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[holbydelboy]

"Hey, this is Fletch. You know what to do."

BEEEEP

Comments

[ironrule]

I see.

[A pause.]

Such as?

[holbydelboy]

I don't think it was the Snakes, or anyone affiliated with them. That means the murderer is still out there.

[He seems to have gained some confidence.]

My question is; are you interested in finding out who tried to frame you?

[ironrule]

[It's a while before the next message arrives.]

Of course I am. I take this to mean you have a suggestion?

[holbydelboy]

You can take this to mean you have my co-operation.

[There's some shuffling on the other end, then a sigh.]

Look, mate. I'm a nurse and a ward manager. I'm used to dealing with what I can see and what I can patch up. All this... politics bollocks isnt for me. I just want you to know that I... I want to help sort this out. And I don't think you did it, no matter how much you wanted to.

[ironrule]

[There's an opportunity here, if Yunxu isn't missing his guess. And, just to be sure he isn't missing his guess --]

You're offering, out of the goodness of your heart, to help me learn who framed me.

[A pause.]

Despite knowing I would have done the same thing if someone hadn't beaten me to it.

[If he sounds a little incredulous, that's because he is. Damn Foreigners surprising him at every single turn.]

[holbydelboy]

Well, I have a theory about that.

[And it's a good one.]

You want to kill Milyn. I can sorta see your perspective. I don't agree, but I can see it. You're also in charge of one of the biggest... groups in Keelial.

[Bear with him.]

Judging from the way your lads have been treating me the past two weeks, I'm imagining that Milyn's death ain't exactly a popular one. My point is; you want her dead, but what self-respecting leader would alienate all his people for a personal grudge?

[Knowing history? Many. But that was human history.]

Am I right, or way off?

[ironrule]

[Does Fletcher see Yunxu's perspective? That's interesting. Either he's wrong, or Valdis has been a little more open than she claimed she was going to be.

But as galling as that is personally, it isn't relevant. Yunxu considers, then sighs.]

You're not... way off. [The hesitancy of someone using a phrase they aren't familiar with.]

[holbydelboy]

Well, at least I'm right about something.

[It's a relief, actually.]

So, that's my reasoning. Think of me how you want, to be honest, I'm kinda done with how your guys think of me, so...

Accept my help, or don't. It's fine by me. I'm going to keep looking for Milyn's killer myself.

[ironrule]

[It's almost touching.]

In that case, I'll tell you the same thing I told another Foreigner in your position. The night I returned home after Milyn's death, Meisheng was missing. I haven't heard from her since then, nor have I been able to find her.

[Which is perplexing, but not quite for the reasons Yunxu is letting Fletch assume.]

Yunxu, you tease.

[holbydelboy]

O-Oh, really?

[He's not hiding his surprise quite as well as he should.]

A-Any reason you can think of why she'd go missing?

[Besides... murder?!]

Always.

[ironrule]

[Yunxu notices that surprise. Frowns. Tucks it away for future examination.]

Until this occurred, I would have said she was loyal to me without fault. I can't fathom where she might have vanished to.

[holbydelboy]

No one who might, I dunno... wanna kidnap or.. otherwise?

[Or pretend to be her and murder someone?]

[ironrule]

[There's a pause.]

Kidnap... Meisheng?

[Yunxu sounds completely and utterly baffled. What. What. Where are you going with this, Foreigner.]

[holbydelboy]

I, uh, well, I dunno... It could happen, right? I mean, you said it yourself, there's no reason why she'd disappear, right?

[Floundering a bit here.]

[ironrule]

[There's another pause while Yunxu considers this. He honestly hasn't thought of it before, because the idea of someone wanting to kidnap Meisheng -- let alone being capable of doing so -- is so utterly alien as to be inconceivable.

But really? Fletch has a point.]

If you believe someone kidnapped Meisheng, who do you believe killed Milyn?

[holbydelboy]

I didn't say the two were related.

[Because he didn't. Although, now he's a bit suspicious.]

And I have no idea. I don't claim to be an expert in Keelial politics. I've only been here a couple months.

[ironrule]

For someone who isn't an expert in Keeliai politics, you have seemed to worm your way right into the middle of an interesting dilemma, haven't you?

[Not that Yunxu's saying Fletch is putting on the innocent act, but.]

I'll be interested to see how you resolve it.

[holbydelboy]

[A soft snort.]

Yeah, now I wished I'd stayed in bed...

I probably won't. Knowing my luck, it'll get ten times worse and I'll have a price on my head by the end of it.