Joan showed the two detectives to their new 'base of operations' while they were inside the house. The one, the only, the study. Joan had explained that it might seem a little empty because Virgil had instructed for several papers to be removed. Much to Logan's' amusement, Joan glibly leaked a few of these 'missing documents' when Roman asked what had been taken.

"A few hospital reports, banks and loans stuff," Joan had said, listing off on their fingers. "Complaints from the village, prescriptions from Vee's' therapist and Remus's' therapist, that kinda confidential stuff."

So, that's where they were. The study was a well-furnished, rectangular room, with a few bookcases lining the walls. The desk sat firmly in front of a large window to the right of the door, with the back of the chair facing out to the orchard which Logan was still to visit.

The wood was dark and probably made out of ebony, Logan guessed, and he made his way over to the bookcases just as Roman said, "How many books do you think this family needs?"

Logan shrugged in response. "I'm not sure. But there aren't many fiction books. Most of these are binders, containing past documents from previous generations."

Roman thought for a moment. "Sounds boring."

"Yes, I doubt any of them relate to the case." Logan made his way to the desk and sat down in the chair. It was one of those wheelie chairs and he spun around to look out into the orchard as if he were a cartoon supervillain. "Now, we need to discuss what we want to do first. Talyn gave me the mail after breakfast this morning, they're pictures of the body." He pulled the woven envelope from a small pocket Roman had noticed on the inside of his coat and tossed it behind him into the hands of his assistant. "Tell me what you think."

"I think I'm not going to sleep tonight, oh my gosh-"

"Roman."

The young man nodded, tapping his foot slightly on the ground. "Yep. That was done brutally, I gotta admit. Oh- Oh! Ew, what the hell is that, oh my god-!"

Logan sighed impatiently. "Roman!"

Roman winced apologetically. "I'm sorry, there are some really close-up shots here, I can't even... Okay, okay," He put the photos down on the desk. "I'm good."

"Good. Now, we need to discuss that." Logan spun back around in his chair gesturing at the photos. "You saw the state the body was in. Who do you think could manage that?"

Roman pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Not Patton, he doesn't seem like he has enough anger in to smash in a guy's' skull. And not Virgil, either."

Logan frowned and sarcasm hung in his voice as he said, "Really? Why wouldn't our gracious host do this?"

The younger shrugged. "One, he doesn't seem to act impulsively. The only time he's snapped out at us is when we first arrived and you asked why he was distressed. I don't think he'd do something as brash as this."

"I think he would," Logan said evenly. "He's curious, in a way I can't put my finger on. But who do you think might've done it?"

"Remus?" Roman said as if it was obvious. "He's definitely insensitive, and looks strong enough to do it."

Logan nodded slowly. "Maybe Talyn. They look frail, but they must definitely be strong if they work with the horses."

"They're so shy," Frowned Roman, tilting his head.

"That can be deceiving..." Logan murmured quietly in reply. The silence was heavy after that. Logan avoided Roman's' gaze as he stared at the corner of the desk. Roman looked ready to ask something but the older clenched his fists and quickly took a hold of the conversation. "We're going down to the village, then we'll host some interviews."

Roman blinked. "Why are we going down to the village?"

Logan sighed. "Lord, give me strength..." He muttered sardonically. "Because Ali's' body was found in the tearoom which was visited again later by Janus and Patton. We talked about suspicions of Ali possibly inviting people over for tea. We need to go see who he invited, learn their relationship with him and learn about their relationships with the staff and his brother. Remember?" He said, in a sarcastic, patronizingly slow way.

Roman scowled, although it looked more like a pout. "Yeah, I get it. I'm not four, y'know."

"Really? You act like it."

Roman gasped, offended.

~'^'~

Remus was found with Janus, in the living room where they had first been brought to. They were sitting close to each other on the sofa, looking through their phones. Logan rolled his eyes, knowing by their red faces that they hadn't always been doing this. Roman seemed completely oblivious.

"Remus," Logan said firmly. The driver looked up. "We need you."

"I was kinda in the middle of something," He replied awkwardly.

Logan arched an eyebrow. "Surely your phone can wait. Unless there is something else you're referring to that you believe I'm not aware of."

Remus narrowed his eyes, in a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Alright, alright, keep ya dick on, I'm coming." He turned to Janus and said. "Be back soon, snits. What do you need?" His question was directed to the detectives.

Roman replied. "We need to head down to the village. You're the driver. Your job kinda, um... Logan, I don't know how to say this without being rude."

"What makes you think I can help, I'm always rude. I literally called you a four-year-old earlier."

Remus snorted and Roman sighed. "Whatever, you get the gist, though, right?"

The driver stuck out his bottom lip slightly. "Why can't Patton do it?"

"Because Patton isn't here?" Logan said.

"I am," Patton piped up from behind them, making Roman yelp and Logan's' heartbeat increase suddenly, even if he didn't show it. "Can Patton do what?" Asked the butler glancing at everyone's' faces curiously.

Remus wafted his hand around lazily. "They need to get down into the village and I can't be bothered to drive 'em. Can you do it?"

"Oh, yeah, sure." Patton shrugged graciously. "Let's go, then, guys, I'll get you guys there. Do you know where you're going when you get there?"

The three were moving away from the living room and Remus quickly shut the door behind them. "We need to ask a few questions that you guys won't be able to," Roman said, choosing his words well and getting a nod of approval from Logan.

Patton hesitated slightly. "That's fair, we're not being too helpful. But, you've gotta understand where we're coming from," He said calmly, only a hint of pleading in his tone. "This is hard on a lot of us. We don't want to admit that one of us killed him because, honestly, I think we all wished he'd die, sooner or later."

Logan and Roman glanced at each other. "It's interesting that you'd admit that, to us, of all people," Logan commented.

"I'm tired of hiding," Patton replied quietly. "I just want the lies to stop."