Page 68 of Dead Serious Case 4 Professor Prometheus Plume

“Oh, there aren’t any clues in there,” Ellis says in confusion.

“Should probably check just to be sure.” The older man nods and hiccups again.

“If you like,” Ellis says easily and turns to everyone else. “Okay, then. If there’re no questions, you can make your way to your assigned starting points if you’d like and then it’s all up to you!”

I stay seated as Danny and I are starting in here, but as the others start to filter out, I see Bertie stand up and Roger hop down from the table. Even Edwina starts to rise from her chair.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” I say firmly to the three of them. “Sit.”

“Who?” Danny asks.

“Bertie, Roger, and Edwina,” I tell him as he scoots closer to me and leans his arm around the back of my chair.

“Edwina?”

“Suffragette,” I add by way of explanation, and he shrugs, settling in to wait for me to say what I need to.

He really is the most patient and understanding man I know. Unable to help myself, I lean over and brush a kiss against his lips.

“This won’t take long,” I murmur and he smiles.

Checking that all the other guests have cleared out of the room, I turn to the three spirits and channel my best schoolteacher tone.

“I’m really very disappointed in you all,” I begin, and they startle as if they’ve forgotten how it felt to be held accountable. “I’ve only been here two days and the behaviour I’ve seen from the resident spirits is appalling. Rosie and Ellis are run ragged, yet they still do everything with a smile. Dilys looks as if she’s about two steps away from joining you guys, and all I’ve seen is you lot being incredibly badly behaved.”

“But the afterlife is so bor–”

“Boring, yes, so you said,” I cut Roger off. “But imagine how much more boring it’s going to get if no one is here.”

“What the devil do you mean?” Bertie frowns.

“Like I said, I’ve only been here a few days. I don’t know the full story, I don’t know what their financial status is, but I’ve seen enough to know your continued selfish behaviour is most likely why they can’t get or keep guests and staff. A place like this can’t survive without either of those. What happens when the money runs out? The hotel will be closed. How will you feel when you’re forced to spend eternity in a house that’s empty and rotting around your ears?”

Roger stares at me thoughtfully. “He may have a point, Bertie.”

“All I’m saying is, maybe you could channel some of that boredom into being helpful rather than destructive, and as you two”—I point to Bertie and Roger—“seem to be the ringleaders around here, perhaps you should try keeping some of the other ghosts in line.”

“Hmm.” Bertie scratches her chin. “I–”

Suddenly an ear-piercing scream rings out, echoing through the house.

“What the?” I straighten in my chair. “Is this part of the event?”

“I don’t know.” Danny stands up and as he does, I see Dusty reappear.

“Uh, you guys should probably come see this.”

I scramble to my feet and grab Danny’s hand, dragging him from the room at a run.

“What’s going on?” he asks as we head down the corridor.

“Dusty said there’s something we need to see.” We emerge in the lobby and several of the other guests and Ellis appear at the same time.

“Oh, heavens, it sounds like someone has met a foul end!” Martha exclaims dramatically, thoroughly getting into the murder mystery spirit.

“That sounded like Rosie.” Ellis frowns and it’s a strange look on him. I don’t think I’ve seen worry on his face the whole time I’ve been here.

“The study!” I say, remembering where Ellis said Rosie would be, and we all start running.