Hi! 🙂 Time for another episode/part/segment of this.
Click the link to see the previous part, etc.
Elsinore Heights had two graveyards. One for the rich people and one for the really rich people. I took a chance that Hamlet’s family and close associates fell into the latter category.
I pulled my roadster up before a two-story brick building with a grandly columned entrance. The lavish cemetery stopped short of rolling out a red carpet for visitors.
Upon entering, I was greeted by a short man who introduced himself as Mr. Pharo. He had a gleaming smile and head of dark hair lacquered to his skull.
He demurred when I asked about Hamlet. “I’m not at liberty to discuss our visitors,” he said in a high-pitched, nasal whine.
I offered him a sawbuck. He gazed at it, then at me. “Well …” He let the word trail off.
I added two more. Pharo tried to grab the cash, but I pulled back a hand and slapped him across the face with it.
“Give,” I said.
Looking wounded, Pharo rubbed his cheek. “Okay, I’ll spill. Hamlet was here. The funerals were real, and someone made sure Hamlet found out, to draw him in. That’s all I know.”
I gave that a thought.
“Did you see Hamlet leave?” I asked.
He shook his head. Negative.
I gave it more thought, then reluctantly pulled out more money.
“For a bit more cash, would you let me search your offices?” I asked.
Pharo chuckled and took the dough. “Sure, sure. Why not?”
The office provided nothing in way of leads, except to confirm that Hamlet’s family pretty much owned the place. A quick look at the visitor’s log showed Hamlet’s name scrawled toward the bottom of a short list. Followed by an R. Smith and G. Jones. Real clever, guys.
Between Hamlet’s freaky pronouncements and his bloody thoughts, I was worried. Where would he go next? Home to confront his uncle or stepfather or whatever he was?
That was my best guess. I returned to my car and aimed it toward the Hamlet Mansion. Something rotten was going on and I needed to find the source of the stench.
*****
Come back for the Big Finale! 🙂
Random and Sundry Things 