Ash slammed the door behind her and kicked off her shoes. Her stomach rumbled, and she massaged the bottom of her back. Waiting all day in the cell had left her in a sour mood.

'I could do with a drink,' Miss Violetina said at her side, rubbing at her neck.

'You're welcome to stay here for the night,' Ash offered.

'No thank you, Miss Hawthorne. Your father's put me up in a hotel somewhere in town, and I'm very much looking forward to checking in.'

'Ash, thank God.'

Ash looked up in time to see Jess' brunette bob bound towards her. Her sister's crushing hug was as much appreciated as it was unexpected.

'Hey, I'm okay. It's alright.'

Jess pulled back and looked her up and down. 'What happened?'

'It took some time, but they finally released me without questioning, thanks to Miss Violetina.'

'So what happens now?' Jess asked the lawyer.

'They're building a case against you both. But without a body, they are limited to what they can charge you with. They'll likely arrange for warrants to search the sorority house and this one. I think my warning about questioning you without substantive proof of your connection to her disappearance should persuade them to avoid another debacle like this one. But they're relentless. I've got to give them that much.'

'And the case against us?' Jess asked.

Miss Violentina pursed her lips, looking more annoyed than worried. 'It's flimsy. They have you both within distance of where Charity was last seen. You, in fact, are the last person to see her. Your sister's colourful history with the family and your friends' testimonies paint an intriguing picture which is harder to dismiss. Any judge would call it circumstantial. But it's emotive. And with your personal history. Your mother,' she added, seeing their confusion, 'a good lawyer could easily spin it into something more than it is.'

'So you're saying we're not out of the woods yet?' Ash summed up.

'That's exactly what I'm saying. So I'm going to caution you both to keep your heads down.' She narrowed her eyes at the two girls that weren't far off her own age. 'Jess, I especially mean you. I don't want you going back to the sorority house. I'll arrange for your clothes and belongings to be moved here temporarily.'

'Why?' Jess asked sharply. She looked at her sister, but Ash seemed to agree.

'Jess,' Miss Violetina said, drawing Jess' gaze back to her. 'Your housemates' statements are damaging. Especially the one given by Laura Deleon. The fact that she volunteered this information of her own free will and is your roommate.'

'Wait? Laura went to the police?' commanded Jess.

'As I believe, it was her statement that began the witchhunt amongst your other housemates. She even made the unsubstantiated claim that Ash was the one to find the sketchbook and other items in Charity's room.'

It took all the sisters' willpower not to look at each other.

'At least that is a charge that I won't have to fight, considering there are none of Ash's prints on the items.' Miss Violetina looked at them suggestively, making Ash's colour fade.

'Exactly,' Ash said. 'Unsubstantiated.'

'Precisely. But that changes nothing. Negative character references are hard to fight. Added to the sketchbook, and it's easy to see that as proof that yours and Charity's relationship is strained.'

'But it wasn't,' Jess defended. 'I mostly stayed out of her way.'

'And I believe you,' Miss Violetina said. 'But if this goes to court, it's not me you'll have to convince. And that sketchbook is certainly...vivid.'

'Jess can still attend university, though?' Ash asked with worry.

'Yes, that I've already arranged with the Dean. Whilst there are no convictions against her, Jess will still be able to attend. Now if you don't have any more questions, I'll take my leave.' She placed her handbag neatly on her arm, made sure they both had her number in case of any issues, and bid them goodnight.

'She's certainly efficient,' Ash said, closing the door behind her.

'She told me you contacted Dad? I didn't realise you two still talked.'

'We're not on each other's Christmas card list, but the last time I talked to him, he gave me a number, told me to contact him if I ever needed help. He called it an olive branch.' Ash rolled her eyes and headed towards the kitchen.

'When was the last time you saw him?' Jess kept pace with her.

'Nana's funeral.' Ash pulled a plate of chocolate cake from the fridge and cut a slice for her and Jess. 'I'm starving.'

'He went to Nana's funeral?' Jess whispered.

Ash sighed and forced the slice of cake into her hands. 'Only for the burial. You'd already said you couldn't come, and we weren't on the best terms, and I didn't think adding Dad into that conversation would make it any easier.'

'Why did he come?'

'It was his new wife's idea. She seemed nice, though she's two years younger than me. They have a son together, Eric.'

'Why would she want us in his life? She'd got to know that baggage doesn't wash well with the voters.'

'I think saying she wants us in his life is a bit strong. It's more about self preservation. She wants to know that he won't abandon his kids. Us. And Eric. I think it was a test for her. And she got the right answer.'

'That's manipulative.'

'Guess Dad has a type.' Ash waggled her eyebrows whilst forking a large piece of cake into her mouth.

'So he was the one that gave you the get out of jail free card?'

'Didn't think I'd be using it so soon, but then again, I didn't think either of us would be arrested for kidnapping someone.'

'And what does he want in return?'

'What do you think? He wants his name kept out of the papers. He wants this to be wrapped up without it going viral.'

'He needs this to go away quietly.'

'Hence the phone number, which leads back to an untraceable number. And having Miss Violetina flown in.'

'He flew her in? Won't that be traceable?'

Ash shrugged. 'I'm sure he'll cover it up. He always does.'

'This is a fucking mess,' Jess grumbled.

'You can say that again.' Ash dusted off the last of her cake, though Jess had barely touched hers. 'We should go out.'

'You're crazy.'

'I'm being serious.'

'Ash, it's Tuesday night. We just got released from the station, and you want to go out?'

'Perfect timing. We both need to relax. Get away from this.'

'I'm pretty sure Miss Violetina told us to keep our heads down,' she scoffed.

'It's not like we're going to a rave. Just a bar,' insisted Ash. 'It'll be fun, some music, some dancing, maybe some flirting and poor decisions.'

'I don't think this is a good idea.'

'That's not a no. And besides, Tabitha's already gone to her backgammon game. She won't be home till tomorrow morning, so we don't have to worry about waking her when we get back.'

Jess was still undecided, but her resolve was wavering, and Ash could sense it.

'Just for a couple of hours. I promise to get you home before midnight.'

'Promise?'

'Promise,' Ash squealed. 'This is going to be so much fun.'