body out of the house.” Kyle was pleased to see that got the deputy’s attention.

“Where
’s the body?”

“Well, we don’t really know
.”

“Did you see this body yourself?”

“No,” Kyle admitted hesitantly.

“What about you all?” he asked the others.

They all shook their head.

“We were all asleep,” Kyle said quickly. “Grace came up to get us after the killer left with the body.”

The deputy nodded. “You’re here for the murder mystery game, aren’t you?”

“That has nothing
to do with it.”

The
deputy leaned forward and sniffed. “How much have you had to drink?”

“I haven’t had anything.” Kyle
pointed at Ivy. “She spilled whiskey all over me just before you arrived.”

Ivy twisted her fingers. “Oh yes,
Deputy, that’s true. It is a party, after all. A lot a people like to get a bit tipsy at these events. Not Mr. Drake, however,” she hastily added after Kyle glared at her.

Kyle turned back to the
deputy. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Laura making a drinking motion with her hand and pointing toward him.

“Yep.”
The deputy flipped his notebook closed. “I hate these events. Okay look, I’m sure your friend is fine.”

Ivy hesitantly took a step forward. “That’s what we keep telling him,
Deputy.” She wrung her hands nervously. “I think he’s just taking things a bit too seriously.”

Kyle glared at Ivy. “Why don’t you tell him about the ruby
necklace?”

“Ruby
necklace?” Deputy Rhodes asked. “What ruby necklace?”

Kyle walked over to the dining room and pointed at Annalise’s portrait. “That ruby. It’s hidden somewhere in the house. They’ve been searching for it all day.”

The deputy narrowed his eyes. “Are you telling me, you all went on a treasure hunt today?”

Everyone nodded their heads. “Yes.”

“It was great fun. The guests always enjoy the treasure hunt.” Ivy glanced at Kyle and frowned. “Well, they usually enjoy it.”

Deputy
Rhodes glanced at Kyle. “Right. And did Ms. Holliday go on this treasure hunt, too?”

“She disappeared before then,” Kyle said.

Laura reached into her pocket and pulled out the little ruby necklace. “Here it is. We found it in the study.”

Kyle shook his head. “That’s not
the ruby they were looking for.”

“
Deputy,” Rupert said, “he just spoke to Grace on the phone.”

“That wasn’t her. It sounded like her, but it wasn’t.”
Kyle gestured to the study. “Could I talk to you alone, please?”

The
deputy nodded. He followed Kyle into the study and closed the door behind him.

As soon as the door closed, Kyle reached into his pocket and pulled out the baggy and Lucinda Graves’ diary. He laid them on the desk
, and then launched into a summary of everything that had happened since he had arrived at the hotel.

The
deputy barely looked at the diary. He reached forward and dumped the scraps of paper onto the desk. “What makes you think this belonged to Belinda Forrest?”

Kyle pointed to the receipt.
“Look, you can see part of her name. How was the woman murdered?”

“Wh
at makes you think the woman was murdered?”

“So
, she wasn’t murdered?” Kyle asked with a frown.

“I didn’t say that. Nothing has been determined
, yet.” He dropped the scraps into the baggy before folding it up and placing it in his pocket. “Do you know Belinda Forrest?”

Kyle shook his head.
“I know that her cousin, Erica, used to work here, but that’s about it.”

“
What about Drew Yates?”

“
Who is that?” When the deputy didn’t answer, Kyle said, “I’ve never heard of him and frankly, I don’t care. I want to find Grace. Someone here has done something to her. She would never have left without telling me first, not after what happened last night. Would you please help me search this house? She has to be here somewhere.”

Deputy
Rhodes nodded. “All right, we’ll look for her, but I don’t think you need to worry. I’m sure she’ll show up.”

Kyle placed the diary and the note he found from Erica back into his pocket.

Deputy Rhodes reached forward and opened the door just as the front door opened. They watched as Sabrina walked in carrying a bunch of packages in her hand. She stopped short. “Oh my, I was afraid I was going to miss all the fun. I just lost all track of time.” She smiled at the deputy. “Wow, your uniform almost looks real.”

Deputy
Rhodes smiled back at her. “It is, ma’am.”

Sabrina
winked. “Sure it is, and I’m just the maid.”

“What kept you,
Sabrina?” Laura asked, glaring at her sister.

“
Sabrina Sawyer?” the deputy asked. He turned to Kyle, “Is this the other missing girl you mentioned?”

Kyle nodded.

“Missing?” Sabrina laughed. “I’ve only been gone . . .” She lifted her wrist up and looked at her watch. “Oh my, I didn’t realize it was so late.” She looked back up. “Who else is missing?”

“Grace,” Kyle said
, “I haven’t seen her—”

“Well, of course not.”
Sabrina set her packages by her feet. “She’s been with me all afternoon.”

“You?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah, she’s a lot of fun. We’ve been getting our hair done—although you can’t tell it by me, the wind was just awful outside—we both got a facial. The mud bath, though.” She grimaced. “I don’t think I’ll try that again.” She glanced over at Laura. “Could you help me carry these upstairs?”

Laura dashed forward and picked up a couple of the packages. They both walked up the stairs as
Sabrina chatted away about all the sales she had discovered at the various boutiques she and Grace had been.

The
deputy patted Kyle on the back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “It sounds like your friend is just fine. If there’s any more trouble just let me know.”

“See
, Kyle.” Ivy linked her arm through the deputy’s and led him to the door. “I tried to reassure him, but well, he’s a bit high-strung.” She walked the deputy out onto the porch. Kyle could just hear her saying something about locking up the liquor before the door shut.

*  *  *

“I can’t find Grace, Abry.” Desperation beginning to set in, Kyle picked up his rabbit. He didn’t know what to think. He was positive that wasn’t Grace that he spoke to on the phone. It sounded like her but it wasn’t her. Then, there was Sabrina.

He shook his head. Sabrina was lying. Grace never left the manor. He was sure of it.
He turned Abry around and faced him. “I’ve looked everywhere, but I have no idea where she is. You’re my last hope.” He opened his bedroom door and set the bunny down on the floor. “Find Grace, Abry.”

He leaned against the door and watched as his rabbit stared at him, his nose twitching. Kyle rubbed a hand over his eyes and sighed.
“I’ve looked through the attic. I’ve checked each room. I even checked the cellar. I don’t know where else to look.” He looked down at the floor just as Abry began hopping down the back staircase. The bunny looked back at Kyle for a few seconds before continuing down the stairs.

Feeling the first stirring of hope, Kyle slowly started after his rabbit.

Caroline appeared at the bottom of the staircase. She looked up and smiled. “Hello there, bunny. Aren’t you cute?”

Sabrina
, who was a few steps behind her reached down to pet Abry. “Oh, he’s adorable.” Abry hopped to the side avoiding her touch and continued down the stairs. “Shy little thing.” She looked up at Kyle. “Feeling better?”

“Starting to.
” He continued down the stairs, never taking his eyes off of his pet.

Sabrina nodded happily. “Good.”
To Caroline she said, “Let’s go to the nursery.”

Kyle stepped off the staircase and turned.
Abry was sitting at the end of the hallway waiting for him. When Kyle got close enough, Abry began hopping. Kyle followed him all the way to the kitchen where the rabbit zeroed in on a piece of lettuce lying on the floor and began nibbling away.

Scowling,
Kyle sank down into the nearest chair. He laid his head down on the table. “It’s not dinner time, Abry.” Wearily, lifting his head up, he sighed. “Well, it was a long shot anyway. Too bad you’re not a bloodhound.” He was just about to pick Abry up and take him back to his room when he looked out the window. “Oh, dear God, I forgot about the shed,” he said as he dashed out of the room.

Abry looked up and twitched his nose.

*  *  *

Ivy opened the door to the cellar and slowly made her way down the stairs. She hugged the wall, being careful not to slip as Austin and Kyle had the night before. When she got to the bottom, she turned and walked to the back of the cellar. She stepped behind the water heater and tapped at the wall. Suddenly, the wall opened inward to reveal a small room lit by a single overhead light. Rupert stood in the corner waiting for her. “How is she?” Ivy asked a bit breathlessly.

“Being a pain in the neck.”
He shifted to his other leg. “Do you think he bought Sabrina’s little act?”

Shaking her head,
Ivy bent down and adjusted the temperature dial on the little portable heater in the corner. “Unfortunately, no.” She pouted. “I still can’t believe that he knew that wasn’t Grace on the phone. I’m usually so good at imitating others.”

“I told you, you needed to practice more.”

“Well, I didn’t have much time and she was being less than helpful.” She leaned forward and removed the gag from out of Grace’s mouth. “Okay, darling, now what’s Kyle’s real name?”

“What good will that do?” Rupert asked.

“Maybe if we tell him Grace called again with that little nugget, he’ll finally believe she’s safe and sound at the hotel and leave.” She bent over and smiled at Grace. “What is it, Grace?”

Grace made a face. “Beats me.”

“Oh, come on,” Ivy cajoled, “don’t be like that.”

“Fine.” Grace ran her tongue along her lips, trying to get the feeling back after having been gagged for so long. She glared at her two captors.
“His name’s Tom Lake.”

Rupert snorted. “She’s lying. That sounds like a made up name. Come on, what’s his real name?”

Grace shook her head. “I just told you.”

Ivy placed her hands on her hips. “Honestly, if you could put his mind at ease, wouldn’t you? He’s very frightened right now
, and just wants to know that you are okay.”

“But I’m not okay. I’m tied up in a cellar
surrounded by a bunch of creepy-crawly monsters, and I’m not talking about the spiders.”

Ivy gasped. “That’s not very nice.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Grace said, “have I offended you two?”

“Now, Grace
, we’re doing the best we can in these circumstances,” Ivy said in a hurt tone of voice. “It would really help us if you would try to be a bit more cooperative.”

“I’m
afraid that I’m just not in the mood, so figure it out on your own.”

“Forget it,” Rupert said irritably. “Let’s tell him that another woman’s body was found
at the hotel. He’d probably take off looking for it and we wouldn’t have to worry about him for a while.”

Ivy’s mouth formed a perfect pout. “Oh, but I don’t want to hurt him.”