Beverly shoved the pedestrians as she made her way up to the residential area. There were a few curious looks, a few raised eyebrows and many, many giggles and whispers. That is the problem with small towns…everyone knows your problems, and they will never forget them. It didn't matter. She had a purpose, and nobody, neither acquaintance nor stranger was going to stop her.

In the distance she saw her destination: a house that looked like every other on the road, with the only difference was that in the window there was a bitch looking to be slapped. Freddie was busy at her desk, probably writing another incriminating story, but she didn't notice the angry Beverly making her way towards her.

Once she reached the door, she tried the handle. If she could be stealthy and catch Freddie by surprise, she would, but that is only if she could enter quietly. Bev would scale the drainpipe and smash through the window if it came to that.

The knob turned without a problem and swung open to the interior.

Of course, it is open, Bev thought, Freddie is so confident in the fact that no-one would touch her that if she would lay out a red carpet or put up a neon sign saying "this way" she would become an untouchable god.

Beverly slammed the door behind her as she entered. She didn't care that she was technically breaking the law. Freddie technically broke the law by invading her and Will's privacy. An eye for an eye, as the saying went.

The closer Beverly got to Freddie's room, the louder her heart pounded. She had the chance to leave, but what was the point. Half of the town saw her making her way to this house, and by the time she left, the other half of the town would have heard about the "mad detective's daughter raving about how she is going to make Freddie fucking Lounds pay. This was no time to wuss out. If she was going to get in trouble with her father, she was going to go all out.

Beverly took a deep breath before she threw open the door.

XXX

Freddie smiled at the rising views on her page. Every time she refreshed the page, about ten new comments appeared on her page, most of them in her favour. Sure a few comments here and there saying that this is "unethical" and to "leave Will Graham alone".

Pssht! What do they know? Unethical is to not notify the public of the goings-on.

She drafted a few responses to the favourable comments, and casually deleting the other ones. It is not silencing the public if they are responding stupidly.

She popped her earphones on to listen to the voice notes sent by her fans. They were all claiming that they knew what happened, but each story was different. It ranged from reasonable to ridiculous. At one point it seemed that she was stuck at a dead-end, that was until…

"Hi, Freddie Lounds. I am Mason Verger. I would love to give you an interview…in exchange for a favour of course. If you are interested, I am at home. Come over any time, I will provide answers for every question you have."

It took about two seconds for Freddie to shove her equipment into her bag and sling it on her back. She grabbed her keys to her new car…a little present from Daddy. No one has questioned why she managed to score a Porsche: maybe it is something that is just expected from her. Freddie Lounds is a brand in Chesapeake and she is planning to rise to that role.

As she was about to grab the door handle, a sudden pain bloomed across her cheek. The door swung open and smacked her in the face. Freddie stumbled back, hand clutching the bruising face. It took a few seconds before her vision cleared to see the black-haired figure of Beverly Katz.

"I don't suppose you came for an interview?" Freddie attempt at a light-hearted quip was overshadowed by the fear that struck her bones. Beverly was a feisty girl, but rarely did she get mad enough to cause bodily harm. Rarely, unless her friend was threatened.

There was no answer; just a clenched fist.

Freddie shuffled backwards. "Hey, can we talk about this? There is no need to get violent." The panic raised with each word.

There was a rueful laugh. Beverly knelt by Freddie with a taut arm pulled back.

"You gave up your non-violence privileges the minute you sent that article. You have messed with Will and me for the last time."

Beverly allowed her arm to fly forward as if it were an arrow let go from its string. She pummelled Freddie's face as hard as she could. Freddie tried to fight back, but the speed of the slams did not allow her anytime to defend herself.

Blood began to dribble onto the floor. There was a sound of bones cracking. Freddie slowly began to be numb to the pain. Her mind swiftly popped in and out of consciousness. And if it weren't for the arrival of detectives Katz and Nelson, she might not have come back again.

XXX

Margot knew that she was being watched. One of the goons that Mason sent was not very good at trailing silently. From behind her, she could hear the bumbling fool trip over trashcans, run into streetlights and even step on a cat's tail. Every time she turned around, he attempted to hide behind whatever object, no matter how small.

This obsessive stalking did not surprise her. Mason would stop at nothing to find a way to blackmail her. Margot would not be surprised if he found about Alana already. She could not allow whatever perverse plan to go ahead.

That is why she asked to do a very weird thing. Alana was confused at first, but after insistence and a promise to explain later, Alana agreed. Margot hoped that the idiots would fall for it. The trick was to make sure that all three of the goons saw and took pictures at the perfect angle. Fooling them would be easy, but fooling Mason…that was another matter. She shoved her hands in her pockets and bent her head.

XXX

The library stood at the end of the cul de sac. It was a musty old building, with bricks barely holding it up. Weeds and creepers wove through the holes in the crumbling concrete. It was a surprise to everyone that it still stood strong on its foundation. Petitions had been made to the local council, but the response of "not enough funding" was the response, if there was one at all.

Loitering in front of the door was a boyish figure. Their hands were tucked in their hoodie pockets; their jeans were dirt-stained with the washed-out blue that happens over years of wear and tear. A bulging bag sagged over their shoulder. The figure's face was hidden under the hood. To the undisclosed eye, this was a male teenager hanging around out of boredom, a sight that is not unfamiliar.

Margot waved to the figure; the figure returned the finger waggle. Together they walked up the stairs and into the open doors of the library.

XXX

"Beverly this is it!" Detective Katz exclaimed. "I have let you sneak into crime scenes and play detective with Will…"

"But Dad…!"

"I have not finished talking!" Detective Katz interrupted. "Maybe it is because I have been too easy on you that made you think that going around, breaking-and-entering and physically assaulting another student is ok!"

Bever bowed her head. Her hands have been washed clean of the blood, but she could still feel it dripping down her fingers. Her father's office had a way of making the worst part of yourself rise to the surface. In the corner of her eye she saw a slew of officers running around with whatever job they had to do, but, now and again, she saw a few sympathetic looks towards her.

"Within a few days, you and Will have both fought with children of very powerful men. Did you know Freddie's father is very close with the Mayor? And he is not happy about his daughter being beaten up. Unlike Mr Verger, Mr Lounds is very ready to press charges."

"Well, Freddie should have not posted that article," Beverly muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?"

"I said," Beverly said in a louder voice, "that she asked for it! She invaded my privacy! She potentially ruined the investigation for you! Now, why am I in trouble!"

"Because I expect better from my daughter!" Katz sighed as he leant back against his desk. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "There are procedures for a reason. If you did not get involved, it would have been easier to charge her for defamatory remarks, but since you assaulted her, she can make a counterclaim. And since she is currently in hospital and you are sitting in front of me, guess who the court will be looking favourably upon?"

Beverly sunk in the chair. In her crazed rage, she thought it was the best direction to take, but was not. She never realised this mistake until she heard her father's next statement.

"Beverly, you are going to live with your mom in New York."

I tried to find information about Maryland's/ Virginia's privacy laws and there was too much to untangle. I tried to be as realistic as possible, but if any of the above information about privacy laws are incorrect, please tell me so I can correct it.