Disclaimer: La la la la la... I'm so sick of these stupid disclaimers. What if I don't say 'I do not own HM or are affiliated with them, I'm not making money off of this, etc. etc.' will I get sued? Okay, let's test that!
Author's Note: Yeah Mindo! Wh00t wh00t! Canada! Well, I'm not really... that hyped up about Canada (even though I live here, cough cough), but since Mike Weir's from Canada... yay! And to be honest, I just LIKE golf... but I LOVE Mike Weir! Hee hee! Oh yeah, I lied when I said that this thing was only going to be two chapters... in all likelihood it's going to be three or four!
Killer Cliche
Day Two
(Sunday Morning)
I woke up this morning with a funny feeling in my gut. I couldn't really figure out what it was... do you ever get that kind of thing? You think something important is going to happen, but you don't know what. I hate that feeling, but at the same time it's good because then it gets me kinda excited to face the day!
"Mornin' Ann," my brother greeted me. "You better get up, if you don't want to be late."
I frowned in confusion. "Late for what?"
"We're going to the CN Tower today," Gray reminded me. "Don't you remember?"
I scratched my head. "Uh... kinda." I grunted as I pulled myself out of bed. "Gray, don't you remember when vacations were supposed to be relaxing?"
After I got up and dressed (not bothering to shower or have breakfast), our group went down to the lobby again to meet up.
"Where's Maria?" I said, looking around. It wasn't like her to be tardy.
"She told me to apologize to everyone for not being here," her mother explained. "She's terribly sorry she's going to miss this opportunity. Poor girl, too scared of heights and terrorism to even go near the CN Tower."
Heights and terrorism? Oh my God, now I'm scared.
"All right, let's go," Elli said.
Just as we were about to step out the door, someone in a long, brown suede coat flew in.
"Excuse me!" Duke cried out when the man almost crashed into him.
"Oh I'm sorry," he said, sounding a little dazed. "It's just that I got called for this job really late last night, and I'm late right now."
Karen stopped and turned around. "Job? What do you mean, you got a new job here?"
"Well, I'm Detective Sparrow, and I'm here to investigate the crimes that took place yesterday," he said, flashing us his ID. "Are you occupants of this building?"
"Just for awhile," Karen said, eying him suspiciously.
Sparrow tucked his ID away into his coat pocket. "Well, I've love to chat, but I've got a lot of work to be done, and I'm sure you folks have plans as well, so I must be on my way," he walked off brusquely.
"Hmm..." Karen mused to herself. "A detective?"
"I know, isn't it cool?" Jack grinned. "A crime scene. Like he's gonna get to photograph all the blood on the carpet or a bullet somewhere, like on TV"
Karen rolled her eyes. "No you idiot! The detective doesn't do those things!"
"All right all right," my father cut in, pushing us out the door. "Off we go."
"I dare you."
"No."
"C'mon, don't be a chicken."
"Did you just call me a chicken?"
"I think I did."
"Still, I'm not doing it."
"Why not?"
I looked down over the glass, making sure that there was at least ten feet from my feet to the floor. "Because I'm scared, okay?"
Elli laughed. "Come on, it's not that scary." She hopped a few times. "See? It won't break."
It takes nerves, I tell you, to stand on that glass floor. No way would I ever do that, knowing it would break and I could plunge God knows how many stories to a certain death. As you could tell, we were at the CN Tower. It was nice, especially the view, but it just stirred my fear of heights up to a new level. You might think how could someone like me, Ann Green, be scared of anything! But I'm scared of heights! It's the only fear I have... that I'm willing to share!
I let out a sigh of relief when Elli stepped off the glass, then my heart lurched again when I watched Popuri step on. I didn't want to watch it, so I turned around. Just a few feet in front of me was Karen and Cliff, who were chatting away.
"You think I did it?" Cliff shrieked. "Karen!"
"Well, everyone thinks you might have done it," she explained. "And you're my number one suspect."
"But... we're family! You can't send me to jail for any reason!"
"So... you're saying you did do it?" Karen raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't do it!"
"Okay Cliff, whatever you say."
"Why does everyone accuse me? Why not Jack? We both got separated from you guys and went back to the inn early. Why don't you think it's Jack? Or even that we're in cahoots? How come it's all me?"
"Because you're weird, Cliff! Why do you want to live in a cave when you could live with your own cousin!"
"Coz you and your parents don't get along, and I don't want myself to get in the middle of your squabbles."
"You... you just mind your own business, okay?"
Yes, Karen... she's becoming quite the detective herself. I never knew she was interested in crime and that kind of stuff. I guess she never got a chance to try it first-hand, since we live in such a small village where crime is just something that never happens.
(Sunday afternoon)
Our group left the CN Tower shortly, after having an early lunch at their revolving restaurant (which I did not take to liking, to say the least). I felt kind of tired, after walking a lot, especially when the streets were somewhat crowded (well, compared to our streets, and I use the term 'streets' loosely). We took a little stroll around the waterfront area before going back to our inn again.
The scene was all too familiar... there were a bunch of police cars in the parking lot when we got there. "Oh my God... what happened now?" I wondered out loud, not even feeling surprised anymore. Maybe the detective nabbed the killer! Yay!
Karen and I ran in, expecting to see someone being led out by handcuffs. Someone was led out all right, but in a large black bag over a stretcher.
"What happened!" Karen screamed to a nearby policeman.
"There's been another murder here," he said, snapping his legal pad back so the cover was on the exterior. "This time, one of our own."
"Detective Sparrow!" Karen and I yelped out in unison.
All the guests were crowded in the lobby again, in shock. Nobody went up to their rooms until the police had left, which was rather uncomfortable, since it meant about thirty people packed in the teeny lobby (which wasn't really a 'lobby', just a room where you go in and out... you know, like the cozy ones at inns!). Three murders in two days. What was going on here? Is Toronto always like this? (A/N: No!)
"I'm going sleuthing," Karen said to me immediately when everyone was settled in their rooms. "Wanna come with me?"
To be honest, yes I did. But she couldn't of picked a worse time to go, since the FINAL round of the Masters was going to be on in... ten minutes! "Why don't we go search for clues at... seven o'clock instead?" I said meekly.
Karen shook her head. "Now or never."
I whimpered. Damn her for making me choose! "Grr! I can't now!"
"It's okay," she shrugged. "I'll fill you in on the details later."
"Hmm... okay, see ya." I started for the stairs. "Hi Robert," I greeted the man, who was now at the front desk, and I guess the new owner of the inn? Wow, three different owners in two days!
So I trotted up to my room, feeling a little let down, but more so very very excited to see who was going to win the Masters! My player was in contention, just two off the lead in second place! Could he win? Of course! Will he win? Well... we'll just have to see!
(Sunday evening)
I was biting my nails to death. Oh my God... this may as well be the most stressful time of my life (even though it wasn't really MY stress). Yes, I was still watching the final round. I was hoping that it wouldn't lead to this; one single putt that could make or break his chance to win. If he got it, it would force him to a playoff with some guy named Len Mattiace, who suddenly started getting eagles and birdies all of a sudden (can I say steriods?). And what happened to Jeff Maggert you ask? A triple bogey (ew!) and... a QUINTUPLE bogey (eww!). That has got to suck for Jeff, but not for my Mike!
(Author's Note: a triple bogey is three over par, so if it was a par four then you've shot a 7, and quintuple bogey is shooting a 9 on a par four, which is REALLY bad! Also, a play-off... I don't think I need to explain what that is, but just in case, when two or more players are tied for the lead, they will go into a sudden death playoff, which they will play a hole and whoever uses less strokes wins. If they shoot the same then they keep playing other holes until someone wins).
And Mike made his putt... and it went in! YES! WHOO! Um... sorry. But the crowd on the course went wild too! So aren't I entitled to it?
"Ann? Ann!" someone said from behind my door. I could barely hear it, because of the TV, but I knew it was Karen.
"Hurry up!" I said, shooing her in and flying back to the TV. I wasn't about to miss the playoff.
"What are you watching? The Masters?" Karen sighed. "These Canadians... you know they're making such a big deal about it just because another Canadian might win. So what?"
"It is a big deal!" I cried. "And you know 'that Canadian' is tied for first right now! And they're about to determine who will be the outright winner!"
"Okay okay then I'll talk fast." Karen whipped out a pad of paper. "I got learned some stuff, and came up with a new suspect."
"Uh... huh..." I murmured, keeping one eye on the screen.
"Don't get mad Ann, but--"
"GRAY IS NOT THE KILLER!" I screamed.
Karen jumped back. "I wasn't going to say Gray!"
"Oh. Sorry."
"I think Maria and Jack are in cahoots."
"Really?" I forced myself to turn away from the screen. "Why would you say that?"
"Well, yesterday Jack got back to the inn early, and Maria didn't go to the CN Tower with us, and I'm not sure, but I think I saw the two of them sneaking out the inn."
"Really?" I said again, paying my full attention to Karen now. "You really think they could of killed all three of them? But... why?"
Karen shrugged. "I don't know. I'm trying to figure out a lead. But some murderers don't even need leads, they just kill cold-heartedly."
"I don't think Maria and Jack are cold-hearted killers," I said firmly, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"Well, that's the reason you don't have any info," Karen pointed out. "You're too naive."
"And you're too paranoid!" I shot back.
"Ann, you--" I could tell she was about to throw a nasty retort at me, but stopped herself. "Okay, sorry for saying that. Just... come over to my room whenever you're ready so we can discuss this more okay?" She stood up to leave.
"Okay, see ya later Karen," I waved goodbye. I didn't question why she stopped herself from being so defensive, like she usually is. I guess it's probably because she figured she needed as many allies as she could. And I do too.
I turned my attention back to the TV. Mike and Len Mattiace (the other guy taking part in the playoff) just made it to the tenth hole, and had both teed off. They both took a nice tee shot from the fairway, and went over to make their second stroke. Fortunately (for me, Mike and all of Canada, since Mike Weir is Canadian), Len's second shot... went into a bizarre area at the pine straw. And it pretty much went downhill for Len. He ended up making a double bogey, and... Mike won!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, jumping up and down.
"WHAT WHAT!" my brother and father stumbled into the room.
"HE WON HE WON!" I screamed again, still jumping. They looked at each other, shrugged, and left.
I couldn't believe it. He won! This was a very big deal; I can imagine it now; front page news all over Canada! Ooh, thank God I'm in Canada right now! (Author's Note: It was front page news all over Canada!) This was my single best accomplishment in my life, and it's not even mine!
After watching the Green Jacket (where the defending champion, who was Tiger Woods, would help the new champion into a green Masters jacket), and the stuff that happened in the Butler Cabin, and having some dinner, Karen and I went sleuthing.
"Did you see Mike Weir win?" I asked Karen.
"No..." she shot me an odd glance.
We trotted down the steps to the main lobby, where we just passed Jack and Maria, walking and whispering to one another, looking quite acquainted with each other.
"Hi Jack and Maria!" I said loudly.
They both jumped back. "Hi guys!" they squeaked in unison.
"Whacha been doing?" Karen asked them both.
"Uh... uh..." Jack began, pointing at Maria.
"We aren't-he-we were--" Maria stammered, blushing furiously.
"Maria wasn't feeling well, so I decided to help out a friend and get her some aspirin, but then I didn't know what kind to get her so we both went to the pharmacy--"
"Then where is this aspirin?" I jumped in.
"Uh... uh..." Maria said, still stammering.
"She decided she didn't need aspirin," Jack explained uncertainly.
"Of course," Karen nodded, grinning. "And what were you guys talking about just then?"
Jack glowered at Karen. "Mind your own dang business."
"C'mon Maria," I coaxed, giving Karen a lopsided smile. "You can tell us."
"L-like w-what Jack said, it's n-none of your b-business." Maria told us, trying (unsuccessfully) to make it sound strict and end-of-discussion.
"Well, you kids get going." Jack and Maria made a quick get-away into different directions.
I gawked at Karen. "That was more than a little suspicious!"
"See, didn't I tell you?"
I tapped my chin in thought. "Okay, I'll admit it now. Maria and Jack, possible suspects."
So. Maria and Jack eh? I never thought of them as killers or any sort. But then, I've never really got to know them very well. Not even Maria, who've I've known all my life and a good friend of mine. I didn't want to believe it, but something in the back of my skull just told me don't go against your instincts.
La la la la la- oh hi! (Smile smile) So, what do ya think? Is it getting annoying in any way? Well, if it is, let me know! And as usual, please please PLEASE review! Lova ya lots!