Secret of the Staircase (The Virginia Mysteries Book 4)

by Steven K. Smith

  Nathan let out a deep sigh. “Classic,” he said, with barely a glance away from his game.

  Sam wasn’t sure what that meant, but it didn’t seem very friendly.

  “Nathan, Sam said hello,” Mr. Wonderful scolded, shaking his head. “Look at someone when they speak to you.”

  Nathan glanced up and down again faster than you could blink. “Hi, nice to meet you,” he said, nose in his game again, before wandering over and sitting down on a couch.

  “Nathan!” Robert barked, walking over to his son.

  Anita shook her head and looked up at the others. “I’m sorry. Nathan’s not handling all this very well. He’s really a nice boy if you can ever pull him away from those video games. Robert had him in boarding school in England, but now we’re all going to live happily together.” She smiled weakly. “I hope.”

  Sam watched Nathan over on the couch. His dad seemed to be laying into him pretty hard. He thought of how Mr. Haskins was always saying that video games were rotting their brains. If he ever saw Nathan, he would have all the proof of that he needed.

  “What is that?” Caitlin exclaimed, interrupting his thoughts. She pointed up to the Palm Court.

  Everyone turned and looked across the room. Several men were carrying something large down the stairs and into the ballroom. It looked like a rectangular box about the size of a small couch, and it was completely covered with a sheet.

  “What is it?” asked Sam.

  “I don’t know, but I’ll beat you there,” said Derek, hustling past them.

  “Boys, don’t run!” yelled their mom.

  They reached the men right as they set the box down on the floor in the middle of the room. Everyone gathered around to see the mysterious arrival.

  “What’s under the blanket?” shouted Derek, unable to contain himself any longer.

  Robert stepped forward and looked at Anita. He was grinning from ear to ear like he knew the answer to the secret. “This,” he said, looking her in the eyes, “is a special present for you, love.”

  “For me?” Anita blushed and looked down at the sheet. “Robert, you shouldn’t have.”

  “Well, let me clarify that,” said Robert. “It’s more like atmosphere, for our grand wedding.”

  “Oh,” said Anita, her face turning more cautious. “Well that sounds...nice.”

  Sam figured it must be a new piece of furniture or something, although he wasn’t sure why Robert would have brought it to the hotel. It was too big for a wedding dress...too small for a car…maybe it was a motorcycle!

  Robert looked over at Derek. “You’ve heard the saying, ‘When in Rome’?”

  Derek shook his head. “I think you’re on the wrong continent. This is Virginia.”

  Robert laughed. “Well, no matter. How about, ‘When at the Jefferson’...” he nodded to the two men. They stepped up and pulled the sheet away, revealing a metal cage.

  Inside the cage was an alligator!

  “Whoa!” cried Derek.

  It was about four feet long, but it wasn’t moving. Sam realized it must just be another statue. No one would let you bring a real alligator into the hotel. Even if you were Mr. Wonderful at The Jefferson.

  “Oh my goodness, Robert!” exclaimed Anita, stepping back from the cage. “I think we need to talk a little more about what I find romantic.”

  Caitlin’s eyes opened wide. “Is that real?”

  Even Nathan looked up from his game, stepping toward the group to see the cage.

  Sam smiled, leaning against the cage. “I’m not going to fall for that again. It’s just a statue.” He turned around to laugh at Derek and Caitlin.

  “Sam—” started his dad, his eyes growing large.

  As Sam turned back, the statue suddenly came alive.

  SIX

  The alligator lunged toward Sam’s hand, hitting the metal bars with a loud clang.

  “Ahh!” Sam screamed, flailing backward until he fell onto one of the leather couches a good distance away from the cage.

  Derek doubled over in laughter, his mouth open wide, pointing at Sam’s face.

  Robert grinned. “That’s no statue, Sam. It’s the real thing.”

  “Robert, really,” said Anita. “You’re getting a little carried away with this alligator thing.” She turned to Mom, shaking her head. “He found vintage white heels for me to wear with my dress for the wedding. Made from alligator skin. Can you believe it?”

  “That’s awesome!” said Derek. “Who gets to have an alligator at their wedding?”

  “I figured it would fit in perfectly here at The Jefferson, no?” said Robert.

  Sam just nodded, still too startled to speak. He looked down and counted his fingers to make sure they were still attached. He couldn’t believe he’d touched the cage.

  Nathan stood next to the cage, eying the alligator carefully. “We’re not taking that home, are we?” It was the most that Sam had heard him say. Nathan’s voice had the same thick accent as his dad.

  Robert placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder and shook his head. “No, no, nothing like that. It’s just on loan from the zoo. I had to pull a few strings, let me tell you. But I’m sparing no expense for my Lovey Cakes.” He reached over and pulled Anita into a tight hug.

  Lovey Cakes? Derek made a face at Sam like he was going to puke. Sam and Caitlin tried to hold in their laughter.

  Nathan’s face tightened, and he wriggled free from his dad. He walked back over to the couch and picked up his device again.

  Sam tried to breathe normally. He watched the alligator through the metal bars. It looked like it was staring back at him.

  “Are you okay?” asked Caitlin, tapping Sam on the shoulder.

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” sighed Sam. “I just seem to be getting scared by all the wrong things.” He looked at the alligator cage out of the corner of his eye. “It’s embarrassing.”

  Caitlin smiled. “Well I don’t blame you. Who could have expected that they would bring a live alligator into the hotel? Even at The Jefferson.”

  A bell rang out from the Palm Court. Anita smiled and looked at her watch. “Oh, thank goodness.” She whispered excitedly in Mom’s ear.

  “It’s time for high tea!” exclaimed Anita.

  Mom smiled and looked up in Sam’s direction. “Oh, no,” said Sam.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Caitlin.

  “My mom has that look on her face.”

  “What look?”

  “The one that means she’s about to ask me to do something that I’m really not going to like.”

  ***

  “Please pass the sugar cubes.”

  Sam rolled his eyes as he handed the crystal bowl of white and brown sugar cubes to Caitlin. He refused to look over at his mom at the next table. She was in a deep conversation with Anita, seemingly not concerned about subjecting him to a tea party.

  This was terrible. What was ‘high tea’ anyhow?

  He looked across at Caitlin. She seemed to be enjoying herself. She was really excited about being in this fancy old hotel.

  “Isn’t this glamorous?” she giggled. “Just like walking on the staircase.” She flashed a wide smile like she was having her picture taken. “I feel like a movie star.”

  Sam groaned. He didn’t usually mind hanging out with Caitlin. Just not like this. And especially not when Derek was allowed to go with Dad to Robert’s suite instead. That was totally unfair! Derek rubbed it in too, of course, making a big deal about not having to get dressed up and sit with a girl. He said it “wasn’t his cup of tea.” What a jerk.

  And then there was Nathan-the-grump. He was sitting at their table too, although you’d hardly notice since he was still playing his video game. Sam and Caitlin had tried to talk to him, but he only offered one-word answers. He’d barely looked at them the whole time.

  “Do you drink a lot of tea in England?” Caitlin asked.

  “Sometimes,” said Nath
an.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Nah.”

  That was how it went, until Nathan pushed his chair back from the table and stood up. “I have to use the loo,” he said, walking away.

  “The what?” Sam couldn’t understand some of the things Nathan and Robert said with their accent. He thought that they spoke English over there, but maybe not.

  Caitlin shrugged. “So, I was reading some of the history about this place on the displays in the glass cases downstairs.”

  “Uh, huh,” Sam grunted, not really paying attention to what she was saying. He was still sulking about being there.

  “It said that the hotel was built by Lewis Ginter,” Caitlin continued, ignoring Sam’s sour attitude. “Isn’t that cool?”

  “Awesome,” sighed Sam, staring up at the light coming through the stained glass windows in the ceiling. It reflected off the top of the head on the Thomas Jefferson statue that rose out of the Palm Court lobby.

  “You have been to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, haven’t you?” Caitlin never seemed to run out of energy when talking about something she’d learned. “It’s one of my favorite places. Last year I went into the greenhouse for the butterfly exhibit, and three monarchs landed right on my arm. My mom said that if you touch a monarch’s wing, it can rub off their—” Caitlin stopped mid-sentence as a waitress placed a small plate of pastries on their table.

  Sam suddenly snapped out of his haze and admired the tasty-looking plate. It smelled delicious. “What are those?” he asked, pointing to a round treat that looked like a biscuit with flecks of color peppered throughout.

  Caitlin picked one up with her fingers and placed it on her plate. “You’ve never had a scone before? Mmm, they’re good. You should try one.”

  Sam forgot about being annoyed and smiled. They certainly looked good. He grabbed one and took a quick bite. Blueberry. He loved blueberry. He looked over at Mom. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

  As he chewed his scone, he spied Mo walking out from behind the front desk toward the Grand Ballroom. “There’s something suspicious about him,” he said, nodding in Mo’s direction.

  “What do you mean?” asked Caitlin. “He seemed friendly earlier.”

  “Too friendly, if you ask me,” said Sam. “Maybe he’s the one responsible for all the missing things.”

  Caitlin chuckled. “That’s just how people in the South are, Sam.”

  “How, suspicious?”

  “No! Friendly. Don’t be so pessimistic.” She took a sip of tea from her china cup. “Besides, I thought you said it was the alligators that stole everything?” She giggled.

  Sam felt his face turning red, so he took another bite of scone and wiped his mouth on the cloth napkin. “One or the other,” he mumbled through a full bite.

  “Pardon me, sir, but might I have a bit of tea?” a voice called from behind them in a corny British accent. Sam turned around and saw Derek standing there with a grin on his face. Reaching over Sam’s shoulder, he snatched the last blueberry scone.

  “Hey!” cried Sam.

  “Mmm, thanks,” Derek said through a big bite. “I’m starving.”

  “Please...help yourself,” said Caitlin.

  “Thank you, Caitlin,” Derek looked down at Sam. “See, little brother, that’s called southern hospitality. You should try it sometime.”

  “How about I show you some northern aggression?” Sam stood and raised his fist.

  Derek leaped back nimbly before Sam could reach him, bumping into Nathan returning to the table. Nathan sat down, then looked up at Sam with a cross expression. “Where’s my video game?”

  “Your what?” said Sam.

  “My game, I left it here on the table. It’s gone. What did you do with it?” His voice was high pitched now.

  “Nathan, we didn’t touch your game,” said Caitlin. “We’ve been sitting here the whole time.”

  “Eating scones,” mumbled Derek, with his mouth still packed.

  Sam scowled at him for taking the last one.

  Nathan’s face was getting redder and redder. “Well somebody took it!”

  SEVEN

  Sam’s dad and Mr. Wonderful walked up to the table. “I know you two wouldn’t be causing trouble, right?” said Dad.

  “Dad!” yelled Nathan, grabbing Robert’s arm. “He stole my game.” Nathan pointed right at Sam.

  Sam felt his heart beating faster. “What?” He looked up at his dad. “I didn’t do anything, honest.”

  “We were just sitting here,” said Caitlin.

  “Nathan, where was the last place you had it?” said Robert. He shook his head. “Maybe it’s for the best. Honestly, that’s the only thing you ever do, playing that bloody game.”

  Nathan stomped his foot. “It is not. I went to the loo, and when I came back, it was gone.”

  “The zoo?” said Derek. “Well that’s probably where you left it. Maybe it’s next to the alligators.”

  Nathan just scowled at him.

  Mom walked over and patted Derek’s shoulder. “Not the zoo, honey, the loo. It’s what the British call the bathroom.”

  Sam nearly choked as he sipped his tea. That made more sense now, but he still didn’t know where Nathan’s video game had gone.

  “Why don’t you look in the restroom,” said Anita. “Maybe you left it there.”

  Nathan grumbled something under his breath and stormed away from the table.

  Sam looked up at his parents. “Honest, I didn’t take it.”

  “Okay,” said Mom, “I believe you. But as you can see, that game is important to Nathan. If you do see it, let us know right away.”

  A waitress stared at their table. “Are you done with your tea, miss?”

  “We were just finishing,” said Caitlin, placing her napkin on the table.

  Sam’s mom looked at her watch. “There’s just enough time to go for a swim before we have to get changed for the rehearsal and dinner, if you want to.”

  “That’s right, there’s an indoor pool down the hall from our room,” said Derek. “Can we go?” Mom nodded and Derek bounded off toward the elevator.

  “Do you think Nathan would like to swim?” asked Mom.

  “No,” said Robert, “I think he can probably use some quiet time.”

  Swimming actually sounded fun to Sam. Better than sitting here playing tea party and getting yelled at by Nathan. Even if there were scones. He looked at Caitlin. “Can you come?”

  “I don’t know...” said Caitlin. “Wait! Yes, my dad packed my suit just in case. I just remembered!”

  “Sweet,” said Sam. Caitlin was a great swimmer.

  “Meet you there in a few minutes?” said Caitlin.

  Sam nodded.

  “Just keep an eye on the water,” said Mr. Wonderful.

  “Why?” asked Sam.

  “In case there are any lurking alligators,” Mr. Wonderful replied with a smile.

  Anita elbowed him in the ribs. “Robert! Let’s not scare the boy any more than you already have. Why did you bring that beast in here in the first place?”

  Robert puffed up his chest like he was proud of himself. “Beast? Please. That alligator belongs here.” He pointed into the hotel. “It’s part of the history. They should be glad that someone like me helped them out.”

  Anita shook her head and walked over to where Mom was standing. “He makes me wonder sometimes.”

  EIGHT

  The elevator doors opened with a ding and Caitlin stepped out. She waved at Sam and Derek who were standing in the Palm Court.

  “Hey,” said Sam.

  “That was refreshing,” said Caitlin, her hair still wet and pulled back from swimming. They’d played a long game of Marco Polo in the water, which consisted mostly of Derek trying to dunk Sam’s head under the water while pretending that his eyes were still closed.

  “I didn’t know you were such a good swimmer, Caitlin,” said Derek.

  She smiled. “I’m on the swim team.”r />
  “Maybe she could give you lessons, Sam.”

  Sam tried to hold in his anger. Just once he wished that they could hang out without Derek making fun of him. “I can swim just fine, thank you, when you’re not pushing me under.”

  Derek shrugged. “What can I say, I don’t know my own strength.” He glanced around. “So where’s the rehearsal dinner? I’m starving.”

  Caitlin pointed across the room to a marble doorway with black iron gates on both sides. Just like everything else in the hotel, it looked very elegant. Between him and the restaurant was the life-size Thomas Jefferson statue. Sam stared up at it. Perched up on the pedestal, it was much taller than he was.

  “He lost his head once, you know,” a voice said behind him. Sam turned around to see Mo. That was the second time he’d snuck up on them like that. “Oh, hey Mo,” said Sam.

  “What do you mean he lost his head once?” asked Caitlin.

  “Thomas Jefferson or the statue?” said Derek.

  Mo smiled. “The statue, thank goodness.”

  “It looks connected to me,” said Derek.

  Sam looked closer at the top of the statue. There certainly didn’t seem to be any cracks from where he stood.

  “Well, it was repaired, as you can see. But it was damaged in the great fire.” Mo nodded. “Yes siree. Way back in 1901 there was a huge fire, nearly wiped the place out. Just six years after the hotel opened. They had to do a big renovation. It shut the hotel down for years.”

  “Was anyone killed?” asked Caitlin.

  “No,” said Mo. “Thankfully the only casualty was Mr. Jefferson here.”

  “What happened to him? I mean the statue,” said Sam.

  Mo stepped closer to the statue. “Well, crews came in to rescue the statue. They wrapped it up in mattresses and carried it out into the street.”

  Sam imagined trying to carry the big statue out of the building without a forklift. “It looks heavy.”

  Mo chuckled. “Must have been. Because in all the commotion, they dropped it and the head broke clear off.”

  “Oh no!” cried Caitlin.