Double Exposure Page 3

  When she got there she noticed the tall lamp stand was on its side on the floor, it was heavy consisting of mainly brass and could only have been pushed over. Samantha decided to lock the door in case someone had entered the room and perhaps stolen something. After checking all her things she discovered nothing was missing.

  Samantha turned main light off and put her side lamp on turning it to a dim light. She put on her eye mask and tried to settle down for the night. She began moving from side to side trying to get comfortable and eventually she fell asleep. She was unaware of being watched by an infrared camera the observer seemed fascinated by her as she lay sleeping. He then stood up and walked towards the door dressed in a black jump suit and brandishing a torch.

  The panel opened leading into Samantha’s room after a short pause the figure emerged into Samantha’s room clenching the torch. The figure walked towards the bed where she was sleeping and placed a mystery murder game card of miss scarlet on the table, then reached out to touch her. The figure grabbed her shoulder and shook her; Samantha pulled off her mask and thrashed out at the figure. The torch fell on the bed and she used it to hit him on the forehead and he fell to the ground. She then shone the torch in his face and gasped in horror as she saw his face looking at her.

  “For fuck sake Stuart, what the fuck are you doing” Samantha said hysterically

  “Ouch I found a secret passage” Elliot said holding his head

  “So you decided to come in my fucking room and scare me” Samantha went to hit him again and realised what she was doing “How fucking smart was that?”

  “Found this card near the secret panel, I thought I saw a figure in the passage” Elliot pointed to the wall “I thought he came from here”.

  Samantha looked at her hand and noticed blood then looked at his head

  “You’re bleeding my god it’s running down your face” Samantha said worried

  She held out her hand touching his face “Here sit on the bed” she advised him

  “I will get something to clean you up”. Samantha said rushing to the bathroom

  She returned with a damp flannel and a towel “Let me deal with it” she offered

  She began dabbing the wound with the flannel and cleaning his face

  “Ouch that bloody hurts” Elliot exclaimed

  “Man up it’s only a fucking scratch” Samantha said continuing to clean the wound.

  “It still damn well hurts” Elliot shouted

  “Shhhh for fuck sake shut up everyone will here you” Samantha said in a low voice

  “I didn’t mean to scare you Sammy, but I had to warn you” Elliot whispered

  “Ok I understand, I had a visitor before who obviously meant me to have this card” Samantha said looking at the mystery murder game card of a woman in red “I guess that’s me” She said concerned

  “Yes the person could have killed you” Elliot said with equal concern

  “The noise from the lamp stand falling must have made him rush off and he exited through the secret exit. I heard it crash to the floor when I was in the shower it landed by that wall”. Samantha pointed towards the wall

  “My god you were lucky Sammy” Elliot said

  “We need to stick together Stuart for our own safety” Samantha said concerned

  “Oh I would be safer with you” Elliot said holding his head

  “I am sorry really” Samantha said smiling and sounding so sincere

  “Ok what have you got in mind?” Elliot asked

  “You sleep here with me but on the side of the bed near that wall” She pointed to the wall where the secret panel existed.

  “Ok” Elliot agreed

  “But don’t get too close and no touching ok” Samantha insisted.

  “Understood” Elliot said with a smile.

  Elliot lay on the bed facing the wall while Samantha lay with her back to him smiling to herself as if she really wanted something to happen. But Samantha was so mixed up at this stage her emotions were surging like engines in a race waiting for the flag to indicate go.

  Meanwhile Sharon and another guest were walking around the ground floor near the study unaware that the killer was watching them on his screen. He was holding a remote control and opening the passage doors close to where they were walking. “Hello” Sharon said, “let me know your there give me a sign” Suddenly a door opened and Sharon vanished into the study someone covered her mouth and plunged a dagger into her back. The other guest took no notice of her thinking that she was doing her usual over dramatics and annoying sounds. Then she entered the dining room and saw the outline of a figure that she thought was part of the ghostly pranks until she felt a heavy object hit her on the head. The figure hit her viciously several times until she lay limp beside one end of the table. Sharon was cut to pieces in the study with a large sharp knife and the killer’s hands were covered with blood. Then a calling card dropped with a lady in pink on the front of it and the bloody knife was placed next to it.

  During the night Samantha was moving about restlessly and Elliot was just turned on by her presence in the bed. Eventually she turned towards him he felt her warm breath on his chest and she moved her head on the pillow close to his face. Elliot had turned his head towards her but kept his eyes closed then she pressed her cheek against his. Breathing onto his face she was now cuddled up to him and could feel his body heat as she pressed her lips against his and began kissing him. She had lost control perhaps she was thinking about someone else as her fingers began to wonder around his back. He returned a lingering kiss and his hands wandered up and down her back and started fondling her buttocks. She removed her top and they both continued kissing for a while before becoming completely naked and enjoying each other’s bodies. They had totally lost control by the time they were kissing each other’s body and made love unaware that they were being watched by the infrared camera.

  By morning Samantha and Elliot were embraced naked in a comfortable position, the sun was shining through a crack in the curtains with a beam of light drifting across the bed. Samantha was actually lying on top of Elliot with her head on his naked chest gradually her eyes opened and she began to focus on the hairs on his chest. She stayed perfectly still trying to understand what she had done and why, as nothing made sense at all. She had obviously lost control of her emotions and he being a man took advantage of her feminine weakness. Foolish moments that she would no doubt regret and have to explain the best way she knew how. The embarrassment and humiliation and now lying naked on top of a work colleague, what was she going to say to him when he awoke. She finally pulled herself away from him and looked beneath the bedclothes at her naked body then at him.

  “I did dream all this right?” Samantha said to Elliot as he began to wake up

  “God not unless I did too” Elliot said just as surprised

  They were both acting like virgins encountering their first sexual relationship

  “No I mean it was a mistake, a foolish mistake” Samantha said trying not to give him eye contact

  “Yes a moment of weakness” Elliot said trying to reassure her

  Samantha put her hands to her head “Fuck me this isn’t happening”

  She began staring into space her eyes were wide and her mouth open, Elliot tried to touch her in order to comfort her.

  “Just don’t” She pushed his hand away “Just don’t touch me ok”.

  “We need answers Sammy” Elliot said trying to change the subject

  “Answers, I am fucking freaking out and you want answers, you are unreal” Samantha said hysterically

  “No you don’t understand I mean about the abduction and the murder” Elliot said

  “Oh that well go and get washed and dressed and then come back here ok” Samantha said hiding under the sheets.

  “Ok” Elliot said pulling back the sheets on his side of the bed />
  Samantha turned her head away trying not to look at him, while he put on his clothes.

  “And Stuart don’t mention this to anyone” Samantha looked at him for a reassuring reply

  “Honestly I wont mention a thing” Elliot sounded sincere as he unlocked the door and left the room.

  An hour later a knock came at Samantha’s door and Janet stood waiting, Samantha opened the door expecting Elliot to be there.

  “Ok I am ready” Samantha paused and looked at Janet

  “Sammy I need to speak to you” Janet breezed past Samantha

  “Come in” Samantha said sarcastically

  “Another guest has been murdered, a calling card left this time a man in purple” Janet said moving up to the bed

  “When was this?” Samantha asked

  “Last night and I think it was your colleague Stuart” Janet said looking around the bed.

  “Impossible” Samantha said dismissing Janet’s theory

  “May I ask how you deduce that” Samantha had her arms folded in a defensive gesture.

  “Oh come on Sammy you must admit he has been snooping all over this castle” Janet insisted

  “You can’t accuse him he’s innocent” Samantha insisted

  “How do you know?” Janet asked

  “I just do” Samantha answered swiftly

  “He slept here last night didn’t he?” Janet smiled

  “What makes you say that” Samantha said innocently

  “Because his socks are on your bed and there are fair hairs on the pillow on this side need I go on?” Janet said picking up a sock with her fingers.

  “Alright he did so what now you fucking accuse me” Samantha said upset about being discovered with Stuart.

  “Nothing but tonight we can all explore this castle for clues” Janet insisted

  At that moment a knock came at the door, Samantha opened it and Elliot stood fully dressed. He entered the room acting as if the night before had never happened, and then he noticed Janet standing by the bed.

  “Good morning” Elliot said cheerfully

  “There has been another murder” Samantha said before Janet could speak

  “Oh was that with a calling card?” Elliot asked wondering why Janet was looking around the bed.

  “Yes I suspected you but you were apparently occupied all night” Janet said looking at Samantha

  “Oh yes I was all night” Elliot said looking at Janet and then Samantha

  “So why don’t we go for breakfast?” Samantha said wanting to leave the room in a hurry.

  Janet swept her hands threw her dark hair and smiled at Samantha she knew that she had embarrassed her and gathered from Samantha’s response that she regretted the night before and just wanted to put it behind her.

  “Oh I was left a card too with a purple man on it” Elliot said

  “So we have all had one now?” Janet said “But how is this person entering the rooms?” she continues

  “Secret passages I found one last night” Elliot boasted

  “How romantic you entered Sammy’s room via a secret passage and that’s why you have a bruise and gash on your forehead, she wasn’t expecting you”. Janet said teasing them.

  “Lets leave it shall we” Samantha said dismissively

  Janet wanted to catch the murderer she suspected everyone but considered this one to be a clever psychopath who knew the castle well. Also this killer might have an accomplice as the bodies seemed to be being moved from one place to another. Evident by fibres on the shoes and blood stains by the walls which also meant that there was secret doorways and corridors around the castle once used as an escape route for the occupants during invasions centuries ago.

  That night Janet had discussed exposing the murderer to her police colleagues they needed to be discrete in order to capture the murderer. She had arranged to set a trap for him by hiding police in certain locations within the castle disguised as servants. The killer seemed to strike at night when other activities were going on and so it was considered the best time to set a trap. The killer was obsessed with board games and mystery murder was his favourite game. He had left the board game in the study on a table. Occasionally he moved the pieces around according to who was murdered and where. The weapons matched the murder weapons used each time making it obvious that the killer had planned his or her murders to detail.

  “We are dealing with a violent psychopath who could be anywhere in this damn castle, just be careful”.

  The weather that night was stormy, thunder and lightening with heavy rain. Samantha and Elliot entered the secret passage from Samantha’s room both carrying torches fighting away cobwebs and feeling insects crawling on their body. They were both dressed in dark clothes as if they expected to be tumbling in the darkness finding answers to this mystery.

  “Didn’t you find Macgregor acting oddly?” Samantha asked

  “Yes a little I suppose” Elliot replied

  “And he wasn’t wearing that special ring” Samantha said tripping over

  “Are you alright” Elliot said concerned

  “Ouch fuck I can’t find the torch, it must be broke” Samantha said searching around with her hands.

  Elliot shone his torch towards her “Here grab my hand lets stick together”. Elliot said holding out his hand

  “This changes nothing Stuart, I am still not happy with you” Samantha said grabbing his hand and standing up.

  They continued down the passageway until they reached a door, Samantha had been clinging onto Elliot’s arm and let go as he opened the door. They had reached the roof and were heading across a narrow pathway to another door.

  “We are on the roof” Elliot shouted

  “No shit” Samantha said sarcastically

  “Well let’s go or we will be here all fucking night” she continued

  It was very slippery with the rain pounding on the roof and water drifting onto the path forming a river before them. Elliot slipped a few times but Samantha managed to keep her footing until they had almost reached the door. Suddenly she slipped and a few bricks crumbled away and disappeared off the roof. Samantha was slipping through the gap, she began to scream sliding almost to the edge of the roof clinging hold of bricks. Elliot caught her by her arms and tried pulling her up still slipping himself.

  “Find a footing come on I am slipping” Elliot shouted

  “I can’t fucking move” Samantha said trying to grip hold of another brick

  “Come on Sammy” Elliot shouted in desperation

  “I am going to fall” Samantha shouted

  Samantha suddenly felt a ledge with her feet and began to climb up, Elliot pulled her the rest of the way and they both fell back onto the tiles. Elliot found the torch and they continued across the roof holding on to each other.

  “I think I am going to find a new career this job is fucking dangerous” Samantha said in anger

  They entered the door and walked down some steps into another secret passageway.

  “Right hold my hand Sammy” Elliot said

  “Not likely” Samantha said still moody

  “So we don’t lose each other” Elliot replied

  “Ok just for that reason” Samantha said grabbing his hand

  After walking a short distance Samantha was actually grabbing Elliot by the arm, she was so close he could feel her breath on his neck and her heart beating.

  He was reluctant to comment in case she started shouting and swearing at him.

  He came across a panel with a catch on it, which released the door mechanism; he pulled the catch and the panel opened into a bedroom. Lying on the bed was Macgregor’s niece she had auburn hair and was wearing a green dress, she was awake and looking up at the top of the four-poster bed.

  Samantha and Elliot raced over to the bed Elliot was
trying to untie her legs while Samantha untied her arms.

  “You must be Gillian” Samantha commented

  Gillian nodded and looked down at Elliot who was holding the rope that he had removed from her feet.

  “Who did this?” Samantha asked

  “Uncle Gordon” Gillian replied in a weak voice

  “We need to go” Elliot said anxiously

  “Can you walk?” Samantha asked Gillian

  “Yes I think so” Gillian said swivelling round on the bed

  “Let’s find Gordon and the other guests” Samantha said eagerly

  “No” Gillian said “Why don’t we find out what’s really happening and enter the secret passage, we may catch Uncle Gordon before he kills again.

  “Good idea” Elliot said eager to catch the killer

  “Well alright” Samantha agreed “I just want this whole fucking mess over with”.

  “Excuse Sammy she is very hormonal” Elliot explained

  “Fuck you Stuart” Samantha said heading towards the panel

  Elliot looked around for the catch on the panel, suddenly it opened and they began to enter the passageway. Elliot led the way until Gillian made the suggestion to follow a thin faded line on the wall which she claimed she made when she was being lead down there from the library.

  Meanwhile another victim had been murdered with a heavy spanner the killer hit her several times on the head, in a vicious attack and showing no mercy as he caved her scull in. The woman’s dress was covered in blood and she was being dragged like a sack of potatoes along another part of the passage and left in the library along with a calling card with a picture of a woman in white.

  No sooner had the killer left the library than Samantha and Elliot entered. Seeing the body they had a quick look and then re-entered the passage. While this was going on the killer stuck again this time attacking a man with a candlestick using the same force, as before determined to make sure he was dead. He hit him several times with blood spraying all around him as he obviously severed the archery in his neck. He struggled with this body leaving him in the conservatory and placing the weapon beside his body.