Chapter 2.0

The hour is late. The town is finally quiet and the rain finally stopped. All that noise, the staring, gasping crowd, the sirens, the neighbors, the news reporters, the uniformed men; they are all gone now. Now it's just me a not so bad Rye and the truth settling in for a long winter. Now is when I'm supposed to try to let go, but there are too many questions begging to be asked and no one left to ask them to. Too many questions, too many damned questions…

Ali was found, but 6 feet underground. The folks who bought the DiLaurentis house had been tearing down the gazebo that had been under construction the summer that Ali went missing. I remember the construction took all summer because their contractor was a bum who was bleeding them dry on the job. Now the St. Germain's own the house and they wanted to get rid of the damned thing in favor of flower beds and garden boxes. They started digging to remove the sunken foundation posts and they found Ali. Blonde hair, yellow tank top and blues jeans.

That night I cried my tears, held my friends and did what you expect someone to do. Now I was ready to find out whodunit! I knew even before they found her body this was a murder case. It had to be, no way would that dame get lost & stay lost. She craved the limelight, attention and above all she loved to mess with people, get in their heads and control them. She was the type to smack a cop just to see what would happen. If she wasn't coming back it was because she couldn't. She was buried in her own backyard which was only 20 feet from my family's backyard. That's right my rich perfection driven family lived right next door to Alison, her body's discovery didn't bode well for them. But I'd have to say it looked even worse for Alison's good for nothing brother, Jason. There's danger there something more than meets the eye, an ant hill begging to be kicked over.

I reached for the bottle to top off my glass trying to let it all sink in, trying to think. I picked up the case file & read myself to sleep in my arm chair. I awoke early to a knock at my door. I hoist my body up and stumble to the door cursing the Irishman who invented Whiskey. I opened the door to Officer Barry Maple, a friend from the Rosewood PD who came to give me the Police report on Ali. I thanked him and went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee and get to work. I flipped through a few times then knew I had to go get the girls immediately. I needed them on this.

Chapter 2.1

It was early when Paige snuck out of their bed and headed down the hall and stairs to the kitchen. She pulled out the four, eggs, milk, bananas & chocolate chips to whip up Emily's favorite breakfast, pancakes with some coffee & juice. After she sat the table, finishing it off with some of the last flowers from the fall garden she went upstairs to wake Em who was sleeping hard like a child. Paige kissed her gently awake and helped her put on her dressing gown and slippers then lead her down the stairs to the little feast she'd prepared. Emily forgot her oppressive pain for a few mins while she looked into Paige's eyes and kissed her deeply and passionately. Just as Emily was about to take her first bite I knocked on the front door. Paige opened it cautiously as they didn't enjoy random visitors due to their hush hush situation but once she saw it was me she relaxed a bit.

"Oh hi Spencer, sorry we just can't be too careful. How are you please come in," she said as she took the chain off the door & opened it just enough to let me in. "Hi Paige dear, is Em up yet?" At the sound of my voice Emily put down her folk that had been shoveling pancakes into her mouth and came to the front room where we were standing. "Spencer, is there news? What's going on? Why are you here?" She had her worry face on & Paige was staring at me waiting for answers but also with a look of "please not more bad news!"

Well, I had to drop the bomb sometime so I figured now was the time. "I got the police report, well part of it anyway. It says Ali suffered a massive head injury and it appears as though she's been dead since the night she went missing, she never really left Em. She was buried there this whole time till that St. Germaine family found her." I finished with a bit of bitterness for them as they seemed to be no help to her other than finding her. Though that was the one thing I was unable to do.

Emily sort of collapsed a bit into Paige's arms but steadied herself quickly and got into her combat investigation mode. "Were there finger prints, anything in the soil around her or anything else about the head wound to lead us to her killer?" Emily's skill at details was matched by her heart and I knew it was always best to keep her moving, give her facts and let her feel the emotional stuff later with Paige. "Not much else Em, no prints to speak of, but the odd thing was page 5 of the report was missing. Berry said he gave me everything that was there, but page 5 was just gone. It is the page that would tell what type of weapon made the wound to her head & if it was the wound that killed her or was it something else." I said defeatedly. "Sounds like some answers but a lot more questions, huh Em" Paige said staying close to Emily in case she needed her. "Yes, more questions and I think now's the time to ask them, you in Emily?" I said reaching my hand out to her, she was lost in thought and at first I wasn't sure she heard me. "Yes," she said suddenly "Let's get the girls together and talk all this out down the office." She was resolved to find Ali's killer and lay her to rest once for all.

"Let me get dressed and I'll come right with you." She kissed Paige on the head & whispered her apologizes to which Paige waived off and Emily hurried upstairs to change. "Paige, I uh well I'm sorry I know you had plans." I started but Paige interrupted me saying, "Spencer don't worry she needs to be with you ladies trying to sort this all out. I wasn't Alison's biggest fan, but her impact on Emily is clear & whatever she needs to sort through her feelings I'm ok with."

Paige was referring to the fact that Emily was in/had been in love with Alison. A fact Alison used to her advantage every chance she could. She would draw her close and then push her away, mind games. Emily told me once they spent an intimate night together where things happened that I think I would have to blush at if I heard the details of and in the morning Alison acted as if nothing had happened, she asked Emily to make coffee and she got dressed grabbed a cup and prepared for a day of shopping, saying she was meeting someone and left Emily in her house alone. Em was devastated, and at the time felt she could tell no one. It wasn't until after Alison went missing that I learn of that incident and others that were just as hurtful. Alison often times would dress in front of Emily asking her for help with zippers, or help with her intimate wear showing off her body in a seductive manor, even going so far as to dance for her and doing things that the women in the windows of the brothel on Scarlett Street might do. Then once Emily would try to replicate what was surely an offer of affection or at least of tawdry intent Alison would state she was merely practicing for any gentleman she might be seeing at the time or at a future date. Again this was all stuff I learned after Alison was gone and only once Paige had entered Emily's life and she felt secure. Paige encouraged Emily to confide in us because she knew Emily needed to talk to us about who she really was & what Ali had done, but also she thought it might help our case. Leading us to where Alison might be, but now of course we knew that it was all too late.

"Paige you are truly the best thing for our dear Emily. I just wish I could find myself a fella just like you. Then maybe my run of luck with no good men could end." I said feeling like the likelihood was slim given this town's population of choice. "Well, Spence see they don't make men like me dear at least that's what Emily says. If you're every feeling lavender-ly inclined I do have a friend or two from the city that might just fill the bill," she said laughing a little too heartily. "Hum…" I said pausing just enough "I might just take you up on that! After my last few dates with that Alex guy and all the drama with Wren that Limey devil. I might just be willing to give it a try. Though I'm still puzzled on who leads when you two dance!" I quipped poking her in the ribs a bit and honestly I wasn't too sure I didn't mean it. Giving a lady like Paige a try seemed to be working out for Emily and I could do with that sort of happiness especially now. Paige laughed but quieted down when she heard Emily coming down the stairs she didn't wanna be insensitive if Emily was still distraught about the news. But Emily had her jeans on her hair pulled back & I think her pistol hidden in her jacket, she was all business save for the long kiss and look she gave Paige as we walked out the door. Yep truthfully I dunno if I would mind that kind of love no matter what the packaging was.

We stopped right on Emily's porch because there was a package with a note attached to it. "Grab that will you Spencer I think it is something I got for Paige & I don't want her to see it yet," Emily asked as she was adjusting her jacket and pulling out her lipstick from her purse. "Just sit it in the back of your car and I'll open it at the office." I grabbed it glancing at the note and happened to read who it was from; "~A" before I realized I shouldn't be so noisy. We hopped in the car I put the package in the back & we headed off to Scarlett Street Emily fixing her face in the mirror on the way. "We are gonna nail this guy who did this to her right Spencer?" "Yes Em, we all owe her at least that."

Chapter 2.2

At the office Aria and Hannah were already pouring over my incomplete file I had with papers spread out everywhere & my extensive case files on the disappearance mingling with it. "Howdy troops!" Aria offered as we entered. "Today's gonna be rough, I left Ezra in charge of the diner so I can spend the day helping." "Good" I said, "because I think we are gonna need all hands on deck!" Then I noticed something in the mail pile it looked like the exact same package Emily was now holding. I looked from it to the one in her hands and asked, "Hannah where did that come from?" I pointed to the box and everyone looked round. "I'm not sure it just showed up this morning with the mail. I didn't even check it yet because Aria came over right after it was delivered" she answered in a mild surprise at my tone. "Emily has one exactly like it dropped off with the morning post too, who could it be from." I wasn't too sure, but I had a bad feeling. I walked over & picked it up. Emily came to me & we sat it on the long table Aria & Hannah were using for the files. Both packages were wrapped in the same brown paper packaging with white ribbon and were of the same dimensions. My note was attached the same way Emily's was with the package ribbon obscuring part of it I pulled mine out & read it aloud. It read "I'm still here bitches. And I know everything ~A." I quickly grabbed for Emily's and it read the same. "Emily do you know an A, who is this A person?" Hannah in her way said, "Spencer we all know an A, but she's currently at the city morgue cooling her heels until we bury her this Sunday." "Hannah I know, but it couldn't be her she's dead and besides what does this mean?" I was thunderstruck and totally confused, my mind raced to think of who else would be contacting us this way. "Spence maybe you & Emily should open them see what's inside it might help with the figuring of them out?" Hannah said with the voice of reason. So Emily & I looked at each other & opened out boxes.

Emily pulled out a set of binoculars with something glued to the lenses and another note that read: "Focus Focus, I see you, do you see you? Do you want the world to see you too? ~A" Emily put the binoculars up to her eye and adjusted the lenses to focus on the pictures glues to them. As the pictures came in view she gasped and nearly dropped the binoculars. "What is it Em," Aria said seeing the horrified look on Emily's face. "It's ah it's a picture a close up picture of Paige and I, um being close." "What!" I said grabbing them away from her and pressed them up to my eyes. "Spencer no, you shouldn't it's a bit too…" but it was too late I already had them shoved up to my eyes seeing Emily and Paige in a naked tango that wasn't altogether unpleasing but was terrifying that someone could take this picture from what seemed like their bedroom. "Wow! Oh Em, I'm sorry I didn't think I should have asked, I can't unsee that can I? (though I wasn't sure I really wanted to unsee it) Wow…" Emily was blushing crimson, but also wore her this is serious face. "Never mind that Spencer, what is in your package," she said snatching the device back away from me & tearing off the picture. I watched it go and had a moment of regret giving it up, but covered by diving into my own package.

It was a small plaque with Jason DiLaurentis name on it as Jason Hastings and some cute chubby baby pictures of his in small frames. My note read, "What's yours is also Ali's, who knows, who shows, me me me! ~A" I dropped the plaque back in the box and had to sit down. "Spencer what, what is this all about?" Aria asked just as confused as I felt. "I'm not sure," I answered slowly "this could be a Peeping Tom or some sleaze ball we put away or maybe even Ali's killer toying with us. I don't know. Did either of you get a package?" "Well I arrived here after the post was delivered, I can go call Ezra and see if something was dropped off after I left." Aria walked over to the phone. "I was here when the mail arrived I didn't see one with my name on it, but it doesn't mean there isn't one at my apartment. Should I hurry over there to take a look see huh boss?" She looked at me with some worry in her eyes and I couldn't help but wonder what she could have to hide nothing like Emily and me surely. "Sure doll, but Emily you go with her just in case there is trouble. Take my car to make it quicker." Emily and Hannah grabbed their bags and coats snatched my keys off the table and made for the door. Aria hung up the phone and turned to look at me. "Spencer, Ezra said there is a package from 'A' with the same message. He is bringing it over right now." We both looked at each other knowing this isn't good, we both sat at the large table and waited for Ezra.