"You shouldn’t have acquired a hotel on a fucking floodplain, then." He does snipe however, a little parting gift.
Both siblings continued to bicker about Lil’s inability to not cause drama, whilst Wren leaned forward with his elbow on his thigh and his strong jaw in his palm. Neither of us say anything, but I rest the side of my head upon his shoulder and stroke the back of his arm slowly. He hums a little at my touch, and we wait like that for a while, until finally Merle emerges and throws a bunch of folded paper onto one of the low coffee tables.
"Well, Starling is keeping Bran locked in his room like a caged monkey. He won’t let me speak to him, and he’s going to get himself arrested for trying to hit an officer. I swear Goldie is winding him up on purpose." He seethes tiredly, running thick fingers through his short dark waves. "I also knocked on Jay's door and he didn’t answer, so it’s just us."
Lil drops the next stresser. "Cardinal and the girls are going to attempt to drive out of here. Willow’s going to stand in one puddle and retreat right back inside, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much." The ice clinks again and I see his eyebrow twitch.
"Well, let's not wait. Clues are on the table, the latest one is still in the envelope." He throws his large frame into a love seat by the windows and continues to rub at his temples. He doesn’t look at Phin and my best friend says nothing, but he gets up to kneel by the low table and takes the card from the envelope.
Continents spin with liquid delights.
We all ponder the question in silence, but Lil doesn’t feign interest. Liquid delights could reference any of the bars set up around the hotel, but the continents part stumps me. Traveling? Is there a mini bar in Cardinal’s room, which is the adventure-themed bedroom? We’d draped the four posters in sandy drapes and there were woven baskets and rugs in there, along with golden illustrated constellation maps in the wallpaper. It was one of my favorite rooms because it was so different, the vision coming together perfectly.
A stone drops in my stomach. If my name was on the deed, did that mean I currently own Nightingale house?
My eyes flick to Merle, who is facing away from our group with his eyes closed. If it was easy for the detectives to find out, then I was sure he had the deed in his office upstairs. Could I slip away when we looked for the clue and make sure?
Placing the card down, Phoenix looks over the rest of the papers scattered on the table and stands. "Should we check all the bars? It sounds like it could have something to do with where we keep alcohol.”
I realise he’s posing the question at me, his light eyes looking hopeful. I’d managed to work out most of the clues pretty quickly and hadn’t been wrong so far. “Sure. It makes the most sense. The continents part could either relate to the room you put Cardinal in or if guests are travelling, maybe any luggage holds. Anywhere they’d wait to depart.” I grasped at straws, my thoughts trying to count how many secrets we’d already found and who were still hidden. “We need to find Brans, Jays, Mavis’, Merles and mine,” I say, making sure my voice carries across the room.
Bingo.
Merle tenses up and the rubbing of his temple stops. His eyes open straight at me and I know he understands what I’m doing.“That’s right, isn’t it?” I ask again, raising my brow directed at him.
“Yeah, sounds right. I have no clue at this point who kept their secret or told the group. Maybe I should have laid off the alcohol.” Phin says, his sister letting out a bitter laugh.
“Quite an understatement, Brother. I’d be surprised if you don’t bleed bubbly fizz.”
I watch as Merle moves his head stiffly, like he’s chasing the urge to crack his neck but can’t get there. I don’t think he cares about her jabs, I think he’s bothered that his boyfriend has been a total wreck. He looks not only disappointed but disgusted.
“Let’s split up into groups. Girls, you look around together, and the three of us will go check on the bar set up, probably underwater in the garden.” Wren says, taking the lead, giving me a small smile. I don’t think anyone is going to be trashing rooms and belongings in broad daylight, but the house is quite vast, so I’m happy we’ll at least be in groups if anything else happens.
“I need to speak with Detective Starling about Bran and the weather situation. If it all clears up in the next day and the authorities clear up the flooding, I’m going to protest we all leave.” Merle sighs, looking defeated and tired whilst he stares out of the window.
Phoenix’s hand rises but defeatedly falls to his side, whilst he stares at the floor. “Okay, find us after? Please.”
“I’m going to leave the hotel, too.”
“W-What? Aren’t we meant to be figuring out the reopening and contacting guests?” He splutters, now stepping forward, but Merle doesn’t even bother to move his gaze from the rainy herb garden freshly planted.
“We can talk about it later, but I think it’s for the best, Phoenix.” Silence stretched before us.
The straw clinks again, but finally Lily places it on the coffee table and dusts off her skirt. “C’mon everyone, let the poor man mope.”
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Phin shoots his sister a warning look, but it twists into pure agony as he looks down at his boyfriend who still refuses to look up. “We’ll talk later.” He’s the first to leave the room, Lil next before Wren takes my hand and we follow out.
LIL and I managed to find Jay's clue completely by accident, hidden under the lid of the black baby grande piano in the music room. It had nothing to do with the clue we were figuring out, but hopefully that didn't mean we'd thrown the game off.
Wolfsheim couldn’t keep away from Mr. Gatz’s girl,
Neither could his dick.
Leaving the room with our arms linked, the animosity between us over Wren seems to have vanished thank god. Neither one of us brouched the subject, but our friendship seemed back to normal.
“Claythorne’s do what they want and that’s what Corbin lived by. Anyone in his way was simply collateral. Mavis isn’t a victim,” She taps the long strip of paper on her leg. “If she was sleeping with Jay too, that’s her mess to own and deal with.”
“I can’t wait to leave here.” I reply, exhausted already.
