“Good.” Judith shook out the mid-calf skirt. “This is really handsome. The workmanship is excellent. Aren’t we lucky to end up in such a cool, interesting, and quiet place? I think I can hear the sea.”
Renie cocked her head to listen. But it wasn’t the sea she heard. A sudden loud noise shattered the peaceful evening.
“What was that?” she asked, jumping off the bed. “It sounded like an explosion.”
Judith and Renie went to the tall windows in the alcove.
“I only see water,” Judith said. “Was it inside the castle?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it was fireworks.”
Judith suggested that they investigate from Renie’s room. “It overlooks the village.”
The cousins trooped across the hallway. Even from across the room, they could see an ominous glow outside. “A fire in the village?” Judith said as they approached the window embrasure.
Her guess was only partly accurate. The fire was on the beach where the high tide was beginning to ebb. Judith and Renie stared at the orange and red ball of flame.
“Isn’t that…” Judith began in a hushed voice, “where…?”
“I…think…so,” Renie said. “But,” she added quickly, “we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. It could be just a bonfire. Maybe somebody threw a battery or an aerosol can into it. You know how they explode.”
“You’re right,” Judith said. She laughed, though the sound was jagged. “I’m so used to foul play that I assume…you know.”
“Right.” Renie’s smile was forced. “Who’d want to blow up Harry Gibbs’s car?”
6
The fire was burning brighter. Judith and Renie were transfixed. After a couple of minutes had passed, they could see figures running on the beach, coming from the direction of the castle and the village. Moments later, they saw the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle.
“It’s not just a bonfire,” Judith declared. “Something bad has happened. We should go downstairs and find out what’s going on.”
The cousins hurried out into the passageway. Judith stopped. “Maybe I should get my jacket, in case we go outside.”
“Where would we go?” Renie asked. “The tide’s still partially in.”
“I’m getting my jacket anyway. This place is drafty, especially in the hallways.” With Renie trailing, Judith went into her room and opened the wardrobe where she’d hung her lightweight jacket. She was reaching for it when a curly head popped out between Joe’s sports coat and flannel slacks.
“Hallo!” cried Chuckie. “What went bang?”
Startled, Judith put a hand to her breast. “You scared me! What are you doing here?”
“I took a nap,” Chuckie replied, crawling out of the wardrobe. “So did you.”
Judith was flabbergasted. “You were here all the time?”
Chuckie brushed some lint from his corduroy pants. “Time? I don’t believe in time. What does it mean? It’s always passing.”
Renie looked as if she was about to pounce on Chuckie. “Why don’t you pass out of here? If your family owns this castle, your rooms must be somewhere else. Try to find them.”
Chuckie looked unperturbed. “Someday I’ll own all this. And more, when I marry my true love.” He grinned at Judith, skittered past Renie, and went out into the passageway.
“Really, really weird,” Renie murmured. “I hope he’s harmless.”
“Maybe he’s the voice I heard,” Judith said, putting on her jacket. “No—I heard it from your room, not ours. Let’s go.”
As they descended the winding staircase, they could hear voices. It took Judith a few seconds to realize that Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs were in the passageway near the foot of the steps.
“We must know!” Mrs. Gibbs cried, leaning against the stone wall for support. “I feel faint. It canna be!”
“Becalm yerself,” Gibbs exhorted. “We’ll hear soon enough.”
“But if…” Mrs. Gibbs began, and broke off.
“It should be Moira,” Gibbs said.
His wife didn’t respond but dabbed at her eyes with her apron. She finally looked up and saw the cousins.
Judith hesitated before approaching the distraught couple. “I’m very sorry,” she said, “but what’s happened?”
Gibbs set his face in stone. “We dinna ken. We must bide.”
“Bide for what?” Judith asked. “Can’t you call someone from St. Fergna? Like the police?”
“Nae!” Gibbs cried. “Not wi’ The Master here!”
“But…” Judith’s patience snapped. “We saw an emergency vehicle arriving. The police may be there already. What’s wrong with you people? Where is the…Mr. Fordyce?”
