FLOORBOARD
As you’re walking through the old McDermott House, you notice a floorboard that seems somewhat conspicuous. You lift up the floorboard to reveal a hidden compartment! You reach down and rescue a couple of items from the hollow space: a journal and a small case.
As you run your fingers across the face of the journal, you suddenly get the feeling that you’re in trouble – that you’ve done something wrong and that you’ll likely be punished for it. You hear an interjecting *ahem* and look over to see a young man standing next to the hidden floorboard compartment.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The boy’s voice cracks as he asks the question, clearly attempting to sound older.
“Well, you must be young Virgil, Elsie’s brother.”
“Stepbrother! I’m Elsie’s stepbrother. What are you doing with my journal?”
“I’m going to need to ask you some questions.”
“So you’re here to solve our murders?”
“If I tell you the truth, do you promise to help me? I saw what Charles – my stepfather – is doing with that candle. He’s planning on getting revenge on whoever killed Elsie! I didn’t do it, but I’m worried he thinks it was me! If I tell you what I remember, do you promise not to let him?”
“I’ll do what I can, kid.”
“I… I was bored that day. I went for a walk in the neighborhood, and maybe I did something bad. Not awfully bad, I promise! Just some mischief. I knew I might get in trouble, so I ran home. My mom was leaving on some errand with that awkward Mr. Emmett and Aunt Jane. I hopped in to get away from the house, but the car broke down just a ways down the road! That’s when that strange fellow, Otto, happened to drive by, almost like he knew what would happen. It had started to storm, so he gave us a ride back. I don’t know why, but mom invited him in. That’s… all I can remember.”
“I know the neighbor, Birdie, had an absolute loathing for us, moreso for Charles. I’m not sure… Oh, there’s the man who took Aunt Jane’s daughter, Rose. I don’t remember much about that day, other than we were playing hide and seek and I saw a man in a black coat and hat walk by where I was hiding just before she vanished – we were playing hide and seek and she was the seeker. I don’t know who that was, though, and that was such a long time ago!”
“I’m more mature than I look, ya know. Mom says I get in trouble at school because it isn’t challenging enough for me. If it were more challenging, I might not get so bored and act out. Or are you referring to those neighborhood kids that tried making fun of me? Well, they got what they deserved! My dad would have been proud.”
As you run your fingers across the face of the journal, you suddenly get the feeling that you’re in trouble – that you’ve done something wrong and that you’ll likely be punished for it. You hear an interjecting *ahem* and look over to see a young man standing next to the hidden floorboard compartment.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The boy’s voice cracks as he asks the question, clearly attempting to sound older.
“Well, you must be young Virgil, Elsie’s brother.”
“Stepbrother! I’m Elsie’s stepbrother. What are you doing with my journal?”
“I’m going to need to ask you some questions.”
“So you’re here to solve our murders?”
The boy’s voice cracks as he asks the question, clearly attempting to sound older.
“Well, you must be young Virgil, Elsie’s brother.”
“Stepbrother! I’m Elsie’s stepbrother. What are you doing with my journal?”
“I’m going to need to ask you some questions.”
“So you’re here to solve our murders?”
“If I tell you the truth, do you promise to help me? I saw what Charles – my stepfather – is doing with that candle. He’s planning on getting revenge on whoever killed Elsie! I didn’t do it, but I’m worried he thinks it was me! If I tell you what I remember, do you promise not to let him?”
“I’ll do what I can, kid.”
“I… I was bored that day. I went for a walk in the neighborhood, and maybe I did something bad. Not awfully bad, I promise! Just some mischief. I knew I might get in trouble, so I ran home. My mom was leaving on some errand with that awkward Mr. Emmett and Aunt Jane. I hopped in to get away from the house, but the car broke down just a ways down the road! That’s when that strange fellow, Otto, happened to drive by, almost like he knew what would happen. It had started to storm, so he gave us a ride back. I don’t know why, but mom invited him in. That’s… all I can remember.”
“I’ll do what I can, kid.”
“I… I was bored that day. I went for a walk in the neighborhood, and maybe I did something bad. Not awfully bad, I promise! Just some mischief. I knew I might get in trouble, so I ran home. My mom was leaving on some errand with that awkward Mr. Emmett and Aunt Jane. I hopped in to get away from the house, but the car broke down just a ways down the road! That’s when that strange fellow, Otto, happened to drive by, almost like he knew what would happen. It had started to storm, so he gave us a ride back. I don’t know why, but mom invited him in. That’s… all I can remember.”
“I know the neighbor, Birdie, had an absolute loathing for us, moreso for Charles. I’m not sure… Oh, there’s the man who took Aunt Jane’s daughter, Rose. I don’t remember much about that day, other than we were playing hide and seek and I saw a man in a black coat and hat walk by where I was hiding just before she vanished – we were playing hide and seek and she was the seeker. I don’t know who that was, though, and that was such a long time ago!”
“I’m more mature than I look, ya know. Mom says I get in trouble at school because it isn’t challenging enough for me. If it were more challenging, I might not get so bored and act out. Or are you referring to those neighborhood kids that tried making fun of me? Well, they got what they deserved! My dad would have been proud.”