Chapter Twenty-Three

"Hey," Jen said stepping into the diner. She approached Riley who was sitting, eating a hamburger. "Riley... you haven't seen Marcie today, have you? I've been calling her room all morning..."

Riley placed his burger down on his plate, beginning to pick at his fries. "I guess you didn't hear then." he said. "Her brother was arrested."

"Ron?" Jen took a seat. "Why? What did he do?"

"You didn't hear it from me," Riley informed her. He looked around as if to make sure nobody was listening. "The police think he's the Music Box Killer."

"My God," Jen said. Riley looked at her wide eyed. She lowered her voice. "My God."

"I'm assuming Marcie is down there with him now." Riley said.

"Do you really think that Ron did this?" Jen said picking at one of his fries.

Riley took the fry from her hand. "I don't know the guy that well." he admitted. "But if he's anything like Marcie, there's no way."

"What's this?" Rex said walking passed the booth. "Conversation about murder over lunch? You ask me, the guy did seem shady."

"How did you hear about this?" Riley asked curiously.

"The guy lives across from my mother. It was the first thing out of her mouth when I went over there."

"And you were just in the neighborhood?" Riley said,

"As a matter of fact..." Rex waved a handful of plans in front of him. "I was getting feedback." Jen cocked her head to the side, seemingly interested. "Ultra Violet is bringing in a load of profits so..." he flashed the plans before them.

"A new club?" Jen said.

"No," Rex said. "An extention to Ultra Violet, A restaurant. It's practically built already."

"Good food at good prices?" Riley laughed.

"Ha, ha, ha, no" Rex said. "I'm looking to attract the same type of crowd."

"With just a hint of Disney land?" Riley laughed. Jen smiled.

"What did you take up comedy or something music boy?" Rex snapped.

Jen giggled. "So, what about this new place?" she asked.

"Think Rodi's meets The Nile."

"River?" Riley said "In Africa?"

"You're a geographer too now? Yes the Nile River."

"Sounds interesting" Jen said as she noticed Marcie enter the diner. "Oh there she is" she said "I'll be back" Jen stood and approached Marcie. "Marcie?"

"Oh... Jen, hi" Marcie said approaching the counter. "Mrs. Vega? My purse didn't show up yet, did it?" Carlotta shook her head. "Thank you." She sank into a chair. This hasn't been my week... it hasn't been my year. And... I still don't have keys, I probably smell like a foot..."

"To your room?" Jen said. "Then where did you stay last night?"

"Umm... Michael McBain.... he..." Jen smirked. "It's not like that Jen!" Marcie said. "It'll never be like that, not with Michael, not with anyone. Not with anyone, Jen!" Marcie stood from the chair, running from the diner.

"Marcie!" Jen said. "Marcie I didn't mean..." Marcie brushed passed Al.

"Marcie?" he said, seeing Jen, her shoulders slumped. He turned preparing to go after Marcie.

"Don't baby" Luna said.

"God....Luna" Al jumped "Don't you come with a door bell or something? You're gonna give me a heart attack."

"Sorry darlin'." she said " But you gotta give her this space."

"Give her space, make a move, give her space... I feel like a yo-yo."

"You gotta look at the big picture Al." Luna said. "You wanna win Marcie back. And going after her when she's hating the world...."

"You told me to get buddy buddy with John I did. You told me to help with this Music Box Killer stuff... I tried, but that screws up things with John. So you tell me to back off and let things run their course and I do. I start to get through to Marcie and what happens? Her brother gets arrested. If I had let her call Ron last night to stay with him instead of dragging her back to my apartment... he'd be the one with the alibi and I'd be in jail."

"Baby" Luna said. "Can you really see a difference in those two situations?"

"Well... yeah." Al said "Ron's her brother. I'm just... the creep doctor who she can't stand."

"You really think that?" she said "Then why'd she go with you last night, Al?" Al was silent. "You're making progress baby." she paused "And that... is something we need to talk about."

"My progress?" Al said.

Luna nodded. "Seems there was another little detail I forgot to mention... about you and Michael McBain."

"What?"

"I think you better sit down for this one darlin'."