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Ransom sits hidden on the landing of the main staircase in his grandfather’s home. He’s waiting for the trap he had set to spring.
He has half the mind to race down the stairs and tear apart the trap before the intended comes to fall into it. He worries at his sweater, biting his lip, about ready to spring up when he hears the telltale crunch of tires in the driveway.
His decision has been made for him as he freezes on the steps. The tired march of footsteps crunch across the gravel and then creek up the front steps.
“Harlan!” Marta cries out, entering the house, a slightly peeved look on her face. “Harlan Thromby.” She shouts louder walking into the house. Ransom’s eyes follow her as she vanishes from sight. He lets loose the breath he was holding and waits slightly more relaxed. A smirk appears on his lips as he listens to Marta yell at his grandfather.
“You do not command me Marta.” Harlan sighs, quickly making his way through the hallway and out the front door. Harlan’s dogs chase after tails wagging excitedly.
“Harlan! You come back here and drink this!” Marta shouts after Harlan, who Ransom can see through the window from where he sits, is picking up his pace.
“Absolutely not, Marta dear!” Comes Harlan’s distant cry of displeasure. Marta growls to herself before heading back towards the kitchen. Ransom listens as Fran and Marta commiserate over Harlan’s stubbornness. He then chuckles to himself when he hears Marta’s soft laughter as the conversation turns lighter.
Ransom leans back on the stairs and waits.
It isn’t long before Marta makes her way back to the entryway to drop off her things and begin setting up the day according to what Harlan requested earlier.
She pauses at the table to pick up Harlan’s mail, but stops moving suddenly.
“Fran?” Marta calls.
“Yes, Marta?” Fran calls back making her way to the entry way. “Oh those are for you.” Before Fran vanishes back into the kitchen.
“Me?” Marta asks incredulously to no one. She stares at the assortment of gifts before leaning forward to sniff at the roses. “White- Innocence. Yellow- Friendship.” She says looking slightly pleased. She then pets the soft buds before going for the other gifts. There’s a gift card for the local bookstore she likes, a box of chocolates Ransom had over heard Harlan asking Marta what she likes and a hand bound book. “The Valentine Murders.” She reads, flipping through the book to find an author. “Odd no author.”
She then looks over the chocolates and opens the box to pop one in her mouth. Ransom can’t hear her moan from where he sits but he can see it on her face. He flushes red as she chooses another chocolate to eat when Harlan comes busting in through one of the rooms.
“Found your little gifts have you?” He asks, twinkle in his eyes.
“Oh yes, thank you Harlan. But I thought you were not writing anymore?” Marta asks, thanking Harlan. Ransom nearly shoots up to say it was him but Harlan says,
“Oh dear, it isn’t from me. I just found them there this morning.” Both Ransom and Marta miss Harlan’s glance at the stairs.
“Well it couldn’t have been Fran, she’s making us cupcakes.” Marta says, tucking the book under her arm and grabbing the chocolates to follow Harlan into Harlan’s office.
“Looks like you have a secret admirer, dear. Make sure to close the door after you. The dogs are muddy and it they see what I’ve got for them they’ll go nuts.” Harlan comments. Marta closes the door and Ransom climbs down the stairs quietly. He stares at the office door before heading through the knife room and out the side to walk home, delighted that Marta was reading his book and enjoyed his gifts.