VEE

Xander parks the car in the next street to the house we’re about to visit, and we take the short walk towards where John lived. The Victorian terrace in Woolwich stands out from those around. Students occupy many houses in the street and they’re easy to spot; the front gardens either are concreted or overgrown green patches that were once tended, and the window frames are peeling. This home stands out with a garden as neatly cared for as Portia's, and the windows shine in freshly painted frames. Cream venetian blinds are pulled down to keep people from looking into the bay window.

Several hours ago, I relaxed with chocolate cake in a café. Now I’m impersonating a detective.

Xander brought Joss; their usual fake detective partnership. What we discovered at the crime scene suggests there are high-level demonic connections, which arouses more suspicion. What if the housemates are connected? We could have a lead here.

Xander all but commands me to accompany them. As one of the housemates is a woman, he decides that'll help. Heath expressed concerns about my accidental truth telling, but as I can read lies, it makes sense I do join them.

I joked around with Joss on the way over, holding onto the relaxed Vee from earlier today, and this continues as we make our way toward the house.

"Can you guys act like professionals now?" Xander mutters as we reach the swept path to the door.

Joss swipes a hand down his face, as if switching his expression from jovial to serious. "Are you going to be bad cop and I'll be good cop?" he asks. Xander shoots him a look. "Kidding! Okay, I'm composed now."

The doorbell ring echoes through the house. The guys never warn anybody they’ll visit, which I partly understand but not totally. The drive to London from their house is over an hour and could end up a wasted journey.

No reply.

Xander rings again and brushes the front of his dark grey suit jacket. The door opens slowly, far enough to reveal a tall man, midtwenties. His dark hair's neatly arranged in a similar style to Xander's, but he's pale and less confident. His watery blue eyes are wary behind dark-framed glasses as his gaze lands on me.

"Yes?" He peers at Xander and then to Joss.

"Seth Marks? I'm Detective Warren. These are my colleagues Pete and Trudy." Xander pulls on an official voice and stance, gesturing between us. "We're in charge of the investigation into your housemate’s death."

Suspicion remains on the guys face. "Do you have ID?"

Xander produces something forged impressively enough to fool Seth. Seth hesitates a few seconds, scrutinises the three of us again, then steps back.

The house looks and smells clean and fresh, joined by the scent of strong cleaning products. The unmarked walls are picture free, as if the owner couldn’t bear to let anything mark them. The original wooden floorboards are sanded and polished to perfection.

Definitely nothing like a student house.

Seth ushers us through to a small lounge room. This place looks like a show home. Even the cushions match and are arranged at showroom angles. To be honest, I feel as if I walked onto an IKEA set. If I look behind a wall, will I find a cafe?

"Please sit. I'm not sure what I can tell you. I've spoken to detectives already."

Xander lowers himself into an armchair, but Joss remains standing. What do I do? I place myself in another armchair opposite Seth. "We've read the reports. We just want to find more about Mr Murphy’s background. Have you known him long?"

"A few months. John moved to London around the same time I did, and we decided to share a place. He works for the same company as me."

Xander pulls out a notepad and pen. "You’re employed by Nova Pharmaceuticals?"

"Yes. He works... worked in sales. and I'm, well..." He wrinkles his nose. "I'm a cleaner."

Something he has skills in, judging by his pristine environment.

"And is there anybody you think may be involved. How was Mr Murphy the day he was murdered?"

Xander. Talk about unsubtle...

Seth smooths imaginary dirt from his black trousers. "I hadn't seen him for a week before his death. He works on the road in his job visiting GPs and hospitals. We don't exactly follow each other's every move, so I didn't think anything of it."

"But he was found locally," says Joss. "He can't have been out of town."

Seth shrugs. "I don't think I can help you. There's nothing to tell that isn't already in my original statement."

Seth's telling the truth, but his constant scrutiny disarms me too. He doesn't stare, but whenever Joss or Xander don't address him, he focuses attention on me. I rub an eyebrow and offer a polite smile. I've no idea who this man is, but I’m uncomfortable. He rests his gaze on my side and when he stares an abnormally long time, I look down. There's a slight stain on the shirt from where I dripped coffee on it earlier.

I half-expect him to ask me to remove the shirt so he can wash it.

"Do you know any of his other friends?" asks Joss.

"Most don’t live locally. He kept himself to himself and spent a lot of time in his room. Occasionally he came out with us, but not often."

"Us?"

"Myself and Casey. She lives here too." He pauses. “Like it says in the original statement you apparently read.”

Xander scribbles something on his pad. "Is Casey around?"

"No, she's at work. Casey works in the local hospital." His brow tugs in suspicion. “Don’t you have that information?”

"Nurse?" asks Joss.

"No. She's a receptionist."

Again, Xander scribbles. "And is she your partner?"

"No."

"Mr Murphy’s?"

"No."

I study him for signs he's hiding something. Seth organises several magazines on the coffee table into a neat, straight pile and places the TV remote on top, also at a perfect angle. I don't detect any lies, but he's tense about something.

"Do you think you might be in danger?" I ask him.

He looks up and pushes glasses up his nose with a slender finger. "No."

That was a lie.

His eyes don't show deceit the way another person might, but I know for sure he's hiding something now. Xander catches my eye, and I nod.

"What was that look?" asks Seth and points at Xander. "What are you writing?"

"Just notes. Nothing sinister." Xander holds up the pad and Seth leans forward to read the scrawl.

Satisfied, Seth moves back to his upright position on the edge of the sofa.

Xander returns to his line of questioning. "You have to understand how serious this crime is, Seth. This was an execution-style killing, although we can't find links to any gangs. Is he connected to anything or anyone who—"

"Listen, I've been through this with the police, and I've no doubt you've investigated yourself. I have nothing to add." Seth stands and crosses arms tightly across his chest. "If you have a card, I'll take it and contact you if I remember anything else."

"We'd like to speak to Casey sometime. Can you ask her to contact us?"

Xander proffers a card, which Seth takes and places into his shirt pocket.

"I doubt she'll want to talk to you. Casey's upset about his death, and I don't think forcing her to run through her statement again is good for her." Seth's tone switches away from the cool and neutral attitude he's held, and he turns his attention back to me. "Do I know you?"

"Why? Have you been in trouble with the police before?" puts in Xander before I can reply.

"No. Some people have faces that remind us of others, I guess. But I'm sure I have seen you before."

"I don't remember," I say and force a smile. His careful studying unnerves me. There’s an attractiveness to him that would stand out more if he had confidence to match. His well-fitting clothes and immaculate grooming are a positive, as are the captivating eyes behind his glasses. Hot nerd. I chastise myself for judging him.

If I’d seen this guy before, I’d remember.

Seth gives a slight shake of his head and straightens both shirtsleeves. He walks to the lounge doorway and stops, one hand on the handle. "I'm busy today. Sorry I can't help you more. Can you leave, please?"

A reluctant Xander and Joss follow me through into the bright hallway and back outside, with barely a goodbye from Seth. My heels click on the pavement as we walk back to Joss's car.

"We’re staying here to watch him," announces Xander as he climbs into the passenger seat besides Joss. "There's something not right about Seth. He's weird."

"And you’re Mr Normal McNormal from Normaltown," says Joss, and I stifle a laugh.

"You crack me up," says Xander with heavy sarcasm, holding his side as if he's laughing hard. "Things don't add up. He and John haven't known each other long, but they work at the same company. Casey isn't a girlfriend, apparently hardly saw John, but is too upset to talk."

"And he was cagey about her," puts in Joss. “Maybe she’s missing too?”

"Maybe. Or at work. Let me text Ewan for the details. He can find out which hospital. For now, Seth’s our priority." Xander inclines his head to the street behind.

"So we're going to sit here and wait to see where Seth goes? What if he doesn't leave the house for hours?" asks Joss.

“Yep.”

“Man, I’m starving!” he complains.

"There's a shop up there." Xander points. "And a bakery. Fetch some food, and we can wait. What do you want to eat, Vee?" He rests his arm on the seat back as he looks around.

A stake out in Joss's small Audi? Fun times.

"How long are we waiting?" I ask.

Xander frowns at me. "As long as it takes. All part of this life, Vee."

Boredom beats fighting horrific enemies I guess.