For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
We found several rooms, all empty, and several dead end tunnels, but found nothing exciting. Some of those tunnels may have been blocked off at some point, perhaps because of cave ins. Finally we did find a tunnel that led to some stone stairs. We followed them up and a door opened at the end of the hallway in the guest cottage. For a large stone door it opened without a sound which was quite amazing. This is how someone could get in to leave us notes. But who, and why? It does give us some suspects now, which is basically anyone living in the chateau. So there is Linnea and 7 others who work, and live, at the chateau. Linnea seemed rather disappointed that we didn’t find anything and she was quiet as we walked back to the chateau for lunch.
After lunch Linnea, the cook and Linnea’s driver, whom I really don’t trust, all went to the nearest town for some shopping. I had asked if I could explore the rooms of the chateau that are locked and Linnea said it would be okay and gave me some keys that I would need. After they were gone the cats and I began our exploring, beginning with the tallest of the towers. It was beautiful and didn’t look like it had changed for centuries, except it had electricity now. Each room was filled with period furniture that looked as old as the chateau itself. Perhaps it was. I liked the top floor, it gave a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. Meow?=You notice something in rooms? “What’s that Mr. Cat?”, I asked. Meow.=Room not big enough, outside bigger.
I looked out the window and sure enough he was right. I need to pay attention more. “How did you know that without looking outside?,” I asked him. Meow.=I remember how big when we look around outside. I just look at him. These cats do have fantastic memories. That’s a good thing to have in this business. Hmm, walking in those tunnels earlier, and now climbing the stairs, has really caused a lot of pain in my back. This could slow me down a lot in our cases which is not good. There was 4 comfortable looking chairs so I picked one and sat down. As I did one of the wood panels slid open revealing another hidden passageway. Sore back or not, we have to explore this new find. Meow,meow?=Maybe you sit more while Mr. Cat and me explore? Not want you get hurt. “Thanks Muffin,” I said, “but this looks too good, let’s go check it out.” Meow,meow.=Okay, I watch you close though.
I put their mini headlamps on and Mr. Cat took the lead while Muffin stayed right beside me and constantly looked behind in case we were being followed by anyone. Unfortunately our exciting passageway just led us down a flight of stairs and into the room below us. That was kind of strange. We came back down and Calanthe, the maid, met us and said that tea was ready if we would like some. That sounded good to me, a chance to sit for awhile. Calanthe said she would like to talk to me and I said that was fine. I asked about her name, it sounded nice. She said it meant “having the beauty of a flower”. It was certainly a fitting name for her.
She said there was strange things happening in the chateau and she thinks the same person who had been killing others in the past was out to kill Linnea too. Possibly someone who hates the family and wants to kill them all? Calanthe also mentioned that two of the servants had been killed when Linnea’s uncle owned the chateau. Hmm, that’s something that Linnea never told me. I wonder why? I asked if anyone working here now had been here when Linnea’s uncle was here. She said yes, her, the cook and the driver. The cook has been here since the uncle’s parents owned the chateau. Wow, that’s a long time to be working here.
Apparently she heard that the cook’s parents owned the chateau prior to that. Now that is very interesting indeed. Perhaps the chateau was acquired in a not so friendly manner? Anyway, the cook is now our main suspect. Just as we finished tea a violent storm hit. That rain poured down, there was continuous lightning and thunder, plus strong wind. Electricity was gone shortly after, then Calanthe informed me that the regular phone service was also off. She was visibly scared at this point. She also said that Linnea had called from town and said they would have to stay there tonight as the bridge had been washed out. Calanthe asked me if we would stay in the chateau that night. I told her we would. What I didn’t know…
To Be Continued.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
It doesn’t look like you can really trust anyone. Your gut feeling was distrust of the driver, now the cook might have a motive and who else is omitting important information? The chateau does not sound like a good place to spend the night. Be careful! You still haven’t recovered your physical agility from your last case.
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Yes indeed, I sure don’t trust anyone here, and I’m sure there is more I’m not being told, I never like that. I prefer that people tell me what’s going on right away, it would make things so much easier. I must be more careful now that’s true, might have to call myself the limping PI now. But staying in the chateau might help me observe things a bit better and maybe I can find out something. Or maybe get in trouble.π³πππ΅οΈββοΈ
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This piece is good I think it’s time ti figure out those notes. With so many hidden places danger could come from anywhere. Muffin better keep watching. I don’t trust being alone with Calanthe
Burn excess calories Laugh more
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Yes, there’s a message in those notes, I’m sure of it, but I think some are missing, perhaps Linnea didn’t give me all of them for some reason. There’s still 4 other servants in the chateau, and staying there overnight might help me observe things that I would otherwise miss. Can I believe all that Calanthe said or not?π€πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Not. Calanthe Said she was one of the longest at the chateau. Perhaps Beauty is deadly?
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Yes, I agree with you on that. It’s best not to trust anyone too much just yet. Even information can’t be trusted too much. Back to that big library and see what I can find. Maybe something to help with those notes.
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I’m waiting
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More info will come soon, and probably more questions too. And maybe…π€π³
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You’re off to good start. You have at least one good viable suspect now.
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Yep, that’s better than nothing. Providing Calanthe is telling me the truth.π€πππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Ah ha!π€¨ lie detector for her!π
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Well, she said that she “heard” his parents owned the chateau. Where did she hear it?π€ Can that person be trusted?π³ Can I trust my food now?π€π³ What about my coffee?π¬β
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Well… you never really told us what read in the books she had about the place. What do yoy know that we don’t?π€ππ€¨
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A PI needs to keep some things to himself.
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Ah huh…. well I’ll be in suspense like everyone else waiting to see who is the real culprits π€π€
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Me too. Never know who it might be in this crazy place.π
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I am surprised that you let her go to town with the other two workers! She may not come back!!π³
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I don’t really trust Linnea either. Something odd about her, not sure what though.π€
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Her Name?π€
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What’s wrong with her name? It’s a typical Finnish name.
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Oh… that’s it! Well I’m not Finnish so I didn’t know that. Although I do have a friend that’s Finnish, but his name is R so I see where it could seem odd.π€π
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I mentioned it in the first chapter.π
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That was way back then… you expect me to remember that now?π¬π
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I guess that is asking a lot.π€π³
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Hey…. watch it you! I’m not used to you being so agreeable πππ
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I was just agreeing with you.ππ
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I like this agreeable you… I’m just not used to it! It’s confusing me!!π€ͺ
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Ah, the simplicity of simplified simple things.π
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I like simple! That’s me… simple is just plain simple. See how simple simple can be?
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Are you simply mocking my simplified way of simplifying what is simply simple?π€π³
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Noooo…. I’m just a simple guy who likes simple things that are simple!π
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Otherwise they get complicated!
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I agree with that.
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I appreciate your being agreeable with that! ππ
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This is a real doozy of a problem…or I should say problems !…the cats are very alert, but they need to be careful and so do you ! Love the tenseness of the situation ! βοΈβοΈπ΅οΈββοΈπΎπΎ
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Yes, things are starting to happen now. But who can I trust, if anyone? Is Calanthe telling the truth? Is Linnea telling the truth? I’m not being told all the truth, that much I know. But why are people holding back?π€πππ΅οΈββοΈ
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A night in the old chateau with a bad storm β Hmmm π€¨ Not very good! Beware of ghosts dear Muffin! π»πΈπ
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Yes, this just might be a time when some ‘ghosts’ will appear. That would be good. I hope.π³πππ΅οΈββοΈπ»
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Good? I donβt think Muffin agrees ππΎ
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Yes, that’s probably true, but we need something to happen and give us a clue, instead of lots of questions.π¬πΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈπ©
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ahhh there he is ending with a suspense once againπ oh he never changes that part. So Calanthe, Linnea, and someone or some group which are invisible as of now are trying to steal, no first they are trying to threaten you. uhh. I should read the next one soon, NIsha is coming… let me rush ….π€Έπ€Έ
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Aha! Hiding under the blankets so you can read my story without getting caught! Not a bad idea though. Keep it up!π³πππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Everyone sounds suspicious here πΉπ΅οΈββοΈ
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That’s a good point!
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