The Butler Didn't Do It

A Stalking We Will Go

You’re making too much noise.” Brett hissed at Max.

“Now you’re making too much noise!” Retorted the young man.

“Be quiet!”

“You are still the one talking!”

Neither Max nor Brett were used to playing the role of spy. With no idea how one walked silently, they were left to their own imaginations. And oh, what imaginations they had. Brett took long jerky steps, lowering and raising his body every step like a demented camel. Max’s method of sneaking was to take quick scuttling steps while remaining partially hunched over. He seemed to think the sound waves from his steps would be caught in his broad chest as they tried to escape upwards, like a dream-catcher for sound. Despite looking silly to anyone who might have been watching, the two were successful at remaining undetected by the secretive manservant.

Davidson came to a halt before the stables. He looked around, listening intently. Brett and Max were doubly careful to keep still behind some trees. From this distance they couldn’t see his expression. But it was apparent he did not want to be seen. Seemingly satisfied, David knocked three times, rhythmically, on the barn door. A second later it opened and he slipped inside.

“Now!” Max said.

“Ma—“ Brett reached out but Max was off, loping across the field as quietly as possible, he made his way to one of the Barn window sand crouched below. If anyone looked out they wouldn’t see him unless they were leaning out and looking straight down. Max gestured for Brett to join.

A short time later, Brett did. “Are you crazy? He could’ve---“

But Brett stopped. There were voices in the bard. Not just Davidson.

“….worry love, they don’t think it was you.” That was Davidson’s calm voice.

“Then why did they search my room?” This voice was a woman’s. Slightly deep, but still lilting.

Max and Brett exchanged looks. “That sounded like Sylvie.”

“They were looking for a weapon. Everyone’s room was searched. Did you get rid of it?”

“Not yet.” She sounded

“IF they find that poison how are you going to explain it away?”

“I tried to get rid of it but the police are everywhere. And they look through the trash every morning.”

“Then wipe your fingerprints away.”

“There’s no way to know if one of the servants will talk about what was in there, it’s a very obvious box.” Her voice was edged with anger.

“I don’t mean to criticize.” Davidson sounded, surprisingly, placating. It was weird for Max and Brett to hear him sound so…human.

“Then stop making me panic.” She sounded almost in tears.

There was a bit of silence, Brett lifted his head to peer over the window for just a second.

It was Sylvie! And Davidson was embracing her in a comforting and certainly not Butlery manner. Unless she needed some food removed from her throat. With his tongue…

Brett shot back down.

“What did you see?” Max questioned.

Putting a finger to his lips, Brett indicated they needed to listen.

“I love you.” Sylive said softly.

“I would do anything for you.” Davidson Responded.

“Then leave with me.”

“Not yet. I need to finish the season. It would look suspicious if we were suddenly…”

“Together? After the unfortunate death of my husband?”

“Precisely.”

There was silence again and Brett didn’t have to look over the window to know that the two were kissing again.

“I’m tired of meeting you in barns and by lakes. I want to see you somewhere more private. With a bed…” Davidson said, almost with a growl.

“That’s never stopped us before.” Sylvie responded dryly.

There was a bark of laughter. “You’re terrible.”

“You’re wonderful.”

They heard footsteps coming closer to the barn door and quickly they dived around a corner of the barn just as its doors were opening. They heard the footsteps continue on toward the house. When they couldn’t hear anything more they dared to speak

“Well, Watson, I think we have our killer.” Max joked.

“No.” Brett said outraged.

Max was taken aback. “Dude, it’s so obvious—“

“No I meant there’s no way I’m the Watson of this team.”

“Well you certainly don’t think I’m the Watson?”

“I’m Sherlock.”

“I’m Sherlock.”

“We both can’t be Sherlock.”

“Maybe I can be Sher and you can be Lock?” Max suggested.

Brett had to work hard to keep a straight face. “Did you say that in your head before you said it out loud?”

“I did not. But I realized how dumb it was when I said it.” Max said good-naturedly.

“Awe, you’re learning.” Brett was also laughing now. Max gave him a friendly punch in the arm.

“Come on we got to go back to the house.”

“Wait I heard something.” Brett said. Both boys dove behind a tree.

“That’s Didi!” Max noted, “Where is she going?” They saw her run towards the tennis courts. They took off after her. Before they could get far they felt the back of their shirts pulled back and both fell backwards on their butts, behind some shrubbery.

“Ouch!” Max whined.

“You two are the dumbest detectives I’ve ever seen.” A voice drawled from behind them.

They turned, but the dim moonlight they could make out the outline of Tanya. Her face was also partially visible. She looked pissed.

“I’ve been tailing that girl to find out what she’s up to and if you get me in trouble I’m going to murder you.“

“We’re good at being sneaky, we followed Davidson to the bar---OUCH!“ Max stopped suddenly when Brett elbowed him in the ribs.

Tanya looked sharply at the two.

“Oh I see, you don’t trust me because I’m a girl.”

“No. I just don’t trust you.” Brett explained.

Tanya sighed. “I’m trying to help your friend too, you know. Also I don’t care what you think. I’m following her.” Without giving them a choice she snuck over to the tennis courts. The boys, also curious what Didi was up to, followed.

Coming up to the tennis court they saw Didi on her phone, texting. Then another set of footsteps began to echo on the other side of the court. From a shadowed path, Paul emerged.

Didi seemed thrilled. “Dad!”

“Shhh!” Paul put a finger to his lips. “Hopefully you didn’t wake your mother.”

“Don’t worry about her. She won’t notice I’m gone.” Her voice caught, a little. “I’m sorry it didn’t work, I did everything we planned.”

What plan?

“It’s ok sweetheart. What have I always said to you?”

“Um…” She genuinely didn’t seem to recall.

“Baby steps. Remember?” Paul said, as one would to a simple child.

“Oh yeah, I guess it’s hard for me to remember things sometimes.”

“You always were so absent-minded.” Paul remarked.

Didi seemed to have something on her mind. She weighed her words and said. “Dad, mom said that the reason you don’t have joint custody is that you said she could have me all to herself. Is that true?”

“Of course she would say that. How could I leave my baby-girl.?“ He opened his arms and his baby-girl found comfort and the strength to believe his words.

“I miss you. Do you think we can go on the lake tomorrow?” She asked him a small voice, hopeful despite perhaps knowing the answer.

“Maybe. Rodgers still says the boats are being repaired, but maybe we could fish on the dock.”

“Yuck.” His daughter was not fond of slimy fish.

“Or we could go for a horse-back ride. “

“I’d like that.”

“And Samantha would love to spend time outside as well”

Didi’s face fell. “Does she have to come?”

“Didi! I’m surprised, that’s something your mother would say. You’re not jealous like she is I hope.”

Didi shook her head

“No it’s not that I just thought we could spend some father daughter time alone. I am happy you have someone in your life! I just don’t ever get to see you. And” she added soothingly, “How are we going to plan our next move if Samantha is there?”

“You’re right, you luckily have my brains it seems.”

He shuffled his daughter’s hair.

“Oh she’s going to hate that,” said Tanya under her breath to Max and Brett, “She spends an hour getting those flyways tamed.”

Didi though, forced a smile. “Ha! Thanks dad.”

“Well this has been a good talk, I’ll see you at the stables tomorrow around three?”

“Yes! Are you sure we can’t play a quick round of tennis or something?”

“If we do that your mother might wake up---“ He spoke in his “blessed child” voice again.

“And ruin everything. I know.” Didi said exasperated.

Paul began to walk towards the house, get some sleep.

She watched him walk away. “I love you!” She called

“Shh! You’re going to wake someone.” He called back.

Brett wasn’t going to lie; he didn’t much care for Didi, but seeing the look of abject sadness on her face…maybe there was something to the phrase that money couldn’t buy happiness. Even if it could save his future.

Didi watched her father for a minute. Then made her way back to her own rooms.

Tanya broke the silence. “Ten dollars says she tracks in mud and blames me in the morning.”

Max pointed towards the maze. “Who is that?”

Before they could get a good look they saw someone dart into the maze in the distance.

“Jesus does everyone go on midnight confidants here?” Max asked in a shocked voice.

“Guess that’s why breakfast goes late.” Brett said.

“Come on let’s go.” Tanya called over her shoulder already halfway to the maze.

“Let’s?” Brett asked no one. Max had already caught up to her. Tanya wasn’t listening either. she just kept running towards the maze. Brett saw Max say something to her. She laughed.

Why am I so jealous? Brett thought angrily running to catch up.

They all entered the maze to the maze. Eventually they hit the first wall.

“Which way should we go?”

“This way.” said Brett, pointing to the path on the right.

“No, this way.” Said Max pointing down the left path.

“Well I’d say let’s split up but people keep getting murdered. Let’s not tempt fate here.” Tanya said.

“Ok let’s do this fairly---“ Brett begin but before he could continue Max, with laser focus, ran down the path he’d indicated, Tanya close behind. Brett was peeved, Why was she listening to him. Wait he’s my friend. I can’t hate him, and just because he’s wrong doesn’t mean he’s terrible.

Brett made a decision. He ran the other way. Alone.

About 5 minutes into his path he regretted his decision. Tanya was right. Splitting up had been a stupid idea. He tried to turn around and succeeded only in going deeper into the maze

“s**t,” he said to himself.

He wandered, further in…or out…. he had no idea. Then, suddenly, he heard voices.

“I’m not sure we have all the resources in place for the grand finale Martina.”

“If not now when? I’ve waited long enough. The death of that Oscar was thrilling, but I am not sated Audrey!”

Brett looked around. he knew the voices were coming from his left but with the maze as it was he had no idea in what direction would lead him to them.

Or them to me.

They didn’t sound like they wanted to be discovered. And, seemingly, they were very bloodthirsty. And here he was, a blood-filled butler lost in a maze.

Friendless. No one would miss me. He was about to step around a corner when a hand reached out and covered his mouth pulling him around a corner.

“MMMFFF!”

“Quiet!” Max whispered urgently in his ear.

Tanya appeared in front of him, eyes blazing. “We’ve been looking for you! Why would you take off?”

Max’s hand released his mouth. “It’s Audrey and Martina, we’ve been keeping pace with them.”

“How did you know which way to go?” Brett asked aggressively. He was still angry that they hadn’t listened to him.

Max pointed at the ground. Brett looked down. At first he saw nothing. Then it glittered in the moonlight. A sequin.

“Audrey always wears something sequined. They fall out. I saw it and went in that direction.” Max explained.

“Oh.” It hadn’t been just a guess. Like me thought Brett.

“You were about to walk right into them. Now listen.” Tanya hushed him and they all pressed their ears against the wall of the maze.

“We could just tell the police what we have, they might go easy on—“ Audrey tried to say.

Martina was having none of it. “I don’t want that! I want revenge!”

“Is that what your daughter would want?” Audrey asked gently.

“She certainly didn’t want to end up dead.” Came the bitter reply.

Brett met Tanya’s eyes. She looked just as shocked as he did. They continued to listen.

“I wish I could have left my daughter at home.” Audrey murmured.

“It was the only way to get your ex-husband to come here.”

Audrey gave little cackle. “He is predictable, isn’t he?” Brett realized that any brains Didi had might easily have come from her mother.

“I can think of other words to describe him.”

“I’m sure they are far less diplomatic. Martina,” her voice took on a sense of urgency, “If this doesn’t go as planned there’s a good chance we could be next on the police radar.”

Martina laughed.

“Fortunately that butler has made himself a great smokescreen.”

“The sun is gong to rise soon. I have to get back before my daughter wakes up.”

They heard the footsteps of the two women move further and further away.

“Guess the family is genetically geared for these midnight rendezvous. “ Max said finally.

Tanya laughed. Brett managed a small smile.

“We have to get back too, Davidson will have our head.” Tanya said. “Max, can you find the way back?

Max nodded. He pulled them down the maze, he focus, which Brett had made fun of upon first meeting the friendly youth, was very handy when getting a complicated puzzle done. They made it back to the kitchen door as the sun was rising. They snuck through the door and into the dark kitchen…

“See! She’s sneaking in after stealing my shoes!” A high angry female voice spat.

Didi, from the one of the kitchen doorways, dressed in her pajamas, was pointing at Tanya. Davidson, in his own nightclothes, looked tired…and furious.