(Emily, I'm Sorry)
ACT ONE—CHAPTER FIFTEEN

2021

Emily was certainly ignoring Misty Quiggly.

It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to her per-say...it was more the fact that everything Misty said seemed to lead right back to seeing Natalie again.

Which Emily was making great efforts to avoid.

From what Emily could tell, Misty and Natalie were on some sort of quest to figure out what happened to Travis.

Which seemed clear enough to Emily, it sure did appear to be a suicide.

Emily's phone rang out as she organized some new books on to the shelves, a part of her hoped it was one of her parents reaching out.

She wasn't a fool though— most of her knew that would never happen.

"Hello?" She lifted the phone to her ear, setting the box of books down.

"Hi, Emily. I could really use your help."

"Misty if this is some set up to get me in the same room as Natalie Scatorccio I am going to stab you in the neck with an ice pick." She threatened.

"An ice pick? Where'd you come up with that one?"

"I read a lot of books...and I was a trauma surgeon." Emily explained, unpacking the next box.

Misty didn't hesitate to continue, not in the slightest, "You know...if you would just talk to Nat—"

"Misty!" Emily cut her off, "Do you actually need anything? Or are you just trying to repair a relationship that ended years ago?"

"Well that and to solve a murder." Misty stated.

Emily paused not responding right away. She set down the book she was examining, "What's the likelihood that Travis didn't take his own life?"

Misty also took a second to respond, "I don't really know, there's definitely something off about all of this...but I can't know for sure."

Emily pressed her lips together, "Fine. I'll help."

"Really?" Misty questioned very quickly.

"But!" Emily interrupted, "Only because I want to make sure the rest of us stay alive."

Emily stayed back several steps behind Misty, as they approached Natalie's door. Her heart pounded in her chest, Emily knew that it was entirely irrational to be this nervous.

Misty knocked on the door, and seconds later it creaked open, "I told you we didn't need a code." Natalie spoke, hesitating as she spotted Emily.

Misty stepped through the door past Natalie and the other blonde hovered outside, "Hi, Em."

Emily forced a small smile, "Hey."

Moments later she finally stepped inside, "I've got good news and bad news," Misty started, handing Natalie a gift bag.

She examined the bag, "Which one is this?"

"Oh, open it." Misty insisted, looking around. Natalie pulled a owl out of the bag, "It's an aroma diffuser. Subtropical florals are very very uplifting."

Natalie glanced over at Emily who's eyes danced around the room, avoiding her at all costs.

"Did you have a good birthday?" Natalie asked softly.

Emily scoffed, "It was uh—certainly something. My parents are probably never going to talk to me again."

The brunette frowned, "I'm sorry,"

Emily shook her head, "It's okay, I knew it was going to get to this point one day...it's probably better for everyone if they don't speak to me."

Natalie nodded, her eyes lingering on Emily for a second, before she redirected her attention to Misty, "What's the bad news?"

"My contact—can access the files but he's being a bit of a d bag." Misty explained.

"Who is this person exactly?" Natalie questioned, and Emily looked over to Misty, "Wouldn't we all like to know."

"We only know each other by our citizen detective chat handles—he's mad at me because I didn't tell him that he was stealing a police file."

"I mean that seems fair enough to me." Emily stated, "When we're you going to tell me just how illegal all of this is?"

Misty shrugged, "Figured you'd be on board with it given your sister's questionable choices over the years."

"What the fuck Misty? You're seriously going to bring up her sister?" Natalie questioned.

Emily took a deep breath, "It's fine, Nat."

"Anyway, now he wants to meet in public, to 'discuss' the terms of the exchange." Misty continued.

"Oh, we'll meet alright," Natalie stated, and Emily glanced over at her, "I feel like I should be concerned by your tone."

Emily tapped her fingers against the car, watching Natalie Syphon the gas, "Is this gonna work—I mean most restaurants won't let you bring in drinks or food or anything." Misty spoke handing her a bottle.

"I don't know Misty, you tell me." Natalie said, "I've still got that riffle, in the trunk."

"Well I don't know how we'd get that in the restaurant."

Emily pointed between the two of them, "I am very concerned about both of you."

The three of them walked into the restaurant, and as they reached the table Emily seriously considered turning around and leaving.

"Stallion99?" Natalie asked, standing in front of the table, "Africangray?"

"Yeah—no." Natalie sat down in the chair in front of the man, Emily standing behind her. Natalie handed the bottle to Misty, "I'm Africangray."

"I didn't authorize anyone else to come to this meeting." The glasses wearing man spoke, Emily crossed her arms.

"I can vouch for them," Misty whispered, "Oh my god," Natalie cut both of them off.

"Just tell us what you want."

"I want in." The man stated, and Emily arched an eyebrow at him, "Seriously?"

After receiving a glare from Misty, she muttered a quiet apology.

"On what?"

"Your operation." He stated, "The guy in this file...I looked him up. He doesn't exist."

"No shit." Natalie basically rolled her eyes, "Cause he's dead and he's none of your god damn business. So you should give us the file."

"What's it worth to you?"

Misty twisted the top off the bottle, dumping the gas on the man's clothes, "What the hell?"

"If the question is me lighting your dick on fire and going to jail worth me getting my hands on that file," Natalie held up a lighter, "Fucking try me."

"You guys are fucking crazy. Here."

Once they got what they needed the three of them walked out.

Emily felt like they were never going to get anywhere looking at the images from the file. It was just the same images over and over.

"Nat," Misty held out one of the pictures, pointing at it, "What is that? And here it is again."

"What that smudge?" Natalie asked, and Emily leaned over, looking more closely to the image, "Is that like—candle wax? Seems odd for a barn."

Misty stood up, rearranging the images on the bed, "I think you're right, Em." She drew along the pages with a sharpie.

Emily shook her head, realizing what shape was forming—or symbol rather.

"This is bad." Natalie quipped, Emily shook her head, "I can't be involved with all of this. Not again. I have a daughter to think about, I—"

"Emily—" Natalie said softly, "You never even believed in any of this shit."

"Yeah well someone clearly fucking knows about it— and believes in it." Emily stated, "Or it wouldn't be in the place where Travis died."