FF PRIDE and PREJUDICEAU NOT Cannon

Check-Mate

I do not own the copy rights to the book, or bbc special, Pride and Prejudice

Searching the House for Abigail

Ch. 10

No loud noises could be heard in the empty mansion - not even the whistle of the wind, except in a private family room off the main hall and away from the kitchen. Raven and Quinton sat on a couch shaking their heads at Jasmine who was protesting the arrival of two men in suits - and it wasn't Bryant's fellow countrymen. The racket was solely to be blamed on the lady who was refusing to go anywhere quietly. That is - until Raven's eyes turned hard and he held up a piece of paper. "You're going with them. Maynar gave me power to make sure you went. So, fighting us will do you no good."

"Bryant will protest; I'll get out." Jasmine jutted out her chin in defiance. "You'll see."

"At one point...I'm sure he would have." Quinton leaned back with his mouth drawn tight, "But, now? You're just an expendable chess piece to him. You were only a means to keep track of his sister."

"I really do hate seeing her locked up." Raven spoke softly once Jasmine left with a lot less air in her lungs then before.

"Me too." Quinton shook his head. "Only let's get real and bluntly honest. Running up and down the halls in the middle of the night, screaming about thick mists and long bony fingers? Really? Mrs. Hughes…" He nodded towards the housekeeper. "Surely would have spotted something by now if that was the case."

"Have you seen anything? At all?" Raven asked the lady who shook her head and seemed unconcerned saying nothing about the house itself was strange.

"Anything strange that make me nervous all involve the fog." Her mouth set hard. "People should be careful with it." She then chuckled. "All the rest are hogwash, stories told when people are too bored." Mrs. Hughes quit as she heard the truck with Jasmine in drive off. "Sadly, many take them far too serious." It was only when she left was Mr. Hughes addressed.

"You seem quieter than your wife. Didn't say a word while Jasmine was ranting, and you certainly made no reply just now when your wife was speaking." Quinton tapped his fingers on his leg. "Do you believe what Jasmine has been ranting about?"

"When it comes to stories of any passage? More than I've let my wife believe." Mr. Hughes shrugged his shoulders. "I grew up on this area. Played plenty of times on is grounds. Even met the two original owners of this place. One a seafaring man and the other a land-lover for sure. This house is old and that…" He jutted his finger towards the other half of the home. "It's even older. Passages were found in the other. Strange things were known to happen, but I believe any hidden passageways have all been sealed off. As to this part?" He waved his hand. "As I told that Maynar fellow that called. "Word is there are others on this side; we simply never searched for them. I 'm sure there is truth to the rumblings. I believe the brothers who owned this place did it so they could prank each other; they were odd like that. So, people have told me anyway. However, no one my age – or younger- has ever had a reason, or even cared, to find any secret passages that may exist. And besides,…" His voice grew serious. "...from what I've heard, if you go through one you can't come back. Oh, I suppose that part is just a tale to be told to freak people out. Still, I can't help but wonder if there is an element of truth to it. There has been more than one person who – over time- have left without a trace. Last I saw your friend was in the library, but she'd been in there before, so I had no reason to stick around."

"May we look around?" Both men asked a once.

"Be my guest, but you are on your own." Mr. Hughes stood up and shook his hand. "I'm heading to bed. However. I will take you to the room Jasmine was using."

Doors, halls and rooms were searched with nothing unusual. Beds, dressers and shelves were clean, and untouched. A couple of bathrooms had been updated but that was the only thing that had stood out until they'd gone into a room and saw a door slightly ajar.

"You first," Quinton waved to Raven.

"Chicken." His friend simply grinned, and followed his friend down couple of flights of stairs. Barren walls and room on both sides until they opened the last door. "Well, that explains bony fingers." Raven shook his head.

"Oh, goodie, we're in a mausoleum." Quinton spoke dryly and suggested they see if the far door opened up, or if they needed to retrace their steps.

"So…" Raven spoke once they were outside. "Why not tell people where she'd been? Why make it sound as if those corpses were trying to grab her? Though I admit, I didn't think the underground tunnel would take us so far from the house.

"I suggest we go back the way we came, too foggy to see much." Quinton's suggestion was taken up and they ended back in Jasmine's room. Afterwards, they then opted to go the library.

"So, too many hours looking for Abigail, and landing herself in middle of a bunch of corps, put Jasmine over the edge. Still no sign of Maynar's sister. This…" Raven spoke while looking around the library, "...is the last place Abigail was seen."

"Okay, so I can drop the charges. They were full of holes, and I was being arrogant. I trusted people I shouldn't have. I never was told - other than money issues- what any solid charges were and, she has now been proven totally innocent as to the cash. Find her, please. I'm also sure she has found Joy. Bring them both back, please. I...we need them. " Bryant spoke with a fake sincerity they all heard. They would have told Maynar's brother to go blow when he'd cornered them – only they didn't have time to argue. So, they simply said a thorough search would be made.

"Don't tell Bryant only, if Joy is found, I'm not dragging her back her." Quinton spoke as they began to search the room.

Raven said nothing even if he did agree; he was too busying concentrating on searching the library.