Chapter 9

Hopper parked behind the station, taking Eddie to the only interview room the department had. Clearing his throat he gestured into the room, "Officer Powell will be asking the questions." Hopper looked Eddie in the eyes, "You tell the absolute truth boy. Everything from the moment you woke up to now. Understood?" Eddie nodded at Hopper, a quiet 'yeah' leaving him.

Powell cleared his throat, "Uh, Chief? Mind if we get started?"

Hopper pursed his lips, wanting to shout about the unfairness of it all. Instead, he gave Powell a single nod, turning on his heel and storming from the room.

Powell sat across the table from Eddie. Turning on a tape recorder he stated the date, time, his credentials and had Eddie state his name and date of birth, "Now then, let's begin. How do you know Fred Benson?" The questions continued, Officer Powell jotting down notes as they went. Mostly he focused on what time Eddie was where and with who. He clarified the names of all the kids in Hellfire, snorting at the club name with a shake of his head.

Progressing through the timeline, Officer Powell admitted, "We'll have to verify the times with your friends and mate. But it sounds like you have a solid alibi." Standing from the table he turned to look at Eddie, "You might not have had anything to do with the kid's death but, we'll still have to keep you for the drugs."

Eddie's head slumped down, his whole body folding in on itself as the weight of Officer Powell's words hit him. shit

As the police started calling around the kids from Hellfire, Eddie sat in the interview room with his head in his hands. Trying to stay calm he focused on his breathing, like he'd done with Chrissy many times before. Only now he couldn't maintain rhythm, he'd lose count and begin feeling the panic creeping back up to choke him.

Across town at the abandoned Benny's restaurant a group of Hawkins students were waking up after a night of partying. People gathered their friends and partners to stumble home. A few stayed behind, sat around the junked television someone had propped up in a corner.

Andy from the basketball team sat next to the tv, switching channels with a frown while searching for cartoons. Finally giving up and settling on a channel after realizing they're all playing the same news report.

Jason stood watching, "Hey, that's Hawkins. Turn it up, man." Andy leaned in to turn up the volume, the reporter's voice coming through clearly. '- devastated and greatly concerned by the death of yet another young person in our community.' "What is going on?"

/

Steve stood in his parent's living room, his toothbrush hanging from his mouth as he watched the morning news report, "What the hell's goin' on?" '- we have not been able to speak with the parent's, however their friends and neighbors are here with us in front of Hawkins' police station, demanding answers.'

Robin shook her head, "No idea." '- claim that he wasn't the sort. And they believe someone else is responsible.' "Who do you think it is? ..or, um, was?" She asked with a grimace.

"Not sure. But this, this sounds like trouble."

/

"Hey Will, turn that up?" Joyce listened as the reporter went from person to person, each theory becoming more outlandish than the last. "God's sake, don't they have anything better to do? Those poor parents shouldn't have to listen to this." She knew that many people tried to make sense of suicide by blaming outside forces, especially when the person was young or seemed to be fine.

She also knew what it felt like to lose a child, her heart going out to the parents, hoping these people would leave them alone to grieve.

Nancy and Johnathan were spending Saturday morning in the newsroom at school, developing the photos from last night's win. Several other students had also wandered in, hoping to finish their own assignments early in the break.

Out of habit Nancy had turned of the morning news, it kept the team up to date with what they should also be reporting on. She was half listening when someone gasped, looking up she saw the other's watching the tv and walked closer to better hear.

As the reporter talked about a supposed suicide, a Hawkins High student, she felt a heaviness settle in her stomach. They didn't say the person's name but, she had an idea it was her MIA co-editor. While the group listened to the reporter interview several questionable 'family friends' there was a knock at the newsroom door.

A police officer stood there; he asked if the kids would answer some questions. As the present editor Nancy stepped forward, she shook the officer's hand and led him to a free table. He confirmed her fear, Fred was the dead student. He asked if she'd noticed him acting out of the ordinary, if there had been any issues between him and anyone. She told him what she knew, Fred was a dedicated journalist but, he'd been increasingly distracted as of late. He hadn't opened up to her when asked but, perhaps he'd spoken with one of the others.

While the officer started pulling individual students aside, Johnathan rushed back into the room. Coming up next to Nancy he was breathing heavily, "There's other cops here. I saw them searching Eddie's locker."

She whispered back, "How do you know it was Eddie's?"

Trying to stay quiet he hissed back, "His bag was on the ground, the one with the Eye of Sauron drawn on it! His was the only locker opened."

Nancy looked at her boyfriend confused, "The eye of..? Never mind. We need to find out what's going on." She grabbed her purse and notepad, "Station first?" Grabbing his own bag and his camera Johnathan followed her out of the school.

Chrissy was at home, sat on the sofa and wrapped in a blanket, holding a now lukewarm cup of tea. She kept feeling pangs in her chest as Eddie's anxiety repeatedly spiked. However, she'd stopped being upset by the feeling of her mate in distress, now she was just angry. She wanted to march into the police station and demand they release him.

From her spot on the sofa Chrissy could hear Wayne and Susan talking but didn't pay any attention to their conversation. She could also hear Max moving around the house, before leaving quickly, screen door shutting behind her with a snap.

Soon the door was being opened again, Wayne led Officer Callahan and a deputy she'd never seen before into the living room. She sat red eyed and miserable while they rummaged through her and Eddie's lives. The new officer asking her and Wayne questions, about Eddie, about Hellfire and what the club generally did together.

Frustrated, Chrissy snapped at the officer, "Do you even know where the name comes from? People hear 'hellfire' and immediately think devil. The name Hellfire is from Marvel comic books. They created a group that was organized like a chess set, King, Queen, Knight, Rook. It's a fight of good versus evil sure, but it's just a comic book." Wayne laid a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Eventually the officers left without telling her anything about what they'd been looking for or what was going to happen to Eddie.

Dustin had stayed the night at Mike's after Hellfire. They'd both watched the news and had been trying to reach members of their pack most of the morning. Signaling Will and only getting static they'd called the house phone and his mom had answered. She guessed what they were up to. Telling them she'd be keeping Will and Jane home with her, and she wanted the rest of them to stay home too. 'Keep out of this boys. Hopper won't let anything bad happen to your friend.'

They tried to reach Lucas but, Erica answered instead. She told them Lucas never came home after the game, so she was preemptively covering for him, "You find Luke, remind him that my services don't come cheap. Every day I have to cover for him adds a dollar to his bill."

Dustin snarked back, "Well if Lucas comes home, YOU tell him we're looking for him." Clicking the radio off he tossed himself down on the couch.

From upstairs Mike's mom called for them, they met an irritated looking Officer Powell and sat down to answer his questions. Mike becoming angry with the officer. "Eddie wouldn't have done anything, to anybody! He's one of the nicest guys ever. You can't blame him for this!"

Mike shouted loudly in frustration, his mother's hand firmly holding his shoulder and keeping him in his chair. "Honey, yelling at the police isn't going to help your friend. Please, just breath." She looked at Dustin to make sure he wasn't getting worked up also, one angry teen she could handle but, two would be a challenge.

Officer Powell finished up his questions, Mrs. Wheeler confirming the time Eddie dropped the boys off at home, "Yes, it was after 9pm, Ted and I were watching Dallas when the van pulled in. Just after the second commercial break."

Watching Officer Powell drive away the boys quickly rushed from the house, ignoring Mike's mom as she called for them to come back.

Mike knew his sister had gone to the school that morning to work on the paper. He also knew there wasn't a phone in the newsroom, so he and Dustin rode their bikes to the high school. Once there they were told that she and Johnathan had already left. Frustrated they rode into town to the Family Video to look for Steve.

Back at Benny's Jason gathered the guys and drove them into town, wanting to see for himself what the hell was going on. Once there, he marched forward into the group of adults standing outside of the police department. He spotted his mother and Mrs. Cunningham standing together and headed towards them.

His mother caught his arm and pulled him into a hug, "Oh my darling, have you heard? It's just dreadful! What's become of our town!" Mrs. Carver always had a flare for the dramatics, having wanted to be a Hollywood actress growing up. Now she held her son's arm in a vice grip as she lamented the latest death.

Beside her Mrs. Cunningham stood, delicately blotting her tears with a handkerchief. Jason asked if she was alright. Launching her into telling how she was 'just devastated for the family' and that she was convinced the boy hadn't died by his own means. Too wrapped up in both women's act he missed the way Mrs. Cunningham was watching him.

Finally, she sniffled, "I have it on good authority Fred met with Edward Munson before his death. Goodness only knows what he would have wanted with the boy. Probably tricked him onto taking drugs or doing something else illegal," pausing to blot away more crocodile tears she took one of Jason's hands, "And that man also has my Chrissy. Just thinking about what he's probably forced her into, makes me sick!"

From his place behind the older boys Lucas bit his cheek, stopping a scoff from escaping, knowing well enough that Chrissy had grown a backbone since giving Jason the boot. If anything, she was the one forcing Eddie out of his comfort zone. The Madonna and Eurythmics cassettes in Eddie's van was testament to that.

Hopper sat at his desk, reading through notes from Eddie's interrogation and the kids they'd questioned throughout the day. Letting out a heavy sigh he ran his hand down his face, turning to look at his receptionist. "Everything about that kid's body says suicide." Flo nodded her agreement, silently taking the notes that Hopper handed her as he stood up. Putting on his hat he left his office.

He addressed the officers in the room, "I refuse to humor this witch hunt any longer. We can prove Munson didn't have anything to do with Fred Benson's death. I'm turning him loose!"

Officer Powell stood with his arms folded, "Chief, we have to keep him on drug charges, he admitted that Benson kid requested to meet for a drug deal."

Hopper huffed, a scowl on his face, "Yeah, and Munson said he didn't have anything for him." Turning to look at Callahan, "You guys checked Munson's locker at school and his trailer. You didn't find anything. Without physical evidence we can't hold him." With that he stomped to the back room where Eddie was being held, "Come on kid. I'm taking you home."

Eddie wasted no time, grabbing his jacket and quickly rushing to follow the Chief out of the station.

Watching the chief's Blazer drive past them Jason slammed his fist into the dashboard, "That son of a bitch, I can't believe they let him go!"

Beside him Chase nodded, "Yeah man, the Freak totally killed Ted."

"Fred." Patrick corrected him from the backseat.

Confused Chase turned around, "What?"

With a sigh Patrick clarified, "His name's Fred, not Ted."

"Whatever." Chase said with a dismissive wave, "The dude's dead now."

Patrick just looked out the window, not engaging with the larger Alpha anymore.

Jason stated they were going to find out what 'the Freak' had been up to lately and they would start by questioning his little followers. The guys quickly ran through the names of who they knew hung out with Eddie. None of the older boys knew the names of any Freshmen in Hellfire and Lucas didn't offer any names. He wasn't about to serve his own friends up as cannon fodder.

The decided to start with the band, driving first to Jeff's house and not seeing anyone around, they decided to try Gareth's house next.

Jason pulled his car alongside the front yard of the Emerson's house, the garage door open with music pouring out. As they approached the garage Lucas noticed a girl he'd seen from school sitting on an old lawn chair. She saw them approaching first, standing up and quickly getting the band's attention.

It being Gareth's garage, he approached the group, asking what they wanted. He tried to remain calm but, quickly lost his patience with Jason's questions. "Who does Eddie Munson hang out with most besides this 'band'?" He asked again, repeating the question slower as if Gareth was stupid.

Finally, Gareth spit out angrily, "His. Mate. You know, the chick that kicked your sorry ass to the curb." A small grin crossed his face when Jeff and Paul both coughed back laughter. From the corner of his eye he saw Melody tuck her face against her shoulder to hide a smirk of her own but, the slight shake of her shoulders giving her away.

Jason's own patience had reached its limit, and he announced they would be leaving. Before turning to go he put his hand out towards the girl, "Come on Melody, I'll drive you home."

"No thanks, I can get a ride later." She backed away from him a step, crossing her arms as she shook her head.

His jaw ticked at her refusal, "You shouldn't be alone with these weirdos, I'm taking you home."

She took another step away and closer to Gareth, "No, I'm staying here."

Gareth put an arm out, urging her farther behind himself. With a low growl he eyed Jason, anger building between the Alphas, "She told you no. So get lost, prick."

With that Jason reared back and punched Gareth in the face, forcing him to fall into Melody. Gareth rolled away from her and to his feet, taking a swing at Jason. The two grappled, Gareth eventually forced underneath Jason. Jeff and Paul were kept from helping their friend, Jeff taking several hits to the stomach doubling him over.

Not seeing any help able to come from the other band members Melody looked to Lucas. The boy seemed upset by the fight but also too scared or unwilling to intervene. Planting her feet, Melody pushed at Jason, trying to get him off of Gareth. Jason elbowed her in the face, forcing her away with a yelp.

Seeing the girl holding her nose as blood dripped down her chin caused Gareth to pause his struggling and he received a harsh hit to the head. Finally, he answered Jason question of who Eddie's been hanging out with besides the band. Shouting that Dustin Henderson was the other person he spent the most time with.

With a final shove the jocks left the garage, stalking back towards Jason's Jeep. The older guys didn't seem phased by the violence but, Lucas was visibly upset. Chase stalked over to the youngest member of their group, his nostrils flaring as he scented the air, "You smell nervous Sinclair."

"Of course I'm nervous! You just beat them up!"

"Leave him alone Chase, we have bigger problems than jumpy Freshmen." Jason called from the side of his car.

They all climbed back into the Jeep and drove towards the Henderson's house.

I am so incredibly sorry for the delay, life is getting in the way. As always I do hope you enjoy. This ended up getting cut down from 3200 words just because of chapter flow, however, I am posting one of the deleted scenes that I really liked so you can read that if so wish.