Doramis
Doramis, Ken and Robbie arrived outside of Ivy's Tavern where there was a large group gathered. Everyone held a candle lighting up the night sky around them. Everyone were gathered into small groups as they remembered Ivy.
"This is a bad idea," said Ken. "We're punished. We shouldn't be out here."
"Our parents won't find out and if they did, we're honoring a friend like everyone else," said Doramis.
"But that's not what we're doing," said Ken. "You want to interrogate Jack, which is the thing that got us in trouble in the first place."
"What got us in trouble in the first place was the fact we were skipping school when we had our interrogation. We're not skipping this time."
"Stop being a wimp," said Robbie.
"Seriously," said Doramis. "Robbie's the freshmen here, not you."
Ken wanted to defend himself, but couldn't come up with the words so he just put his head down. "Fine," he said, sounding defeated.
"There he is," said Robbie. "He's with that woman." The group looked over and saw Jack hanging out with Jordana, Noah and Liam. "She's made some friends since we last talked to her."
"More like all the horny men are swarming the new girl in town," said Doramis.
"She is attractive," said Ken.
"See," said Doramis as she pointed her open hand at Ken. "Case in point."
"I don't think she's that attractive," said Robbie.
"That's because you haven't hit puberty yet," said Ken.
"Nice come back," said Doramis as she let out a slight laugh. "You got a bit of redemption there." Ken couldn't help but smile at her words.
"You cut me off before I could retort," said Robbie.
"No time," said Doramis as she went to the group. "Jack, we need to talk."
"Oh, hey guys," said Jack as everyone in his group stopped chatting. "Paying your respect to Ivy too?"
"That too, but I really wanted to talk to you."
"Hello Dori, Kenny and Robbie," said Jordana.
"Hi," said Ken while his friends ignored her.
"You know them?" said Jack.
"Yes, we had an interesting conversation a couple of days ago," said Jordana.
"I'm not here about that now," said Doramis.
"Kids," said Liam. "Should you be here at this time of night?"
"That's none of your business. Why don't you go talk to your conquest somewhere else."
"Excuse me?"
"Conquest?" said Jordana. "Is that supposed to be me?"
"I doubt these men are trying to get into Noah's pants," said Doramis.
"Dori!" exclaimed Jack while Noah seemed to be embarrassed. "You need to stop."
"Does that mean you three aren't trying to get into my pants?" Jordana asked the teenagers, causing Ken and Robbie to blush.
"Eww," said Doramis with a disgusted face. "Gross."
"Your friends don't seem to think so. Look how red they're getting."
Doramis turned to look at them and they quickly turned away. "Seriously, couldn't keep your shit together," she said to them, disappointed.
Jordana put a finger under Doramis' chin, pushing her attention to herself. Doramis was now looking into Jordana's eyes. "Don't be so hard on them. Men just can't help themselves when teased by a beautiful woman. You'll be doing the same thing in no time."
"Jordana, you should stop," said Noah.
"I'm just teasing them," said Jordana as she pulled her finger away from Doramis. "We'll call it revenge for our first encounter."
"What did they do to you?" asked Noah.
"Never mind that," said Doramis, cutting them off. "Did someone try to kill my mother last night?" she asked Jack.
Jack was caught off guard by the question as he looked at his friends. Everyone could tell he was nervous as he put a hand behind his head. "You're the second person to ask me today."
"Wait," said Jordana. "What happened? Someone tried to kill someone?" Noah and Liam were just as confused as her as they looked at Jack.
"I'm not too sure about that," said Jack.
"So you don't think someone was trying to take a shot at my mother?" asked Doramis.
"I'm saying I don't know for a certainty. A lot of people were shooting. I think celebrating the fact that they killed the bear. Maybe one of those people accidentally fired our way."
"Is that what you told the police?" asked Doramis.
"Yes, it's what I think happened."
"You don't think they were trying to kill my mother?"
"No, I think it was someone who got carried away."
"When people fire their gun in celebration, they usually fire to the sky," said Jordana. "Not in the direction of people."
"Exactly," said Doramis.
"They might have been trying to kill you," said Liam, jokingly as he gave him a small shove.
"Funny," said Jack with an awkward laugh.
"You weren't the target," said Doramis. "My mother was."
"What makes you so sure about that?" asked Jordana.
"Because of what my mom used to do."
"Oh yeah, the private detective."
"How do you know about that?"
"Ivy told me."
"Why would she do that?"
"Now you're starting to ask personal questions," said Jordana as she leaned in closer to Doramis. "Am I a suspect in your investigation?"
"I don't know," said Doramis as she puffed out her chest, not backing down to the older woman. "Were you in the forest last night during the hunt?"
Jordana leaned back. "Nope. I wanted to be, but Noah called it a night and he kindly provided me a place to stay after someone's dick of a father kicked me out." She looked at Robbie as she said those words.
"So Noah is the lucky one to get in your pants," said Doramis.
"Doris!" exclaimed Noah. "Now I'm going to tell your mother how rude you're being."
"Don't," said Jordana. "The girl is just intimidated by me and is putting on a strong front. It's cute."
"The fuck I am," said Doramis.
"Language, young lady," said Noah as he put a hand up to his head in frustration.
"See what I mean," said Jordana. "Cute."
Doramis looked like she wanted to assault Jordana but her friends put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"Dori," said Ken. "Remember why we're here."
"I remember," she said to him. She returned her attention to the group. "Okay, so you and Noah weren't out last night. Who was?" she asked as she looked at Liam.
"I was at the hunt, but I didn't see anything and I mean anything. I didn't see them kill the bear or shoot at your mother. If you want a list of the people who were out last night, I would talk to Ashner. Everyone who wanted to go out to the hunt had to sign up with him. He literally has a list."
"That's actually very helpful," said Doramis. "Thank you." Doramis grabbed Robbie and Ken's hands and pulled them away from the group. "Let's find Ashner."
Ken looked back as he was being pulled away and saw Jordana smiling at them. "What's the plan now?" he asked, but still looked back at Jordana until he lost sight of her within the crowd. "I doubt Ashner is just going to give us the list."
Doramis stopped and looked back at Ken. "Why do you say that?"
"Ashner is known for being notoriously difficult."
"Shit, this complicates things."
"Look," said Robbie as he pointed towards the back of the crowd.
Mattias arrived with his guitar in hand and made his way through the crowd. He stopped when he reached the front of Ivy's Tavern where there was a memoriam for her. He sat down in front of Ivy's picture and began to play his guitar. He played a slow and sad melody as everyone went quiet and listened. Then he began to sing to everyone's surprise.
They say the good die young
Bless us for a short time
And it's not fair
We're going to miss your smile
Your laughter
Your voice
Your beautiful presence
And it's just not fair
Can't believe we're never going to see you again
Hear your voice
Feel your warmth
Or see your smile ever again
And it is just not fair
They say the good die young and that's not fair
Mattias stopped when his voice cracked but everyone clapped at his performance. Some gave him a pat on the back while others shook his hand. Most stayed silent as they cried for what they lost.
"It wasn't a bear that killed Ivy," yelled and slurred someone from the back. Everyone was horrified as they saw Domingo limping into the memoriam. Everyone got out of his way as he reached where Mattias was and the picture of Ivy. "She wasn't killed by a bear," he muttered.
Mattias took a step away from Domingo as he went to his knees in front of Ivy's picture.
"My sweet Ivy," muttered Domingo as he grabbed her picture.
"Someone get him out of here," yelled someone in the crowd.
Domingo turned to the crowd. "You idiots think it was a bear that killed Ivy but you're wrong." He held her picture close to his heart as he screamed at everyone. "Ivy was murdered by one of you," he spat.
The crowd gasped as they stepped away from the drunk.
"I know one of you did it," he said as he pointed towards the crowd. "I saw when you poked her." He hiccuped. "I mean stabbed her."
The crowd gasped again when Deputy Tirado made his way through the crowd. "That's enough of that," said the deputy as he grabbed Domingo by the arm.
"What are you doing?" said Domingo as he pulled his arm away and fell on his back.
"It's time for us to get out of here," whispered Robbie. "Before my father sees us." Doramis and Ken gave him a nod as they sneaked away.