Ten

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten – The Criminal

In the kitchen, the group grabbed whatever they could and tried not to notice Isabel's dead body in the corner. Robert had covered it earlier with a tablecloth, but it was still just as noticeable as ever, and a faint aroma of corpse was beginning to fill the kitchen. Chloe was uncomfortable, and knew they should be getting back soon.

"That dinner that the maid was cooking actually looked pretty good," Gabe admitted.

"Too bad it's probably poisoned," Chloe added.

"Wouldn't care to risk it myself," chimed in Bibi.

"How do we know this food isn't poisoned?" asked Gabe, nodding to the boxes of food and snacks in Chloe's arms.

Chloe shrugged, "That's a good point. We don't."

But Bibi countered, "I've been snacking all day. I think I'd be dead if any of this stuff was poisoned. But don't eat it if you have doubts," she paused and looked at the package of prosciutto in her arm, "But as for me, I'm going to be having some delectable finger snacks for dinner. My stomach is growling terribly."

"I'm wondering about Enrico," Chloe said as she left the kitchen with her arms full of boxes of crackers, cheese, meat slices, and other snacks. Gabe's arms were full of a shrink-wrapped bundle of bottled waters.

"What about him?" asked Bibi, who was behind them, with her pistol in one hand and the prosciutto tucked under her other arm.

"He's out there," she nodded to the window, "Outside there somewhere. Or he might be in here. He could be in one of these rooms?"

"Stop freakin' me out, Chloe," chuckled Gabe, "Geez. We got what we came for. Let's just get back to the room."

"I second that," agreed Bibi.

Bibi noticed that Kelly and Carl seemed to be having a good time over by the bar that was next to the dining room table. They didn't grab much in the way of food, but the two of them were eyeing some choice bottles of wine and liquor.

"What are you guys doing over there?" she asked.

"Just checking out some of the spirits," replied Carl.

He whispered something to Kelly and she giggled .

"I don't think it's such a good idea to bring any alcohol back," Bibi protested, "We've already had some problems with Dominic. I wouldn't want to make things any worse than they already are. Besides, Robert would probably flip."

"I don't really give a shit what that cop thinks," he answered.

"Maybe we should just leave the alcohol here?" Kelly suggested.

"I'm not afraid of that pig, you shouldn't be either."

"I don't think you should take the alcohol back to the room, Carl," Bibi countered.

Carl snickered, "You going to shoot me, Counselor?"

"Maybe."

He took a long swig of a bottle of tequila, "Mmm...good stuff. That'll definitely put some hair on your chest."

Kelly giggled again.

"Please, Carl?" asked Chloe, "Don't bring it back."