Murder Game
Chapter Nine
By Ronin S. Oath
'One of them is the murder. But which one is it?'
Alex's expression was blank, Julia's was puzzled, and Thea's was concerned. The others were steaming. Something had really made them angry.
"Are you feeling alright, Conan?" Thea asked. "You look a little flushed."
"Huh? Oh, I'm okay," Conan reassured her. "What kind of clues did you get this time?"
"Clues?!?" Laura threw her sheet of paper at him. "These aren't clues! They're just more of Augustus's nasty comments!"
On the sheet of paper was typed: SHE LAID AN EGG, AND IT WAS A DOOZY.
"What Augustus wrote to me isn't very flattering either," Senator Maggio said, "and I have no idea why he had to drag my family into this."
"What does your clue say?" Conan asked.
He laid the paper on the table so they could read.
THE BALD EAGLE HAS MANY KIN.
"At least he didn't take potshots at your love life," Buck muttered. "It isn't Augustus's business or anyone else's that Eloise and I are having a trial separation."
"Is that what your clue says?" Conan asked.
"Here," Buck said, "read it yourself."
In the middle of the paper was typed: SHE IS LOST AND GONE FOREVER. DREADFUL SORRY, PAPPY.
"Isn't that part of a song?" Rachel asked. "Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine. She is lost and gone forever, dreadful sorry, Clementine."
"Is your wife's name Clementine?" Laura asked Buck.
"No, it isn't," Buck snapped back.
Thea suddenly broke in. "If Buck's clue came from a song, then I'm wondering if mine did as well…" Thea then laid her paper onto the table for them to read.
DARLING, I AM GROWING OLD.
"That's a song, Aunt Thea?" Rachel questioned.
"Long ago it was a very popular song," Thea answered. "It begins like this: 'Darling, I am growing old. Sliver threads among the gold shine upon my brow today; life is fading fast away'."
Alex laid his paper on the table. "Two of the clues may be tied into songs, but I doubt that mine is. It makes no sense!"
IT WASN'T ENTIRELY JASON'S FAULT.
"Who's Jason?"
Alex shrugged. "I have no idea. I don't know any one with the name Jason."
"Jason is a common name," Julia told him. "Think about it… Maybe he is a neighbor or a business associate…"
"I don't know a Jason!" Alex snapped.
Julia sighed, laying her own clue down.
TAKE A LITTLE SOMETHING FROM OLIIVER, THE POET.
"Take what?" Buck asked. "What could you take from a poet?"
"His words," Conan said.
"I don't get it…"
"He means plagiarize," the senator grumbled.
Julia's face became blotched with pink. "But I don't read poetry."
Buck got to his feet. "None of this makes sense!"
Alex slowly stood. "I'm going to do a little searching myself. Maybe in the butler's pantry. Remember the old saying 'The butler did it'? And a search of the wine cellar sounds like a good idea."
Laura shook her head, and headed towards the door. "I wouldn't be of any help. The clues are way too confusing for me. I've got a terrible headache anyways, so I'm just going to go up to my room and take a nice, long nap."
Mrs. Engstrom came into the room with a tea pot and a tray of cups and saucers. "Hot tea tastes good on a rainy day," she said. "I'll be glad when the storm is over. Thomas is upset because he's running low on sugar and salad greens, and I can't send in my computer order. I wouldn't dare turn on my computer with only the generator to power it." Mrs. Engstrom sighed. "The latest reports on the radio say that the storm should be over by Monday…"
To Be Continued…