Doors

[A few minutes after this.]

Ring, ring!

[Tryst C]

How quickly it goes that sympathy for the poor little martyr can turn into hate for the coward. And here I thought myself so charitable.

[Partway into the conversation with Tryst, he goes back and makes it private.]

[Public]

Oh, is there a version of Rosetta Stone for cajun french?

[locked to eddie n.]

[After him not coming home, and in a fit of rage, she just sends him a link to the conversation between she and Muerte. Nothing else.]

[locked to dick g.]

I know Babs is taking care of you, but this is me telling you to check in.

[Within minutes of this, Neil Donovan is contacted. We're sorry to inform you that... Where were you tonight? We'll need you to come down to make a statement.

The news outlets and tabloids pick the story up on the scene, where eyewitnesses at the public assistance clinic lose half their words to the censors. But the gist is clear; a blonde woman opened fire outside the clinic, shot Samantha Alexander, and ran. And from there, the rumors begin within minutes. Iris Morgenstern, some people say, is obviously guilty, and all the news about Ian Russell is dragged into the light again, with Iris' picture accompanying the story on every telling. They say Iris was obviously sleeping with Neil Donovan, and they flash pictures of her broken face as proof. And there's plenty of buzz about Donovan's newly impoverished state. Biopics about both the Alexander and Donovan families are dug up; illegal adoptions, drinking problems, and wealth beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Neil tells the officers that the Murphys need to be looked into, and a new wealthy family joins the rumor fest. Talk of Chloe, cults and romances gone sour twine in with the other tabloid mess, and it's just like having a soap opera in the middle of Las Vegas.

But the police statement, issued within a half hour, is much more somber than any of the gossip. The girl is in critical condition and has not regained consciousness from a gunshot wound to the head. They will be talking to friends, family and suspects in the coming days. They expect an arrest to be timely. They start planning their schedule for knocking on the doors of the Murphys, the Donovans and the Alexanders.]

[Right after the call from the goddamn cops.]

Ring, motherfucker! Ring!

Where are you?

[Locked to Dair D]
[And she's actually surprised the cops came calling quick as they did.] They come looking for you yet? They said they would.

[Locked to Cal H]
Honey, I think maybe I should have an American lawyer, just to be safe, even though I'm not involved in nothing. Daddy says so.