Gamer4 in. Goodwitch and I were both starting to get hungry, so she disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared with a small sandwich for herself, and a large one for me- I expressed my surprise that she seemingly knew exactly what type of sandwich I would like best, and even the right type of bread. As she was wont to do when confronted on things like this, she changed the subject.
"Food is interesting. Have you considered... why do we need to eat? Why are we not satisfied with just the right amount of food to maintain good health and proper energy? Why is it we always desire more and more?
"Should we eat too much, we disturb the proper balance, and bring ourselves to ill health. Of course, it is no better to eat too little- that throws the balance off in the opposite direction. Ill health, once more.
"Balance... balance is the key. Balance is the key to many things.
"Do we truly understand balance? The word has seven letters- difficult to balance, unless we are able to divide."
"This, of course, has its own pros and cons as well."
Chapter XIX
Four
Sun and Pyrrha hurried to the Arc house the next day, hoping to catch Jacob and bid him farewell before he made his leave. Sun allowed Pyrrha to knock- it took only a few seconds for Nichole to appear, smiling at them as she absently twirled a golf club in her other hand. "Hello, Sun- Pyrrha. Please, come in."
"Thanks," Pyrrha accepted happily.
"We didn't miss Jake, did we?" Sun asked.
Nichole frowned slightly. "Sorry- I'm afraid you just missed him. I just got back from the bus station about twenty minutes ago."
Pyrrha closed her eyes in resignation. "He's already gone?"
"He said you'd be visiting last night," Nichole shrugged. "He seemed a little disappointed, but it's like he said, he'll be able to visit anytime."
"Nichole!" came Nick's voice from upstairs. "Nichole, can you... urrghh..."
Nichole looked up. "Oh, if you'll excuse me- Nicky had a rough night last night."
"Of course," Pyrrha nodded as she made her exit, leaving her and Sun in the living room, which, now that they could see, was scattered with golf balls that Nichole seemed to have spent all morning knocking around with her club.
"Oh, my," Pyrrha raised her hands to her mouth.
"Leave her her hobby," Sun whispered. "Anything to help her cope."
A few minutes later, Nichole appeared. "Oh, I know! I'm sure you could call him on his scroll! He might be out of contact for a few hours, but I'm sure you could call him tonight- I'm sure he'd be overjoyed to hear from you."
"Sounds good," Sun nodded.
"We're so sorry to bother you," Pyrrha apologized.
"Nonsense," Nichole smiled, shaking her head. "You two are always welcome in my house. I was just practicing for a run up to the golf course anyways- nothing I couldn't take a break from."
"See ya, Mrs. Arc," Sun bowed himself and Pyrrha out.
"Goobye," Nichole nodded as she watched them go, before turning back in to her closet, where she began packing for her trip to the golf course.
XXXX
The only thing Willow had managed to take with her into her holding cell was a small bottle of disinfectant, which she was currently spraying over everything in sight- for all the good it did. The police had provided her with some basic toiletries, but she didn't intend to use the filthy sink that she'd been provided with- not until she was at the utmost end of need.
"-smells like a commode in here!"
Willow sighed- she wasn't sure whether Jacques's arrival relieved her, or just made her more tense. The door to the cells opened and her husband appeared, led by Fox.
"Apologies for the wait, Willow," he grunted as Fox opened the cell just long enough to allow him in. "I'm still a little jet-lagged from my swift trip back home. You look terrible."
"Did you expect me to be pristine after a night in these stables?" Willow scoffed.
"Well, normally, I'd hand this case over to Nichole," Jacques mused, "but as she's been charged with murder as well, I suppose it is time for me to shine. Fortunately, I do have some legal training. Let's begin with the basics- did you kill Mr. Arc?"
"Of course not!" Willow shouted, affronted at the very idea.
"Of course, of course," Jacques raised his hands. "I had to ask." He produced a pipe, filled it, and lit it.
"How soon can you get me out of here?" Willow demanded.
"They can only hold you for twenty-four hours without charging you," Jacques pointed out. "...Or perhaps... hmm... it may have been forty-eight... or did it vary by jurisdiction...?"
"JACQUES! FOCUS!" Willow practically stomped her foot in frustration. "I am being charged for murder!"
"And I have it all under control! Where were you the night Mr. Arc died?"
"I was with Raven Branwen."
Jacques's moustache twitched in agitation. "Not the sturdiest of cover stories."
"But it's the truth."
Jacques took a long pull on his pipe. "And there's still no sign of any remains? Not so much as bone fragments or teeth?"
"Nothing."
"I presume there's no evidence corroborating your location?"
"It was all strictly off the record," Willow confirmed.
"Well... this will be tricky. I'll get back to you."
Soon enough, Jacques was being shown back out, leaving Willow to lean back on her bed. Strange... something about this bed reminded her of her days in college, when one of the most desirable boys in the school had entered her dorm and danced for her upon her carpet for a solid four minutes before taking her virginity. She had to wonder how things may have gone if she'd remained with him, rather than getting involved with Jacques.
XXXX
"-but I'm sure you remember the time my toe turned purple, so I took a bath in baking soda, and-"
Fox raised his eyebrows as he entered the police station's lobby to find Nora lugging several stuffed toys around as a woman who could practically be her double followed, cradling a baby in her arms.
"Hey, Fox," Nora greeted sullenly. "I... is Ren around?"
"Oh!" Nora's sister beamed. "You're that black guy Nora told me about- Wolf, or something like that?"
"Fox," Fox corrected, already finding this woman annoying.
"Fox- good to meetcha! So sorry- I'm sure you must hate us white people after everything we've done to you!"
Fox sighed deeply. "...Some of my best friends are white," he grunted.
Nora looked ready to facepalm- if it weren't for the several stuffed animals in the way. "...Ren?"
"I'll find him," Fox promised, eagerly jumping on the chance to leave the room.
The baby started crying, prompting Nora's sister to head to a nearby chair and gently rock her, shushing and cooing as Nora followed.
XXXX
"Oscar," Ruby announced as she and Yang headed through te Austin Hotel, "It's 10:30, and Yang and I just finished talking with Torch- er, Art- er, the One-armed Man. He's recovering from his fit yesterday, but still needs a few more, according to the doctor. In another time, he could have been a seer, a shaman, a priest. Go figure- in our world, he's a shoe salesman living among the shadows."
They turned the corner into the hotel's lobby- where they found Nichole tapdancing to music only she could hear, using a golf club in place of a cane. As often seemed to be the case at the hotel, nobody was paying her much mind as she danced her way around the large room.
A thought occurred to Ruby. "Yang... has anyone told her about... y'know... Willow?"
"Doesn't look like it," Yang shook her head. "Best take care of that now..."
She stepped forward and cut Nichole off. "Oh- sorry, Yang- just having a little fun."
"Nothing to arrest you for there," Yang nodded. "But... I'm sorry. I don't want you to hear this from... anybody else. We've arrested Willow Schnee for Jaune's murder.
Nichole's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "W...Willow?"
"Yeah- we haven't charged her yet, but we're holding her."
"That... that doesn't make sense! There must be some mistake- I know she's cold, but murder-"
Yang shook her head, leaving Nichole blinking in surprise. "But... but what about Corsac-"
"It wasn't him," Yang shook her head again.
Nichole looked somehow even more crushed. "Not him... Willow... you... is your case strong?"
"Pretty damn," Yang nodded.
Nichole's knuckles turned white around her golf club. "Oh, God..."
Ruby stepped forward in concern, but Yang raised her hand.
Nichole took a deep breath. "...The law will handle this."
"That we will," Yang assured her, clapping a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you... for telling me," Nichole nodded before turning and making her way to the exit. She moved slowly, jerkily, and had to hold out an arm to steady herself at one point.
Ruby watched her go. "Hmm... Yang, go ahead- I'll catch up with you."
She stepped out into the hall Nichole had just entered and found her sobbing in a corner. "Nichole?" she asked.
"Y-yes?" Nichole forced out.
"Do you remember anything odd about Willow around the time that Jaune died?"
"I... not right now," Nichole shook her head. "But... don't worry. If I... remember anything... you'll be the first to know..."
"Thanks."
XXXX
Willow and Jacques were taken into an interrogation room, where Michelle Wukong had already donned some plastic gloves. "Don't worry, Mrs. Schnee- this won't hurt a bit!" she smiled reassuringly. Jacques wrinkled his nose at her, but Willow simply sighed in resignation.
"I protest! This is unjust treatment of my client!" Jacques spoke up.
"Overruled," Yang said firmly. "Michelle, continue."
Michelle grabbed Willow's hand and pricked her finger with a small needle, collecting a sample of blood before allowing her to raise the finger to her mouth.
"Alright, I'll get back to you in a couple hours," Michelle assured Ruby and Yang before making her exit.
"I demand that Willow be released or charged!" Jacques roared. "I have practiced law for many years, and never before have I been witness to such-"
Ruby interrupted on her sister's behalf. "Jacques Schnee, Atlas University, 774. Graduated last in a class of 142. Passed the bar after two failed attempts. Lost your license to practice in Vacuo, Mistral, and three provinces of Vytal."
A vein was popping on Jacques's forehead- he struggled to put his anger into words, but was mostly coming out as furious spluttering.
Yang threw a wide-eyed glance at Ruby, who flashed her a grin before turning back to the Schnees.
"I am not the one on trial here!" Jacques finally forced out.
"True," Ruby nodded, producing Jaune's journal as she took a seat across from Willow. "So, Willow... do you know what this is?"
"A book," Jacques whispered in his wife's ear.
"A book," Willow affirmed, rolling her eyes.
"Take a closer look," Ruby instructed, opening it up and turning it so Willow could read.
She only took a cursory glance at it. "A journal, then, or diary."
Ruby took the journal back. "We already know about the Widow's Web. Jaune knew, too." She turned to one page in particular, and read out, "'Someday, I'm gonna tell the world the truth about Willow Schnee. I'll tell everyone who she really is.' But... he never got that chance, did he?"
Willow refused to meet her eyes.
Ruby kept gazing at her anyways. "Come on, Willow, we're all adults here. We all know what Jaune could be like sometimes- things got out of control. He became a threat- to you... to your business... to your family..."
Willow's eyes began to narrow. "You are straying far from the line, Ms. Rose."
"Maybe so," Ruby shrugged. "Maybe you don't have anything to hide. But Jaune seemed to think you did."
Willow burst. "YOU CANNOT SPEAK TO ME LIKE THIS! YOU CAN'T, YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
"SIT DOWN!" Yang ordered in her loudest, most authoritative tone.
Willow continued glaring at Ruby, but returned to her seat.
Jacques hardly seemed any happier. "I demand a moment alone with my client."
"Fine by me," Ruby shrugged, ushering Yang out the door.
The second they were alone, Jacques turned his anger on Willow. "You cannot blurt out a confession like that, Willow! Our options are dwindling as is!"
"Well, what's your plan, Jacques!" Willow threw her arms in the air.
Jacques narrowed his eyes. "Step one... find you a better lawyer."
XXXX
Cardin spent the previous night tearing through his house in search of a taper recorder, only to find nothing. This morning, he had gone up to an old electronic store that still carried such things and managed to find one for a decent price- he was now sitting in Velvet's kitchen, playing the tape back at last.
"I suppose we must beg to differ in our career choices. We don't have to like working together, we merely have to do it. One last job- burn down the Belladonna sawmill. A clear act of arson."
"All you had to say was 'Belladonna.' The money?"
"Ten thousand lien, another ten thousand upon delivery. Three nights- nothing too elaborate, understand?"
Cardin bit his lip- he needed to make some copies of this. He knew that voice...
"Jacques Schnee... making a deal with Adam. Huh... whoda thunk it?"
He had a pen and paper handy- he wrote down a quick letter. Dear Mr. and Mrs. Schnee- Think we should TALK.
As he folded the paper and placed it in an envelope, there was a retching sound from the other room. A weary Velvet called out as she stepped in covered in unnameable brown substance. "Cardin, he did it again. It's your turn to clean him this time."
Cardin grinned as he stepped towards her, placing the letter on the table. Velvet's ears twitched. "What's that?"
"Well, since our cash cow didn't exactly pan out like we thought it would, I've decided to pursue a career in business," Cardin explained, standing behind her and gently rubbing her shoulders.
"Like a salesman?"
"Nah, I'm thinkin' more... executive."
"You don't say?" Velvet had her doubts, but when push came to shove, she honestly did think Cardin could do anything he set his mind to...
"I do say," Cardin nodded.
She smiled. "That sounds great!"
"I'm gonna swing this, Vel, and I'm gonna getcha whatever you want."
"A full-time nanny would be a good start," Velvet mused, grabbing a cloth to wipe her face off.
Cardin pretended to muse. "Hmm... I could go for a Mistralian maid myself."
Velvet giggled. "Cardin!"
Such was the cue for some more lip-locking.
XXXX
Coco had just finished putting a meal together for Nolan Porfirio when she heard a voice she hadn't heard in a long time. "Hey, there, Junior."
She looked up in surprise. "Oh- Mom!"
She smiled- then that smile vanished as her mother reminded her why it had been so long. "I hope those are real potatoes, not flakes."
"...Real potatoes," Coco assured her through teeth that were suddenly clenched.
"I see... excuse me."
Her mother grabbed a fork and helped herself to a small bite of Nolan's mashed potatoes- Nolan's response was a look of shock and betrayal.
Coco sighed deeply as her mother swallowed. "It's a... nice surprise to see you in town," she forced.
"Not as nice a surprise as those potatoes- they're actually pretty good," her mother praised. "Now, where's Prince Charming?"
"Hazel's out," Coco muttered.
"I see."
Coco bit her lip. "Look... if you don't mind me asking... what're you doing here?"
Her mother smiled. "I want to introduce you to my new husband."
Coco's eyes were drawn to the man behind her mother, whom she hadn't been paying much attention too before. He had neat black hair with a matching rough beard and moustache.
Coco's smile was becoming more and more forced. "...Husband?"
"Mike, this is my daughter- Coco Adele, Jr!" her mother pronounced.
"Nice to meet you," Mike smiled, extending a hand, which Coco reluctantly accepted.
"We're on honeymoon," her mother explained.
"Is it alright if I get some coffee?" Mike requested.
Coco nodded curtly, turning and going to get it.
"Nice girl," Mike smiled, kissing his wife's cheek.
"Darling," Coco Adele Sr nodded offhandedly. To her daughter, she added, "Michael Watts- a financial analyst. I love what you've done with the diner, by the way. The flowers a nice touch."
"I can see why you passed your name on," Mike grinned. "She's got all your beauty."
Coco Sr motioned for Mike to give her and her daughter some time alone- suddenly, he remembered that he had some calls to make, allowing Sr to follow Jr behind the counter.
"Your fashion sense is as good as ever- that uniform truly compliments you."
Coco bit her tongue. "Look... not trying to be rude, but how long are you staying?"
"A couple of days," Sr shrugged. "Mike wanted to see the countryside. Why do you ask?"
"Just... wish I got a heads-up, is all."
"I didn't want you to fuss- for all the good that did. What's wrong, Jr?"
Coco sighed. "Nothing- there's just a big-name food critic coming- right as I'm short on help."
"A food critic, you say?" Sr's eyes widened with interest. "Well, that explains why the place looks so nice."
"I hope to spend some more time with you," Mike smiled, rejoining the conversation. "Coco, it would probably be best if we checked in, now..."
"Of course," Sr nodded. "Jr, we'll be at the Austin Hotel. Tell Hazel I'm sorry we missed him."
"Glad to meet you," Mike repeated before the two of them took their leave.
XXXX
Roman Torchwick had finally slipped into a deep sleep at ten o'clock. Around noon, the nurse overseeing him jumped when she heard him beginning to grunt and groan- the stump where his left arm had once been was twitching violently.
His eyes opened wide. "Cindy... I smell you!"
He blinked and shook his head before turning to the nurse. "Sorry to trouble you, but... could I get some water?"
"Of course," she nodded, turning and heading into the bathroom.
She returned to find Torchwick missing- until he slammed a large book into the back of her head, dropping her to the ground. "Sorry, m'dear, but sometimes, needs must."
With that, he was out the window.
XXXX
"Apologies, Coco- I'm rather late today."
Coco didn't even turn to look as Hazel finally entered through the door, immediately stepping behind the counter and getting into uniform. Her voice was scathing as she replied, "Yeah, forty-eight hours late. A simple mistake, anyone could make it."
"Again, apologies- I had business to take care of."
Coco turned on him, removing her shades entirely so he could see her glare. "Hazel, this is business. Right here. Business is a place you come to come hell or high water, whether you feel like it or not."
"Coco-"
"Don't even try to sweet-talk me right now, Hazel. I'm this close to telling you to walk out that door and not come back."
"Please- hear me out. You know that I've made poor decisions- as a result, there are people out there eager to see me fail. Any effort to fight them merely begets more trouble. Try though I might to escape, there's always someone faster. Everything I'm doing... is in an effort to keep my head above water."
Coco crossed her arms. "Maybe someday, you'll think to just ask for a little help."
"Perhaps so," Hazel agreed. "I... ran into your mother earlier."
Coco froze. "...And?"
"She invited us to dinner with her and her new husband- tonight, 8:30."
Coco bit her lip. "Don't tell me-"
"Yes, I told her we'd be there."
XXXX
Taiyang entered the Police Station and headed right to his daughter's office to find her watching a bird through her window. "Yang?"
"Oh- Dad!" Yang greeted him with a smile. "What's up?"
"Looks like I oughtta be asking you that- whatcha got in your sights?"
"A pileated woodpecker, according to that book Blake got me."
Tai crossed to the window and peered out. "Pileated, huh?"
"Yeah- you can tell by the red crest."
"Nice," Tai smiled, before turning to her. "Yang... Blake's gone."
"Yeah... I know."
Tai shook his head sadly. "I came home late last night, and she was just... gone. A note on the table- no explanations, no goodbyes. It was... horribly familiar."
"She sold the mill to the Schnees," Yang whispered.
"Not exactly..."
Yang patted her father on the shoulder. "Look, you don't have to explain anything to me."
Tai took a deep breath. "She was like... another daughter to me. There. I said it. I loved her like my own daughter. No offense, of course."
"None taken," Yang smiled wistfully. "I loved her... romantically. I was there- I watched her assistant pack her bags into her car."
"Assistant?" Tai asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah- from Menagerie, I'm guessing. Never saw him before."
"...What did he look like?"
Yang was growing curious. "He was... a bat faunus. Brown hair, goatee."
"Oh- that was her cousin, Landis."
It was Yang's turn to raise an eyebrow. "She said he was her assistant- Mr. Fajardo."
The Xiao Longs gazed at each other nervously. "Yang... I have a bad feeling about this."
Yang's eyes narrowed. "Yeah... so do I."
"Yang!"
Ruby was there, looking frenzied. "Yang! Dad! Torchwick's gone missing- he knocked the nurse out!"
Yang closed her eyes, cursing silently. "Sorry, Dad, we gotta take care of this. Torchwick's a key witness. Don't worry, Rubes, he won't get far."
Tai watched as his daughters took off out the door. He made his own way across the lobby towards the holding cells, paying no mind as Ren entered, starting when he saw Nora. "Nora- you're back!"
Nora was watering the plants as she cradled her nephew. Ren gazed at the baby, then up to her. "Nora... we need to talk."
XXXX
Tai entered the holding cells- sure enough, there was Willow, lying on the bed. "Hello, Tai," she said coldly. "Come in- we desperate criminals are safe in our cages."
Tai was usually one to show more sympathy, but he had none to offer the woman who had so nearly killed his wife. A smirk appeared on his face as he reached for the scroll in his pocket. "I have a message for you!"
"Let me guess- a greeting from the employees of the Belladonna sawmill?"
Tai brought up a recorded video on the scroll, showing an obvious smug Raven. Willow's eyes widened as she rose to her feet.
"Hello, Willow," the recording began, voice dripping with mock-concern. "Sorry I haven't paid a visit yet. You know how I feel about prisons."
"She- she's alive?" Willow whispered in disbelief as she approached the bars.
Tai could keep back a chuckle that sounded more like a cackle.
"-Those nights we spent together lost in love," the recording continued. "When was that again? It seems so long ago. It was like a dream. Didn't we spend the night together the very night that Jaune Arc died?"
Willow dove for the bars, reaching through for the scroll- Tai stepped just out of reach.
"But... memory is unreliable. For all I know, it may have been a dream. After that ordeal with the mill, to be honest, I can't be sure of anything anymore."
"What does she want?" Willow asked grudgingly. "I'll pay her anything- what does she want?"
"You doing okay there, Ms. Schnee?" Tai asked with the same faux-concern of his wife.
"In exchange for my testimony, I expect to receive ownership of the mill and Hienton Estates. You can keep the hotel- I have no interest in it. I'll be sending a representative within 24 hours. Of course, you can turn me away- I'm sure that the jobs offered by the prison system are a significant pay cut from what you receive now, but you're a clever woman, you can work your way back up."
Tai cackled in glee, hugging the scroll close to him. "Oh, that Raven's a real piece of work, isn't she?"
Willow slumped back into her bed- for the first time in years, she was truly, utterly defeated. "She... set me up. She set me up!"
She grew more enraged as Tai left the area- she leapt to her feet, overturning her bed, picking up her pillow and dashing it against the bars until all that remained was a cloud of feathers. "THAT BITCH SET ME UP! I'LL GET THAT BITCH! I'LL GET YOU, BITCH!"
She finally forced herself to calm down as an officer stepped in to check on her- she crouched on the ground, still muttering, "Set me up... she set me up..."
XXXX
Ruby was whistling to herself as she and Yang drove down the road, trying to keep her nerves in check. "Don't you worry about the dark, I will light up the night with the love in my heart..."
Up ahead, they spied a car swerving all over the road. "Um... Yang? Driving lessons still a thing at Beacon?"
"...Yup."
"Well, we got a drop- YANG LOOK OUT!"
Yang already saw, swerving to the side to avoid the car running into her. Her eyes seemed to flash red as she turned around, activating her siren as she took off in pursuit.
Fortunately, the car made no effort to escape, pulling right over.
They climbed out and were surprised to find Nichole at the wheel, looking remarkably nervous. "Yang- Ms. Rose- I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine," Yang nodded, "we were more concerned about you."
"Oh- I'm fine. Just fine. I was on my way to the golf course- I've been meaning to go all day, I just kept getting held up. I started thinking about Willow, and... lost my focus. I'm very sorry."
"No better time to practice some zen than when you're behind the wheel," Ruby put in.
"True- you're absolutely right," Nichole agreed. She snapped her fingers. "Oh! But it is a good thing I ran into you, Ms. Rose- I remembered something! About the night that... the night Jaune died! I was working late that night- with Jacques. He had to leave the room to take a call from Willow- I didn't hear most of it, but it causes some sort of distress between them. Their voices were raised- they were angry. All I could make out was... something about a... journey?"
"You mean journal?" Yang ventured.
"That could be it," Nichole nodded.
Yang's scroll rang, and she stepped off to take it, leaving Ruby and Nichole alone.
"So, Ms. Rose- do you play golf?"
"I've played a few rounds- can't say I'm too good at it," Ruby admitted bashfully.
"What do you say to playing a round or two with me some day?" Nichole offered, climbing out of her car. "Here- I'll even show you my new clubs!"
"Er... sure," Ruby shrugged. As Nichole made her way to the trunk, a thought crossed Ruby's mind. "Nichole? You take care of a lot of the Schnees' affairs, right?"
"That I do."
"Have they ever done a deal with... a woman named Sally?"
Nichole glanced at her, her hands on the trunk. "Sally? No... can't say I've ever met anyone like that."
"Ruby!" Yang called. "They found Torchwick by the waterfall!"
Ruby immediately snapped to attention. "Right! Sorry, Nichole- I'll have to see the clubs another time!"
"Oh, of course," Nichole nodded, slamming the trunk closed again. "And of course, if there's anything I can do to help..."
"Just drive safe for now," Ruby nodded, dashing back to the patrol car, leaving Nichole to retake the wheel of her own vehicle.
XXXX
Fox guided Torchwick into the police station, paying no mind to Ren and Nora attempting to talk in the corner while Nora's sister Hella insistently babbled.
"-because people want terrible things to happen to you, y'know?"
Ren took a deep breath, then turned to Nora. "I need to talk to you about... well, my sperm, for want of a better word."
Hella barked out laughing. "Oh, of course- that is all that men think about! I remember when my boy was first born, they lay him on my breast, I look down and see him, and I think, 'Oh, God, this is just what the world needs- another sperm gun running loose, right? Women beware!'"
Ren and Nora stared at her looking incredibly unamused.
She shifted uncomfortably. "Well... I did."
Ren sighed. "Look, I had mine counted twice. The first time, they were all dead. To... work appropriately, there needs to be a ship full of seamen, but for me, there were only three men on a canoe."
"Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that!" Hella cackled.
Ren sighed. "Shut up, Hella."
"Yeah, shut up, Hella!" Nora agreed immediately.
Hella rose to her feet, looking affronted, and headed towards the restroom.
Ren took a deep breath. "So, when you told me you were pregnant, it seemed as though it couldn't be me. Again- three men on a boat. But I've had them tested again- I got better. They aren't just three men on a boat anymore- now, they're a whole damn town."
Nora's eyes widened. "A whole damn town?" Her face broke into a smile. "A whole damn town?"
She leapt to her feet. "Rennie's a whole damn town! RENNY'S A WHOLE DAMN TOWN!"
Ruby and Yang entered, and she crowed out for them, too- "Renny's a whole damn town!"
They glanced at Ren, who wearily waved them further inside. They glanced at each other, shrugged, and followed his advice, giving Nora some time to cool off.
When she did, she sat down, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "But then... what about Neptune?"
XXXX
Under the supervision of Ruby, Yang, Fox, and Jacques, Torchwick circled around Willow, his eyes wide, his nostrils dilated as if sniffing something out. "She's been near... she's been very, very near. However... Cindy is not here now."
"Ms. Xiao Long," Jacques interrupted. "Would you like to tell me why this man is eyeing my wife the way a dog eyes a piece of meat?"
He shuddered as he realized Torchwick was looking him up and down as well. "Would you like to tell me why he's eyeing me that way?"
Torchwick paid him no mind. "Cindy has been very near."
"Cindy? Who is Cindy? Willow and I don't know any Cindies. Why is your investigation hinging on the word of a clear lunatic? Your 24 hours are up- I demand that you either charge my client or release her!"
Yang stepped forward. "Willow Schnee, I'm officially charging you with the murder of Jaune Arc."
"Well done, Jacques, well done," Willow growled.
"Fox, get Torchwick back to the hotel. Keep a personal eye on him."
Torchwick remained silent as Fox led him away, but Willow was anything but. "You insolent nymphomaniac! I'll have your job! You are finished in this town! Do you hear me?! Finished!"
Ruby cleared her throat, tapping Yang on the shoulder. "Can I talk to ya real quick?"
Yang nodded, following her into the hall.
"Yang... I think we're jumping the gun here," Ruby admitted.
"Whaddya mean?"
Ruby glanced from side to side. "I don't think Willow is the killer."
"What?"
"I recommend releasing her."
Yang took a long, deep breath. "Sis... I've followed you every step of the way. I've had enough magic mumbo jumbo. I've had enough dreams, visions, giants, midgets, North Menagerie, and all that hocus pocus. We have hard evidence against Willow Schnee, so it's my job to lock her up."
Ruby nodded. "Yeah... you're right, Yang. This is your backyard- how often an outsider forgets."
Ruby stepped away, leaving Yang staring after her, wrestling between feelings of sisterly guilt and her own conviction. Willow was the killer, she had to be.
...Right?
XXXX
Coco Sr took it upon herself to criticize every piece of food she took in at the Austin Hotel's Gold Room that night. "It was rather overdone," she concluded.
"Yeah... mine too," Mike agreed.
"It tasted fine to me," Hazel threw his hat into the ring.
Coco Jr took a deep breath before rising to her feet. "If you'd excuse me for a minute..."
Her mother hopped up as well. "I'll join you!"
"We'll be waiting with bated breath," Mike dismissed them.
He and Hazel waited for them to leave the room before embracing like brothers.
"Michael Justin- it's been far too long," Hazel smiled as they returned to their seats.
"You don't plan on telling, do you?" Mike asked. "She knows me as Michael Watts- if she ever found out I've done time, she'd... well, she'd drop me."
"Your secret is safe with me," Hazel assured him. "I just got out a couple weeks ago. The last year was torment without you. Nobody else had quite your sense of humor. Hardly anyone even wanted to approach me."
"I guess no one knows you like I do," Mike shrugged.
"Speaking of which, what's your angle with Mrs. Adele?"
"I like her."
"Come now, Mike, we don't have any secrets- what's your angle?"
"No angle- I like her."
"I see. What story did you tell her?"
"Mostly the truth- I'm trying to tell nothing but the truth lately. It's... liberating. She's got me handling her investments. I'm out, now. I don't gamble anymore- I go to meetings... to church..."
"Church?" Hazel scoffed. "After running off with their funds?"
"I didn't steal from a church!" Mike objected with the air of someone who'd been forced to repeat this mantra again and again. "It was a bank owned by Mormons. Even so, I've paid my debt, and I'm gratefully accepting the clean slate."
Hazel fixed their gazes. "She really doesn't know?"
"No."
"Fascinating," Hazel mused as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I'm sure we can both agree that family is the most important thing in the world. We must all be prepared to pay any price to protect those we love."
Mike began drumming his fingers. "...Of course."
The door opened, and the Cocos returned. Hazel whispered, "We can talk more later."
"Welcome, ladies!" Mike greeted them with a forced smile as they resumed their seats.
Hazel grabbed his mug. "I would like to propose a toast- to the newlyweds and their eternal happiness."
XXXX
Ruby ordered room service again- strawberry pie and milk. She didn't recognize the waiter- it certainly wasn't Uncle Steve.
She was dressed in a nightgown and the wrappings she still wasn't able to fully remove from her shooting. She leaned back in her bed and picked up her recorder. "Oscar, it's just past eleven at the Austin Hotel. It's a new moon, and there are no stars. Willow Schnee is in custody. We're right at the killer's doorstep, but those last few steps are always the trickiest."
*Knock knock.*
Ruby put her recorder down and refastened her gown as she answered the door.
It was Weiss, looking nervous. "May I... come in and talk?"
"Sure," Ruby nodded, opening the door wide.
Weiss's eyes fell on the bandages. "I heard you were shot."
"Yeah- I got lucky," Ruby agreed.
"And... you arrested mother?"
"Yes... we did."
Weiss spoke hesitantly. "Did she do it?"
"That's for the judge to decide," Ruby shrugged.
"But what do you think?"
"It doesn't really matter- not now."
"Did you arrest her... because of my testimony?"
"That was part of it, yeah."
"But I helped you, right?"
Ruby gave a small smile. "Yes, Weiss- you helped."
Weiss looked down at the ground. "I wanted... so much... for them to love me."
"Of course they love you!" Ruby assured her.
Weiss gave a half-hearted scoff. "No... they're ashamed of me."
"I don't believe that for a second. Who could be ashamed of you?"
Weiss faltered. "Ruby... during my time at the Widow's Web, I never... not once, let anyone-"
"You don't have to say anything," Ruby smiled.
"But... I want you to know that-"
"I do know," Ruby nodded earnestly.
"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!"
Ruby picked up her scroll. "That's Yang."
"Go ahead," Weiss nodded.
Ruby stepped aside and answered. "Yang?"
Her faint smile dropped, exchanged for a look of horror. "What?! Where?... When?...Right, I'm on my way!"
"What's going on?" Weiss asked as Ruby hung up.
"Weiss, go to your room- lock the door, don't open it for anyone!"
"What's happening?"
"Just do it!"
Weiss nodded, eyes wide, as she hurried out the door and down the hall.
Ruby got dressed as quick as she could, fastening her cloak as she headed out the door.
XXXX
Yang met her at the edge of the Emerald Forest, leading her in to one of the Haven River's banks, where the police had discovered a large bundle of plastic. Ruby reached out and opened one end to reveal the cold, motionless face of Jacob Arc.
XXXX
Please R&R, constructive criticism, theories, and guesses welcome, Gamer4 out.