Mr Stone's Hunting Lodge

Chapter One

The snowstorm outside was enraged as wind whistled through the icy windows of Mr Stone's hunting lodge. The well-kept, yet old, place moaned and creaked as if protesting the wintry onslaught, pleading for the return of the summer sun to beat down on its tiled roof.

In the toasty Great Room, where the wooden floors glistened from the light of the fire, three staff members waited somewhat patiently for the arrival of the season's first guests.

Rocking back and forth on her black and recently polished shoes, the tapping mimicking the ticking of a clock, a fresh faced young woman asked, 'Do our guests know each other?'

Towering over his counterparts on either side, the male combed his short black hair with his hand before replying, 'The Slains and the Forsythes know each other. They travel in the same wealthy social circle.'

The rocking stopped and intrigue graced the young woman's face. 'Wealthy? How wealthy?'

Looking down, the young man huffed a laugh. 'Why's that, Emily? Plans?'

'Just interested, Jack. Just interested. And how, might I ask - if that's all right - do they make their money?'

'I believe Mr Slain is in real estate and --'

'Wrong, Jack,' said Rachel, flattening a crease in her grey uniform. 'Mr Slain is in shipping and Mrs Forsythe is in textiles and real estate.'

Jack scrunched up his forehead. 'Are you sure about that?'

Rachel made sure the bun in her hair had not come undone. 'Positive.'

'What about the other two guests?' asked Emily.

'No idea,' answered Rachel. 'Like you, they're new to the lodge.'

Swiveling her head, Emily looked up and gave out a shiver.

'What was that for?' asked Jack.

Emily twirled her finger. 'They're giving me the creeps.'

'What are?'

With a scared expression, Emily answered, 'The heads.'

Mounted on the walls of the Great Room were the heads of the owner's conquests: deer, bears, a cougar, and many more creatures.

'You know they're dead, right?'

'Yeah, I'm not thick. They just look so evil. Especially that one.'

'Don't you dare insult that grizzly. I was here when Mr Stone shot her. It was a winter like this. Took a lot of effort to take it down. And more to get it back here.'

'In the winter?' Now Emily looked confused. 'See that's what I'm not getting.'

'What aren't you getting?'

'Don't all animals hibernate in the winter?'

Jack and Rachel began to laugh, but abruptly stopped when a throat was cleared. The three turned around and saw Mr Stone. The greying forty year old, who was dressed in a brown suit, walked over to his staff, a smile on his face.

'Not all animals hibernate in the winter, Emily,' he said.

Looking slightly intimidated and embarrassed, Emily replied, 'Yes, Sir.'

'It would be something if deer did, though. Digging dens in the ground using their antlers.'

Jack and Rachel chuckled while Emily just nodded.

Then walking over to the fireplace below a pair of antique guns, Mr Stone continued, 'Our guests should be arriving shortly . . . hopefully. Unless they haven't got lost out there or crashed.' He tossed a log into fire, sending embers and flames into the air. 'I just got off the phone with the train station. They said our guests left with Harry half an hour ago. Jack?'