Murder Game
Chapter Seven
By Ronin S. Oath
Half an hour later, the group seated themselves around the highly polished table. Julia cleared her throat several times, Laura sniffled, and Buck made a kind of humming growling noise.
The senator was first to speak, "I assume that we have all read our clues… I, for one, have determined that mine is not personal in nature, as that first clue was." He removed the sheet of paper inside the envelope, and laid it directly in front of him.
The others followed his example.
"What does this all mean?" Laura questioned.
The senator scowled at his paper as though it would turn around and bite him.
Buck squinted hard at his clue and rubbed his chin again.
Alex and Julia glanced up from their papers to study the other faces in the room.
"Have any of you figured out your clues yet?" Julia asked. "Mine tells me nothing."
"What does it say?" Laura questioned.
Julia held her paper a little closer to her chest and turned towards the senator. "Have we decided if we're going to share them?"
Laura slapped her paper flat on the table. "Mine is nothing, but the name of a dumb playing card. Did we all get the same thing?"
"Not exactly," Alex answered. "Mine begins the same: ONE WILL BE ABOVE ALL. But I've got the King of Diamonds."
"Jack of Clubs," replied Buck as he tossed his paper into the center of the table.
"I have the Nine of Diamonds," Thea said.
"Mine is the Queen of Hearts," Julia added.
"Rachel and Conan are right in suggesting that we work together," Thea cut in. "Apparently that's what my husband intended us to do. He set us apart with the first clues, then probably intended to how long it would take us to realize we had to work together on the second."
Julia shrugged. "What are we supposed to do now with these stupid clues?"
"We should look for other meanings to the clues and try as many angles as we can," Conan said.
"Like what?" Laura asked.
Conan quickly wrote down what everyone got on their clues. "Is there anything special about what you've gotten?"
There was a moment of silence.
Laura poked Conan in the ribs and whispered, "Well? Well?"
"Give me time," Conan mumbled. Then said to the group, "I think we have to keep in mind the words that begin all the clues: ONE WILL BE ABOVE ALL. From what we've learned so far, what do you think this means?"
"If we're talking about the cards themselves," Alex said, "spades are the top suit."
"Suit, maybe," Senator Maggio said, looking firmly at Conan, "but in card value, Ace is the top."
"Or it could be the king," Rachel insisted.
Alex spoke up, "Has anyone noticed that there is a run of ace, king, queen, jack, ten and nine? Could that mean something?"
No one answered.
Conan quickly wrote it down, just in case it did.
Finally, Julia said, "Let's think in a different direction. If Augustus meant things, not cards, then in value you can't beat diamonds."
"Good point," Rachel added.
Conan wrote it down.
"Let go into the sun-room," Thea said to the others. "It's much nicer there."
Conan didn't join the others in the sun-room. He took the pad of notes, a pen and the clues to his (and Rachel's) room, and then walked down the hall to Augustus's bedroom. 'I need more answers… Maybe I'll be able to find them here…'
The room was so silent and dark that Conan quickly fumbled for the light switch before he closed the door behind him. It was cold, as though the dampness from the storm had seeped through the walls…
Over the windows heavy, tapestry-like draperies had been drawn, shutting out most of the light. The massive high-posted, king-sized bed was covered with a spread made of the same dull tapestry. A maroon overstuffed chair, brass lamp, and table were grouped in one corner of the room. All sorts of photographs of famous people cluttered not only the walls of the room, but also the tops of the chest and table.
Conan found himself standing next to another door. Conan opened the door to find a large white-and-black-tiled bathroom that was even colder than the bedroom. Rain beat against the small window, seeping through the crack at the bottom and staining the wall like tear streaks down a dirty face. A white shower curtain closed off the tub.
Conan shoved the shower curtain aside so that he could check the tub, but instead he froze in midair.
He clung to the curtain with fingers as tight and stiff as claws, unable to move. His mouth was open, but not a sound came out, and he couldn't look away!
Augustus's bloody, twisted face stared up at him from the bottom of the tub!
To Be Continued…
I know, I know… Everyone hates cliff hangers! Please don't maim or kill me! And please, please, please leave a review!