Morningstar Manor

Last night Fin had just been taking his leave of the editor, tucking a sheaf of photocopies of old articles in his folder, when he heard a hiss of excitement run round the office and saw men and girls getting out of their seats and crowding around one particular desk. Naturally he and the editor followed because one didn't become a journalist unless overly supplied with curiosity.

"How do you spell that?" the reporter was saying and scribbled on her pad. Fin read "Boquet" upside down and frowned because the name was vaguely familiar. The editor growled at her and she grinned and turned the loudspeaker on.

"An' I'm Carl, with a see," a male voice said. "So there it was an' we reckoned it's a girl because of the dress and the shoes, and she's all strung up there like a puppet with her arms and legs out like she's - dunno - riding an invisible horse or somethin' on'y there's no face because the birds been at her."

"So you're saying she didn't hang herself?" the reporter said.

"Don't see how," Carl said. "I reckon she was put up there. So do the police."

"Excuse me," the editor interrupted. "Do the police know you're calling us?"

"Er ... no," Carl admitted. "And they seemed worried but I reckon if some guy is hanging women the people gotta right to know."

Fin couldn't disagree with that and left them to discuss finances with Carl.

On the way home he remembered his conversation with Andras about how a nice gruesome murder can sell lots of papers and felt a little guilty. That feeling persisted the following day as he sat in the Mocha with his coffee and read the screaming headlines. Only now it was mixed with unease - he'd been asked to help on cases like this before. They gave him migraine for weeks.

Laura, half-dressed, turned slowly around in her bedroom and stared at her tall dresser. She had checked it already once, but she could swear there was someone, or something, in there.

She walked with bare feet across the bedroom, carefully reached for the handles of the doors, and took a deep breath. It was just her dresser. She had already checked that it only held her clothes and a ridiculous assortment of shoes and boots, but she still felt strangely scared. After a moment of bracing herself, she pulled open the doors, ready to jump back from whatever she would find.

But no - it was just clothes, shoes and boots.

*

Susan was walking down a corridor with her cleaning trolley. She felt like someone had been following her for a while, but she still hadn't seen anyone. Unconciously she started walking faster with the trolley, glancing over her shoulder at the corridor behind her.

*

Emily felt strange - just like when you suddenly wake up from a terrible nightmare and you're still too scared to move or be alone in the dark, let alone go back to sleep. She was trying to load the washing machine with her laundry but she had to keep on looking around, feeling like something horrible was going to jump at her. Maybe it was just her imagination, or maybe Manny was playing pranks, or maybe Vincenzo was trying to be funny. In either case, it really wasn't funny.

A tense week. Not as bad as some others he'd experienced at Morningstar Manor, but still unpleasant.

Adam had responded in the most sensible way he and his brother could come up with: holing up in their apartments to wait it out. Whatever was or not coming would be easier to face and deal with from the familiarity of their own homes they figured....

Hopefully, anyway. Didn't really help the waiting though, that was still a bitch.

Finishing up a check-in call with Joe, Adam pushed the pizza into the oven and straightened to check the microwave clock.

Twenty minutes - more waiting.

Memphis was out in the garage, looking over Lucy. He could have sworn there was a scratch on it the last time Travis had brought it home, but now it was gone. Something was either messing with him, or the boy had gotten it fixed. Either way, the scratch wasn't there now and Memphis was looking for evidence.

Travis had indeed scratched the precious red fender on Lucy, though his brother had taught him touch-up work at least. He'd fixed it out in Macy's driveway while she sat on the hood and talked to him. Once in the elevator he hit the button to take him up to the pool, though he was more interested in the roof, where Charlie had taken him previously.

Erin sat in the Mocha, curled up on the couch by the fireplace and reading a book. She was waiting for Callan to get home. He'd had some shoot to do at dusk and she didn't feel like being in the apartment alone since he'd taken Amelia with him.

Tristan was in the process of wading through business emails in his office when Dave tapped on his door. Once inside he handed Tristan a purple envelope and left again. Contemplating just exactly what this could mean, he set it aside. Picking up his phone he texted Rhi. When's the next baby appt again so I can make sure to go?

Chad was frustrated with the way everything had seemed to come down on his head. There had been another body found, a gruesome one that had been left for a while, and now the press had gotten hold of the story. He'd spent his afternoon taking turns being yelled at by the higher ups and being screamed at by worried City residents that called the station.

Logan had been down to get the mail and take Appa outside. He saw his father walk across the lobby as they came in. Knowing the look on his face, he decided it might be best to let him have space for a bit. But a nagging feeling crept over him and he headed off to Olivia's apartment. Things just weren't right around here and he was curious if she'd want to listen.

Roxy had been downstairs doing laundry this evening. Until the lights had flickered on her and gone out. Remembering what had happened the last time the lights flickered, she left everything where it was and went upstairs. From the lobby she texted Spencer to let him know she wasn't there anymore and went into the Mocha for some tea.

Eli was looking over some websites on his little laptop. It was a bit embarrassing for him, to be researching low sperm count and how to fix it, so he was in a back corner of the library. He kept glancing up periodically though, hoping that if somebody did come up to him, he wouldn't have to share what he was researching.

Emma thought she was doing really well, not only did the constantly being watched feeling not freak her out, but she was actually feeling remarkably comfortable with it. Unlike Ang, who'd been down earlier while Alec was out with Faith and Gavin, she hadn't wanted to be alone was her reasoning for visiting, but then she'd confessed to the pregnancy and Emma understood more. After their visit, Ang had headed home for dinner, and Emma had walked Lily then left her back in the apartment to come down to the Mocha and web browse on her netbook in company. She wasn't looking for much, just ideas, and the odd fact about various painting movements and fashion trends, and if she could find it, something nice for Halloween.... She'd just given up on one site, nothing but nothing would have her going anywhere dressed as a pumpkin when something made her look over her shoulder...

It hadn't been easy, but Susan had finally managed to get Riley Ames's usual maid transfered, and more importantly to get that opened up cleaning slot for herself. A few well placed hints at the maid being a little too obtrusive a fangirl while cleaning Mr. Ames's apartment had gotten the rumors started, and finally the apartment lists for the maids had been renewed.

It had been a long time coming, but Susan felt very accomplished for getting to knock on Riley's door on Tuesday afternoon, just at the time when his old maid had used to come in. She was dressed in her maid's outfit and had her cleaning trolley with her, and now she wondered if Riley knew about the change of maids himself. Perhaps he wasn't even at home... that would give her ample chances at digging through his things for whatever juicy story material she might find.