The Boarding House Horror

13. Something Vicious

Dressed in my coat and hat I cut myself a wedge of Edam cheese for the journey. I wrapped it in a napkin and stuffed it into my coat pocket. Only Daria was in the kitchen, dicing carrots into the pot of stew. She wiped her hands on a towel, then distractedly straightened my tie and smoothed my lapels.

The action halted my tongue for a moment, but I eventually managed a few words. "A question or two before I go for the evening, Miss Raptis. Were you sitting next to your father last night at dinner?"

"Yes, I think so. Yes. He kept passing me salt and butter and whatnot."

"Do you remember who was on the other side of him?"

"A very specific question, Inspector. But I don't recall."

"Did you discuss George Raptis's will, as in his last will and testament?"

"What? Gracious, no." Her fingers twitched toward the next carrot. My questions were less important than root vegetables.

"Do you know what is in that document?"

"No. Does he have one?"

"Thank you, Miss Raptis. See you bright and early."

"I hope the weather is better by then. Good night, Inspector." Her puzzled blue eyes tracked me as I left.

I stopped by the chess table and moved a pawn. Alice "Ace" Bree, however, stood by the fire in her shapeless frock. I told her, "My pawn to F5."

"Oh? All right." A frown touched Alice Bree's lips.

I smirked. She hadn't expected that.

I broadcast to the room at large, "Good evening, all. I will return in the morning to conclude matters. It sounds like the worst of the storm is over. Sleep well."

"Cheerio, Inspector," Trevor Brashear waved, then planted his hands in his pockets and slouched by the fire.

"Arrivederci," Mario Costa said, then hiccupped.

Mariam's brown eyes followed me. I tipped my hat to her and was rewarded with a faint upward curve of her lips.

I glanced at Alice Bree. "Actually, Miss Bree, could you come with me to the front porch? I have one more question."

"All right," she said. I took her elbow to guide her. We made our way down the front hallway and I opened the door. Little did I know that death lay in wait outside.

The door opened to gray light. The rain had lessened. Even as the sun prepared to set the thinning clouds let more light in than before.

"What's on your mind, Inspector?" Alice asked as we stepped over the threshold.

"Oh, just the mouse. What are you going to do with the mouse, once you catch it?"

"The mouse is bait to lure the snake out, of course. Perhaps I forgot to explain."

I opened my mouth to reply, but something vicious split the air like a demonic bee. An unseen force swatted Alice Bree into the door frame and I lost grip on her elbow.

A moment later the ugly chop of a rifle shot shocked my paralyzed eardrum.