*Mia's P.O.V *

Maybe it's just the same polka dot design, though Loré gave me the purse, and Charlie asked about her, so, like - "Where did you get it from?"

"Pardon me?"

"Did Loré ask you to steal it?"

"Mia -"

"Why would you steal? Because of your baby?"

"What?!" Charlie's brows furrow.

"The pregnancy test kit."

"That was for my parent."

Oooh!

"And anyway -" Charlie freezes.

I frown.

"Your voice was coarse on Fridays, " he muses, "and there was a loud metal band playing... and that was Thursday night, and I know you wouldn't go partying on a school night, so you-you worked at Andrés's club... that's how you know Loré, isn't it?"

Now is my turn to gasp. Charlie sits back. I cross my arms, and he gives me the kind of look that can read thoughts.

Screw it. I squirm. "Yes."

"So she gave you the purse?" His shoulders tense a little.

"Yes."

"Why were you singing there?"

"Money, duh. I didn't know you went to clubs either. And they're letting minors in like that?"

"Mia, did your guardian know?"

"Know what?"

"That you worked there?" He presses.

I sigh. Charlie hasn't even mentioned how he has my purse, and yet, somehow, I am the one up for questioning. How does he do that?

"Mia."

"What?!"

Suddenly, he has a pen and a book. Crossing his legs, he sets the book on his thigh. "What's your guardian's name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm making a list of people I have to report."

"It's not that big of a deal," I laugh nervously.

"Mia," he replies in a dry tone. "Name. Now."

OK, sir. "Elisabeth -"

"Elissa... Beth." He scribbles. Seeing Andrés's name already on the list, I frown. "Wait, I'm confused. Andrés?"

"He should be held accountable -" Charlie drops his pen suddenly. Colour drains from his face. "Elisa... is-s-she might have -"

"Dude, what?"

"Urrr, kicked the bucket."

"HUH?!" I blast, flipping my chair, who knows where. He flinches, but I am preoccupied with trying to comprehend -NT LISA IS DEAD?!"

"M-m-maybe, it's not her."

"WELL, THEN DON'T SAY SHIT LIKE THAT IF YOU'RE NOT SURE!"

"Mia," he drawls, holding his forehead as if he had a headache, "I'm sorry, but why are you yelling at me?"

"Because -" Why am I yelling at him? "Cuz you vanished and then you-you came back, and you vanished again and took my Nancy Drew, and you haven't explained why you have that purse, and now you're telling me that a whole Aunt Lisa is just ... Dead! And now you're not sure, and if you'd any idea the HELL I WENT THROUGH CUZ OF HER, YOU WOULD BE SURE- "

"Ok. I'll verify. Sorry."

"You better be."

"I'm sorry -" Before he can finish, I hang up.

My jaw drops. My heart is racing, but I don't know what to do. Should I be happy or cry, or like what? Aunt Lisa can't be dead. How, just how?

I can't wait for Charlie to verify; I call Joe.

"Mia," she sighs, "I'll come by later so we can talk about it, okay?"

However, when she later comes, she bypasses me, heading straight for Granny's room. I prance in my room and try to picture how Aunt Lisa can be gone.

It still doesn't feel real.

Immediately I hear doors shutting, I ran into Joe's arms. Granny looks at us in confusion, so Joe mutters something and takes me to their mansion's highest balcony.

As she leans on the railing, I gasp, "Is my aunt dead?!"

"Yes."

"Shit."

"How do you know?"

"I don't. Tha-that's why I am asking," I stutter.

"Mia, I'm sorry -"

"HOW?!"

She straightens to that. Hot tears spring in my eyes, so I wipe them harshly. I'm not going to cry for Aunt Lisa.

"Mia, I had to take you out of the US."

"So you knew she would die?"

"I'm not a superhero. I can't save everybody."

"Dude, that's just one extra person."

She exhales again.

"Wait- there are more people you left to die?"

"Doesn't matter. "

I scoff, "Oh, wow."

"You don't understand."

"Understand what?"

"It's not my jurisdiction. It's not that easy."

"Not easy?!" I twirl around. "Look at this place. Look at the view from here and the swimming pools and the fucking bears. And you are telling me you can't personally make an effort-"

"Hey!" She grabs my arm. I squirm, and she lets go instantly. "Sorry, but." She looks down. "It's already weird that I'm a cop in this family, so, no, I can't do shit like you think. It's- it's not like I'm not giving my best. I am! I even have a trip in like three hours."

"Oh."

"Yes."

"Oh. Sorry." I sink, realising my blunder.

Joe, however, smiles sadly. There's a pause for me to think through my behaviour and calm down. When my heart stops racing, I utter, "Will you come back for your brother's birthday."

"Igor?" She laughs. "Na. He's busy somewhere, too. I've told Pom to forget about throwing a party."

*

Little do I know that when Joe gets to Liverpool, it will be pouring. She will drive to a motel and reapply some light makeup before stepping out again.
Her next stop will be a restaurant, where her boyfriend, Willem, is already waiting.

Joe shall run into his arms. Willem must smell nice. Really. Nice. And he must look delicious in his turtleneck and bobbed hair.

"You look radiant as ever," he will say, breaking away first.

My aunt will nod. "Yes. It's a special occasion, isn't it?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you'll marry me, Varida?"

"Happy anniversary, douche." She will roll her eyes. He will laugh and pull the chair opposite him for her, then slip a hand on her back and say, "Been busy, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Same."

"Wanna?"

"Wanna what?" Willem will frown.

*

That frown will turn into a lot of intimate reactions. They'll have sex twice, after which he will moan on his couch. "You sure you don't want to marry?"

"Too busy," Joe will answer.

"Same. What's your next reason?"

Joe will sigh, "How are you busy? Didn't you win your case last week?"

"Yes." He'll sit up. "But I have another. Well... sort of."

Joe will turn to him and realise the disturbed grimace on his face. Instead of taking that as a hint to stop asking, she'll say, "Anything I can help with?"

"It's unlikely you would."

Her brow will rise, still intrigued. Willem will try to deflect, but then Joe will use this tactic:

["Come on, Willlllleeeem-"

"Do you want me to cut your hand off?"

"Mmmmmmmmmmm, maybe. What's the case about, Wil?"]

The tactic will work after five beers. Willem will admit, "The case is about a girl who ur... um... drugged her brother."

That's when Joe's jaw shall drop. "Why would you take a case like that?"

"Because there's more to it." Willem will sigh. "What I was intrigued by is what might have happened after she drugged him as the next day, the boy was on a hospital bed and the police was so focused on the plausibility of trapping a drugpin - or whatever - so focused to the point that no one crosschecked his medical report, and his rape kit -"

"Oh My -"

"Yea and, isn't it too coincidental that the man that had the girl arrested happened to have been at the party - the same party where the brother was drugged?!"

The answer to that won't be simple. Joe will say, "If you are saying what I am thinking, you need evidence."

"Hmm. There were signs of attempted forceful anal, causing injury, but the brother had washed down, and when their mother came in with an explanation that he was sexually adventurous, no one contended."

"Did the boy remember a bit of what had happened  -"

"I doubt he does."

"I've read on those pills, and sure, it causes paralysis but -"

"The brain has a way of protecting oneself from horrific memories, Joe."

"But perhaps, he experiences brief flashes of it - maybe like a nightmare or - he'd have to remember or else -" Joe will fling her arms. "What case can you make? If the sister saw it, I really don't know how you'll make this argument, considering that her drug use will brandish her an unreliable narrator and question what she did to help her brother or something. So, so did the doctor - I am so confused about these medical exam bullshit- and, maybe you need to explain everything to me again."

Willem will clear his throat five times before . When he's done, she'll be so dumbfounded that she'll ask, "You'd still need the mother's approval to make this argument... or?"

"I am not bothered about her at the moment. It's all still speculation until there's actual proof. I could make an argument regarding how the complainant was just found guilty of drug possession and taunt him into admitting what he uses those drugs for - say, if he's ever given some to the girl, then that will lead to the truth about everything."

"Ok, Willem. Can I see the brother's face?"

"I can't expose any identity to you. You know."

"I want to help however I can. I can talk to my friends..." Joe will keep talking while taking his trousers from the floor. Yanking a phone out, she'll hand it to him, and he will say, "The brother is a friend of my buddy's kid. Remember that lad I passed the bar with?"

"You passed the bar with a lot of guys."

"Well, this one has a scar across his face. Haven't I shown you a picture of him before? What about the one where I was posing with him and his kid at my lakehouse? Remember you asked why the kid is Asian?"

"No- oh, ... you said it's his stepson ... or?"

"Yes ... yes, see." Then he will show her a status update photo of two boys brushing their teeth: one will have his face blocked by the camera; the other will widen his eyes as though his rosy cheeks don't make him an epitome of innocence already.

Joe will think; Fuck!

And then, later, she will make a call. Once the line picks up, she'll order, "давайте мальчику больше никаких заданий. {Give the boy no more tasks.}

"Who?"

"Mordecai's replacement."

"Oh, ok." Maria's husband will say on the other end. "Oh and I heard it was you that got rid of the hitman. Is it true?"

"Yes. How he treated you and your wife was awful, so."

"Even if she was the informant?

"Igor sees you as family, so... so do I. Why let one misstep break everything?"

"Yes. You're right."

"By the way, make sure he doesn't screw up. You know how he is sometimes."

"Yes. I will take care of him."

*

*Charlie's P.O.V *

"Wanna see?"

Before I can reply, Leo shows me his picture of us. His face is obscured, whereas mine is on full display, toothbrush in my mouth, eyes wide open and all. "I look like a baby."

"You are a baby." He chuckles.

I ignore him, cuddling my pillow.

Silence ensues. I almost doze off when he pokes my cheek.

"Leo, please, what is it?" I groan.

"I agree."

"Pardon me?"

"I agree. Let's not fight." He pokes my cheek again. "Hm? Hm?"

"Ok, Leo."

"Ok."

"Please, stop it."

"Stop what?"

"Disturbing my sleep."

"Bruh, you woke up ten minutes ago, and you're already tired of the day?"

I nod. His hand presses my forehead, and he laments, "Stop stressing your brain. What are you thinking about?"

"Ooooh. Leave me."

"The girl? Sexy student?"

"Herh -" I lift my head. Leo smirks.

"Why were y'all bickering?"

"Her foster mom died." I know for sure now that I have gone all night on the internet. There was some missing persons' list with her picture in it, and Mia's porch was in the background.

"Ow."

"Yes. She wanted me to check." I sit upright so he doesn't have to turn his neck so much." How do I console her?"

Leo sighs, "I don't know. Say 'sorry for your loss,' or something."

I shake my head.

"She's Mia, right? The band girl with the orange hair?"

"Mhmm."

"...Woah. I get it now. I can't help you, though."

I pout. "But you're ... like a lady's man."

"You're mistaking me for Harry."

"But your mom says you have a lot of girlfriends though you said you didn't."

"When?" he chuckles.

"Ok." I admit. "She insinuated it."

"So?"

"You insinuated it yourself too."

"When?"

"The trip."

"Oooh. What I meant was that I've tried BDSM. But even fucking like that gets boring at times. "

"Language. And what's BDSM?"

"You'll regret asking that if I tell ya," he titters.

I roll my eyes. Straightening his shirt, he sighs, "Honestly, though, it's a miracle girls still follow me around."

Miracle?

I look at him closely. He cringes. I turn to our environs, eyes travelling from his camera, basketball, skateboard, face, muscles ... to his hand.

"No," I conclude.

"What?"

"It's not a miracle. Oh, and - you know very well these rings look edgy on your hand."

"Bruh." Rolling onto his stomach beside me, this lad still clads an oblivious expression.

After some time, he gives it up." Ok. I did buy them to attract a crush."

My jaw drops.

"Shut up."

"Oh my -"

"Shut up. Nothing happened."

"Oh!" My smile drops. "Why?"

"I couldn't be busy thinking about some girl while my dad was, you know. So, she moved states, and nothing happened."

"Oh."

"Ah ... At least, I acquired some good tastes. Wanna see my collection of rings?"

"Mhm." I try to smile.

He opens his drawer. Revealing a jewellery box, he opens it, and I gasp, "Aww, that's so cool!"

He points to one ring with tiny purple rhinestones. "That's the one I got first. Do you want it?"

Of course. "Mate. Umm..."

"Here." He takes it off. "I have another one here anyway."

"Oh... But that one has red rhinestones."

Nevertheless, he wears it. I follow suit, slipping the purple ring on my index finger like he does.

"It fits?" Leo frowns at my hand.

"It's a little loose."

"Bruh, your fingers are so slender, but I think if you push it down more, it will."

I try that, and it fits. He claps excitedly, and I cringe, "What next? Are you going to give me your life insurance?"

"Why? Do you want my life insurance?"

"Mmm..."

Leo shoots me a funny look. I shrug, teasingly.

"Hm." He gets up and reaches for his camera. As his eyes gaze upon his lens, he sighs, "Open your hand."

I do. He low-fives me. I scowl, and he starts laughing. When it gets irritating, I wear my glasses and earmuffs, tie my hair, and reach for my textbook, all while his laughter flows like water.

Then it stops.

For twelve seconds, he is quiet. I have to give him a childish grin before he quickly hides his face behind the camera.

I focus on studying while his camera snaps. His lips start to move.

"Pardon?" I pull off my earmuffs.

*Click!*

"What did you say?"

*Click!*

"Leo?"

"I said -" He hesitates.

"What is it?"

"Don't die." He sets the camera down. "Please. Fuc-please. You can't risk your life like this."

Here we go again.

"Charlie, I'm begging you."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Charlie, please."

"Your mom will hear us.

"Listen to me," he still presses, "If something bad happens to you, how do you think your loved ones will feel? Your parents, your sister, Harry, ur ur-ur, the girl, everyone -"

"They'll be fine."

"What?"

"They'll be fine," I iterate. He gapes at me incredulously while I turn over my jotter. Flipping past the list of people to report, I halt at the page filled with my plans.

"Tomorrow, I'm quiting the modelling thing. Then I'll get Syd out of the country. Sil is safer in juvie for now so -"

"You are mad." Leo snatches the jotter. I glare. After a quick scan, he shuts it as if something horrible caught his eye.
There is a narration of my encounters with the criminals, but I didn't write about Igor.

"What is it?"

"... Purse... is for her?"

"Leo, what?"

"Who is Mia?" His gaze shoots to me suddenly. I grimace in confusion, and he rasps, "No, like, who is she really? Do you not know her well?" He rasps.

"Urrrr-" Then it dawns on me. "Oh no."

"What?"

"I forgot to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Joe Yeltsin."

"Joe - what now?!"