For those of you who haven't noticed, the cover received a little makeover😌

Fawn's POV

The office is quiet today.

Everyone seems just a little...on edge. It's understandable, I mean, someone just died.

Two people, technically...they're only aware of one, though.

However, what was really off was when Alastor and I entered, and every single pair of eyes raised to look at us.

Except they were all looking at him.

It was strange. No one said a word, no one smiled, they just all looked at Alastor. He didn't even correct them, just cleared his throat and waved his hand at them.

That was signal enough for them to start working again.

It wasn't until we entered his office that it made sense that everyone looked at him.

Sitting at his desk was a police officer, and several more were posted around the room.

My heart fell out of my ass.

Despite the immediate gut wrenching fear I felt, I kept my expression calm...although, my grip on his hand did tighten.

He gave me a gentle squeeze, and I looked up at him to see that he didn't look worried at all.

In fact...he looked rather amused.

"Well, good morning, officers! How might I help you?" He began, releasing my hand so he could step in front of me slightly.

"Mr. Broussard," the officer at his desk started, "my name is detective Caine. As I'm sure you're aware, an employee suffered an untimely end here just the other day...now, the funny thing is, the poor kid was murdered...our coroner told us that it was obvious he had copious amounts of cyanide in his system, so please tell me why we interviewed everyone here..."

The detective's eyelids lowered, and he sat forward slightly, "except you and your little lady there," he motioned to me, "and don't lie, because all of your employees already told us that you both were, in fact, here...in fact...it was that one that was there when he died, correct?"

He nodded his head towards me, and I shuffled behind Alastor a bit more, holding onto his arm nervously.

Alastor chuckled, "detective, I can assure you I will be nothing but honest...after all I am nothing if not a man of my word."

The detective narrowed his eyes, looking between Al and I.

"Actually..." he began, "it was my understanding...that you weren't even in the room until after it was over. So, Mr. Broussard...please step into the hall while we ask this young woman a few questions."

At that suggestion, Alastor tensed and reached behind his back to tug me closer to him.

There was a suffocating silence in the room, an obvious tension between Alastor and this detective.

Then, Al sighed and gently nudged me out from behind him. I looked up at him, my heart pounding.

No...don't leave me alone with them...please...

Please don't...

"I'll be just outside, darling...just be completely honest with them, you'll be alright," he said with a loving smile.

Taking my hands in his, he brought them both of to his lips and kissed them, then slipped away from me.

I watched him leave, my heart beating faster and faster.

I don't want to be here alone with the cops...I hate cops...

**

"Miss Beaumont, can you tell us, is there anyone who would've wanted to hurt your mother?"

My hands were curled in my lap, my body trembling from shock. There was still the taste of vile in my throat from when I'd thrown up.

Tears fell from my eyes freely, but my expression was blank as I sniffled and shook my head.

The officer sitting across from me sighed.

"Miss Beaumont, we need you to cooperate, we won't be able to find who did th..." the officers voice faded off as my eyes shifted slowly to where my mother's body was laying when I'd walked in.

I could see the flashing red and blue lights outside our second story balcony. The glass door was shattered, blood smeared on the walls.

Where I found her there was a huge blood stain in the white rug, surrounding that were several numbered cards and string blocking off that section of the room.

My expression cracked and my lip quivered.

I shut my eyes tightly, squeezing out several more tears before I tuned back into the officer's relentless questioning.

"...ow I know it's hard for you, but we need to know as much as you can tell us if we want to get justice for your mother." 

My dull eyes met his and I stayed quiet.

He looked down at his notes, "so...we've been over that you came home, found your mother...there was no one else on scene, is that correct?"

I nodded.

"Ok..." he muttered, scribbling something down, "now, it's our understanding your mother was doing a job, correct?"

My body tensed, and I grit my teeth.

"No." I forced out, shaking heavily as more tears slipped off my lashes, "he broke into our home. I told you that. He broke in."

The officer was quiet for a moment, then seemed to approach the topic more carefully.

"Miss Beaumont...I already told you that would've been unlikely...we found the messages in your mother's phone...and there were no signs of forced entry..."

I shook my head, "no...no...no..."

"...she was doing a job...her job, as an escort..."

"No...no..." my lip quivered and I grit my teeth harder, "no..."

"He was a client..."

"No!" I snapped and stood up quickly, "that is not true! You're lying, it was a robbery!" I shouted, my voice cracking as tears poured down my face.

The officer looked up at me with pity filled eyes.

I hated it.

"I wish I could tell you that were the truth..." he said, "but we have had a long history with your mother...we know her, Miss Beaumont...you don't need to be upset about the truth..."

"It's not the truth!" I sobbed, "my mother works at the bank!"

The officer sighed, "Fawn...the bank you told us she supposedly worked at shut down in 2008...your mother can't have worked there..."

"Shut up..." I whispered shakily.

"Miss Beaumont—"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

**

"Miss Beaumont!"

I gasped and blinked, looking towards the voice that just called my name.

"Are you alright?" The detective asked me, and I looked at him for a moment before my eyes fell and I nodded.

"Yes..."

"Alright...well, please come here and take a seat for me, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you..."

As he said this, he got up out of Alastor's office chair, motioning to it.

Reluctantly I went over, feeling all the officers' eyes on me as I did so.

Everything felt slow...I sat down and the same basic questions started up.

I answered their questions, hardly being present as I did so.

"Miss Beaumont...do you know who poisoned that coffee?" The detective asked suddenly, and I tensed.

Quickly I shook my head no.

"No, I don't."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Was it Alastor?"

My blood ran cold. I looked up at the detective and furrowed my eyebrows. His eyes narrowed on me.

I narrowed mine right back.

"No. It was not." I answered slowly, looking him in the eyes.

He stared me down for a few more seconds, but I'll be damned if I fold to an accusation like that.

After a long, tense moment, he looked back to his notepad, "ok...well, it seems I've asked everything I need. Please, contact me if you have anymore information for us..." he said, digging through his suit pocket.

He handed me a card with a number printed on it.

I sat the notecard on Al's desk, and nodded.

"Ok...good day, detective," I said, and then looked to the officers, "officers...if you all don't mind, we actually have work of our own to do."

The detective smiled, "of course...good day madam."

With that the officers filed out of the office, the detective going last. He paused in the doorway, looking over his shoulder at me.

We made eye contact for a second before he turned and left, letting the door shut after him.

I let out a deep breath, falling back into the chair.

"Fuck." I breathed, putting my hand over my face.

Not even two seconds later, Al came back into the room.

"Well, that was an unexpected start to our day!" He said happily, and I kept my hand over my face.

"Darling?"

I heard his steps come over, and he touched my shoulder gently. Without a word I sat up and wrapped my arms around his waist.

He tensed up, and I hugged him tightly, burying my face into his stomach.

I felt his hands rest on my back, and he traced shapes around my shoulder blades.

There was a moment where we just hugged...or, I was hugging him. He couldn't exactly hug me back with me sitting down.

"Please...don't ever leave me alone with them again..." I whispered, "please..."

He tugged at me, and I stood up slowly, keeping my eyes down.

"Look at me..." he said softly.

He cupped my face and tilted my head up, and my glossy eyes met his.

"I will never let them hurt you. I will never let anyone hurt you again. As long as I'm breathing, you are safe...don't worry..."

"And what about you..." I whispered, taking the front of his suit into my hands, "who's going to protect you...?"

He looked down at me, and his expression softened with a bit of sadness.

Without answering, he leaned down and kissed me. It was slow and sweet, and I brought my hands up to his face to hold him there.

Please don't leave me...

"Be careful..." I whispered when we parted, my eyes fluttering open to meet his.

He smiled, "I always am..." he responded, then turned us 180 degrees and sat down.

I was then pulled into his lap.

The rest of our morning was quiet and uninterrupted.

**

The familiar sound of Edith's shop bell sounded as Alastor opened the door for me.

I stepped into the shop looking around for the woman who runs it.

It didn't take me long to spot her behind the front counter, her back to us as she worked at her sewing machine.

"Hello, children, mama will be over there in jus' a second, babies!" She called not even turning to face us.

"Take your time, mama," Alastor called back, and then tugged me over to the women's section, "baby, come look, Edith just came out with a new selection of blouses for autumn and there were a few I think you'd like..."

I let Alastor tug me over to the blouses, and he immediately began grabbing them off the rack and holding them up to my frame.

There were a few that I liked, and the moment I expressed interest in them he had them folded over his arm.

I also notice him grab a few that I didn't pick out, but he put them over his arm anyway.

Suddenly Edith's voice piped up behind us, "hello my babies! Oh, I missed you, little Fawn, come here, give mama some sugar!"

Before I could even fully turn around I was engulfed into a warm hug, being pulled straight down into her chest.

"Hi mama, I missed you too," I said, my words muffled.

She released me after a big squeeze, and looked me over, "now, this here boy told me you got into a little bit a' trouble...did the jelly work ok?" She asked, looking worried.

I nodded, "yes...and thank you so much for that, it was very nice of you," I said politely, and she waved me off.

"Oh, nonsense, babydoll...no need to thank me, but I'm glad you're feeling better!" She said, pinching my cheek lightly.

I smiled and rubbed my cheek when she released me.

Her eyes went to Alastor, and she saw the clothing he was holding.

"Oooo, shopping?" Edith hummed, "I see you've found my autumn collection, oh, the colors are simply gorgeous. They'll look so lovely on you, dear!"

That was directed at me, and I giggled and blushed.

"Oh! In fact," she continued, "I just finished a skirt that I think will go wonderfully with those tops...come, come here and try this on for me," she waved me over as she started her way back towards the sewing machine.

I glanced at Alastor and he shrugged, motioning for me to follow her.

Internally, I groaned. I don't like skirts...

But this is mama Edith, and I can't bring myself to say no to her.

Reluctantly I followed, and Edith was waiting for me by her sewing machine. She picked up the fabric she'd been working with, shaking it out to reveal a pretty, long skirt.

The material looked light, and it looked flowy instead of straight cut.

"Here, babygirl, go and try this on for me. It's a prototype, and I wanna see what it looks like on a real life model," she urged, ushering me towards the dressing rooms.

I had no time to protest before she pushed me into one and shut the curtain, handing me the skirt.

Well...I guess it won't kill me.

My pants were discarded and I looked over the material in my hands. It was soft, and felt expensive. The skirt itself was beautiful, looking delicately crafted.

I slipped it on, situating it properly...then I realized it fit me perfectly.

Didn't she say it was just a prototype...?

Hm...anyway, it sat gorgeously, ending just below my knees.

Actually, aside from the length, it looks rather modern. The style is very new-age. I found myself twirling and looking at it from all angles, a little smile on my lips as I did so.

Man, I look good in this.

I hummed softly, exiting the dressing room to show my audience of two.

They were talking just outside, but upon my appearance they both looked over at me.

The first person I looked at was Alastor. His reaction was what I was really worried about...all he ever sees me in is pants, so I'm interested in his opinion.

However, he wore his opinion across his face when his smile widened and his cheeks gained a little color.

His eyes were glued to the skirt, and he approached me slowly. I noticed he was no longer holding the blouses, but there was a bag sitting on one of the waiting chairs.

"My, my...look at this pretty girl..." he said, then put one arm behind his back and bowed in front of me, holding out his hand.

I blushed and laid my hand in his, watching as he stared up into my eyes and kissed my knuckles.

"I don't believe I've seen you around before, miss, are you new in town?" He purred, making my blush darken.

I giggled and snorted softly in embarrassment, looking away from him, "oh quit it, you big flirt," I scolded him playfully.

He chuckled and stood up straight again, "apologies, my love, I just can't help myself. You look positively breathtaking, my dear."

His words made me feel ten times more confident, my smile beaming.

"You are just a vision to behold, honeysuckle..." Edith's soft praise came next, and I fiddled with the skirt as I blushed over all the attention.

"Thank you..." I uttered shyly, and Edith hummed.

"Well...it's yours! It looks far too good on you for me to take it back, so you go ahead and keep it," she said, and my eyes widened.

"But...but don't you need it to make more?" I stuttered, and she gave me a sly smile before she shrugged and turned around, heading back to the front counter.

"Oh well, I guess it'll just have to be one of a kind..." she chirped.

My face got even warmer, and then I felt Alastor's hand on my back as he began leading me to the door.

"Aha, ok, mama...it was lovely to see you, and thank you for the gift! We'll see you later," he called.

"Ok baby! Don't be strangers, now, love you!"

"Love you, too!" I called back.

Then Alastor and I exited the store, going to enjoy the rest of our day.