Chapter Four

Spencer wound up her jog, stretching down and pausing on the sidewalk catching her breath. An early morning run always cleared her head, and she had a lot to process that morning. Lucas had gone straight to hospital, and Hannah had stayed in Caleb's room overnight. Emily had stayed over at Spencer's, but Spencer had needed to get out of the house and just explore the world. She needed to check she hadn't missed the entire world being turned upside down. She also reflected that she should try and see Aria at some point – the entire Ezra and Maggie situation had likely blown up about the same time that –A had blown a hole in Lucas's leg.

A hand on her back caused her to turn round at lightning speed, as though electrocuted and raise her hand ready to strike whoever it was. She managed to recover by sweeping her hand through her hair as she realised it was Jason, who offered her a disarming smile. She couldn't help but return it, "It's been a while. How are you?"

"Good." He replied simply, jogging off past her and Spencer, although her legs disapproved of the idea tore off after him. He noticed she was running beside him, "It's better to keep conversation's moving – you never know who's listening."

Spencer frowned, scanning around them – the street was deserted, "Did you get any further with that money offer?"

Jason nodded, "Your Mother might have disapproved of my methods, but they produced results."

Spencer's frown became one of interest, "Someone told you something?"

"Not yet," she rolled her eyes, "but they will." He looked fiercely determined.

"Look…some day the answer is going to come out – you know that and so do I," she picked her words carefully – hoping she might come across gently, "but I still don't know if this is the best way to get the answers that we want."

Jason drew up, scrutinizing her, "How do you propose to find out who took my sister's body?"

Spencer ran on from him, drawing her ideas together, he finally drew level, "I've been talking to some of her old friends – finding out who didn't like Ali…finding out who'd do something like this."

"Like who?" Jason quizzed, easily keeping pace with her.

"Cece Drake," Jason's face immediately went rigid, and then furious, "what's wrong with her?"

"She's like Ali was…but on another level," Jason ranted, drawing up again, "she changed Ali's kid games into things that…put her in harms way."

Spencer offered a quizzical look, "You think she's the reason Ali ended up-"

Jason rocked his head from side-to-side, "I could never blame her for that – but she started the process. She taught Ali, everything she knew…and Ali built upon that. My sister was manipulative and cunning when we lost her – but she wasn't always that way. Cece changed all that."

"What's your link to her?"

"My what?" Now Jason looked confused.

"Ali kept herself to herself – you knew us through her, how did you get to know Cece? How did Ali for that matter?"

Jason now looked faintly embarrassed.

"We…I…I dated Cece for a long time," he frowned, "I was pretty dark back then…and Cece liked that quality. In some ways she probably made it worse…exacerbated my darkest traits. She was the only one who could play the divide between me and Ali…then as soon as Ali went missing, Cece vanished too."

"I had no idea."

"I have my way and you have yours, just watch Cece," Jason sounded almost nervous – it seemed unnatural for someone who Spencer saw as so hardened, "she's poison." He sprinted off in one direction and Spencer, judging he wanted to be left alone, went another way – on her way back to the house. Why was it that just when Spencer thought she had found an ally to join her in the war on –A, that she had to be taken away from her? She'd have to rethink her strategy.

She needed to approach each of the subjects individually, and work out a tactic to prove or disprove the theory they were a part of –A. Her mind buzzed with activity as she jogged home, already organising tactics and strategies with military precision.

._.

"It's quite remarkable actually," Hannah could feel herself coming out of sleep, and woke with a start in an office, "that you stayed up for so long and then slept so soundly that when we moved you here you didn't wake up once. Sleeping like a baby." She discerned a British accent and turned to see Wren smiling down at her. She realized she was sprawled on a couch, and that the office must belong to him. She sat up abruptly and regarded him, scanning the room.

"Why am I such an idiot?"

Wren's forehead creased, "Sorry? You'll have to run that by me again?"

"I ignore my boyfriend, and instead decide to trust a guy who's creepy and already freaked me out enough for a lifetime."

"Being trusting isn't a bad thing-"

"-it wasn't being trusting, it was being an idiot…it makes no sense…and yet I just happily got in that car with him." She drooped her head in her hands and felt the couch depress as Wren sat down beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders. She lifted her head, "Did you…has anyone spoken to Lucas?"

"He's recovering…though he needed surgery for the wound," Wren paused, "also…he may have freaked you out…but having run a few basic tests I can't say he has any mental issues. In fact he's nothing like Mona…he was talking quite animatedly to one of our Nurses and I received a full account from him of what happened."

Hannah brightened a little, "You did?"

Wren nodded, "Someone shot at him in the woods…he was waiting for you to come back from going to the bathroom so he could take you home."

Hannah's brightness evaporated, "You're kidding right? Wren he was going to kill me!"

Wren laughed a little, "Are you sure you didn't get a concussion with that fall too?"

"I was hiding up a tree from him! He was going to shoot me!"

Wren raised two hands, "You can tell that to Detective Wilden…I'm only relaying what Lucas told me."

"His gun was on the floor beside me!"

Wren frowned again, "A gun wasn't found at the scene. Hannah if you want me to check you ever I'm more than happy-"

"-don't touch me!" Hannah stood up and strode out of the office, not looking behind her. She couldn't actually believe –A had done it again, but now they were going to all look like liars – again - and, worse than that, she'd have to deal with Wilden. The guy was a creep to all of them, but he seemed to take particular joy in terrorising Hannah – probably because her Mom had broken things off with him.

._.

Emily sat in the courtyard, enjoying the sunshine and staring blankly at her Chemistry homework, regretting as she always did her decision to take it over Biology. The numbers and equations all seemed to blur together on the page until she could have sworn the entire page was written in a language that didn't exist in all the world.

"All Greek to you?" a jokey voice murmured, as Toby settled on the wall beside her. "How did you get this seat by the way – the courtyard's always so busy!"

"Toby," Emily greeted warmly, wrapping him in a warm hug and knocking her Chemistry book onto the floor in the process, "it's been too long – how are you?"

"I'm fine…more importantly how are you, after what happened with Nate?"

Emily immediately hardened up, "I'm not sure I'm meant to talk about it…the Police are still reviewing everything…they want to talk to Caleb about what happened but he's still in hospital."

Toby nodded acceptingly, "But you aren't freaking out right? I mean it was self defence?"

"Can we not talk about it," she frowned, "I haven't seen you for a while, what are you doing at the moment?"

Toby shrugged, "I picked up some new extracurricular activities…but otherwise just focused on school work." His eyes full upon her Chemistry book, "Do you need some help?"

"Yes!" Emily said a little too enthusiastically, "Sorry," she blushed, "I just can't get my head around any of this…and I need to pull up by Chemistry grades if I'm going to make it to Danby."

"You're still heading there?"

Emily rocked her head affirmatively, "If I keep my grades up, and keep logging swim times like I am."

"Are you still training with Paige?" Toby quizzed, admiring the sunshine flooding the courtyard.

Emily frowned, "We broke up…the whole Nate thing freaked her out a little. So we keep a distance…I've seen her at training but otherwise I keep my distance."

"Was that the only reason?" Emily offered him a reproving look, and he raised his hands, "Sorry…it's just I thought you two were good together…you made sense as a couple, and you got along together."

Emily leaned close, to keep eavesdroppers at arms length, "There was another reason. You know what went down with Mona?" Toby nodded, "Well…someone's doing the same kind of thing…a group of people actually."

Toby looked shocked, "How do you know that?"

She shrugged, "I just do…I think we…I don't know exactly. But someone passed us some evidence that looks like a group's doing it…at first me and Spencer thought they wanted to confuse us…but now I'm starting to," she paused, reconsidering saying something so private out loud, "let's just say I have some suspicions."

"Suspicions sounds, ominous?" Toby said, half-joking, half-serious.

"They shot Caleb." Emily replied back, wiping the joke out of his voice. She bent down, picking up her Chemistry book and turned away, "I think I'll just go ask my Teacher for help with this, see you." She needed to break off the conversation – Spencer would never forgive her for endangering Toby with information, and, it was better she confirmed her suspicions before she started telling people outside the circle of –A. She paused as her phone chimed and checked it.

A FRIENDLY FAÇADE CAN HIDE A MULTITUDE OF SINS, EM. HOW MUCH WOULD IT TAKE TO BETRAY SOMEONE? –A

She frowned. If her suspicions were right – then the unseen person in the videos with the people acting as –A had just sent her this text. They had an ally on the inside with –A. But would she risk exposing them if she told the others? She couldn't tell them: it was too dangerous. This was explosive information, and could help them take down –A like Spencer wanted. The timing was a little random – just catching up with Toby. Going back over the conversation, she realised it made sense – she had nearly blown the Betrayer's secret to Toby: that could have ruined everything.

She walked with determination to her Chemistry Lab, deciding to focus on her troubling homework and getting help, and forget –A for an hour.

._.

"So what are you doing tonight?" Spencer quizzed, her voice sounding tired on the end of the phone.

"Me and Mike are having Dinner with Mom and her new boyfriend," Aria sighed, "I'm just glad for something to take my mind off Ezra."

"I wouldn't beat yourself up about it," Spencer counselled, even if she did think Aria had been foolish, "you were right where –A wanted you…you've just removed another piece of leverage hanging over you."

Aria nodded, thinking about it, "Thanks Spence, anyway I'm at the restaurant but I'll call you afterward." She mounted the steps to the door to the Grille and paused in the doorway – fortunately her Mom had been given a table facing away from the door. Not only was Zack there, but, Aria frowned as she recognized Noel sat beside Mike. Two sightings in as many days – distinctly weird. Especially considering this was the equivalent of a family dinner – if Aria had known they could bring friends she wouldn't have blinked in roping Spencer into coming with her. She shook her head – not Spencer, Hannah made far better small talk at dinner.

Bravely Aria crossed the threshold and stepped inside the Grille swiftly crossing to the table. Her Mom sighted her a few metres out from the table and waved for her to take a seat – Aria took the chair the other side of Mike from Noel. "I didn't realize we were bringing friends?" To anyone but Ella, the smile would have suggested an innocent question, but she knew the look translated as: this is so unfair – why does Mike get someone, and I'm alone?

Ella smiled back equally sweetly, "It was a last minute addition." Translation: I know more than you do, zip it and smile at your brother's guest.

"Did you guys order already?"

"Well we were here on time, so yeah," Mike commented and Aria resisted the urge to admonish him, "but I'm sure we can wait so they can get your food out at the same time."

"So this is Zack," Ella said, introducing her boyfriend to gloss over the simmering tension between her children, "we met and just…hit it off."

"Nice to meet you," said Aria, lacking anything else to say, "again," she said, smiling a little remembering their previous two encounters, "I'd almost forgotten that."

"I hadn't," Zack said, smiling ruefully, "and I really like your Mom for the record – so please don't go crushing my scones or anything."

"Never." Aria smiled as a server came over, she briefly scanned the menu and then looked at the Specials Board, "I'll have the Chicken Special please…feel free to bring the others food first." The servernodded and disappeared.

"Well this is…official though," Ella smiled warmly at her children, "a chance for you two to meet the first man…I've been in a relationship with since your father." Ella felt odd speaking about Byron as their father, rather than her husband, but she had to acclimatize to the fact they were divorced, and also, that Byron had already had a relationship before they even divorced. It was also the relationship he'd returned to, now the couple had divorced. "And this dinner isn't solely for Mike's benefit…we all just need to get comfortable around one another."

Aria nodded absent-mindedly and looked toward the end of the table where Noel was sat awkwardly and quietly, "So how are you Noel? I didn't get to speak to you much last night?" She wasn't sure why she was calling him out, but she felt a protective instinct taking over her. It was as though she felt the need to pick Noel up on it. Normally she would have never thought of exposing Mike, but he had started it, and in the true tradition of brother-sister protocol, she by default had to finish it.

Noel looked completely relaxed, "Mike needed some help with homework, and his sister was out at the theatre…so I came over and helped him. Besides, I think I'm a little better at Chem than you are," he offered a razor-sharp smile, "since you don't actually take the subject." Aria frowned – was Noel trying to say he'd seen her that night?

Aria went quiet after that. Every time she raised the stakes, Noel would raise them a little higher and since he wasn't actually under Ella's jurisdiction, he wouldn't be punished for it. She on the other hand was already on thin ice, and didn't want to ruin her Mom's supposed introductory dinner to her new boyfriend. The food arrived and there was polite conversation, but Aria only said something when spoken to. Instead she was studying Mike. He had relaxed a lot when Noel and Aria stopped arguing, and every few moments he looked at Noel – almost to check that he hadn't run out the door. Noel wasn't reciprocating – he was distant and had a cloudy, almost mysterious look in his eye. She also reflected, that a stranger passing by, might have almost thought Mike and Noel were…no.

Was that what this was?

She frowned, taking in their body language – more Mike's than Noel's. If she hadn't known any better, not only would she have said Mike really liked Noel, but she would also have guessed that Noel had returned the feelings in some way. What did I interrupt last night?

"Mom," Aria said, running a thought through her mind, "I think you have some sauce on your face, why don't we go to the bathroom and I'll clean it off?" She offered her mother another coded look: I might be smiling sweetly for the boys, but that's because they can't read me, and I really need to talk to you. Now.

Ella nodded and rose, promising, "Back in a minute."

The two women made the short walk to the bathroom and paused by the sinks.

Aria frowned, "Is Noel here because-"

"-your brother wants him here," Ella said simply and plainly, "and I have not pried anymore than that. I'm not as naïve as you think I am…Mike's showing certain signs that," she regarded her daughter, "that you obviously picked up on."

"So he's-"

"-I'm not going to comment until I hear something from Mike. Mike, is, and will always be, Mike. All I know, is that this morning, Mike found me in my classroom and asked if he could bring a guest to dinner, and that it would be important to him if I included Noel," Ella paused, "and I am sorry I didn't give you advanced warning Aria, but I raised you to be open-minded."

"I am," Aria said, feeling a fire swelling in her, "I'm completely okay with this – it isn't Mike…it's Noel." Ella rolled her eyes, "Mom I don't trust him – none of us do…he's…shady and deceitful…and-"

"-evidently viable to be prejudged," Ella frowned, "Noel has been polite tonight and he's really turned everything around. His grades are up on all his exams, and he even wrote me an extra credit yesterday on some Victorian Literature because he wanted to." Ella took her daughter's hands, "Aria, for your brother's sake cut Noel some slack and have faith in me – I'm not that bad a judge of character."

Aria reluctantly nodded: she would just have to accept it for what it was.

._.

"Why does it feel like ages since we did this?" Emily quizzed, stuffing a whole dumpling in her mouth as the girls curled up on Hannah's bed.

Spencer laughed, "Because it has been ages…and we have so much to discuss."

"Yeah, like the fact Noel Kahn has decided to take advantage of my brother," Aria frowned, "and my Mom completely buys it."

"What does Jenna think?" Hannah enquired, grinning a little at the gossip.

"I don't know," Aria creased her forehead angrily, "and Hannah this isn't funny – this is serious. If Noel's working with –A then he now has access to my house, and, knowing Mike, probably my bedroom – my privacy just vanished!"

Emily offered a reassuring look, "Aria we'll get Mike away from Noel somehow…maybe he needs to hear it from a guy though? Spence why don't you ask Toby?"

Spencer shrugged, "I could do, but I'm not entirely sure the whole man-to-man thing is his style," they all laughed at that thought, "Aria why don't you just sit down with Mike?"

"Because I don't know what to say," she admitted truthfully, "and he's so sensitive…you guys I think if I say the wrong thing I'm just gonna get shut out…permanently."

"I got another text today you guys," Emily said changing the topic, Spencer straightened and sat up from her lounged out position, "it's like the other ones we both got Spence…I think the person in the video we couldn't see is the other –A. The one who's been warning us, and told us where to find Hannah and Lucas. I think they're an ally – working against –A from the inside."

"That's a dangerous game," Spencer thought aloud, "although it does explain a lot."

"So that means there's someone working within –A who's turned against them?" Aria quizzed interestedly, before grabbing a huge pile of noodles with her chopsticks.

"That makes sense," Spencer murmured, "besides Aria, this person clearly has inside information – from one of the videos we saw, we found out that they were going after you – doesn't Noel going after Mike make that seem all the more valid?"

Just as Aria was about to answer, the doorbell rang downstairs. Hannah grudgingly got off the bed, "I'm not expecting anyone…my Mom probably forgot her keys or something."

"I haven't seen your Mom in ages!" Emily said, hiding her excitement.

"Yeah, it'd be cool to see her." Said Spencer sliding off the bed.

As a quartet they made the short walk downstairs and Hannah went to the door and opened the handle, ready to tease her Mom about forgetting the keys – Ashley always harassed Hannah about forgetting her own keys: how sweet revenge would be!

"Hannah Marin?"

Hannah barely managed to stop her jaw dropping as the Officer loomed up over her.

"Y-y-yes?" she stuttered.

"Can you step out of the house please."

The others were all staring as Hannah did so, and immediately the Officer spun her around and affixed cuffs, "Hannah Marin, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Alison DiLaurentis, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."

"This makes no sense!" Spencer fired up stepping outside the house. A second imposing Rosewood PD Officer had loomed up now.

"Get back inside the house please m'am." Reluctantly Spencer stepped back.

"Han we'll come down," Emily promised.

"Yeah as soon as this jerk gets off your porch." Aria said, squaring up to the officer despite the obvious height difference. Hannah had tears in her eyes as she was led down the path and into the car. It drove away, slowly at first, and then with increasing speed. The girls stood watching her, and all jumped with fear as their phones bleeped in unison.

Emily pulled hers out first as a video message opened up. It was another one from their mysterious ally she realized, as the video opened up. Mona was alone, dressed in a black trench coat and sunglasses, despite the fact it was already night and Aria recognized Noel, still dressed in the clothes he'd worn to the Grille standing in the gloomy room with her.

"Your plans for Aria are still moving ahead?"

Noel nodded, "Her little bro's putty in my hands, I'm already sure he's in love with me."

Mona offered a devilish smile, "And you're going to go the whole way with the charade?"

Noel laughed, "Oh I let him kiss me, and he thinks I was kissing back, but it's not like I would! He's a useful accomplice but otherwise he's just her freak brother…unless you want me to go the whole way?"

"Only if you feel it will work to our advantage," Mona said mysteriously, "besides it might compromise your relationship with your girlfriend. Jenna might have regained her sight, but she's still blind in so many ways," Mona drifted away for a moment, "you know he's been passing information to the Liars?"

"I thought that was obvious," Noel said condescendingly, "although he did take the bait with Lucas."

Mona rocked her head affirmatively, although slightly jauntily, giving her the appearance of a menacing, broken doll. "He truly believed we wanted him dead – murder is so…messy. Lucas can do far more harm in the hospital than he ever could out here – and since he did the shooting we're in the clear. As for Mike Montgomery," Noel became more alert at that moment, "he might be of use to us as a replacement – you'll just have to turn him against Aria, though doubtless she'll lay a lot of the groundwork for us."

"Of course," Noel said calmly, "where's Garrett tonight?"

"He doesn't need to know everything Noel – you and I may be equals – but Garrett is somewhere below us both. I sent him to see an old friend at the Police Station – sampling his old workplace." Noel nodded knowingly at that, and Mona grinned. She crossed the room and grabbed Noel's head, wrenching him into a passionate kiss. The video went grainy, and then cut out at that point.

The three girls stood together, their jaws wide-open as they tried to process all that they had seen. The glimmer of hope had just vanished. Hannah had been arrested, -A had free access to Aria's house and now their ally on the inside had become known to Mona and Noel – the heads of the vendetta against the quartet.

._.

Hope you liked Chapter 4,

I'm enjoying it so I hope you guys are too!

Reviews and responses as always welcomed and appreciated,

Acrobat

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