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Mermista spoke up. "I went there and looked around after they took John's body away. I didn't find any evidence. They should be fine. Everyone just keep this quiet."
They all agreed to bury this information and try not to speak of it ever.
The next day in SeaWorthy, Marika was upset and wanting to go home. She wanted more details about what was going on. Meranda felt the same and together they asked Amara when she showed up.
Amara told them that she couldn't say much because she didn't need her sisters worrying so much. "Stressing while pregnant can't be a good thing." She said to her sisters.
They sat in Salty Sweet sipping milkshakes and missing Mermista.
"When can we go back home?" Meranda asked, more to herself than Amara.
Amara shook her head. She didn't know what to say.
A large figure hovered over the table casting a shadow on the girls. They all looked up to see Uncle Mercia. "Can we go outside? I need to talk to you all in private."
When they were all outside Mercia said, "Mermista needs to stay at the castle. We had an attack on the SeaGate. Don't speak of this to anyone. Not even your boyfriends, girlfriends, no one at all. There could be Horde spies in disguise around here. It's better to stay tight lipped about Salineas."
"Yes, uncle, we won't say anything." Meranda said to him.
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"There's also one more thing I know who killed John. There's no need to speculate, but I also won't give a name. No one needs to worry now. I can tell you have questions, but I won't answer them. The ones involved in the murder will not speak of it either. The case is closed now." Mercia said, eyes darting around at the random people looking his way. "I have to go now. Be careful when you speak to other people. And no do not go home. It's too much of a risk."
"What if we need stuff from home?" Marika asked, hand on her big belly.
Mercia sighed. "In two days I'll let you all come home under tight supervision. Only take what you need. See if you can't move into your new homes here. Or share a space if you must. I'll provide some money for each of you. Stick together and we'll just go day by day." They all gave him a hug. "One more thing. Marista and Paulie are staying in Salineas for now. We all will talk more in a few days."
Once he was gone Marika said to her sisters, "I think Andreas had something to do with John's death."
"Me too." Meranda said.
"Same, sis." Amara added.
The girls went back inside Salty Sweet and stayed a while.
Marika was on her second vanilla mint shake. Her eyes went wide and sat up straight, "Uncle said Ones not one." Her sisters stared at her. "It was more than one person that killed John. I really wanna know who else played a role in all of that."
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"Who else close to us would want him dead?" Amara asked her sisters.
"Mermista." Meranda said first. " . . . but she was with us all night on Halloween."
Marika said, "All of Alina's family wanted him dead."
Heavy silence fell for several seconds. It was then Amara added one specific name. "Krishell." The others nodded and smiled. Alina's best friend in all the world had been Krishell. Of course she would want the man deader than a doornail.
