TW: A lot of swearing, mentions of islamophobia, transphobia, sexism, homophobia, rape and sex with minors. And you guys thought Ali couldn't get any worse TwT

Patton drove them quietly down the road, humming to himself. There wasn't any music playing and he seemed more focused on steering the Bentley in a way that wouldn't make the passengers feel carsick. A very different method from Remus's' approach. Logan definitely wasn't complaining.

But, it seemed their new driver was uncomfortable in the silence, so he asked, "You guys like Indian food, right?"

"Do I!" Laughed Roman.

"I do," Logan shrugged.

Patton nodded. "Good, I just felt like I needed to check. Janus is cooking some Indian dishes tonight, because Virgil says he's in the mood. We're gonna have murg makhani for the mains and then rava kesari for pudding!" The butler smiled brightly. "I'm looking forward to it, Indian food is delicious."

Roman hummed with agreement. "It really is."

"Does  Virgil enjoy food from the Eastern side of the world?" Logan asked randomly, making hte other two exchange a glance.

Patton replied hesitatingly, "He wasn't allowed to have it often, because Ali had pretty bland tastes. Virgie likes a lot of spices and flavour, it's actually hard to get him to eat blander food."

"Curious," Was all Logan commented. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he scowled quickly, snatching it up and glaring at the texter.

Roman pursed his lips in a weak imitation of a duck. "Who is it?" He inquired nosily.

"Nunya."

"Nunya who?"

Logan glared. "Nunya business."

Patton burst out laughing, hitting the breaks hard as he cackled and Roman looked stunned.

"Was that... a Moana reference?"

Logan looked back at his phone. "Whoever I'm texting doesn't need to be discussed, Milton," He said sternly, but he neither confirmed nor denied Roman's' question.

~'^'~

When the black Bentley swung into the village, people instantly looked up. Of course they did. Logan guessed the murder was probably the only big news nearby, and was definitely talked about by everyone. Or maybe it was the fact he was there. Yeah, that might've been it too.

He got out of the car before anyone else did, and narrowed his eyes at the few people out on the streets. Logan knew that there had been eyes on him the moment they had arrived and he was trying to locate who. Then he found them.

A young teenager, watching them in a calculating manner from across the village road. Logan managed to make eye contact with her and they only stared back.

"Roman we're going to talk to them, over there." Logan claimed.

"Why?" Roman asked. "Do you think they know anything? Do you know her?"

"No, it's because they looked at me funny."

Roman's' face was one of disbelief which only maximized as Logan started walking across the hamlet. The teen seemed to be expecting this because she straightened up as Logan calmly made his way over to them.

Roman seemed panicked. "Logan-! Mate, can we not-?"

"Nope, I'm doing it."

"I'll wait here!" Patton called after them, shuffling happily back inside the car. He pulled up his phone and opened up a game almost immediately.

"Logan, buddy, can we not?" Roman hissed awkwardly as the detective walked over to the waiting teen. "You're not gonna get any leads from her-"

Logan turned his gaze suddenly very sharply to his companion, making Roman swallow, almost with fear. "I must correct you," He said, his tone too quiet to be unthreatening, despite his words' calmness and patient tinge. "You mean to say that you wouldn't get any leads from them. I, on the other hand, am Logan Croft. Do you understand?"

Roman was pale as he nodded. "Yes, sir."

That made the ex-detective hesitate in his strong stride. "I'm sorry, Roman," He said after a moment's thought. "That behaviour was uncalled for. I fear this case has begun to bring out the worst of me again."

There was no time, however, for Roman to forgive Logan or even say anything in return because they had finally approached the teen.

"So, Logan Croft, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked coolly with a mocking courtsey.

Logan copied their tone and her behaviour, bowing in a crude manner himself. "Truly, the pleasure is mine. You seem to have watched our arrival with interest from all the way over here. What on earth could've sparked such a pressing curiosity that you hide all the way here to observe our later movements?"

The teen narrowed her eyes. "You behave far differently from the person you were in the interviews."

"I am a different person."

"No shit," They sniffed.

The standoff was almost painful and Roman interrupted. "What's your name?"

"It's Miranda."

Roman nodded awkwardly and Logan continued to steer the discussion. "A lovely name. What do you want, Miranda?"

"You're solving Ali-bitch's' murder, aren't you?" Her tone was curious but even.

"'Ali-bitch'?" Roman echoed in a hiss as he looked at Logan, perplexed.

Logan ignored him. "We are."

"Do me a favour, then, and thank whoever bumped him off."

That caught the two men off-guard. "Why?" Logan inquired.

"Because that little bastard - actually, no, calling him a bastard or a monster would just be an offence to them because at least they actually have a soul." They rethought their sentence for a brief moment before saying, "I fucking hated that asshole and I wish I could watch his corpse go up in flames as I kick him in the groin."

Roman blinked. "Woah."

"Why did you hate him?" Logan pressed.

"Why wouldn't I?" She sniffed. "He was a sexist, homophobic, transphobic, islamophobic little whore. And a rapist too."

Almost instantly, the two policemen reared back. Roman flicked on the recorder as it practically flew to his hand instinctively. "That's something we haven't heard before," Logan said quietly. "You claim him to be a rapist. Do you have any evidence?"

"A shit-load!" Miranda insisted with a small snort. "Half of the girls here have been drugged by him. Ali-bitch would get them drunker and drunker until they finally stopped saying no and then he'd take them back to his manor and rape them. I'm glad he's dead. So, I'd like to ask again that you thank whoever did it for me."

"Can you give us any names as to his victims?" Roman asked. "Did it ever happen to you?"

Miranda pulled back, affronted. "It never happened to me! I stayed far away from that fucking crap pile! If I saw him in the village, I'd just go home. But..." They trailed off slightly. "I know a few girls he managed to get. Some of them minors," She added with an underhand growl.

Roman turned to Logan. "Y'know, Ali is kinda lucky he's dead or I might just kill him myself."

"Yes, Roman, I quite agree," Logan replied, but he gave his friend a look telling him now was not the time. "Anyway, Miranda, some names?"

"They won't admit it," She warned, "But I remember Ally Smith and Harriet Smith, Hanna Knight and Kelli Chappel. Those four were the minors. Then there are loads of other women in their early twenties and-" Miranda's' nose crinckled in disgust as they spat, "-Loads more who were his brother's' age. I wouldn't even be surprised if that bitch fucked guys too, despite what he says about homosexuality and shit. He was a motherfucking asshole and I hope he enjoys a painful time in Hell and when I get there, I'm gonna beg Satan to let me torture his arse myself."

"Roman, when we get to the station, we're bringing this up to Archie. These people need justice," Logan claimed firmly, and Roman nodded in vigourous response. The detective turned back to Miranda. "These cases will be looked through after we solve the murder. But we need to know something."

The teen quickly turned guarded. "What?"

"Do you know anyone who might have been planning to meet Ali for tea on the day of the murder?" Logan was about to ask, but Roman interrupted, obviously following his train of thought.

Miranda thought for a moment, then her eyes flicked over to a certain, blue-doored house. "James Banning might've... He might've..."

So that's where Logan and Roman began to head next.