Baudelaires and a White

Chapter Seventeen

Only five minutes later, a black car pulled up outside Monty's house. The car door opened and a man came out.

"Good morning. I am Dr. Lucafont. I hear there's been a terrible accident involving a snake." the man said.

"Yes, our Uncle Dr. Montgomery has died, but we don't think it was a snake bite." Violet explained.

"I'm very sorry about your Uncle. What do you think happened?" asked the doctor.

"We think it was murder, and the murderer is this man, Count Olaf." Klaus said.

The man looked between Mr. Poe and Count Olaf, then his eyes rested on Count Olaf.

The children smiled at each other.

"I can't prove anything, but I will examine the body." said Dr. Lucafont.

"Thank you." Violet and Klaus said, and Rowan nodded.

Count Olaf raised his hand. "I will show you the room where the body is located."

"No, he might kill you!" begged Violet.

"It's the room with the door open," said Klaus.

"Okay," Dr. Lucafont walked into the house.

Mr. Poe smiled at the children. "It's a nice day, isn't it?"

"No!" Violet exclaimed, infuriated. "It's not a nice day! Monty is dead and Count Olaf is getting away with murder!"

"Violet, don't be silly." Mr. Poe scolded. "Count Olaf escaped at the theatre."

"That is true. The handsome actor escaped." Count Olaf nodded, and walked off.

Violet rolled her eyes. "Sunny, go to the Reptile Room and bite Count Olaf or Mr. Poe if they try to go in."

"Akap!" exclaimed Sunny, which meant, 'Of course!'. She crawled along the driveway and into the house.

"Now, Violet, I wouldn't encor-" began Mr. Poe.

"Rowan, follow Count Olaf wherever he goes." Violet instructed, cutting Mr. Poe off.

Rowan jokingly saluted the eldest Baudelaire. "Will do." he said, and ran off.

"Violet, Count Olaf isn't he-" Mr. Poe began again.

"Klaus?" Violet interrupted.

"I don't know. For now, I'll just..." he leaned in closer to Violet and whispered in her ear. "Keep an eye on Mr. Poe."

Violet nodded. "As for me, I'll find some evidence of my own."

"Violet, I think the doctor can take it from here." Mr. Poe called after her.

About five minutes later, Mr. Poe had gathered Violet, Rowan, Sunny, and Count Olaf.

"I have done some tests on the body," Dr. Lucafont said. "And I can confirm that Dr. Montgomery died of a snake bite."

"Which snake?" asked Klaus.

"I wouldn't know that, I'm not a snake expert." Dr. Lucafont shrugged sadly.

"The Mamba du Mal!" exclaimed Count Olaf dramatically.

"How would you know that?" asked Rowan. "You would only know that if you set the snake upon him."

"Boy, I am the snake expert here." Count Olaf said. "Dr. Montgomery's new assistant." He turned to Mr. Poe. "Mr. Toe, if Dr. Montgomery is dead and I only came here a few days ago, am I his old assistant or new assistant?"

The children didn't have time to ponder over that. Whilst Mr. Poe was seriously considering the question, Klaus turned to Violet.

"Violet, I've thought of one thing I can do."

"What's that?"

"Research snakes." he answered.

Violet smiled, and tied her hair up. "And I'll make an invention."

Klaus smiled.

The three Baudelaires set off, Sunny crawling behind, with Rowan guarding the three men.

Rowan stayed with the three adults. They were having a conversation, and Rowan listened in closely. He listened out for anything suspicious said by Count Olaf that would give away his identity.

Sunny went to the Reptile Room. She stood by the door, teeth bared, ready to bite Count Olaf or Mr. Poe if they tried to come through. She did not want Mr. Poe interrupting Klaus's research, or for Count Olaf to try and kill him.

Klaus also headed straight for the Reptile Room. He was let past by Sunny, and found a good book immediately - The Mamba du Mal: A Snake that Will Never Kill Me by Tony Eggmonteror - and sat down. He started to read.

Violet, meanwhile, went to her room, where she kept her tools. She found two thin pieces of metal, and pulled her ribbon out of her short black hair. She had already found what she needed.