| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted April 9, 2024 | Chapters: |
...6 7 -8- 9... 
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Sandra and Madeline make discoveries
A chapter in the book The Unwilling Heir
The Unwilling Heir - Chap 8
by Begin Again
ENDING OF CHAPTER 7
Taking a few more looks around the room, Madeline shook her head. "There's nothing here worth seeing."
As she headed towards the door, her eyes caught a glimpse of the handles of a brown satchel peeking out from under the bed. Curiosity piqued, she bent down and pulled it out, her fingers tracing the leather texture. She unzipped it and stared at a book with a beautiful, leather-bound cover.
"Hmmm, what do we have here?" Madeline pulled the leather-bound book out and read the cover. "The Secret Life of Judge Parker." Intrigued, she opened the book and began to read. With each passing moment, her heart raced faster and faster as she realized the magnitude of what she had uncovered.
"I don't know who you are, Judge Parker, or how you're connected to Sandra Monroe, but I promise to find out. For my benefit, of course."
Madeline debated whether to take the book now or later. She decided it was too obvious if it disappeared while she was upstairs alone. She needed a plan. She slipped it back into the satchel and pushed it under the bed, murmuring, "I'll be back."
As she stood up, she couldn't shake the feeling that Sandra Monroe wasn't the person she appeared to be. "Well, Miss Ugly Duckling, what are you hiding under those bland feathers of yours?"
She walked towards the door, opened it, and hurried down the hall to her room, her eyes scanning the area for Sandra. As she reached her door, she turned and saw Sandra standing at the top of the stairs.
Taking a few more looks around the room, Madeline shook her head. "There's nothing here worth seeing."
As she headed towards the door, her eyes caught a glimpse of the handles of a brown satchel peeking out from under the bed. Curiosity piqued, she bent down and pulled it out, her fingers tracing the leather texture. She unzipped it and stared at a book with a beautiful, leather-bound cover.
"Hmmm, what do we have here?" Madeline pulled the leather-bound book out and read the cover. "The Secret Life of Judge Parker." Intrigued, she opened the book and began to read. With each passing moment, her heart raced faster and faster as she realized the magnitude of what she had uncovered.
"I don't know who you are, Judge Parker, or how you're connected to Sandra Monroe, but I promise to find out. For my benefit, of course."
Madeline debated whether to take the book now or later. She decided it was too obvious if it disappeared while she was upstairs alone. She needed a plan. She slipped it back into the satchel and pushed it under the bed, murmuring, "I'll be back."
As she stood up, she couldn't shake the feeling that Sandra Monroe wasn't the person she appeared to be. "Well, Miss Ugly Duckling, what are you hiding under those bland feathers of yours?"
She walked towards the door, opened it, and hurried down the hall to her room, her eyes scanning the area for Sandra. As she reached her door, she turned and saw Sandra standing at the top of the stairs.
*****
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8
Hmm, what's she doing in the hallway again?
Sandra stood still at the top of the stairs, her eyes carefully following Madeline's hurried steps as she approached her bedroom door. A frown creased her forehead as she called out, "Madeline, do you need something?"
Madeline's body jerked as she spun around to face Sandra. Her expression was one of fear as if she had been caught red-handed. She stuttered, "Ne-ed some-thing? No — not really." She took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "I knocked on your door. I was hoping you could ask Lorrie to bring me a little nourishment. I'm feeling a bit under the weather and doubt I can make it down to the kitchen."
Sandra stared at the woman but added, "I hope it's nothing serious."
"No, no, not at all. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine after some rest," Madeline reassured her. "Though, I might have to extend my stay for another day."
"You should stay in bed." Sandra nodded and opened her bedroom door. "I'll grab my sweater and let Lorrie know when I go back downstairs. Will tea and toast be enough?"
Madeline coughed. "Tea and toast? Maybe something more substantial like biscuits, sausage, and eggs. Nothing fancy, of course. Whatever she has on hand. Please tell her that I don't mean to be a bother." She touched the back of her hand to her forehead and then opened her door. "I just need some rest."
Sandra watched Madeline disappear into her room and close the door before finally entering her bedroom. She quickly checked to see if anything was missing, but everything seemed to be in place. And then she remembered.
"The book!" She hurried to the bed and dropped to her knees, peering under the bed. The satchel with the book was still there. Sandra breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lord."
Her respite was short-lived. Spying a small piece of old yellow paper peeking from under the nightstand, Sandra snatched it and examined it.
She read, "Shipment delivered by Theo. Next shipment April 12, 1921." The signature was JWP — Judge William Parker. Her eyes widened as she stared at the note.
The names were familiar, but how could they be?
"Over one hundred years ago!"
And how did it get under the nightstand?
Madeline!
Sandra's thoughts swirled like a leaf in the wind.
The paper matches the pages in the book. Did the note fall out when she opened it? If she read it, does she have any idea what it is? If she has a plan, how will it affect the mansion or me? I have more questions than answers, but I think James holds the key.
"It's time we talk."
*****
Sandra grabbed her sweater and rushed down the stairs. When she reached the dining room, she called out loudly, "Lorrie! Lorrie!"
Lorrie hurried through the kitchen door, scowling. "What's got you so excited, child?"
"I've got to talk to James. I believe Madeline was in my room and saw the book."
"The book!" Lorrie twisted her apron into a knot and then straightened it out again. "Dear me! James isn't here. He had to make a delivery."
"A delivery?" Sandra scowled. "How long will he be gone? I don't trust Madeline; she says she must stay longer because she's ill."
Lorrie nodded in agreement. "That woman is up to no good; you can be sure of that." She knotted her apron again while she thought. "I'll take her a bite to eat and see if I can learn anything. And James should be back soon."
"I hope so," Sandra sighed as she slipped her sweater over her shoulders. "I think I will walk in the garden if you don't mind."
"Go, my child. Just don't stray too far," warned Lorrie. "I better get Madeline something to eat before she howls that she's starving." The housekeeper snarled, "I thought we were through with that woman in this house." With that, she stomped back into the kitchen, determined to discover what Madeline was up to.
*****
Sandra took her time strolling through the garden, savoring the delightful scent of blooming roses that filled the air. The morning sun cast a warm golden glow across the rolling hills and lush fields, creating a picturesque view that took her breath away. She paused to admire the carriage house's charming windows and ivy-covered walls. Attached under each window were flower boxes overflowing with vibrant flowers, adding to the beauty.
Despite its small size, Sandra could see why James had chosen to stay there instead of the grand mansion. The carriage house exuded an air of tranquility and seclusion, making it an ideal place for a writer to work.
As she moved past the rose hedges, she walked through a mesmerizing field of wildflowers. The colors of the flowers were like a rainbow, and they swayed gently in the breeze as if dancing to a silent symphony. Lorrie's words, "Don't stray too far," echoed in her mind, but she couldn't resist the allure of this enchanting place.
Sandra continued wandering until the path led her through a dense forest of tall oaks that opened into a clearing. To her surprise, she discovered a cemetery with a black wrought-iron fence. Four old gravestones stood in a row; their inscriptions faded with time. Despite the place's eerie feeling, Sandra's curiosity was piqued as she approached the gate.
As Sandra lifted the latch, the gate creaked, and she felt a sudden chill run down her spine.
She felt as if someone was watching her. She turned around, her heart racing, but no one was there to be seen.
"Don't be silly, Sandra. It's just another old cemetery, and it seems very well-kept," she told herself, trying to calm her nerves.
She pushed aside her unease, opened the gate, and entered the graveyard. She gasped as she read the first name on the headstone — William Parker — Honorable Judge. Her eyes darted to the second gravestone — Ryan Hamilton — Detective. She edged closer to the third headstone — Benny Gonzales — The Hitman.
Sandra trembled as she stood in front of the fourth unmarked gravestone. She gulped, swallowing the bile building in her throat. Her eyes shifted from gravestone to gravestone, trying to make sense of it all. She felt dizzy as her thoughts swirled around in circles.
How is this possible?
Lorrie's words echoed in her mind again, "Don't stray too far." Sandra knew something wasn't right. Something told her to run, go home, and forget about the mansion, but the reporter in her wouldn't let go.
Who were the men she'd met a few days ago if the real ones were dead and buried here? And who is buried in the fourth grave? And what do James and Lorrie know about all this?
A faint rustling noise came from behind her as she stood there, breaking the silence. She spun around to see what the source of the sound was. Her heart was racing with anxiety, and her eyes struggled to adjust to the bright sunlight that was shining on her face. Amidst the glare, she glimpsed a figure moving among the trees, and her fear turned into a wave of panic. She realized she was not alone in the forest. Without a second thought, she turned and ran, the sound of footsteps echoing behind her and her mind racing with thoughts of who or what was there.
As she sprinted through the trees, branches scraped her arms and legs. Her mind raced with fear. Who was following her? What did they want?
As she ran out of the trees and across the meadow, she prayed she could reach the safety of the carriage house. Maybe James would be there.
Her hands trembled with adrenaline as she reached the cottage. She flung the door open and rushed inside, locking it behind her. She collapsed against the wall, trying to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her ears.
"You're safe, Sandra." A tall, imposing man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes stood near the fireplace.
Sandra's eyes widened, and she screamed, "Who are you?"
"Don't be silly, Sandra. It's just another old cemetery, and it seems very well-kept," she told herself, trying to calm her nerves.
She pushed aside her unease, opened the gate, and entered the graveyard. She gasped as she read the first name on the headstone — William Parker — Honorable Judge. Her eyes darted to the second gravestone — Ryan Hamilton — Detective. She edged closer to the third headstone — Benny Gonzales — The Hitman.
Sandra trembled as she stood in front of the fourth unmarked gravestone. She gulped, swallowing the bile building in her throat. Her eyes shifted from gravestone to gravestone, trying to make sense of it all. She felt dizzy as her thoughts swirled around in circles.
How is this possible?
Lorrie's words echoed in her mind again, "Don't stray too far." Sandra knew something wasn't right. Something told her to run, go home, and forget about the mansion, but the reporter in her wouldn't let go.
Who were the men she'd met a few days ago if the real ones were dead and buried here? And who is buried in the fourth grave? And what do James and Lorrie know about all this?
A faint rustling noise came from behind her as she stood there, breaking the silence. She spun around to see what the source of the sound was. Her heart was racing with anxiety, and her eyes struggled to adjust to the bright sunlight that was shining on her face. Amidst the glare, she glimpsed a figure moving among the trees, and her fear turned into a wave of panic. She realized she was not alone in the forest. Without a second thought, she turned and ran, the sound of footsteps echoing behind her and her mind racing with thoughts of who or what was there.
As she sprinted through the trees, branches scraped her arms and legs. Her mind raced with fear. Who was following her? What did they want?
As she ran out of the trees and across the meadow, she prayed she could reach the safety of the carriage house. Maybe James would be there.
Her hands trembled with adrenaline as she reached the cottage. She flung the door open and rushed inside, locking it behind her. She collapsed against the wall, trying to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her ears.
"You're safe, Sandra." A tall, imposing man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes stood near the fireplace.
Sandra's eyes widened, and she screamed, "Who are you?"
The man turned to her and spoke in a low, gravelly voice. "I mean you know harm, Sandra. Be careful in your journey at the mansion. Danger lurks in every corner. And not all is as it seems."
Sandra stammered, "How — do you — know me? And what danger?" Chills raced up and down her body as she stared at the stranger.
His words stunned her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something important about this man, something familiar.
Before she could question him further, she heard Lorrie calling her name. She stood, looked out the window, and then turned back to face the stranger. Her eyes darted around the room, but he was gone.
Sandra unlocked the door and stumbled outside, collapsing into Lorrie's arms. The last thing she heard was the housekeeper saying, "Oh dear, you've strayed too far, I think."
Book of the Month contest entry
Sandra Monroe - fledgling investigative reporter
Annie - Sandra's loyal assistant
Les - Sandra's boss
Detective Ryan Hamilton
Judge William Parker
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman
Lorrie - the housekeeper
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
The Familiar Stranger
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Annie - Sandra's loyal assistant
Les - Sandra's boss
Detective Ryan Hamilton
Judge William Parker
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman
Lorrie - the housekeeper
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
The Familiar Stranger
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