Andy was giving the final touches to a green leafy squirrel when a loud banging sounded from the entrance to the castle. It sounded like someone thrashing metal with metal, and echoed right through her. It was obviously loud enough to be heard all throughout the mansion, because Grace and Kevin came running, and Edward came from around the corner where he had been trimming hedges. They all had startled looks on their faces, and they all looked to Andy in a questioning way.
"What was that?" Grace said worriedly.
"I'm not sure," Andy replied, "and I don't know if I want to find out."
"Well we have to, don't we?" Kevin grinned and took the lead. They crept down the messy path, being sure to stay somewhat hidden among the dead branches and dry grass. Kevin stopped suddenly and pointed down. The part of the path they were crouching on dropped off like a small cliff, and looked down on the first gate to the mansion. Kevin squinted at the figure banging on the gate. Everyone followed suit. It was Chelsea, her painfully vibrant clothes making her easy to spot. She hadn't noticed them watching her.
"What's she doing here?" Andy whispered, keeping her balance on her heels and supporting herself by poking the ground with a blade.
In an almost perfectly timed response, Chelsea called out: "I know you murderers are in there! And I know you took that policeman! Come out right now or I'll call 911!"
They watched her try to squeeze through the gap in the gate, but panic as her hair and woollen jumper got caught on some rusted metal. She backed out and decided it wasn't the best idea.
"What are we going to do?" Andy said. "Neither me nor Edward can go down, because she's seen us already, and Grace can't go down because she knows her,"
Grace looked thoughtfully at the ground.
"I know what we can do." She turned to Kevin, still crouching. His face lit up at the idea of being included in a plan.
"She won't know who you are, because you live out of town. So you go down and pretend to be a police officer, and say everything's under control. In fact, I've got an even better idea!" She was getting more and more excited with every sentence she spoke. "Do you know how Kim convinced everyone Edward was dead?"
Edward's eyes widened at the mention of himself - and the mention of him being dead - and, I suppose, at the mention of Kim.
"Yes," Kevin replied. "But how do you know that?"
"She told me all sorts of things as bedtime stories." Grace replied with a smile, then stood up hastily. "I'll be right back."

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