Title: Rosmole
Author: Kata (katayla@juno.com)
Disclaimer: For all you legal people out there who haven't realized it: Roswell's not mine and The Mole's not mine. If they were, then Roswell wouldn't be canceled and there would definitely be a Mole III.
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Enjoy! J
******
Ten friends playing for up to one million dollars. Among them a saboteur, a traitor, the mole. The winner? The one who answers the question, who is the mole?
"Michael! Michael!" Maria peered into the darkened room, but there was no response from the figure curled up on the bed. She stepped into the room, over to the bed, and began shaking Michael.
"What?" Michael groaned. "Maria? Why are you here?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Maria plopped down on the bed.
"And you had to do it at," Michael peered at the clock, "4:30 in the morning."
"Yep," Maria answered cheerfully.
"How'd you get in here, anyhow?"
"Convinced the security guard that I got locked out of my room."
"Or else you're the mole."
"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"About being the mole? I don't think you're supposed to tell me that."
Maria snatched a pillow out from under Michael and hit him with it.
"Ow! That's my pillow!" Michael protested.
"Well, now it's mine." Maria placed the pillow against the wall and leaned against it. "There, that's better!"
Michael closed his eyes. "Are you going to tell me why you're here or should I just go back to sleep?"
"Of course, I'm going to tell you why I'm here." Maria reached over to Michael and tried to pry his eyes open.
"Ouch! Maria!" Michael complained as he opened his eyes. "Talk, then! You've never had a problem talking before."
"Okay." Maria sighed. "It's just . . . we're in the final three, Michael. I didn't even dare dream that I would be in the final three, let alone that we would be together. You're the one person I would have chosen to be with for the entire game."
"But?" Michael prompted.
Maria sighed again. "Only one person can win the money, Michael. What if one of us wins? Or worse, what if one of us is the mole and has been lying throughout the whole game? What will it do to *us*? We just got back together, Michael. I don't want to lose you."
Michael reached over to hold Maria's hand. "Maria. We have been through so much together. If we managed to make it through every disaster imaginable, one game isn't going to tear us apart."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Come here." Michael pulled Maria down to him. She curled up at his side and they stayed like that until morning.
******
Michael, Maria, and Isabel were already assembled in the hotel lobby when Anderson walked in.
"Good, you're all here!" Anderson smiled. "Are you ready for the last six days?"
"Six!" Maria exclaimed. "Don't you mean three? Every three days, there's an execution. That's the rule."
"Nope." Anderson shook his head. "You only *thought* that was the rule. The rule is there are three days for each person, except the mole. Obviously, we can't have just two contestants. They would know who the mole is. So you guys get six extra days."
Maria frowned. "I'm not even sure that made sense. I think you just wanted to torture us for three extra days."
"No, that's just a bonus."
"I'm the one who's being tortured." Isabel grumbled. "Stuck here with these two." She jerked her thumb at Michael and Maria, who had wedged themselves into the same armchair.
"I feel your pain," Anderson said sincerely. "Anyhow, we decided to let you stay in this hotel for one more day."
"What about challenges?" Isabel asked.
"Oh, you still have one of this," Anderson assured her. He pulled two blindfolds out of his pocket.
Michael groaned. "More blindfolds! Haven't we used them enough?"
Anderson didn't answer, but instead threw the blindfolds at Michael and Maria. "These are for you guys. Isabel, you get the wheelchair, since you're already injured." He gestured at the wheelchair that had stood unnoticed by the wall.
"Two blind people and one person in a wheelchair? Anderson, I must ask: are you crazy?" Maria asked.
"I don't come up with the challenges!" Anderson defended himself.
"Forget about that," Isabel said. "What do we have to do?"
"And how much to we win?" Michael wanted to know.
"It's simple. All you have to is make it through a labyrinth within half an hour."
"Simple!" Maria protested. "Maybe if we could get rid of these blindfolds."
Anderson grinned at her. "You have to depend on each other. That is, if you want to win the $40,000."
Maria sighed. "You know I'll do it. Lead us to the maze!"
Anderson led the group outside the hotel. In the back of the hotel was a beautiful garden, containing a set a tall hedges: the labyrinth.
"Wow," Isabel said. "I never thought I'd actually get to see one of these."
"We don't!" Maria snorted. "Michael and I have to wear blindfolds."
"Speaking of blindfolds, you better get those on." Anderson helped Maria and Michael tie on their blindfolds. "And into the wheelchair, Isabel!"
"Sure," Isabel said, as she took her place in the wheelchair. "I like this challenge. I don't have to bother with my crutches."
"I'll take those," Anderson said, grabbing Isabel's crutches.
"Yeah, but you're the one navigating us," Maria said to Isabel. "You still have work to do!"
"I know."
"Okay," Anderson said. "If you're all ready, then it's time to begin the challenge. You'll have 30 minutes to make it to the middle of the labyrinth. You'll know you're there when you see all the cameras and me."
"Wait a minute," Michael said. "How will you get to the center?"
"Oh, I know all the shortcuts. You guys have to do it the hard way. Your time starts now."
"How do you want to do this?" Isabel asked.
"Why don't Maria and I each grab a handle and push you?" Michael suggested. "That Maria and I won't run into anything."
"As long as you don't run *me* into anything!"
"That's kinda up to you." Maria pointed out. "We can't see."
"True."
"So, where are you?" Michael asked, reaching out his hands.
"Right in front of you," Isabel answered. "There! You okay, Maria?"
"Yeah," Maria said, as she grabbed the second wheelchair handle.
"We're right in front of the entrance of the maze," Isabel said, "so you just need to push me forward. That's enough!" She added quickly.
"Now where?" Michael asked.
"I don't know. Either left or right. What do you guys think? Both directions look good."
"Just pick a direction," Maria said. "It probably doesn't matter that much right now."
"Right, then." Isabel decided. "Please don't tip me."
Isabel directed them down the maze and around a corner. "Okay, we are actually in the maze now, instead of just the outer wall," she told them.
"This is really boring, you know," Maria said. "I don't get to see the maze."
"It's actually not that exciting," Isabel said. "Now that we're in the maze, all I can see is big, green hedges. Turn left," she added.
"More exciting than the darkness I see," Michael pointed out.
"True," Isabel agreed. "Oh, dead end. Turn around. Careful!" she exclaimed, as her wheelchair nearly tipped over. "I don't need to hurt myself again!"
"Sorry. Straight now?"
"Yeah, and then we'll try turning right."
"Aren't you supposed to turn all rights are all lefts in a maze?" Maria asked.
"Sounds familiar," Michael said, "but I don't remember the exact rule. Isabel?"
"Sorry. Besides, I never understood how that worked. It seems like you'd just run into dead ends. All right, here's where you turn right."
They continued on for a little longer. Maria sighed. "Any idea if we're close?" she asked Isabel.
"I think so," Isabel answered. "No, actually I don't know, but we should be, don't you think?"
Maria laughed. "You're so comforting."
"I try."
After a while, Isabel spoke up again. "Do you think I could keep this wheelchair? It would be nice to just be pushed around all day."
"As long as I'm not the one pushing, go ahead!" Michael said. "Pushing wheelchairs is never fun, but it's even worse blindfolded!"
"I am doing some work." Isabel defended herself. "After all, I'm the one who has to do the directing. Oh, wait! Stop! Back up. We missed a turn."
"And you're just doing a great job directing," Maria said dryly.
"Oh, shut up. Hey! I think I see Anderson! Turn left."
"Is he there?" Maria asked. "I don't see him."
"You don't see anything." Michael pointed out.
"Go faster!" Isabel urged, ignoring the couple's bickering.
Within seconds, they had arrived in the center of the labyrinth.
"Good job!" Anderson congratulated them. "You did that in only fifteen minutes!"
"Can I take this off?" Maria asked, gesturing towards the blindfold. "You're kind of cute, Anderson, and I'd like to see you."
"Hey!" Michael protested. "I thought I was the cute one!"
"Oh, I still like you best," Maria reassured him.
"Yes, you can take the blindfold off," Anderson answered.
"Wow!" Maria exclaimed, as she looked at her surroundings. "How are we going to find our way out of here?"
"We're just going to leave you here." Anderson told her.
"Anderson!" Maria moaned.
Anderson laughed. "We'll lead you out. Isabel, you can have your crutches back."
"But I liked the wheelchair!" Isabel protested.
"Sorry. We need to take it back. Is everyone ready to return to the hotel?" He looked towards Maria and Michael, who were whispering to each other.
"Actually, could we stay here?" Michael asked, gesturing to Maria and himself. "Maria and I didn't really get a chance to try out the labyrinth.
Anderson shrugged. "Be my guest. Don't get lost. What about you, Isabel? Want to give the maze another chance?"
Isabel shook her head. "Once was enough. Besides, I have to see the doctor. He said he might let me off my crutches today."
"Sounds good. You can come with me, then. Good luck, guys!" Anderson said to Michael and Maria. "Oh! Before I forget, your next challenge is the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll be switching hotels." He gave Michael and Maria little wave as he and Isabel left the center of the maze.
"More traveling. Sound thrilling." Maria rolled her eyes.
Michael shrugged. "We're used to it by now. Right now, the only traveling I'm interested in doing, is traveling out of the maze!"
"Sounds good to me. That's the way Anderson and Isabel went." Maria pointed to one of the openings in the hedge.
"We can't go the way they did. That would make it too easy."
Maria groaned. "Is this some kind of macho male thing? 'I have to do it *my* way or it doesn't count.'"
"'Macho male thing?'" Michael repeated. "Maria, for someone who's so picky about sexism, you're being awfully sexist."
"I'm allowed to. You're not," Maria said primly.
Michael shook his head, not willing to push the point. "Let's go." He headed towards the exit directly opposite from the one Anderson and Isabel had taken.
"Fine. We'll do it your way. Just don't blame me if we get hopelessly lost."
"I don't get lost."
"Oh, that's good to know," Maria said, sarcastically, following Michael around the corner. "I'm so comforted knowing I'm safe in your hands." They went around another corner. "Oh, look, Mr. 'I don't get lost', it's a dead end!"
"A minor setback," Michael countered. "We're not lost."
Maria shook her head, as she followed. "Want some help? Maybe I can find the right way."
"No. Girls are hopeless at directions."
Maria jaw dropped. "Michael!" she exclaimed, slapping at his shoulder. "Now who's being sexist! It was Isabel who got us in here."
"Good point," Michael said, rubbing his shoulder. "She must be the mole. No female could ever make it through the labyrinth alone."
Maria stuck her tongue out at him. "Jerk! I'm not talking to you."
"Good. I could use the quiet."
Maria glared at him.
As they came across another dead end, Maria spoke up. "You have no idea where we're going, do you?"
"I thought you weren't talking to me."
"Changed my mind." Maria paused. "Well, do you?"
"Know where I'm going?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe."
Maria smiled. "I do."
"Do not!"
"Well, not exactly, but I *do* know you just led us around in a circle."
Michael raised his eyebrows. "If you think you can do better, than feel free to lead on."
"This way." Maria led them around a couple of bends. "Hm."
"Hm what? Don't tell me-- now you're lost!"
"Only a little."
"Maria, you can't be 'only a little' lost."
Maria crossed her arms over her chest. "I know we're not going in a circle anymore."
"Want some help?" Michael asked, with a smirk on his face.
"No!"
"Come on, Maria. 'Work together.' Isn't that what the game was all about?"
"Okay." Maria repented. "We'll do it together. Which way do you think we should go?"
"This way."
Once they started working together, Michael and Maria quickly made it out of the maze and made their way back the hotel.. They headed into the lobby, where they were greeted by a crutchless Isabel.
"Isabel! What happened to the crutches?" Maria asked.
"The doctor said I didn't need them anymore, but I should still rest my foot as much as possible."
"Guess that rules out shopping, doesn't it?" Maria asked.
Michael groaned. "You girls don't need to do any more shopping?"
Isabel grinned at Maria. "He's probably right."
Maria shrugged. "That's okay. I'm exhausted anyhow. I don't know how you managed to get us into the maze, Iz, because we sure had trouble getting out!"
"Remember those old books filled with mazes?" Isabel asked. "My family used to go on long car trips and Max and I would spend all our time with those mazes. We even made our own."
"Good thing you were the one navigating! Michael and I would have lost the money for sure."
"Sure, but you guys won money in other things. It's a team game."
"Except for the whole mole thing," Michael pointed out.
"True."
"I guess we're just staying around the hotel, then," Maria said.
Isabel nodded and the group lapsed into a somewhat uneasy silence, as each friend suspected the others of being the mole.
*****
"Look!" Maria exclaimed. "I managed to fit all my stuff in my bags!" It was the next morning and the Roswellians had gathered in the hotel lobby.
"Barely." Michael laughed, pointing at one partially overstuffed suitcase.
Maria shrugged. "At least I didn't have to buy another bag."
Isabel smiled. "That would be bad. It would give you less money to spend on clothes."
Michael groaned. "She doesn't *need* more clothes! How many times do I have to say this?" She could probably wear a different outfit everyday for an entire year."
Maria looked thoughtful. "Not quite, but that's a good idea. Thanks, honey." She patted Michael on the cheek.
Michael just rolled his eyes.
"Everyone ready?" Anderson asked, as he walked up to the three friends.
"Yep, but I could use some help carrying my suitcases," Maria said.
Anderson grinned. "I don't think that's in my job description, but I guess I could give you a hand." He grabbed two of Maria's bags.
"Anderson, where are your bags?" Maria asked curiously, as they walked out of the lobby. "You change clothes. I know you have luggage."
Anderson laughed. "They're already loaded. Here's our car."
"Pretty," Isabel commented, stroking the vehicle's bright red side.
Michael rolled his eyes. "Only a girl would describe a car as 'pretty.' "
Maria slapped him, then turned to help Anderson put her bags in the car.
"What?" Michael complained.
"Sexism." Maria explained.
"Is everyone loaded?" asked Anderson, who had finally learned to ignore Michael and Maria's arguing. "Then let's go!"
"How far is this hotel?" Maria asked, as soon as they had got settled.
"About forty-five minutes," Anderson answered. "It's close to the Switzerland border."
"Really?" Isabel asked. "I always wanted to go to Switzerland."
"You'll have some free time today, if you want to check it out."
Isabel nodded. "That would be nice." She gazed out the window. "Germany's so pretty. I wish I could enjoy it just as a tourist."
"Have any of you done much traveling?" Anderson asked the group.
Maria shook her head. "Nope. I've been stuck in Roswell all my life."
"Me, too." Michael asked. "Although we have taken some road trips," he added, with a sly glance at Maria.
"Road trips?" Anderson asked.
Maria sighed. "Michael has a habit of taking my car and going to far away places with it."
Isabel burst out laughing. "I think you're exaggerating, Maria."
Anderson shook his head. "I'm don't understand."
Michael held up his hand. "*I* will explain. You see, occasionally I've needed to go on trips. Since I don't have a car, I borrow Maria's."
"Borrow?" Maria snorted. "Is *that* what you call it?"
Anderson still looked confused. "Never mind. I think I'm better off not knowing."
"Trust me," Isabel said, "you're right."
The rest of the trip passed uneventfully. In a little under an hour, they were pulling up to a large castle that looked as if it had come straight out of medieval fairy tale.
Maria stared out the window, gaping "Is that where we're staying? No way!"
Anderson grinned. "It's the last place you'll be staying. We wanted to make it nice."
Isabel was also staring out the window. "It's amazing."
"Wait until you see the inside," Anderson said. "It's gorgeous."
Anderson was right. The inside of the hotel was even more beautiful than the outside. It was furnished in the style of the middle ages, with all the connivances of the twenty-first century, such as lighting and heating.
Michael examined a tapestry depicting a battle between knights and a fire-breathing dragon. "I feel like I stepped into a King Arthur story."
The bedrooms were also amazing, with heavy brocade curtains and blankets covered in embroidery, as was the rest of the castle. Michael, Maria, and Isabel spent the rest of the day wandering around the castle, forgetting that they were in the middle of a game. Isabel even forgot that she wanted to visit Switzerland. Even with all the splendor surrounding them, when the next challenge came, they were ready.
******
"I hope you're all well rested," Anderson said early the next morning. They were gathered in a large field, just outside the castle. "You'll need to be alert for this next challenge. You've all commented on the atmosphere of the castle. It's like we've gone back in time a thousand years. We thought this next challenge should reflect that image." He rose his voice. "Boys!"
All of sudden, the contesting heard pounding. Within seconds three knights had rode in to view, complete with horses, armor, and shields.
"Oh my gosh." Maria said. "What?"
Anderson grinned. "This is going to be a fun challenge. Have you heard of jousting?"
"Sure," Isabel said. "Knights rode towards each other with large sticks and attempted to knock each other off their horses."
"Right." Anderson confirmed. "Now, haven't you always wanted to try that?"
Maria groaned. "I don't think I like the way this is going. Isn't that dangerous?"
"We've made some changes to ancient jousting," Anderson explained. "You won't really be wearing amour. It's just for atmosphere. And you won't really be trying to knock each other off horses. The tip of your lance will be covered in red chalk. You just have to mark your opponent with the chalk. The rules are quite simple. You must each go against a knight in turn. You'll battle until all of one side is down. If your side is the last one standing, you win $40,000. If you're all defeated, you've lost the game and no money will be added to the pot. Any questions?"
"Yes!" Maria exclaimed. "We will get some sort of protection, right? I'm not excited about a suit of shining armor, but I don't want to get run through with a large stick, either. And will we really have to ride horses? Because horses and I don't get along very well."
"You'll have chest protection and a shield. And, yes, you have to ride horses. But they're very well behaved. If there's no more questions, than lets go get your equipment."
Anderson led the group to a pile of chest protectors, shields, and wooden lances.
"Is it my imagination or are these catcher's chest protectors?" Maria asked. "As in baseball?"
Anderson shrugged. "We had to improvise. Just put it on."
The contestants soon outfitted themselves in the chest protectors and chose shields and lances.
"Do we get another one if these break?" Michael asked, swinging his lance around.
"Nope. If your lance breaks, you're out of the game."
"In other words, be careful!" Maria ducked as Michael swung his lance near her head.
"It looks like you're all ready. Follow me to meet your mounts." Anderson led the group to the edge of the field.
"Can you ride?" Maria hissed at Isabel.
"Sort of. I took one lesson, when I was eight. What about you?"
"I've been on one trail ride. The horse ran away with me!"
"Here we are," Anderson announced, as they came to three chestnut horses. Across the field, their opponents had changed out of their armor into equipment similar to the Roswellians.
"I think I'll take that one." Maria pointed at the smallest horse. "That way I won't fall as far if he decides to throw me."
"She." Anderson corrected. "That's Daisy. Isabel's next to Rose and Michael has Daffodil."
"Flower names," Maria commented. "Pretty."
"Again with the pretty!" Michael said. "Horses are noble animals, certainly not 'pretty.'"
"Oh, I don't know, Michael," Isabel said, as she mounted Rose. "Horses can be pretty."
"If you say so," Michael said, also mounting his horse.
"I guess I need to climb on," Maria said doubtfully, staring at Daisy.
"Here, I'll give you a leg up," Anderson offered. With Anderson's help, Maria managed to get atop Daisy without too much trouble.
"Okay. I'm up. So far, so good." Maria stroked Daisy's mane.
"It's time to begin. Follow me." Anderson walked back towards the middle of the field, where a white line had been painted on the grass. The three mounted contestants followed him.
"Hey! She moved when I told her to!" Maria exclaimed.
"They generally do," an amused Isabel said.
Maria laughed. "Not the horses I've been on."
"Sh!" Michael commanded. "It's almost time."
About one-hundred feet away from the contestants, their opponents had gathered. Each was a large man, mounted on a black horse. Anderson turned to face Michael, Maria, and Isabel.
"You will take turns riding against your opponents," he instructed. "Use your shield to block their shots. Remember, a fair shot is on their chest protector, no where else. If you're marked, you're out. If your lance breaks, you're out."
"What if you fall off your horse?" Maria wanted to know.
"Please don't," Anderson replied.
"Yes, but if you do?" Maria persisted.
"You're out." Anderson told her. "Who would like to go first?"
The contestants exchanged nervous glances. Finally, Michael spoke up. "I will, I guess."
"All right. Do see that man holding the red flag out there? When he drops the flag, I'll yell, "go". When you reach the other riders, stop. Unless you're marked. Then you're out and it really doesn't matter what you do."
"Okay," Michael said nervously, moving Daffodil to the white line.
"Go!" Anderson yelled, as the red flag dropped.
Michael kicked Daffodil and she raced across the field, towards the other rider. Michael attempted to hit his opponent, but was too far away. He reached the other side unscathed.
Maria chose to go next. She was so nervous that she never came within ten feet of the other rider.
"Chicken," Michael commented, when she reached the other side. Maria stuck her tongue out at him.
It was Isabel's turn next. "All right!" she yelled, as she galloped towards her opponent. She managed to knock her opponents shield away and mark his chest protector, but unfortunately, in doing so, she left herself unprotected and she was also marked.
"A double kill." Anderson said, as he walked past the two riders. "Impressive. Isabel, you can wait on the side and cheer for your teammates."
"Oh great," Maria said to Michael. "She was the only one who knew anything about horses."
"She did take out her opponent," Michael pointed out. "That's more than we did. And I know some about horses. I just haven't ridden much before."
Maria frowned. "Whatever. I'll do better next time."
Anderson had arrived by their side. "Ready for the next round?"
"Not really," Michael said, "but I doubt we have a choice."
Both Michael and Maria came closer to hitting their opponents, but still missed. The third time, Maria nearly got hit, but managed to deflect her opponents lance with her shield. The fourth round, they both missed the other rider by miles.
Anderson walked over to them. "Come on, you guys. We don't have all day! Well, actually we do, but that's besides the point."
"I almost got him!" Maria exclaimed. "And riding isn't so bad after all."
Anderson smiled. "That's good to hear. Are you ready, Michael? Go!"
Michael rode out towards the middle of the field, towards his opponent, his lance at the ready. At he neared his opponent, he thrust out his lance. The other rider reflexively threw his shield in front of him. Michael's lance hit the shield with such force that the wood splintered and his lance broke in two.
Maria groaned. "Are you all right?" She called out to Michael. He nodded.
"Sorry, Michael," Anderson said. "Join Isabel over on the side."
Anderson turned to Maria. "Are you ready?"
"No!" Maria exclaimed. "I can't take out two of them by myself!"
Anderson shrugged. "I'll take that as a 'yes.' Ready? Go!"
As Maria rushed across the field, Michael and Isabel were having a whispered conversation.
"Do you think she can do it?" Michael asked.
"I don't know." Isabel bit her lip. "And what if she's the mole? She wouldn't do it, then."
"Unless she wanted to throw us off track," Michael said thoughtfully.
"True."
They were interrupted by a shriek of excitement. On her second pass, Maria had managed to mark an opponent.
"Good job!" Anderson said. "Do that one more time and you'll have won the game.
Maria nodded in excitement. "This game gets to you. I do feel like I've gone back it time. Only then I wouldn't be riding, would I? I'd just be a spectator."
"Well, go out there and show them why girls aren't spectators anymore." Anderson encouraged. "Go!"
Maria, atop of Daisy, ran across the field one last time. As she neared her opponent, she grasped her lance more tightly. The other rider, with his longer reach, struck first, but Maria managed to block his blow with her shield. He faltered, giving her an opening. Maria thrust her lance at him, managing to make it past his shield, marking his chest protector.
"I did it!" she squealed. "We won!" she held up her lance in victory.
Michael and Isabel ran out to congratulate her.
"Good job!" Isabel exclaimed
"I knew you could do it," Michael said, reaching up to pat her on the knee.
"I didn't!" Maria laughed.
"Congratulations," Anderson said, as he walked up to the contestants. "That brings your pot up to $473,300. You may all return to the hotel-- or rather, the castle."
Michael held out his hand to help Maria dismount from the horse. "Thanks," she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Did you change your mind about horses?" Isabel asked.
"What? Oh, maybe. At least about Daisy. I don't know about any other horses."
"What about moles?" Michael asked.
Maria rolled her eyes. "I think the mole had something to do with that game."
Isabel laughed. "The mole had something to do with every game."
"I know. This game is driving me crazy! I'm even analyzing Anderson's actions and I know he's not the mole!"
Michael looked thoughtful. "Let's see. Who was the most suspicious?"
Maria groaned. "You're not going to analyze our actions in front of us, are you?"
Michael shook his head. "No. At this point in the game, I'm keeping everything a secret."
"Me, too," Isabel said, as they walked into the castle.
Maria nodded. "I'm going up to my room. I need to think."
"Me, too.," Isabel said.
"Me, three," Michael agreed. The group feel silent as they walked up the stairs. The excitement of the game had been forgotten in the suspicions that were going through all their heads.
For the rest of the day, the contestants remained sequestered in their rooms, each busy with his or her own thoughts. Two of them were busy analyzing every suspicious action the others had made and the third was planning even more suspicious actions. In three days, they would know the truth.