Dancing with the Devil (part one)

Chapter 38: Gasoline

The car journey to the small house in Hitchen was long and tedious. There wasn't a lot of vocal interaction being made, just a few complaints from Astrid that included the occasional are we there yet? As well as many I hate yous. The journey was a good hour and a half long and when they arrived, this was the only thing that was stopping Astrid from arguing any more.

They got to the small one floored cottage at about one o'clock, Seb got out of the car first followed reluctantly by Astrid. They made their way up the path slowly, the blonde in tow, when they're reached the oak wood door, Seb knocked on the door. They waited a few seconds before knocking again, yet still, there was no reply.

"Maybe she's not in." Astrid suggested, but before they could think any more, a small figure emerged from the other side of the fence.

"Alexa?" Came a shaky voice of an old woman, she stepped into the light to reveal delicate features and a head of grey hair, "Is that you?"

Astrid turned her head to the voice and upon seeing a familiar face she smiled softly and approached the fence.

"Hello Mrs Whitby," Astrid smiled, "is Ana not in?"

"I haven't seen her leave," the lady croaked in her cockney tone and pointed a shaking finger at Seb "who's this?"

"This is a friend of mine." Astrid introduced, "Sebastian."

"Hello." Sebastian politely nodded and the woman smiled and looked back at Astrid.

"Is everything alright, Alexa?"

"Just wanting to speak to Ana." Astrid said and then frowned, "your sure she's not left the house."

"I spoke to her yesterday," The old lady began, "she seemed off key, somehow, she said she would be staying at home for reasons. I'm not sure why?"

"Thank you so much Mrs Whitby," Astrid smiled.

"Here to help," she smiled, "I must go back inside before Mark throws a fit, but if you need anything, just shout."

"Will do." Astrid smiled and when the lady finally made it to her house and shit the door, Astrid felt her heart rate increase as she ran back to the door, she bent down and opened the letter flap and shouted into it, "Ana! Open up Ana."

There was still no reply

After a couple minutes of shouting and panicking, Astrid gave in and reached into her pocket.

"What are you doing?" Frowned the tiger.

"Picking the lock," Astrid said as she brandished a thin pin and began to fiddle with the lock. After a few attempts, it opened. She pushed the door open and continued to shout out as she walked down the corridor, "Ana, are you there?"

She walked through to the end room, now leading the small rescue group. They reached the end door which was slightly ajar. She pushed it open and her eyes were met with the sight that she regretted seeing the most. Laying lifelessly on the sofa, was the body of her old maid. Ana lay motionless on the sofa, her eyes wide open, skin paled and eyes teared up.

Astrid didn't know how to react, she couldn't cry, she suddenly felt incapable of it. She just turned around to see an Seb looking at her pitifully. She walked up to him and before he could say anything, she put her head against his chest causing the tiger to wrap his arms around her body.

"S'okay blondie," he comforted, "I've got you."

After about two minutes of silent hugging, Astrid slowly pulled away and approached the body, Seb followed her and watched as she bent down and looked at her. She put two fingers onto Ana's eyes and closed them, Seb frowned and bent down to examine the body.

"How did it happen?" He said looking extremely confused.

"Hansel." she stated, simple and plainly.

"How long has she been dead?"

"Not sure." Astrid would have been confused, had she not suspected what was going on. She stood up and walked around the room, on the coffee table there was a piece of paper, written on it was:

21st May 2011
15:47
Lucas Hansel
Bedroom
Touch Nothing

Astrid tilted her head to read the words properly causing Seb to come over still looking confused.

"That's yesterday" He stated as he read the letter.

"No shit Sherlock." Astrid muttered and Seb frowned, he must have known we were going to come here."

The tiger frowned, "but I literally decided to come this morning."

"He must have hacked into her phone and seen that she wanted me to come"

"Why would he kill her?"

"I think, he wants me at my most vulnerable,"

"So maybe he's the reason Jim is so MIA?"

"No, he's scared of Jim, he would never be able to pull that off." She said before pacing out of the room and along the corridor meanwhile shouting back to Seb, "don't touch anything."

She continued to walk to her room and when she opened the door, to her relief, there was no-one there. She cautiously entered the room to find a notepad and a folded up shawl on the bed.

She looked at the Shawl, daring not to touch it, and noticed it almost instantly. It was the shawl that her mother was wearing that day, the day she died. She looked at the notepad, still not touching it, and frowned; it didn't seem familiar. Just then, Seb barged into the room, and saw the things on the bed.

"Here," He said, handing Astrid a pair of gloves, "put these on."

"Where did you get these from?"

"I brought them, just in case." He replied

Astrid saw it safe to put them on she picked up the shawl and let it drop down to the floor, It was a mix of pink and red, with a few elegant patterns drawn on. It would have been exactly the same if it wasn't for the small splodge of dried up red at the top which caused Astrid to nearly throw up. She placed the shawl back down and took up the notebook. She opened it up and on the first page, written in bold ink was:

No Regrets
LH

Astrid took a deep breath, after taking on what she had read, she tore out the paper and scrunched it up in her gloved hand. She chucked the other notepad onto her bed before going back into the other room and taking the note that was sat on the coffee table. She picked it up and scrunched it up as well.

Seb watched the manic girl from where he was leant against the door. He watched her bend back down to Ana's body, she began to look around her body to find clues of what had happened. On her finger was a small damp drop, she touched it with her finger and smelt it; not water. She shook it off her gloved finger and walked back to Seb.

"We need to dispose of these." She said to Seb, "this entire house is not safe."

"Got ya" He smiled in understanding, "I'm sorry to say that we should burn the house down."

"Subtle."

"Hansel could have put that shit anywhere," He regrettably informed, "it's either that or have the police come and find Ana's body on the sofa and get Sherlock Holmes to solve her murder."

"He wouldn't be able to do it," she said, "that's the whole point of my father's poison."

"Still..."

"Yes, I understand." She smiled shyly, still gazing down at Ana, "and I don't suppose you've brought a giant barrel of gasoline on the back of that car?"

"Actually," He smiled a little, "I do."

Not ten minutes later the tiger and the spy were back in the car driving away from the burning house, not in high spirits, but Astrid couldn't help but be slightly relieved, after all, she knew Ana didn't want to be part of all this, in fact she didn't deserve it. She was in a better place now...

and all that malarkey.