You walk up to the Ringham Castle with confidence. You could pull this one off with your eyes closed!!! The night seems bleak- a storm is moving in. The thin night air is covered with a delighfully eerie coating of crispness. The wind whispers just enough to cause the rustle of the leaves to make you a bit jumpy. You look up at the moon through a clearing in the thick trees. It is full. Perfect, that's the way you like it.

The lights are on in the castle, yet not a hint of friendliness leaks out from the shadows. You take a deep breath as you walk up to the door. Your hand shakes as you raise the large knocked on the door and quickly slam it down. You notice it is shaped as a wolf howeling at the moon. Something disturbs you about it. There is something not quite right....

Surprisingly, Elvira opens the door. You were expecting a servant.

"Why hello darling. Oh..you must be from the casino. I'm sorry but no business at home. It's bad for the health. Well, ta-ta sweetie..."

You are disgusted by her overwhelming sweetness. You sense it is nothing but a mere act. You know this character has a lot to hide, but not for long. As she swings the door shut you put up your hand to stop it. Your hand lands on the door knocker. You look up and realize what is bothering you. The wolf on the knocker is howeling at a strange moon...an upside-down crescent moon! Very peculiar....

"No, no dear, " you say with a sweet smile, "I am Lady Gulstaf. Proud and beautiful mother of two and owner of Gulstaf Cosmetics. My dear, dear friend, Madame Wisefield, invited me to attend this party tonight. She always says..the more company the better."

"Oh, yes, Lady Gulstaf. Nice to meet you. And where is your friend?"

"Ummm...," you studder for a moment..."Well, she had to touch up her outfit a tad. She noticed it would have clashed dreadfully with your beautiful designer furniture. "

"Oh..that lady, what a flatterer. I always knew she had great taste. Well, come in. Take your coat off..."

All the guests, except Madame Wisefield (of course) had already arrived. While Elvira takes your coat you look around and survey the scene. Nanny Tucket has sucessfully cornered Sir Peppington. She is babbling on about Elvira's lovely antiques. Some beautifully handcrafted knives are the subject of her attention. Sir Peppington is not amused. Looking rather bored, he would nod his head every couple minutes and and sometimes answer with a brief "Uh huh." He was looking rather pale, he looked like he had just waken up from a long, long rest.

Your eyes shift to Mr. and Mrs. Kalmite. Mr. Kalmite has just walked out from the kitchen and has taken a seat on the lovely floral covered sofa. They are chit-chatting about anything possible. An obvious attempt to appear social.

"You wouldn't believe what happened to me today, my peach."

"What happened, honey? That rotten Mr. Billsbun didn't bother you again did he? I thought I took care of him, " responded Mrs. Kalmite.

"NO, no...you cured Mr. Billsbun for good. I was driving my sparkling black limo, well....Wade was driving, and much to my amazement a man in a blue porshe whipped right by me! Wade luckily has quick reactions or I wouldn't be talking to you right now. That porshe almost took us out!!!"

"Oh DEAR, " gasped Mrs. Kalmite. "Who was this man? He must pay for all the emotional distress you have suffered!"

"Do I smell a court case coming on? You know dumpling, revenge isn't the answer!"

"No," said Mrs. Kalmite, "but it sure is FUN!!!"

She smiled a wicked smile and then broke out in laughter. This was no ordinary laughter, but rather a ruthless cackle. You are shocked to find such a horrible sound coming out of a human.

Elvira breaks your train of thought as she returns with the appitizers. You watch as she carries the tray in. She is munching on one and has a disgusted look on her face. She rushes back into the kitchen and comes back out bright and cheery.

She gestures toward the appitizers. "All you can eat!!!" She smiles and then continues, "Madame Wisefield will be late. I will continue with this meeting and fill her in upon her arrival. You must all be wondering why you have been gathered here today.

"I know I am..." mutters Sir Peppington as he glances at Nanny Tucket.

"Well, " says Elvira, "You all have a major investment in my casino. That's why you were invited. She glances in your direction as if you were clearly unwanted. We are making quite a bundle, yet I feel we could bring in more profit if we could lower our standards. If we add an underground operation to the casino we could carry on an activities we choose. Thus increasing the amount of customers. The authorities would never find out, " she paused for a moment, "what I need from you is funding, support, and advertising for this new project."

"That's it!! Shouted Nanny Tucket, "I won't have this insanity go on any longer! You are a disgrace to my name. Venus Power Make-UP! I am the pretty suited fighter of Love and Justice and I will stop you for committing this evil act!!!"

"You? How do you always spoil my plans??? You killed me once, but never again. You don't know who I really am, do you?"

"With Venus Power, Crescent Beam Shower, Pour D---"

She never got a chance to finish her attack. Suddenly the lights went out and the room blackened. Mrs. Kalmite let out a shrill scream.

When the lights came back on Elvira Ringham lay sprawled out accross the floor. Death had passed through the room. This wasn't how the night was supposed to happen."

All eyes turn to Sailor Venus. "Hey, it wasn't me," exclaimed Sailor Venus, "I never finished my attack. Besides, I would never kill someone who was only breaking the law! Taking over the world, now that's a different story!"

"Well..." you ask, "then who exactly did do it???"

"I see you are sitting by Elvira's knives, what do you have to say about that?" inquired Sir Peppington.

"Do you see any stab wounds?" you shoot back.

"Well then, what about them?" Sailor Venus points toward Mr. and Mrs. Kalmite. "They were closest to her. Plus, I know they aren't who they say they are."

Mrs. Kalmite looked startled. "I can assure you that I have been and always will be Mrs. Lodie Quilventine Kalmite."

"Plus we have the most invested in this company. With Elvira dead we have a lot to lose," said Mr. Kalmite.

"Ah, but I have proof you are not who you say you are. AND with Eliza dead you have much more to gain than you appear to show." stated Sailor Venus.

"And what's that? Who exactly do you think we are?"

Let's just say you've worked for Elvira before and she is leaving the entire casino to you in her will becuase of it."

"Well, " mumbles Mr. Kalmite "Let's not forget you weren't exactly Nanny Tucket either."

Sailor Venus is slient.

"Why Hello!! MISS ME???" a familiar voice sounded from the hall. All heads turned. It was Madame Wisefields. "Ahhhhhh," she screamed upon entering the room. She turned pale and began to shake as she backed away from the body. "W-H-A-T is THAT???"

Sir Peppingdale grined and relied sweetly, "Elvira Ringham!"

"Hey," interrupted Sailor Venus, "Where is the third knife in Elvira's antique collection."

Madame Wisefield, still shaking pushed her hat futher up upon her head, hiding her blonde hair except for a few strands sticking out. She always wore a hat. She said nothing, but sat staring straight ahead..eyes open wide.

"Well," said Sir Peppington, waving toward Sailor Venus, "you were the one so carefully admiring them."

"I don't have it. The one with the knife is the killer."

"You are forgetting. There are no stab wounds remember, " you comment.

"Yes," repies Sailor Venus, "but the end is hard enough to kill someone if you hit them just right."

Something clatters to the floor. Everyone turns toward Sir Peppington and the knife that just fell from his hands. "I-I didn't take it, " he stammered sheepishly. His twitching fingers were running though his short, blonde hair. "I don't know how it got there."

Desperate to change the subject Sir Peppington points at Madame Wisefield. "She said she just arrived. BUT she could have come before, turned off the lights, killed Elvira Ringham, and then preteded to be shocked upon seeing the dead body.

Madame Wisefield stared in disbelief. "I was at home still getting ready," she stumbled.

"And proof?"

Madame Wisefield said nothing.

"I know she's been blackmailing you. You had reason to kill," said Sir Peppington.

"Yes," replies Madame Wisefield, "Reason, but not enough will."

Madame Wisefield lowers her head. Her hat slips out and for a second her hair is revealed.

Sailor Venus gasps as a hint of rememberance crosses her eyes. Before anyone else can notice Madame Wisefield puts her hat back on.

"So..." says Sailor Venus, "We all had an opportunity to kill her AND a motive..."

" Who did it ?" you ask.