"Blanche!" Dr. Black greeted his good friend warmly "Come in, come in." He held the door open wide as Mrs. White stepped into the main hall of Tudor Close.
"I'm so glad you could make it. Tonight would never be the same without my closest friends here with me."
"Oh, Dr. Black - I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Thank you for offering to help me with the preparations - no doubt you'll have everyone organised within minutes." Dr. Black said as he took her coat off her, revealing a long white velvet dress. "And my, you do look stunning tonight."
Dr. Black was slightly shocked, though he tried not to show it. Blanche White usually wore the most dowdy and unflattering of dresses that would never make a man look twice. But standing here now in that velvet dress and pearl necklace, she looked an entirely different woman.
Mrs. White blushed. "Thank you. Miss Scarlett and Mrs. Peacock always look so wonderful at your parties - so I thought that this time I would try to look as good as them."
"Well I must say that you have succeeded. Vivienne and Elizabeth are in the Ballroom getting things ready." He led her out of the hall.

Meanwhile in the Billiard room, two other guests were trying to avoid having to do any of the hard work.
"Fifty. I can remember my fiftieth birthday, we had a nice little party in the church hall."
"I'm surprised you remember that far back reverend." Professor Plum joked as he hit a ball.
"It wasn't that long ago." Reverend Green gave him a look of reproach from the other side of the table. "I just hope that everything goes alright tonight."
"Why shouldn't it?"
"I ... I don't know. Do you think that David has seemed worried lately."
Professor Plum put his cue down and approached the Reverend. "No more than usual. Not that I've noticed anyway. Why? Have you?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm just imagining it. Ignore me. I'm just a hopeless old vicar after all."
"Well you're not very good at billiards at any rate. I just won!"
"Oh dear."
"Well I'll leave you to contemplate your defeat. I need to look something up in the Library."

Colonel Mustard was precariously balancing on a ladder, trying to attach a banner to the Ballroom curtains, as the Doctor and Mrs. White entered the room. The sight of Mrs. White in a cocktail dress almost made him fall off his ladder and onto Miss Scarlett below. Attempting to support himself, he accidentally ripped off the cord that tied back the curtains. As he quickly hid the rope in his pocket and carefully descended from his post, Mrs. Peacock and Miss Scarlett approached the new-comers.
"My, what a pretty dress" Miss Scarlett complemented to Mrs White.
"Thank you Miss Vivienne. I wanted to look my best for tonight."
"You know, I think I wore one just like it once, not that long ago. Oh I cannot remember when. Of course mine was red, not white. White never goes well with my complexion."
"I would have thought that white would suit your complexion perfectly dear." Mrs. Peacock jibed at her stepdaughter. "I do agree though Blanche, you do look lovely. It just goes to show how much we all appreciate your friendship David. We all hope that tonight goes well."
"Thank you Elizabeth. I'm hoping that we are all going to enjoy this evening."
"I hope so Black." Mustard snapped. "I'm a very busy man you know. I don't have time to waste on parties."
Having known the Colonel for many years, David Black took this comment as the Colonel's nearest attempt at a compliment.
"Don't worry Michael - tonight won't be a waste of your time I assure you. I have a few things planned for later on that will definitely make the night go with a bang." Dr. Black grinned as the others listened puzzled at his little joke to himself.
"Er ... I'm looking forward to it." Mrs Peacock attempted to continue. "The room is starting to look good isn't it" she said as she looked around at the decorations that the three had taken the last hour to establish. There were fewer decorations in the room than you would expect for an hour's work due to Mrs. Peacock's refusal to climb a ladder and Miss Scarlett's attempts to spare her fingernails.
"I think we need a few more." Miss Scarlett commented "Michael, would you help me collect some from the Dining Room?" she smirked across to the Colonel.
"Oh! Yes. Er, of course." blustered Colonel Mustard.
Mrs. Peacock watched as her fiancée left the room with her stepdaughter.
"Well, if you would excuse me ladies, I have some work to do in my study."
"Don't worry David. Blanche and I shall go to the lounge for a well earned break." Mrs. Peacock said as the three of them vacated the room.

As the Doctor passed the library door on his way to his study, he heard muttering coming from inside. Intrigued, he listened at the door which was slightly ajar.
"Where is it! I can't have lost it. Not something as important as that. I can't carry on without it. It contains everything I need … I know I hid it in here somewhere. Maybe … ah yes, now I remember." With that, the room went quiet, except for the sound of shuffling and something that sounded like a piece of furniture being dragged across the room. David decided to continue on his journey.

Dr. Black opened the door to his study and was surprised to find Reverend Green waiting for him inside with a look of concentration on his face.
"David" the Reverend started hurriedly "I've come to a decision. Now I don't want you to stop me. I've been thinking about it for some time and its taken me this long to say something. The thing is David … the thing is that I've noticed. I've noticed that there's something wrong. The Professor said that I was just imaging things. But I know I'm not. I know that there's something worrying you. And I just wanted to say that you can trust me. I mean if there's anything you want to talk about … I'm here. Whatever the problem, you know you can count on me, you can say anything you want to. I don't mean that you have to tell me now, but when you are ready. You see I'm worried about you. I feel I owe it to your parents to look after you. I know you'll think that silly, but it's the way I feel. I wouldn't want any harm to come to you, ever. You see I can see it in your eyes. There's something very wrong that you're not telling me about. So you can. I mean … oh now I'm getting into a muddle. Silly old fool. I shouldn't have said anything. No I shouldn't. I'll go. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
Reverend Green abruptly left the room before Dr. Black could get a word out. He felt quite taken aback. He slowly closed the door to his study and sat down at his large oak desk. He sat there for a few moments as he took in what had just happened.

After a few moments David Black took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the top drawer of his desk. Opening the drawer, he removed a piece of paper from inside and unfolded it. So Green had noticed the difference in him; how he couldn't keep his concentration when he was speaking to people, how his mind was always thinking about something else, worrying. He stared at the pieces of torn out newspaper arranged on the paper for the hundredth time since it had arrived two weeks ago. How had they known? He had had no choice, he had to pay them off - but they wanted more of course. Who could possibly have known? It had to be someone close to him. That was the real reason for inviting his friends here tonight. It had to be one of them. But which?

He closed his eyes and thought. They must have made a slip somewhere. But where? There must be something… Suddenly a smile came to his face. His hand slipped inside the top drawer of his desk again. But this time it wasn't a piece of paper he removed. Quietly he muttered to himself "Yes, tonight will definitely go with a bang."

Elsewhere in the house, two of the guests didn't seem to have the night's festivities on their minds. Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard were wrapped in each other's arms.
"Oh Michael" Miss Scarlett swooned "Why don't you leave that horrid stepmother of mine and run off with me?"
Colonel Mustard pulled away from her and started looking for the decorations. "Now Vivienne, you know perfectly well why we can't do that." He said as he routed under a cabinet. In his search, he didn't notice the rope fall out of his pocket.
"Yes, I know." Vivienne moaned as she started playing with the wax on one of the candlesticks on the dining room table. "Elizabeth would immediately cut me off without a penny. My father's inheritance couldn't keep both of us going for long. Most of his money went to that Black Widow. But, if our plans work out then we won't have to worry about money any longer."
Rising from the floor, Mustard looked concerned. "Are you sure that we're doing the right thing. It's very underhanded."
"Here we go. Where were you military morals when you decided to have an affair with your fiancé's stepdaughter?"
"I didn't hear you putting up a fight."
"Anyway," Scarlett took Mustard in her arms again and kissed him, "we'll soon have all we need and then we'll be free to do what we want."

In the lounge, Mrs. White and Mrs. Peacock were just finishing off their glasses of wine. They looked thoroughly relaxed. "I do like a glass of wine." Mrs. Peacock commented. "After all the hard work we've done putting up the decorations."
"Now that I'm here, I'll make sure the men do some more of the work. Where are Reverend Green and Professor Plum? I haven't seen them yet."
"Oh, they're hiding somewhere. Probably playing billiards or something." Mrs. Peacock leant forward from her chair and picked up a dagger that was adorning the coffee table. "I do like David's taste in furnishings. This dagger for example, at first glances it's a vicious looking weapon and incongruous to the comforts of a lounge, but then you look at it again and notice how exquisitely it is made and the small jewels on it's hilt are remarkable."
"A bit expensive for my tastes." Mrs. White's face turned sour. These rich folks. Born with money and then go and waste it on ornaments. Never done a day's hard work in their life. No, it should be people like her who had all the money - she'd know how to spend it. She'd just like to see how Mrs. Peacock or Dr. Black could cope without their money. They wouldn't last five minutes.
Coming out of her thoughts, Mrs. White realised that their glasses were empty. "I think we need a top up. Oh, the bottle's finished. I think I'll fetch another from the kitchen." As she rose from her seat, out of the corner of her eye she saw Mrs. Peacock attempting to slip the dagger discretely into her pocket.
"I think I've had enough for now thank you Blanche. But I shall accompany you part of the way. I want to check how Michael and Vivienne are doing in the Dining Room."

Reverend Green was worried. He paced up and down in the conservatory, twisting a piece of lead piping in his hands, that he had found lying on one of the shelves. What could he do? He'd said his piece to Black, but he didn't think it had worked. It hadn't changed Black's mind. He had known David all his life. He knew how his mood had changed and he knew by his actions tonight what he was planning to do. David had come to a decision and was going to strike tonight. He'd hoped that his speech to David might have dissuaded him - but it hadn't. There was only one thing left to do now. He had to stop David before …

Gripping the lead piping in his hand, Reverend Green marched out of the conservatory. He hesitated for a minute as he heard shouting coming from the other side of the house. Miss Scarlett stormed out of the dining room, slamming the door behind her and swinging a candlestick by her side. He watched as she went into the ballroom and slammed that door behind her. Realising that he had more important things to do, he went on to the Study. In his hurry he almost sent the Professor flying as he marched past him coming out of the library. "Steady on Reverend" Plum joked as he steadied himself. Green ignored him and went into the study.

Professor Plum headed for the kitchen. Entering, he found Mrs. White sat at the kitchen table, staring hard at a glass of wine in her hand. In her other hand she was tapping a spanner monotonously against the table top. Professor Plum coughed to announce his presence and in her shock Mrs White almost hit the glass with the spanner. "That was close" Plum smiled as he carefully approached Mrs. White "You could have smashed it into a million pieces."
Mrs. White stared at her glass again and her hand gripped onto the spanner. Professor Plum put his hand on her's and almost had to pry the spanner out of her hand. "Just what I came in here for he said."
Mrs. White finally came round to her senses. "Oh, I'm sorry Professor. I don't know what came over me. I think I've drunk one too many glasses of wine."
Smiling, she rose from the table and poured the remains of her glass into the sink. "I'm okay now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, thank you. I'll just wash up this glass and then have a lie down in the lounge."
"If you insist, I'll get back to the library." Not entirely convinced, Peter Plum left the room.

Mrs. Peacock burst into the study with tears rolling down her face and found the Reverend standing there looking shocked. "What's wrong Mrs. Peacock?" He asked. He quickly put the lead piping down on the desk and went over to support her.
"Oh Jonathan, you won't believe what's happened. That two faced, lying …" Crying she collapsed into a chair with a bang.
Not knowing quite what to do, he knelt by her to pat her shoulder. As he knelt down, he had to push aside a dagger that was lying on the floor next to the chair.
"There there" he said trying to comfort her. "Now tell me what's happened."
Mrs. Peacock was about to tell him, when Mrs. White entered the room. "Oh Blanche. Maybe you can help. Mrs. Peacock is very upset."
"Oh…" Mrs. White hesitated for a moment and then took on her usual supportive role to Mrs. Peacock. She put her hand on Reverend Green's shoulder and said "Why don't you leave the two of us alone Reverend. I think Mrs. Peacock would prefer to speak to me alone. Professor Plum is in the library I think, why don't you go and see."
"That sounds a good idea. I could do with another game of billiards. Thank you Blanche." Reverend Green left the room and Mrs. White took over his position next to Mrs. Peacock.

After chatting to her for several minutes, Mrs. White decided that she had calmed Mrs. Peacock down enough. Making her excuses she got up off the floor, patted herself down and left the room. Mrs. Peacock sat in the chair and thought. Her face changed to one of hated. Slowly she rose from her seat and put her hand in her pocket. Removing it empty, she looked up and saw the lead piping lying on the desk. "That will do nicely" she muttered to herself.

A few moments later, Mrs. Peacock entered the ballroom. Miss Scarlett and Colonel Mustard were already in the room, talking to each other. They stopped abruptly when they saw her. Griping the lead piping, she said "Michael, could you leave please, I want to speak to Vivienne alone."
Mustard hesitated "I don't know whether …"
"Don't worry Michael" Miss Scarlett interrupted "I'll be alright."
"Very well. But I think I'll take this with me." He took the lead piping off Mrs. Peacock and left the room, leaving Mrs. Peacock glaring at her stepdaughter.

In the billiard room, Reverend Green was fighting a loosing battle. "You're doing worse than normal Reverend." Plum laughed.
"Sorry Peter. My mind's elsewhere. I really should go and look for David."
"I wouldn't worry about him Green. I'm sure someone else has taken care of him by now" Plum smiled.
Before Green could reply, Colonel Mustard entered the room and slammed the lead piping down on the table. "I need a game!"
"Perfect. You can take over from me." Green put his cue down and left the room.
"If I were you Mustard, I'd start again." Professor Plum grinned.

Reverend Green left the billiard room and started on his search for Dr. Black. He was so worried. He had a bad feeling… First he looked in the conservatory but there was no one there. He then opened the door to the ballroom and found Miss Scarlett and Mrs. Peacock deep in conversation, he thought better than to interrupt. Next he tried the kitchen and the dining room - but there was no one in either. In the lounge, Mrs. White had fallen asleep on the sofa. Quietly closing the lounge door behind him, he headed towards the Hall. Just as he was about to go inside, he noticed the door to the cellar stairs was ajar…

Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard had just finished getting the table ready to play their first game when the Reverend returned, looking as pale as a ghost.
"What's the matter Green?" Plum asked. Shaking from head to toe, Reverend Green took a deep breath. "It's David. He's dead!"

GOOD LUCK.

© Paul Howls, 1999

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