"There are two killers?" Matteo asked, eyes wide and alert. Next to him, Mark sat up a little straighter as he looked between all of them.

"Scarlett, why don't you do the honors?" Levi said. He still hadn't broken eye contact with her.

The whole room had gotten quiet, waiting for Scarlett to confirm Levi's question while she just sat there with her jaw rigid. Anthony had his hands clenched in a fist, his right leg bouncing rapidly as anxiety kicked in. The silence and waiting got too much for him, so he blurted out his question.

"What has the second killer got to do with Scarlett being an only sibling?"

Scarlett sighed as she closed her eyes, rethinking her options but coming up with none. What use was it to hide anything now?

"Liam... was my half brother," Scarlett whispered as she bit her lip, then went quiet again. Emma waited for her, and then looked around in question as if that was supposed to make sense.

"Well, explain! What are you waiting for?" Emma probed her.

Scarlett took a long, deep breath before she continued. "My father had an affair years ago. Liam was a result of that," there, the truth is out now, "I found out almost a year ago. This is why the relationship with my father turned so bitter. Knowing that he cheated on my mother-" Scarlett broke off as she rubbed her temple slowly.

"Knowing that he cheated just completely destroyed our relationship. But I never told my mom... she wouldn't have been able to handle it. But then, I got to know about Liam," Scarlett smiled sadly at the memory of him, "Knowing I had a brother sent me over the moon. You guys know how I wished I had a sibling." She addressed the last part to Emma and Anthony.

For the first time that night, Emma reached out towards Scarlett and put a timid hand on her shoulder as a gesture of comfort. She still couldn't believe Scarlett was responsible for killing two of her closest friends, but somehow, she understood.

Hell, just thinking about hearing your brother die and knowing that the killer walked freely boiled her blood. But Eric? Emma almost cried at the thought of her childhood friend being a murderer.

"I'm sorry, but that still doesn't answer my question. So, Liam was your half-brother. What, was your father involved in Eric's murder too?" Anthony asked as he threw the suggestion carelessly.

"No." Scarlett looked at Anthony straight in the eyes. "But Liam's mother was."

"What?" Emma frowned. What's happening?"

"Just tell them," Levi said, gazing at Scarlett intensely.

Scarlett looked at Levi, hesitated for a few moments before facing Ella. "Ella helped me kill Eric. She is -sorry- was Liam's mother."

Multiple gasps echoed in the room as every eye in the room fixed their gaze on Ella, who got paler by the second. Mark felt the blood rushing to his head as his heart kicked into an erratic rhythm when he heard his wife's name.

"N-No! She's lying! What are you saying girl, I don't even know you!" Ella screamed at Scarlett. She looked at her husband,, who just stared at her in a daze, as if not believing what was happening around him.

"Mark, believe me! She's lying. I would never cheat on you-"

"Ella, are you sure you want to finish that sentence? Because I have some evidence that says otherwise." Levi cocked an eyebrow at her, making her shut up.

"I... I- oh!" Ella dramatically covered her face in her hands as she sobbed uncontrollably. It was getting harder for her to breathe because of how fast her heart was hammering against her chest, the realization that her truth was out made her break out in a cold sweat.

"Scarlett is talking about our Liam?" Mark asked Ella, eyebrows pulled together so fiercely that it hurt. "I thought it was just a crazy coincidence, the name, the date... I would have never, in my wildest dreams even think of you cheating on me." Mark's voice was hoarse as he struggled to control his emotions.

"Not only do I have to deal with the fact that my son was brutally murdered, but that he's not even my son because my wife cheated on me?" Mark's voice cracked at the end.

Ella wiped her tears with shaking hands as she composed herself. "Mark, you know I love you so, so much-" she breathed deeply, "But I always wanted a baby and we were unable to have one for years," she said, her voice thick. "I thought the problem was with me.

"I felt old and pathetic, but then, we shifted to New York for 2 years, and I met Scarlett's father." Ella closed her eyes painfully in regret. "He made me feel young and attractive and you were always busy with your job, and I don't know, it just happened." She cried as her voice wavered, feeling humiliation and dread like never before.

Ella's every word was like an arrow straight to Mark's bleeding heart. "How do you call yourself a woman?" Mark's voice hardened. "I didn't make you feel loved? You ungrateful bitch," he spat with hatred even though he was breaking inside.

"On top of being unfaithful, you're also a killer. Wow, so many surprises today. And here I thought you were the most kind-hearted and beautiful woman, inside out," Mark continued, shaking his head sadly. "I was so stupid."

His words were like a slap to Ella's face as her eyes got wider each second. Her body felt like it was on fire. "No, I didn't kill Eric! That was all Scarlett," Ella desperately tried to grasp onto any threads that could save her.

"I'll admit I reached out to you, but it was you who encouraged me to kill Eric and hid his medicines, and then later forced me to kill Carter," Scarlett said sharply.

"I couldn't help my actions! That monster took my baby away from me!" Ella shouted, making everybody jump in their seats. "When you reached out to me and told me the truth... I wanted to end Eric's life that instant.

"Carter's death was not planned but he had to die because he knew!" Ella said, her frail hands waving around.

"Actually, I wouldn't have been surprised if you had killed me after this trip too. You know, just seal all the ends so that your husband doesn't find out your dirty secret." Scarlett gritted her teeth.

"Ex-husband. We're done," Mark said, his tone final. He shrugged his shoulder hard when Ella tried to grab it when he stood up and made his way to the window. He stood there silently, his mind miles away as his eyes blankly focused on the glistening snow on the trees.

"No, please. I can't live without you." Ella panicked, her eyes were desperate.

"Well, too bad. You'll have to. You know, considering you'll be in jail," Matteo said as he rolled his eyes. He got up from his seat and went to Levi.

"Are we done here?" He asked Levi.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good, because I need to make some arrests now."

***

The common room was a sight of chaos as police officers came in and arrested Scarlett and Ella, the latter making a fuss. Scarlett, however, was oddly quiet as an officer cuffed her wrists behind her back. Her eyes were dead, with no guilt or remorse written anywhere on her face.

Anthony held a crying Emma as they watched the whole scene unfold before them. Just as the officers were about to take away Scarlett, her stoic expressions morphed into realization as she turned to Matteo and asked him to allow her one thing.

"Please, I just need to get something from my room," Scarlett pleaded. Matteo relented as he motioned the officer to open her handcuffs.

Emma watched in confusion as an officer escorted Scarlett upstairs, and then back a few minutes later. She had a paper bag clutched tightly in her hands as she made her way towards Emma and handed it to her.

"Promise to deliver this to my mother?" Scarlett requested, "Tell her I'm sorry," she bit her lip and faced away as tears threatened to spill.

Before she could turn away completely, Emma grabbed her arm and pulled her into a crushing hug. Scarlett hugged back with equal fervor and felt Anthony's arms close around them a few moments later.

The three of them just stood there silently, heads joined and linked by arms. Who knows when they'll be like this again. Everything had changed.

They were a group of five just a few days ago, and now two were dead and one of them was going to jail.

An officer behind them cleared their throat as their hug got longer, so Scarlett broke away from it reluctantly. Her whole face was covered with tears, just like Emma's.

"I'm sorry for everything," Scarlett said between her sobs.

Emma brought her hand to Scarlett's face and wiped her tears away. She felt as if a ball had lodged in her throat, stopping her to speak.

"It's not your fault," Anthony whispered as he gave Scarlett a watery smile. "We're here for you, always. Okay?"

Scarlett nodded as she released a shaky sigh before detaching herself completely.

"I love you," Emma choked out, her voice thick.

I love you too, Scarlett mouthed back as she looked at her friends longingly for the last time, trying to commit their faces into her memory.

When Scarlett left the room, Emma opened the bag and peered inside while frowning. However, it soon dissolved and a sad smile took its place instead as she realized what she had given her.

The bag had fridge magnets of all kinds that her mother adored. Emma knew that Scarlett's mother was obsessed with them.

The magnets also triggered a memory in her. Emma had chosen them with Scarlett when they had gone down into the village for shopping and skiing after Eric and Carter's fight.

"I'm so sad," She whispered as she leaned into Anthony.

"I know, me too." Anthony rubbed her shoulder comfortingly as he watched the officer lead Ella and Scarlett into the car.

***

"Hey, you alright?" Levi asked as he approached Mark. He was still rooted in his place, standing by the windows in the common room.

The room was empty now, and it was hard for Levi to believe that murder confessions and arrests had taken place in this cozy room just a few minutes ago.

"Of Course I'm not alright. I just found out my wife was involved in the murder of the person who killed our child, who was not even mine." Mark replied darkly.

"I'm so sorry," Levi said genuinely and let the snide remarks pass. He deserved it anyway.

"How did you know?" Mark asked, still staring outside, hands behind his back.

"Know what?"

"Everything."

"Well, to be honest, I had no idea Ella was an accomplice to the murders. However, when I found out about the date on which Eric had killed Liam, my mind instantly went to your tattoo," Levi said as he watched Mark turn towards him just a bit.

Mark instantly looked at his wrist, where his tattoo was. "You asked me about it and I told you it was the date on which my child had died," he said slowly as realization dawned on him.

"Precisely. I checked the records and they confirmed my suspicions. However, I had no idea that Ella had cheated with Scarlett's father and that Liam was actually her half-brother. That was crazy, to say the least..." Levi remarked.

Mark only hummed in response as he tightened his hands at the reminder.

"I'm genuinely sorry you had to find out about your wife and Liam this way," Levi said softly, resisting the urge to pat Mark's shoulder. He was awkward like that.

"I had to know one day," Mark said, his voice deep. "It doesn't matter to me that Liam was not my biological son," he finally turned and met Levi's gaze. "He was my whole world. I was there when he scraped his knee for the time, his first heartbreak, all of his sports events... So I'll be damned if anyone says he's not my son."

Levi could only smile at that, his own heart feeling heavy. He noticed Mark's eyes brimming with tears and that's when he decided that he better be left alone.

"Well, I should go. Need to finalize some details with Detective Matteo," Levi said smiling. "Goodbye."

Mark didn't say anything back as Levi left the room and closed the doors behind him. He made his way towards the reception where he was told earlier that Matteo was waiting.

***

"Well, that was a disaster," Matteo said, standing up from the chair as he saw Levi approaching.

"Definitely. Do you have everything you need for the case? I practically spoonfed you the whole thing," Levi said as he rolled his eyes.

"Yes, I have everything. And, are you forgetting that you realized the time frame because of my notes?" Matteo raised one eyebrow at him.

"Let's never talk about that," Levi said, internally cringing when he remembered that he had to apologize in order to get those dreaded notes.

"Okay then. I guess that's it." Matteo said as he realized this would be his last meeting with Levi. "I hope to never see you again." Matteo smirked as he extended his hand.

"The feeling is mutual." Levi returned the smirk as he shook hands with Matteo.

Both of them refused to acknowledge the nagging feeling of sadness at saying goodbye, deep, deep down in their hearts.

***

"Finally! We get to go home from this awful place," Charlotte said as she plopped down next to Levi on the bed in their room.

"Yes, I'm so done with this trip," Levi agreed as he closed his eyes.

They were all done packing and were waiting for the cab to arrive to take them away from this place.

"Yes, done with this trip," Charlotte said, "You owe me another vacation mister," she accused.

Levi let out a long groan but relented anyway.

"Alright, alright. Where to next?"

***

And that's a wrap! I really, really hope you guys loved it! I'm so sad it ended... but thankful as well! 

Also, who wants an epilogue?

Please don't forget to vote if you liked the chapter!