Ten - An Interwoven Mystery

"I told Ransom about our dad's affair." Blanc hummed curiously in response to Flora's comment on their way home. "He wasn't surprised."

"Not at all?'

"No. Which makes me wonder how long he's known and that he didn't say anything. I mean, what would that achieve? Our family living together as we always have as though the affair wasn't happening? You saw what happened before the will reading - Ransom's not exactly a peacemaker within the family."

"Your brother may have already known, but perhaps he thought it best to protect you from the knowledge of your father's infidelity, like Harlan and Marta."

"Maybe." But this had her wondering if Ransom really cared all that much. "So now what?" They had arrived back at the house.

"Go rest, Ms. Drysdale. We'll re-examine this in the morning - hopefully all with clearer heads."

She was about to leave, but paused. "My family was really upset, as you saw. And we're investigating a potential murder - I don't want to jump to conclusions, but, but-" She didn't know how to word it. "-You don't think anyone will go after Marta and hurt her, do you? I mean, this whole will reveal seems to have blown everything up even further than it already was."

Blanc nodded in understanding, seeming to understand her worries perfectly, unlike anyone else could, and for that she was very appreciative. "We will make sure Miss Cabrera is just fine, I promise you that."

"Thank you."

"Of course. Now you go rest."

"Alan, God bless you, you're useless," Richard told the lawyer who shrugged and got to his feet.

"Thank you."

However, 'rest' was not on anyone else's minds, except for perhaps Alan and his assistant, who looked absolutely exhausted.

"Flora, where have you been?" demanded Linda as though she was a teenager out past curfew and not a grown woman as she and Blanc entered the library where everyone was gathered, still disputing the will. "This is important family business and you just run off."

Ransom just ran off, is what she wanted to say, but held her tongue. "I needed some space."

"It's our money!" her father was practically yelling.

"Well, now it's Ms. Cabrera's money," said Alan.

"You needed some space, but with the detective," said Meg softly to Flora. "What were you two up to?"

"Just clearing our heads," was all Flora said.

The family was back to raised voices all talking over one another. Flora hung back.

"Excuse me, Florence Drysdale?"

"Yes?" She turned to see Alan the lawyer standing behind her.

"Uh, there was another part of the will addressed only to you - I just found it, but it's probably good I didn't read it aloud."

"Oh, why? Is it something bad?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, it's just addressed only to you."

"Oh. I see." Way to scare me. "What does it say?"

"Come with me." He led her out of the library where the family was still arguing with one another over what should be done.

"But wait, I thought he left everything-" Literally everything "-to Marta," Flora said once they were out in the hall.

"Oh, he did, but this part was addressed to you."

"Okay..."

"He wanted you to have his notebook."

"His notebook?"

"Yes, his 'Plot Spot' notebook specifically." He unfolded and handed her the piece of the will documenting this.

"Oh, that one." Harlan's latest notebook for filling with notes for his next books. He had filled many similar journals already. "Why did he leave it to me?"

"Not sure, but clearly he wanted you to have it."

"All right. Well, thank you." She re-folded the page and stuffed it in her sweater pocket.

"You're welcome."

"And allow me to apologize on behalf of my family - none of this was your fault, you just had to relay the information to us."

"Thank you for that. Good night."

"Good night, Mr. Stevens."

When she came back into the library, she found everyone coming up with various scenarios on how to prevent Marta from gaining the money, each one more ridiculous than the last.

"What if she knew about the inheritance moving to her and she killed him to ensure she got it," said Joni.

"Hey, Marta would never do something like that," Flora rushed to the defense of her friend. "And Grandad committed suicide," she reminded them.

Suddenly, all eyes turned to Blanc, who had seated himself before the fire.

"Detective Blanc," Joni approached him first. "You said the investigation is ongoing, you made a point of that."

"Uh, 'Mr. Blanc', if you please," he requested and corrected.

Joni rolled her eyes. "Mr. Blanc. Do you suspect foul play?"

"There is much that remains unclear, but yes, yes I do suspect foul play."

"Marta?" Richard jumped in.

"I have eliminated no suspects," Blanc continued. "And," he was quick to add, "that includes all of you."

"You're full of shit," was Richard's response.

"Dad," cried Flora, now jumping to Blanc's defense, which didn't go unnoticed by anyone, including the man himself. "He's trying to help."

"Well I don't trust this guy in the tweed suit. There's only one answer to this," Richard decided then and there. "She has to renounce the inheritance."

"She knows it's the right thing to do."

"That's exactly right!"

"Exactly what she should do!"

"It's the moral thing..."

Everyone was in full agreement. Except for Meg.

"This is crazy," she sighed to Flora. "Mom," she called Joni over. "If Granddad wanted to give Marta everything then that's what he wanted."

"You're right," Flora agreed. Sure maybe they weren't all happy with it, but if that's what Harlan had really wanted, then who were they to dispute it?

Her mother's words from earlier at the will reading rang in her head. "We're the Thrombey's, God damn it!"

"No!" Joni protested right away. "This wasn't him, he loved us. He wanted us taken care of. He wanted you to have an education. Meg, you think I can pay for your school?"

"I'm going to call her," Meg decided.

"Marta?"

"Yeah."

"And say what?" Flora asked.

"I don't know, ask her to give back the money."

"But it was never ours to begin with, never ours for us to ask back. It was Granddad's and now it's hers-"

"And now we're broke, Flora, don't you see?" Meg cried. "We have nothing."

I wouldn't say nothing, but... But it didn't matter what she thought. Her cousin was already dialing Marta's number.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. God damn it!" Were the first words Flora uttered when she came down the stairs the next morning, entering the empty library - supposedly empty.

She didn't notice the figure hunched over in a chair until after letting loose her string of curses. "Oh, sorry Nana, I didn't realize you were in here."

Greatnana sat before the window. She didn't say anything, even when Flora sat beside her.

A knock on the door turned their heads - well, Flora's head that is, Nana kept staring out the window - to the doorway where Blanc stood.

"Oh, good morning, Detective."

"Good morning Miss Drysdale, Mrs. Thrombey. I do hope I'm not interrupting something."

"No, no, not at all."

"I was hoping to have a word with Mrs. Thrombey," he said, nodding to Greatnana.

"Oh, yeah, of course." Flora nodded and got to her feet.

While she left them to have their talk, she tried calling Marta. No one had seen or heard from her since she had disappeared the day before.

"I'm really sorry, Flora, but I can't talk right now." The poor girl sounded frantic.

"Marta-"

But the line went dead.

Strange. Marta always seemed so quiet and calm that it was strange - and worrisome - that she sounded so upset. But the completely upside-down turn her life had taken in the last twenty-four hours was enough to cause anyone to go into a panic.

She tried Ransom - again - but he had gone back to ignoring her. It sure didn't help if no one could communicate.

Not long after, she heard hurried footsteps and Blanc flew out of the library.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Elliot called - there's been a fire."

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)