Chapter 2 - A Hunting We Will Go
Phoebe slumps into one of the chairs in despair as she puts her head in her hands, "He was right here!" she barely whispers.
"That's it! I'm getting out of here! Before I'm next!" Rhonda starts making her way to the door when a hand grabs her arm. Rhonda looks up from her arm to the person holding it. "You will release my arm right now if you know what is good for you, Mr. Green."
He stares back at her, but doesn't release his grip, "Not so fast. No one is leaving."
"And why not?! Arthur's killer has already struck! And any one of us will be next!"
Arnold shakes his head, "You're not thinking rationally. Arthur is just missing, we don't know for a fact he's dead."
"Humph. He's been receiving life-threatening calls all week. There are six people here and we all have weapons, thanks to Arthur, and all of us have supposed motives. What makes you think that he isn't dead?" asks Helga, still in her chair, looking at the fire solemnly.
"Because all of that doesn't mean he's actually dead! It's all circumstantial." He lets go of Rhonda's arm, just as she yanks it away from him, "We have to stay and find Arthur. And even if he is dead, we need to carry out his will and find out which one of us did it, with which weapon, and in which room. Like Arthur said."
"So what do we need to do first, Mr. Detective?" Helga sneers.
Arnold almost shoots her a look but glances down at the floor instead. His eyebrows pucker as he bends to one knee.
"Mr. Green? What on earth are you doing?" asks Rhonda.
He gently picks up the wooden can on the floor. "Well, we can now rule out that he stepped out of the room briefly. Arthur wouldn't go anywhere without his cane. Even though he doesn't need it, it's habit."
"So he is missing?" asks Phoebe, high-pitched.
"I'm afraid so."
"As I asked earlier, what should we do first?" repeats Helga.
"First of all, we need to lock up all these damnation weapons!" exclaims Mr. White, "We need to lock them all up so they can't be used against us!" He grabs the Rope from Phoebe, Arnold hands him the Knife and Gerald looks up at the butler solemnly as he, too, hands him his weapon, the Wrench. "Ms. Scarlet, if you please." He holds out his open palm to her.
Helga sighs and places her hand to her temple, "I don't have the Revolver."
Rhonda's jaw drops, very unladylike, "What?! What do you mean 'you don't have the Revolver'?!"
Helga shoots her a tired glare, "Just as I said, Princess. I. Don't. Have. It." She waves a hand towards the floor, "When the lights went out I doped the gun in panic. I don't know where it could have gone." She looks up at each of the others, "But it means that any one of us could get it at any time. One of us could still get a weapon."
Phoebe looks like she could faint at any second, "W-what do we do now?"
"Lock up the weapons, as I said. Hopefully we'll find the Revolver before it can be used." With arms full, he stuffs all the weapons in the large, Cedar cupboard, locking it with a iron key. "And just for everyone else's reassurance…" He throws the key into the fire. "There. Now no one can get to any of the weapons."
"Except the Revolver." Helga states obviously.
Arnold lets out a sigh, "Well, now for the next step. Let's split up into pairs and search the Mansion for Arthur Body."
"Whoa whoa whoa. Time out here. What do you mean, 'split up'? If one of us has already killed, then one of us will end up getting paired with the killer!" exclaims the butler.
"And if he or she does kill again, we'll know exactly who kill Arthur." Arnold replies practically. "And as I said earlier, we don't know if Arthur's dead."
"Mr. Green is right." agrees Gerald, "We should split up to cover more ground and find Mr. Body. It's the only way." He stands to his feet, "And we can't just wait for him to show up when there's the possibility that he's… well…" he looks over at Phoebe sympathetically. Her head was still in her hands, her shoulders heaving with silent sobs, "Mr. White, you search with Professor Plum. Ms. Peacock will search with me. And Mr. Green and Ms. Scarlet will be the last search party."
"Absolutely not." snarls Helga, "I refuse to be alone with that ingrate at any time! No matter what the reason may be!"
"Why Ms. Scarlet, I'm flattered." smirks Arnold.
She shoots him a glare that could kill, "Shut up you!"
"Ms. Scarlet! Please!" Helga looks over at the petite Japanese woman in the chair, surprised, "This is for Arthur! Can't you just do this one thing for him?!" she sobs dry tears.
With a sigh she looks down at the floor, before slowly nodding. "Fine. As long as you keep your distance, we shouldn't have a problem Mr. Green."
A smile widens on his face, "Call me Arnold."
Helga forces a smile on her own face, "Alright, Arnold."
Gerald helps Phoebe to her feet, "Mr. White, how many rooms are in this mansion?"
"Nine rooms," he replies, "There is the Hall, the Study, the Library, the Billiard Room, the Conservatory, the Ballroom, the Kitchen, the Dining Room, and the Lounge."
"Each party will take three rooms, then. Mr. White and Professor Plum? You will take the Hall, the Study, and the Library. Ms. Scarlet and Mr. Green will take the Billiard Room, the Conservatory, and the Ballroom. Ms. Peacock and I will take the Kitchen, the Dining Room, and the Lounge."
Helga lets out an exaggerated sigh, "Fine then. Let's get this over with." She starts out of the room, tossing a quick look at Arnold. "Coming… Arnold?"
A sly smile spreads across his face, "Right behind you, Helga."
She frowns as she looks away, but doesn't say anything as they leave the room.
Rhonda lets out a large sigh, shaking her head, "Not exactly the smartest move in the world, pairing them up, Colonel Mustard."
Gerald shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and holds out his arm, "Shall we, Ms. Peacock?"
Looping her arm through his, they also exit the room, to start their own search.
Looking around the room, Phoebe puts her hands on her hips, "Well, Mr. White. Shall we start in this room?"
A small smile spreads on his lips, "Sure, why not? And Professor Plum?"
"Yes Mr. White?"
"You can call me Curly if you want."