London, 1889.
Eleanor found the letter inside her grandfather’s old clock — one he never let anyone touch.
The letter read:
“If you’re reading this, I’ve passed away, but the truth must come to light. The watchmaker’s murder was no accident.”
Eleanor’s hands shook.
She rushed to Inspector Webb.
“You’ll think I’ve lost my mind, but I found this in the old clock.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I’m all ears.”
They reopened the 20-year-old case.
As they dug through records, secrets surfaced. Her grandfather was once under suspicion, but the case was dropped.
“Do you think he was covering for someone?” she asked.
“Possibly,” the inspector replied. “And if he was, it’s someone close.”
The more they uncovered, the more dangerous it became. Someone broke into Eleanor’s home. The note was gone.
“That’s it,” Webb said. “Someone’s trying to shut you up.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Then we’re getting close.”
Idioms Used in the Story
1. Passed away
Meaning: A polite way of saying someone died.
Examples:
- Her grandmother passed away last winter.
- He passed away peacefully in his sleep.
2. All ears
Meaning: Listening carefully and with full attention.
Examples:
- “Tell me what happened — I’m all ears.”
- She said, “You have a secret? I’m all ears!”
3. Under suspicion
Meaning: Believed to be possibly guilty of something.
Examples:
- He was under suspicion for the theft.
- The police kept her under suspicion for weeks.
4. Covering for someone
Meaning: Hiding the truth or protecting someone from blame.
Examples:
- I think he’s covering for his brother.
- She got in trouble for covering for her friend.
5. Shut (someone) up
Meaning: Make someone stop talking, often to hide a truth.
Examples:
- They paid him to shut him up.
- Someone tried to shut her up about the incident.