The Silent Confession

Chapter Five

Nancy sat on the edge of her bed, thinking. Too many thoughts were keeping her from sleep, or even from changing out of her dress. Alvin Brixton's riddle circled her, followed by Mr. Smithers' pale features. Dave's threat...

She should have told Frank the truth, they all needed to watch their backs when it came to Radley. However, she didn't want him to worry about her, as he often did.

Frank. His eyes seemed to trail her all night. She didn't really mind much, as she'd known Frank for years, but now things were strange between them somehow. He was a different type of mystery, one Nancy wasn't used to solving.

The girl decided to take a peaceful walk around the hotel. She needed to clear her mind before tucking in for the night. Nancy was also dying to uncover the mysteries of the hotel. She wandered the stairwells, most of the floors seeming the same. Soon, she approached the door that would lead to the third floor, however it held a sign instructing that the room was off-limits to those without a reservation. Another sign hung underneath the original, instructing that those attending the Detective's Convention had permission to enter. Using her badge as an ID card and pressing it against a scanner beside the door, Nancy entered.

Nancy noticed an obvious different in the architecture of the third floor in contrast to the other levels she had wandered. She recalled what Frank had told her. Alvin Brixton had built the first three levels of the mansion to fit his desires, whereas the rest of the hotel was additions, about three more stories behind added. This floor did not hold sleeping quarters, but a large sitting area, it seemed, with plush couches and love seats. Multiple large doors surrounded the outside.

The room was large and grand. It seemed to hold the same theme that the conference room had earlier in the day. Gold trim, red carpets, and lush plants decorated the interior. Elegant chandeliers hung silently from the golden tiles that lined the ceiling, reflecting Nancy's figure in their shine.

She was alone, only the clock ticking into the night. It wasn't a comfortable silence that surrounded her. An eerie feeling seemed to come with the dim lighting and the blood red tones of the room. Without a sound, she tried one of the double doors. Naturally, it was locked. Nancy wondered if behind that door, Alvin Brixton had left something of value behind.

The next door slid open easily, revealing another ballroom with a gorgeous painting of a night sky on the ceiling, silhouettes of treetops reaching into the royal blue. Nancy took note of the numerous pieces of nature that were hidden throughout the mansion.

Nancy tried to recall maps and directions she'd seen throughout the hotel. She thought she read that the third floor had the special guest rooms of higher quality and price. One of the doors likely led to those, but perhaps it was restricted. She also read something about a pool...

Before trying any of the other doors, Nancy's phone buzzed in her purse, disrupting the silence. She jumped in her skin.

"Hello?" Nancy whispered, as if someone else were in the room with her.

"Nancy?" A familiar voice whispered back. "Why are we whispering?"

"Ned!" Nancy smiled. "I'm sorry, it's late and-"

"You didn't call, so I figured I'd call you. Wait- I hope I didn't wake you up."

Nancy cringed, guilt eating at her insides. She hadn't given Ned much of a thought all night... "Ned, I'm so sorry I didn't call."

"It's fine," Ned said, his voice contradicting his words. She could sense a lie no matter how hard Ned tried to hide it. However, he changed the subject. "I'm sure you're busy. How is the convention?"