(a/n Disclaimer applies still. Happy reading and have fun!)
*-*-*-*-*
The next morning breakfast was uneventful. The angels, Bosley and their hosts, sat at the candle lit table eating a traditional German breakfast of cold cuts, cheese and hard rolls. The Count, Andreas and Katja discussed the wedding plans. "I have decided to hire a full staff for the costume party," announced Andreas.
"Heavens, what for," asked Katja sounding put out.
"I want the staff to be able to celebrate with us. I thought that we would give them the evening off and let them attend the festivities if they wanted to"
"But they are the servants," she continued testily lowering her teaspoon in such a way it clanged loudly against the saucer.
"Kat, they are like my family. Since my sister." he let the end of the sentence hang.
"Michael told me about your sister," said Dylan picking up another roll and slice of cheese.
Andreas leaned forward in Dylan's direction, "Michael?"
"Yes, yesterday he said that you sent him to the maze to get me and he told me about your sister's suicide. I'm very sorry for your loss."
"My dear Dylan, I believe have been misinformed. My sister lives in Zurich, we did have a falling out a few years back and haven't spoken but I can assure you she is still alive and as self involved as ever," he said with a deep chuckle. "You should be meeting her though she has been invited to the wedding, I expect her either this afternoon or tomorrow. Its possible she is already in town."
"But Michael said she hung herself from a tree that is in the center of the maze," said Dylan with confusion. Katja looked at her hands and then awkwardly added more sugar to her already laden coffee.
"No, No not true at all," said the Count with a laugh. There was a tree there years ago that was chopped down, it had a fungus but no one hanged from it. Let alone my sister. Don't get me wrong, despite our disagreement I love my sister but she has a bit of a weight problem. If she had tried to hang herself the branch on the old tree wouldn't have held her."
"I guess Michael had his story wrong then."
"He probably just wanted to spend time with a pretty girl like you. So do you all have plans for the day? I still think Kat, you should show them around."
Katja glared at her fiancé, a hard cold look that held little affection. "I have plans, I'm sure Nat, Alex and Di- Dylan can entertain themselves. I have to go to the printers and get the place cards for party. It would be frightfully dull, I wouldn't want to have them standing around waiting while I discuss type faces and whether to emboss or not to emboss."
Natalie glanced that her friends, "Oh that's okay Katja. We have to take care of that problem you were telling us about anyway."
Andreas clapped his hands together. "Well then that is good. I wouldn't want you lovely ladies to be bored here. I would have had the pool prepared for your enjoyment but since I don't get out I didn't think of it, but as long as you have things to do I wont think of myself as the 'bad host'," he said rising. "I do have several business calls to make if you will excuse me." He placed a kiss on Katja's neck, and made a sweeping bow to his guests.
Katja also rose. "I too have to be on my way. The printer's isn't near by, so I will be driving into the city. Then I have a luncheon with my women's club."
As she left the room the angels and Bosley stared after her. "You know," said Alex "I think we need to check out Katja too."
"Why is that," asked Bosley. "You think she is threatening her own fiancé?"
"I think she isn't being honest."
"I know she isn't being honest," said Natalie angrily. "I saw a box being delivered yesterday afternoon and received by Helga, one of the maids. When I asked if they were supplies for the wedding Helga told me that they were place cards for the costume party dinner."
"I don't know what Katja was hiding but Michael certainly tried to keep me from the hedge maze," said Dylan, "After I said that I felt like such a fool."
Alex put her arm around her friend's shoulders, "I don't think he took it wrong. Actually I was under the impression that he found it quite funny."
"You think so. I really felt dumb," she said laughing at herself.
"What I think," said Bosley, "and I know I'm just here for the free vacation, but maybe we should check out the sister in Zurich."
"Bosley, that's a great idea," said Dylan. "If Andreas is the only member of his family left other than his sister, why couldn't she be threatening her brother? If Katja doesn't go through with the wedding she doesn't have to share the inheritance with her should he die?"
"Good now you have a job here to Bos," said Nat bouncing up and down clapping her hands, "You have the honor of checking out the count's sister."
*-*-*-*-*
As Anthony was packing his bags to move to the small bed and breakfast where he would be staying there was a knock at the door. He peeked through the peephole and opened it. There stood his boss.
"Hello my silent assassin," she said with a smile. "I wasn't planning on coming but I thought that you would like this." She dangled a set of car keys in front of him. He cocked an eyebrow in question.
"It's parked outside. I doubt Andreas will ever miss it. He rarely uses his cars as it is and if he did want to go somewhere he would have the chauffer drive him. I bet your next thought is 'what is it?' Go on take it then I'll tell you."
He reached out for the dangling keys, but she moved them away. "I just may need to change your job a bit. There was a detective agency hired and you may need to kill the detectives. Not a big deal for you is it? If it is," she started to put the keys back in her purse but Anthony took them, never thinking that the agency she was referring to and the angels might be one and the same.
"Very good. It's a 1968 Jaguar E type convertible, racing green of course; they just seem more authentic that way." The right side of his mouth turned up in a small smile. She smiled back at him. "I heard that you love speed and are a sucker for the classics. So while he does have an antique Ferrari in his stable of fine cars, I thought that this one would draw less attention yet meet your needs."
His smile grew bigger inwardly. As far as he could tell he had made the right decision taking this job, still he had questions. He picked up a sheet of hotel stationery and wrote, "So when do I strike?"
"Well I hope you got a costume for the ball? Family tradition you know," she rolled her eyes and sighed. He waved his had to the garment bag. "Good I don't want to know what you will be, don't tell me. Your main job along with your colleague Mr. Mills will be to get rid of the detectives and assassinate Andreas."
"Kill the detectives?" He wrote in his elegant script.
"Do whatever. I personally don't care. Oh and before I forget here are the directions to the bed and breakfast in which you will be staying. Ta ta," she patted his cheek with her gloved hand, "and have fun at the party."
*-*-*-*-*
Around six in the evening the first guests for the traditional fox hunt arrived. Andreas, Graf von Buchholz invited the angels and Bosley to participate. Alex jumped at the chance and regaled the Graf with tales of her prize winning horsemanship. Their host even found a riding outfit that had belonged to his sister back in the thin days of her childhood that fit the angel perfectly.
"You seem quite the accomplished young woman," said Andreas to Alex. "Im quite surprised that Katja never mentioned it."
"I'm sure she just forgot."
"Yes, Kat seems to be forgetting quite a bit lately. I believe it is because of the stress of our Hochzeit -wedding. Are you married?"
"No, I'm not," said Alex with a smile.
"Anyone special."
"Just my boyfriend Jason. Do you like movies?"
"Very much especially action films. I adore going to the movie theater because it's dark and allows me to escape into the daytime world."
"Then you might have heard of Jason, Jason Gibons."
"Ja Ja ME and ME2. I loved that film very exciting. It is a shame that he did not come along. Come," he said placing his hand on the small of her back, "we go and get you set up with a horse."
The house bustled with people. Dylan managed to find Natalie in the crowd. "Hey you."
"Hi you won't believe what I found out. First I checked on Helmar, he was hired by the sister, she and he had a torrid affair which is what caused the falling out in the first place between the Count and his sister."
"Really," asked Dylan with interest.
"Really and Michael, you have to guess who he used to be the lover of before he became the butler."
"Who?"
"Katja James."
"You are joking, so both the chauffer and the butler could be in on it."
"Exactly, neither on is out on the ride tonight and with Alex there I think he should be okay. Here is what I have. I really wish we could have told all this to Alex before she went, anyway Katja's sister's name is Cassie and she died two years ago. 'How' you may ask? Well she hung herself from a tree. They said it was suicide but her hands were tied behind her back."
"Foul play," said Nat hitting her fist into her hand.
"Only problem is we aren't much closer to who it might be. The suspects seem to just become more and more."
"What about Mills?"
"Karl Mills didn't even exist until a few months ago. I'm still working on who he was before he took the name."
Bosley entered the room with a lovely but large woman on his arm. "And Countess von Buchholz, these are two of my friends Dylan and Natalie. Girls this is the Countess, Helene von Buchholz."
The next morning breakfast was uneventful. The angels, Bosley and their hosts, sat at the candle lit table eating a traditional German breakfast of cold cuts, cheese and hard rolls. The Count, Andreas and Katja discussed the wedding plans. "I have decided to hire a full staff for the costume party," announced Andreas.
"Heavens, what for," asked Katja sounding put out.
"I want the staff to be able to celebrate with us. I thought that we would give them the evening off and let them attend the festivities if they wanted to"
"But they are the servants," she continued testily lowering her teaspoon in such a way it clanged loudly against the saucer.
"Kat, they are like my family. Since my sister." he let the end of the sentence hang.
"Michael told me about your sister," said Dylan picking up another roll and slice of cheese.
Andreas leaned forward in Dylan's direction, "Michael?"
"Yes, yesterday he said that you sent him to the maze to get me and he told me about your sister's suicide. I'm very sorry for your loss."
"My dear Dylan, I believe have been misinformed. My sister lives in Zurich, we did have a falling out a few years back and haven't spoken but I can assure you she is still alive and as self involved as ever," he said with a deep chuckle. "You should be meeting her though she has been invited to the wedding, I expect her either this afternoon or tomorrow. Its possible she is already in town."
"But Michael said she hung herself from a tree that is in the center of the maze," said Dylan with confusion. Katja looked at her hands and then awkwardly added more sugar to her already laden coffee.
"No, No not true at all," said the Count with a laugh. There was a tree there years ago that was chopped down, it had a fungus but no one hanged from it. Let alone my sister. Don't get me wrong, despite our disagreement I love my sister but she has a bit of a weight problem. If she had tried to hang herself the branch on the old tree wouldn't have held her."
"I guess Michael had his story wrong then."
"He probably just wanted to spend time with a pretty girl like you. So do you all have plans for the day? I still think Kat, you should show them around."
Katja glared at her fiancé, a hard cold look that held little affection. "I have plans, I'm sure Nat, Alex and Di- Dylan can entertain themselves. I have to go to the printers and get the place cards for party. It would be frightfully dull, I wouldn't want to have them standing around waiting while I discuss type faces and whether to emboss or not to emboss."
Natalie glanced that her friends, "Oh that's okay Katja. We have to take care of that problem you were telling us about anyway."
Andreas clapped his hands together. "Well then that is good. I wouldn't want you lovely ladies to be bored here. I would have had the pool prepared for your enjoyment but since I don't get out I didn't think of it, but as long as you have things to do I wont think of myself as the 'bad host'," he said rising. "I do have several business calls to make if you will excuse me." He placed a kiss on Katja's neck, and made a sweeping bow to his guests.
Katja also rose. "I too have to be on my way. The printer's isn't near by, so I will be driving into the city. Then I have a luncheon with my women's club."
As she left the room the angels and Bosley stared after her. "You know," said Alex "I think we need to check out Katja too."
"Why is that," asked Bosley. "You think she is threatening her own fiancé?"
"I think she isn't being honest."
"I know she isn't being honest," said Natalie angrily. "I saw a box being delivered yesterday afternoon and received by Helga, one of the maids. When I asked if they were supplies for the wedding Helga told me that they were place cards for the costume party dinner."
"I don't know what Katja was hiding but Michael certainly tried to keep me from the hedge maze," said Dylan, "After I said that I felt like such a fool."
Alex put her arm around her friend's shoulders, "I don't think he took it wrong. Actually I was under the impression that he found it quite funny."
"You think so. I really felt dumb," she said laughing at herself.
"What I think," said Bosley, "and I know I'm just here for the free vacation, but maybe we should check out the sister in Zurich."
"Bosley, that's a great idea," said Dylan. "If Andreas is the only member of his family left other than his sister, why couldn't she be threatening her brother? If Katja doesn't go through with the wedding she doesn't have to share the inheritance with her should he die?"
"Good now you have a job here to Bos," said Nat bouncing up and down clapping her hands, "You have the honor of checking out the count's sister."
*-*-*-*-*
As Anthony was packing his bags to move to the small bed and breakfast where he would be staying there was a knock at the door. He peeked through the peephole and opened it. There stood his boss.
"Hello my silent assassin," she said with a smile. "I wasn't planning on coming but I thought that you would like this." She dangled a set of car keys in front of him. He cocked an eyebrow in question.
"It's parked outside. I doubt Andreas will ever miss it. He rarely uses his cars as it is and if he did want to go somewhere he would have the chauffer drive him. I bet your next thought is 'what is it?' Go on take it then I'll tell you."
He reached out for the dangling keys, but she moved them away. "I just may need to change your job a bit. There was a detective agency hired and you may need to kill the detectives. Not a big deal for you is it? If it is," she started to put the keys back in her purse but Anthony took them, never thinking that the agency she was referring to and the angels might be one and the same.
"Very good. It's a 1968 Jaguar E type convertible, racing green of course; they just seem more authentic that way." The right side of his mouth turned up in a small smile. She smiled back at him. "I heard that you love speed and are a sucker for the classics. So while he does have an antique Ferrari in his stable of fine cars, I thought that this one would draw less attention yet meet your needs."
His smile grew bigger inwardly. As far as he could tell he had made the right decision taking this job, still he had questions. He picked up a sheet of hotel stationery and wrote, "So when do I strike?"
"Well I hope you got a costume for the ball? Family tradition you know," she rolled her eyes and sighed. He waved his had to the garment bag. "Good I don't want to know what you will be, don't tell me. Your main job along with your colleague Mr. Mills will be to get rid of the detectives and assassinate Andreas."
"Kill the detectives?" He wrote in his elegant script.
"Do whatever. I personally don't care. Oh and before I forget here are the directions to the bed and breakfast in which you will be staying. Ta ta," she patted his cheek with her gloved hand, "and have fun at the party."
*-*-*-*-*
Around six in the evening the first guests for the traditional fox hunt arrived. Andreas, Graf von Buchholz invited the angels and Bosley to participate. Alex jumped at the chance and regaled the Graf with tales of her prize winning horsemanship. Their host even found a riding outfit that had belonged to his sister back in the thin days of her childhood that fit the angel perfectly.
"You seem quite the accomplished young woman," said Andreas to Alex. "Im quite surprised that Katja never mentioned it."
"I'm sure she just forgot."
"Yes, Kat seems to be forgetting quite a bit lately. I believe it is because of the stress of our Hochzeit -wedding. Are you married?"
"No, I'm not," said Alex with a smile.
"Anyone special."
"Just my boyfriend Jason. Do you like movies?"
"Very much especially action films. I adore going to the movie theater because it's dark and allows me to escape into the daytime world."
"Then you might have heard of Jason, Jason Gibons."
"Ja Ja ME and ME2. I loved that film very exciting. It is a shame that he did not come along. Come," he said placing his hand on the small of her back, "we go and get you set up with a horse."
The house bustled with people. Dylan managed to find Natalie in the crowd. "Hey you."
"Hi you won't believe what I found out. First I checked on Helmar, he was hired by the sister, she and he had a torrid affair which is what caused the falling out in the first place between the Count and his sister."
"Really," asked Dylan with interest.
"Really and Michael, you have to guess who he used to be the lover of before he became the butler."
"Who?"
"Katja James."
"You are joking, so both the chauffer and the butler could be in on it."
"Exactly, neither on is out on the ride tonight and with Alex there I think he should be okay. Here is what I have. I really wish we could have told all this to Alex before she went, anyway Katja's sister's name is Cassie and she died two years ago. 'How' you may ask? Well she hung herself from a tree. They said it was suicide but her hands were tied behind her back."
"Foul play," said Nat hitting her fist into her hand.
"Only problem is we aren't much closer to who it might be. The suspects seem to just become more and more."
"What about Mills?"
"Karl Mills didn't even exist until a few months ago. I'm still working on who he was before he took the name."
Bosley entered the room with a lovely but large woman on his arm. "And Countess von Buchholz, these are two of my friends Dylan and Natalie. Girls this is the Countess, Helene von Buchholz."