we don't quite get to meet Adrian Channing in this chapter ((next chapter, maybe?? if not that one then definitely the one after that)) but to introduce you all to him a bit...

-𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓽𝔂

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The Evening Patriot, article #167
Saturday, April 7

The Channing family has continued their vow of silence on the case of their younger child, Rosaleen, having been found dead a month previously. Both parents and the elder child, Adrian, have refused to speak even with the police.

Police have been forced to turn to Rosaleen's best friend at school, Samantha Bennett, for answers. Samantha was brought in for questioning on the evening of March 26th, and provided the police with many vital details to solving the case.

"Rosaleen might not have gotten along with everyone," Samantha says. "But I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to kill her..."

In other news, police have determined through investigation what most likely occurred during the night of Rosaleen's murder. They say that Rosaleen arrived at the cabin sometime into the night, and was chased up the stairs by her pursuer. She was chased onto the second story balcony, and was trapped there. 

It is believed that very minimal struggle occurred, but the kill ended with the balcony's railing snapping and Rosaleen falling to the ground.

Police have been unable to piece together the reason for Rosaleen being at the cabin to begin with.

Thirdly, an official autopsy report has been released. Rosaleen is stated to have suffered 7 stabs to the chest and abdomen region, but the report states that Rosaleen's death was caused by a broken neck when she hit the ground, after falling off of the balcony.

Police have no solid leads. During her questioning, Samantha explained that most people didn't like Rosaleen very well, but that she couldn't name anyone who hated Rosaleen specifically.

The townspeople have resorted to calling Rosaleen Channing "the murder with a million suspects".

Lucia slammed the newspaper article down onto the table in the library. Everyone huddled around, trying to read.

"Sam, you never told us you went in for questioning...?" Lance said, slowly turning to face her.

Sam blinked, "Oh... Well, it was really uncomfortable. They kept telling me that I wasn't a suspect, I wasn't under arrest, I wasn't being interrogated, over and over again. The police just kept saying that I could leave at any time and that I could refuse to answer any question that they asked."

Sam hesitated, "They actually asked about you, Lance. I didn't know what to say. I told them that you two were always really affectionate and you always got along very well, but..."

Lance shifted nervously in his seat. Sam was the only person who knew that Lance and Rosaleen were... not-so-good at best. But Sam hadn't said that. She hadn't told the truth. Which means that she had lied.

Probably only to keep Lance off of the suspect list.

If Sam had told the truth, Lance would've been number one suspect. He still might be on their list((weren't like 50% of women killed by husbands or boyfriends?)), but now that it looked like they had a good relationship...

He'd have to thank her for that sometime. But not right now. Definitely not right now.

"That's... wow," Arthur said, mostly absentmindedly.

"Didn't the newspaper also say something about Rosaleen's brother? Just at the beginning?"

"Adrian," Lucia said. "Adrian Channing."

"Sam, you know Adrian, right?" Evan asked.

"Of course I do," Sam's fingers ran through her hair, hesitating for just a moment near her neck. "He's... Rosaleen talks about him all the time in her diary. They fought a lot. All siblings do sometimes, but... they--they hated each other."

"Well I think I know what we have to do next. I think we should pay a visit to Adrian this weekend."

Sam had made a very big mistake. Her mind raced, but her heart raced faster. Her hands were shaking, but she quickly buried them in her lap to hide it. She couldn't, she couldn't, she couldn't-- She just couldn't...!

"Sam, you can take us to Rosaleen and Adrian's house, right?""

"No! No no--!" Sam cut herself off. "I mean, yes. I know where Rosaleen's house is. But Adrian hates me just as much as he hates Rosaleen. He'll never talk if I'm there. You guys will have to go without me. Lance, have you ever met Adrian?"

"Actually, no," Lance said honestly. "I think Rosaleen went to great lengths to avoid that."

"And you know where Rosaleen's house is?"

Lance nodded slowly.

"Great! He can go with you!"

None of them questioned Sam's sudden outburst, while Lance realized that he had been signed up to take all of them to Rosaleen's house. Or, to reveal her address to them all.

"I-If we want to talk to Rosaleen, we'll have to do it when her parents aren't home. Her dad's never home during the day, and her mom leaves for work at 4 PM, so the best time would probably be between 5 and 8 PM."

"Wait, how do you know what times her parents aren't home?" Aisha asked in a suggestive tone, raising her eyebrows.

"Uh--"

"Ooh, you're right, Aisha," Lucia gently nudged the girl. "Do you mind telling us how you discovered this information?"

Lance's face had turned a very specific color, one commonly found at the top of the rainbow.

"No, that's not--" Lance cut himself off with a sigh, realizing that no matter what he said, he couldn't convince them.

"Whatever you say, lover-boy," Lucia puckered her lips.

Evan laughed quietly, and Sam shot him a deadly glare. That didn't stop him.

"Come on you guys," Wyatte was the only one to move to Lance's defense, "Does it really matter how?"

"Oh, you're one to talk, aren't you Wyatte?" Aisha cooed. "You seriously didn't think that people wouldn't notice you're wearing a turtleneck at this time of year? When it's way to hot to wear anything like that? Unless you have a specific reason? Maybe like, you're trying to hide something?"

"Aisha!" Wyatte hissed.

"Alright, alright--" Aisha's hands went up into a surrender. "Being a good person and all that."

"Moving on," Lucia said very pointedly, climbing to her feet, "I think we've discussed everything we can for today."

"Go on home and get a good night's sleep," Arthur said.

And they did.

Most of them, anyway.

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*what do you guys all think of Sam lying to the police? she did it for a good reason, but it's still kind of... you know.
let me just say, Lance is not the only thing she lied about. not quite.

*continuing on the topic of Sam, i'm not gonna say anything about her and Adrian, except for that they have some history. remember the diary entry she ripped out??

*now that the prom's over, they're going to work on solving the murder, but like... as friends. they tease each other and make jokes.

*Lance and Wyatte have basically formed an alliance now and i didn't intend for that to happen but it did

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