"There."

Jazz stopped and pointed.

"Richard Elias used to live down here," Cassidy said, not yet wanting to see where his sister was indicating.

"Your mate from school?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah. Before they moved to Australia."

"What's he doing now?"

"No idea. I tried to find him on Facebook, but couldn't. I don't think he's on it. He's not on any of the others' friends lists."

"Moving to Australia is a bit far to get away from you," said Jazz, not looking or dropping her arm.

"Blocking you on Facebook is a bit harsh, too."

"You're funny. His parents emigrated, so he had to go too."

"Yeah, that's what he told you."

"Guys," said Jazz. "Focus. Your friend doesn't live here anymore, but Greg does."

"Who's Greg?" Ethan asked, looking confused.

"Amy's dad, stupid," Cassidy told him. "She did mention it."

"Oh yeah. I forgot."

"Get your head in the game, Fishy," said Jazz. "This isn't a game."

"Get my head in a game that's not..."

"Shut up!"

Jazz and Cassidy both snapped at their brother. He was stalling and, as much as they wanted to too, they couldn't.

"Which number?" Ethan asked, his voice not showing any indignation at the admonishment.

"Twenty three. The one with the cut down tree."

"Right," said Ethan. "Let's go."

He stepped off the footpath and onto the road, but Cassidy pulled him back.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to confront the arsehole. See what he says."

"You're going to just walk up to the door and accuse him?"

"We're not accusing him. We're telling him we know what he did."

"What's the difference?"

"Accusations imply the possibility of innocence. He's guilty as fuck."

"Maybe so, but we can't do that. We need to be careful."

"Fuck that Let's just go get him."

"Cass is right," Jazz said. "We can't do that. Let's just wait and see what happens. See if he comes out"

"For how long? We could be here all day!"

"You have somewhere better to be?"

"Well, yeah!"

"Where?"

"Anywhere else!"

Jazz and Cass turned their attention to the door of number twenty three, and their backs to their brother. They couldn't blame him. They felt the same. They also knew he didn't mean it. Well, not entirely. Anywhere else would be preferable, and here was essential.

"He's bound to come out at some point. Best make ourselves comfortable."

"We're in a street. There's a wall and a path. Not exactly the Ritz, is it?"

"Fishy, you've never been to the Ritz in your life, and you'll never go. You ain't got that kinda money, and you're far too common!"

"I can be posh if I tried!" Ethan mocked indignation, putting one hand to his mouth and the other to his hip.

"You've more chance of shitting a brick than passing as posh."

"You should have seen my toilet last night, then!"

"Fishy, you're disgusting," said Cassidy, pulling a face.

"One of the reasons you love me bro."

"I have to. You're my brother. It's in the contract."

"Guys," hissed Jazz. "Shut the fuck up."

They followed her stare and shut the fuck up. A couple came out of Amy's grandmother's house. Cass vaguely recognised the man as Amy's father. He must have seen him once or twice, maybe at school. The woman was a stranger to him, but clearly not to the man.

She started to walk away from her partner as he locked the door, and he said something sharply. The woman turned and hurried back to him, kissing him quickly on the lips. Another comment was made and she nodded. It looked as if she'd apologised.

They left the front garden and were about to move onto the pavement when the woman slipped on the small step between the two. She fell back, but managed to regain her balance before colliding with Greg.

"Fucking idiot," the siblings heard him shout. "Watch where you're fucking going."

"Sorry, Greg, baby" the woman said, fear in her voice.

The apology fell on deaf ears, however. Greg pushed her forward, and she stumbled against a car parked beside them.

"Watch my fucking car, or you're paying for it, stupid bitch."

"So...!"

Her third apology was cut short by another push, this one forcing the woman out onto the road, where she was just missed by a passing van. The driver was glancing down at the mobile phone in his hand, so didn't notice he'd almost hit someone.

Jazz stepped forward.

"You haven't changed, have you?" she shouted.

He turned, angrily and looked towards them.

"Who the fuck are you?" he shouted back. "Fuck off and mind your own business."

"Leave her alone, you moron."

"Fuck you? What's it got to do with you?"

"You wish you knew!"

"Fuck off!"

Jazz didn't answer. Cassidy had pulled her back, spinning her to face them.

"What are you doing? I thought we were going to watch and wait?

"Not after seeing that," Jazz answered. "I've just lost any second thoughts I might have had."

"Same here, but we should still be careful."

"Careful about what? Who the fuck are you?"

Amy's father was closing in on them, striding across the road with the woman scurrying after. He was almost upon them, and Jazz moved in front of her brothers to face him.

"So, you're still a wife beater," she said, noticing the ring on the woman's finger. "You still a child murderer, too?"

"What the fuck? I don't know you or what you're on about. I ain't got no kids."

"Not anymore. Not after you killed her."

"Jazz, just leave it," said Ethan, grabbing her arm and trying to pull her back.

She pulled away from his grip and stepped forward, close enough to put her hand on Greg's chest.

"Is it still just the two?"

"Two what? Who the hell are you?"

"Who are they, Greggy, baby?" the woman asked, taking the man's hand tightly. "What do they want?"

Greg copied Jazz's action by yanking himself free of her.

"I've told you, stupid bitch, don't call me Greggy in public. You sound pathetic."

The woman looked down, sheepishly, and moved away.

"See what I mean?" Jazz said through gritted teeth. "Still the same arsehole."

"What the fuck are you on about? Get outta my face, bitch. And take these pussy boys with you."

It was Ethan 's turn to take the floor, and he took his place in front of his sister, causing her to edge back.

"Watch your mouth, fucker. Don't talk to my sister like that."

The impact of Greg's forehead with Ethan's nose was sudden and, with the shocking sound of broken bones, loud. Ethan fell back into his sister's arms, and Cassidy leapt forward, his fist slamming into the man's cheek.

Greg swayed as his head whipped to the side, but he recovered immediately and returned the punch. Cassidy's sway was much more of a lurch and he fell to his knees, clutching his face.

"Bastard!" Jazz cried.

She released Ethan and jumped over him, a quick glance showing his dazed look and bloodied face. This spurred her on, and she pushed Greg hard against his chest. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her forward, planting a firm kiss on her lips. She screamed and tried to shake herself free. Instead, Greg let go of one of her arms.

He then pulled his own arm back, his fist balling into a fist.

"I dunno how you found me, bitch," he hissed with his face close to hers, "but is this what you mean, mummy dearest?"

He brought his fist forward as hard as he could, ramming it into her stomach.

She grunted and collapsed, partially over her fallen brother. He brought his up and slammed his heel down on her gut, then followed the move with a brutal kick.

"Now fuck off. Come back and you won't have just lost a baby, bitch."

He turned, grabbed the woman's hand, and stormed off, dragging her, confused and terrified, along with him.

Cassidy and Ethan scrambled to their sister's side and cradled her as she rocked, holding her stomach, and cried. Cass looked up to see neighbours on their doorsteps, watching the proceedings. When they noticed they'd been seen, they darted back inside, rather than be dragged into the drama. Quickly, the street was empty apart from them.

"Jazz, are you OK? Is the baby OK?"

Jazz didn't answer. Her eyes were closed, and she was moaning. Cassidy stroked her hair.

"Jazz? Come on, Sis?" Ethan said. "Do you want us to call an ambulance?"

Jazz sniffed and wiped her eyes and nose, then pushed herself to sitting.

"No," she said, her voice cracking. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

She looked at her brothers. Ethan's nose was still bleeding and Cass was sporting a growing lump by his right eye.

"You guys should see someone."

"We're fine," said Cass.

"No, that someone is you two. You should see yourselves. What a mess!."

Ethan smiled. Cassidy tried to.

"Well, we weren't much to begin with."

"That's true. In that case, it's an improvement."

With their help, Jazz stood. It took her a moment to be able to stand steadily, though she still held on to her stomach, wincing every so often.

"Is the baby OK?"

"The baby is fine. I'm fine. Fishy, you're a right state. Go to A&E. Cass, you need something on that eye. Let's get ourselves sorted out, then we can... see where we go from there."

They nodded their assent.

"OK," Ethan said. "I'll go to A&E. Say I fell over, or something. I'll see you back at yours Fucker. Where are you going?"

He was looking at Jazz, who shrugged initially.

"Can I come back to yours with you?" she asked Cass.

"Of course, I wouldn't want you anywhere else."

https://youtu.be/KNJiX5ZcjFk

We're rapidly coming to the end of MirrorMirror. I do hope you're enjoying the ride! If so, please consider voting or commenting to let me know. Much love Sinners!