Chapter 4: Jean-Paul Flamand

The spiritual advisor listened intently as Yvonne Ellison recounted the day’s incidents. While Phinn watched as Jean-Paul Flamand displayed no reaction to the ax chase and dead body discovery, Jake observed the other two newcomers’ faces after Phinn’s request. With a tap of his partner’s leg, Phinn followed with several hand motions. Jake acknowledged the coded order with his own minor gesture. A system they’d created approximately five years ago went unnoticed in the increasingly filled sitting room.

The first woman who caught Jake’s attention happened due to recognition. No way! Catherine Dall! Wow, what’s the Tinseltown Doll doing here?

The athletic detective immediately attempted to recall details he knew about the star actress. Rising to fame on the primetime show Jealous City in her late teens, Jake realized that it had to be over twenty years ago. She’d made raves with her beauty and raw sexuality, leading her to earn the title of Best Tits in Hollywood for three years in a row from a sketchy yet popular magazine.

Hold on! Adora also won that reward. There was that controversy about both of them. Despite the nearly twenty-year age gap, they’d been mentioned together because of the outrage over each receiving votes while still only sixteen or seventeen. Neither actress won the crude award until they were slightly older, but the publicity helped make them instant celebrities.

Guessing that Cat had to be in her early forties, Jake studied the shocked and worried actress. A golden blonde with slightly curled, shoulder-length hair, gray eyes, and a pair of Double D breasts, she didn’t appear to have any cosmetic work done. While watching as Catherine wiped a seat before sitting down, the teen remembered that she’d scored the Sensualist’s Triple Crown one year by also winning Best Ass and Most Fuckable. Although a bit plumper, Jake liked her curvy tush’s current state.

Damn, she’s still hot as a cougar or MILF. Transitioning from the small screen to the big time, Catherine stacked a series of outstanding dramatic roles that proved she could be more than eye candy. However, her nude scenes in crime films Club Unseen and Nowhere Nights were often ranked highly. The latter movie had been an adaptation of a hard-boiled crime series that Phinn read early in their Busybody, Inc. days, so Jake knew his best friend must have also recognized the silver screen star.

Wait, what’s she done recently? Jake asked himself. Struggling to think of anything, the teen suddenly felt bad for the actress. She’d suffered through a pair of high-profile divorces, and the negative publicity had been rumored as a reason for hurting her career. Adora, Cat, and that Albie kid were once stars, but now they’re here in the middle of nowhere. What’s this Flamand guy up to?

Although Phinn had taken the crystal healer or whatever as his subject, Jake took a moment to study the man. Jean-Paul wasn’t what he expected. The cape might fit, but not the well-tailored three-piece suit. If anything, Jake expected to meet a hippie dressed in a robe, or somebody who looked like a Jedi while sounding like Yoda. Still, the manner in which Flamand carried himself felt familiar.

The next woman who received Jake’s interest, he guessed to be Selene, Flamand’s assistant. A tall woman with black hair, green eyes, medium-to-large breasts, and alabaster skin, Selene’s name ran true. Likely an alias or the choice of a perceptive parent, she emanated a supernatural vibe to the teen. Jake couldn’t decide if she came off as a vampire, siren, or succubus, but Selene seemed ripped from Gothic times despite her modern clothes. The composed assistant nearly matched her leader’s stony face. However, Jake caught a flash of anger about Troy’s behavior. More interestingly, her piercing green eyes narrowed along with a scowl at the revelation of Sheriff Wheeler’s impending return and questioning. Those same eyes flickered with concern over at Jean-Paul.

Simultaneously, the spiritual advisor finally showed emotion as he gasped and placed a hand to his heart. Standing up, the man with medium-brown hair walked over to kneel before Yvonne while reaching to clasp her hands.

“I apologize for not being here for you, my dear.”

“My goodness! Don’t apologize. You were away and busy,” the strawberry blonde responded dismissively.

“Yet, I felt negative energy wash over this house. We should’ve ended Catherine’s session earlier,” Jean-Paul stated. “However, I’m here now for you. I imagine such a peaceful home as this has never witnessed such evil before.”

“Maybe it’s Wolfram Voelker,” Benji suggested.

"One should not speak that name unless absolutely necessary," Flamand replied steely, the warmth vanishing from his voice and face.

“My apologies, Corseer,” the former child actor mumbled sheepishly.

Phinn watched Benji’s eyes drop to the floor like a scolded pet. The term or title used wasn’t familiar to the well-versed investigator. The interactions and ways everyone looked at Jean-Paul also intrigued him. Most of the guests appeared to hold the man in reverence.

"I would know if The Foul One approached. There is no need to fear him at this moment," Flamand declared, scanning the sitting room. His stern gaze softened as they landed on Jake and Phinn's location. "Ah, we have guests."

The clapping of his hands seemed to awaken Yvonne from a trance.

“Jiminy Cricket! I’m sooo sorry! These are Leighton’s guests.”

“Of course. I recall your nieces mentioning bringing back guests before they left,” the handsome man remarked, throwing out his arms widely. “Jean-Paul Flamand welcomes all and any of Lieton and Peasley’s friends.”

While most people might have found the butchering of the girls’ names comical, Phinn didn’t. For a reason he couldn’t explain yet, Flamand’s mispronunciation of the words lie and pea felt almost creepy to the observant teen. At the least, it seemed intentional and disrespectful.

“Jake Magnum,” the football player replied after being asked for his name. He shared a firm handshake with the older man, who held the grip far longer than necessary while studying the teen with his amber eyes.

“A pleasure to meet you, Jake,” Flamand declared, finally unclenching their hand to turn toward the other teen.

Uh-oh! Phinn’s definitely not going to like this guy, Jake announced in his head. The scrawny teen despised men who made a strong handshake a test of one’s manliness. Preferring a fist bump or dap, which Phinn did by clasping hands before sliding his off, the teen found the other route to be an archaic, macho waste of time. Still, with his desire to be underestimated, Phinn almost always responded with the weakest grip possible.

“Ah, a name that invokes intelligence,” Jean-Paul commented, glancing down at the limp hand he crushed.

“Yes, it’s such a lovely name. I felt a kindred connection at once,” Yvonne revealed, beaming at the brainy detective.

“Is that so? How fascinating.”

Despite his intention to appear weak, Phinn met and held the potential grifter’s hardening gaze. The experienced sleuth saw that the spiritual advisor’s welcoming words rang hollow. The brainy detective also recalled a man from his past who’d nearly perfected his flim-flam game before he encountered a trio of snoops.

“I shall like to learn more about Lieton and Peasley’s friends when we have time,” Flamand concluded, freeing Phinn’s hand. “However, I sense several of you are unsettled by the tragedy.”

Yvonne, Catherine, and Benji nodded while Portia shrugged, and Karter appeared disinterested. In response, Flamand motioned toward the three rattled people.

“A cleansing and rebalancing are required. Let us retire to the spiritual room,” Jean-Paul suggested. “We can hold a full meeting once Adora and Hazel return.”

“And Troy,” Yvonne added.

“Yes, of course,” Flamand acknowledged, smiling brightly as he led the lady of the estate toward the stairs.

---

“I don’t like him,” Phinn proclaimed, after they’d returned to the boys’ rooms.

“That’s not a surprise,” Leighton responded, bending down to plug in a portable air conditioning unit.

“We agree for once,” Paisley stated, scanning the old servants’ quarters with disgust while fanning her face with an old-fashioned hand fan.

“That is a surprise,” Jake replied, working on placing a box fan in the perfect location. He’d won rock, paper, scissors with Phinn to get it over the smaller oscillating fan.

“And I don’t think he liked you bringing guests here,” Phinn speculated, looking at Leighton.

“Flamand doesn’t. He never said it flat out, but he hedged around the edges while encouraging Aunt Vonnie to disallow it. Pais heard him mention that this was her home and her decision.”

“Which led our aunt to point out that it’s her grandfather’s home,” Paisley recounted. “Of course, Aunt Yvonne said it in a laughing manner. She didn’t understand what he was trying to do.”

“What’s with the name thing?” Jake inquired.

“Oh, he does that on purpose,” Leighton declared. “He knows precisely how to say our names.”

“I’m often ready to strangle him,” the ice queen revealed.

“The only other one to get similar treatment is Troy, or as he’s called, Toy,” the redhead added.

“Yes, I had the impression the mispronounced names were a control aspect. I take it that Flamand isn’t fond of Troy?” Phinn checked.

“No. He’s quite snotty to him,” Paisley revealed.

Jake and Phineas held in a laugh at the condescending ice queen calling another person snotty. Instead, Phinn fought off the chuckle by asking another question.

“I’m curious how Flamand reacts to the sheriff’s return. Wheeler’s a lightweight, but a possible con artist won’t like the law sniffing around his scheme.”

“So you think he’s that?” Leighton asked Phinn.

“It’s the most likely scenario. Look at your aunt’s guests. Three actors who could be classified as has-beens.”

“Whoa! That Albie kid could be called one, but Adora and Cat are just between roles,” Jake argued.

“I said it could be classified. Don’t get bent out of shape over it,” Phinn responded while Paisley shook her head in annoyance. “A former tech whiz kid and a bored socialite. All these individuals taken together point to a group searching for their next success or adventure. I’m going to theorize they’ve flocked to Flamand for guidance. That need leaves them ****.”

“But what about Aunt Vonnie? She’s not famous or as wealthy as the others,” Leighton pointed out.

“Yes, that’s true,” Phinn agreed before glancing around at the walls. “Location. Your aunt provides an isolated location for Flamand to work his con. That’s the item she provides him.”

“I can’t put my finger on it, but this guy reminds me of a past case,” Jake admitted.

“Vernon Farlow?”

“The used car salesman who wanted to run for mayor? Hardly,” Paisley scoffed.

“Farlow was a master manipulator and a burgeoning demagogue,” Phinn listed. “I don’t think Mayor Broome appreciates us enough for exposing his chop shop ring before election day.”

“That’s a good comparison, but not the guy I was thinking,” Jake responded.

"Marvello is an obvious comparison, but he used technology, not a strong will, to conduct his fake magical shows," Phinn explained. "He also lacked creativity and imagination in his name and operation."

“No. Who’s that ex-circus ringmaster turned self-help guru?” Jake questioned, unable to recall the name.

“Ah, Randall Repington. Good call,” Phinn praised his partner. “He could sell sunglasses to Helen Keller.”

“Really?” Leighton challenged, crossing her arms.

“I picked the least offensive saying,” Phinn defended himself. “Repington might be the best I’ve ever seen at manipulating people’s needs and desires. Hell, he even had Jake buying his bullshit until–”

“We don’t need to get into that today,” Jake interrupted, his face reddening.

“Whatever. I need to get out of this sauna. I’m going to my room,” Paisley announced, but she stayed for now.

“Yeah, it’s going to take time for that thing to help,” Jake noted, pointing at the AC unit. “We need to get outside in that breeze.”

“We need to familiarize ourselves with everyone and everything,” his partner added.

“Oh! I should give you a tour,” Leighton announced, happy to have something normal to do.

“Excellent. You can also explain why you omitted certain details that seem important,” Phinn added, holding in a scowl.

“Like what?”

“Like what’s a corseer?” Jake asked, causing Leighton and Paisley to pause as they exited the servants’ quarters into a short corridor.

“We’re not sure. I tried looking up various spellings once we got to Edgewater. There are several terms or concepts that JP talks about that don’t make sense or match any single ideology,” Leighton revealed. “I’ve recognized Buddhist and Hindu terms and some that sound Asian or Native-American.”

“JP?” Jake queried.

“It’s easier than saying his damn name all the time,” Paisley explained. “We know plenty of his talk is astrology, but I also recognized sayings from yoga.”

“You do yoga?” Phinn questioned, flashing a slight smirk.

“No, I do not. My friends do. Wipe that smirk off your face!” Paisley ordered.

“Yoga does seem strenuous and soothing, unlike your demeanor,” Phinn confirmed, winking.

“I can’t wait to leave again,” the pale blonde affirmed.

Holding up a finger to be quiet, Leighton opened a door across from their rooms. While she led them into a large kitchen, Paisley went to her room upstairs. Styled in white with black trim, the three teens walked on the matching tiles. Ripped straight from the 1950s, the kitchen evidently hadn’t been remodeled since then. An abundance of cupboards, countertops, and knick-knacks graced the room’s surfaces, while a double oven and an oversized refrigerator filled another of the room’s sides.

As Leighton explained about a smaller fridge in the pantry for her and her cousin's preferences, the door to said room opened to reveal its ample space and Marie. The cook/housekeeper welcomed the boys again. Motioning them closer, the brunette dropped her voice to a whisper.

“I stopped at the market in Darlingport over the weekend to pick up food for you,” Marie revealed conspiratorially.

“That wasn’t necessary,” Jake responded.

“Trust me. It was,” Leighton said. “I thought my cousin was health-conscious, but these people are militant when it comes to food.”

“Yvonne agreed. I’ve stashed away soda and comfort food in the pantry. Help yourself whenever you’re in the mood,” Marie explained while pointing to where it resided inside the pantry. “Just be careful who you eat it around.”

“We appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you didn’t need to make a special trip for us,” Phinn said, remembering to be polite.

“It wasn’t a special trip. I go to Darlingport every week for fresh food. We go through a lot of produce with our current guests. Our garden and preserves could never keep up,” Marie reassured. “I also need to stop at the post office box.”

“You don’t get mail service here?” Phinn questioned, raising an eyebrow as he thought he saw a mailbox on the road.

“We do, but Aunt Vonnie likes to read newspapers. The television options are spotty here, and we don’t have internet,” Leighton explained. “So, she subscribes to a few newspapers and a ton of magazines, which all get delivered to the box in Darlingport.”

“No internet at all?!” Jake questioned, sounding shocked.

“I know. You eventually forget about not being connected, but it can take up to a week to get over the urge to check your phone,” the redhead admitted. “That’s one reason I tend to visit my uncle’s place in Edgewater every few weeks. Besides, the best Aunt Vonnie can get is dial-up out here. It’s not worth the effort.”

“This does complicate things,” Phinn admitted, keeping it vague because of Marie’s presence.

“I know. If you need cell reception, you won’t find it until we pass Lumlow again. Even then, it’s about a ten-minute drive from town,” Leighton revealed.

“Stuck in the middle of nowhere,” Phinn mumbled.

“Yes, we should start the tour so you can see everything in nowhere,” Leighton chuckled before addressing Marie. “I’ll be out giving the guys a tour if Aunt Vonnie asks.”

"I'll put together some cold drinks in the fridge for when you return. It's still warming up outside."

“Thanks, Marie!” the redhead said, gesturing to her two guests to leave.

“Oh! That reminds me, we should call home,” Jake said, remembering their parents expected a call after their arrival.

“Sure, you can use….Marie, what happened to the phone?” Leighton asked, stopping to stare at the blank wall. All Jake and Phinn saw was a cleaner, brighter area on the white wall.

“Oh, uh, Mr. Flamand felt the telephones interacted wrongly with the home's energy. He had all of them removed except for the line in the den,” the cook/housekeeper explained, sounding put out by the move.

“Wait, all the rooms? Even our bedrooms? Oh, that asshole is going to hear about this!” Leighton vowed.

“Please don’t make a scene, Leigh. Not today. Vonnie is already upset over that poor person they found,” Marie pleaded.

“Fine. I’ll wait, but that jerk is going to hear about it. This is my home, too!” the redhead announced.

Leading the investigators out of the kitchen, Leighton traveled east down the side corridor to the main hallway that ran the length of the grand home. After a few steps, she turned east again to take a shortcut through the dining room. Jake whistled at the extended table.

“Damn, I bet twenty people can sit at that.”

“Twenty-two to be precise,” Leighton clarified, cutting through the dining room to enter a library that sat in the front of the house on the opposite side of the foyer from the sitting room. “Feel free to read anything in here if you get bored.”

Although at the estate for a case, Phinn thought a book or two could be useful as a prop while observing the other guests. Tucked in the northeastern corner of the house, accessible only through the library, the teens found the remaining telephone in a small den.

Jake took the first turn, talking to his sister. He passed on the home’s phone number and their lack of cell service. He hung up as Liberty roared in laughter at his isolated predicament. Phinn found a stroke of luck as his father answered rather than his mother. A soft-spoken man outside of his class lectures, Fraser Farris barely scratched the surface of questions compared to his wife’s usual interrogation. Phinn noticed an echo on the phone, leading him to wonder about its reliability.

“Alright, over in the southeastern section of the house, the billiards room is next to the sitting room,” Leighton began to list after they finished their calls and returned to the foyer. “Over in the southwestern corner is the conservatory. It is usually the coolest room with all its windows. Next to that, toward the rear center, is the ballroom. The largest room in the house is also where several AC window units are set up. The group holds their meetings in there.”

"Don't you mean the fellowship?" Phinn challenged, leading to a question that he wanted an answer to.

Raising a finger, the redhead led them out the front door toward the fountain.

“I didn’t tell you they use that word because I don’t know why. I tried to ask what it meant. Aunt Vonnie laughed it off as a nickname they used. Hazel froze up and said she’s not supposed to talk about it. AD warned me that Flamand doesn’t like people snooping into his work.”

“Oh, he’s going to love us,” Phinn predicted, grinning.

“No doubt,” Jake agreed, chuckling. “There aren’t any other bedrooms on the first floor?”

“Nothing besides where you’re at,” Leighton confirmed. “There are officially eleven bedrooms on the second floor. Besides those, there is also the old nursery and a room once used for the governess.”

“Governess? How fancy and elitist,” Phinn commented.

“I’m in the southwestern corner bedroom with Paisley next to me and Hazel next to her. Across the hall is Marie’s room. On the other side of hers is Aunt Vonnie’s bedroom. Her room opens into the small reading nook at the front of the house, as does the master suite. That room is left unoccupied in case my grandparents or one of our parents stops for a visit.”

“I’m surprised Flamand didn’t claim the master suite,” Jake remarked.

"Me too. He often plays the simple man role by claiming he only needs bread and water. Yet, I've overheard him discussing expensive wines. He also took the old windowless nursery in the center upstairs with the connecting nanny's room at the back serving as his spiritual center or some crap," Leighton explained. "Let's see…on the other side of the master suite are Benji and Selene's rooms. Benji got the only windowless full-sized bedroom. As for the northwestern corner, Catherine has that room with Karter in the center-north bedroom while AD and Troy share the room next to his and across the hall from Selene and Benji."

“Selene is a person we need to know more about,” Phinn stated. “First, what are these sessions?”

“We’re not entirely sure. I thought they were crystal healing therapy, JP’s main thing. However, Paisley overheard a conversation that made it sound like astrology was involved.”

“The quick research I did last night mentioned some people mix the two. It might be safe to assume that Flamand does. Also, you said you overheard terminology from various religions. Mixing and matching different beliefs could be useful, drawing in as many people as possible. People recognizing familiar concepts helps provide comfort when encountering new, strange ideas,” Phinn explained, as they walked past the garage and down the driveway.

They stayed silent for the walk as they noticed Karter Tersted returning to the main house from the barn. He barely glanced in their direction while cutting across the well-maintained lawn. Its appearance and the presence of the barn and horses stabled nearby led Jake to ask about other servants.

“Marie’s the only full-time employee who lives here, and as I said, she’s not treated as a servant. As for the lawn, we used to have a nice local man named Vince who took care of it. He was almost as close to family as Marie is, but I guess he quit last month,” Leighton explained. “Since then, the horse groomer has handled some additional chores. I assume Aunt Vonnie will need to hire another gardener soon, and there aren’t any lawn services around Lumlow.”

“A relatively standard barn,” Phinn decided, appraising the structure after they’d entered.

"Right. It's mostly for storage. Once upon a time, my relatives kept other livestock, such as chickens. Any equipment not kept over at the workbench is in the shed on the other side of the house," Leighton revealed, pointing over at a large wooden bench with numerous tools hanging on the same wall. "Oh, there is a loft upstairs with a bed. It's a pretty rustic setup, but if you don't mind the bugs and smells, it's bound to be cooler than your current rooms."

“That’s a possibility…for me, not Phinn. He hates bugs, especially mosquitoes.”

“He can also answer for himself,” the bespectacled teen informed his best friend.

"If you hate getting bitten, you'd better slap on plenty of bug repellent. We get a lot of them around this time of the year," Leighton warned, causing Phinn to groan. "Especially along the trails. We'll wait until tomorrow morning before the temperatures rise to explore those."

An in-ground swimming pool behind the main home pleasantly surprised Jake. Phinn guessed that his friend would spend time around the pool’s patio with all the attractive and famous women staying at Ellison House. For now, Leighton took a wide arc around the pool to point out other minor sights.

“The Foul One, tell me what you know,” Phinn prompted. “I assume he’s the rival you mentioned.”

“Yes. Wolfram Voelker is the boogeyman’s name. As with everything, he’s shrouded in a vague mystery. Guests like Troy, Karter, and Catherine dismiss him, but Aunt Vonnie, Hazel, Benji, and AD seem scared to **** whenever his name is mentioned. Honestly, I’m surprised that Benji even brought up his name,” Leighton admitted. “All I know is that Voelker and his arrival are treated as a looming threat.”

“Hmmm, interesting,” Phinn sounded, pondering the possibilities.

Continuing the tour, Jake and Phinn spent nearly twenty minutes searching the woods near the area where Troy claimed to have been chopping firewood. With her interest in nature and tracking skills, Leighton took a few minutes to show off. She quickly found the trampled brush where Troy had entered the forest, and by backtracking, the redhead felt confident that she'd discovered the watcher's location.

“You still got it for a spoiled rich girl,” Phinn acknowledged, sharing a grin with Jake.

“Hey, just because I grew up in the city doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the outdoors. My family does have a cabin in the same region as Camp Little Weasel,” she reminded,

“How can we ever forget. You only mentioned it a hundred times the summer we met you,” Phinn recalled.

“At least that,” Jake added, teasing the once bossy girl. He had to admit that Leighton seemed to have mellowed over the years.

“Don’t test me. I can still bring out the bitch when it’s needed,” Leighton warned, chuckling.

SLAP

“Okay, that’s it. I’m getting eaten alive,” Phinn complained after killing another mosquito.

“We’d better skip the pond if that’s the case.”

Returning to the main house, Leighton led them into the conservatory to cool off. Given all the plants in the conservatory, the greenhouse, and the flowers scattered around the property, the detectives could easily deduce why Aunt Yvonne needed a full-time gardener. Stretching out on several sofas, Jake and Phinn gladly accepted the glasses of lemonade from Leighton after she fetched the pitcher from the kitchen. They agreed that the room’s arrangement of windows and fans helped tremendously with the heat and humidity.

Slowly, while discussing their day, Leighton fell asleep at the other end of the couch Phinn sat on. At some point while thinking over the events, Phinn's heavy eyes closed for good, while Jake snored lightly. They had woken up early, was Phinn's final thought.

While dreaming of an alternate version of Marvello’s magical show from his investigation, Phinn couldn’t understand why Dusty kept punching his shoulder. However, waking from the dream, he found Paisley rocking the same shoulder in the dim light of the conservatory. He’d fallen asleep while sitting upright against the sofa’s armrest.

“Hey, are you alright?” the ice queen asked with a hint of concern.

“What, why?” Phinn asked groggily before noticing Leighton’s head resting on his lap.

"Galloping Gremlins! You slept for hours, including through dinner!" Yvonne exclaimed as Jake yawned loudly while waking up.

“Oh!” the redhead sounded, lifting her head off Phinn. “I guess we were exhausted.”

“Holy moley, you must have been! We tried to wake you twice before deciding to let you rest,” Yvonne revealed.

“Um, what time is it?” her sleepy niece asked, noticing the sun had set.

“Nine o’clock,” Paisley revealed as Jake rolled to sit up.

“Marie has several sandwiches in the refrigerator if you want a late supper,” Yvonne revealed.

“I think I’d rather go up to my bed,” Leighton responded.

Standing up, the redhead appeared shaky on her feet. Yvonne grabbed her arm after seeing the trouble. “Pais, help lead the boys to their rooms. I’ll take care of Leigh.”

Getting up, Phinn rocked uneasily, too. A feeling of vertigo occurred briefly before passing. The sensation and Jake's falling back onto the sofa before getting up clicked with past experiences. Phinn followed Paisley down the main hallway without saying a word before turning off the side corridor. She mentioned the sandwiches again with the kitchen nearby, as she knew her aunt would want her to.

“Not right now. Let’s talk inside,” the scrawny detective suggested, still struggling to fight off the grogginess. Once they all entered the tiny hallway in the servants’ quarters, Phinn motioned for them to enter his room together despite Paisley’s confusion. “How are you feeling?”

“Really out of it,” Jake admitted.

“Feel familiar? Like from The Cargo Caper?”

“Holy shit! We were ****?” Jake questioned, blinking his eyes repeatedly to wake up further.

“It feels like it,” Phinn confirmed.

“Wait, what?” Paisley responded. “Did you say ****?”

“I did,” the brainy sleuth said while pondering the development.

“It had to be in the lemonade,” Jake deduced as Phinn moved to examine his bags.

“What about the lemonade? You can’t be serious,” the ice queen challenged, but she appeared to grow paler at the implication.

“Marie put aside drinks for us in the fridge before we left for our tour. Sleeping pills of some kind were then added while we were away,” Phinn concluded.

“Why?” Paisley asked.

“Jake, check your bags. I assume you’ll find that someone searched your belongings. They did so to mine,” Phineas revealed.

Jake quickly and briefly left the bedroom before returning.

“Yep, mine were also searched. Nothing is missing. It’s a good thing we didn’t bring any equipment that revealed our purpose.”

“I think that ship sailed,” Phinn stated. “Somebody in this house suspects we’re not the usual guests.”

“We didn’t tell anyone why we invited you,” Paisley insisted.

“They might not have known why. It could be standard paranoia or suspicion that would’ve happened with any other guest you brought here. Or you were overheard at some point. It doesn’t matter now. We have to proceed as if we’ve been outed,’ Phinn declared, sharing a nod with his partner.

“We’ll continue to play the part of your old friends for the other guests, but we can’t afford to drop our guard from now on,” Jake said.

"As for that, I don't think Leighton is in danger, but we can't take the risk. Paisley, you'd better stay in her room tonight. Can you do that?" Phinn asked.

“Yeah, sure. We used to have sleepovers as kids while visiting here. Do you really think somebody might try something?”

“It’s doubtful. Based on the search of our belongings, I’d wager that was the purpose of our drugging, unless it was to keep us away from another event. What happened while we were asleep? Did the sheriff return?” Phinn inquired.

“No, he called and said he’d be by tomorrow. Troy, Adora, and Hazel returned around dinnertime. After we ate, they held a group session in the ballroom,” Paisley recounted. “Do you think any of those could be the reason?”

“The group session is plausible. Perhaps we needed to be kept away. Or somebody didn’t want us questioning the returnees before they had a chance to be warned,” Phinn said, shrugging his shoulders.

With little else to add, Phinn told Paisley she should go to Leighton’s room. For once, the uppity heiress didn’t have a snarky comeback. The two detectives spent nearly twenty minutes discussing the case before Jake wondered if their rooms could be bugged. Cursing, Phinn said they needed to keep quiet and check in the morning.

“I hope not,” the bespectacled sleuth muttered before they decided to go back to sleep.

Several hours later, Phineas woke with a rumbling stomach. Wide awake now, the teen grabbed his phone to see that it was just past one a.m. Using the phone as a flashlight, Phinn left the servants’ quarters to enter the kitchen. Keeping the room’s lights off, he worked his way to the refrigerator to find a pair of food containers filled with turkey or ham sandwiches.

“There’s no reason to **** these,” Phinn concluded before grabbing two turkey and cheese sandwiches. Entering the pantry, he found a can of soda and a bag of chips.

Seated at the kitchen table, Phinn ate his late-night meal while running over the day’s events. Nearly finished, he stopped chewing a chip as he heard a splash from outside. Moving toward the rear window, Phinn realized he couldn’t see much from the northwestern corner of the grand home.

Rushing out of the kitchen, Phinn glanced toward the far end of the side corridor. There was an outside door, but the teen discarded it as an option. Instead, he hurried to the main hallway, using his phone’s light as necessary before reaching another outside door on the home’s north side.

Slipping through the door, Phinn made his way around the corner of the house. With a bright moon out, he had a decent view of the swimming pool. The late-night swimmer’s stealthy strokes might have kept their presence quiet if Phinn hadn’t heard the previous splash.

Watching the pool, the junior investigator waited and waited. Finally, after half an hour, a figure emerged from the water. Holding up his phone, Phinn used the camera function to zoom in.

Are you fucking serious? Phinn screamed in his head before lowering the phone.

The late-night swimmer was a buck-naked Jean-Paul Flamand.

Despite not wanting to watch the naked man, Phinn knew he needed to observe his behavior, especially so after their apparent drugging. So he waited and watched until **** to duck around the corner and behind a bush as his quarry walked north from the pool.

What is he doing? Phinn questioned as Flamand continued walking naked past the house and onto the grass. Eventually, the junior sleuth figured out his trajectory, as it was the only one that made sense. The spiritual advisor headed for the barn.

Scanning the wide open field, Phinn cursed the lack of cover as Flamand reached the large door, opened it, and vanished inside.

I have to learn what he’s up to, but how? I will be exposed if I follow him, Phinn concluded, now cursing the moonlight. Scanning the area, he searched for any route to the barn that wouldn’t leave him clear to be seen by any watcher. Wait, what about—

Seeing a second person sneak across the field toward the barn surprised the investigator.