Fanatic ⇒ Only Murders In The Building

07 → To Protect And Serve

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'To Protect And Serve'
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"We continued staring at the jewels for what felt like a beat too long," Oliver narrated, receiving a narrowed-eye look from Callum.

"I found them in Tim's apartment. I went back sometime after we left," Mabel explained the group, immediately getting offended looks from the two older men.

"You went back without us?" Charles questioned, his tone showing he was hurt.

"Charles I get, but without me?"

"I'd rather have Charles," Callum interjected with a grin. Charles' hurt expression softening slightly while Oliver looked offended.

"What has Charles got that I-"

"Guys!" Mabel scolded before all attention turned to Tavo.

"I found him this one. And this one. These are all from Angel," Tavo informed. The Brit questioned what kind of alias Angel was. It reminded him too much of the woman in the corner shop who called everyone sweetheart and pet.

"Who is Angel?"

"That's the only name I got. Kono was obsessed with buying pieces from Angel. Sucks Tim died before he got the one he wanted," Tavo continued to explain as the group remained crowded around the pool table full of jewels.

"And which one was that?"

"Uh, I got a pic somewhere. He'd been trying to track it down for years. I can dig it up."

"Yes, please and text it to me as soon as you find it," Mabel told her cousin, moving away from the table.

"Me too," Oliver said.

"Me three!" Charles added.

"Not me," Callum denied.

"You know, I hooked Tim up with my jewellery connection, Cutter, to talk about that piece he wanted," Tavo said as Oliver groaned, clutching his head.

"Oh my god! The twists and turns of this are just unbelievable. It's like a-a rainbow crafted by a drunken leprechaun," Oliver said, receiving looks of disapproval from Mabel, Callum and Oscar. "I can say that 'cause I'm three-quarters Irish and I have a teeny bit of a drinking problem."

"You said the same thing about your dip problem," Callum commented before Tavo interrupted from behind.

"Wait. Tim was supposed to meet Cutter here today." As if on cue, the door of the shop opened and a woman strutted in.

"I'm gonna guess you're not Cutter," Charles told the mystery woman.

"You come to Bayport, I have to hear it from Miss Skullcap over here?" The woman began her rant. Callum followed her eye-line to see her talking to Mabel. "You don't call me?"

"Hey, mom," Mabel awkwardly waved to the woman as Charles, Oliver and Callum turned to her in surprise.

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"And that sad and lonely boy raised by a psychologically abusive mother was none other... than Stephen Joshua Sondheim," Oliver concluded as Callum mouthed 'kill me' to Mabel and Oscar who sat across from him. "Let me tell you something about Steve. When he is on his game, it's a blessing. And when he's not, I'm patient," the man said, receiving a groan from Charles out of boredom.

"Hey. Tavo just texted me that photo from Tim," Mabel informed, Callum perking up at the statement.

"Tim? From the Arconia, Tim?" Mabel's mother questioned. "Why are you still in contact with that boy after what he did to Oscar?" Callum suddenly felt as if he shouldn't be at the table.