Page 89 of Dead Serious Case 4 Professor Prometheus Plume

“Why didn’t you say something?” Danny says.

“I wasn’t ready to reveal my hypothesis until I’d gathered more clues,” Essie says as if it should be obvious.

“But we’re not playing a murder mystery, this is a real murder.” Danny gives an exasperated sigh.

“It’s still the same thing,” Essie replies with a prim sniff.

“It doesn’t matter,” Ruby cuts in. “What matters is that I have an alibi and didn’t move the body.”

“Rubes,” Grey gasps in betrayal.

“Why did you move the body, Mr Greyson?” Danny asks. “We already knew he was dead at that point, so what did you think you’d achieve?”

“I was trying to buy more time for Ruby,” Grey replies.

“What do you mean, buy more time for me?” Ruby frowns.

“I wasn’t going to let them send you to prison, my love,” he says passionately. “I hid the body because I thought it would give us enough time to make a run for it.”

“But I didn’t kill him,” Ruby protests. “You did.”

“No I didn’t.” He shakes his head. “You did. The only time we were apart was after dinner when I went to use the restroom. When I came back, I found you in the corridor rather than the dining room, and his body was discovered not long after.”

“I was in the corridor searching for you,” Ruby said. “When you said you were going to the restroom, I thought you wanted to… you know...” She sends him a pointed look. “But I couldn’t find you. You were the one who had the opportunity to kill my husband.”

“I didn’t though.” Grey shakes his head.

“Well, I didn’t either,” Ruby says as her gaze softens. “You really hid his body for me because you thought I’d killed him?”

“I’d do anything for you, Rubes,” Grey says.

“That’s the most romantic thing ever.” She glides over to him and even though he has his hands cuffed behind his back and Danny grips his arm, Ruby grabs Grey’s face and proceeds to kiss him ardently.

“Oh my god, you two are giving me a headache.” I rub my eyes.

“It’s like watching an episode ofCoronation Street,” Dusty mutters.

“When you two are ready to come up for air,” Danny says, his tone dry, “you’re still under suspicion regardless.”

“As much as I’m loathed to admit it,” a new voice intrudes, “neither of those backstabbing adulterers killed me.”

Ruby gasps and spins around to find Professor Plume standing beside his body as he glowers at his wife and her lover.

“What the hell is going on?” Danny stares at Plume’s ghost. “If they didn’t kill you, who did?”

Professor Plume sniffs. “I told the short, wild-haired one with glasses that I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“I’m not short,” I grumble.

“I don’t care if you don’t want to talk about it,” Danny says, his patience slipping. “We’ve just spent all night turning over the hotel trying to find your body. The least you can do is tell us what you remember. I’m not trying to be insensitive to the recently departed but unless I’m very much mistaken, you need to resolve your unfinished business before you can cross into the light.” Danny glances over at me for confirmation.

I shrug. “At this point, I haven’t a clue.”

“Then I’ll just have to stay here.” Professor Plume folds his arms, looking belligerent.

“Marvellous!” Bertie claps her hands. “Another addition for the Haunted Hotel plan.”

Roger gives a disgruntled pout, his little blonde moustache crumpling. “Another actor? Can’t we keep the hunky policeman instead?”