Chapter 7: Dinner and a Plan*

Later that night, Marie found herself climbing the stairs to the Eds' apartment once again, her mind racing. The gala at Kevin's mansion was coming up fast, and if she was going to make her move, she needed the guys on board.

She hesitated for a moment outside their door, her hand hovering just above the wood. It had been a long time since she'd felt nervous about something as simple as knocking on a door. She shook her head, pushing that ridiculous thought aside and knocked firmly.

A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Ed with a huge, goofy grin on his face. His apron, which read *"Kiss the Chef!", was smeared with sauce, and the smell of something delicious wafted through the doorway.

"Marie! You came just in time!" Ed boomed, pulling her inside before she could even say a word. "Dinner is almost ready! I made my world-famous lasagna with extra cheese!"

She blinked in surprise, not expecting this level of enthusiasm. "Uh, hey, Ed," she said, looking around the apartment. The table was already set, with Edd and Eddy both sitting at the table, engaged in what appeared to be a heated debate over something.

When they noticed Marie had entered, Edd immediately sat up straighter, adjusting his ever-present beanie and offering her a warm, somewhat shy smile. "Marie, welcome. We weren't expecting you tonight, but you're more than welcome to join us for dinner."

Eddy, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Well, well, look who's back. Didn't think you'd miss Ed's cooking, huh?"

Marie smirked. "Well, I heard Ed's lasagna is legendary, so how could I say no?"

"That's right!" Ed said proudly as he scooped a generous portion of the lasagna onto plates and brought them to the table. "I've been practicing my cooking since we started doing the podcast! Gotta keep the mind and the belly happy!"

Marie sat down at the table, the comforting smell of the food putting her more at ease than she'd expected. The warm light in the apartment and the familiar banter between the three men had a calming effect. For a moment, it felt like a slice of normal life—something she hadn't experienced in a long time.

As they ate, the conversation naturally shifted to their show. Edd was talking about their upcoming episodes, and Eddy was already thinking of ways to boost ratings.

It was the perfect segue.

"So," Marie said, wiping her mouth and leaning back in her chair, "I actually wanted to ask you guys about something. That gala Kevin's hosting at his mansion—are you planning on going?"

The three of them exchanged glances, and it was Eddy who spoke up first, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Hell yeah, we are! That place is gonna be packed with big shots, and we're planning to cover it for the show. Think of the dirt we can dig up there! A bunch of stuffed shirts pretending they're better than the rest of us? It's perfect radio material!"

Edd nodded, though he looked more reserved about the whole thing. "Yes, we thought it would be an interesting event to cover, but I'm more intrigued by Kevin's sudden rise in influence within the town. Something doesn't add up there."

Marie nodded. "Exactly. That's why I want in. I need to get inside Kevin's mansion and see what I can find."

Eddy arched an eyebrow, leaning forward. "Find? What do you mean, *find*?"

Marie hesitated for a moment, but then decided there was no point in holding back. They were already involved, and she trusted them. "I think Kevin's connected to the murders. He's been meeting with the sheriff a lot, and something about him feels off. The guy practically threatened me the last time we talked. I want to get into that gala and see if there's anything suspicious in his house."

Eddy's eyes widened, and he grinned like a kid on Christmas morning. "A little undercover action, huh? Now you're talking my language!"

Edd, on the other hand, looked thoughtful, his brow furrowing. "It's risky. If Kevin is involved in something this dangerous, getting caught snooping around his mansion could have serious consequences."

Marie shrugged, her expression hard. "I've been through worse. I can handle it."

Ed, who had been unusually quiet during this exchange, suddenly spoke up. "Don't worry, Marie! We'll be your backup! We're like, uh… Scooby-Doo and the gang! No one can stop us!"

Marie chuckled despite herself. "Thanks, Ed."

Edd cleared his throat, his tone serious. "We'll help, Marie. But we'll need a plan. We can't just walk into his mansion and expect to get free reign of the place."

"That's where I was hoping you could come in," Marie said, a slight grin tugging at her lips. "You guys know how to talk your way into places. And Eddy? You're the best at playing a part. I just need a chance to search his office and see what comes up."

Eddy leaned back, grinning confidently. "Oh, I can get us in. You just leave the schmoozing to me."

Marie nodded, feeling the first spark of hope since she'd started investigating Kevin. They had a plan. It wasn't foolproof, but it was something.

As they finished up dinner, the conversation turned back to lighter topics. Marie found herself laughing at Ed's goofy stories and Eddy's wild exaggerations. But all the while, she couldn't shake the thought of what lay ahead. And she couldn't ignore the way her heart seemed to skip a beat every time Edd glanced her way, his eyes kind and thoughtful. She quickly shoved that thought aside, knowing she couldn't afford distractions. But it lingered nonetheless.

--

Marie strode into the bustling mall, feeling a little out of her element. She wasn't exactly the kind of woman who spent her time shopping for dresses, especially not fancy ones. But her sisters, Lee and May, had insisted on helping her. After all, they were the experts in this kind of thing—flirty, glamorous, and always ready to turn heads.

She spotted them near the entrance of a trendy boutique, both already deep in conversation about what they thought would look best on her. Lee, with her signature smirk, was waving a bright pink dress at May, who rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"There she is!" May called, waving Marie over with a grin. "Ready to play dress-up?"

Marie groaned inwardly but forced a smile. "Let's just get this over with."

Lee laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she led her into the boutique. "Come on, sis. You're gonna need to wow them, especially that nerdy boyfriend of yours. You're supposed to be sneaking around a swanky house, right? Might as well have a little fun while you're at it."

Marie shot her a look. "Edd's not my boyfriend."

"Not yet," May teased, grabbing a handful of dresses off the racks. "But after tonight, he might be. Don't think we've forgotten that huge crush you had on him growing up."

"It wasn't a huge crush," Marie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at her lips. As much as her sisters got under her skin, they knew her well enough to know what she needed, even if it was something as ridiculous as dress shopping.

Lee pushed her toward the fitting room with an armful of dresses, most of which looked like they belonged in a fairytale ball, not at a high-profile gala. "Try these first," she said, barely containing her laughter. "You're gonna look adorable."

Marie sighed but stepped into the dressing room, pulling the first dress over her head. It was a pastel blue thing with lace and ruffles, so out of character it made her cringe. She stepped out and gave them a deadpan look.

May burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. "You look like Cinderella!"

"Yeah, well, Cinderella can keep this dress," Marie muttered, heading back into the dressing room to try on the next one. The pattern continued—each dress more frilly, more girly, and more ridiculous than the last. Pinks, yellows, and even a sparkly silver gown that made her look like she was headed to prom.

After what felt like an eternity, Marie pushed the last failed dress back onto the rack and sighed. "None of these are me. Quit fooling around and take this seriously."

Lee, still chuckling, grabbed one last dress from a nearby rack. "Alright, alright. How about this one? I promise, no ruffles."

Marie eyed it suspiciously, but when she took a closer look, she had to admit it looked more like something she'd wear. It was a sleek black dress—elegant, but not over-the-top. Sleeveless, and form fitting, with a long slit up the left leg that would reveal her dragon tattoo and give it an edge.

Marie took it into the fitting room, slipping it on. As soon as she looked in the mirror, she knew this was the one. The dress fit perfectly, hugging her curves without being too revealing. It was understated but sexy, sophisticated but with just the right amount of danger.

She stepped out of the fitting room, and both of her sisters fell silent for a moment, their eyes widening in approval.

"Well, damn," Lee said, a slow grin spreading across her face. "Now that's the look."

May nodded enthusiastically. "You're gonna knock them dead, Marie. And that tattoo? Don't let Mom see it, but Edd's gonna be drooling all over the place."

Marie blushed a little at that, though she tried to play it cool. "It's just a dress," she muttered, running her hand over the slit in the fabric.

"Uh-huh," Lee teased. "Sure, just a dress. But when you walk into that gala, all eyes are gonna be on you. Especially Edd's."

May elbowed her playfully. "He's probably already obsessed with you, but after this? Game over."

Marie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. "You two are impossible."

"We're just being honest!" May chimed, pulling her into a quick hug. "Besides, you deserve to have a little fun with this. You're always so serious. Let Edd see the side of you that's, you know, not chasing down bad guys and dealing with psychopaths."

Marie chuckled, shaking her head. "We'll see about that."

But as she looked at herself in the mirror again, she couldn't help but wonder what Edd's reaction would be when he saw her in this dress. He was always so flustered around her, so sweet and awkward. Part of her liked that about him, how he got nervous but never backed down from the challenge of getting to know her better.

And maybe, just maybe, she was looking forward to seeing his face when she walked into that gala.