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Lenny made a face.

The laughter faded as they waited for the lights to come back on.

After a moment or two, Freddie said, “I think that’s it for Scrabble.”

Tosh went to join Oscar on the sofa. “What time is it?”

“After ten,” Ellery answered. “I can get lanterns out if you want to keep playing. The drinks are half made...”

Tactfully, his friends began to demur.

“I don’t know,” Tosh said vaguely. “I was thinking maybe I’d turn in early tonight. I’m pooped after all that running around in the snow today.”

A polite pause followed this while everyone considered Tosh’s real plans for the evening.

Oscar gave an evil laugh. “I say, we get flashlights and explore that secret passage—” He winced as Tosh elbowed him.

“What secret passage? Is there a secret passage in this house?” Freddie sounded intrigued.

“No way,” Chelsea said hotly. “That’s ahorribleidea. Talk about giving people nightmares! Or someone will break a leg and we won’t be able to get help.”

No one said anything after that unexpected outburst. Tosh and Oscar somehow managed to look at each other while not looking at each other.

“Okay,” Ellery said. “Well, the power might come back on tonight or it might not. We’ve got plenty of flashlights and candles. If you want to make it an early night, that’s fine. If you—”

“We’re not leaving tomorrow, are we?” Freddie interrupted.

“I.... It’s not looking that way at the moment. If it doesn’t snow tonight, and if they can clear the roads tomorrow, and if the ferry starts running—”

“That’s a lot of ifs.”

“It is.”

“Poor Ellery,” Flip said. “You didn’t realize you were opening a bed and breakfast.”

Ellery said honestly, “You know, there are worse things than getting to spend extra time with you guys. I figure we’ll just make the best of it.”

“Uh oh,” Oscar said. “He’s going to guilt us into playing Scrabble with him again.”

Ellery laughed. “Anyway.”

“Anyway, I’m going up,” Tosh said briskly, rising.

“I could use an early night,” Oscar agreed.

It was hard to tell in the gloom, but Ellery thought Chelsea rolled her eyes.

“Let me get flashlights,” Ellery said.

“We’ve got our phones. No need,” Tosh assured him.

Flip said to Lenny, “Shall I see you safely to your boudoir, milady? Those land-locked mermaids are pretty nasty this time of year.”

Lenny sniffed. “It’s your boudoir, too, bucko.”

“Oh, right. You can see me safely up, then.”

Freddie’s head turned toward Chelsea, who continued to sit in silence on the sofa. He sighed rather heavily. “If you don’tmind, I’m going to pour myself a whisky and go up. I’ve got a script I want to read over.”