The Winter Mystery

2

So they went to sleep. In middle of the night Tina woke up to some sounds outside and went towards the window and saw that Leopold was standing in a trance. In the wild shrubs and Joyce was pulling him through his arm. Better not wake up the others so Tina went outside to check exactly what was the matter. She asked " whats he doing outside in this cold. " To which Joyce repied " he has, a habit of walking in his dresms sometimes. I woke up to the sound of the main door opening. " Leopold was, awaken now " did i woke you up people with my sleep walk. Dont be angry at me lets all of us, go back to sleep. " " Yes in miiddle of the night its kind of scary out here " Tina, said hurryingly walking inside with them.

The sound of a owl hooting. Could be heard in the distance. A,chill ran through her body. Tina thought that there is, no fencing around. Any wild animal can come here how does this people even stay here. As they reached the house Tina, hurried to their back bedroom as Joyce went with Leopold upstairs. As she was closing her door Joyce came towards her and said " you dont move out our much on ur own in this town at night. Last year a girl was murdered and killer is, still on the loose and i doubt its someone we know. That person was alone in her house at midnight when someone knocked and she opened the door" Joyce said.

She went inside and slept. All along she was thinking about that Joyce had said. About who the murderer is. If that was the case then it is not safe to go camping in this area as Leopold told. Next day they got up and returned. One thing she remembered in the daytime was that some one was walking on the attic. Was it an animal Tina wondered. She told her granny what was, said to her. Mrs Bluer agreed " yes its true every year during this time of the year one murder happens here and it always is some one whose alone at home. Thats why you too dont open the main door without checking properly. " " But how come this people let whoever it is in just like this. A, stranger " Tina, asked. " Well its some one who doesnt look like your typical killer i think " her grandmother replied. In the night yesterday i heard footsteps, on the roof of the attic " Tina, said. " Maybe it was, an animal. A monkey. " " Whatever it was i always, tell her to do some fencing around her house but she doesnt listens, only. Who knows what it was that you heard at night " Mrs, Bluer said, and went to feed her pet. As Tina, thought what kind of holiday this, is turning out to be.

In the afternoon next day. Someone was knocking on the door. As Erica who was sitting in the hall opened it she was, surprised to see two cops standing. " What happened " she

asked. " In your neighbourhood a woman was found murdered last night. She was alone her son had gone out of town for two days. When she heard a, knock on the door she thought itwas him and opened the door. So as your house falls, nearby we came to warn , did you saw any suspicious activity the day before here " one of the moustache cops asked. " I dont know i have just come to stay here with my friends grandmother " Erica said.

Both of them wanted to come inside to do further questioning. So she let them in. Mrs Bluer entered the hall from the kitchen. As they started questioning her. She said " but why are you asking us all this questions just yesterday we had gone to my friends place and returned in the evening. " " This is, because we, dont want to scare you but a, passerby in a car told us he saw a man around your house on the same night on ur rooftop near the chimney. He thought it obviously odd as to why a, person late in the night go on a roof. And as, he saw all the commotion of ur neighbor he came and told us this on the night of the murder " the other cop said. He was, clean shaven and less, aggressive. The other one acted as, if he was doubting them only. After few more questionings they went.

Mrs Bluer bolted the door. And sat down on a chair. Wearily she said " this people instead of catching whoever the killer is go around asking people weird questions. This town has become dark like thunder clouds. I think that new guy who had moved in here and he doesnt socialize with anyone. A very unfriendly person i tell you he is. Once our car broke down rigt in front of his house. And he wont let us use his phone to call the garage. As, my cell was showing its, battery off. " " So are you saying hes the one " Erica asked. " Maybe i am doubting so " Mrs Bluer said and got up. " Just because he is unfriendly doesnt mean hes a murderer " Tina, said. " But the cops, told a hefty build man was, seen on our roof and he is bit on the fat side. And remember that newspaper he had on his table in which the head line was of a recent murder and why did he marked it with a red pen " the maid also said. " I think you people have become too much suspicious " Tina said. " Lets just forget all of this and do some gardening in the sun. See it has stopped snowing " Tina suggested.

And so they went in the garden. It was a, very sunny day. As Tina was watering her grannys rose plants she remembered something. At her grandmothers friends place too on the attic roof some one or something was there. Zack came and said with a smile on his face " I hope yesterdays murder news has not dampened your spirits to do horse back riding today. " Erica said " no we will go horse riding. It also will help take our minds off all this things. " " See to it that you dont go too deep in the woods and, return before it gets, dark late in the evening " Mrs Bluer told them. Tina thought " yes who knows what if that killer is roaming in the woods today. "

So they went horse back riding. Chestnut was taken by Erica and Tina rode on Storm. Zack sat along with Erica as it was her first time. Tina knew Erica must be happy to ride along with Zack. As they went the foresty road around them lush greenary was there and Tima saw a squirrel run across. A wild dog also followed them for awhile. " Zack dont tell me that there are wild animals here too " Tina asked. " Nothing to worry about mostly they come in the night time and not during the day and we have got our horses, so we can always give them a run " Zack laughed. Erica said " we better go back before evening i don't want to be out here in the dark. " Tina too was, not sure about it as a chill wind, blew freezing her arm. A sound of some wild animal could be heard. Tina felt a, slight shiver as they galloped on the woody road. " Was that a, wolf or a tiger, you told they dont come out in daylight " Tina said. " Yes they wont " Zack reassured them but both Tina and Erica, were not totally pacified and wanted to finish their ride soon.

Soon it became late. In the afternoon and they took rest in a, shadyplace. Zack said " so did you people enjoyed the ride in the woods or not. " Meanwhile the horses were neighing suddenly. Sensing this Tina quickly got up and said " ok come on lets, return back now. " " Allright as you say so. We already have come quite afar by the way and it will take us two hours to reach home " Zack said. Erica too agreed and they resumed their journey. On the way as, they were returning there was, a rustle in the trees as the sky was, growing darker too. " Cant we hurry up the horses " Erica said. " I really dont want to be here in the dark. I have read somewhere that on seeing tigers horses start jumping wildly. " Zack laughingly said " no tiger will come. "

Tina was not amused. They were all alone in this forest and soon it would be night. She said " i think Ericas right we should hurry from here. " As she was just saying this she heard a rustle and then saw a shadow dart among the trees. " What was, that " Tina, exclaimed. " I think its a tiger " as soon as Erica said this a figure jumped at them from among the woods. It was a leopard and it came straight for the horse. Erica screamed and told Zack to tell the horses to run fast. Zack acted promptly and made the horse run fast. Tinas horse already was, moving on its own but the leopard did manage to scrach its leg and, gave it a chase. Inspite of the injury the horse ran and after a while leopard gave up chasing. All happened in such a blur and Tinas heart was thudding. " See i had told that we shouldn't be here i knew there were wild animals in this forest " Erica was saying still in a daze. " Brave chestnut didnt stopped running but " Zack said. " Sure that animals gone now " Erica asked. " Yes, Chestnut will take you home safely now " Zack replied. And they trudged through the woods as the sun was setting orange in the sky.

And as they reached. The house it was already dark. Her granny was standing outside and as she saw them she said " why is Storm bleeding in the leg , what happened .. " Zack said " will tell you everything now first get me a, first aid box to bandage his leg and then i tell you everything. " Maid came with the box and as, he was bandaging his leg Tina, said " today he saved us, from a wild tiger. " " I had told you to return fast as in the evening all wild animals come out of there " her granny said. 

Soon it was late in the night. Tina was sitting at the table waiting for dinner being made by the maid. Mrs Bluer said " its a, stormy night lets all sit together here for some time and then go to sleep. " As, Erica switched on the tv on the local news channel a report was coming of another attempted murder. But when they saw the photo of a woman shown it was Joyce. " See i told you that day some one was out there " Tina said. " Will have to visit her in hospital now. But what about Leoplold " her granny asked. " He was not there in the house , had returned to his place " Erica said. " How you know that " Zack asked as, he was also sitting there. " It was shown in the news " Erica, replied. " Its okay now shes alive lets have dinner " Mrs Bluer said. 

As the cook was good in making pizza , they all had it. And Zack also slept there. In one of the extra room. " And close the back door too before you sleep " Tinas granny said to him. 

While sleeping the weather was cold. Tina thought maybe she should use her detective sleuthing to find out who the killer is. One thing is a strong probability that the murdere is someone known. So with Erica and Zack we three will do some questionings in the village side tomorrow. Sleep came to her as she was thinking all of this. In morning Erica was telling her that " isnt Zack good looking, he looks like some picture from a catalogue but with a horse. " Tina agreed with her saying " yes and his nature is pleasant too isnt it. "

And so later they went. In the village side to do some research. On the way wile driving Zack said " let me tell you one thing the people around here are very superstitious so they wont open up an talk. " Tina replied " its okay atleast lets see what we can find out some clue or something. " Erica was was sitting in the backside said " i have a hunch we will find some clue. " And so drove on and the first one house they choose to talk with was a cottage in a meadow. As they got out of the car and knocked a old woman opened thedoor. Tina told her as to why they were there. Old woman said " come inside and sit and have tea. My daughter can tell you sdsomething on this " as they entered inside. Theshouse was cozy with lots of books lying around and paintings on the wall. " My daughter shes paints as you can see. " Her daughter came she sat down with them and told " okay so you people have come to make some enquiries well all i can say in this is this that once i had gone to paint near the lake i felt some tree twigs break behind and i knew some one was there and i saw a man run from there. I immediately picked up my things and returned. " " How did the man look like " Zack asked. " He was tall and medium built looked bit similar to a Mr Andrews the antique collector who moved in this town few years back but really we cant doubt him on this. " After tea on this note they left and on the way Erica said " maybe we should do a bit spying on this Mr Andrew. In the night we can snoop around his house and see what he does and where he goes. "

And so while in the car. While returning the weather got colder. Snow flakes were falling like feathers and a chill breeze was blowing. Erica said " so then what you say tonight we go to this Mr Andrews house. " Tina said " sure we will go at around ten in the night. " And at night as, decided they went near his house. It was very dark there and his, one storeyed place was surrounded by thick bushes. Not even a, light was on. " Looks spooky to me " Zack said as they slowly climbed the small fence. 

As they made their way. Towards the house a, dog barked. " Now what was that is a wild per dog on the loose here. We have to be careful if he sees us, he will alert his owner " Tina said. Suddenly the upstairs window light was on. Shadow of a man could be seen. He was looking right outside. " Quickly duck down " Zack said. He came right in front of the window, and was looking outside. " That man looks like a, villain to me from this," far, too " Erica said. " That silly dogs bark made him come " Tina, said. " Hurry towards the backside from there we can see if we can enter his, house " Zack said. " Are you crazy no way we are going inside his, house " Tina whispered. 

They made their way. Slowly to the back side of the house. Their it was more wild shrubs. " Does this man never ever cuts grass here and mows his lawn " Erica, remarked. " His garden is as unkempt as he is " Tina said. From inside a mans voice ordering his, dog to do something could be heard. " Why has he kept all lights off " Zack said. Tina suddenly exclaimed " here the back door is open we can sneak inside from here but be careful. "

And so slowly they made their way. Inside the open door and it was dark inside. " Does this man not keeps the lights of his house on " Tina, remarked. " Here i can see a stair " Zack said with his flashlight. Erica said " you people are really going so not right. That man is in his house and you are trying to search it. " " I too think lets get out of here because i can hear him climbing downstairs. Lets come some other time when hes asleep or not in the house " Tina said. " Okay hurry move out of herr we will wait outside in our car for him to sleep then we will come here back " Zack said hurriedly. 

So they waited outside. In their car as it was snowing heavily. After an hour it became late in the night. Zack said " you two stay here i will go inside and search for some clues. An lock the car doors. " " No way we are sitting here. We will come along with you " Tina said. And so they slowly made their way towards the house. The door was rattling because of the gusty wind. " I really hope hes fast asleep " Erica, said. They entered the house and quietly started to search among the drawers and newspapers. In the dark Erica collided with a lamp and it fell down with a clatter. " What did you do , hurry lets hide somewhere now. You must have awaken him " Zack said a bit angrily. But the house was all silent. It meant he the man was soundly sleeping. 

The man did not awoke. After thanking for this they searched the house quietly. From outside a cats sound was coming. Tina, said " nothing clue worthy is, here." Suddenly from upstairs sound of heavy footsteps coming downstairs could be heard. " Quick hide somewhere, there behind that big cabinet hurry " Zack said. As soon as they were hidden behind it. He mr Andrews came and was looking around saying " what that noise was ofcourse its not the wind. And what are this, water drops doing on the floor. " And he glimpsed around suspiciously. They kep quiet holding their breaths. Then he turned back and went upstairs. Tina, heaved in relief. 

Slowly they got up. Tina, made her way to the window. " I think the lights have gone out. Really i think we should go from here " she said. 

But no one was listening to her. Erica was looking up and so was Zack. When Tina turned and saw what they were looking she froze too. The dog was watching them from upstairs. " Hurry lets get out of here now " Zack said. Dog was too fast for them as it jumped directly at Zack and bit his, leg. Somehow he broke free and they climbed out of the window. Outside it was snowing so heavily that a thick fog was there. " I cant see our car " Tina, said. " Just run straight its in front only " Zack said. He was running but his leg was paining where the dog bit it. They opened the car door and got in. " The dog ran behind their car as they drove off. From behind Tina, saw the first floor lights get on and a, man come out. " He saw us running " Tina, said. " Ofcourse in the dark he must not have seen anything properly " Zack said while driving. 

As they drove on. The cars wind shield stopped. Zack said " now i will have to drive slowly because of this. " Tina, replied " in few minutes our house will come. Tomorrow at midnight we will go again to his, house. That man sure looks suspicious. " " And no one tell anything of this to Mrs Bluer " Erica said. 

After they reached house. The full next day went away fast. Because all three of them were interested in going at midnight again to that house. Mrs Bluer had a hint of doubt. She said " are you people planning on doing something because i can just sense it. " Tina, was a bit surprised to hear this. When atlast night came they quickly hurried out of the house. 

And soon they reached there. It was, a very quiet night. As they made their way towards the house Tina, said " this time dont make any noise in there. " Zack was showing the flashlight as they again slowly entered through the backdoor. " How come this guy always keeps it open is he so careless " Erica, said doubtfully. 

As soon as they entered. The upstairs light flicked on so they hid behind the couch. A man came downstairs and was looking for something. Silently they hid behind that huge couch. He said " what are this drops of water doing on the floor. Maybe because of the wind snow flakes flew in " he said and closed the window. Still for some time he was standing suspiciously. Tina thought he is going to find us now here. But reluctantly he went up again. When he went upstairs they got up. " Still i am saying let's go from here. We are not going to find anything here " Erica, said. " He is a suspect so we have to do some searching okay " Tina, told her.