The great cathedral resounded with organ, choir, and sermon. Its scale and splendour had an air of timelessness. Solemnity reined. Except, that is, within Alan, who could barely contain his leaking joy. Each subdued giggling fit was followed by an arm pinch from his mother. His arm was beginning to feel sore. With a sigh and a wry smile, his gaze travelled from the stained-glass windows to the stone masonry to the hammerbeam ceiling. Where most would have found them impressive, its grandness and beauty were innately unavailable to him. His mind drifted to his drone. Soon, he thought, more entries to my diary will be easier to attain. He glanced up at Aunt Isabella sitting to his left and gently touched her hand. She smiled and lovingly squeezed his hand before returning her attention to words delivered from the pulpit.
At the burial site, more words were delivered by the man draped in white. A light breeze had picked up under the grey sunless sky. Alan scanned the throng who had gathered at his grandfather’s last resting place. He did not know most who were present. When the coffin was lowered into the ground, he mused: What is it like to be dead? Distracted by this thought, he followed his mother through the dispersing crowd. By the time he reached the waiting limousine, he had still not found a satisfying resolution to his question. Anyways, he thought with a shrug, what matters is, he got what he deserved. And he found that satisfying.
Comfortably ensconced between his mother and Aunt Isabella in the back of the limousine, he mentally charted the days ahead. During the period between his grandfather’s death and the funeral, he had mastered control of his drone, including its camera. He licked his lips. The quality and number of entries in my diary should be a delicious delight, he thought, especially with the additional guests. Three couples in all. He did not know them. But in the privacy of their room, when their guard was most down, he would soon learn their secrets.
His mother nudged him. “What are you thinking about?” she asked. “You seem in deep thought.”
“Nothing,” he replied, peering out the window. He was pleased she did not push it any further. His gaze settled on Aunt Isabella’s shining kind face and he snuggled against her.
Their limousine pulled up to the front door well ahead of the others. A lanky man in his early forties dressed in a 3-piece pinstripe suit waited. Alan’s mother immediately exited the vehicle and ran to him. Though by no means short herself, she was on the tip of her toes hugging him.
Alan perused him from the car. He wasn’t impressed by the man’s attire since it appeared cheap and low quality. As for his mother, he was surprised she would know such an individual. With a sigh, he picked up his mother’s hat, forgotten during her haste to vacate the limousine, and stepped out onto the drive. By the time he joined them, his mother, Aunt Isabella, and the man were immersed in what appeared troublesome conversation.
His mother’s hat at his side, Alan quietly waited to be introduced.
“Are you sure, Matthew? There is no mistake?” Susan asked. Her consternation was blatantly obvious.
Matthew appeared lost for words. He nodded and said: “This is not how I wished our meeting would be, Susan.”
“Nobody in our household would do such a thing!” Isabella fired back. “I’ve known them all my life.”
“I’m sorry I have to be the bearer of such bad news.” His comments were directed to the three of them. “My men will soon be here. I…I thought by me arriving first it would help soften the blow.”
Their heads turned to see the guests and family approaching along the drive.
With a sigh, Susan quietly responded. “It did.” And she gave him a reassuring caress on the arm. Then she turned to her son. “Alan, please go in. Now!” She turned back to Matthew and gestured to the people arriving. “What should I tell them, Matthew?”
“I see my team is arriving. We’ll take care of it. But I’ll need your entourage in one location until we’re finished.”
“The living room should do, don’t you think, Susan?” Isabella said. “Good. I’ll tell the servants. Goodness, Alan. Still here.” She pushed him forward. “Get on with you.” And they entered the house together.
The last words Alan heard before the door closed was Matthew saying, “Sir Reginald’s murder has aroused…”