Midsummer's Night Murder

10

"Wow. We don't know a lot, do we?" Alex said.

"No." George agreed. "But we know how to find some more out!"

"Well, we can't really do anything now." I pointed out.

"Although..." said Daisy suspense-fully. "If we find out where she is..."

She snuck a glance at the window.

"No." I said as firmly as I could.

"Why not?!" She complained.

"Because.. I'm... I'm in my pyjamas!"

"So what?! We all are! Just wear your dressing gown if you want!"

"Daisy!"

"Hazel. Do you want to help Mrs Doherty or not?"

"I do but- can't we just wait till morning?"

"Please." George said.

"C'mon, Hazel!" Alexander encouraged. "We can do it! Please?"

I sighed.

"Alright."

"Knew it would work if Alex said it." George muttered to Daisy.

Alexander rolled his eyes and I returned the small smile he gave me.

"I'm going to get my dressing gown on." I told everyone.

"I'll come with you." Said Alex.

I refused to meet George and Daisy's teasing eyes, and walked out into my bedroom.

"Thank you for coming with us."

"I did't want to spoil it for everyone."

"You wouldn't have. And you don't need to climb if you don't want to - you can go and find Nancy and tell us where she is. I'll come with you if you want me to."

I smiled.

"It's alright. I'll climb unless nobody else wants to find her."

"If you're sure. I just... don't want you to be pushed around."

"Thanks, Alex." I said, imitating his American accent.

He let out a laugh, and passed me my dressing gown. I pulled it on, and stared into the mirror, wishing, as usual, that I could look like Daisy. Alexander walked up behind me, and folded his arms around me, resting his chin on my head.

"You're so pretty."

"No I'm not. Don't lie."

"I'm not lying, Hazel, I swear! You are pretty, look at yourself."

I did. The sun was low in the sky, and it's saffron light shone through the curtains onto my face. It turned my eyes amber, like yellow garnets, and made the pale skin of my round face glow the colour of barley.

"See?"

"Well, I suppose I'm not quite as ugly as I used to be. But I'm not pretty."

Alex sighed.

"Come on. Let's go." He said.

"Hmm. That was a rather long time to fetch a dressing gown." Daisy said, raising an eyebrow.

"Let's get going then." I said quickly. "Who's going to find out where Nancy is?"

"Alex and I will get onto the roof, you two girls can find where she is." Instructed George.

"I beg your pardon!" Said Daisy indignantly. "Why can't Hazel and I climb? Are you implying that boys are braver and stronger than girls?"

"No, I'm implying that you should go and find out where Nancy is because I say so. Besides, you can come onto the roof afterwards if you insist. I know that Hazel would rather remain inside for as long as possible?"

I nodded bashfully.

"Ugh. Alright then. Come along, Watson."

"We'll wait on the roof just outside here!" He called.