Maddie had just finished asking for a list of persons working and living in the mansion, when Hilda arrived.

"Hello, Ms. Harrington. I'm a private investigator. My name is Madelyn Monroe. Your sister hired me to investigate the recent theft of a necklace, and I will be interviewing all family members and household staff. Please step into the drawing room where we should have some degree of privacy."

"Well, I never! I resent being included on the list of supposed jewelry thieves. Stick it in your ear, cupcake. I'm leaving!"

She had her hand on the doorknob when she turned and said, "Screw you, Eve, you put me on her list as first one up. If I find that piece of trash, I'll bloody well keep it!" Then she flounced out, back to her target shooting.

Two minutes later she was back. "Some son-of-a-bitch stole my shot-gun," she announced. "There are bloody thieves everywhere!"

Maddie had just finished asking for a list of persons working and living in the mansion, when Hilda arrived.

"Hello, Ms. Harrington. I'm a private investigator. My name is Madelyn Monroe. Your sister hired me to investigate the recent theft of a necklace, and I will be interviewing all family members and household staff. Please step into the drawing room where we should have some degree of privacy."

"Well, I never! I resent being included on the list of supposed jewelry thieves. Stick it in your ear, cupcake. I'm leaving!"

She had her hand on the doorknob when she turned and said, "Screw you, Eve, you put me on her list as first one up. If I find that piece of trash, I'll bloody well keep it!" Then she flounced out, back to her target shooting.

Two minutes later she was back. "Some son-of-a-bitch stole my shot-gun," she announced. "There are bloody thieves everywhere!"

   Alfred went to his personal quarters carrying the shotgun.  No sane woman should be skilled in firearms use, and certainly not a shotgun, he thought.  I'll just stick this thing in my closet for the time being, he thought to himself.

   As he was leaving, he met Hilda coming back in the door, all in a huff, and suppressed a grin.

   He hurriedly slipped over to the door to the den so he could peek in and see Hilda railing about a thief.

   Evelyn said, "There's no way a thief could get in here, with all the security we have!"

   Hilda replied, "Well, it's not where I left it!"

   Again, Hilda stomped out of the room.

   Maddie was tempted to follow her.  Now that she saw Hilda's personality, she was even more curious about the old hag.  But she had other suspicions, also, and she hadn't even scratched the surface of all the employees in the mansion.  She could see her work was clearly cut out for her.

Mercedes and Bentley crawled out from under the couch. "Can you tell me what happened to Aunt Hilda's gun, Bentley?" asked Mercedes.

Bentley sang her response in a loud voice, "SOME-SON-OF-A-BITCH-TOOK-IT-A-WAAAAAAAY, MY-DEAR, SO-THEY'LL-SCREW-THE-BLOO-DY-SON-OF-A-BITCH, I-FEAR!"

Both of them laughed and ran outside to play, while Evelyn and Maddie looked at each other with raised eyborows.

"That damned Hilda! Alway sounding off in coarse language, and now she's corrupted my great-grand-daugters."

"Damn that Hil-da, damn that Hil-da, daah-daah de daah-daaah-daah-daaah daaaaaah" echoed Bentley's voice through the open door.

Evelyn hit her own forehead with her palm. Alfred heard everything and suppressed a chuckle. "Right bloody on, you lot!"

Mercedes and Bentley crawled out from under the couch. "Can you tell me what happened to Aunt Hilda's gun, Bentley?" asked Mercedes.

Bentley sang her response in a loud voice, "SOME-SON-OF-A-BITCH-TOOK-IT-A-WAAAAAAAY, MY-DEAR, SO-THEY'LL-SCREW-THE-BLOO-DY-SON-OF-A-BITCH, I-FEAR!"

Both of them laughed and ran outside to play, while Evelyn and Maddie looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"That damned Hilda! Alway sounding off in coarse language, and now she's corrupted my great-grand-daughters."

"Damn that Hil-da, damn that Hil-da, daah-daah de daah-daaah-daah-daaah daaaaaah" echoed Bentley's voice through the open door.

Evelyn hit her own forehead with her palm. Alfred heard everything and suppressed a chuckle. "Right bloody on, you lot!"

   Meanwhile, Maddie, always the detective, bent way down with her head below her knees, inspecting the couch.  "How did a 10-year-old and an 8-year-old girl fit under that couch?"

   Evelyn just shook her head.  "Kids these days."

   As Maddie was getting back up, she caught a glimpse of movement by the door.  For a split second she thought she saw Alfred suspiciously trying to eavesdrop on them.  She let it go, though, and didn't mention it.  She made a mental note and filed it under Alfred's name.

   "Mrs. Harrington, I'll need that list of anyone who could have been in the vicinity of the vault on the day in question.  Hopefully the list of suspects won't be too incredibly long.  And also, I must ask that you don't discuss this matter with anyone."

   "Yes, of course.  I'll get right on that, Maddie.  If you would like some privacy to think about the situation, I'll ring Alfred to show you a nice quiet room."

   Maddie replied, "That would be nice, thank you."

   No sooner had Evelyn called Alfred's name, than he appeared immediately.  "Yes, my lady?" he spoke.

   "Kindly show Ms. Monroe to our guest room, would you please?  And give her some privacy.  She needs to think."

   Alfred said, "Yes, of course.  Follow me, Ms. Monroe."

Madelyn emptied her suitcase and put the clothes in drawers and on hangers. She used the bathroom and settled down with her notebook. She made the following notes:

END OF INTERVIEW

What else could she add to the interview questions, she wondered? And she had to get that list of family members and staff from Mrs. Harrington.

   Maddie perused her list of notes one more time, and satisfied, she set them aside.

   Not knowing how long it would take for Evelyn to bring her the list, she decided to wander around the mansion and perhaps find the kitchen.  She hadn't eaten since around noon, and she was hungry enough to eat a rag doll.  Perhaps she could interview the chef, too, and count one employee off the list.

   Now, if she could just remember the way.  She exited the door and turned left down the long hallway, admiring the myriad of paintings which hung on the walls.  Probably paintings of Evelyn's ancestors over the past couple of hundred years.

   A staircase loomed, upstairs to the left, downstairs to the right.  She went down to the main floor.  She marveled at the evident wealth on display.  She went through a doorway and spied the kitchen up ahead, where a very "fluffy" woman was bustling around preparing all kinds of food.

   Maddie stepped into the kitchen and said to the woman, "Hello."

According to Evelyn, chef Isabella, a woman of undeniable talent and an equally undeniable ego, is known for her culinary prowess and her ability to transform even the simplest ingredients into gastronomic masterpieces. She smiled warmly at Maddie, "Hello to you also, and to what do I owe this delightful pleasure?"

"Oh," said Maddie. "I'm Maddie, a new guest or Mrs. Harrington, and have not eaten for a while. Could I please have a quick snack, nothing elaborate?"

"Why certainly my dear! Let me see now! What can my unique genius whip up for such a pretty, young guest!"

Isabella swiftly moved around the kitchen, gathering various ingredients. She gently mixed flour, butter, and sugar, creating a delicate pastry dough. With each step, she explained the process to Maddie, who listened intently, captivated by the chef's every movement.

The dough transformed beneath Isabella's skilled hands, becoming a smooth blanket ready to embrace its filling. Isabella chose the juiciest apples from her pantry, slicing them ever so thinly, and tossed them with cinnamon and a touch of honey to create a fragrant compote. With a gentle touch, Isabella spread the apple compote onto the rolled-out pastry dough. She then folded it carefully, creating neat little pockets of flavor. As they baked, the kitchen filled with warmth and anticipation. A delightful scent wafted through the air. Finally, Isabella delicately placed the golden pastries on a platter, presenting them to Maddie with a twinkle in her eyes.

Maddie eagerly took a bite, and at that moment, a burst of wondrous delight enveloped her taste buds. The puff pastry melted in her mouth, releasing a symphony of flavors that danced on her tongue.

"Would you prefer coffee, tea, or juice to go with that culinary masterpiece, my dear?" asked Isabella.

According to Evelyn, chef Isabella, a woman of undeniable talent and an equally undeniable ego, is known for her culinary prowess and her ability to transform even the simplest ingredients into gastronomic masterpieces. She smiled warmly at Maddie, "Hello to you also, and to what do I owe this delightful pleasure?"

"Oh," said Maddie. "I'm Maddie, a new guest or Mrs. Harrington, and have not eaten for a while. Could I please have a quick snack, nothing elaborate?"

"Why certainly my dear! Let me see now! What can my unique genius whip up for such a pretty, young guest!"

Isabella swiftly moved around the kitchen, gathering various ingredients. She gently mixed flour, butter, and sugar, creating a delicate pastry dough. With each step, she explained the process to Maddie, who listened intently, captivated by the chef's every movement.

The dough transformed beneath Isabella's skilled hands, becoming a smooth blanket ready to embrace its filling. Isabella chose the juiciest apples from her pantry, slicing them ever so thinly, and tossed them with cinnamon and a touch of honey to create a fragrant compote. With a gentle touch, Isabella spread the apple compote onto the rolled-out pastry dough. She then folded it carefully, creating neat little pockets of flavor. As they baked, the kitchen filled with warmth and anticipation. A delightful scent wafted through the air. Finally, Isabella delicately placed the golden pastries on a platter, presenting them to Maddie with a twinkle in her eyes.

Maddie eagerly took a bite, and at that moment, a burst of wondrous delight enveloped her taste buds. The puff pastry melted in her mouth, releasing a symphony of flavors that danced on her tongue.

"Would you prefer coffee, tea, or juice to go with that culinary masterpiece, my dear?" asked Isabella.

   Maddie replied, "Actually, I love milk to drink with sweets.  Would you happen to have any?"

   Isabella swiftly retrieved a jug of milk from the refrigerator and poured some into a glass for Maddie.

   "Are you a relative of Mrs. Harrington?  She has such a large family, but very few of them ever come around," said Isabella.

   "Oh, heavens no, I should be so fortunate," Maddie chuckled.  "I'm a private detective here doing a little investigative work on the theft of Mrs. Harrington's treasured necklace.  You've heard about the theft?"

   "Well, I don't know the details, but I've heard rumors.  I was having a chat with Alfred, the butler, this morning, and he mentioned it.  I have no idea how he learned of it."

   Maddie thought, hmm, there's another connection to Alfred.  This is getting interesting.  She made another entry to her mental file.

   Isabella continued, "By the way my name is Isabella.  I've been the head chef here for almost ten years.  As you probably realize, I'm very good at what I do."

   "Yes, that much is evident.  It's a pleasure to meet you, Isabella.  Just so you know, I'll be interviewing most of Mrs. Harrington's employees, and I wouldn't want you to think that I singled you out.  You certainly don't seem like the type that would abscond with a priceless heirloom.  I think I can safely mark you off my list."

    Isabella said, "Whew!  That's a relief," and laughed.

   Maddie said, "Thank you so much for whipping up this sweet treat for me.  It was absolutely delicious!  And now I must get back to the task at hand.  Nice meeting you."

   Maddie rose from the table and exited the kitchen.  What's next, she wondered?

Evelyn had Alfred deliver a sealed envelope to Madelyn in her room. In it was a list of suspects. Maddie read the list.

---------------------------------------------

FAMILY MEMBERS:

Conniving stepbrother, Damien Stone, resident.

Manipulative, obnoxious, greedy, and deceptive aunt Hilda Harrington, visiting.

Bentley and Mercedes, loving great grand-daughters, and parents, Jeff and Julie Franks, live elsewhere.

STAFF:

The egotistical French Chef, Isabella Petrie.

The knowledgeable English Butler, Alfred Jameson.

The Oriental Maid, Sum Fun Tu.

The Mexican Chauffeur and Handy-Man, Pedro Gonzales.

The dependable Cleaning Staff couple, George and Gracie Meadows.

The Irish Gardener, Patrick O’Brien.

FRIENDS:

Stuffy Chauncy and Emma Popinwick.

Their son Edward Popinwick, who loves to play pranks.

---------------------------------------------

The P.I. added the list to her investigation folder. Then she went to find Evelyn to obtain permission to view the vault.