Vodka Kisses

0518-Oh, What hard Luck Stories They All Hand Me

"Can Toby tell you if it was human remains in that drum?" Emily asks Spencer.

The brew is having a book sale so we're flicking through some.

"They don't know." Spencer says as I pick up a history book that catches my eye. I don't enjoy reading, but Logan does and he would probably like this book.

"But even if he did, he probably wouldn't tell me." Spencer mutters whilst reading from her book.

"Are you guys okay?" Aria asks Spencer.

"We are some distance removed from okay." Spencer tells us, not bothering to look up from her book.

"I'm sorry." Emily says as she puts out some new books.

"I know why he joined the police force, I encouraged him. He's the most honourable person that I know and that's like now this is tearing him apart. I'm tearing him apart." Spencer puts down the book with a sigh.

I don't even know what to say to that.

"Is that your mom?" Aria asks and I spin around.

I catch a glimpse of Veronica Hastings and realise Aria was talking to Spencer, not me. Why would she be talking to me?

"Yeah that's her." Spencer nods as the four of us watch her talking to some other lawyers.

"Lawyers working on a Saturday, that's serious." Emily points out.

"My mom says you get more with a smile than with a subpoena." Spencer says.

"What is she trying to get from them?" Aria asks curiously.

"Those two are Ali's defence team. My mom is a paid strategical consultant." Spencer fills us in.

Woah! What?

"Your mom's helping Ali's defence?" Emily takes the words straight out of my mouth.

"No, not helping, just consulting." Spencer is quick to defend. "She'll get more out of them than they will out of her."

"Okay but why is she even doing it at all?" Aria asks.

"Because she wants to know what they know." Spencer tells us.

"Such as?" Aria asks.

"Such as who gets called to testify." Emily says.

"Yeah." Spencer nods.

We watch as Ali's defence team give Mrs Hastings a file which she slips into her bag.

The church bell rings and Spencer looks over before turning back to us.

"Wish me luck." Spencer says.

"Luck." We all tell her as she heads over to talk to Hannah.

I continue reading the blurb of the history book and put it under my arm for Logan before picking up another book which is more fiction.

"Ezra in there?" Aria asks Emily as they sort through books.

"No, he's in Harrisburg for the weekend." Emily tells her.

"Oh." Aria looks down.

"You didn't know?" Emily asks.

"No. No I knew, I just forgot." Aria says.

"You forgot or he forgot to tell you?" Emily asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I forgot." Aria says before turning to me.

"What's going on with you and Logan? You'd think with that job your dad gave him I wouldn't notice is awful mood around the house but yet I have. And you are quieter than usual." She says as I slip another book under my arm for Logan.