The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller

Author:C.L. Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

27

“If something looks wrong, run.”

—Arthur Crockleford

Sheets of rain battered the drive outside the door, pulling me back to the present. I touched my cheek and found damp tears—I’d been soundlessly sobbing. Then I looked down at the phone in my other hand. Reality set in. If I had dropped my phone, I think I’d realize pretty quickly and go look for it. Was this Amy’s phone?

Phil opened the kitchen door. “Are you coming? I think we should get back to the others.”

“Yes,” I replied, slipping the phone into my pocket without thinking. “I was wondering if Amy went out this way.” There was something wrong—I didn’t want to go back to the others; I wanted to look around the manor to see if I could find her.

On seeing me hesitate, Phil said, “No one uses that door. I tried it when I first arrived and it almost fell off its hinges.”

“I made the same mistake earlier,” Clare said, rattling cutlery.

“Why would Amy open it?” I asked.

“Perhaps she was trying a shortcut. Maybe she couldn’t get it closed again?”

“Maybe.” I wasn’t convinced. It seemed to me that something had frightened Amy and she’d left the kitchen in a hurry.

With my flashlight in one hand and the candlestick in the other I followed Phil out of the kitchen and back to the dining room.

As I entered, Carole came toward me, trying to hide the worry in her eyes with a smile. “I’m so glad you’re back. I was just saying that at my age I get awfully tired.” She glanced at Giles.

It wasn’t like my aunt to go to bed early if there was company, but I didn’t think much about it; I was still worrying about Amy. I turned to face the other guests. “Do you think that we should arrange some sort of search party for Amy?”

“Nothing to worry about. My sister’s always fine,” said Giles.

“But where did she go?” I asked again.

No one answered me.

Bella shivered and concern etched her brow. She glared at me in a way that made me realize what Carole was suggesting was a really good idea. It made my mind up. I would take Carole back to the cottage, get her settled, and then return to the manor to look for Amy.

“Our coats are still in the drawing room. Shall I go and get them?” I said to Carole, then I remembered the photo of Lord Metcalf and his family—I needed to retrieve it. I tugged at my earlobe. “I think I’ve lost an earring—give me one minute.”

I looked under the table, around the curtain, in the drawer. The photo was gone.

Carole looped her arm through mine. “Let’s go now,” she said.

I didn’t argue. “We’re going to head back to our cottage and light the log burner, get some warmth into the place,” I said to the table.

Bella rose. “Good night, then.” She gave me a hug and whispered, “Lock the door.”

I addressed the room: “Good night.” Carole and I stepped into the corridor.

“Let’s get our coats and get out of here.

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