#lottie lost her eyebrows at the adoption center ����

[plushie-lovey]

Sisters, united at last

Bonus: comparison of their patterns

[turquoisemagpie]

WKM: 20 Years Later.

3)

Abe and Lottie had walked and talked their way back into town, Abe doing most of the talking, explaining what got him into crime solving. Although he seemed too caught up in his own narration to really care Lottie was next to him, she kept a yard away from him on the sidewalk, still weary of whether to trust him or not. He seems agreeable now his gun wasn’t pointing at her, but something was nagging at the back of her head, telling her to get far away from him as soon as possible. Damien was constantly pulling Celine away from Lottie, telling her not to keep harassing her with too many thoughts. Celine was acting aggressively concerned, as if she trying to keep a small child from walking onto a busy road.  “He’s not to be trusted!” she shouted at Damien, “We heard his crazy mumblings, haven’t we? Every time he visited the house, always whispering to himself, swearing revenge on Will. He’s gone mad over the years. And if he finds out who Lottie is… I can’t let this happen. She can’t stay any longer with him!” Damien stopped her before she could touch the back of Lottie’s head again. “Stop it!” he pleaded, “I know you’re concerned for her safety, but you can’t just keep throwing thoughts into her head. She has her own mind, and we’ve seen she can fend for herself… She wants information and, unfortunately, he’s the only one who can give her what she needs to know.” Celine scowled. “She probably knows more than him, he’s such an arrogant idiot.” “Well, let her discover that for herself.” Damien suggested, “You can try to lead her in certain directions, when she’s lost, but no brainwashing her into doing what you want. It’s not fair. Ok?” “They all died, sadly.” Abe continued, flicking idly through the concertina of photographs in his wallet, “Each death more tragic than the last.” Lottie was baffled and a little fearful as she asked, “So, why didn’t you just stop getting partners sooner, if you knew they’d all end up dead?”  “I can’t solve all the crimes by myself.” Abe explained, “I gotta have a backup, someone to divulge with, and get all the possibilities out in the open, incase anything should happen to me.” He sighed sadly, “You right though. I shoulda realised that I had a curse in some way. And my last partner made me finally come to terms with that.” “Why? How did they die?” “They didn’t, that’s the odd thing. They just sort of disappeared. That seems to me the most tragic thing to happen to a partner.” He glanced at Lottie and saw her overly concerned expression. He chuckled and said, “Don’t worry. I’ve learnt my lesson. No more partners.”  Thank goodness, Lottie thought to herself. If he had suddenly turned around at that moment to asked her to be his next partner, she would have gladly jumped over a wall and ran far away.  “But yeah, that’s me.” Abe said with a shrug, “Now, what’s your story?”

Lottie sighed and began, “I’m trying to track down my parents. My mom had me until I was one, but she disappeared after… whatever happened on the night the Markiplier killing. So, I was put into an orphanage. It was fine at first, they raised me ok until I was 11, and then they moved me to a care home for older kids… I didn’t have such a good time there. And I was never adopted, sadly; I lived my whole life orphaned until I was old enough to leave and find my own living at 18.” She took another sigh, realising how depressing her life story actually was, now she was hearing it out loud. “It’s been hard to keep a job, or a place to stay, but I think I’ve found a stable living for now. So, while I’m in the local area, I decided to try and see what happened to my mom and dad.”  “Your mother was involved in the events at the manor?” Abe suddenly pressed, “How?” “She was the wife of Markiplier.” Abe suddenly stopped walking, Lottie stopped too and looked to him. His brow furrowed more as his blinked; he was clearly confused. “Wait.” He said, rubbing his eyes roughly, “You mean… Celine, the seer… had a kid with Mark? How the hell did I not know this! Me and Mark were friends for ye-.” “Oh no, I’m not Mark’s child.” Lottie interrupted, “Celine was… having an affair with Colonel William. I’m his daughter, not Mark’s.” Abe’s eyes widened slightly, then blinked his shock away, realising Lottie would notice it.  She continued, “I think that’s probably why my mother took me away from the house. I suspect that she never told Mark and was scared of the consequences if he found out. But why she never came back, I don’t know. There is the possibility that… she died, but that’s not a certain fact. So, I want to find her. Or at least find out what really happened to her.” “And… what about your father, the Colonel?” Abe pressed seemingly intrigued. She shrugged, “I don’t know. I suspect my mother took me to his place after she left Mark, but I’m not sure. I can’t find anything anywhere that tells me if they even lived together.” “Maybe he had other relatives he lived with.” Abe suggested, “Do you know if there is anyone else related to the Colonel? Anyone who could help you find where he is?”  Lottie felt a small cold feeling crawl up her spine as Abe looked at her keenly. She only now realised how he kept one hand through his coat to press against his gut, like Napoléon Bonaparte. He must have an old wound, she thought, but why is he fascinated in the Colonel? Did the Colonel do something to him?  “I’m not sure.” Lottie said cautiously, “I don’t really much care for him. So, I didn’t do as much research on him as I did for my mother.” That was a lie. She had done just as much, if not more, studying for him. It was easier to list his achievements, that was for sure; she managed to find his military records, and all his expeditions into the unknown seemed worthy enough to be printed in the headlines of the local newspapers of his time. But Abe seemed suspicious now. She had to be careful what she said. Abe sighed in disappointment; he thought he was nearly onto something. “Ah well,” he huffed, “sorry if I don’t have anything new that helps you find them. But I have to say, you seem like you’re on the right path to finding something big. Maybe, working together, we could find more clues as to their whereabouts.” Lottie stopped again and crossed her arms. “I thought you said, ‘no more partners’!” she said with a raised eyebrow.  Abe shook his hands at her. “Oh, no no no.” he corrected himself, “No more partners, you’re right. I mean I could be your partner!” Lottie’s eyes widened. “You? You be my partner?” “Yeah.” Abe said with a goofy smile, “I mean, I’m a qualified detective. And I have connections. Connections to people who can help the both of us. I’ll.. have to do some seeking out though, to try and find them, but once I find them, you can ask them if they have anything that could help you.” “Why do you want to help me so bad?”  Abe paused for a hesitant moment. “Erm… because I want you to find your parents. Your story is really sad, yet encouraging… You know? After all you’ve gone through and yet you still have the determination to find the answers. I wanna back you to the hills!” Wow, Lottie thought, was my story really that sad? For someone like him, someone who’s lost nearly every person he’s worked with to a horrific tragedy, to say that she was the one to be pitied… it felt sadder in a way. But oh well, one man’s walk in the park is another man’s bridge of death.  Suddenly Abe thrusted a small card into Lottie’s hand. It was a business card with his name and a phone number printed on, to which the phone number was scribbled out with a pen and new one was written above it. “Call me tomorrow.” He said eagerly and he started quickening his pace away from Lottie.  “Wait.” she called out in confusion, “Where are you going?” “Back to my office.” He called back, still striding away, “I’m going to try and track down the people who I think can help us. Call me tomorrow and I’ll tell you if I have anything! See you soon!” And he disappeared around the corner at the bottom of the hill, into town.  Lottie stood still for a moment, slightly baffled by what just happened. She stared at the card he gave her, at the number written down. 

She ended up staring at the card again the next day, as she was writing down all the events of what happened in her book. Looking back at everything, Lottie grew more and more excited. Soon she’d get some answers. This was all turning out to be a lot easier than she imagined. A little too easy.  She headed out of her flat to the landlady’s office downstairs, asking if she could use the phone. Once she got to the phone she dialed the number on Abe’s card. The first dial tone hadn’t even finished before there was an instantly answer.  “Hello?” Abe’s answered quickly. “Hi. It’s Lottie.” “Great! I’ve been waiting for you to call all morning. I managed to find someone who can help us. Someone who’s still in the area too, which is lucky.” Lottie was happily surprised. “Wow. Great! Who is it?” “An old employee of the manor, who was there on the night of the killing. I’ve met him before. Bit of an intimidating thug, but he wasn’t the murderer, which is a good thing.” “Yeah. Great(!)” Lottie said with a sarcastic tone, “Where abouts is he.” “He’s the head chef of a restaurant at the southern end of town, west just before the highway. If we head there now, it’ll still be open. We can question him there.” “West of the highway?”  “Yeah… Why? Is that an issue?” Lottie bit her lip. “…No. It’s fine. It’s just… never mind.” “Yeah, I know. The place is a little rough. Just stick with me, you’ll be fine. I’ll meet you at the southern center of town in an hour. Is that ok with you?”  Lottie hesitated, but finally agreed and hung up. She headed back to her room. She took her time getting the things she needed, but she lingered every now and then, thinking worryingly to herself. She knew the southern end of town was rough, she had spent all her life there; that’s why she was scared of it. The orphanage was there. All the people she had grown up with were there. Probably some of the younger meaner kids were still there. The careless yet strict staff were there. He was there…  But Abe would be there too. And he was armed; he could take care of anything. And it’s not like any of the staff would care enough to try and meet her again. It’ll be fine. And all the other kids had moved on too; they were probably in some other part of the country by now. It’d be fine. Just breathe. It’ll be fine. Breathe. Just breathe. It’ll be fine. It’ll be fine.

“Lottie?” Abe’s voice made her jump. “You ok?” he asked calmly. They were standing outside a rather rundown looking restaurant; it looked more like a converted warehouse than a restaurant. “Do you not want to go in?” Lottie shook her head and took a deep breath. “No, I’m ok. I’m fine. I just… need to catch my breath.” Abe’s brow furrowed. “You got asthma, or…?” “No. Anxiety.” Lottie told him, “I need to calm down sometimes. Things get easily overwhelming for me.”   “Oh. Ok. We can wait if you want.” Lottie shook her head. “No, I’m fine now. Let’s go.” She walked ahead of the detective and opened the door about an inch, before suddenly it opened itself. “Bonjour!” A very tall, stern-faced man in a suddenly slipped out from behind the door. He wore a spotless waiter’s uniform, even a pair of equally spotless white gloves. “Welcome. It’s still a bit early for the dinner menu to start, but I can serve you drinks while you wait. How many of you are eating tonight?” “Erm… We’re not eating sorry.” Lottie nervously told him. “Oh?” he hummed in a pertly attitude, until he saw Abe standing behind her, to which his expression, as stone-faced as it may have been, dropped to a scowl. “Oh.” “Well, isn’t this a turn up for the books!” Abe announced, stepping past Lottie to look angry face to angry face at the waiter. “Fancy you working with the same guy all over again. I thought you and the chef both hated each other. Or is this like a love-hate relationship or something.” “It’s bad luck, in my opinion.” the waiter replied in a deep stern voice, “It’s not like either of us wanted to be here.” “Wait.” Lottie interrupted, “You know each other?” “Know each other?” Abe pointed at the waiter and said, “This stuck-up bastard was the butler back at the manor, Benjamin! One of three employees who worked there for over 10 years,” he squinted angrily at the waiter, “and one of the suspects of Markiplier’s death.” Lottie gasped in delight. “So… you were at the murd-“ Abe and Benjamin shushed her up hastily. “Don’t say that word, please.” Benjamin said quietly, “anything, but that word.” Sighing agitatedly, Abe said, “Never mind this pointless talk. Where’s the chef?” “He’s in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t interrupt him. He gets… restive before the dinner rush.” “I don’t care what kind of vegetable he’s getting! We need answers now.” Abe headed towards the kitchen, the waiter following him to try and stop him.  Lottie caught up to Benjamin and asked, “Were you really there at Markiplier’s death?” “Unfortunately, so.” “Then, would you mind sticking around and answering a few questions too?” Lottie asked politely. “I wouldn’t bother with him.” Abe interrupted before the waiter could answer, “He’s about as useful as a candle without a wick!” Abe reached the beaded curtains that covered the doorway into the kitchen. As he entered, Benjamin turned away, wincing, like he was bracing for an explosion. Lottie paid no mind and walked in after the detective. “No!” Benjamin yelled as she walked through, “He’s not-!” “STAY OUT OF MY KITCHEN!!” Damien pushed Lottie to a side. Lottie stumbled, just as a knife flew past her shoulder and stuck into the wood of the doorway.