'Hey, Fuck Face!' is a perfectly reasonable greeting when you answer your phone or open your front door.

'Hey, Fuck Face!' is less reasonable when it's shouted across a park, where children are walking to school and early morning joggers are tiring themselves out prior to heading off to their tiring job.

Ethan had a voice that could carry on the slightest breeze. The words leapfrogged from gust to gust on their journey to the recipient's ears, as if parkouring their way across the space between. Rather than be diminished by those nearby hearing them, they seemed to gain strength from it, strength that manifested as volume. He was one of those people whose whispers could be heard by everyone, as they'd scurry around, searching for auditory canals to leave shadows of themselves in.

He couldn't be quiet if he tried, which he did and failed at.

Though many ignored his call, others looked at the brothers. Some smiled. Most frowned. You were meant to swear, if you must, in tones that wouldn't be scattered around for everyone to be offended by. You were supposed to keep your foul language within your immediate circle and not cast it about for the world to hear. It was acceptable that way. It could be tolerated if used in a conversational, non-threatening way.

The onlookers wouldn't know 'Fuck Face' was a term of endearment. Their disproving looks might have been more amused if they had. Cassidy felt a pang of guilt, even though he hadn't been the one to raise his voice. Ethan didn't notice or care. It was harmless fun, so people needed to get a life of their own and not judge.

Cass waved at his brother and walked towards him. Ethan's approach was faster and jauntier, so they met further to one side of the park than the other. They were by the old bandstand, a structure that had somehow been resistant of the graffiti or vandalism that tainted other areas of the park. The local council were quick to act on the defacing that occurred too frequently and, luckily, they'd yet to have to spend much time on the bandstand.

It was far from a forgotten edifice, however. Children used it when learning to roller skate, using the waist height barrier circling it for support. Teenagers congregated on sunny days. Couples proposed in its centre and, on the many occasions fetes were held in the park, a large brass band would play there.

It was empty at that moment, so the brothers took their place on the wooden floor, their backs against the barrier.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Cassidy said after their initial greetings had been made. "I just know something has to be done."

"Do you think he sent your visitor? Maybe he was reclaiming the mirror and his daughter."

"I didn't think of that. I doubt it, though. From what I know of him, being in his head, he wouldn't have any clue about her. Stuff like that wouldn't occur to him."

"Is he a bit thick?" Ethan asked

"Well, let's say a bit pie and mash."

"Huh?"

"He's not stupid. Just... basic. Not into things outside of his, like, experience."

"You know I like pie and mash, don't you?"

"So, you get my point, then."

"You'd be a funny fucker."

"If I was funny, I know." Cass said.

"I'm surprised you're defending him, seeing what he'd done."

"I'm not. I'm only saying he didn't send the burglar. He's the reason Amy is dead, but not Bobby."

"And the burglar."

"Amy and Bobby. That guy can go fuck himself."

"I doubt that's possible wherever he is now. Though, it might be the only thing it has going for it."

"What are you little boys talking about? Who's got the biggest dick?"

Jazz stepped up onto the bandstand. She was grinning, but it was forced.

"It'll always be me," Ethan said. "Just ask any of my exes."

"No need," Jazz countered. "I did. Guess why they're exes!"

Cassidy shook his head. The usual play between the siblings was an automatic response to how close they were, but it was out of place here. He'd spoken to Ethan, and only expected his brother to turn up. He would have preferred for Jazz to have kept away in case she was hurt. He knew she was fully capable and, in most cases, that didn't include spiders, fearless. He couldn't help wanting to protect her, though. It was what brothers did, wasn't it?

And she'd argue supporting their brothers was what sisters did.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"You think I'm going to let you two Muppets plough in without me to limit your idiotic decisions?"

"We weren't going to plough in," said Ethan. "We were going to think about it and come up with a plan."

"And how's that going?" she asked. "And why call me, in that case?"

"You called her?" Cass punched Ethan's arm.

"Ow! No need for physical abuse, you know. No, she just happened to be walking through the park at this time of the morning and chanced to visit the bandstand."

"Shut up," Cass said. "Why call her?"

"Because he knew you guys would need me, and I'd be pissed if you left me out."

She leant forward and punched Ethan's arm, just as Cassidy had.

"Hey!" Ethan cried. "What did you do that for?"

"It looked like fun," she said. "So, where you got up to?"

"We don't think he sent the burglar, for a start," Cassidy said in a triumphant voice.

"I'd agree with that. The guy was just a shit for brains robber. Luckily, he got unlucky."

"And Everest is a big hill," agreed Ethan.

"Ain't it, though? So, what else?"

"That's about it, so far," said Cass. "We've only just got here ourselves."

"That's it? Why aren't you storming his place and giving him a good kicking?"

"Well," Ethan said. "For one, doing that might get us killed, and we'd be in the wrong if the cops found out, anyway."

"OK, I get that. Doesn't stop me wanting to, though. And two?"

"Erm... I've got nothing..."

"Two," Cassidy interjected. "We don't know where he lives."

"You don't? Didn't you ask her? Amy?"

"She died while he was still living in the house. He moved after that. I'm assuming she has no idea where he might be anymore."

"Shit. Yeah." Jazz nodded thoughtfully and scratched her head. "Well, haven't you guys tried Google? Search for his name. Something will come up."

"I did," Ethan said. "I couldn't find anything."

"Me too," said Cass. "Same result. We don't know his name."

"Fuck, you two. Didn't you ask her anything?"

"She doesn't want me to go. Doesn't want us to. She's not going to give up any info like that, is she?"

"Didn't you get an idea of it from your dreams?" Ethan asked hopefully.

"No. He was only thinking of what he was going to do to her, and how good it'd feel. That was it."

"And more than enough, I'd guess," Jazz said, rubbing her brother's shoulder. "In that case, it's a good job you've got me, cos you two are shite."

The seated pair looked up expectantly. Trust Jazz to have something up her sleeve.

"She was my friend, wasn't she? So, I knew her dad."

The eyes looking at her widened in shock, accompanied by gasps. Of course she did! She was at Amy's house multiple times!

"Shit, yeah!" Ethan exclaimed. "Who is he, then? Do you know where he lives?"

"His name was Ian. He was a bit intimidating, but other than that, seemed OK."

"It's always the quiet ones, isn't it?" Cass asked, quoting a well-used stereotype.

"He was far from quiet. I heard him yelling at her mum more than once, but he was OK with me.

"And then he killed her."

"He did. I wonder if that's around the time we drifted apart. Maybe it was because of that."

"Wouldn't she talk to you about it? Don't girls do that?" Ethan asked.

"Yes," said Jazz sarcastically. "Girls sit around holding hands and pouring out all their woes."

"I didn't mean that. I just meant..."

Jazz didn't give him a chance to finish his sentence because she hadn't finished hers.

"The biggest one being how shit our brothers are."

Ethan stopped talking, and after a second's pause, stuck out his tongue.

"Very mature."

"Shut up, Fishy," said Cass, throwing an impatient look. "Jazz, do you know where he lives now?"

Jazz stood up straighter and slipped her hands into her pockets. Her shoulders were slumped and her face grim, but she was attempting a positive stance.

"Yes."

https://youtu.be/QiH5TZRu2z8