I clutched the key in my hand and felt the hard metal pressing into my palm. I walked quickly towards the closest exit in the now busy marquee and went towards the pop-up toilets outside. There was one cubicle free, so I squished myself inside. There was a small amount of light from above, so I took out the skeleton key, trying to ignore the foul smell of chemicals coming from the hole beside me, and examined it. I traced my fingers over the eye sockets of the skull keyring and I wondered how long it would be before Caitlin noticed that it was missing.
The party seemed to be in full swing, and so I decided to make a run for it before I was noticed. I would walk along the corridors, looking for doors that were locked and look in them. If anyone asked me later, I would say I went to find paracetamol at home.
I headed back down the garden path to the front of the house. I knew the back porch door would be open, and then I could easily make my way up the stairs without being seen or heard.
As predicted, the back door was closed but not locked, so I opened it and found myself in the dimly lit hallway. I scooted up the stairs. There was a bright full moon, which filtered through the windows and added some illumination to what would have otherwise been a corridor as pitch black as it was on that New Year’s Eve; a memory that still nudged at me from time to time.
When I found myself on the first floor, I walked along the corridor that boasted artwork on the walls and large statues and ornaments on stands. The floorboards wobbled and creaked slightly as I walked and tested doors for locked ones. I imagined Caitlin running down here as a child and the expensive art and ornaments wavering as she went.
Most of the doors were open ajar, and I peeked in, only to see a large bed. But then I tried a door to my left. It was locked, and my stomach did a somersault of excitement.
I thrust the key in and turned it to the right. It didn’t budge. Then I remembered I had watched films before where I had seen them using a skeleton key, but they would wiggle it for a few seconds and that made sense, as each lock was different and the teeth of the key needed to find their way into the lock to fit. I gave it another go, this time wiggling it to one side and then the next, before I gave it one firm turn to the right. When I heard it click, I could hardly believe my ears.
The door creaked open; I was disheartened to discover a laundry cupboard.
I closed the door and locked it again; the locking was considerably easier.
Further down the hallway I discovered three other doors, all unlocked. I peered in to one room and saw the dress Ava had worn on New Year’s Eve last year hanging on the back of a wardrobe and a huge four-poster bed to my left. This must be Ava and Maxwell’s room, I thought. I stepped in so I was just inside the room and breathed in Ava’s perfume. The window was open, and the curtains blew in the breeze. I shivered, and suddenly it didn’t feel right to be standing in Ava’s bedroom any more. So I stepped back into the hallway, took a few more steps and found myself at the end of the corridor.
There was one final door to my left, which was closed. As I stood by the door, I could feel the energy coming from behind it, as though whatever was inside was waiting for me, getting ready to tell me the story.
I fumbled with the key and almost dropped it, then I put it into the keyhole. I tried to turn it, and it didn’t turn. I felt my gut sink with disappointment. I thrust the key in again and gave it a good wiggle, like I had with the laundry-room door, and I heard the lock click open.
I turned the brass knob and stepped into a room that seemed to be a study. Ava’s study? I knew Maxwell had a study on the ground floor, but I didn’t know Ava kept a study here too. I could hear the loud bass of the music coming from the marquee. I kicked myself once I was in the room, as I hadn’t bought a torch. Why hadn’t I come more prepared? If I turned on the overhead light, someone would surely see from the garden below. I felt around the furniture in front of me and found my leg connecting with a desk. I pushed my hand around, looking for something that could serve as light and when my fingers connected with a small box. I heard the familiar rattle of matchsticks. I can’t possibly have this much luck in one night? I picked them up and struck a match.
I looked around at the new surroundings that I found myself in. I had seen a glimpse of Maxwell’s office before, and it had been lots of dark green leather and brass, a few hunting paintings on the wall. But this was more feminine, and I could see that immediately by how many candles were in the room. I lit a small inconspicuous-looking one, hoping that it wasn’t scented and wouldn’t send a smell down the hallway. Once it was lit, I could see the room a little better, which was nearly all pink. It shocked me, as I had never once seen Ava dress in pink; she was usually all blues and grey and formal clothes. The pinkness of the room made me feel as though I had discovered something she had been keeping a secret. I fell into a plush dark pink chair that was trimmed with frills at the base
