winked. “The official feud ended sometime
in the late 1800s—and since none of the ladies nor I were around
then we decided it was best to ignore any unpleasantness that
happened in the centuries preceding that time.”
“Including the possible murder of Ignatz
Jezek?”
“Ah. Well. It is certain that none of the
Duskovas currently residing in Kouzlo Noc had anything to do
with my ancestor’s demise so a bit of forgiveness is in order.”
“Got it. So, what symbols should I look for
in this book?”
Before Jozef had a chance to begin a lecture,
we were joined by Shay. Ms. Martin, naturally, jumped in with both
of her size eleven feet. I was only thankful the rest of the crowd
was busy elsewhere.
“Mr. Jezek? You’re the great-great-great,
well a bunch of greats—grandchild of the ghost? Right?”
I groaned. “Dammit Shay, do I have to start
adding duct tape to my bag to slap on you when you can’t keep your
mouth closed for two seconds?”
Shay waved me away. “You’re such a wimp.
Let’s get real. We’re in a spooky castle. You’re got spooky genes.
Put those together and that means there’s got to be a ghost. Where
there’s a ghost there’s a treasure. Well, at least in this case.
So—what’s the loot and who does it belong to?”
I gazed up toward the heavens, but got no
help from the Almighty. The earthly deity, Jozef, was
unsuccessfully trying to stifle his obvious amusement.
I glared at my best friend. “I have no idea
what the treasure really is, but if there is one I’d imagine it
belongs to Mr. Jezek here—being the great-great-great heir.”
Shay snarled, “I knew that. Really. I’m just
nosy and in the mood for a good treasure hunt since I missed out on
a good wedding because of that idiot Kathy and her moronic mother
and the groom with the sex appeal of a dead goat.”
“Ah. Well. I’m glad that’s settled.”
“Lily and company alert. Headed this way with
a parade of males. “ I muttered under my breath. “Cool the ghostly
treasure tales, Martin.”
“Hey, I can be subtle.”
Shay coughed, then lowered her
voice—slightly- for one last question that, fortunately, only Jozef
and I could hear. “Ahem. Not to start things up again, but while
we’re into honesty, isn’t there something else involving the flute
here? I mean, it’s a particularly valuable flute, right? Not in
monetary terms, but in—well—some terms. Could be gold. Could be the
power of” she winked at me, “love through the ages.”
Oh yeah. Shay being subtle. Not.
Jozef responded, “As Miss Fouchet and I were
just now saying, the only thing we are sure of is that we must find
this flute before persons who have souls of evil discover either
the whereabouts and the magic and mystery it holds within.”
Chapter 10
I oozed toward the door to begin a graceful
exit from Kouzlo Noc before Shay could start shouting,
“Ghost hunt!” to the castle-dwellers and cast and hangers-on. I had
no idea if anyone could have heard Jozef outside of Shay and me but
I was nervous that one of those present would decide to step up
some greed-filled treasure-seeking before we good guys could
succeed in our quest.
Shay set a time for cast and crew to meet
back at the castle in the morning for a production meeting.
Business was finished for the day. I hadn’t found my flute player
and wasn’t likely to get another chance until Headlights
Productions was firmly entrenched within castle walls and I
could snoop during dance breaks.
Now I had to stop obsessing over Ignatz for
many ‘becauses.’ Because for at least one night, this night, I
wasn’t going to worry about keeping ears open for the sound of
spectral fluting. Because tonight was the opera. Because Johnny had
tickets. Because I was thrilled to see an opera in The Estates Theatre and anxious to discover if any clues to
Ignatz Jezek’s missing flute (and body) were hinted at in any of
the scenes of The Magic Flute . And because I was damn glad
in the late 1800s—and since none of the ladies nor I were around
then we decided it was best to ignore any unpleasantness that
happened in the centuries preceding that time.”
“Including the possible murder of Ignatz
Jezek?”
“Ah. Well. It is certain that none of the
Duskovas currently residing in Kouzlo Noc had anything to do
with my ancestor’s demise so a bit of forgiveness is in order.”
“Got it. So, what symbols should I look for
in this book?”
Before Jozef had a chance to begin a lecture,
we were joined by Shay. Ms. Martin, naturally, jumped in with both
of her size eleven feet. I was only thankful the rest of the crowd
was busy elsewhere.
“Mr. Jezek? You’re the great-great-great,
well a bunch of greats—grandchild of the ghost? Right?”
I groaned. “Dammit Shay, do I have to start
adding duct tape to my bag to slap on you when you can’t keep your
mouth closed for two seconds?”
Shay waved me away. “You’re such a wimp.
Let’s get real. We’re in a spooky castle. You’re got spooky genes.
Put those together and that means there’s got to be a ghost. Where
there’s a ghost there’s a treasure. Well, at least in this case.
So—what’s the loot and who does it belong to?”
I gazed up toward the heavens, but got no
help from the Almighty. The earthly deity, Jozef, was
unsuccessfully trying to stifle his obvious amusement.
I glared at my best friend. “I have no idea
what the treasure really is, but if there is one I’d imagine it
belongs to Mr. Jezek here—being the great-great-great heir.”
Shay snarled, “I knew that. Really. I’m just
nosy and in the mood for a good treasure hunt since I missed out on
a good wedding because of that idiot Kathy and her moronic mother
and the groom with the sex appeal of a dead goat.”
“Ah. Well. I’m glad that’s settled.”
“Lily and company alert. Headed this way with
a parade of males. “ I muttered under my breath. “Cool the ghostly
treasure tales, Martin.”
“Hey, I can be subtle.”
Shay coughed, then lowered her
voice—slightly- for one last question that, fortunately, only Jozef
and I could hear. “Ahem. Not to start things up again, but while
we’re into honesty, isn’t there something else involving the flute
here? I mean, it’s a particularly valuable flute, right? Not in
monetary terms, but in—well—some terms. Could be gold. Could be the
power of” she winked at me, “love through the ages.”
Oh yeah. Shay being subtle. Not.
Jozef responded, “As Miss Fouchet and I were
just now saying, the only thing we are sure of is that we must find
this flute before persons who have souls of evil discover either
the whereabouts and the magic and mystery it holds within.”
Chapter 10
I oozed toward the door to begin a graceful
exit from Kouzlo Noc before Shay could start shouting,
“Ghost hunt!” to the castle-dwellers and cast and hangers-on. I had
no idea if anyone could have heard Jozef outside of Shay and me but
I was nervous that one of those present would decide to step up
some greed-filled treasure-seeking before we good guys could
succeed in our quest.
Shay set a time for cast and crew to meet
back at the castle in the morning for a production meeting.
Business was finished for the day. I hadn’t found my flute player
and wasn’t likely to get another chance until Headlights
Productions was firmly entrenched within castle walls and I
could snoop during dance breaks.
Now I had to stop obsessing over Ignatz for
many ‘becauses.’ Because for at least one night, this night, I
wasn’t going to worry about keeping ears open for the sound of
spectral fluting. Because tonight was the opera. Because Johnny had
tickets. Because I was thrilled to see an opera in The Estates Theatre and anxious to discover if any clues to
Ignatz Jezek’s missing flute (and body) were hinted at in any of
the scenes of The Magic Flute . And because I was damn glad
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