When they finally reached the yard, four penguins stood with their backs to them. Just that instant, all the penguins turned facing them. Their Expression were like female clones of their own. Skipper was stunned as the majestic leader glared at him. "Ramona, ..... um it's nice to see you, again." Skipper gulped hard. "I wish I could say the same. Well, I see you're late, as always." She rolled her eyes. "You know, I wasn't usually late." Skipper corrected. "For us, you are." She shot back. "If it's an apology you want, ... I have nothing to say." He concluded stalking off. "We're not done with this, you know." She called at him. "What was that all about, Skippah?" Private puzzledly pondered. Skipper ignored the question, not wishing to bear the tale on Private.
They strode up to Todd, the butler, to discuss import manners. He seemed flummoxed about the whole situation between Skipper and the mysterious female. The mystery of their past only seemed to turn it more intreging. Deep down, both leaders were absorbed with intense lust and want for the other. Beneath the luminous beam of the cresent moon, they both strained their eyes straying at each other's glowing, sapphire eyes. "Is everything alright?" The butler asked. "Fine!" Skipper covered while Ramona yelled. "Peachy!" Todd took a few steps back. "I would introduce you all, but I see you all know each other pretty well." He observed hesitantly. "Actually we don't all know each other." Private admitted. A penguin girl, that looked about his age, smiled and blushed anxiously. She whispered to the tallest one, who had glasses, giggling. She turned back to look at him, and winked.
"Hey, I'm Ellie. This Olive, Ivory, and I know you've met Ramona." She said with a grin. Private knew he was going to soon befriend her, but it felt like something more. Not how he felt about his team, though. It was like she put him in a daze. A pleasantly surprising one, like it was only them.
"Hello, Ellie. I'm Private. I thought there were supposed to be more teams here? Oh dear, I hope they didn't drive off that cliff that we almost drove -" Skipper covered Private's babbling beak. Ramona's attention was captive to the fact that they almost drive off course. "Wow! You almost drove off a cliff?! Were you scared?!" Ellie squealed excited anticipating a marvelous tale. "Well, we made a turn at that sign." Private began. "You must be really brave. You know, for coming here." She blushed. "Thank you, you're really beautiful." Private returned the complement. "Aw, that is the sweetest thing anyone has told me. I -" Ellie flurted, but was interrupted by Skipper's sarcasm. "If you two are finished jibber-jabbering, we'd kind of like to find some clues to help us solve and survive this mystery. Unless, you both want to end up in the morge."
"Don't worry about him. I know for sure he'd choose his work over love any day." Ramona sneered. "Do you really have to bring that up in front of Private?" Skipper remarked pulling Private behind him. "Did youhave to break my heart?" Ramona snapped. "As a matter of fact -" Skipper was cut off. "I know I speak on behalf of the whole staff, when I say I am grateful that you all made it. Some groups failed to make it here. No one has heard from them either." He greeted "Well, it is a pleasure to serve your needs. Shall I give you the grand tour?"
"Oh, that would be lovely!" Private and Ellie cheered, as Skipper and Ramona groaned.
The stubby butler opened the door for the investigators. They all stepped inside the colossal mansion. A chandleer dangled above every single room. "Please, do wipe your feet." The butler said. They entered the hallway. Chairs and tables were on each side. Mounted heads of game such as deer an elk. Private shuddered and clenched Skipper's fin. Through the rest of the hallway, Skipper dragged Private.
They entered a gorgeous ballroom. Kowalski's eyes glimmering dazing up at the windowed ceiling, that opened up an ocean blue sky to Kowalski and Ivory. He only then noticed how dazzling she was under the moonlit sky.
The next room wasn't as antique, but it was not without its luxurious charm. It was a colossal room with a white couch, a roaring fireplace, and a window twenty times Private's height.
In awe, Private and Ellie gazed out the window. A garden full of flowers springing full of life. In the center stood a statue of an enchanting woman. Her features were lovely but her glare and expression, wicked. Her eyes were filled with hateful tears.
Rico looked rapidly around, his face potraying extreme terror. Skipper was startled. "Rico, what is it, boy?!" Skipper stammered. "No TV!?" Rico whined, as Kowalski and Skipper breathed a sigh of relief. "Really?" Olive complained "well, at least they have a pool,"
"Yay, pool!" Rico cheered.
Private and Ellie were too distracted to notice the figure coming up from behind them. "I love the view, myself, too." A fragile voice declared. The young penguins jumped and turned to find an eldery woman. "Oh dear me, I didn't me to scare you, darlings." She said comforting the privates.
"You must be-" Skipper started, but was interrupted by the woman. "Ramona! How are you? I see you haven't given up on your dream of being the leader of a commando team and getting back together with someone." She chimed in greeting Ramona.
"I'm doing welll," she said. "Oh, and you must be Skipper and his well-known team! It's so grand to meet you all." The woman said happily. "You must be Ms. Williams, it's an honor to help solve this mystery for you." Skipper said. "I do dearly appreciate your help." She said truthfully. "So, have there been any more deaths recently?" Skipper interrigates. "Not since my husband," she sighs.
"All right, when and where did you last see him?"
"It was a dark night. A treacherous storm was brewing outside. He was alone in the attic, when ... the piano began playing ... and ... the power went out. He screamed out of nowhere, and the door was locked. And when we finally opened the door ....." She was too traumatized to speak. "There was nothing there." Ramona said. "What? How do you know?" Skipper was puzzled. "Oh, I was here when it happened. I was staying with them. After I quit. I'm a family friend." Ramona anwered with her beak up in the air snobbishly.
"Oh, okay, so were there any footprints or other clues like feathers?"
"No," she answered.
"That's strange ..... strange indeed."
The old woman rubbed her flippers together. "Well, I should probably show you your rooms. You're all probably exhausted after your long trip."
She did as she said. Skipper and his team settled in a quite large room with two beds, and a rocking chair. Nightstands sat between the four beds. A dresser was placed against the wall. Private leaped on a bed and covered himself up. Kowalski and Rico hopped in their own beds. "Please, do wash up before dinner, at eight o clock sharp." Ms. Williams said, "oh, and, Skipper darling, may I see you in the hall?"
"Of course," Skipper said warmly and headed outside the room.
Skipper never expected what was coming next. "WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON"T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS!" She cried in hysteria, desperately. "I-I promise, I won't." Skipper winked and went inside the room.
About half an hour later, behind the door came a heavy breathing. It was an eerie sound. Skipper tip toed to the door cautiously.
He jumped as he saw a young woman at the door with a pyschotic smile. "How are you all coming to like your room? I'm Ellen, your maid." She said. "Those beds look antique. How old are they?" Private asked. "Actually, they are antique, very vauluable! I see, I am in the presence of some one who appreciates art. They are about ....."
Skipper groaned as Private talked ecstatically with the maid, as if he had forgotten where he was.
They finally reached the kitchen, where everyone was awaiting them. A gigantic plate of salmon, more prepared than the team would eat it normally, sat in the middle of the table. Everyone took one except for Rico, who seized fish by fish with his flippers and gulped them down and let out an even ruder burp. All shocked eyes fell on Rico, and the uncomfortable silence was cut off by Olive doing the same exact thing.
No one had even touched their food yet, except Rico and Olive. Private nudged his fish with his fork, back and forth. Skipper leaned over toward the daydreaming penguin. "Do you want me to cut that for you, Young Private?" Private jumped out of his bored daze. "Oh, um … yes, please,"
"All right," Skipper said reaching over to make an incegin on Private's fish, that looked more like steak. As soon as he penetrated the meat, blood gushed out from it onto the knife and the center of the plate. Private squealed in terror, and caught everyone's attention. "Is everything still all right?" Ms. Williams asked concerned.
Skipper came up with an act. "Yeah, the knife slid, and I got a minor cut. I'll be fine." Skipper bluffed. "Oh heavens! There is a bathroom up those stairs, and the first right in the hall."
Skipper followed the instructions, and ascended up the stairs. When he reached the top step, a distinctive foul odor slammed into him. The smell was eminating from a room at the far end of the hallway. Skipper went forward and was about to open the door, when Timothy came out of nowhere.
"What're you doing near my room?" He asked agitatedly. "I-I-I was just looking for the restroom." Skipper stammered. "It's over there," Timothy said directing his flipper at the bathroom door. "Oh, thanks," Skipper said nervously, "I'm just going to go wash my flipper off." Skipper rushed into the room, stood with his back to the wall and flippers wiping his sweat, and slid down the wall. "He couldn't be there he was just downstairs." Skipper gasped to himself.
The sound of Timothy's heavy breathing vanished, and Skipper curiously but cautiously stuck his head out the door. No one was there, and there was no sign of anyone ever even being there. "I must be going insane." Skipper whispered shaking his head.
Soon he got up, and made his way down the stairs. When he got to the kitchen, he saw Private and Rico already scarfing down their dessert. But once they saw him, they paused. "Are you all right, Skippah? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Private asked, concerned about his leader. "Yeah, I mean, no - I just don't feel that well." Skipper said. "That's too bad. You haven't even touched your food." Ms. Williams sympathized. "I'm not that hungry." Skipper bluffed. "All right, well just call for me if you need anything." Ellen said. "Will do," Skipper said turning to mope up the stairs. "How come Skippah doesn't have to eat his fish, but I did?" Private protested whispering to Kowalski. "Shush!" Kowalski hushed, and elbowed Private in the ribs. "Ow!" Private whined. The three got up and followed Skipper into the room. "Are you absolutely sure you're okay, Skippah?" Private asked suspiciously. "No," Skipper simply answered. "Maybe, it's best if you lay down and go to bed early." Kowalki suggested. "First, we need to find who our top suspects are."