Chapter VI: Let's Just Not Talk Today

Roz let Daphne stay in her apartment for two simple reasons: She wanted to flee all the tears and melodrama, and Daphne was her friend after all. The woman beat herself up over something that was hardly mentioning. When Roz entered the radio station, she was actually glad to be there. There was no crying, and no one looked at her as if she knew all the answers. Until she entered her booth and found Frasier waiting for her. She rolled her eyes as she sat down, trying to ignore him. Roz had promised not to tell Frasier anything. Lying to Frasier wasn't hard; she'd done it a million times. She did it every day.

"Roz, finally. Have you seen, or heard from Daphne?" Roz was surprised at how distraught Frasier appeared to be. She seemed to be stuck in a weird classic movie where she was the only one with some sense left inside of her. Maybe she was still asleep and dreaming all of this. What a nightmare.

"Roz?"

"What? Oh, sorry, Frasier. Long night. No, I have no idea where Daphne is." She finished and when Frasier continued to stare at her, she remembered that if she didn't know where Daphne was, then she couldn't know that anything was wrong at all. "What happened?"

"Daphne disappeared. We have no idea where she could be, or why she even left."

"Well, cut her some slack. Maybe she's with a guy... or something."

"That's the same thing Sherry said." Frasier's expression was scrutinizing. As if he was a detective and she a witness. Oh no, she'd once role played that same scene with an old boyfriend... she cleared her throat and hoped Frasier didn't interpret her blush in the wrong way.

"But I don't buy that," Frasier finally went on, releasing Roz. He was pacing, like he often did when he was trying to figure something out. Just like Daphne had done earlier. Again, it made Roz feel slightly dizzy. She really shouldn't have had so much to drink the night before. Or she should have picked different friends.

"You know, I fear Daphne doesn't feel appreciated anymore. I'm afraid she might do something rash."

"Like what?"

"Like quit, for example. I would never hear the end of it. Dad would blame me when it's clearly his girlfriend who is causing all the trouble!"

Before she could reply, the phone rang. When Roz picked it up, she almost hoped for a real crisis. But it was Niles. Of course. Like she needed to hear another side of the same, boring story.

"Have you heard anything from Daphne yet? The police are not cooperating! They keep saying she hasn't been missing long enough – how long do they want to wait! Frasier? Frasier, say something!" Niles yelled into her ear frantically. Roz didn't even bother to tell him she wasn't his brother and simply handed the phone over.

"Niles? Did you find her?" Roz didn't hear the words, but she guessed Niles was rattling on about the kidnapping statistics in Seattle and probably in all of Washington.

"Niles, don't you think you're overreacting?" 'You all are', Roz added mentally. She wished she hadn't promised Daphne not to say anything.

"I will not print missing posters, Niles! Well, you do that. Yes. Yes. No. Just hang up, Niles." Eventually, Frasier hung up the phone. He started pacing again, only much faster this time. Roz had to stop this. For her own sanity, mostly.

"Frasier, stop!" He did, and looked at her.

"I know what happened, ok?" Finally, she'd said it. Only Frasier didn't seem as relieved as she was; he looked at her as if he was ready to strangle her. Daphne would probably assist him later, once Frasier had found out where she was hiding.

"Didn't I ask you where Daphne was and you let Niles yell at-"

"Frasier, shut up and just listen. She's at my place."

"Why?"

"Because she's afraid to face Niles." Roz realized her mistake immediately. She hadn't meant to tell him that. Daphne would definitely kill her.

"Niles? What does he have to do with anything? Apart from the fact that he's probably running through the city searching for her. Why would she be afraid to see him?" There was no way Roz could escape the truth anymore. She had to tell Frasier. At least once he knew she would be out of the whole thing again. Movie over, let's all go home. She couldn't wait.

"Because she slept with him last night."

TBC