Free Mistletoe Mystery by Sally Quilford

explain that
it was her friend’s sullen behaviour that had pushed her away, and to this day
she felt guilty that she did not try harder to cement the friendship. It was a
relief when the girl was taken out of that school and sent to a different one.
Only then did Philly and her other friends learn that it was the latest in a long
line of schools where the sullen girl had failed to fit in.
    Perhaps, that was the simple answer to Dominique’s
disappearance. Perhaps her parents had taken her from that school and sent her
to another one, but been too embarrassed to admit to the teachers at Bedlington
Hall that their difficult daughter had once again outlived her welcome.
    The more she thought about it, the more that answer did not
make sense. The family would surely not let the mythology surrounding
Dominique’s disappearance continue. Unless they had some other reason for not
coming forward. Perhaps the mysterious but handsome father had caused his
daughter’s demise. Her head spun, and she knew she was probably over thinking
it all. What did it matter anyway? It was a fifty year old mystery.
    Once again, Philly was convinced that somehow finding out
what happened to Dominique was tied up with her own life. Why, she did not
know. But a girl had gone missing from the house that Philly now owned, and it
seemed that it was her responsibility to find out what happened. She wished her
godmother were still alive. Robyn Sanderson would know everything about the
history of Bedlington Hall. There might be some clues there.
    If Philly were honest with herself, she knew that the only
reason she fixated on Dominique was to get Matt out of her mind. She had hoped
that when he left, her feelings for him would fade, especially since it was
clear he intended to steal something from her. Instead she found him haunting
her dreams. “I will not make a fool of myself,” she whispered as she approached
Bedlington Hall.
    Almost as if thinking about him set the spell going again,
when she entered the hallway, Puck came from the kitchen. “There you are,” he
said. “Matt phoned,” he said. “He says he’s been trying to ring your mobile.”
    “Oh, I must have forgotten to take it with me,” Philly lied.
She had left it behind intentionally, half-afraid that Matt would call and
churn her up again.
    “He says to tell you that his dad’s okay.”
    Philly felt a momentary pang of guilt. She really ought to
have called Matt to ask after his father. The trouble was she had no way of
knowing if he told the truth. She supposed even conmen’s fathers got sick
sometimes, and he had looked genuinely concerned when he left. But that might
have been because he realised the game was up.
    “That’s good,” she said, absent-mindedly. She started to go
up the stairs, determined to search the attic. Since Matt mentioned looking for
the key, she had kept it with her at all times.
    “Phil?” Puck stood at the bottom of the stairs, leaning on
the banister. Philly wished he would not do it as the banister rocked slightly,
reminding her of even more repairs needed in the house.
    “Yeah?” She turned around to look at him.
    “Did something happen with you and Matt?”
    “No, nothing.”
    “Are you sure? Because a few days ago you thought he was the
best thing since sliced bread and now you look all worried when I mention his
name. If he’s hurt you…”
    “It’s alright, Sir Galahad,” Philly said, smiling. “I don’t
need you to defend my honour.”
    “You do know that in films, when someone keeps things from
their friends, bad things always happen.”
    “We’re not in a film, Puck.”
    “No, but I still think you should tell us.”
    Philly sat down on the stairs. As if realising she had a
story to tell, Puck took a few steps upwards and sat just below her. “Go on,
what did he do?”
    She explained about the telephone conversation she had
overheard.
    “So you think he’s a conman?” Puck asked thoughtfully.
    “Why else would he