Antihero ✷ Tyler Galpin

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐯. 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬

- The Devil You Woe -
2x2

The Sheriff's office is a stark reminder of old times. Vada has spent many hours here before, but in different types of trouble and staring at a different Sheriff. The same one who is now iced in a morgue. Bile fills her throat and she swallows thickly. Death doesn't usually bother her. But today? Today it is killing her. The chest pain has barely ceased.

Wednesday is sitting beside her, her spine straight as a board. It's almost unnerving how perfect she is sometimes.

Sheriff Santiago sits across from them at the desk, fingers together as she analyzes them. "What were you two doing at Galpin's house?" She asks.

"I was checking on him. I was cleaning the porch when Wednesday showed up. And shouldn't you have done something? Vandalism and destruction of property is against the law, you know?" Vada asks pointedly.

"Can't arrest the whole damn town, Morningstar." The woman sighs, looking at Wednesday. "Why were you coming to visit?"

"He asked me to come by."

"In the middle of the night?" She lifts her brows.

"What were you doing there, Sheriff?" Wednesday redirects the question and her eyebrow quirks slightly. She's having fun.

"Turns out, the last person to have his eyes pecked out called Galpin right before he died." Santiago slides a photo of the deceased man from days ago toward them. "You two remember him?"

"Vaguely. I'm not good with faces when.. they're have eaten." Vada deadpans sarcastically.

Santiago fixes her with an annoyed look before continuing. "Carl Bradbury. I wanted to know what they had discussed on the phone. He wasn't answering. That phone has since vanished." She informs. "No trace when we searched Galpin's house. You two wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Vada crosses her arms boredly, glancing at Wednesday. The flannel of Tyler's is more comforting now that she's feeling it beneath her fingers. She wishes he would walk in and hug her and they could go make out for the rest of the night.

"We didn't take his phone." Wednesday continues. "Why are you questioning us anyway? Galpin's son, Tyler, is a psychopath who hates his father. Who's to say he didn't orchestrate this?"

Vada glares at Wednesday. She knows the girl has mixed opinions ever since.. well, he almost got them killed, but she hates to hear the girl put him down.

Santiago watches them. "Tyler's safely locked away at Willow Hill. And you two were at both crime scenes. What aren't you telling me?" She poses the question.

"Volumes, no doubt." A new voice speaks.

Both girls look over to see Gomez, Wednesday smirking while Vada flat out grins. She loves the guy, he's funny and original and she relates to him. Honestly, if Morticia Addams was her wife, she'd be the biggest simp too. "Mr Addams." She greets.

"Hello, my little Satan spawns." He walks between their chairs and puts a hand on their shoulders. He looks at Santiago. "You could dangle them over a pit of rattlesnakes or throw them at hungry wolves and they still won't speak. Trust me, I've tried."

"I'm allowed to question your daughter.. and Vada." The woman informs. "You can sit back there quietly."

"That's where you're wrong, Sheriff." He smirks. "Vada is my bonus daughter. I've practically kidnapped her from her father in the sense of permission. Adoption is not our thing." He shrugs. "I'm also their lawyer. And I don't do anything quietly—especially her mo-" He smirks at Wednesday.

Vada kicks his leg gently and he goes serious again. "If you wish to speak to my clients again, you'll need a court order."

Santiago furrows her brows and watches the three walk out of her office.

The black Pontiac limo cruises down the dark roads calmly. Vada sits beside Wednesday eating her ice cream. Gomez had insisted on celebrating their arrest and who was going to turn down Dairy Queen?

"I was fixing my nightcap when Lurch burst in. Almost choked on my olive." Gomez informs as he sips his martini. "I've never seen the old boy so agitated."

"And Mother?" Wednesday asks.

"Hm.. this stays between us." He shakes his head and lifts his glass. "To Galpin." He downs the liquid.

Vada watches before adjusting in the seat and eating another spoonful of ice cream.

"Why were you two at his house?"

"Are you asking this as a father or a lawyer?" Wednesday replies boredly, glancing out of the window.

"I can recognize when a fellow card player is keeping some aces up their sleeve. I respect that. But bluffing only gets you so far."

Vada watches them before sitting up. "We saw Galpin the other day. He was working on a case, asked for our help."

"You two get your reckless curiosity from me. That's why your mother is so worried about you."

"You do know you're not my real dad, right?" Vada reminds playfully. She finds it funny how quickly the man adopts her. Not that she minds.

"You need to pack Mother's trunks and take her back home." Wednesday informs quickly.

"I'm afraid her mind is made up." Gomez shakes his head. "She's staying. Trust me, that casket is closed."

Wednesday is silent for several moments. The only noise is the distant humming of the engine. Then her eyes move back to her father. "What happened to Aunt Ophelia?"

Gomez takes an extra long sip of his martini and hesitates. "That, my little poison pen.. is not my story to tell." He shrugs.

The gates to Nevermore creak open as the car goes through and toward the large school.

Vada sighs as she gets out. "Thanks for the help tonight, Mr Addams. We'll try to only get arrested for felonies in the future." She promises.

"Oh, my little devil girl, I'll settle for a misdemeanor any day." Gomez smiles and waves to the girls as Lurch drives toward the cottage house the adults are staying in.

Wednesday rolls her eyes. "Sisters in crime, hm?"

"Guess so. I like it, Vada Addams. Has a ring to it." She smirks playfully.

"You wish." Her lip quirks and she walks with her toward the dorm area. "Just don't steal my father's favoritism. Deal?"

"I can manage that."