[MaC] Arriving at the Party ... Arabella, Pamela, Michael & Philip

[Pruehs, Ree M.]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: murder_at_christmas-bounces at gamera.cc 
> [mailto:murder_at_christmas-bounces at gamera.cc] On Behalf Of 
> Brian Schoner
> Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 2:48 PM
> To: murder_at_christmas at gamera.cc
> Subject: RE: [MaC] Arriving at the Party ... Arabella, 
> Pamela, Michael & Philip
> 
> 
> > 	"Just Lady Pamela, but please don't bother; Pamela will
> > do nicely." She took his injured arm, careful to keep her touch
> > light, but otherwise treating it quite as an ordinary limb.
> 
> After only the tiniest of hesitations, Philip extended his 
> arm to let Pamela take it. Her touch seemed to cause him no 
> discomfort, though she could feel the bandages along his 
> wrist through the uniform.
> 
> > "My friends call me Pam, though generally not at parties."
> 
> "Then Pamela it shall be for the evening," he said with a 
> smile. With his free hand, Philip gestured towards the 
> stairs. "Shall we?" [Entering a party with a Countess' 
> daughter on my arm...and quite a lovely one at that,] he 
> thought to himself. [What would Mum and Dad make of that?]
> 
> > 	As they mounted the first steps, an unearthly but
> > fortunately rather muffled din echoed from somewhere behind them.
> > "What on earth?" exclaimed Pamela, letting go of Philip's arm and
> > stopping to listen. "It sounds like -- it's coming from the lift,
> > I think; wasn't Hodges working on it earlier? Oh, dear, I hope 
> > --" And she hastened toward the lift doors, not heeding whether
> > Philip or anyone else followed.
> 
> Philip did indeed follow, with an expression of concern on his face.
> 
> > 	Pamela could not immediately determine how to force the 
> gates open. 
> > She knelt, lowering her head nearly to the floor, and 
> shouted "Halloo! 
> > Is anyone down there? Anyone hurt?"
> >
> > "Halloo!" came the prompt reply back. "It's Mrs Evans and Miss 
> > Mauberly, dear. No one hurt, but we do seem to be stuck between 
> > floors."
> 
> "Bother," Phillip muttered quietly.
> 
> > "All right -- I'll go for Hodges, then! We'll have you out of there
> > safe and sound, don't worry!"
> >
> > Pamela started toward the stairs, then stopped. Had Hodges 
> gone to the 
> > party, or was he moping by himself in Number One flat?
> >
> > She decided quickly, and hurried back to the penthouse 
> stairs, looking
> > for someone who could carry word to the party while she ran 
> downstairs.
> 
> Seeing her indecision, Philip spoke up. "I'll run down to 
> Hodges' flat, La-- Pamela. If you'll forgive me for making 
> you go in unescorted, could I suggest going upstairs to see 
> if Hodges is at the party? One of us is bound to find him that way."
> 
> Barring any immediate objections, Phillip began heading 
> downstairs at a fast, but not reckless, pace.  As he did, he 
> called to the ladies in the lift, "Not to worry, ladies; I'm 
> sure Hodges will sort it out in no time. Stay there," he 
> added unnecessarily -- for really, where could they go?

In the lift, Vangie grumbled to Marion, "'Stay there.'" She sighed. "One
for stating the obvious, our Philip..."

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