Chapter Thirty Four: Night on the Couch*

Marie was hunched over a pile of local newspapers and gossip magazines scattered across the coffee table in the Eds' living room. The dim light from a desk lamp cast long shadows over the pages, highlighting the various articles and photographs. The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of paper and the distant hum of traffic outside. Marie's focus was intense as she searched for any connection to Kevin's associates, the threads of the case that she hoped would lead to answers.

The door creaked open, and Ed and Eddy walked in, their laughter and chatter filling the room as they returned from their radio show. Edd, ever the considerate one, carried a bag of groceries, his eyes scanning the living room as he took in the sight of Marie's research.

"Hey, Marie," Eddy called, heading toward the kitchen. "You still buried in all that paper?"

Marie looked up, a tired but determined smile on her face. "Yeah, just trying to piece together who Kevin was connected to. There's got to be something in these old papers that ties him to whoever is on top."

Edd joined her at the coffee table, setting the groceries down carefully. He peered over her shoulder at the clutter of newspapers, his brow furrowing in thought. "Need any help?"

Marie nodded gratefully. "I'd appreciate it. I'm looking for any names or faces that might pop up repeatedly. Anything that might connect to Kevin and explain his rise to power. That could be our ring leader."

Edd settled beside her on the couch, their proximity providing a comforting presence. He started sifting through the magazines, his fingers lightly brushing against her knee as he worked. The gesture was unintentional, but it was enough to make Marie's heart flutter.

As they worked, Edd's hand remained resting gently on Marie's knee. It was a small touch, but it felt reassuring, like a silent promise of support and understanding. Marie found it comforting as she focused on the task at hand, the warmth of his touch adding a layer of calm to her otherwise chaotic thoughts.

After a while, Edd's gaze fell on a photo of Kevin with several local figures, one of whom was a name that kept popping up in the gossip columns—Johnathan, the son of the wealthy family that ran the whole power grid. Edd pointed to the photo. "Look, Johnathan seems to be everywhere Kevin was. Maybe he's worth digging into."

Marie leaned in closer, her fingers brushing against Edd's hand as she pointed at the name. "Yeah, he's been mentioned in a few places. I think he might be one of the key players in this mess. He also had his eyes on Kevin in the days leading up to his murder."

Edd nodded, his thumb was gently tracing the lines of Marie's tattoo around her knee as his hand rested there. "We should see if we can get more information on him. Maybe he knows something about Kevin's connections. We could try questioning Rolf about him too. Maybe Rolf would be more willing to open up now that Kevin is gone."

Marie tried to focus on what he was saying, but his gentle touch, the absentminded tracing, was pulling her thoughts in other directions.

The sound of Eddy clattering pots and pans in the kitchen brought Marie's attention back to the present. Eddy called out, "Dinner's almost ready! You two hungry?"

Marie and Edd exchanged a smile, and Marie squeezed Edd's hand lightly before standing up. "Starving, Eddy. Thanks."

As Marie and Edd moved toward the kitchen, Edd's hand reluctantly slipped away from her hand. They worked together to set the table, the easy camaraderie between them a welcome distraction from the weight of their investigation.

Later, as they gathered around the table, the warmth of the meal and the casual conversation provided a much-needed respite from the tension of the case. Marie felt a flicker of normalcy, a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos.

But as she glanced at Edd, catching the way he looked at her with affection, she knew that their bond was growing stronger. And amidst the turmoil of their investigation, it was these small moments of connection that helped her hold onto hope.