Mode is Clueless

Chapter One

"Can any of you tell me who killed Mr. Meade?"

The guests looked and not looked at each others, in various degrees of discomfort, Betty noted in her notebook.

Beside her, the detective and her partner, Henry Grubstick sighed, heavily. She could tell that this wasn't the assignment he wanted his name on, and Betty felt slightly guilty because it was mostly her fault that they were even there.

Kenny stood behind them next to the wardrobe, very admirably taking up the task of guarding the six probable murder weapons. It was task Betty had said with her widest smile as possible that required great strength, dignity, and most of all not to say a single word. It was something both she and Henry agreed was vital so another murder wouldn't take place.

Mr. Bradford Meade was a celebrated multimillionaire in the city. Known for his massive empire as well as his somewhat less than cordial philanthropy, Mr. Meade was a figure that many admired and hate simultaneously. But was it enough to cause his death?

"Why would we tell you anything?" the blond said filing her nails, she crossed her lithe legs on the ottoman causing her little red dress to slide up as the man in a yellow suit followed with his eyes.

"After all," a woman is crisp white suit said icily, her perfectly manicured fingers stroking her collar, "You should be able tell us that, you're the detective are you not?"

She began to rise to herwhen Henry flashed once again the warrant at the group of people, prompting her to sit back down. "All six of you were here tonight. You're the only ones who could have done it."

"Well this is very big mansion," a slender man dressed entirely in violet said. His ascot was covered in large polka dots which he would tug at every few moments. "Who knows what the hired help could have done it."

"They wouldn't have done anything," Betty snapped taking the bait.

"Ha, what makes you so sure? You weren't here were you," quipped the man in violet.

"Getting her upset won't solve anything," a chubby man in an old pea green jacket muttered to the man next to him. "Let's just do what they say."

The woman in white closed her eyes, not wanting to use the energy to roll them.

However the woman sitting next to her, wearing a myriad of different shades of blue, nodded eagerly. "Oh let's, I want to go home."

"Yes," Henry said hastily. "Why do we start with finding out what exactly happened here. Let's start at the beginning of the night."

"You're not going to interview us one by one?" The woman in red drawled.

Henry turned his head a quarter of inch to Betty.

They had discussed this on the drive over. Each of the six couldn't be trusted alone, because they eagerly dispose of one of them and flee the scene. And unless they all had a hand in murdering Mr. Meade, as a group neither one would risk outing themselves in front of the others. Prison aside, they had their reputations to think of.

They were at one point or another in their lives rich, successful, and famous people that hit a dry spell.

Amanda Tanen, a failed actress and singer who never quite made it big out of the Jazz Clubs downtown. Nick Pepper notorious for becoming a playboy who invested a bit to heavily in the stock market, when his stock of choice Yoplait took a big nosedive. Wilhelmina Slater who despite her success in setting fashion dos and don'ts and with friends that usually cross the red carpet had yet to lock her own running magazine. Marc. St. James, once a star of Broadway took a risky lead in a movie and plunged from his high reaching stars. Cliff St Paul promising photographers who only used to have movie stars pose for him was now reduced to paparazzi level. And last but not least Christina McKinney who after years of struggles became a renowned fashion designer only to have that credit snatched away.

Each for some reason or another had a motive to kill Bradford Meade. But as Henry pointed out to both Betty and Kenny back in the office, the motive might be different than the usual assumption, which made this six suspects all the more dangerous.

Which was why Betty had not protested as much as usual when he handed her a pistol with its safety locked on, for just in case. She vowed not to use it hoping , rational thinking and a clear head will solve all matters.

"Who's going to start?" Henry asked to the group as Betty poised her pen over her notebook.

"Who arrived first?" Betty added.

"I did," Nick said, stretching the yellow fabric of his suit.

"When?"

"A quarter to seven just before it started to rain….."


A/N: For those who haven't guessed yet:

Miss Scarlet-Amanda

Professor Plum-Marc

Colonel Mustard-Nick

Mr. Green-Cliff

Ms Peacock- Christina

Ms White-Willy

Also this was somewhat inspired by CloakedHestia's lovely The Case of Meade Estate.