“I think we need to g-”
“Look, while we are talking the killer is hiding,” Myles interrupted. “We need to get this done, and quickly before someone else is killed. Because all of the staff are downstairs, we need to search the empty rooms at the top of the house and then work our way down. When we have searched downstairs we can then start to question the staff and find out where everyone was this morning.”
Thankfully, nobody else argued so they made their way down to his study to arm themselves with a weapon each and a pocket of shot.
Estelle shuddered as she watched the men pocket the guns, and stayed close to Myles as they made their way back up to the attic. She couldn’t see anybody wanting to hide in the uppermost part of the house where there was no escape route but, if the men wanted to search it then she was in no position to object.
“I don’t like this,” she whispered as they stepped into the attic and were immediately engulfed in darkness.
“None of us do but we have to do this,” Isaac sighed.
With that, they began to search.
The attic had been separated into several storage rooms. It was evident, even without stepping into some of them, that they hadn’t been used in quite some time. Some of the rooms were so full of old ornaments and furniture it was impossible to even get through the door. The dust covering every surface remained undisturbed, and stayed that way.
“I know I said I was going to give you a tour but this isn’t the way I foresaw doing it,” Myles grumbled as he brushed cobwebs off his jacket.
“I have to say that I have seen better,” she replied with a wry smile.
Myles’ lips twitched and he huffed a soft laugh. “Come on. I think it is safe to say that nobody is hiding in here.”
Isaac was already standing beside the door by the time they reached it. He shook his head silently.
“Let’s check the staff’s rooms next.”
Estelle realised then that this was going to take a very, very long time.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Estelle yawned as she left the kitchen and waited for Myles and Isaac to join her. The staff had all been gathered together and told the news by a grim looking Myles. The deathly silence that had followed had left everyone wary and suspicious. It was a relief to be able to step away from it, for just a few minutes at least.
“I need to speak with my father,” Myles sighed.
“He has locked the body in the room, sir,” Cranbury explained. “I think he is in his study now. Miss Beatrice is up as well, sir, and has been told the dreadful news.”
“How did she take it?” Isaac demanded. “Has she stopped dancing yet?”
Cranbury’s face showed not one flicker of emotion as he allowed that comment to go unnoticed.
“She is in the study, sir, with the master,” Cranbury intoned before he bowed and returned to the kitchen.
“I think we need to move your father, Isaac,” Myles sighed.
Isaac nodded but didn’t speak. He looked just as weary as Myles felt and, now that the first shock of grief had worn off, stunned.
“I will come with you,” Isaac sighed. It was clearly the last thing he wanted to do but he had a duty to his father to ensure that his body was handled with due care and attention.
Myles nodded. “Let’s go and fetch Barnabas.”
Minutes later, everyone, including Beatrice, climbed back up the stairs.
“Myles?” Estelle murmured. She slammed to a stop at the end of the hallway which led to her room and stared at what troubled her.
Myles looked at her and followed the direction of her stare. When he looked, though, he couldn’t see anything.
“What is it?” He ignored Isaac, Barnabas and Beatrice who all came to a halt behind them.
“I thought you said this house is locked up tightly?” Estelle whispered.