Beginning, Section II

Chapter 1

Posted on Monday, 20 December 1999

The story begins in New England, 1954.

Mr. Collins drives up to a large, dark, creepy mansion in a long, shiny, black car. It is dark and pouring rain. Collins wears a grimace as he trudges towards the front door; he does not like getting wet. The large guard dogs bark menacingly at him as he passes them. A bit frightened, Collins fumbles for his key and fidgets with the lock. He finally gets in the door and removes his coat, shaking off the water. He then walks briskly to the library, passing stately, chandelier lit rooms and expensive furniture and sculptures. In the library, he finds Lydia dancing to the record that is playing and dusting as provocatively as she could manage. Collins turns off the record, ignoring the annoyed look from Lydia.

"Is everything ready?"

"Oui, monsieur," Lydia replies with a thick French accent.

"You have your instructions?"

Lydia nods and Collins walks out of the library as the doorbell rings. He goes to open the door to see Darcy standing at the door, looking uncomfortable with rain dripping from his hat and trench coat.

"You are welcome sir," Collins sputters, trying hard to make a good impression on this wealthy man. "Colonel Mustard, I believe?"

"No, actually my name is Da--"

"Pardon me sir, but I believe it would be most to your advantage to use the alias you were given in your letter. May I take your coat and hat?"

"Yes, thank you," Darcy looked suspiciously at the toady man. "And you are, sir?"

"I am Wadsworth, the butler." Darcy nods, wondering why he ever came to this place. They then walk to the library.

"Yvette, please attend to the Colonel and give him anything he requires." Lydia looks at Darcy with a sly grin. Collins percepts it and adds, "Within reason, that is." A disappointed look replaces the grin.

The doorbell rings and Collins excuses himself to answer it. He opens the door to a very pretty lady dressed in white and gazing adoringly at the dogs that are no longer barking. Jane turns to the open door to find a short greasy man.

"Do come in madam, you are expected."

"Excuse me sir, but do you know who I am?"

"Only that you are to be known as Mrs. White for the evening."

"Yes, it said so in the letter, but I do not understand why."

Instead of answering, Collins removes her coat and motions towards the library. They walk towards it and as Collins opens the door, Jane immediately notices the scantily dressed French maid.

"Mrs. White, this is Yvette, the maid, and Colonel Mustard."

Smiling to Darcy, Jane says, "Hello."

"Hello," replies Darcy, not really wanting to make any friends here. All he wants is to leave.

But five miles from the mansion, named Hill House, most likely because it is located on a hill and is some sort of house, another very pretty lady, though not as enchanting as the first, lets out a groan of frustration as she leans over the engine of her car, trying to find out what is wrong with it. A look of hope crosses her face, as she perceives a pair of headlights in the distance travelling towards her. She waves to the car in order to attract the driver's attention and smiles as it slows to a halt. A very handsome man, whose name is Mr. Wickham, steps out of the car with an umbrella, because it is still pouring rain, and approaches the lady, whose name is Elizabeth, or Lizzy for short.

"Can I give you a lift?"

"Oh no, I don't believe that will be necessary. All I need is some light so I can figure out what is wrong with this car, and then I can fix it."

"You can't be serious! It's pouring rain and you are certainly going to catch a cold out here. Please allow me to drive you to your destination. It will be no trouble at all."

"I certainly wouldn't mind getting closer to a dazzling woman such as you," thought Wickham, "especially when you're drenched the way you are now." He eyed Lizzy up and down. Luckily for her, she didn't see it.

"Well I suppose it would be alright. It isn't far from here anyway."

As they got into the car, Wickham asked, "Where exactly are we headed?"

Taking out a sheet of paper Lizzy replied, "Hmm... Hill House. Off route 41."

"What? That's where I'm going as well! May I see that paper?"

Lizzy hands him the paper and he exclaims, "I received the same letter!"

"How curious!"

Back at Hill House...

"And this is Mrs. Peacock."

It must be obvious to the reader who this is. Think feathers...particularly orange feathers.

"Oh yes, I see the resemblance," Darcy muttered.

Taking this as a compliment, Caroline immediately chooses her partner for the evening. "Why Colonel, do you truly like my style of dress? Well I can see that you must since you pointed it out so easily. I must boast on the origin of the outfit. You see, I was shopping one day in the vicinity of..."

"Ahem...Yvette," Wadsworth interrupts. "Will you go and check that dinner will be ready as soon as all the guests have arrived?"

As Lydia leaves, Caroline gazes at her attire with disgust and finally rests her eyes on Jane.

"Why, Mrs. White, have we met previously?"

"Um no, Mrs. Peacock, I believe not."

"Hmm...you do seem familiar. Although all the ladies in Boston look alike, don't you think Colonel?"

"I suppose," replied Darcy, paying no attention to anything but the books on the shelves.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Peacock, but I do not reside in Boston."

"Oh! How shocking! But surely you stay there often during the holidays to go shopping."

"No madam, I'm afraid I rarely visit Boston at all," replied Jane, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "I live in Reading and do almost all my shopping there."

"Oh I might have heard of that poor country town once or twice. I do grieve for you that you have not the pleasures of Boston. It is such a lively..."

She is interrupted by the doorbell.

"Now how many of us are supposed to arrive this evening? I have had no information about this dinner party and I don't know of anyone that is coming," whined Caroline.

The door opens and Bingley enters following Wadsworth. Jane's face goes pale immediately and simultaneously Caroline shrieks, "Why it has been so long Mr. Bing--"

"May I present Mr. Green. This is Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard."

"How do you do?" says Bingley, rather shaken up at finding Jane standing before him.

"Mr. Green, it has been so long since I've seen you. How are you?" asks Caroline.

"Well, Mrs. Peacock, and you?"

"Very well sir, very well indeed."

"You know each other?" Darcy asks.

Caroline gladly responds, "Yes, actually we're friends from college. We were practically brother and sister back then, weren't we Mr. Green?"

"Um...Mrs. White, it is a pleasure to see you again as well."

"Yes...a great pleasure."

"Mr. Green," Darcy begins, becoming a little annoyed with this peculiar dinner party. "Why is it that you are acquainted with both of these women, and I have never seen any of you in my life? This is very peculiar, don't' you think?"

"I think the peculiar thing is this house. It's so creepy," Caroline answers as she clings to Darcy's arm.

As Wickham and Lizzy are escorted to the library, Lizzy says, "I thank you again for giving me a ride. And I am truly sorry to hear of your father's untimely death. Do you believe it could be the fault of someone in your household?"

"It's very possible, quite likely actually, but I dare not expose anyone, for old Mr. Darcy treated me with the utmost kindness and generosity."

"Yes, I understand."

As they reach the library, Wadsworth announces them, "Professor Plum and Miss Scarlet, this is Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Colonel Mustard, and Yvette, the maid."

Lydia hands them both wineglasses as Wickham eyes her. Lydia shudders under the too familiar gaze of this man.

Lizzy scans the faces of all the people present and notices Darcy, "He could be quite handsome if he didn't look so angry," she thought. "What could be provoking him?" She follows his gaze to meet Wickham, whose eyes are turned away and whose face is quite pale.

"Of course, since you've been addressed by a pseudonym, you'll have realized that nobody here is being addressed by their real name." Collins tries not to stutter when he realizes Lizzy's beauty. He knows much about her but has never met her. Already a plan was forming in his head.

Chapter 2

Posted on Wednesday, 22 December 1999

The candles lit in the library cast a dim light on the guests, creating a mysterious atmosphere while curious thoughts sweep through the brains of each of them. The room is silent until a gong sounded to announce dinner and Bingley jumps, spilling his wine on Caroline. "Oh, I am dreadfully sorry Mrs. Peacock!"

Caroline is speechless with anger but she is determined to forget it. She did not want to make a scene before Darcy. They all walk to the dining room and Collins said, "You'll find your names beside your places. Please be seated."

The dining room was very grand, as was the table. It was long and wide, as well, making it hard to hear what people across from you are saying. This works to the advantage of many of the guests during the meal.

The guests sit at their respective places. From the head of the table, which remains empty, going clockwise sits Wickham, Lizzy, and Jane; on the opposite side, in the same direction sits Bingley, Darcy, and Caroline.

Indicating to the head of the table, Darcy asks, "Is that seat for you, Wadsworth?"

"Oh, indeed no, sir. I am merely a humble butler."

"And what exactly do you do?"

"Well, I buttle sir."

"Oh, I see. So the empty seat is for our host then?"

"Yes. We are waiting for the very obliging, condescending Lady Boddy."

Lydia begins serving the first course, Shark's Fin Soup.

"Shall we wait for our host?" asks Caroline.

Just then, the double doors of the dining room swing open to reveal Lady Catherine, in all her glory. "I see that everyone has arrived," she says.

"Yes, madam, and as you can see, we thought it best to wait..."

"Yes, yes, I am not blind, Wadsworth," interrupts Lady Catherine as Collins silences himself with an exaggerated gesture. "I can see that you have not eaten yet."

"May I take your bag madam?"

"No you may not. I would like to hold on to it."

"It contains evidence, I presume." Collins says in a half-whisper, though loud enough for a few of the guests to overhear.

"Surprises, that's what it contains, just surprises."

Collins pulls out her chair and Lady Catherine sits. The guests remain silent, studying this regal woman whom none of them have ever seen before.

"I believe you have all been given names, and I forbid you to speak to each other in any other way."

Lizzy almost laughed out loud when she heard this. "Who does she think she is to order us around?" Lizzy thinks.

"I suggest you all eat now and get to know each other... wait a minute! Young lady, may I ask who you are?" Lady Catherine demands, motioning to Lizzy. "I know everyone else in this room but I surely do not recognize you."

"How do you know us Lady Boddy?" Bingley says. "I know I have never seen you in my life."

The guests all concur with this statement, but before Lady Catherine can reply, Collins speaks up, "All will be revealed after dinner. Lady Boddy, this is Miss Scarlet." Collins hopes Lady Catherine will change the subject, because it is he who invited Lizzy without Lady Catherine's knowledge. Lady Catherine simply nods and begins a conversation with Caroline. This gives Lizzy a chance to speak with her neighbor, Jane.

"Do you have any idea what is going on?" Lizzy asks.

"Certainly not. I have never met this woman, nor do I know many of the guests."

"Do you mean you do know some of them?"

At this point they were interrupted by Caroline shrieking something to Lady Catherine about her feathers and asking Darcy to agree with her. He didn't seem too thrilled to be part of their conversation, so he made a simple comment and turned away from her.

"I met Mr. Green when we were in college," Jane continued, coloring slightly, "but I don't know anyone else.

"It seems that you are not the only one who is acquainted with another guest. Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard seem to know each other, but I highly doubt they are friends."

"Why do you say that?"

"As soon as Professor Plum and I entered the library, the Colonel shot him a glare that could have turned flesh to stone!"

"How odd! Well, I sure hope we get some answers after dinner."

While this conversation was occurring, Bingley and Darcy were also talking.

"This is a strange party, is it not Colonel Mustard?" says Bingley.

"It is indeed. I cannot imagine what Lady Boddy can want with us or how she knows us."

"I was wondering the same thing. Nor did I ever think I would see Mrs. White again."

"You are a lucky man. You are sitting across from, and have the pleasure of knowing, the only good looking woman in the room."

"She is extremely good looking, but what about the lady sitting next to her, Miss Scarlet?"

Lizzy heard her "name" being spoken by the gentlemen and listened to whatever she could pick up from their conversation while continuing her own with Jane.

"She is tolerable, I suppose, but certainly not pretty enough to tempt me." Darcy is a bit angry that someone he hardly knows is already trying to set him up.

"Suit yourself, Colonel, but I believe you are missing out on a good opportunity."

Lizzy hears every word the Colonel speaks and becomes livid. It doesn't take long for her to realize the humor of the situation, and she turns to Wickham to get his opinion. Before she can ask, he opened the conversation by asking, "Have you ever met Colonel Mustard?"

"No, luckily, I have not. From what I have seen and heard this past half hour, I do not think I would like him much."

"You are a fine judge of character."

"You know him then?"

"Yes, in fact, I do. Do you remember, when we were speaking earlier, that you asked if someone in my household could have killed my father?"

"Yes, I remember. Why?"

"I believe it is very likely to be the Colonel."

"You are jesting! The Colonel! And he lived with you?"

"Yes, for he is Mr. Darcy, old Mr. Darcy's son."

"I can scarce believe it! How could such a vile man be brought up by such a kind and generous one?"

"I do not know what changed him. We were like brothers when we were young, but by the time we went to college, he despised me and would do anything to hurt me. By killing my father, he could steal the money that was to be rightfully mine when I turned 25. Since I have not gotten a penny since his death, I strongly believe that this has taken place. I have not seen Darcy since then. That is, until now."

"That is awful! He should be publicly disgraced and punished!"

"He deserves to be, but it will not be by me as long as I hold the memory of his father."

"You are too good."

Lizzy shoots Darcy a glare and he sees it, wondering what he could have done. "Wickham!" Darcy realizes, "What did that scoundrel tell her?"

Lizzy turns to Jane and says, with much emphasis, "Don't you think the Colonel a very unfriendly man?"

"Well, he doesn't seem to want to make friends with anyone present, but I cannot speak on how he acts with others, for I do not know him."

"From what I have heard, he has done a certain person in this room great wrong."

"The Professor?"

"Yes. I will relate the story to you when we have more time. What is even worse is, he thinks I am the least attractive woman in the room!"

Lizzy and Jane both laugh at this declaration, and Darcy is left wondering what was said.

"Shall we adjourn to the study then?" announces Lady Catherine. The party walks together, all of them hoping to find out the reason behind this mysterious dinner party.

Chapter 3

Posted on Monday, 27 December 1999

As the party walks towards the study, Darcy watches the dark-haired woman walking in front of him. "She certainly isn't bad looking. She has a nice figure and curly hair, which I like. She isn't as enchanting as say, Mrs. White, but she does have some beauty," Darcy finds himself thinking. "What am I thinking? Why should I even care about her? She obviously isn't rich; one can see that simply by looking at her. No, I am not interested in her. I simply seek the justice I deserve for whatever Wickham told her."

"Why is that wretched man staring at me?" Lizzy thinks to herself. "He must be trying to find fault in me; he does seem rather pessimistic. But, I will not worry myself about him."

The guests reach the study, where they are invited to sit on one of the many chairs or couches in the room, and Lydia serves some wine. As Darcy enters the room, he sees the only unoccupied seat is next to Lizzy on a loveseat. He sits there, both of them feeling uncomfortable. Nobody notices the person missing from the party. When everyone is seated, Collins clears his throat and begins, "You have all been invited here because you each have something in common."

The guests glance at each other, but finding no obvious similarity, turn back to Collins.

"You are all being blackmailed. For some considerable, all of you have been paying what you can afford and, in some cases, more than you can afford to someone who threatens to expose you. And none of you know who is blackmailing you, do you?"

"This is ridiculous!" shouts Bingley.

"Mr. Green, are you denying that you are being blackmailed?"

Bingley glances at Jane who only looks at the floor. "No, I am not denying it."

"You must know then, that you are being blackmailed for being caught in a compromising situation with a lady," Collins sneers.

"It's not true!" Bingley exclaims.

"Is that true?" Wickham asks Collins.

"No! It's not true!" Bingley declares.

"Ah-ha! Then it's true!" inserts Caroline.

"A double negative!" says Collins.

"You mean...you have photographs?" Bingley stutters.

"That sounds like a confession to me! In fact, the double negative has led to prove the statement positive. I'm afraid you gave yourself away."

"Are you trying to make me look stupid in front of the other guests?"

"You need no help from me sir."

"That's right!"

Bingley then realizes what he just said.

"What is even better is, the young woman Mr. Green was 'involved' with is also present in this room!" Collins announces, truly enjoying the gossip.

"Who?" Caroline and Wickham chime in, while Lizzy and Darcy turn red with indignation and embarrassment.

"Mrs. White!"

Every guest of the party gasps and Jane runs from the room in tears. Lizzy follows her out.

"Now look what you've done!" yells Bingley.

Lizzy finds Jane sobbing in the restroom.

"Oh Mrs. White, don't be upset. This isn't your fault. Wadsworth is going to get what he deserves for embarrassing you and Mr. Green. Not everyone found it as amusing as he thought it was." Lizzy says, trying to console her.

"If I had known something like this was going to happen...you see, it's not as bad as it sounds..."

"How could you have known this would occur? Don't fret, you can tell me about it later. I'm going to put a stop to this party before anyone else is embarrassed. Will you help me, Mrs. White?"

"Yes, I will. I don't want this to happen to anyone else. Oh, and please call me Jane."

"My name is Lizzy," she replied, smiling. "Let's go."

While the women are gone...

"This party isn't so bad after all!" Caroline says.

Darcy gives her a glare, but she doesn't catch it.

"Sorry to bust your bubble, Mrs. Peacock, but I have information about you as well."

"Impossible!"

"Not quite, madam. After the scandal between Mr. Green and Mrs. White, they decided the best thing to do was to get married. Because of your interference, this never occurred."

"That's a lie! I simply advised my dear friend Mr. Green that the marriage would only cause more of a stir and he could only become more embarrassed in the future."

"That seems unlikely, Mrs. Peacock, since by marrying, the rumor would be less scandalous, don't you agree? Even so, did you happen to mention to Mr. Green that you sent Mrs. White an anonymous letter before the wedding? I believe it said that Mr. Green did not love her, although he had told her himself that he did. You also told her that Mr. Green had changed his mind about the wedding. When he was actually going to Hartford for a few days on business, you told Mrs. White that he ran off with another woman!"

"How dare you!" Bingley yelled at Caroline. "You ruined my life that day! No wonder she broke off the engagement. I should have known it was your doing!"

"And what were your motives, Mrs. Peacock?" Collins asks.

"I only wanted what was best for my dear friend."

"Don't ever call me your 'dear friend' again." Bingley declared.

"From what I hear, you separated them because you thought Mrs. White was too poor to marry him," Collins continued. "Or perhaps it was because you wanted Mr. Green to marry Colonel Mustard's sister so you could eventually marry him!"

"WOT!?" Darcy shouts.

"Well, I...um...it's not like that..."

Just then, Lizzy and Jane enter the room. "I suggest that we conclude this party before anyone else is humiliated."

"I agree!" Bingley and Darcy concur.

"I am sorry, but you cannot leave this house." Collins states calmly.

"Oh really?" Bingley challenges. Immediately, Bingley runs to the front door. He tries to open it, but it's locked.

"I'll try another one," Lizzy says. She runs to the conservatory and tries the door that leads outside, but it is also locked. She gets an idea. She picks up a brick and aims it for the glass wall. Before she can throw it, someone grabs her arm.

"Don't!" Darcy yells.

"What are you doing? Whose side are you..."

She is interrupted by the two guard dogs who have jumped up on the glass and are barking loudly at them.

"That's why," Darcy states.

Collins appears at the door, huffing and puffing from running across the house. "I suggest...that you return... * gasp *... to the study now. There is no way out. All the doors are locked... and all the windows have bars."

"You can't hold us prisoner!" Darcy shouts.

"Please, if you return to the study, all will be revealed."

Collins leads them back to the study. Darcy is angered and suspicious, though his thoughts veer to the woman walking beside him. He had believed that she could not be considered beautiful, but her eyes immediately struck him. He had beheld the fire that consumed them when she meant to break the glass and when he had stopped her. He realizes that she must have a fierce temper and that she is unlike many women that he has met.

As soon as they reach the study, Collins says, "I must fetch our host, for, if you have not noticed, she is missing. When we return, you will learn everything you need to know."

When he leaves, Caroline immediately attaches herself to Darcy's arm. "I believe I can guess the subject of your reverie."

"I should imagine not."

"You are thinking how insupportable it is to be in such tedious company, knowing nothing about this curious party, and being humiliated in front of strangers."

"Let me remind you, Mrs. Peacock, that you were the one that was humiliated, not I, and my mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

Ignoring his first comment, Caroline ventures, "And may I ask which lady has the credit of inspiring such reflections." Caroline secretly hopes, and believes, that it is she.

"Miss Scarlet," Darcy replies.

"Miss Scarlet? I am all astonishment!" Caroline says before walking away.

Darcy scans the study and notices that Bingley and Jane are at opposite ends of the room. Occasionally, they glance at each other, but they are both too embarrassed to speak to one another. Darcy also sees Wickham talking with Lizzy. She seems to be listening intently to him, often nodding or smiling. Darcy paces the room, angry and annoyed with the events of the evening. Was he going to let another woman be charmed and, ultimately, hurt by Wickham? No, but how could he prevent it? Surely, he could not expose his own dealings with this man, because he would have to make his sister's troubles known as well. This he could not do. Just then, Lady Catherine and Collins enter the room.

"I suggest you all find a seat. What I have to say may shock you," Lady Catherine begins.

When the guests are seated, she continues, "You know you are being blackmailed, and you know why, but you do not know by whom. I shall now tell you that I am the one who has been blackmailing you."

"How could you? I dare say, I'll..." Caroline threatens.

"Before you say anything you may regret, I would like to offer a deal. But first," Lady Catherine says as she opens her mysterious bag, "I have gifts for each of you. Except for you, Miss Scarlet, since I did not know you were invited."

"Does that mean she is not being blackmailed?" asks Caroline.

"Yes, and I would dearly like to know why I should be here at all!" Lizzy exclaims.

"All in good time," Collins states, hoping he would not have to reveal his secret. If Lizzy were to find out, desperate measures must be taken.

Lady Catherine then distributes many different sized packages to the guests. "Open them."

They open the packages. Darcy receives a candlestick, Bingley has a revolver, Jane has a wrench, Caroline has a dagger, and lastly, Wickham gets a rope.

"You have all received a lethal weapon. Your first instinct is, most likely, to use it on me, but I ask you to consider the following. If you kill me, you may spend the rest of your life in prison. Or, if you denounce me to the police, you will be exposed and humiliated. I'll see to that in court. But, if one of you kills Wadsworth now," Collins eyes widen in horror, "no one but the eight of us will ever know, I can promise you that. He also has the key to the front door. You choose your fate."

Lady Catherine strides towards the light switch. "The only way to avoid finding yourself on the front pages is for one of you to kill Wadsworth. Now," she states as she flicks off the lights.

Chapter 4

Posted on Sunday, 2 January 2000

Darkness and silence consumes the room until a gun is fired and someone screams. There is a low groan, a thump, and silence again. The lights are turned on. Caroline, who had flicked the switch, screams in horror and drops the dagger she was holding when she sees Lady Catherine face down on the floor. A pool of blood is forming around her; she is obviously dead.

"Who had the gun?" Wickham asks.

"I did," replies Bingley.

"Then you shot her!" Caroline accuses.

"I didn't!"

"Well you had the gun. If you didn't shoot her, who did?" Caroline asks.

"I don't know! Somebody grabbed the gun from me in the dark and shot her."

"Ha! Likely story!" Wickham adds.

"Where is the gun now?" Lizzy asks.

The guests search the room for the gun.

"Here it is, on the sofa, too far from any of us to point to a possible murderer." Darcy observes.

"Well, one of us must have killed him," Jane says.

"What do we do now?" asks Bingley.

"We should take all the weapons and lock them in this cabinet," Collins suggests.

"Good idea!" reply many of the guests.

Collins does this and Lizzy asks, "What are you doing with the key?"

"I'm putting it in my pocket."

"Why your pocket?"

"Where else would I put it, my shoe?"

"No, I mean, why should you have the key?"

"Because I know that I'm safe from the murderer."

"But what if you are the murderer?" Darcy declares.

"I'm not!" Collins replies.

"We don't know that. You could be lying. The murderer could be anyone in this room." Darcy states.

"Well, I might as well keep all the keys together. Would you be willing to trust anyone else in this room with the key?"

The guests are skeptical but are prevented from arguing when they hear a scream from the billiard room. They all rush to the door but find that it is locked. They pound on it yelling, "Open the door!"

"It must be the murderer." Wickham states.

"Why would he scream?" Caroline says.

"He must have a victim... Yvette!" Jane realizes.

"Oh my God!" the guests reply.

The door finally opens and the guests pour in.

"You're alive!" Collins declares.

"No zanks to you!" Lydia replies with her thick accent.

"What do you mean?" Collins asks.

"You lock me up with zee murderer, you idiot!"

"So, the murderer is in this room?" Bingley asks.

"Mais, oui!"

"But where?" Caroline says.

"Where? Here! We are all looking at him, or her. It is what Mrs. White said in zee study. One of you is zee killer!"

"How did you know we said that?" Darcy says.

"I was listening!"

"But why were you screaming in here all by yourself?" Lizzy adds.

"Because I am frightened," Lydia sobs. "Mon dieu, I can't stay in here by myself."

Lizzy and Bingley go to comfort her.

"Come back to the study with us," Lizzy suggests.

"With zee murderer?" Lydia says.

"There is safety in numbers," Bingley replies.

They head back to the study.

"Wadsworth, let me out," Lizzy demands.

"I'm sorry but you cannot leave. We are all in this together until we find out who is the murderer." Collins states.

Caroline adds, "Yes, and if you leave, I'll tell the police you killed Lady Boddy."

"But I didn't! I don't even have a motive - I am not being blackmailed."

"Yes, and why is that Wadsworth?" Darcy adds, "You've been avoiding that question all evening."

"Fine, do you really want to know? I invited you Miss Scarlet. I know a certain secret about you."

"And that is?" Lizzy asks.

"You shall not inherit your father's estate when he is dead."

"What are you talking about? He bequeaths it to me in his will!"

"I assume you have not seen the will lately," Collins adds, chuckling. "There have been some...adjustments."

"Why would he change it? And why wouldn't he tell me?" Lizzy asks, incredulous.

"He does not have knowledge of the minor modification of his will. Somebody, someone you have met actually, made the alteration."

"Who?!"

"I did." Collins proudly replies.

Darcy and Bingley have to hold Lizzy back before she tears Collins apart.

"So does this mean you will inherit the estate?" Darcy asks.

"Yes, but there is one way she can regain her inheritance."

"How? What do I have to do?" Lizzy practically yells.

"Marry me," Collins replies.

Lizzy gasps. "I will never do such a hideous thing, you odious toad!"

"So be it," Collins replies angrily. "Not only are you losing your home, you are also losing a husband, and it doesn't seem likely that you will ever receive another offer of that!"

Darcy is incredulous. "Is this man insane? Just look at her! Who wouldn't want to marry her?" he thinks.

"Perhaps you're right, Wadsworth," Lizzy replies once she regained composure. "But I would rather have no one than have you." Instead of slapping him, which was her first instinct, she walks away from him and sits on the sofa. "How stupid can this man be?" she thinks, "I can easily have my father fix the will and I will lose nothing." With that she smiles satisfactorily and takes a sip of the nearest wine glass.

"I need a drink!" Caroline declares.

"So do I!" many of the guests concur.

As the rest of the guests are busy serving themselves drinks, two men slip out of the study and head to the billiard room.

Chapter 5

Posted on Monday, 3 January 2000

Wickham and Collins slip into the billiard room unnoticed by the rest of the party, who remain in the study.

"Thanks for taking care of Lady Boddy. I'm lucky you killed her before anyone got me! Besides, she would have caused too many problems," Collins starts.

"The pleasure is mine. She was beginning to bother me. I don't particularly like being ordered around the way she was prone to do," Wickham replies.

"We do have one problem, though."

"And what is that?"

Collins explains, "Now that Miss Scarlet knows of my interference regarding her father's will, she can easily have her father correct it. That is, if she leaves here tonight."

"I see what you're inferring. I'll take care of her. Although, I did think she was rather bewitching...and witty..."

"Yes..." Collins and Wickham are in a daze, daydreaming of Lizzy. Collins realizes his distraction and continues, "You can do whatever you like with her, just as long as she doesn't leave the house. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," Wickham replies with a mysterious grin.

Meanwhile, in the study...

"Jane, how are you?" Lizzy asks.

"Oh I'm fine. I'm just a bit shaken up, that's all."

"I know the feeling."

"Lizzy, I'm so sorry that Wadsworth is doing this to you. He certainly isn't a man to be trusted."

"Yes, but what he did to you is unpardonable. At least his crime against me can be amended. As soon as I get home I can have my father fix the will. I'm so sorry for you, Jane."

"Don't be. Besides, what happened between Mr. Green and I isn't that bad. But, do you promise not to tell if I reveal it to you?"

"Of course. My lips are sealed."

"Well, two years ago, my boyfriend and I as well as Mr. Green and his girlfriend decided to go to his cottage in Maine for the holidays. My boyfriend and his girlfriend had been friends for a while. One night, they had to go out to get food and Mr. Green and I stayed home. My back was killing me from lifting boxes of Christmas decorations, so he offered to give me a massage. Somehow, somebody got pictures of us in some unusual positions. The next morning there was a note for us that said my boyfriend and his girlfriend had left us because they had received those pictures. They left us copies and they were awful! They made us look like we were doing something truly scandalous. What is worse is my mother would kill me if she saw them or heard a rumor about us, especially since she didn't want me to go in the first place. Afterwards, Mr. Green and I saw each other for a while until we heard from some friends that our secret was out. We decided to get married, and then, if my mother found out, it wouldn't matter so much. Not long before the wedding, Mr. Green told me that he truly loved me and I was so happy because I believed I loved him too. But then I received an anonymous letter that said he no longer loved me and that he had run off with another woman. I broke off the engagement and we haven't seen each other since...until now," Jane concludes, teary-eyed.

"Oh Jane, that's dreadful! Do you think he still loves you?"

"Of course not! There must be something about me that he can't stand. Why else would he leave me for someone else. Maybe he never really loved me."

"Jane, don't say that! Besides, how could he find fault in you? From the way he's been watching you this evening, I don't have a doubt in my mind that he still has feelings for you."

"I hope so, with all my heart, that you are right Lizzy."

"Wadsworth," Bingley interrupts their conversation. The two men have returned to the study without anyone noticing their disappearance. "Am I right in thinking there is no one else in this house?"

"Mmm, no," Collins replies.

"Then there is someone else in the house?"

"No, sorry. I meant 'no' meaning 'yes'."

"'No' meaning 'yes'? Look, I want a straight answer. Is there someone else or isn't there, yes or no?"

"Um, no."

"'No' there is, or 'no' there isn't?"

"Yes."

"Will you two shut up?" Caroline interrupts.

"There is still some confusion as to whether or not there's anybody else in the house!" Bingley shouts.

"I told you, there isn't!" Collins shouts back.

"There isn't any confusion, or there isn't anybody else in the house?"

"Either...or both."

"Just give me a clear answer!"

"Certainly!" Collins pauses. "What was the question?"

"Is there anybody else in the house?"

"NO!!!" all the guests shout.

"That's what he says, but does he know?" Bingley says. "I suggest we split up and search the house."

"Split up?" Caroline says.

"He's right," Darcy agrees. "What choice do we have?"

"Yes, and since we want to get this done as quickly as possible, let's split up in pairs."

"Pairs?" Jane shouts. "Suppose that one of us is the murderer. If we split up into pairs, whichever one that is left with the killer might get killed!"

"Then we would have discovered who the murderer is!"

Lizzy agrees with Jane that this is a bad idea. She adds, "But then the other half of the pair would be dead!"

"We don't have another option!" Darcy shouts. "If we don't do this, we'll never find out who the murderer is."

Lizzy wants to argue with him, but it would be pointless. He is right, they have no choice.

"I suggest we all draw lots for partners," Collins adds.

Chapter 6

Posted on Sunday, 16 January 2000

Mr. Collins grabs a handful of matchsticks by the fireplace and counts out eight of them. He cuts them into pairs of different lengths. He prepares them in his hand so the matches' lengths can't be seen.

"The two shortest together, the next two shortest together. And I suggest the two shortest search the cellar, and so on, up," Collins says to the group.

The guests approach him and each chooses a matchstick. After comparing lengths with other members of the party, Wickham finds that he will be partnered with Lydia, and his wicked grin distresses her. Jane and Bingley realize they are paired with each other and both cast their eyes to the floor to remain in an awkward silence. Lizzy releases a sigh of frustration when she finds she is paired with him. "Just my luck," she thinks, "I have to be paired with that vile Mr. Darcy. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the killer!"

Darcy, on the other hand, is pondering his good luck at being paired up with Lizzy. "This should prove to be interesting. This is my chance to get closer to her."

The final pair is Collins and Caroline.

"It's you and me, honey bunch," Collins says. (This has got to be my favorite line of the movie - I just had to include it!)

"Oh G-d..." Caroline replies.

"So where do we go now?" Wickham asks.

Collins replies, "Since Mrs. Peacock and I have the shortest length matchsticks, we'll search the cellar. Colonel Mustard and Miss Scarlet will search the main floor. You and Yvette will search the second floor, and Mr. Green and Mrs. White will search the attic.

"Let's get this over with," Caroline whines.

The guests work their way to their assigned floors to begin the search.

"Where should we start?" Darcy asks.

"Well, we know what's in the study. Let's check the lounge," Lizzy replies.

They walk to the lounge and search it, but find nothing unusual.

"Well, nothing here. This search is completely pointless. What do we expect to find?" Lizzy exclaims, becoming frustrated.

"Clues, hopefully." Darcy calmly replies.

"Then why are they searching the cellar and attic? Do they expect to find clues there?"

"How am I supposed to know? I'm not the murderer."

"Why should I trust you?"

Darcy pauses, admiring her spirit and the fire in her eyes.

"Well?" Lizzy yells.

"You don't have a choice. We're going to have to trust each other."

Lizzy regards him skeptically. She knows she isn't going to get anything out of him and replies, "Fine, I guess."

Darcy smiles. Lizzy realizes how much better he looks when he smiles. She wishes he would do it more often. They leave the lounge and make their way to the conservatory.

"Hmm...it's dark in here," Lizzy observes. "Isn't there a light switch?"

"Afraid of the dark?" Darcy guesses.

"No, but I would like to see if I'm supposed to be looking for clues."

"Oh, well I suppose you're right. There should be a light around somewhere."

They search the room for a light switch. Lightning touches down close by and makes a loud cracking noise. Lizzy jumps and lets out a small shriek of surprise. Darcy holds back a chuckle, amused at how tense she is.

"What's this?" Lizzy pauses, then exclaims, "Oh! It looks like a secret passageway!"

"Let's check it out then," Darcy suggests.

"You want to go in there?" Lizzy exclaims in astonishment.

"How else are we going to find out where it leads? Come on," Darcy urges her, trying to sound reassuring. "Look, here's a flashlight. I'll go first."

Darcy walks into the passage and Lizzy reluctantly follows him.

Meanwhile, in the attic...

Bingley and Jane had been totally silent since they had learnt they were to be partners. Bingley becomes increasingly bothered by it and thinks, "I can't keep going like this. One of us has to say something."

"Jane?"

"Yes?"

"I know this is awkward for the both of us..."

"Yes..."

"But we're going to have to trust each other for a while."

Jane is silent.

"Can you trust me...ever again?"

Jane raises her eyes to his and sees hope shining in them.

"Yes, I believe I can. Even though you did have the revolver in the study, I don't really think you could have killed Lady Boddy."

Bingley smiles widely. "Oh, I'm so glad. I was afraid you thought I was the killer. Why don't we search a few of these rooms? But we should stay together, because I don't want anything to happen to you."

Jane blushes.

"I mean...that is...neither of us know what is going on, so it's probably better that we stick together right?"

"Right."

They continue searching the attic, both feeling happier and safe.

In the cellar...

"There seems to be two rooms down here," Collins observes.

"How about you search one, and I'll search the other," Caroline suggests.

"I don't see any light switches."

"Well I don't either but there must be some."

"Right."

"Right."

They walk into the rooms and immediately jump back to see if the other one is there. They turn back to the rooms. Neither find any light switches (they really should make those things easier to find in this house) so they remain in the dark.

"If there is anybody in here, just look out!" Collins threatens to...well...no one.

"Are you hiding? I'm coming," Caroline speaks into the darkness.

Back on the main floor...

Lizzy and Darcy inch their way through the passage until they come to a dead end.

"Is this it? It doesn't lead anywhere?" Lizzy exclaims, disappointed.

"I guess not," Darcy states as he leans against a wall.

Suddenly, the wall opens and Darcy falls through into the library.

"So it does lead to another room," Lizzy says as she steps over Darcy. He gives her a look but she isn't paying attention to him.

"Looks like we're in the library," Darcy says as he gets off the floor.

"How perceptive of you," Lizzy remarks sarcastically.

They search the room, but again, find nothing significant.

"Let's try the dining room," Darcy says.

As they are leaving, the telephone rings. They look at each other, wondering if they should answer it. Lizzy strides to the phone and picks up the receiver.

"Hello?" Lizzy asks timidly.

"May I speak to Mr. Darcy, if he is present, please?" says a soft young woman's voice on the opposite end.

"Um, yes of course." Lizzy hands the phone to Darcy, who is surprised to be getting a call.

"Hello?" he says.

"William, is everything ok?"

"Georgiana! How did you get this number?"

"I found the invitation and it has the address of the house. It took me forever to find the number."

"Oh, I see." Darcy looks towards Lizzy, who realizes he probably wants to be alone, so she leaves the room. She isn't about to let him off easy though. She leaves the door open a crack and stands outside to listen. She is supposed to be searching for clues right?

"Georgiana, why are you calling here?"

"Do you realize that you've been gone for more than four hours? You said you'd be back within one hour! What's going on over there?"

"It's hard to explain, but I can't leave until...until later. I need to make sure everything is okay before I leave. But there is a small problem?"

"What is it?"

"Wickham is here."

"Wickham! William please be careful. You know he can't be trusted."

"Of course I know that. But I've let him go for too long. If he does anything this time, I'll have to take care of the situation. I just wish I had done it earlier.

Outside of the room, Lizzy gasps as she realizes what he is inferring.

"You don't have anything to worry about," Darcy continues, "Everything will be taken care of in a few hours at the most, I'm sure of it."

"Alright, William. Be careful."

"I will. Goodbye."

Lizzy steps away from the door and pretends to be admiring a sculpture. Darcy exits the room.

"Is everything okay?" Lizzy asks innocently.

"Yes, everything is fine. That was my sister, wondering where I am."

"Oh...shall we continue?"

They walk to dining room and begin searching.

"What's this?" Lizzy says as she finds a piece of paper underneath one of the chairs. She picks it up and reads it aloud: "Yvette, meet me in the billiard room at 7:00 sharp. Come alone."

"What time is it?" Darcy asks.

The clock reads five minutes past seven o'clock. They hear a loud, blood-curdling scream. They know immediately where it is coming from. They run to the billiard room and open the door. The room is dark so they flick on the light switch. Lydia's body is sprawled across the billiard table with a noose around her neck. There's no one else in the room. Seconds later, the rest of the party arrives.

"What happened?" Bingley yells.

"Look," Lizzy says as she points to Lydia's body.

*Gasp* The party stares with shocked faces at the corpse.

"Who has done this?" Wickham declares.

"I don't know. We found her here after we heard her scream." Lizzy replies but thinks to herself, "Whoever it was got in and out fast."

Lizzy turns to the party and takes a headcount. Everyone is present.

"How could someone have killed her, left the room, and come back with the group without us seeing them?" Darcy asks, perplexed.

"Who knows? I suppose we'll have to keep searching," Collins suggests.

The party leaves, except for Lizzy and Darcy, who begin to search the billiard room.

"Look! Another door." Lizzy exclaims. She tries to open it but, as they expected, it is locked. "Where do you think it leads?" Lizzy asks.

"I'm not sure," Darcy replies.

"Do you think the murderer left through here? That is, if he had the key?"

"Or..." Darcy says as he pushes on a large portrait revealing another secret passageway, "He could have left through here."

"Another one?"

"Shall we see where it leads?"

"Alright."

As they walk down the passage, Lizzy's thoughts wander to the man beside her. She is still suspicious of him and still thinks it is likely that he killed Lady Boddy. But he couldn't have killed Yvette. She has to remind herself that this man could be very dangerous, especially after what she heard him say on the phone. He practically said he was going to kill Wickham! When they are together, though, she feels safe with him. She knows it is strange but decides that she should investigate deeper.

Darcy's thoughts are on Lizzy as well. He has been denying the fact that he loves her all evening, but each moment they spend together, he becomes more attached. His feelings for her escalate by simply being near her, though they don't say much to each other. He knows something has to be done.

Chapter 7

Posted on Tuesday, 25 January 2000

Darcy and Lizzy continue down the passageway until they discover an entry to another room. They step into the room and find themselves in complete darkness.

"Where are we?" Lizzy asks. "I can't see a thing."

"Me neither," Darcy replies. "What's this?"

"That's my arm, Colonel. Please release it before your hands wander anywhere else they shouldn't be."

"Oh, uh...I'm terribly sorry...please excuse me."

"I don't think we've reached the room yet...there seems to be some sort of fabric around us." Lizzy explains, realizing how ridiculous that sounds.

Darcy feels in front of him and finds the aforementioned fabric. He lifts it up a few inches and sees a light coming from underneath. He lifts the fabric above his head and finds that they have reached the ballroom. They step out from behind a curtain, both warm and coloring from the experience of being alone together in the dark.

"Back where we started it seems," Lizzy observes.

Darcy watches Lizzy straighten her clothes and try to fix her hair. "She is so lovely," Darcy thinks, "even when she is a bit disheveled."

"Miss Scarlet..." Darcy begins, "there is...I wanted to..." Darcy paces the room trying to form his next words.

"Is there something you want to say to me Mr. D - I mean, Colonel Mustard?" Lizzy asks.

Darcy is so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he doesn't notice her slip. Darcy takes a deep breath and begins again, "I have struggled to no avail; this will not do. My feelings for you will not be repressed. I must tell you how much I adore you. Miss Scarlet, I...I love you."

Lizzy is speechless with shock. Darcy feels this is enough encouragement for him to continue. "Although we have known each other no more than a few hours, and God knows how irrational I am being, I cannot help it. My relations will certainly scorn me for my choice, for your station in life, as you must know, is relatively lower than my own. I lack rational thoughts when I am near you, and against my own will and judgement, I have come to realize that I truly admire you."

"Although I may be expected to express gratitude for the compliment you are paying me, I cannot. I have never desired your good opinion, and your "honoring" me in this way could not make me happy now," Lizzy replied.

"And this is the reply I am to expect from you? I might wonder why you have rejected me with so little effort to be polite."

"And I might wonder why you have been so impolite in the manner of expressing your feelings. You tell me that you love me against your will, your reason, and even against your character. Don't you think that is a fair reason for me to be impolite, if that is what I was to you? Besides, my poor opinion of you was decided before now. Do you honestly think I could love a killer?"

"A killer? What on earth are you talking about?"

"Don't attempt to deny it, Mr. Darcy! I know everything. I know what you did to Wickham, how you murdered his father to steal the inheritance that was not your own! I heard what you said to your sister - that you were planning to kill Wickham! Nor is there any doubt in my mind that you also killed Lady Boddy! In fact, she must have been blackmailing you because she knew of your crime and threatened to expose you!"

"You are mad, woman! But I must ask, how do you know my name? And Wickham's?"

"Wickham told me yours. How else was I to know that the call from your sister was for you? You don't think she'd call you Colonel Mustard, do you? I learnt Wickham's name when I heard your phone conversation. I doubt it could be anyone else in the house, and when we first met you I perceived the look you gave him. I knew from the beginning that you hated each other."

"I can tell you one thing, Miss Scarlet. I would be willing to bet that everything he told you, besides my name, is a falsehood. I have never killed anyone - Wickham is the true murderer."

"How can I trust you? You could be trying to cover your own schemes. Of course you would say such things of an enemy."

"If I was the killer, don't you think I would have killed you by now?"

"I figured your fervent love for me might have squandered your insane plot to kill me."

"Ugh!" Darcy screams in frustration, "Don't you see? Wickham is an evil man! He was the one who killed his father so he could receive his inheritance before it was due."

Lizzy rolls her eyes, implying she doesn't believe a word he says but he continues anyway. He wants justice. "He blew all the money on alcohol and women. He came to me for more money, and since he had once been like a brother to me, I pitied him and gave it to him, not yet knowing what had happened to his father and the inheritance. My sister had been staying in Cape Cod two summers ago when Wickham showed up unexpectedly, seduced her, and made her believe she was in love with him. A week after his arrival, I also visited, unannounced, and when I found them together, Georgiana immediately related the entire story to me. She had also found out that Wickham had killed his father. When she told me all of this, you can guess how I acted. Lady Boddy knew everything Wickham had done, though I don't know how she came to learn of it. She threatened to expose him was able to blackmail him. She also realized she could blackmail me because she knew I would never expose my sister. It was of little consequence to me. Because she was my aunt and felt guilty blackmailing me for too much money, it wasn't hard for me to pay it off. What I have told you is all true and I only hope you have gained some realization of Wickham's deception."

Lizzy pauses as she ponders his words, but responds to her instinct that tells her to say exactly what's on her mind, "How could I believe such a falsehood as this? You are a liar and a killer! From the beginning of our acquaintance, not many hours ago, I almost immediately perceived your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. I had not known you an hour before I felt you were the last man I could ever love!"

With that Lizzy storms from the room, unable to contemplate what she had said or what had been said to her. All she knows is she must leave the confining room. She doesn't know what to do or where to go when she suddenly realizes, "Jane! I can talk to her."

Lizzy rushes towards the grand staircase and starts up until her eyes fall on the couple on the landing. Jane and Bingley, who had been in an intimate embrace, immediately separate, blushing profusely. Lizzy feels awkward and stutters an apology as she starts back down the stairs but Jane calls her back.

"No, Miss Scarlet, don't go," Jane calls to her. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Good, because I was coming to find you. I wanted to talk to you as well. Shall we go to the library perhaps?" Lizzy suggests.

"Perfect." Jane replies.

Bingley adds, "I'll continue searching upstairs. There's nothing in the attic, and Wadsworth and Mrs. Peacock might need some help."

"Good idea," Jane responds.

Jane and Bingley share a meaningful look before he departs up the stairs. Lizzy smiles knowingly, and the women walk to the library.

Meanwhile, in the ballroom...

Darcy's thoughts are racing through his mind so quickly he cannot seem to focus on just one. He decides to find a better location to control his thoughts. He walks to the library and pours himself some brandy.

"What did I do wrong?" Darcy thinks, "How could she reject me? I, who has ten times as much money as she'll ever have. I, whose lowest relations would scorn her highest! And this is the thanks I get. This is her opinion of me."

The door opens suddenly to reveal Lizzy and Jane, and Darcy stands at their arrival.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Lizzy begins.

"Please forgive me, I..." Darcy says.

"Oh, don't get up. I was just..."

"No, stay. I could just as easily..."

"Are you sure, because I don't mean to..."

"No, I'm certain. Please excuse me." With that, Darcy walks past them hurriedly. His thoughts of anger had vanished as if they had never existed as soon as he saw her. His thoughts began spinning again, and he met her eyes to discern if her feelings had undergone any change, but she had immediately turned away. He walks through the door and is gone.

"What was that all about?" Jane asks, very confused, having understood none of the conversation.

"You would never guess. But first, you must tell me about you and Mr. Green!"

"Oh Lizzy, I am in heaven! Do you believe it? He told me that he still loves me and he proposed!"

"I could believe it and I do! And you accepted of course!"

"Actually, I didn't," Jane replied as her eyes dropped to the floor.

"Jane, you must be kidding!"

"That is, I didn't accept right away. I confronted him about leaving me for another woman before the wedding but he claimed it was untrue. He told me that while you and I were talking this evening, Caroline was exposed for writing the letter I had received. You know, about him leaving me. He was actually going to Hartford on business! Can you believe she tried to separate us?"

"Of course! It all makes sense now!"

"I can't believe she had actually advised him not to marry me!"

At this, Lizzy's tone turned cold, "No doubt because of your "low station". I'm getting sick of people like her, who think they are so high above everyone, who think themselves better because of the amount of money they have."

"Why Lizzy, you take it so personally. Why should this bother you so much?"

"You won't believe what happened, Jane. Mr. Darcy, or Colonel Mustard as you know him, confessed his love for me not long ago in the ballroom."

"You can't be serious! Not that anyone loving you should be surprising. But he seemed rather shy and distant. I had no idea, but no wonder he looked at you so often!"

"You noticed that too? I can't believe the arrogance of that man. To think he expected me to return his love! How could I ever love such an unfeeling, selfish man?"

"You rejected him! Oh, poor Mr. Darcy!"

"I don't know how you could feel pity for him. He deserved every word I said to him."

"What did you say?"

"Well, he told me he loved me, and then elaborated on how irrational it was for him to love me, how his relations would scorn him for his choice, and he expected me to feel gratitude for his "compliment"! I told him I couldn't possibly feel anything for him and gave him all the reasons I had to despise him."

"Why should you despise him Lizzy?"

Lizzy relates to Jane everything that Wickham (Professor Plum) had revealed to her, her own suspicions about Darcy, and finally, what Darcy told her about Wickham. Jane is shocked and pauses, trying to make sense of the situation.

"What do you think Jane? Who is to blame?" Lizzy finally asks.

"Oh Lizzy, I could not blame anyone. I couldn't imagine that either of them would lie to you, but Darcy's story seems easier to believe. Besides, why would he fabricate such an account involving his own sister?"

"I suppose you're right," Lizzy admits.

"And look at the opportunities Wickham has had to murder someone. You know Darcy didn't kill Yvette, but she was Wickham's partner."

"That's true. That also means he is alone in the house right now. Who knows what he is up to! We need to be careful. Oh no, what about Mr. Green? He's alone too!" Lizzy realizes.

"And Mr. Darcy!" Jane adds.

"You're right. We need to find them."

"I'll find Mr. Green and you get Mr. Darcy, and don't get separated again," Jane commands.

"What? Jane, how am I supposed to face him after what I said to him?"

"I believe you can do it, Lizzy. Have trust in yourself. If he claims to love you, why would he hate you after one argument?"

"Hmm...I hope you're right Jane," Lizzy responds. "For some reason," Lizzy ponders, "the thought of him disliking me is practically unbearable. How the tables have turned since minutes ago! Why should I seek his regard now?"

The both set off to find their respective partners. Jane rushes upstairs and Lizzy begins searching the rooms for Mr. Darcy.

Chapter 8

Posted on Monday, 31 January 2000

Darcy walks to the lounge and closes the door behind him. A wave of guilt overwhelms him as an image of the intense anger on Lizzy's face is painted in his mind. You are a liar and a killer! I had not known you an hour before I felt you were the last man I could ever love! She had cut straight to his heart. The deliberate forcefulness and cruelty of these words are magnified in his mind, which is now analyzing the entire event. "I wish the whole thing never happened. I wish I knew how she would react, and most of all, I wish I knew the right thing to say." Darcy ponders her words, trying to see them from every angle and contemplating every meaning. He stops himself, realizing there is nothing he can do about what she said, but there is something he can do about the future. The guilt he initially felt becomes clearer and he realizes his faulty actions: being sure she would accept his love, his arrogant manners, and the unthinkable way of confessing his love for her. He had not conceived of the way he was insulting her, all the while trying so hard to express his adoration. "She is right. I probably do seem arrogant, especially tonight. Why should I try so hard to be reserved with these people? I must endeavor to prove myself to her. I must prove that I have learned from her words and that I want to change. I have been properly humbled by her," Darcy's thoughts halt when he believes he hears Lizzy calling his name. "Of course she isn't calling me. She must hate me now." Soon after these thoughts, he hears someone's footsteps as the person walks towards the lounge. They are not steady; they slow every few seconds and continue again. For a moment, he believes the person will enter the room when the steps stop by the door to the lounge, but no one enters and the steps continue in the other direction. After the echo of the footsteps drowns out, Darcy hears someone else walking past his door. This person's steps are quicker and they continue in the same manner, no slowing or stopping. Though Darcy is contemplating the particulars of these sounds, his mind is elsewhere, in constant worry about aspects dealing with the woman to whom he has confessed his heart. "But she does not desire my heart, nor anything to do with me," Darcy reminds himself.

Meanwhile...

Lizzy continues down the hall, searching rooms and calling Darcy's name. She is afraid to call too loud, in case Wickham hears her. She checks the dining room, the study, the conservatory, and the kitchen to no avail. She heads towards the lounge, hoping beyond hope that he is there when she notices out of the corner of her eye that the door to the ballroom is slightly ajar. She quickens her steps towards the ballroom knowing Darcy must be there. She steps into the room, which is consumed in darkness. She fumbles for a light switch but (as we must all be expecting by now) fails to find one.

"Mr. Darcy," Lizzy calls, though it comes out more like a whisper. She clears her throat and says, "Mr. Darcy are you in here?"

Instead of his voice, Lizzy hears the door slam behind her. She opens her mouth to scream but it is forcefully covered by a large hand. She struggles against her oppressor and finally frees herself from his tight grip.

"Wickham!" She yells.

A spark of light appears before her. The man lights a match and reveals his face.

"Right you are, my dear," Wickham replies. "How did you find me out?"

"I know all about your schemes," Lizzy spouts angrily. "I know you are the killer. You killed Lady Boddy. You killed Yvette. You even killed your father!"

Wickham smiles and flicks on the light as he calmly replies, "So I see you have been talking to Darcy. No doubt you believe that what he says is the truth. I'm afraid your admiration for him has swayed your opinion."

Lizzy is dumfounded. When she feels she can speak again she yells at him, "How dare you presume that I have feelings for Mr. Darcy! Because I, well, I don't and I never will. Even if I do I would never allow love to influence my opinion. Besides, you have given yourself away. Your crimes are too obvious."

"Then why did you believe me?"

"I never believed you! How could I believe such a...a..."

"It's easy to tell when you are lying."

"Ugh," Lizzy groans in frustration. "What do you plan to do then?"

"Why, kill you of course," Wickham responds.

"Kill me? You wouldn't dare expose yourself. Everyone will know it is you because they are all already suspicious of you."

"Frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a damn. They will have no proof and I can easily put the blame on Darcy. He is your partner after all."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh wouldn't I?" Wickham retorts as he strolls to the other end of the room. He picks up the revolver from the table and turns to face her, raising the gun to point at her head. Instinctively, Lizzy turns away and shuts her eyes, waiting for her death to come. She wishes she could have told Darcy her true feelings for him, but now is too late.

Several seconds pass and there is no gunshot. She reluctantly turns to face the spot where Wickham had been standing only to see his lifeless body sprawled on the ground with a knife shoved into his back. Lizzy gasps in shock and then her eyes fall on Darcy, staring blankly at Wickham, visibly stressed after the deed he has done.

Darcy looks up to meet her eyes and walks towards her. He has an overwhelming urge to take her in his arms to comfort her but he checks himself, remembering the anger she had once expressed in that face. By looking at her, he can hardly believe that the same face had thrown such a forceful look at him. Her countenance is in shock: pale and blank. Her eyes fill with tears she does not have the power or energy to shed.

"Are you alright?" Darcy asks quietly, not wanting to disturb the eerie silence that seems palpable in the air.

"Yes, I think I'll be fine," Lizzy replies weakly. Thoughts are beginning to form and take shape again in her mind and she remembers the wishes she had thought would be her last.

Before she can say a word Darcy suggests, "We should probably get out of here."

Darcy gently takes her arm and begins to lead Lizzy out of the room when Lizzy holds back and says, "Wait. There's something I should tell you."

Darcy's eyes return to her face and look longingly into the depths of her eyes, "Of course. What is it?"

Lizzy momentarily forgets what she was about to say as she feels his touch and gaze still on her. The thoughts register in her brain again and she begins, "I am truly sorry for the awful things I accused you of earlier. I have come to realize that you were right all along, and what I said to you is unpardonable."

"Please don't speak of it. It's over now. Besides, much of what you said to me is deserved. You have nothing to blame yourself for. I, on the other hand, spoke words that I cannot believe I could have ever said to one I love."

Lizzy blushes and brings herself to say, "Do you mean to say that you still love me?"

"Of course," Darcy exclaims. "Do you think my love was so inconstant as to vanish after a heated argument?"

"I hoped not," Lizzy smiles.

"You hoped? Am I to believe that your feelings have altered since?"

"Yes, in fact my feelings are quite the opposite," Lizzy smiles. Their eyes lock, and for the first time, they feel completely comfortable being near each other, sharing an intimate gaze such as this one. Gradually, the gap is closed between them and their lips meet in a long awaited kiss. The embrace only becomes more heated until the grandfather clock in the hall begins to chime. The couple disengage themselves and Lizzy asks distractedly, "What should we do now?"

Darcy replies, "We should probably let everyone know what is going on. Then we can leave this dreadful place." Lizzy nods and they head towards the hall, arm in arm. Lizzy takes one last look at Wickham and notices something attached to his belt.

"Wait a second," Lizzy says to Darcy.

"What is it?" he asks.

Lizzy walks over to the corpse and detaches a set of keys from his belt.

"What are those for?" Darcy asks.

"There's three of them. That makes one for the front door, one for the cabinet that once held that revolver and the rope used to strangle Yvette, and..."

"And one for the locked door in the billiard room," Darcy finishes her sentence.

"We can only hope."

"There's only one way to find out."

"But what about the others?" Lizzy asks.

"Why don't we take care of this ourselves? They're not in any danger now."

"You're right. Let's go."

They walk towards the billiard room and pass by the clock that now reads midnight.

Chapter 9, Part 1, Ending 1

Posted on Tuesday, 15 February 2000

Darcy and Lizzy head towards the billiard room. The room is cold with death and they both feel a chill as they pass Lydia's body. Lizzy checks the door again to make sure it's locked, which it is, and then tries one of the keys. No luck. She tries a second but it does not work either.

"Let's hope this is it," Lizzy remarks as she tries the last key. The key is stuck for a moment but then turns and the lock clicks open. She slowly opens the door and flicks on a light. The room is very small with no windows. There is a machine on a table before them and it looks to be some sort of tape recorder.

"I think I might now how this works. My father had one similar to it," Darcy says and then notices, "These tapes have material on them." Darcy fools around with the machine for a minute until the tape begins to play. They immediately recognize Collins' voice.

"Thanks for taking care of Lady Boddy. I am lucky you killed her before anyone got me! Besides, she would have caused too many problems." The next voice they hear is Wickham's.

"That means Wickham killed Lady Boddy. At least now we have proof," Lizzy says.

They then hear Collins mention Lizzy's name and Wickham say, "I see what you're inferring. I'll take care of her." Lizzy's face goes pale and Darcy turns to her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It is just a bit shocking to hear that they were actually plotting to kill me. I never believed something like this could happen."

"How could you have foreseen this?" Darcy looks deep into her eyes and all her worries melt away. After a long pause Darcy whispers, "I don't even know your name."

"Elizabeth," she replies.

"Call me William," Darcy says.

They remain in the same position, content to just look into each other's eyes until they are distracted by the tape. They hear more voices.

Collins speaks loudly, "What do you think you were doing? Don't you realize that people are going to figure out what's going on if you start taking liberties like this? Your job is to kill Miss Scarlet, not Yvette. She is not part of the problem."

"Perhaps not part of your problem, but she was surely a part of mine. Besides, she was suspicious and I couldn't let her try to influence the other guests. I was hoping to point them in the direction of Mustard or Green as the murderer," Wickham explains.

"Alright but let's not make any more mistakes. Just do whatever you can to get rid of Scarlet."

"And this proves he killed Yvette," Darcy states.

"But I don't understand how she was part of the problem," Lizzy says.

"Wickham and Yvette, whose real name is Lydia, were secretly married years ago. Things did not work between them when he began beating her so she ran off. They never actually got divorced but considered themselves separated just the same," Darcy relates.

"Poor Lydia," Lizzy replies.

"But at least now we have proof that Wickham was the killer. We should probably let everyone else know," Darcy states.

"What should we do about Wadsworth?" Lizzy asks.

"I'll take care of him," Darcy replies.

Chapter 9, Part 2, Ending 1

Posted on Tuesday, 29 February 2000

Lizzy and Darcy walk up to the second floor. As they reach the top of the stairs they hear voices to their right in a room down the hall and recognize Caroline's voice. They pause to hear whom she is speaking to and then discern that she is talking with Jane and Bingley.

"Go and tell them to come downstairs. Tell them Wickham is dead and play the tape for them. I'll try to find Wadsworth," Darcy says.

"Ok," Lizzy replies and Darcy turns down the hall in the opposite direction of the voices, but Lizzy stops him by touching his arm. "Be careful, ok?"

Darcy smiles and replies, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." Darcy tries to sound confident while secretly he has a strange feeling that something will go wrong.

Lizzy turns down the hall and follows the voices to a guest bedroom.

"Lizzy!" Jane announces when she sees her. "Is everything ok?"

"Well...Wickham, or as you know him, Professor Plum, is dead," Lizzy proclaims. The three listeners gasp. "But it's not necessarily a bad thing because we found out that he was the killer."

"How did - wait, we? - Where is Colonel - When did he - Then who - What happened?" These are questions that rapidly fly from Caroline's mouth in the period of a few seconds.

The others look at each other, confused. Lizzy responds as best she can, "I was looking for Colonel Mustard and found myself in a room with Wickham. He was going to kill me but the colonel stabbed him before he got a chance to shoot me. Wickham had a key that leads to a small room off the billiard room. The room contains a tape recorder that has taped conversations that occurred in the billiard room. Why don't we go and listen to them now?"

"Where is the colonel?" Bingley asks.

"As you will soon find out, Wadsworth was behind this entire scheme, so Colonel Mustard has gone to find him and bring him down so we can discuss this with him, I presume," Lizzy explains.

"Perhaps he needs some help. Where did he go first?"

"He should be on this floor."

"Don't let anything happen to him!" Caroline yells after the retreating Bingley.

Lizzy is annoyed at Caroline's obvious obsession with William and remarks, "Is there a reason why you should be so worried about Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock?"

"Isn't it obvious dear? William and I are engaged!" Caroline replies.

"That's impossible!" Lizzy yells. She knows it cannot be true. William loves her. But how would Caroline know his name?

"Why should it be impossible? Don't tell me you believe he is in love with you! He wouldn't sink to that level when he can do so much better," Caroline replies conceitedly.

"How dare you be so presumptuous! What could he possibly see in you? You're just a snotty, two-faced b*tch!"

Caroline gasps in horror. "No one has ever dared to say such things to me!"

"But I have no doubt they say it behind your back!" Lizzy retorts.

Caroline screams and lunges towards Lizzy. Her foot gets caught on a rug and she tumbles over. Jane can only stare in shock and Lizzy tries to repress a laughing fit.

Caroline gets up, brushes herself off, and walks out of the room, clinging to whatever dignity she has left. As soon as she is out of hearing distance, Jane and Lizzy laugh uncontrollably. They immediately stop laughing when they hear a shrill scream from the other side of the house. They run towards the sound and find an open door. As Lizzy glances in, she sees Bingley sitting in a chair with his head in his hands.

"Mr. Green, is something..." Lizzy begins. Her sentence is cut short as her eyes fall on the two bodies lying on the floor. She runs immediately to the one she recognizes as Darcy's.

"Oh my G-d! William! William, are you ok? Can you hear me? William!" Lizzy screams as tears are flooding her eyes. She strokes his hair and looks in agony at his lifeless form.

She turns back to Bingley, who is now holding Jane to comfort her. This is the first time she notices Caroline leaning on a back wall staring blankly at the bodies. "Is he dead?" she asks reluctantly.

Bingley nods affirmative and Lizzy's sobbing increases in intensity. She holds onto his body for dear life, wishing she could give him the life she has. She feels Jane try to comfort her.

"Lizzy, come away dear. Everything will be ok. You need to lie down," she says soothingly.

"Lie down? How can I do anything but be here for him?"

"There isn't anything you can do for him now."

Lizzy allows herself to fall into Jane's arms, arms that still have life and energy to hug and comfort her. She looks towards the other body and recognizes it.

"Wickham! How did he...he was dead!" Lizzy exclaims.

"Maybe you didn't stab him hard enough," replies a voice behind her. Lizzy spins around to see William trying to get up.

"William!" Lizzy squeals as she practically tackles him down while trying to hug him. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are you ok?"

"No, I feel like sh...I mean...I've certainly felt better," Darcy replies.

"What happened?" Jane asks.

"You should probably know the whole story. Elizabeth, have they heard the tapes?"

"No, as soon as we heard Mrs. Peacock scream, we rushed over here," Lizzy explains.

"I guess we should do that first then," Darcy suggests.

"Wait a second," Bingley says. Everyone turns to look at him. "I'm a bit confused. I know I'm Charles Bingley, she is Jane, and she is Caroline," he says gesturing to Jane and Caroline respectively, "but..."

"I'm sorry Charles," Lizzy interrupts. "I'm Lizzy, this is William, and that was Wickham."

"And Yvette's name was Lydia," Darcy adds. "Does that cover it?"

"I suppose so. Let's go then," Bingley states.

Bingley leads the group out of the room, leaving a very dead Wickham behind them. Lizzy and Darcy clasp hands and smile at each other. Suddenly, Bingley screams.

"What is it?" the rest of the group asks. They crowd around to see what frightened him and see Collins' body lying across the hall. It had fallen out of a small closet next to Bingley.

"How did this happen?" Caroline asks.

"I'll explain everything once we get downstairs," Darcy replies. Lizzy eyes him curiously, wondering if Darcy had killed Collins, but decides it is improbable.

They reach the billiard room and Darcy unlocks the door to the small room. The guests squeeze inside.

"Elizabeth and I found this room while we were searching the house and found the key after Wickham was presumably dead," Darcy says as he gives an almost accusatory glance to Lizzy. Lizzy starts, not knowing the reason why he should blame her for his mistake. She decides to bring it up with him later.

Darcy plays the tape and the guests learn of Collins' and Wickham's plotting and of Lydia's murder. The tape stops and they remain silent, allowing the facts to sink in. Bingley is the first to speak, "So what happened next?"

"We knew that you should all hear this so our intention was to bring you down here. I went to find Wadsworth so we could accuse him and keep an eye on him. To my surprise, instead of finding Wadsworth, I met up with Wickham who was supposed to be dead."

"He did it again!" Lizzy thinks to herself, hurt and confused about why he was being so cruel to her. She kept her mouth shut and let him continue.

"Wickham and I have known each other since our childhood and since then, have come to form a great dislike for one another. This was his chance to get his revenge on me. He told me he killed Wadsworth because he was sick of being bossed around, and that is why he planned on killing me as well. As luck would have it, Bingley came at the perfect time. When Wickham was distracted by Bingley's entrance, I grabbed the lead pipe, which happened to be right near me, and swung at him. He moved too quickly, and he and I got into a brawl. Bingley tried to help, but couldn't get his hands on Wickham. Luckily, I got a hold of the pipe again and connected with his head right before I blacked out, most likely from exhaustion."

"Well, that explains it I guess," Jane responds.

"How can we leave now? What are we supposed to do with the bodies?" Caroline asks as the group walks into the billiard room.

"I suppose we could tell the police," Lizzy responds.

"Why would they believe us?" Darcy retorts.

"Why wouldn't they? We have proof and if we all have the same story, what else could they believe?" Lizzy contends.

"That won't stop them from suspecting me. It's likely that I 'd get into a lot of trouble," Darcy replies.

"But it was self-defense! What else could you have done?" Lizzy exclaims.

"Bingley, perhaps you and I could figure this out. Why don't we talk about this?" Darcy says, as if he hadn't heard a word she said.

"Why aren't you listening to me?" Lizzy shrieks, becoming extremely frustrated.

"Elizabeth, stay out of this," Darcy replies firmly.

Infuriated, Lizzy turns and walks briskly out of the room. Jane follows her and Darcy sighs with frustration. Caroline realizes they want to be alone and walks out of the room.

Jane finds Lizzy pacing the library.

"Why is he doing this?" Lizzy screams. "I should have known! He isn't any different. He's still the proud, arrogant man I disliked from the beginning."

"Dear Lizzy, calm down. Do you want to let me know what happened?"

"That's the problem - I don't know! He was so wonderful and kind to me, but all of a sudden, it all changed. After he saved my life, I apologized for what I said to him before and he told me he still loved me," Lizzy's voice becomes softer as she speaks of him, "I was so happy and I told him I loved him and..."

"And what?" Jane asks with a knowing smile.

"Well...he kissed me. It was the best feeling in the world. We were so compatible at that moment...but I don't know anymore."

"Why should that have changed?"

"He's acting the same way he acted before, when I disliked him. He was proud and conceited. I thought he changed."

"Lizzy, you're not giving him a chance. You don't know enough about each other yet to understand how the other is going to act. I admit that the way he has been acting does seem wrong but you need to cut him some slack. Let him prove himself worthy."

"I suppose you're right Jane. Thank you for putting up with me. I've been nothing but trouble since we met."

"True," Jane agrees. Lizzy looks up at her and stares. "But it's been worth it," Jane continues. They both smile and hug each other.

"Let's get out of here," Lizzy suggests.

They go downstairs to meet Caroline in the hall, looking guilty. They correctly assume that she had been eavesdropping on Darcy and Bingley's conversation. They are about to enter when they hear Bingley shout, "Darcy, what is wrong with you? Does your behavior have to do with Lizzy?"

"No! It has nothing to do with her," Darcy replies.

"I do not believe you."

"Fine, maybe it is about her. I don't know what to do. She's being so difficult."

"She's being difficult? You're not acting any more responsibly than she is. Why are you blaming her? I do not see why you cannot just get along with her."

"Bingley, I do get along with her. I love her! It's just the situation is so strange that things get more complicated at every turn."

Lizzy's heart flutters a bit when she hears him say these words but her resolve and anger has not diminished. She decides she will not allow herself to lose her determination and forces herself to walk into the room. The men stop and stare at her.

"Mr. Darcy, I believe we need to talk."

He hesitates and replies, "I believe there is not anything we need to talk about."

Bingley shoots him a glare and Lizzy thinks, "He's so stubborn! But he won't do this to me again."

"Now, William." She says forcefully.

Darcy submits and follows Lizzy out of the room.

Once they reach the library Lizzy asks, "Do you mind explaining to me what is going on?"

"What do you mean?" Darcy asks, puzzled.

"You know exactly what I mean! Why are you acting like this? What did I do wrong?"

Darcy moves towards her, "I'm sorry Elizabeth. I've been acting a little crazy after the whole Wickham incident." He goes to put his arms around her but she moves away.

"That doesn't explain why you've been acting like I should be blamed for all of this. Don't you trust me?"

"I know I've been acting selfishly in accusing you. I was just surprised and a little angry that you didn't kill Wickham."

"Of course I didn't kill Wickham! I thought he was dead after you stabbed him!"

"I didn't stab him! You did!"

"Wait a minute...if I didn't stab him, and you didn't stab him, who did?"

Darcy is silent as he contemplates this turn of events. "This is too strange."

"No wonder you were blaming me."

"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry. I had no idea, I just assumed..."

"William, don't stress about it. It isn't your fault. We need to find out what is going on here."

"You're right. Why don't we check out the ballroom again."

Darcy and Lizzy go to the ballroom and find that the lights are turned on. The body is obviously gone and there is no blood where the body was originally. Lizzy notices something by the wall. She walks towards it and picks it up. It's a trick knife.

"This explains it," Lizzy says as she hands it to Darcy. "We should show this to the others."

Lizzy and Darcy leave the ballroom and find the others in the hall. "Look what we found," Lizzy announces. Darcy hands Bingley the trick knife.

"So Wickham faked his death," Jane realizes.

"Yes, but at least he's dead now, and we can finally leave," Lizzy responds.

Although they had dreamt of this moment since they first entered the house, the guests didn't really want to leave yet. Well, not all the guests.

"What are you people waiting for? Let's leave this dreadful place!" Caroline says.

The other four simply look at each other.

"You go ahead," Bingley replies. "We'll follow you shortly."

Caroline rolls her eyes. She doesn't understand these people. "What's come over them?" she thinks. "Whatever you want," she says as she steps out the door.

The four remaining guests stay silent, unsure of what they should do.

"What do we do about the bodies?" Jane finally interjects.

"It doesn't seem like anyone comes here often. I doubt they'll be missed. If the police do come, they'll find the tapes and hopefully, we won't have to think about it again," Lizzy responds.

"Lizzy, will you come with me to get my things?" Jane asks.

"Of course," she responds.

The two of them walk towards the front hall in search of a coat closet and find it. As they collect their coats Jane says, "I presume things between you and Mr. Darcy are better now?"

"Yes..." Lizzy says thinking of other things.

"You love him don't you?" Jane asks.

"Yes, Jane, I believe I do."

"Then don't let him get away," Jane warns.

"I think I should offer you the same advice," Lizzy responds, smiling.

"Oh Lizzy, you won't believe this..." Jane begins.

"What is it?" Lizzy asks, curious to hear what she believes she already knows.

"We're engaged!"

"I believed as much," Lizzy replies and hugs Jane.

"Oh Lizzy, I've never been so happy! But it depresses me that I won't have your company. You must keep in touch and visit me often," Jane says.

"Of course I will," Lizzy says takes down Jane's number. "Shall we return to the gentlemen?"

Jane smiles and they go back to the hall where Darcy and Bingley are waiting for them.

"Shall we depart then?" Bingley asks.

"I'm sorry. I have a small problem," Lizzy replies. "I don't have a car so I'm going to need a ride home."

Darcy steps forward and responds, "I would be more than happy to take you, but on one condition."

Lizzy looks at him, puzzled. "And that would be?"

Darcy leans closer to her and whispers, "You must allow me to take you home with me."

Lizzy blushes and replies, "I thought you'd never ask."

Jane and Bingley smile, both having an idea of what was said. The four depart happier than they ever imagined they could be, especially considering the day they have just experienced.

Continued In Next Section