Welcome to part one of this story and the last shot in September one shot week.
Legal: I own nothing but the idea.
Important things to know before reading:
*takes place in season eleven, shortly after Jake comes to the school
*Clare is not dating Jake but their parents are dating
*Eli did crash his car in an attempt to get Clare back and he's working on the play with Imogen
*Clare does not wear an abstinence ring
*Fitz is Christian but converted in juvie and had already lost his virginity
*Drew and Bianca are not together, nor are Jenna and K.C. anymore and Alli and Dave are not together yet, basically no one is dating anyone yet
*this fic will be intense at points and quite steamy at points this is your only warning!
Ch. 1 The Mystery Begins
(CLARE)
"Well this is rather elaborate," I comment as we board the ferry.
"Yeah but that's Fiona for you," Alli replies.
"I'm surprised she invited us all," Jenna comments.
"I think she invited everyone she's ever looked at," Jake remarks as the ferry starts and pulls away from the dock.
Fiona was turning eighteen this weekend and celebrating in true Coyne style she rented a mansion on an island for a murder mystery weekend. I was surprised to get an invitation from her because we'd had very little interaction but a murder mystery weekend was way too good to pass up. Mom agreed to let me go knowing Jake would be here and we were sure our parents were all too happy to have all that time alone.
I look around the ferry at everyone that's here, aside from me, Jenna, Alli and Jake, Eli is here and I'm doing my best to not look at him. Also here for the weekend is Imogen, Marisol, Sav, Katie, Mo, Adam, Drew, Bianca, Owen, Fitz, Dave, K.C., Anya and Holly J. The ferry is pretty full especially since everyone has luggage for the weekend and we're all kind of pushing at each other but we stop when we see the island approaching. It's a small island and the towering mansion is prominently visible. The closer we get to the island the more visible the mansion becomes. An imposing dark wood mansion with a weather vane or satellite tower on top and what looks like a deck on the roof, it has a dark roof, a lot of windows and two more visible porches. It's at least five floors and looks very old, possibly turn of the century. The ferry ride takes almost half an hour and the mansion is visible for most of it which shows just how big it truly is. As the ferry makes its way to the island I look around and realize just how very secluded the island truly is. I hope nothing goes wrong this weekend.
When the ferry pulls up to the dock on the island Fiona is waiting for us, the birthday girl smiles brightly and walks down to welcome us to her party. The ferry ties up to the dock, a ramp is lowered and a man begins helping us off the ferry. We gather our luggage and Fiona welcomes us then we follow her to mansion entrance. We pass through a lovely garden on the way, it's beauty contrasts to the dark wood mansion.
"Everyone has their own room, I picked them out myself. You have an hour to get settled and then dinner will be served and I want you all to stay in character for the weekend. Now follow me and I'll take you all to your rooms," Fiona tells us.
We go upstairs to the second floor and Mo is in the first room, Marisol is next to him, Katie, Imogen, Jake and Sav are also on this floor. On the third floor is Alli, Jenna, Dave, K.C., Drew and Bianca the last two have rooms next to each other which Drew is very happy about. On the fourth floor is Eli, Adam, Fitz and Owen and me, my room is at the very end of the hall and I have a balcony which was very nice of Fiona. The birthday girl and her best friends Anya and Holly J have rooms on the fourth floor. Once we're all shown our rooms we go into our own rooms, we each have a key and our rooms lock so no unwanted guests. I unpack and freshen up a little then I go downstairs, Fitz and Owen are down here already and they smile at me. Fiona's down here as well waiting at the bottom of the stairs and directing anyone who comes down early to go into the parlor.
"Seems like Fiona invited just about everyone," Owen comments when I walk over to get some lemonade and the boys are standing by the table. Fitz jabs Owen in the side for his comment and gives me a smile. "I wasn't directing it at Clare I'm surprised to be here to," Owen clarifies.
"I'm surprised most of us here honestly, myself included. I'd say she wanted presents but she told us not to bring any," I comment pouring myself some lemonade.
"You know Eli was sitting with Imogen on the ferry," Fitz remarks.
"I wasn't paying attention to Eli he can sit with who he wants," I shrug.
"This will be an interesting weekend," Adam says coming over to me and I nod as Fiona comes in with everyone else.
"Everyone please come into the dining room for dinner," Fiona calls to us once we're all in the parlor.
She walks through the parlor opening a door and we follow her into an impressive dining room. Dark wood paneling and a huge dining room table that stretches the length of the long rectangular room, I count the seats and the table seats twenty and there are exactly twenty of us. We sit down and get served dinner, it's sort of like a production several women in old time maid outfits come in and serve three of us at a time. When the maids leave a couple of butlers come in serving us drinks, water or lemonade are our choices tonight.
"Welcome to my party everyone a murder mystery weekend with the theme of Hollywood in the thirties, there's a few rules to this weekend. You'll get your character roles after dinner and everyone should do their best to stay in character all weekend. I know everyone brought clothes but you all have costumes for the weekend picked out by me and I expect those to be worn all though you can sleep in whatever you want. Rule number two you can go anywhere you like in the mansion or on the grounds, you can go into any unlocked doors and that includes other peoples rooms so if don't want people nosing around then lock your door. Rule three there's no parents and no curfew and I invited a nice mix people so I expect you to mix but all participants have to be willing. The ferry won't be back until Monday morning so there is no way off this island, cell phones won't work and there is only one phone in the house and only I know where that is. There are six staff members on the island you saw all of them at dinner, their quarters are separate and they will only be around at dinner time."
I look around the table at the people here, a weekend of few rules and lots of opportunity for fun. A weekend to be free and after all I won't be myself I'll be playing a character. I've always found Owen enticing, bull headed, homophobic and an alpha male but physically enticing. I have to admit I'm a little curious if Drew has any appeal beyond eye candy the way he cycles through girls. When I was younger I always wanted to kiss Sav, probably because of the amount of time I spent at the Bhandari house. And then there's Fitz, if Vegas Night had gone differently I would have at least kissed him goodnight. So many opportunities and a whole weekend to take them, I wonder who my character is.
"Now if everyone will return to their rooms you will find your character cards and your wardrobes for the weekend. Everyone meet back in the parlor in half an hour for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and desserts at which time we'll meet everyone's character," Fiona informs us after dinner so we all return to our rooms.
"Whoa, I think I might really enjoy this," I comment looking at my wardrobe on the rack. "Although a few of these dresses are pretty low cut," I remark looking through them. Fiona really went all out; she even worked out when we should wear each outfit it's written on pieces of paper on each hanger. "Oh well I'm not myself this weekend I'm…" I go to the bed and look at my character card, "a starlet."
The back of the card has a whole history for my character along with personality traits. I came to Hollywood when I was fifteen to make it in the movies; I'm out going, vivacious and got my first supporting role in a movie with Clark Gable. I'm twenty now and a big star, I'm not married but I'm seen with lots of men on my arms particularly whoever is co-staring in my latest films and I'm a bit of a daredevil. I go back to my wardrobe rack and look at the selections one says Friday evening dessert to bed so I assume that's what I should wear tonight. A backless silk halter dress I can't possibly wear a bra with, at least the dress goes down to my feet and I have a shrug of white ostrich feathers to wear with it as well as those open-toed slippers with the little heel and the feathers on them. I remember seeing Jean Harlow wear them in Dinner at Eight although thinking about it my character is a lot like her so it fits. I even find a platinum blonde wig that's very Jean Harlow style.
I get dressed, put on the wig and find makeup on the vanity with pictures of Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo and Mae West. I put on fake eye lashes and eyeliner, dark scarlet lipstick and now I'm ready so I leave my room, Fitz has the room across from mine and he exits at the same time I do. He looks me over and gives me a wolf whistle which makes me blush. Fitz is dressed in a thirties style suit and has a cigar in his mouth; he's not actually smoking the cigar it's just part of the character. He also has glasses although they have no lenses it's just part of the character, and he has wingtip shoes.
"According to my card I'm a big time director," Fitz tells me.
"Well then you can escort me to dinner I'm a starlet," I grin. Fitz holds his arm out to me and I link my arm with his.
We start walking down the hall when Eli comes out of his room. He wears a sweater over a dress shirt and tie and slacks with high cuffs; he has on brown socks to match his tie and loafers. His eyes nearly pop out when he sees me and I grin, then Eli scowls because I'm on Fitz's arm. He doesn't say anything though just follows us down to dinner. Except for Fiona and Holly J everyone else is down here already and dressed in their characters. Fitz and I just begin to walk to the dessert table when Holly J comes in and plays a fanfare sound on a speaker.
"Announcing her Royal Highness Princess Fiona," Holly J says.
"Fiona made herself a princess, why am I not surprised," Alli mutters but not quite under her breath.
Fiona comes in wearing an elaborate ball gown, "Well obviously I am Princess Fiona. This is Holly my Lady in Waiting. Now everyone please introduce your characters."
"Dr. Milligan renowned scientist," Owen says and we all laugh all though that does explain the white lab coat he wears over a dress shirt, suspenders and slacks, he also wears glasses.
"Elijah, star quarterback of my varsity team," Eli tells us.
"Imogen, captain of the cheerleading squad," Imogen comments going over next to Eli. Imogen wears a cheerleading sweater with long sleeves and the same school logo as Eli's letterman's sweater. She has loafers and white socks and knee length skirt, it looks like an authentic 1930's cheerleader uniform.
"Miss DeSousa, elementary school teacher," Bianca announces. She has a pleated tweed skirt that matches her tweed jacket and a blue and white polka dotted blouse underneath that with a bow that hangs over the jacket collar. She wears stockings with low brown heels.
"Single-Minded MacPherson, ace reporter and this hear is my photographer Daring Dave," Anya tells us she's in a skirt suit, has a hat pinned on and holds a notepad.
"They call me Daring because I'll do anything to get the shot," Dave says, he wears slacks and a dress shirt with suspenders and he carries a very old camera.
"I am the Incredible K.C. master magician," he tells us which explains the tuxedo, top hat and cape.
"Jake and Mo we're major league baseball players," Jake tells us although we could have guessed that as he and Mo are both dressed in baseball uniforms.
"Jenna and I repressed housewives," Alli tells us with disinterest.
"I'm a bank teller," Katie says and she clearly does not like her character who has a wig with greying hair and is dressed older than most everyone else's character.
"And I'm a librarian," Marisol huffs. She's wearing glasses with thick rims and a very conservative dress with her hair up.
"Well I'm a priest obviously," Drew says and he is indeed dressed like a priest although one from the 1930's as he dons a black dress hat along with traditional priest uniform.
"They call me Treacherous Torres see, meanest mob boss west of Chicago and this here is my muscle Bad Bhandari," Adam tells us and Sav is standing just behind him. Adam wears a sharp suit and a white fedora with a black band; he has on a few rings. Sav is dressed similarly but in a less expensive suit and a bowler hat instead of a fedora.
"Fitzy's the name and movies are my game. I'm a big deal Hollywood director and this here is my favorite star of the silver screen," Fitz grins.
"Blonde bombshell Clare, pleasure to meet you," I smile.
"Excellent now everyone knows their characters, enjoy dessert and then feel free to wander the house. There are seven levels including one underground, it was built in the 1800's and has many corridors and doorways, remember any room is available to you so long as it's not locked," Fiona reminds us.
We all look at the dessert table, there is a large spread and while we eat we mingle in character. Everyone has a history and personality traits to share. I find out Katie's character was a farm girl who tried to make it in Hollywood and failed so she became a bank teller. Eli and Imogen's characters are the youngest ones and are high school sweethearts. Everyone has something like that; some background to share that makes their character more real and more interesting. As soon as people are done eating dessert they begin to explore. We all begin exploring the rooms on the first floor we haven't seen yet. We move together in a group or so I thought, most of us move into the kitchen and we're poking around, not really sure what anyone expects to find and then Alli opens the door to the pantry and a body falls out and Alli screams.
It's a real person playing dead but it looks quite real, at least I think they're playing dead. It's one of the maids we saw earlier, apparently in on the game. She has a knife in her back and a blood spot around it. We all gather around the body and then the two police men come in, not real police men though they're also part of the game as they are dressed in uniforms from the 30's like the rest of us.
"Alright, alright make way let us through. Everyone back away official police business," they tells us.
"That's victim number one," Fiona says as she ushers us all out of the kitchen.
"The maid is the first victim? But none of us could have killed the maid we were all together," Jenna comments.
"No we weren't we don't know when the maid died. She could have been killed right after dinner when everyone was up getting their characters. We only assume that we're all finding about our characters for the first time but the murderer probably would have been told already," I point out.
"Clare is right and I suggest everyone keep exploring," Fiona says.
While most people stay on the first floor to explore a few go up to the second floor to poke around while I decide to begin at the top and work down. I climb the stairs to the sixth floor and open the first door that I see. It leads to a large game room; there are two pool tables with red tops. A round table with big leather chairs around it and a wet bar in one corner although I'm assuming none of it is really alcohol. There's a large stone fireplace against one wall and large leather furniture around it.
"You know it isn't safe to be wandering alone," a voice says from behind me and I gasp turning around quickly.
"Declan," I smile hugging him when I see who it is. "Fiona didn't tell us you were coming."
"That's because I'm a surprise, Detective Declan Coyne. I don't show up until after the first body," he replies.
"But Detective there's already been a body," I comment trying to stay in character.
"So I'll be a little late, you look quite stunning, you must be the movie star," Declan grins
"Yes," I smile and do something I've wanted to do since grade nine. I lean over and clasp my lips to Declan's. Unlike in grade nine when I kissed his neck he doesn't look at me like I'm insane. No this time his hands come to my back and he presses me to him parting his lips a little and deepening the kiss.
"Am I interrupting?" Owen asks and we break apart.
"Just acquainting myself with Detective Declan," I reply.
"Hey Declan didn't know you were coming," Owen says with a smile and then quickly corrects himself. "That is I assume you're here to find the killer?"
"Indeed and I should probably get downstairs to see the body," Declan grins tipping his hat to me and walking out of the game room.
"Getting into character I see," Owen says with a grin.
"Well it does say I'm a movie star and I constantly have a different man on my arm every night," I reply.
"Well then why don't you stay on my arm while we explore the rest of this floor," Owen offers holding his arm out to me.
I take his arm and we look around the large game room more thoroughly, not that we find anything. We leave the game room and walk down the hall to a sun room, of course its nighttime now so there's no sun but we can see the stars.
"It's gorgeous in here," I exhale.
"I'm still distracted by the slinky dress and the fact that you're not wearing a bra," Owen says.
"That didn't sound like something a scientist would say," I laugh.
"Hey even scientists get horny," Owen says in his defense and I shake my head. "Look there's a staircase," Owen points out. We walk over to the door and Owen opens it and we ascend the staircase to a large sundeck I saw from the ferry.
"I'd love to see this tomorrow so we can enjoy the view," I say looking at the stars and the darkness that surrounds us. Then I shiver in the cold because this slinky backless dress does not protect me from the cold very well, and this ostrich feather shrug doesn't keep me warm at all. Owen takes off his lab coat and puts it around my shoulders. "Thank you kind Sir," I grin.
"It's cold out here let's get you inside," Owen comments.
"You still don't sound much like a scientist," I remark as we begin descending the staircase.
"Yeah well I don't know how to sound like a fucking scientist," Owen grumbles and I laugh but then I trip on my dress going down the stairs, I start to fall but Owen catches me.
"Thank you Owen," I smile kissing his cheek and he grins carrying me to the bottom of the stairs before setting me down.
"Looks like all the action is up here," Eli comments with a biting tone coming out of the sun room.
"Just escorting the lady," Owen replies.
"We've seen everything on this floor I think we should go down to the fifth floor," I remark.
Eli follows Owen and I and we walk down to the next floor together. Four of the doors are locked and at the end of the hallway we go through a door to a grand ballroom. The ballroom is ornately decorated and there's a porch at one end. A piano is in one corner and a set up for an orchestra.
"Hey something's on the piano," Eli points out and we look over at it. Something is definitely odd about the piano but we can't tell what from here so we start walking toward it.
"It's another body," Owen says.
"It's Imogen," Eli comments and we rush over.
Imogen is definitely playing dead as I can see her breathing, she's been strangled with a rope, or so it appears as the rope is around her neck and there's makeup on her neck to make it look like bruising.
"Another body, how terrible," I gasp playing into my character, "I feel faint." I pretend to fall like I'm actually going to faint as I play my character and Owen catches me. They also catch on to the fact that they should be playing in their characters.
"Don't worry my dear it's a shocking sight and not something a lady should be seeing," Owen says as he picks me up.
"Someone killed my girlfriend," Eli gasps and takes Imogen's hand.
"Sit here, I'll go get help," Owen tells me setting me on the piano bench.
He runs out to alert everyone else and he's gone a couple of minutes. Eli is pretending to sob over Imogen's body and it's making her laugh. Then he kisses her and I roll my eyes just as everyone comes running into the ballroom.
"My word what have we here?" Declan says in his detective voice and it makes me giggle. "It appears the young lady was strangled with a rope."
"That's plainly clear detective the question is who was it that killed her?" Fitz comments.
"Yes that is the question," Declan agrees putting an old wooden pipe in his mouth like Sherlock Holmes and I stifle another laugh. Imogen's having a hard time remaining dead and is trying very hard not to laugh. "I think you'd all better go to your rooms I'll have to question you all in the morning," Declan tells us shooing us all from the room before Imogen begins laughing.
"Come starlet I'll walk you to your room," Owen says holding his hand out to me. I take his hand and we walk out of the room with the others.
Although not everyone returns to their own room, Jenna asks Dave back to her room and Alli asks Jake too walk her to her room while Marisol tells Sav to come to her room later. Eli stands by his door but doesn't go in, he stands in the doorway.
"Hey Kid quit gawking at the lady and get to bed," Adam scolds Eli while staying in character. Owen walks me down the hall to my room and I unlock my door.
"Goodnight Starlet," Owen smiles as I step into my room and I kiss his cheek handing him back the lab coat.
I close my door and lock it as I kick off my slippers and then try to unzip my dress but the zipper is stuck. I unlock my door and poke my head out.
"Owen wait," I call to him and he turns around. "My zipper is stuck can you help me?"
He grins and comes back in the room and setting the coat down; I close the door and turn around so he can unzip my dress. He tugs on it a couple of times but can't get it open.
"It's no good the zipper is jammed, take the wig off we'll have to take it over your head," he tells me.
I take off the blonde wig and set it on the vanity. Owen grips the dress at my hips and rolls it into his hands a bit before taking the whole dress over my head.
"Thanks," I grin turning around to take the dress back but holding one arm over my breasts, not that it does much good.
"Holy crap," Owen exclaims, "can I just say you have an incredibly body."
I blush and bight my lip in response because I don't know what to say. I take the dress from him and he scratches the back of his head uncomfortably.
"I should uh go," Owen says and begins walking for the door but I catch his arm. It was instinct really but hey this weekend is all about no rules and lots of fun right?
"No Doctor I think you should stay here," I tell him and grip his shirt ensnaring his lips with mine.
Owen grins into the kiss, then he picks me up and takes me to the bed. We continue to kiss and Owen hooks his finger in my panties pulling them down my legs. I pull my legs up and gets them off flinging them across the room. I giggle and then gasp as his hand caress between my thighs hitching a breath and breaking from the kiss. My heart is pounding, it's not like I've never done anything Eli fingered me and I gave him a hand job a few times. But that was it and Eli's the only one I've ever been with.
Owen looks at me, his hand has stopped he's waiting for permission to continue. If I think about it I won't want to go through it so I just bite my lip and open my legs a little. Owen grins, his eyes watching me and his hand continues, a finger strums over my pussy lips and then two fingers scissor them open. I moan, biting a little harder into my lip and my eyes go half lidded as Owen twists a couple of fingers deep into me. My stomach muscles tense, my back arches and I grip his shirt tightly. His fingers twist and curl, they start to move faster and faster, I draw my knees up allowing him in farther as I open my legs. My body shakes and trembles, my core heating to a point that I think I might explode. Which in fact I do, in a fiery orgasm and not fire, I pull Owen down to kiss me and muffle my scream as I orgasm.
"That was a fabulous night cap," Owen grins removing his fingers as my orgasm begins to dwindle. Owen licks his fingers clean of my juices and grins, "Tastes like sugar."
I smile and kiss him again, "I'm very tired now."
"Then you should sleep, I'll see you in the morning," Owen says kissing my temple lightly, "and try not to tell everyone how good you taste."
I twist my mouth at him and throw a pillow at him as he leaves my room. It occurs to me that I haven't brushed my teeth or anything but I'm much too tired. Then I remember the rule about locked doors but I don't want to get up to lock the door I'm already half asleep.
"OWEN," I call as loud as I can.
"What's wrong?" He asks bursting into the room again.
"Either sleep in here or lock the door," I reply.
"You're really getting into that spoiled starlet act," he laughs.
"I'm exhausted, I don't want to move, I'm not even sure I can."
"I'm teasing but if sleeping in here is really an option then I'm sleeping in here."
I reply by moving over and Owen locks the door, I hear him undressing then he lies in the bed and I fall asleep within moments. We all wake up at the same time because a fog horn blows and we jump out of bed.
"I guess I should go to my room and find out what I'm wearing today," Owen says as he grabs his clothes. He's wearing only boxers and I smile looking at his body, I wish I'd had more energy last night to play around some more. He puts on the lab coat and leaves my room.
I get up and look at my wardrobe, I find a hanger that says Saturday daytime. On the hanger is a dark half sleeve blouse, it's sort of loose and soft to the touch. Paired with light shorts which have dark stripes up the sides, the shorts have a very high waist but that was the style back then. Four buttons run down on either side about two inches in from the hips. They only go to my mid-thigh and my shoes for the day look like all white saddle shoes. I put on my wig and lighter makeup as it's daytime. Now that I'm ready I go downstairs for breakfast.
"Where is the staff they are supposed to be serving breakfast," Fiona says sounding very much like a princess.
"I'll go check on them," Holly J replies making a little courtesy and walking back to the kitchen.
Everyone is down here including Declan; guess I was the last one to get ready although my shorts were somewhat problematic to get on. Well Imogen isn't down here but she's "dead" so I don't really know where she is. I look around at everyone in their costumes, Owen doesn't have his lab coat on this time but we all know he's a scientist now. Drew is still wearing the priest outfit but that might be all there is to his costume.
"I can't find any of the staff," Holly J says but not in character.
"If the staff is oversleeping I'll have them all fired," Fiona comments and I really can't tell if she's in character or not.
"Maybe they're so used to the foghorn they slept through it," Declan suggests. While this does seem plausible the tension in the room just increased and people begin to break character as an uneasy feeling startss to wash over us.
"I suggest that we all walk to the servant's quarters together," K.C. says.
We all agree and go out the back door to the back garden. I'm extremely glad I'm not trying to do this in heels and a long dress. Even the servant's quarters looks like a large house although not as stately as the mansion. We knock but there's no answer, Fitz tries the door and it's unlocked.
"Hello?" Mo calls into the house with no answer.
"I don't have a good feeling about this," Dave says. I shake my head and grab Drew's hand as we walk in.
The house is dark, the energy in the house is disconcerting and the smell in the house makes my stomach churn. No one is downstairs so we all follow Mo and Fitz upstairs. Fitz knocks on a door, Mo knocks on a door, Drew knocks on one, Dave knocks on one, Jake and Declan knock on doors. Every door is being knocked on and no one is answering. All the guys look at each other and all at once try every door handle. Every door is unlocked, every door swings open and behind every door a motionless body. I look in the room Drew and I are standing at and see the body is not only motionless but dead, a pool of blood on the floor and the mattress as the man's throat has been slashed. I look across the hall and into the room of the door Fitz opened and that woman has her throat slit. I gasp and turn my head into Drew's chest, Alli screams, I think one of the girls faints as we all come to the same realization; our murder mystery weekend just became real!
How's that for a cliffhanger, at least I prepared for this to be a two-shot and part two will be on October 30th. It's actually very likely that this will end up being a 3 or 4 shot. The next chapter will pick up from right here, there will be more chills and more smut.