Lady Of The Island

Leg It!

"Gray, what are you doing?" Molly grumbled through a yawn, watching me mount the picture from Topham Hall. "I know we said 'make yourself at home', but not like this. Are you even in that?"

"I'm not," I paused. "But it's important to the case. Look at this. Jane has a such a fake smile."

"She always has a fake smile." Clarence butted in. "Can't imagine why. That studio was always nosing around."

"And you'd know that?" Derek sighed. "They were very polite when they came to measure me!"

I spotted Murphy staring at the photograph.

"Something on your mind?" I asked, sitting upon an oil barrel.

"A'm juist leekin at th' stances 'here. Leek at Jane. Leek at that ticht grip." He rolled closer.

"I suppose it is a bit odd..." Rawlinson raised an eyebrow. "Reckon this has any leads?"

"We'll have to inspect it until Burnett and Ruth finish that...thing."

"He's a fast worker." Kelsee smiled. "It shouldn't take too long if he's getting help with it. A day or so?"

"That's rather quick for something that supposed to be helping us well." Becca looked confused.

"You'd be surprised. He built Lady in a few weeks with Tasha."

"A few weeks? That's quite impressive." Molly butted in.

"...Sae, whit dae ye plan tae dae fur th' day?" Murphy asked, with a genuine curiosity.

"I'm not exactly sure. I shan't disturb Jane, she'd probably have my head on a stick, I really don't know."

Rawlinson was still staring at the photograph. She was fixated on one thing in particular.
"Uh, Gray...Murphy had a point with those stances, but not Jane's. Look at Tasha, she's leaning away from everyone else. And that smile...proper fake....and look at her eyes....bloodshot."

"Must've been tired." Derek smiled. "She looked like that a lot."

Hmm...
My mind traced back to something that Jane said a while back.
'Obviously why she found comfort in...substances. The state of that poor girl, taken far too soon.'

She wasn't tired.

"I need to speak to Burnett." I stood up quickly. "Where's Ruth's workshop?"

"Not far from Topham Hall." Derek forced a smile. "She used to play cards with me there...before, you know."

"May you take me?

"It will be nighttime soon. I don't think it would be safe." The diesel frowned. "No offense, but after what happened with Neville, I don't want to risk it."

"Please....I won't let you get hurt. You know I wouldn't."

"Don't trust him." Clarence snapped. "You'll be next."

"Yeah, look at Neville's berth. That should be FULL right now." Molly joined in.

"Oi, leave him alone." Kelsee growled, the stitches between skin opening slightly with each growl, making everybody uncomfortable.

"...fine." Derek rolled beside me. "But if anything happens, I will haunt you."

"I won't let anything happen to you." I promised, climbing into his cab.

And with a honk of a horn, we were off. I felt all of the engines glaring at us as we left.