I am such a genius! I've been brainstorming with myself and I've come up with some great stuff! A motive for everyone, who actually did it, why, and with what weapon, and a whole bunch of twists everywhere! I'll bet anyone a cookie that they can't guess who did it and why before I post the last chapter!
As Jimmy Kudo says in my favorite anime Case Closed, "Only one truth prevails!"
Just as a warning to all my readers, chapters 3 and 4 will mainly establish everyone's motives. So it's not going to be that action packed. Also I'm changing the rating on this fic from PG-13 to R, for references to drinking and some mild swearing.
But anyways, thank you everyone for reviewing! It warms my heart with every review I get. And to answer a question I know will come from someone soon, I don't know when I'll be able to finish Little Miss Hyde due to the fact that I am having a major writers block with that story, STILL. It really sucks, MAJORLY.
Well, here's my replies to my loyal reviewers!
Arein: You're supposed to guess! Putting the clues together and that sort of thing. Just make a random guess! That's the fun in it! Besides, I'm not telling!
RuffMaster: I'm doing fine. I figured that since I already had those two chapters already finished, I might as well post them. I love Curly! He's so random! Just like me! And I don't think Curly's a lunatic, he's just misunderstood, like the majority of the population of the world. I guess that because of Curly's personality that might make readers suspicious, I can see that. But just to warn you, don't rule anyone out. Any one of them could have done it. And as soon as the Thanksgiving cheer runs out, I'll read and review your story, that's a promise!
ahhelga: Thanks, I think it's going great too. And yes, it's nice to know our little group of Hey Arnold fans are still posting chapters and reviews. And please! I want you to point fingers! I want to know everyone's suspicions! That'll tell me as of whether or not I'm doing my job correctly.
classics85: I fully agree! I have the game "Clue", so I play every chance I get! Though, since it needs to involve three or more people, I haven't recently. Most of my family's busy with one thing or another…
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Chapter 3 - The Billiard Room, The Hall, And The Lounge
Slowly opening the door, the light from the hallway floods into the room.
"Well, isn't this inviting. This room has 'deathtrap' written all over it." Helga says sarcastically. She reaches over and casually flips the lights on. Looking around the room she crosses her arms. "It appears nothing has happened in here recently. It's too clean."
Arnold looks from the pool table to the poles put up on the wall. "I agree. If Arthur was in here a short while ago something would be different. Chalk on the table or something." He shakes his head. "There isn't anything here of interest."
Taking a deep breath, Helga crosses the room to the window, pulling back the pale curtains. "The rain seems to be getting a little better. At least there's no lightning." Closing her eyes solemnly, she barely shakes her head to herself, "I hope he's alright. I'm so worried about him."
A small smile spreads on Arnold's lips. "You really care about him, don't you?"
"More than I should."
Arnold raises an eyebrow in curiosity as he waits for her to continue.
She sighs heavily, "Do you know how hard it was for me when I heard that he and Professor Plum were going to be engaged? I forced myself to smile and act like it was wonderful news. Several weeks passed before I could get the courage to talk to him again."
He nods understandingly, "You love him."
Helga lets go of the curtain and turns to him, "Yes. I do. Ever since we were in college. And do you know what the worst part was? He knows. He knows how I feel about him. And he still chose her over me!"
"So not only do you have a motive to kill Arthur, you have one for Phoebe too."
Helga frowns, "What? Are you crazy? I would never kill the man I love! Nor would I kill the woman that makes him happy!" Helga turns her back to Arnold one more, "No matter how much I despise that woman, all I want is for Arthur to be happy."
"That's what you say anyway." Arnold whispers to himself. "That doesn't mean you don't have a motive though, Helga." he says louder.
She whirls back around to his face, just inches between them, with a fire blazing in her eyes, "You have no right to accuse me of anything! You also do not have the right to make comments like that, Mister Green!"
Arnold only frowns at her anger, "If I'm not mistaken, Arthur said that we all have a motive to kill him. I did not say that you will kill him or that you have killed him. I'm not accusing you of anything, Helga." She glares at him for using her first name, he raises an eyebrow again as a different thought occurs to him, "And just out of curiosity, what have I done to make you dislike me so much?"
Helga turns away, breaking their eye contact, "I don't hate you." she mutters softly.
He frowns again, "Yes you do. You hated me ever since we first met in the Study. Why would you automatically hate someone that you've never met?"
"Alright, fine, I'll tell you." Helga glowers at him in spite, "After we graduated college at Harvard he met you and started that damnation of a business of yours! After that I hardly saw him, and when I did, he was pouring over mountains of paperwork! Because of you, I lost him. I have no hope of anything remotely close to a relationship after that with him because he was married to his work!"
Arnold's jaw drops in bewilderment, "So you blame me for a romantic relationship that was never started in the first place?"
"Yes I do! And now he's engaged! So I've never had the hint of a chance with him!"
He sighs as he struggles with his growing aggravation, "Have you ever considered the possibility that you and Arthur aren't meant to be? That you should get over your silly little schoolgirl crush and move on with your life?"
Helga's jaw drops in shock, "How dare yo-"
Arnold places a fingertip on her lips, instantly shutting her up. He looks down into her eyes as he removes his finger, "You've never once though of starting an intimate relationship with a man other than Arthur?"
Helga opens her mouth speechlessly, surprised, "I uh…" A mild blush brushes her cheeks, "What are you implying Mr. Green?"
His smile grows, "That maybe you need to move on from that fantasy, or get a life. Pick one." He stuffs his hands deeply into his pockets, turning out into the doorway, "And as I said earlier, call me Arnold."
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"So how do you know Arthur, Curly?" asked Phoebe as they enter the echoing Hall, "I know you've been here awhile, I just never thought to ask."
Curly shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly, avoiding Phoebe's eyes, "I've known him for a great number of years. About three years ago he asked me if I wanted to work at his home. I agreed."
Phoebe opens the coat closet and inspects it offhandedly, "How did you meet him? Did you used to go to school together or something? Like Ms. Scarlet?"
He leans back against the large table in the Hall, "Uh… it's… um, a little more complicated than that, actually."
She looks up at him puzzlingly, closing the door of the closet, "Complicated? How so?"
"Um, well… he's kinda, well… Arthur's my…" Curly trails off, trying his hardest not to look into Phoebe's questioning eyes.
"He's your…"
Curly sighs, closing his eyes in defeat, "Arthur's my brother."
Phoebe's jaw nearly drops, "What?! Arthur's your bother?!"
Curly looks up and smiles wryly, "My stepbrother, actually."
Phoebe raises an eyebrow, "Stepbrother? Arthur has a stepbrother and he never told me?"
Curly let's out a weary sigh, "To make you feel better, you're the only one in his high-class society group that knows he has a stepbrother." his grip on the table tightens, turning his knuckles white, "He's ashamed that he has a stepbrother, instead of a real brother. He's ashamed to be associated with me."
Phoebe reaches out and places a hand on his shoulder for comfort, "I'm sure that wasn't-"
Curly slaps her hand off his shoulder, "Yes he is! Why else would he hire me as his damn butler?! Why wouldn't he mention to anyone in his country club that he has a stepbrother?! It's because he's ashamed to be related to me! After his business went through the roof with profits, he totally forgot that he was related to me! I hate him because of that!" He slams his fist on the table, rattling the vase of floors atop it, "I looked up to him when we were kids as if he was my real big brother! But ever since he's become wealthy, he has nothing to do with me! And even lowers me still by hiring me to clean up after him! I hate this job! I hate him!"
Phoebe blinks in pure shock, "Curly…" she whispers.
He looks up at her, pure anger in his eyes, "I hope he's already dead…"
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Upon entering the Lounge, Ms. Peacock went directly to the bar in the corner of the room. "I need a drink…" Helping herself to a big crystal bottle, she pours some of the brown liquid into a large glass. And in one swig, it disappears down her throat. "Ah, I needed that."
As Gerald enters the room after her, he raises his eyebrow in curiosity, his hands in his pockets. "I'm assuming you can hold your liquid then."
"Yes, but even I need a stiff one every now and then." She places the glass on the bar, rim down, "It's kind of ironic. There's only reason why someone would want Arthur dead. And it's his money. That's the only logical reason to kill him. And the ironic part is that the only way to get to it is to figure out his murder for Pete's sake." She rolls her eyes and places an elbow on the bar for support, "That's Arthur for you. He's been an odd one ever since I met him."
Gerald sits down next to her, "And how did you meet him, exactly?"
"At our country club, or course. He's one in our tight knit group within a group. He's the richest of us all." She turns the glass right side up and pours herself another drink, "And he earned it all! Imagine that! He's "new money" for crying out loud, and everyone else accepts him like he belongs!" Rhonda gulps the drink down all at once.
Gerald raises his eyebrow and smirks at his companion, "Sounds like you're jealous, Ms. Peacock. Enough to kill?"
"He's handsome, charming, and the richest man in the state. He has earned everything and he's still richer than me! Of course I'm jealous!" Rhonda stops a moment as she realizes what Gerald was getting at, "That's doesn't mean I would actually kill him though! Why would I kill him just because he's too charming?"
Gerald narrows his eyes at her, "You said it yourself that he's even richer than yourself. If you somehow inherited his entire fortune and his half of the Body & Green Company, than would more than double your own fortune." He stands up and grabs the glass away from Rhonda, before she could pour herself another drink, "That's more than enough of a motive to kill Arthur Body in my book."