Avoid the bastard

'...So Heath's been blaming himself over it. It's not his fault, though.'

'Course not... he didn't ask to be involved in any of that. Giving your address to a dealer... that's a shitty thing to do.'

'Especially 'cos he'd already told her no. I guess she was expecting the guy to intimidate Heath into it. But I was there too, I saw the whole thing.'

'So if both you and Heath saw the guy, can't your dad do something about it?'

'No. Dad said even if we knew who the guy is, Heath's mum isn't co-operating with an investigation so there'd be no case.'

'That sucks. She's probably scared of further repercussions.'

'I know. I could give a good description of him too. I'd be able to recognise him if I saw him again. Probably in his 30s, muscular build, bit of stubble, brown hair, shaved at the sides-'

'Wait, that's what he looked like?'

'Yeah. Why?'

'...Because that sounds a whole lot like you're describing Austin.'

'Shit! Seriously?'

'Uh huh... Right down to the drug dealer part. Fuck.'

'Oh my God, Jude! And he's your mum's boyfriend? You have to tell her about it!'

'Yeah, I will... though I dunno if she'll care.'

'But he's a woman beater!'

'I know, I know... she already knows he's a dealer though. Gah.'

'Hey, you stay out of his way as much as possible, okay? I don't want him hurting you too. He seems like the type who would.'

'Believe me, Charon, I will. I'll avoid the bastard as much as possible.'

'And tell me if anything does happen, because we can do something about it. He might get away with what he's done to Heath's mum, but he won't get off so lightly if he dares try it again.'

'Thanks...'

'It's okay. '

'Y'know, when Topaz first told me about Zen, she said it was her brother who'd been with Brianne, instead of saying his name...'

'And...?'

'Well, it took me a second to realise she meant your other brother and not, well, you.'

'...Oh my God.'

'Yeah. Then my brain started working.'

'Christ, even if I weren't asexual, there's no way I'd be interested in her. The type of woman who'd stab her own sister in the back like that isn't someone I particularly care for. She's probably ridden with diseases.'

'Ridden is accurate. And you wouldn't want to be eskimo brothers with your own brother.'

'Ugh... Wait, eskimo brothers? What's that?'

'When you've both had sex with the same person.'

'Why is that a thing? That's disgusting.'

'I don't even know. It happens, though. Poor Edward...'

'...Dear God, are you telling me that at some point he and Tate have been with the same woman?'

'It was Edward's first girlfriend. Tate went after her because he's human garbage.'

'...He and Brianne are well suited.'

'The bitch deserves him. Sadly, the twins are there too, and they don't.'

'I know... I'm sorry. It's a shitty situation.'

'Yep. Anyway, enough of the world's biggest douchecanoe. How're you? Any news?'

'Nothing. My life is as interesting as always, i.e. not very.'

'A peaceful, boring life actually sounds like quite a nice thing.'

'Maybe we should swap.'

'Hell no. That'd mean I'd have to work with Miles, and I don't really want to commit a workplace murder.'

'But it'd mean I wouldn't have to work with him.'

'It'd also mean you get my family. Believe me, you have it better.'

'You're right. I'm grateful for my family, at least. Even if my brother has terrible taste in women, my elder sister takes it upon herself to embarrass me every chance she gets, my younger sister is absent and my youngest sister is obsessed with dog and wolf memes.'

'Wow. They sound amazing.'

'Oh, and our parents are swingers.'

'Holy shit!'

'Yeah. They're wonderful people, don't get me wrong, but I'd prefer not to think about that aspect of their lives.'

'...I kinda wanna meet the rest of you. Especially the one who likes wolf memes.'

'No. Between the two of you, I never want to see another Moon Moon picture again.'

'Aww, come on. You like it when I send you those.'

'Well, it's more interaction than I get out of the rest of the dating site.'

'Not much luck then?'

'No. It's looking to be a bit of a waste of time. I think I just don't have the personality for it. Nor much appeal in general, really. What about you?'

'Nothing much on my end either. So I guess you'll just have to settle for me and my memes.'

'Oh God, no. You I can handle, but the memes might be too much.'

'How else is a girl supposed to have fun? I don't have much going for me right now. Don't take away this source of entertainment.'

'Using me for entertainment seems like a fruitless endeavour.'

'No way. You're funny. Without even meaning to be.'

'Well, I'm glad you think so.'

'I do. I've enjoyed talking to you on a night...'

Punishment

'Hey, Zafira! What's up?'

'Hey! Just thought I'd call. It's been a while since we last talked!'

'Aww, it's been too long. How's it going over there?'

'It's... going. I'm doing my best, anyway. The final year is never much fun.'

'So I've heard. I'm sure you'll do well! Just hang in there. You'll be graduating before you know it.'

'Thanks. At this point, I really can't wait! Well, it'll be Spring break soon. I'll get to see you at Mum and Dad's, right?'

'Sure you will! I can go up on my days off.'

'Awesome! We've really missed you all.'

'I miss you too, kid. So does your grumpy brother.'

'Awww. Course he does! Mr Grumpy Butt doesn't fool me. What about Cyan? Will she be around?'

'No idea. I'll send her a message. Any more news from Bridgeport?'

'Not much that I can remember. See, I've been too busy studying to get out much. Zen pulled the other night, though.'

'That doesn't surprise me. Who was she?'

'Another model. She seemed older than us...!'

'Zen got himself a cougar, huh?'

'Hahaha, not that much older! Maybe ten years or so. She's got kids. I talked to her a bit when I introduced myself as Zen's twin. She said she's got her own twins.'

'...Did she say anything else about them?'

'They're three year old girls. Why?'

'Because I'm starting to think I know who he pulled, and if I'm right, that's pretty awkward...'

'Ooh, who?'

'My client's girlfriend. What was her name?'

'Sorry, I don't remember... You think it was her? Cos if it was, she cheated on him with Zen!'

'Well, it's an open relationship, so no cheating involved. Not that it'd really matter, he's a sleazy old creep anyway.'

'He is?'

'Damn right he is. I didn't get to tell you before, but he hit on me one time. I pretended to be a lesbian and said I'd prefer his wife, so he said he wouldn't mind if he could watch.'

'Ewwww! That's gross! Wait, wife? I thought you said girlfriend?'

'...Yeah, it's a real clusterfuck. He had a wife, but she left him last year and now he's got a girlfriend. Who happens to be his wife's sister.'

'You're telling me he not only hit on you, but started shagging his wife's sister after she left him?'

'Nope. Before. Those twins are his kids. They'd been having an affair for years.'

'...Wow. Both he and his new girlfriend sound disgusting. And it's really the same woman Zen went with?!'

'Sounds like it. What did she look like, if you don't remember her name?'

'She was a brunette. Green eyes. Smelled nice.'

'Yup, definitely sounds like her.'

'Shit. What do we do?'

'Hmm... let's just hope it was a one night stand and he won't be seeing her again. I think I'll mention it to her, though.'

'Is that a good idea?'

'Meh, at this point I don't think I really care. '

'Hey, Heath...'

'Hey. How was work?'

'Heath... I've got bad news. It's your mum...'

'...Oh God.'

'The hospital called us. She's been beaten up pretty badly. A couple of my colleagues were sent over to question her about it, but she didn't give them anything.'

'Is she gonna be okay...?'

'It was mainly facial injuries. Nothing she won't recover from, thankfully, but they said she was a bit of a mess.'

'Fuck...'

'I'm really sorry.'

'So she didn't say anything about who did it?'

'No. Of course, it's obvious who, but... we still don't know his identity.'

'If we managed to find out his name, could you do anything?'

'I don't know. If she isn't willing to report him, then there'd only be yours and Charon's accounts of when the dealer came over. I'm not sure they'd be able to make a case out of it.'

'And even if we did, we'd have an angry, violent dealer who knows where we live.'

'I can try, if you want.'

'No... She wouldn't wanna piss him off further. I don't think it'd help. Either way, she's gonna hate me forever now...'

'This isn't your fault, Heath. You're nothing to do with either of them.'

'It is my fault, though! I could've stopped it! But I didn't...'

'What were you supposed to do? It wasn't fair of them to put you in that position, to drag you into their dispute. You cut her off for a reason. You never asked to be involved in any of it.'

'Doesn't matter... she still got hurt, and she's not gonna forgive me over it. Neither will her boyfriend... shit, I'm so fucked!'

'Oh, Heath...'

'I feel like the worst person!'

'Please don't blame yourself.'

'I can't help it. I should've paid her. I didn't want this...'

'I know, I know... but you didn't do the wrong thing by not paying her. Staying out of it was the best option. Otherwise, what would've happened the next time she got into debt? She'd just start using you like a bank. The woman has no shame. I agree, she didn't deserve to be put in the hospital, but it still doesn't change anything. She still treated you badly.'

'None of this is right... It shouldn't have happened.'

'I can't disagree there...'

Drug money

'Well... that's that little mystery solved.'

'What?'

'Tate's PND. I did a little digging into the identity of Edward's vampire companion, and now it all makes sense. She's a former employee of ORTOS. Not only that, she's the captain's ex-wife.'

'Oh, shit! The one he's still moping over even though they've been divorced for years?'

'The very same.'

'So... what are you going to do with that information?'

'I'm not going to do anything, Hazel. It's certainly interesting to know, but unless I can do anything useful with it, I'm staying out of it. My employer's marital problems and his inability to move on are none of my concern, hypocritical as that may be coming from me.'

'Yeah, well, your case is different. It's not your fault Mum died. You're not clinging onto someone who doesn't want you. And honestly, with a neckbeard like that, who would?'

'Oh, you're terrible.'

'I know, I know.'

'Still, I can't really say she's upgraded. Edward Farrington is far from a catch.'

'I wouldn't know, I'm not into older men.'

'I'm glad about that.'

'...Or men in general, really.'

'Heh. I'm not entirely surprised by that.'

'You don't mind...?'

'Of course not. Why would that bother me? I'm happy if you are.'

'Thanks. Yeah, I am happy... I've got news, actually.'

'What's that?'

'...Wednesday and I are dating now.'

'Aww, Hazel, that's lovely to hear! Congratulations. Well, at least I know she's a nice person.'

'Oh yeah, definitely. She's not anyone you need to worry about, at any rate!'

'Well, good for you, sweetheart. You really deserve it.'

'You know how miserable I'd been... But now I feel a lot more positive. Even though it might take a while for Indigo to accept me.'

'Let's hope she doesn't cause any trouble over it.'

'No, I don't think she will. Wednesday says she's not going to make it into an issue.'

'Good.'

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

'...Are you expecting anyone?'

'No, I'm not. Are you?'

'Nope. Ah crap, I hope it's not my mum again...'

'Do you think she'd come back?'

'Dunno. She's definitely stupid enough to.'

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

'Alright, alright. Guess I'd better see who it is.'

'Heath, right?'

'Uh, yeah. How can I help you?'

'I'm here on behalf of your mum. See, she owes me some money, and she said you could pay it for her.'

'She what?'

'She told me you'd cough up. Does that mean she was lying to me?'

'L-Look, she was here before asking for money, presumably for you, but... I can't pay it.'

'Can't or won't?'

'I don't even have a job! Like I told her, I've got nothing to give.'

'That's a real shame.'

'...Why, what's gonna happen?'

'There are consequences to not paying up, let's just put it that way. You can work it out for yourself.'

'Wait! You can't do that!'

'I can do whatever the fuck I like. I don't give out freebies. You want my gear, you pay for it, or you regret it. If I let one person off, everyone'd start thinking they could get a free ride, and it doesn't work like that.'

'Come on... can't you give her more time, pay in instalments, something like that?'

'No. She's had her chance. So I'm gonna ask you again: are you gonna pay for her, or is she gonna be in trouble?'

'I... I don't want anything to happen.'

'Then you're paying?'

'I'm broke! I live off my partner's money, and he wouldn't agree to it anyway! And I wouldn't expect him to!'

'Then that's tough shit, isn't it? Now I'm not gonna waste any more time here. No's your final answer?'

'...Yeah.'

'Right then. Better hope your mum forgives you. I'll see myself out.'

'Oh my God...'

'Heath, you have to tell Dad about this...'

'Yeah...'