Why Not Murder

30. Party

30. Party

A sliver of a new moon rose at dusk the night of the party. The stars were brilliant, the Milky Way a stunning band across the sky. Maya arrived before the guests were due. She changed into the uniform that Harriet provided. A cot had been laid out in Cook's room where Maya would sleep after the last guest left. Clean up would commence the next day and Maya volunteered to help with that until all the work was done. There was a quiet calm and then ten minutes before the guests were expected, music started to play, which had been preprogrammed for the entire evening by Hudson. Jim was to answer the door. The party was to celebrate the arrival of Gwen and at a predetermined time, when Gwen was normally awake, Winnie would carry her around to show off to everyone, with Hilda close at hand in case need be.

As the guests arrived, Maya and Harriet began to circulate with trays distributing wine and other drink and collecting dirty glasses and dishes. Conrad mainly worked the bar and delivered drinks that were ordered. When nearly all the guests had arrived, Jim carried drinks and cleared used dishes and glasses as well. The dishwasher was operating the whole time. Cook was very busy in the kitchen. The driveway and all available places to park as well as the road and the back lane were crammed with fancy vehicles and lounging drivers. Now and then food and non-alcoholic drinks were left on the picnic table for them and one or another of the drivers would carry the supplies back to the vehicles. The drivers knew better than to hang around anywhere else but near the vehicles. The cameras supplied by the new security company shone headlights on what they were recording and swiveled. They were heat sensitive to such a degree as to detect any human or animal within twenty-five meters. As the night wore on, it became quite cold so that the drivers stayed inside the vehicles for the most part and the windows of the cars fogged up when they turned on the engines for heat.

The guests gravitated in clusters and individuals moved from cluster to cluster, like atoms exchanging electrons in slow motion. The buss of all the people talking was loud, but the music had been programed to respond to the noise level so that it could always be heard.

Maya heard her name said as a hand gripped her arm in a friendly manner. She turned and saw it was one of the detectives she used to work with on the police force.

"So this is where you ended up," the policeman said, "working for the Laymuirs are you? Quite a change."

"Yes, it is," Maya answered, "I see many of you have been invited, including some of the top dogs. What's new with all you guys?"

"The driving masters are here too," the policeman answered, "Big news is still the terrorist attack on XX Fuel, but I shouldn't be talking about that."

"Why?" Maya asked, "Isn't it all being covered by the news? I heard they've pretty much packed the local tanks with suspects."

"Nearly all of those have been let go," the policeman said.

"So you've cleverly come down to the prime suspects," Maya said.

"The prime suspect," the policeman said.

"Gotta keep circulating," Maya said, "Good to see you again." She moved between the human clusters and wondered about Dog. How she missed him! She prayed that the prime suspect was not him. Whoever was the ring leader of teams A and B, they had excellent organizational and management skills as well as a vengeful mind full of anger and grief.

Maya helped two of the drivers carry food and water back to the parked vehicles. Many were standing outside the cars, smoking. Clouds of mist hovered around the drivers, all busy having their own quiet party. Maya left what she brought and was carrying dirty dishes back to the kitchen. All the lights were on in the house. Suddenly the lights were out, including the camera lights. She had to stop walking while her eyes adjusted to the blackness. The music went off and the din of human voices increased. It lasted less than a minute and then all was restored as before.