"So where are we going?"
The next day, Ebony was finishing up his shift in J's and Tamsin was waiting at the counter, excitedly drumming her fingers.
"Finish your cocktail and we'll go to LOUD," He told her, quickly running his hands under the cold tap and then drying them with a damp tea towel.
"Plan!" She cheered, sipping away at her fancy drink. Well, as fancy as a rural town's pub would allow.
"I'm surprised it's even open to be honest," Ebony chuckled, "Most of the hype was either last night or on Monday. As far as I know barely anyone goes on Saturdays anymore,"
"It's just how this town works," Tamsin said, "It seems to do whatever it wants, despite any expectations we all may have,"
"...Like having a seventeen year old murdered," Ebony nodded.
"Here here," The girl raised her glass, "It's sick, it's ill,"
"What is?"
"This town," She said, "Everything is just shit, you know? Don't you hear things too? About the people here? This town isn't exactly renowned for having nice people,"
"I know, I know," He sighed, "And now it'll be famous for having a murderer run around without being caught,"
"Who knows when they'll kill again? Who they'll kill?"
"Tamsin, you're beginning to sound paranoid," Ebony watched her curiously as he grabbed his jacket.
"Yes. I... I suppose I am, sorry. It's the drink," She lay a tanned hand against her forehead, "I need to just relax and have a good time,"
"That's it, you're here for a good night, yeah?" Ebony wasn't looking, he was trying to zip up his jacket but it kept getting caught in his t-shirt.
"I never wanted to be in this town, you know? I never asked for this fucking presence to loom around my house,"
"What do you ask for?" He finally successfully zipped up his jacket and looked up at her again.
"France...," She mumbled after a moments thought.
"I know you're rich and everything but you can't buy France," He laughed, leaving for the door and holding it open for her.
"I just want to live there, I've always wanted to live there," She followed him. The cool air hit them both and lead them up to the town square.
"You have more than enough money to make that happen, Tamsin," He said, "Why don't you?"
"I'd hate to do it alone," She went back to mumbling, "Then I'd just be living over there by myself,"
"Maybe you'll meet somebody over there," Ebony gave her a small smile as they approached the hotel's nightclub.
"Maybe,"
•~~×~~•
"We've seriously hit a bump here," Cleo sighed, running frustrated hands through her hair.
"We're still fixating too much on things," John gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, "We still need to talk to Bradley and Britney,"
"But we've got no new leads apart from that," She buried her face in her hands.
"Cleo, relax," John couldn't help but chuckle, "We only met up last night, it's barely been twenty-four hours. We'll come up with something,"
"I can't relax," She shook him off and got up from the couch, "It's like it's just fucking hit me in the fucking face, John,"
"What has?" He looked up at her, befuddled.
"The fact that she's dead and that someone that we probably know killed her," She swept her hair away from her forehead a few times, trying to smooth away her frustration, "And nobody seems to know or has even the slightest inkling of who could've done it,"
"I know, it's the absolute worst, Cleo," John leaned forward in his sitting position, "But if no one knows yet, if none of the authorities have acted effectively, then we need to make sure they are found. Yeah?"
"But how will we know? Especially if it's someone we know! How do I know the others didn't have a hand in it?"
"Cleo, they're just kids...," He looked at her, dumbfounded.
"So was Fiona," Her words were loud and staggered, "How do I know you weren't involved?"
"Cleo, come on," He stood up to grab ahold of her shoulders, "You know I'm not. You know I wouldn't. I gave you an alibi, remember? Just keep calm," He hushed her, running his hands up and down her arms soothingly.
"What?... What alibi?" She stopped. He sighed. He realized that it was Lexi who had gotten that information out of him when she seduced him.
"That wasn't you...," He sighed again and stepped back, letting himself fall back down to sit on the sofa.
"What?"
"Lexi wanted to know where I was, not you. Sorry, these two months have just been a whirlwind," He chuckled slightly, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"She's investigating too?"
"Her sister was killed, so yeah,"
"And you just told her?"
"She asked and I told her," He nodded after a moment.
"...Oh my God," She pulled a disgusted face, turning away, "Oh my God!"
"What?"
"You slept with her?"
"What? I didn't say anything about that! I didn't say- how did you know?..," He asked sheepishly.
"I just know," She exhaled then scrunched up her nose again, "Aw, I can't believe that,"
"The point is," John sighed loudly, beginning to feel embarrassed, "That the alibi she got from me checks out and clears my name from the list of suspects. Even ask Joseph if you're suspicious,"
"No...," She was still cringing at the thought of he and Lexi, "I don't think that's necessary,"
"Look, moving on," He pulled a stupid smile, "There's still Britney and Bradley to talk to, maybe Reyn if you think so,"
"Maybe Lexi too," Cleo tapped her lips, "Not as a suspect obviously, I just want to see what she knows,"
"Good plan, she's sound enough really," John nodded, "She'll probably be down to exchange notes,"
"Right," Cleo sat down beside him again and made a quick notation in her notebook.
"Don't worry," His hand went back to her shoulder, "If you could tell I was with Lexi just by looking at me, surely that murderer doesn't stand a chance against you,"
"Thanks, John," She gave him a smile that lingered. And unfortunately, John found himself leaning in, and Cleo immediately began to lean back, "John, what are you doing?"
"I thought that... No, nevermind. I should go," He awkwardly got up and picked up his jacket from the arm of the couch.
"John, stop. Don't be stupid," Cleo rolled her eyes, following suit and finding her own coat, "We've been at this for too long. Let's go to the pub,"
