Murder at Midnight by C. S. Challinor Page B

at him and said, “Thanks, I really need this.” She had managed to compose herself and repair most of the damage to her makeup. She wore a glittery tiara with a pink and silver cardboard sign on top that read, “ Happy Hogmanay!” He gave her an encouraging wink. Helen, he saw, had donned identical headgear.
    Drew, in an effort at chivalry, hovered by Julie’s side after accepting his drink and tentatively took her hand. With everyone served, the guests convened in the middle of the room and began the countdown to midnight:
    Ten—nine—eight—
    HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    The clock chimed ceremoniously as the two hands came together in a clap. Exclamations burst forth accompanied by the tooting and squawking of blowouts, some of which played tunes, creating a raucous cacophony. Toasts were made and the champagne was drunk amid an eruption of colorful streamers. Rex turned to kiss Helen. Guests embraced their partners in the midst of general good cheer. Above Helen’s head, Rex noticed Drew crushing lips with Julie and holding her in a tight clinch. Flora and Jason were likewise engaged.
    Alistair struck up the opening words of “Auld Lang Syne” and everyone joined in, depositing their empty flute glasses on tables and forming a large circle with arms linked across chests, right hands clasping the left hand of the person to their left. As they sang the Robbie Burn’s verses with gusto, moving their linked arms up and down to the rhythm, the storm outside reached a crescendo of its own. A gust of wind rushed down the chimneypiece sending embers from the crumbling white log flurrying onto the stonework in front of the fireplace and blowing out a couple of candles on the coffee table.
    With the fire nearly out and the loss of candlelight, the room darkened considerably. Everyone laughed and tried to keep up with the last lines of the chorus. In the grand finale, they all dashed forward, threw their arms up in the air, hands still joined, and turned around to run back in an outer-facing circle, shrieking with laughter and whooping in delight. At that moment the music and electric chandelier went out, leaving aflame only a few small candles positioned in the outer reaches of the room, which hardly gave any light out at all.
    “Oooh, spooky,” joked Jason, who was immediately told to hush up by his girlfriend.
    “A toppled tree must have snapped the power line,” John said.
    “Possibly, but we’ve had heavy snow and never lost power,” Rex remarked. “I’ll check the fuse box. Helen, do we have any more candles?”
    “I think Julie and I used them all.”
    “There’s an oil lamp in the kitchen pantry and matches by the fire. I’ll fetch the lamp.”
    He was heading toward the hall when an exclamation of surprise arose as someone backed into a piece of furniture in the dark and landed with a soft thud. He could discern the shape of a woman in the armchair, but was not sure if it was Vanessa or Catriona. Before he could ask if she was alright, a loud rap-rap sounded at the front door.
    “Who comes calling on this windy, wintry night?” Cleverly intoned, his sonorous voice unmistakable in the gloom as yet another candle flickered and went out.
    _____
    “A visitor, so late?” Helen asked in surprise, close enough that Rex could make out the soft contours of her face.
    “It’s a Scottish custom known as ‘first-footing,’ whereby friends come calling at midnight with gifts to help welcome in the New Year.”
    “Not in this weather, surely.”
    “A tall, dark, handsome stranger is considered the best luck,” John said. At least, Rex thought it was John among the several shadows flitting around the living room. “A redheaded woman, the worst.”
    “Well, is someone going to answer the door or should we just let them freeze on the doorstep?” Julie demanded.
    “I’ll go,” Cleverly said before Rex could stop him and go himself. “I’m closest.”
    “Here, take a candle.” Rex fetched one by the side