5

"Hold on, Cody, wait just one minute," said Zack, holding up his hands. "I just got a brilliant idea."

"Your luck is improving," said Cody sarcastically.

"No, no, seriously!" said Zack. "I just realized all the people we completely neglected when creating these characters! I'm sure Mom would want to be in this story, for instance. Oh, and what about that cranky waiter, Peter?"

"You mean Patrick," said Cody.

"Right, Penelope," nodded Zack. "And I'm sure you're dying to be in it as well. After all, it wouldn't be fair to let the teacher think I was the brainy one."

"No, then the teacher would think you were cheating," said Cody.

"If you want to be in this stupid re-write, shut up and write," growled Zack before he dictated:

As the guests silently marched up the stairs, Zack broke the silence by declaring, "Hold it!" The guests froze in unison.

Zack marched back and forth between the guests as he went on: "From the moment I saw you all, there were a few whom I thought I recognized as other people, only to find out that my intuition was right! You," he pointed to Inspector Moseby, "you claim to be the famed Inspector Moseby, and you," he pointed to Judge Wargrave, "are supposedly the bloodthirsty Judge Lawrence Wargrave…only Inspector Moseby and Judge Lawrence Wargrave died in a freak accident involving a can of soda! You, my good sirs, are frauds!"

"I'm afraid you speak the truth," sighed Moseby. "You see, I am Lawrence Wargrave's twin brother, Marion. And this lad here," he gestured to Judge Wargrave, "is the famed detective Cody Blore, wearing a costume and platform shoes because to be perfectly frank, no one would take a five foot detective seriously."

"Hey, I'm five feet and people take me seriously," protested Zack.

"Those were also the same people who took London Marston seriously and made that stupid petition declaring to reduce her punishment for running those two kids over," said Cody Blore as he stepped out of his rather ridiculous judge costume and got off his platform shoes.

Zack ignored this criticism and pointed to the General: "I also know you're not the real John Macarthur, but his son from his previous marriage to Leslie!"

"I confess," shrugged the General. "My name is Arwin Macarthur."

"Wait, I thought Arwin was the boatman," said Cody.

"Arwin's becoming a common name nowadays," shrugged Zack. "In fact, it's almost as common as Larry! Anyway…"

"And you," Zack pointed to Miss Brent, "The record got your name mixed up. It's not Emily Caroline Brent, it's Caroline Emily Brent, aka, Carey Brent! Confess!"

"Give me a break, I liked the apple juice!" exclaimed Carey.

"Finally, there's you, Edward George Armstrong…or should I say Patrick Armstrong!" declared Zack melodramatically.

"Fine," sighed Patrick. "Eddie got sick and asked me to come in his place."

"You are all liars," said Zack in his most melodramatic tone, before changing it to a sweeter voice as he turned to Maddie and said, "Except you, dear," before changing it back: "That record was absolutely right! None of you can be trusted! Well, one thing's for sure: This guest is going to lock his door and put furniture underneath it!" And with that, Zack stormed off to his room and slammed the door behind him so hard, the chandelier began to waver back and forth.

"NO!" cried Judge Moseby. He lept over the banister and flew across to the chandelier, where he clung tightly to it mostly to get it to stop shaking, but mostly to save his own life.

The guests looked at each other and shrugged, coming to the conclusion that Judge Moseby was insane, and went to bed.

"No, wait!" cried out Judge Moseby, but it was too late; his fingers slipped and he fell to the ground. He got up and winced, rubbing his sore behind, knowing it would be a while before he could sleep…