Part 2 (1/2)

s.h.i.+rley nudged Inga with one shoulder, somehow making it seem like an accident.

”Oh.” Inga turned a bright shade of red. ”Uh. What about you? I don't remember seeing you around much.” She recited her lines in her usual deadpan monotone.

Daniel adopted a cool air, like a riverboat gambler holding four aces. ”My wife and I like to travel. We've been through here many times. Haven't we, dearest?”

s.h.i.+rley beamed at him. ”Oh, yes, and we just love staying at the Quilt Haus Inn whenever we're in the area.” s.h.i.+rley's animated performance was as over the top as Inga's was below it.

”Indeed we do.” Daniel smiled at Julie, who was playing the part of the innkeeper-big stretch-and then s.h.i.+fted his attention back to Brandon. ”But I can't shake the feeling that I've seen you somewhere before. On the riverboat, perhaps?”

Brandon s.h.i.+vered. ”No sir, I get sick as a dog on the water. No sir, that wasn't me on the riverboat.”

Julie checked the clock. Seven thirty. They still had half an hour of playacting and banter before the lights were scheduled to go off. So far, so good.

The thought had no sooner crossed her mind than the lights flickered and went out.

Knowing they were in the midst of a murder mystery dinner, it should have taken no one by surprise when the room went dark-surely not enough that they would scream.

But someone did.

Chills ran down Julie's spine. The lights weren't supposed to go out so early. But there must have been a simple explanation for it. Hannah probably got the ”kill time” mixed up. Any minute now, she would flip the lights back on, and the mystery would begin. There was no need for alarm.

But the lights didn't come back on.

”What's going on here?” It was a male voice, and Julie thought it sounded like Liam.

”Julie?” This from s.h.i.+rley.

”Are the lights supposed to stay out this long?” Joyce asked.

”I would have thought they'd be back on by now.” This came from Sadie.

”Hannah,” Julie called.

”What happened?” Hannah replied from the dark kitchen doorway.

”You didn't do this then?” Julie asked.

”Definitely not.”

”You must have blown a fuse or tripped a breaker,” Daniel said.

Julie carefully stood, keeping her hands on the table. ”OK everyone, we seem to be experiencing a technical difficulty. I apologize for the delay. Please remain in your seats while Daniel and I check the breaker box. Hopefully we'll have the lights back on in a jiff.” Though she wasn't sure how she was going to accomplish that. The place was nearly pitch black. How was she going to find her way to the breaker box? ”Hannah, could you light the candles in here?”

”I'm on it,” Hannah said.

”Oh my, I think something just brushed my back.” Joyce said. ”What in the world-”

A stifled sigh was heard, followed by a m.u.f.fled thump.

”What was that?” Susan asked.

Julie wasn't about to say it sounded a lot like a body hitting the floor. In the dark, it could have been anything. Her imagination was getting out of hand.

”I'm sure it was nothing.” Julie did her best to keep her voice calm.

”Everyone stay put,” Daniel said.

Julie felt his hand at the small of her back and wondered how he could even find her in the dark room. But she was thankful he did. After all of her exploits chasing treasures through the dark streets of foreign countries ... well, it was one thing to be in the dark by choice and quite another to have that rug of comfort pulled from beneath your feet.

”I think there's a flashlight in the foyer desk,” she said as he steered them toward the exit.

”Here we go.” Daniel led the way through the dining room doors and toward the front of the inn. A dim light shone in through the front windows, offering them a fighting chance of finding the flashlight.

Julie rummaged through the desk, which was a little more cluttered than she remembered. The bulk of the desk cast thick shadows onto the contents of the drawers, making it that much harder to find what she was looking for. Her fingers finally felt the cold, round, metal object they were searching for.

”Got it,” she said triumphantly. She held it above her head in victory; then she lowered it, switched it on, and silently thanked whatever kind soul had last put in the batteries. The beam of light was strong and true.

”To the breaker box,” she said.

”Any idea where it is?”

”Yes. Follow me.” Relocating the breaker box was one of the first things she'd done when she had taken over. ”It's in the second-floor linen closet.”

”The linen closet?” Even with only the glow of a flashlight beam reflecting on his face, Julie could tell Daniel was frowning.

She shrugged. ”I had it moved from the bas.e.m.e.nt in case we ever have an issue with floodwaters.” She started toward the stairs.

”Floodwaters?”

”Hey, you can never be too careful.”

Daniel followed her up to the second floor. ”I suppose not.”

”Unless you're Hannah,” Julie added.

Daniel laughed as they made their way down the hall to the linen closet.

Julie opened the door and peered inside. ”Here, hold this.” She handed the flashlight to Daniel, moved a stack of towels to the side, and opened the door to the breaker box.

”They all look OK,” Daniel said, s.h.i.+ning the light inside.

”Looks can be deceiving.” Julie methodically began flipping each switch one way and then the other.

Daniel shook his head. ”That wouldn't be the problem. The entire inn is without power. Each one of those would only control a room or two. You need the main switch.”

Julie squinted at the tabs. ”Which one of these is the main one?”