Ok, I know I'm still in the middle of 'Let Love In' but I thought since it's Friday 13th I'd do this little two part story.
Disclaimer: I own Bobby, Elaine and Jimmy, yaaay. No one else :(
Stella approached Lindsay in the ballistics lab with a wide grin on her face.
"Don't tell me, you ate the Cheshire cat."
Stella's smile faltered. "Excuse me?"
"The Cheshire cat from… never mind. What's up?" Lindsay asked as she prepared a microscope slide. Stella handed a note to Lindsay.
"I'm having a party, and you're invited," Stella said excited.
Lindsay read the note. It was an invitation to a murder mystery party on Friday the 13th.
"I was gonna wait til Halloween but the place it's at was already booked then," Stella explained.
Lindsay read the note further. "You want us to dress up?"
Stella nodded. "Each person will be portraying a different character, each with secrets to hide. I need an RSVP by the start of next week so I can work everything out," She explained. "What do you think?"
"Uh, it's interesting, I've never been to a murder mystery party before. Count me in," Lindsay replied.
"Great. I'll give you your character information later on next week. Once you find out who you are, go to 'Marty's Dress Ups', the address is on the invitation. When you get there tell him Stella Bonasera sent you and he won't charge you," Stella explained. "Ok, I gotta go give out more invitations."
Stella skipped down the hall and stopped at Mac's office. Lindsay smiled to herself. She couldn't imagine Mac Taylor at a role-playing murder mystery party.
When she finished examining the slide under the microscope Lindsay left the room and saw Danny down the hall. He was reading what looked like one of Stella's invitations.
She approached him. "Hey Danny."
"Montana," He looked up. "You get invited to this murder party thing also?"
Lindsay nodded. "Sounds like fun, you going?"
Danny screwed up his face. "Ahhh, I don't know."
"C'mon Danny, it'll be fun. Food's provided," Lindsay pleaded. Danny smiled at her persistency.
"Fine I'll go, but only cos you talked me into it," Danny said, giving in. Lindsay smiled. "Great"
She then walked off. As she walked away she could feel Danny's eyes on her body, particularly her ass, and smiled.
Later on in the next week Stella approached Hawkes, Danny, Lindsay and Mac in the break room. She handed each of them cards. "These are your characters. On the night you'll get a book containing dialogue and all the details and stuff but this is just so you can get your costumes organized. Mac don't even think about standing me up."
Hawkes cleared his throat. "I am Sheldon Hawkes, your butler for the evening," He said in a posh accent.
Lindsay read her card and smiled, which didn't go unnoticed by Danny. "What you got?"
Lindsay concealed her card. "What'd you get?"
Danny smirked. "You'll just have to wait and see on Friday night."
"Stella I don't think this is a good idea," Lindsay called from the dressing room. Stella had agreed to go with her to get her costume.
"Does it fit?"
"Oh yeah, it fits alright."
"Come out, let me see," Stella called.
Lindsay sighed and stepped out from behind the curtain in the dressing room. Stella's eyes went wide. "Wow Linds, you look great. You definitely pull off the slutty maid."
Lindsay smiled. "I'm not suppose to be a slutty maid I'm suppose to be you're respectful maid at your high class dinner party."
She turned at looked in the mirror. The outfit fit her perfectly. It hugged her curves in all the right places and stopped just short of her knee, her fit legs visible through the thin tights. She had to admit it, she looked sexy, but it wasn't the look she was expecting when she signed up for this.
"I have a feeling you'll be playing more than just an innocent nurse on Friday night," Stella said mysteriously.
"Really? So you know what's gonna happen?"
"Well no, my friend Jimmy will be the only one who knows, after all he orchestrated the whole thing. He'll be playing the detective and he let me in on a few minor secrets."
"Damn Lindsay," Said a voice behind her. She turned quickly to see Flack staring at her.
"Flack? What are you doing here?" Lindsay asked a little embarrassed.
"I'm getting my costume," He explained holding up a tux. "But… Damn Lindsay."
Lindsay smirked. After all, who wouldn't like a compliment like that.
Flack rubbed his hands together. "Oh, Messer is so gonna love this."
"Hey, don't tell Danny. At least let him wait and find out on Friday," Lindsay said, trying not to sound like she cared. Stella and Flack looked at each other knowingly.
Flack grinned. "Wait til you see Danny's costume, it's hilarious."
"Yeah, it's almost as good as yours Lindsay," Stella agreed.
"You've seen his costume? What is he?" Lindsay asked curiously.
"You'll just have to wait and find out on Friday."
Lindsay arrived at the building where the party was held a little before six. She took out her compact and checked to see if her make-up was okay.
Just as she was about to knock she heard a whistle behind her. She twirled around and was gob smacked. Danny was wearing slacks with braces slung off to the side and a slightly grubby white tank top.
"I know I've said this before Montana but you clean up damn good," he complimented. "You'd make a good maid."
Lindsay blushed. "Uh… I'm a little confused as to who you are."
Danny looked down at his costume and shrugged. "I'm the 'gruff electrician/plumber' that's staying in the house."
Lindsay realized they had been standing at the door for quite a while so knocked. Stella answered almost immediately. "Hey guys, come in."
Stella was wearing a long red gown and feathery scarf. Her make-up complimented her look
Danny and Lindsay walked into the huge apartment. There were little closets and hallways, and three main rooms. There was a dinning room where a long table was set out with food and candles. The next room was a lounge room with sofas, a television, and a fireplace. They weren't allowed in the final room yet.
Everyone gathered in the dining room. Stella handed out everyone's books, which contained their information for the evening. Lindsay looked around, there were ten people including her self and all were wearing costumes.
"Ok, before we begin there are a couple of rules. Don't read ahead in your book or it will give too much away. Everything will be discovered in it's own time. Don't share any information in your book with anyone else unless you are instructed to read it. And don't forget, this is suppose to be fun," Stella explained, looking directly at Mac. " The more you get into it the more fun it is, try to imagine that you are who your piece of paper says. Ok, I think we should introduce ourselves. I am Lady Stella Bonasera, your hostess for the evening. Welcome to my dinner party."
Stella sat in her place at the long dinning table.
"I am Sir Don Flack, wife to Lady Stella Bonasera," Flack said in a deep voice, he sat down at the table.
Mac hesitated before speaking. "I am Professor Mac Taylor, an honored guest and close friend to Sir Flack."
Lindsay held back a laugh at his posh accent.
"Colonel Adam , pleased to accept this invitation on my way passing through town." Adam sat.
A lady Lindsay didn't recognize stepped forward.
"I am Ms. Elaine Kronski, long time friends of Lady Stella and Colonel Adam."
They sat down next to each other at the table.
"I am Master Sheldon Hawkes, this is my colleague Master Bobby Finn," Hawkes said, gesturing to another man Lindsay was unfamiliar with. "We will be your butlers for the evening."
Next it was Lindsay's turn. She cleared her throat.
"Good evening, I'm Ms. Lindsay Monroe, you're maid for the evening," She greeted in an innocent southern voice. Her card read that she was from Louisiana.
Danny was intrigued by Lindsay's cute accent. "I'm Danny Messer, a plumber/electrician. I'm staying as a guest in Lady Stella's lovely home."
With that, everyone was introduced except one person.
"And I, am Detective Jimmy Stiles," The man in the typical Sherlock Holmes outfit stated. "Up until the murder, think of me as invisible. Don't forget to check your book regularly. Neither the murderer nor the victim know who they are yet. You are encouraged to participate and discover the murderer before they are revealed, so keep your eyes open."
Everyone was seated at the table except Lindsay, Danny, Hawkes, Bobby, and Jimmy.
The game began immediately. Lindsay was assigned into the kitchen by herself to wash dishes. She could hear the conversation in the dining room.
"So," Professor Mac began. "When will our meal be served?"
"Ms. Monroe!" Stella called. Lindsay appeared immediately. "Yes Ma'am?"
"When will supper be served?"
"I'm terribly sorry Ma'am, we're running a little behind schedule. It will be another 20 minutes."
Lindsay was dismissed. She retreated into the kitchen and read to see what she had to do next.
"So Elaine," Flack asked. "How long have you been friends with my wife and Colonel Adam?"
"Oh, you misunderstand," Elaine replied. "Colonel Adam and I are no longer friends."
Colonel Adam glared at her and crossed his arms, visibly trying to hide a smile.
"Honey, Elaine has been to our mansion countless times and you still don't know?" Lady Stella asked. Sir Flack shrugged.
Lady Stella sighed. "The food will take a while, we shall wait in the lounge room, follow me."
The group of people followed. Suddenly, the lights went out. There was the sound of a thumping, screaming, smashing, and gasping for air. When the lights returned on Elaine was lying in the dining room on the ground with a rope around her neck. Everyone gasped.
Detective Jimmy Stiles approached the body. "She's dead," He confirmed. "Someone in here is a cold-blooded murderer."
Gasps were heard around the room. Detective Stiles ordered everyone into the lounge.
Lindsay noticed that Danny walked in after the commotion. She gave him a questioning look, wondering if his character was involved. Danny saw her staring at him and gave her a wink. But it wasn't electrician Danny winking, it was CSI Danny winking; reminding Lindsay that this was all just a well orchestrated game.
"Excuse me Sir," Detective Stiles said to Danny. "I don't recall seeing you. Where were you just then during the murder?"
"Well, I saw the lights go out. I'm an electrician so I went to the fuse box outside to turn the lights back on, when I came back in, everyone was gathering round this young lady's body," Danny explained.
"Everyone, come sit," Detective Stiles ordered. Lindsay, who was standing near the door way came to sit down. Everyone seemed to be eying everyone suspiciously.
"No one shall leave this room until the murderer has been discovered. I'm going to go examine the body. Be careful who you talk to in the room, you never know if you could become the next victim," Detective Stiles said before leaving.
Lindsay smiled. She was really enjoying herself. Even though Detective Stiles left the room everyone seemed to remain in character. Lindsay checked her book. She was supposed to be talking to Lady Stella. On her way there she felt a strong arm grab hand.
She turned, not surprised to see it was Danny. She smirked. "I shouldn't be talking to you," She drawled in her southern accent. "For all I know, you could be the murderer.
Danny mirrored her smirk. "You may be right, maybe I am the murderer, then again, I seem to remember a certain southern maid with no alibi." He released his grip on her hand, which had now become a soft but firm hold.
Lindsay slowly walked away from Danny and over to Stella. Danny looked in his book, there was nothing he had to do for the time being so he watched what the people around him were doing. There were groups of people talking. Lady Stella was having a word with Lindsay, and Sir Flack was having a casual conversation with Professor Mac and Colonel Adam, but the conversation that interested Danny the most was happening on the other side of the room.
The two butlers, Master Hawkes and Master Bobby, were having a discreet conversation. Master Bobby looked as if he was explaining something to Master Hawkes, and Danny was intrigued. Another thing that interested Danny was the glances that Sir Flack kept sending to Lady Stella and Lindsay.
Detective Stiles returned to the room. "I've just made some interesting discoveries," He announced. Everyone sat.
Detective Stiles turned to Danny. "Danny Messer, how did you know the victim?"
Lindsay bit back a smile.
"I had never seen Ms. Elaine before today," He answered.
"Really. I had you checked out. Seems this isn't your first run in with the law. You have quite a criminal record. Breaking and entering, robbery, assault…"
Gasps were heard around the room. Danny fought hard to stay into character.
"I admit I have a criminal record, but I am not a murderer. I'm a changed person."
As Lindsay watched the interaction she felt a presence behind her. "I need to talk to you," Sir Flack whispered.
"At a time like this?"
"I need to know that… If any accusations are made…"
"What? Are you threatening me?"
"I cannot let this get out, I will not let this get out," Sir Flack whispered, before distancing himself. Danny noticed that Sir Flack gave Professor Mac a nod of the head.
Lindsay had read what the book had told her, and she was sure that guests around the room noticed them talking.
Lindsay figured that her character had an affair with Sir Flack and that he was making sure that she'd deny it if any accusations were made. She thought something might have happened between the two from Flack's glances at her during the night. Lindsay made a mental note not to forget Flack's threat.
The Detective was still questioning Danny when Lindsay realized that some people were missing. Master Hawkes, Colonel Adam, Lady Stella, and Professor Mac were nowhere to be seen. Before anybody could blink, the lights were out again. This time only a gunshot was heard before the lights turned on a minute later.
Lady Stella's body lay in a pool of blood in the dining room near where Elaine's body was found.
Professor Mac, Colonel Adam, Master Hawkes, and Danny stood around the body. Danny and Colonel Adam both had fake blood on their clothes. Detective Stiles gathered the four to one side of the lounge room.
"One of them must be the murderer," Sir Flack said. He looked them in the eyes. "Which one of you killed Lady Stella?"
Detective Stiles looked directly at Danny, who was wiping the blood off his shirt. "You, get in the chair." Danny was sat down and his hands tied behind his back. "You've got blood all over you."
"I fell in it," Danny muttered. "I went to go fix the lights but was bumped, there was a real rumble in there. Besides, I'm not the only one with blood on my hands."
All eyes scanned the other three, and settled on Colonel Adams hands, red with blood. He didn't seem to worry, but Professor Mac, on the other hand, seemed agitated. "What the hell is going on here?"
Danny noticed his reaction.
"How did that blood get on your hands Colonel Adams?" Detective Stiles asked.
"The exact same way as him," He replied, pointing towards Danny. "There was a struggle in there, I couldn't tell who was who. I'm not the murderer, but one of these guys sure is."
"Really?" Hawkes spoke up. "I overheard earlier that you and Ms. Elaine used to be friends but that it wasn't the case anymore. So what happened? A falling out? That may be motive."
All eyes went to Colonel Adams. He looked around nervously. "Look, Elaine and I weren't really friends anymore but that doesn't mean I killed her.
Meanwhile Stella joined her friend Elaine in the back room. There was a table full of food and chairs.
"Bout time," Elaine said, giving her friend a hug. "I was getting lonely back here. I suppose you got murdered too."
Stella nodded, picking up a chip.
"Who was it?" asked Elaine. "That sexy electrician?"
Stella laughed. "I'm not sure, but keep your hands off him, or the maid will clobber you."
"To find the murderer," Detective Stiles announced. "We must follow the evidence. We know that Master Hawkes, Electrician Danny, Colonel Adam, or Professor Mac is the murderer. All we have to do is tie them to the crime."
Detective Stiles walked into the Dining room.
Lindsay looked at her book and smiled. She had to go see Danny.
She walked over to him.
"Ma'am, you mind untying me?"
Master Hawkes appeared behind Lindsay. "Lindsay, you shouldn't be talking to him." He whisked her away into the other room while glaring at Danny. "All this commotion… are you alright?"
Lindsay nodded.
"Maybe you should just stay close by me, I'll protect you."
As Hawkes held her close, pieces of the puzzle began forming in her brain.
While everyone was in the dining room, Master Bobby approached Detective Stiles.
"Detective," He whispered. "There's something important I have to tell you, about Ms. Elaine's murder."
Unfortunately, everybody in the room heard him, and all eyes turned to him. In a flash of the lights were out. There was a struggle.
"Lindsay," Danny called. She found her way to the other room. "Untie me will ya."
Lindsay fumbled around in the dark trying to untie Danny. She could hear the commotion from the other room.
"No," She could hear Master Bobby breathe. "It wasn't…murderer…Lady Stella…Lady Stella…"
The room went silent.
After about a minute of silence the lights turned on. Danny and Lindsay had already returned to the room. Master Bobby lay on the floor with a rope tied around his neck.
The Detective shook his head. "Another murder. Unless this is solved soon, there may be no one left."
Detective Stiles dragged Master Bobby into the back room where Stella and Elaine were and left quickly.
"Oh no," Stella said. "Don't tell me you got shot too,"
Bobby shook his head and made his way to the food table. "I got strangled, just like Elaine."
Stella smiled. "Three murders, two different MO's. Something tells me there's more than one killer out there."
Meanwhile, Danny was having similar thoughts. Two different murderers, but who?
Danny was due to interrupt a conversation between Professor Mac and Sir Flack.
He made his way to them.
"… not what I told you," Sir Flack hissed.
"This is out of control!"
"Elaine would have ruined me!"
Danny approached. Sir Flack eyed him suspiciously. "Can I help you?"
"I noticed, you don't seem to chocked up on your wife's murder," Danny replied.
Professor Mac shoved Danny aside. "Out of the way. You should mind your own business." Flack fought hard not to smile.
Detective Stiles returned. "The murderer, used great strength and determination to strangle Master Bobby. Epithelials for the murderer's hands will be on the rope, however there's no time to match DNA. The killer, will most likely have burns on their hands from the rope."
Detective Stiles went straight to Lindsay. "Show me your hands Ma'am."
Lindsay turned her palms up. Her hands were raw and red. Gasps were heard around the room.
"Miss Monroe, this doesn't look good," Detective Stiles stated.
"I, I can explain," She said, accent strong. "I… My hands are red from freeing this Sir from his chair."
"I heard Master Bobby saying that Lady Stella was the murderer," Sir Flack said.
"No, he was saying that Lady Stella was the one who murdered Ms. Elaine," Professor Mac corrected. "But what about Lady Stella, who killed her?"
"Professor Mac," Lindsay said, making her way towards him. It wasn't in her script but she had noticed something. "What's that on your hands?"
She turned up his hands to see red marks across them.
"You're the murderer?" Colonel Adams asked.
Lindsay smiled and cleared her throat.
"I think I know what's going on here," She said in her regular voice.
"That makes two of us," Danny added. "I know why Elaine was murdered."
The second part is comming up soon, tell me what you think!