Chapter 17
Severus glanced at Diana to make sure she was still sleeping. He read the instructions on the card by the phone carefully. Press 5 for Room Service. His finger stabbed at the middle button. As the phone rang, he moved as far from the bed as he could with the phone pressed to his ear. He kept his voice low. "Yes, this is room 2B. I'd like to order breakfast for two to be brought up please. Whatever normal breakfast is will be fine." He hung up the phone after confirming the order.
He moved to the bed and covered Diana's bare form with a blanket. He brushed a strand of loose dark hair and tucked it behind her ear. He had found out last night that her natural hair was a light brown shade. Brown complements her skin better. That's not all you found out said his inner voice. I learned enough. Yes, enough to be very suspicious, the voice replied. She's playing the game and the part. I can understand her refusal to answer too many questions. A little mystery is unusual in a woman and very arousing.
The woman stirred and opened her eyes. A lazy smile danced across her lips. "Morning." She stretched her arms out shifting the blanket downward. Her breast were barely covered.
"I've ordered breakfast for two."
"I have a taste for a different kind of breakfast." One hand lowered her blanket a few more inches.
"I'd love nothing better than to indulge your insatiable appetite, minx, but we need an early start back."
Hermione touched the stubble on his chin. "You look quite dangerous this morning. Darker hair suits you."
"You like it?"
"Hmm, yes." Hermione found her hand wondering inside his robe. "That and a few other things of yours."
Before her skillful fingers could find their intended target, Severus moved away from the bed. "I'm going to take a shower and have a shave. Wait for room service will you?"
Twenty minutes later, Hermione laid out their breakfast. Severus came out of the bathroom. "Shower's yours, Diana."
"Breakfast is here." Hermione past him by and went into the bathroom. "I'll be quick."
"Coffee or tea?"
Her response was muffled but audible, "Coffee, no cream, a bit of sugar."
Severus began to pour her coffee when there was a knock at the door. He opened the door to a hotel employee. "Sir, excuse me, I brought in your breakfast. The lady had some foreign currency mixed in with my tip. Here you are, sir, and good day." A few coins landed in Severus' outstretched hand - two sickles and a knut.
Severus stared at the coins. His other hand closed the door. He walked back to the table and collapsed into a chair. His eyes darted from the coins in his hand to the closed bathroom door. A witch. A ruddy, bloody witch.
He stood on shaky legs and brought his tea to his lips. The hot liquid seared his tongue and sharpened his mind. He stared out at the magnificent view of the bay and the Mount. Who is she? She plays a muggle too well. He replayed her every word and gesture. A muggleborn. A twenty-four year old muggle born witch. Someone brilliant, clever, driven.
An image flashed. A hand raised eagerly into the air. A hopeful face framed by brown hair. Another image superimposed itself over the first. A dark-haired woman with a raised hand. Ms. Danforth's hand pointed at the "know-it-all." He dug his fists into the pockets of his robe. He calculated the years and the answer was not to his liking. I just bedded Hermione Granger.
He took another drink. I have to end this. She can't find out who I am.
He put down the cup and practically ran to the mirror. He looked hard at his reflection. Thank Merlin, I look different. I look nothing like ...
He remembered her question last night - "Let's say hypothetically, that I WAS one of your students, would you have a problem with that, with us?"
She knew who I was. She knew all along and she didn't tell me. Was she ever going to tell me? The realization paralyzed him briefly. He didn't notice the bathroom door opening.
"The coffee smells good." Hermione reached up and kissed him on the cheek. She noticed his lack of reaction. "Something wrong?"
Severus looked at her closely. He could see the outline of her contact lenses. His mind's eye framed the face in brown instead of black. The shape of the face and eyes were the same. My own real life minx. I keep underestimating you but no more. You need to learn not to play with fire. "Nothing's wrong. Everything is fine, Diana, just fine."
As they demolished breakfast, Severus planned her downfall. She is going to have to beg me first.
On the way back to Newquay, Hermione debated endlessly with herself. Had he been any other man than Severus Snape, he of the volatile temper and lacerating tongue, she wouldn't hesitate telling him. But he was who he was and she was who she was. I need to have my wand before I tell him. Yes, and a ready spell, too, just in case.
In front of her, Severus hummed a tuneless tune pondering the nature of revenge and how best to serve it. He had to talk with Mr. McAdoo first. Then he could step back and watch the minx squirm. Turnabout is only fair.
They arrived barely in time to make the luncheon. After a quick change of clothes, they joined the other detectives.
As luncheon got underway, Mr. McAdoo went over the list of clues unearthed by all the detectives. As he described the last clue, Mr. Levinson stood up. "Mr. McAdoo, I never mentioned my clue."
That got everyone's attention. "What clue would that be, Mr. Levinson?"
"In my room assignment, the Green Room, I saw a photograph. It was a picture, a university picture, of four young men. One of them looked like a much younger Maclemore." He and everyone else turned to look at Mr. Maclemore.
"I went to Edinborough University." said a visibly confused Mr. Maclemore.
"Not Cambridge?" asked Mr. Levinson. "One of the shirts said Cambridge on it."
"Ah, I attended a short course there for computational theory."
"One of the men in the photo looked like Sir Renville, maybe his son."
"Renville? Maybe, I really don't remember much about that."
"Are you sure?" Ms. McFadden looked at him uncertainly.
"I don't remember, Cynthia." Maclemore repeated. "It was a long time ago."
"Why didn't you mention this before?" asked Emily Moss. "I was there in the room with you."
"I didn't think it was important." Mr. Levinson replied.
"If no one else has anything to mention, Oswald will be distributing among you Mr. Timmons' statement to the police. We also have statements from the hotel staff. They were re questioned to corroborate Mr. Timmons' statement and their statements may be of interest to you all." Mr. McAdoo nodded to Oswald. "At three o'clock today, we will gather in the main parlor where there will be a last round of question and answer."
Mr. Lewis commented loudly. "Can we question anyone we want, even you?"
"Yes, of course, Mr. Lewis. The Renvilles will be here for the session as well as Mrs. Wellborn and Oswald."
After lunch, Hermione looked everywhere for Severus but couldn't find him. As she sat in a comfortable armchair, she saw him come in and take a chair by the door. She smiled shyly at him. He nodded back. A few minutes later Mr. McAdoo came in with the Renvilles and Oswald in tow. He clapped his hands once to get everyone's attention.
"I have an announcement to make to you all. One of your number has excused himself from the rest of the event." Mr. McAdoo tapped Severus' shoulder. "Mr. Wright, here, has been acting as an observer of the rest of you at my request. There were so many first time participants that I needed someone to help move things along. Mr. Wright, or rather Mr. David Sherbrooke, gracefully accommodated my request."
Hermione stared slack-jawed. Sherbrooke?! I went to bed with a total stranger.
Severus watched with silent glee as Hermione processed the information. The look on her face. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Mr. McAdoo droned on. "I am assuming that you have all read the new information and have your questions ready. Who would like to begin?"
Hermione was oblivious to the goings-on around her. Oh, damnation, a muggle. How stupid can I be?
Ms. McFadden raised her hand. "I'd like to start first."
She looked everywhere except at David. We used a condom, every time. Why did I think it quaint that he was trying to be true to character?!
Mr. McAdoo nodded and Ms. McFadden continued on. "My question is for Ms. Danforth. Your bio says that you're a nurse. You should have been tending to Sir Renville instead of me. Why didn't you?"
Hermione stared at the floor to avoid David who was visibly trying to catch her attention. He's smiling at me.
Ms. Danforth looked bored. "When I got there, you were already there. What would have been the point? You knew what you were doing didn't you and you're NOT supposed to."
Ms. McFadden narrowed her eyes at the spiteful viper. "Old habits die hard I guess."
Mr. Moss noted. "I don't remember seeing you inside the Red Room, Ms. Danforth."
Oh, god, he's ... he's going to want to see me again. He said he was in this for the long term and I did say I was too. Ack!
"Of course I was there. I was outside talking to Mr. Wright. Ask him."
Severus spoke very carefully making sure to not sound like his real self too much. "I went to look for Timmons. He was taking too long to come back. I saw Ms. Danforth standing outside the Red Room. We chatted."
Hermione strained her ears listening to every nuance and syllable. Chatted? Snape would never use that word.
"Wright, you didn't go out immediately. I remember we both went in together. We watched Ms. McFadden for quite a while." said Mr. Ironside.
"Sir Renville was being tended to for what five minutes or more?" Mr. Lewis asked.
Mr. Maclemore nodded his head. "Aye. at least."
"I agree with that. I think more than five minutes actually." Severus answered. He made sure to vary his cadence, a little faster than his normal pattern.
Hermione came to the hard realization that David may resemble Snape but really didn't sound anything like him. You've made some huge mistakes, Granger, but nothing is going to top this one.
Mr. Lewis looked at Oswald and Mr. McAdoo. "Which of you let Ms. Danforth into the Armory."
"I did." Oswald answered.
"About what time was that?"
She nibbled on her nails as she was wont to do when truly agitated. No one, no one must ever hear of this, ever. I will never live this down.
Severus noticed Hermione fidgeting and biting her nails. Now to twist the knife gently but firmly. He aimed a toothy smile in her direction followed by a small wave.
"Let's see it was about ten minutes, maybe more, after everyone left the roof."
"Really, how interesting." Mr. Lewis said. "What were your exact steps from the roof?"
Hermione blanched as she half-heartedly smiled back. It was more for politeness' sake really. I am never ever crossing paths with Severus Snape again. I couldn't bear the reminder. Thank the gods he doesn't know who I really am.
"I gave Mr. Levinson his directions. Then I went down the stairs."
"So, almost everyone was already in their rooms by then, would you say that's about right?" Mr. Ironside asked shrewdly.
Oswald nodded.
"Was the Armory door locked?" Emily Moss asked.
"It seemed to be stuck, hard to open."
Ms. Danforth stood up angrily. She glared at Ironside and Lewis. "I told you all that Claymore wouldn't let me in. I kept knocking and knocking."
Hermione had wiped out the mystery from her immediate consciousness. She had more pressing matters to think about. What a mess! How soon can I leave?
Mr. Maclemore and Ms. McFadden both raised their hand at the same time. "Bruce and I know who the accomplice is."
Mr. McAdoo calmly said "Who is the accomplice, Ms. McFadden?"
"Ms. Danforth is the accomplice."
"You're joking. What proof do you have?" said an outraged Ms. Danforth.
"Mr. Timmons wasn't the only one who had time on his hands. We only have your word on what you did when you went to the Armory." said Ms. McFadden. "You waited until Sir Renville was in the Red Room. You picked your chance and hit him on the head with the book then returned to the Armory."
Mr. Maclemore continued. "When we all made our way to the Red Room after hearing Lady Renville, you took the rolled up charter and put it up in the roof. The hallway from the Library to the roof was clear."
"Ridiculous!"
"In fact, we were so busy making our way to the Red Room and there was so much confusion, that no one noticed you go into the Library." Ms. McFadden. "Except Mr. Claymore."
"He would have noticed because he left the Armory with you and went into the main corridor." Mr. Maclemore added. "Timmons said that he had left the charter right by the door. It would have taken a minute or less to reach in and grab it. After you came from the roof, you made an appearance outside the Red Room to establish your presence in the vicinity."
"Because of those reasons, Ms. Danforth is the likeliest accomplice." Ms. McFadden concluded. "What's the verdict, Mr. McAdoo?"
"You're absolutely correct. Ms. Danforth was Mr. Timmon's accomplice." Mr. McAdoo took a deep breath and then smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen, the charter has been recovered, the thief in custody, the murderer also in custody and now, the accomplice identified. This mystery event has been solved in record time. I surely thought it would take at least five days. I congratulate all of you on a job well done. I must make these things harder."
The room erupted in a flurry of cheers and congratulations. Ms. Danforth was complimented for her performance.
"We will be having a celebratory dinner tomorrow. Thank you everyone." Mr. McAdoo called out.
Hermione bounded out of her chair and made her escape. She went straight to her room. She had some packing to do. In her haste, she did not see or become aware of Severus shadowing her every move from a distance.
Severus strolled back into the parlor. Mr. McAdoo had under some pressure confirmed Ms. Granger's identity. Run all you like, minx. You haven't seen the last of me.
Author's Note: What do you think of Severus' revenge? What will he do next?
The accomplice had to be someone connected to both Timmons and Claymore. Based on the clues from Sir Renville's attack, the accomplice was a female. The other women were all accounted for except for Ms. Danforth. Claymore was a bit chummy with Timmons at the beginning too. Mr. Martin mentioned seeing Claymore, Timmons and Ms. Danforth sitting together briefly at the Chymorvah. Once, the thief was known, once can backtrack and more things make sense. She never had a good alibi - one was dead and the other was Oswald. Then, of course, the statement "Methinks the lady doth protest too much" applies to Ms. Danforth too.
I hope you enjoyed this. Many thanks to reviewers. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. One more chapter to go.
mavidian