chapter forty four
father knows best
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"Do mom and dad know you're watching murder movies? That would kill them to find out. 'A'." Spencer read out a message from 'A' she had received. "Is 'A' talking about the NAT video?" Aria asked. "Of course. 'A' knows we have their cell phone." Hanna said. "Did you guys get that text from 'A'?" Emily asked as she joined the group. "Yes, and now Melissa's threatening to kill our parents." Hanna said bitterly. "I already told you, Mellissa can't be 'A'" Spencer  said, defending her sister. "Alison was getting texts from the law firm your sister interned at." Josie said, shaking her head. "Yes, but she explained that Melissa just wanted Ali to leave Ian alone." Spencer answered.

"So what? What, I got chased by a hobo for nothing?" Aria asked. "That still doesn't explain why Melissa got into Garrett's car." Emily said. "Do you think that Garrett told her about the video?" Aria asked. "Cause if she knows she's on it and if she's 'A' —" Aria started but Spencer cut her off. "You guys, my sister is not 'A'" she said. "I-I watched her fall apart when we found Ian's body, she had no idea that he was dead, she wouldn't just text herself from her dead husband's phone and then lose it like that." Spencer continued. "Could we... could we please just breathe for a second?" she asked.

"No. We have a video of four people who could've killed Alison, okay? They were in her bedroom the night she died," Hanna said angrily. "can't we get in trouble for withdrawing evidence?" she asked. "I think you mean withholding." Aria corrected her. "Look, Spencer's right, W-we've jumped the gun before and we've gone to the cops.." Aria said, "And we ended up looking guilty." Emily finished Aria's sentence.

"Yeah, and they already think that we stole something from the morgue." Spencer said. "I-I don't think we should give this to them." she continued. "Look, I know that I'm asking a lot, but I think that I might have a way to find out more." Spencer said. "So, can you guys just give me a chance to get into this?" she asked and the girls hesitated but nodded eventually. "Okay." Aria said with a nod.

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"I've missed you." Richie said as he kissed Josie while they sat in his living room, a movie on in the background as the two cuddled on the couch. "Me too, sorry I've been so distracted lately." she apologised but he shook his head. "don't apologise, I know, you and the girls are going through a lot, but, hey, at least you guys have some leads." he said, running a hand through her hair. she had let her hair down today, she didn't wanna get a headache from the ponytail.

"So, are you and your mom going to the dance thing like you did last year?" he asked and josie nodded. Every year, the school holds a father-daughter dance at the school, but since Josie's dad was absent, Jennifer would go with her, and no one complained, they understood. "I can't wait, actually," she said, with a smile on her face. "I'm glad." he responded before kissing her all over her face, making her laugh before pushing him away. "Have you heard from your dad?" he asked and she shook her head 'no', making him sigh. "He'll come around eventually," he said before kissing the crown of her head.

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The next night, Josie and Jennifer were dancing and laughing with each other before Aria came over. "Hi! I'm so sorry but can I borrow Jo for a sec?" she asked and Jennife Carmen nodded with a smile. "I'll get myself a drink, you want one sweetheart?" she asked, lookin at her daughter who nodded. "Yeah, thanks mom." she said before she and Aria went outside to meet with Hanna and the others, who Josie didn't even know was here. "Hanna, what's going on?" Aria asked her.

"Where's your dress?" Mona asked as she, Emily and Spencer joined them outside in the courtyard. "Where's your mom?" Aria asked. "Hot on the 'A' trail." Hanna said, making the girls confused. "Um, what does that mean exactly?" Mona asked. "It means she found the police report that 'A' sent you and she thinks it was sent to me, she gave it to Wilden." she said, making Josie's eyes widen. "Why?" she asked. "Because she thinks it's a threat." Hanna responded. "It is." Emily said, "And I-I don't know she's just trying to keep us safe." Hanna stuttered. 

"Yeah, but why Wilden?" Spencer asked but Hanna just shook her head. "Hanna, now your mom and my mom are both asking questions about 'A' and 'A' really doesn't like that." Aria said, freaking out. "If they talk to each other—" Aria started but was cut off. "Or if Wilden comes up with something?" she asked. "I mean.. What if they end like—" Hanna started, but Spencer stopped her. "Ju... " she said, not knowing what to say, "Umm..." Hanna muttered.

"Okay, we need a creative solution," Spencer said, but no one knew what to do, until Mona raised her hand. "Well, I have an idea." she said, making everyone share a look before looking at her. "Okay, Mona." Spencer said. "It's gonna require a really big lie and I'm terrible at that." she said as she laughed awkwardly. "Which one of you girls is best at hiding the truth from someone who's close to you?" she asked and everyone pointed to Aria. "Her!" they all said in sync, making Aria give them a glare. "Wow, really? Thanks, guys." she said sarcastically. Aria sighed before turning to Mona. "Okay, Mona, what's my lie?" she asked and then Mona went on to explain how Aria was gonna Hanna's mom that she's 'A' and it was just some joke.

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The next day, Aria and Josie were waiting in Aria's room for Hanna. Aria was pacing. "You're gonna give me a headache if you keep pacing Aria." Josie said as she sat on Aria's bed just as Hanna walked through the bedroom door. "Hey." Hanna greeted them. "Hey," they both replied back at the same time. "Did my mom buy it?" Hanna asked and Aria shrugged, "I have no idea." she admitted. "Do you feel guilty?" Hanna asked. "No," Aria answered but soon changed her mind. "Yes." she said. "I don't know." she added.

"It's always a good sign." Hanna laughed just before Aria's phone rang, making Josie stand up and move next to Hanna. "Aria what's wrong?" she asked as she noticed the look on her face. "It's Jonah." she said, confused. "Well, answer it." Hanna said. Aria hesitated before she eventually answered it. "Hello?" she said into the phone.

Soon  enough, the girls were driving down a street, aprantly Jonah had given Aria an address. "Wait, Spence, stop here." Aria said and Spencer stopped the car and they all got out. "Welcome to Brookhaven." Hanna said. "What did Jonah say to you exactly?" Emily asked. "That Vivian Darkbloom's friend, Alison, was receiving texts from more than one number," Aria said as they walked down Brookhaven. "Wait, so does this mean that Melissa was telling Spencer the truth?" Hanna asked and Aria stopped and turned around, making them all stop as well.

"Just means that she's getting texts from more than one number." Aria answered. "So there was someone else, like the real 'A'" Josie said as she wrapped Richie's jacket around her tighter as Aria nodded. "Spence, you were right." Hanna said. "Where exactly are we headed?" Emily asked Aria who looked around before facing her friends again. "I don't know, Jonah said he couldn't find a specific address or where the texts were coming from, but that they originated somewhere in a block radius from here." she said, making the girls look around.

"Do we have any idea what we're supposed to be looking for?" Spencer asked. "Well, I'm looking for a new phone." Hanna said, making the girls look at and shake their heads. "Guys." Aria said, looking at something before walking over to it, the girls following her. "My god." Josie said as they looked at the doll shop in shock. "Those look exactly like those creepy chucky dolls that 'A' sent us." Emily said. "I'm freezing." Aria shuddered.

"I've got something in the back of my car." Spencer said, handing Aria the keys to the car. "Thanks," Aria said and left to get something to warm her up as the others kept staring at the creepy doll shop. "I used to like dolls." Hanna said and Josie nodded in agreement. "Same, but now... they creep me out." she said, with a shake of her head. "I'm over it." Spencer said. "Me too." Emily agreed.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapter. sorry richie hasn't been in much for awhile, lmao !! countdown till season three: three chapters