Strawb looked different the next time he saw her, sipping her cup of coffee. She had deep eyebags and a hollow expression on her face. “Hey,” she said, taking another sip. The cup wasn’t steaming. How long had she been sitting there, drinking that cold cup of coffee? It was just 6 in the morning. Had she been up all night? 

He patted her hands, the knuckles white as she gripped her coffee mug’s handle tight, as he sat down next to her. “So, what’s on your mind? Did something happen?”

“I think I know who the murderer is…” she whispered. “But it doesn’t make sense. Nothing makes sense,” She slammed her fist on the table, making Durchdenwald jump.

“Woah, Strawb,” he smiled at her again, taking the coffee mug from her, “Calm down, okay?” He pushed the half-full mug to the other side of the table. He tried to do it gently enough so it wouldn’t tip over the edge but they both watched as it slid too far and disappeared off the table. There was a crash, and Strawb winced. He shrugged, grinning sheepishly at her, “I’ll clean that up later,”

“Don’t even bother,” finally she was looking him in the eyes, “The evidence we have. It’s really simple and a little stupid but there’s a chance the murderer has a bruise on their shin because Wim kicked the murderer,” she paused, her eyebrows scrunched up in thought, “...but, what’s strange is that Do-yun seems to have an injury on her shin. Yesterday, I saw her go to Gila’s room, ask for foundation and when she went back to her room, she applied it on her leg,”

“Did you see a bruise?”

“No, I couldn’t see her leg because she was turned away from me, but I know she put the foundation on her leg. She took off her socks and then a plaster. She even propped her leg up on a pillow. But, it doesn’t make sense. Wim told us that evidence, but then he’d be outing his sister. I don’t believe that if one of them was the murderer, they wouldn’t be working together. But then why would he…”

“Okay,” he hushed her. She was growing more exasperated by the second and he didn’t want to have to handle her outbursts. He patted her hand for the third time and smiled again. He was tired of smiling, but he had to. 

“What are we going to do?” she goraned, snatching her hand away so she could rake her hair out of her eyes.

“Well, let’s think. Who do you think will be murdered next?”

She tilted her head, and her eyebrows furrowed. “If it’s Do-yun, then either me or Cado,”

“Oh, yes. Their little fight. She would be pissed off about that, wouldn’t she? But why you?” Durchdenwald already knew about the two’s rivalry, but it would be nice to see her anger for the other girl, stir the emotions up a bit, but calm her down enough so she would only blow in front of Do-yun. He rested his head in his hands, covering his crooked smirk.

“Well, I don’t like her, she doesn’t like me, so she’d probably get rid of me. And Wim caught me peeking at his sister. He let me go, but he might have told her,”

They both froze as they heard footsteps down the hallway. Gila peeked her head through the archway and they both deflated, their guards lowering. “Hey,” she smiled, shyly, “Mind if I join you?”

Strawb nodded and drew up the chair on the other side of her. Gila glanced at the broken mug and spilled coffee on the floor but she didn’t say anything as she sat down. “So, what’s up?” she said, warmly. 

Strawb told her everything, and Durchdenwald didn’t stop her. Passing the word around was good. Do-yun would be classed as the murderer, and that would be absolutely perfect. Then things would be less messy, and the feeling of safety would rise, as she was locked up. 

“Hey, Durch?” Strawb was talking to him, he realised. 

“Sorry, I zoned out. What’s happening,” he faked another smile.

“Well, after we arrest Do-yun, we should try to find a way to escape this house,” Gila said, “We’ve all been lazing around, soaked up in our misery, terror and depression. We’ve been so suspicious of each other and that’s what has been taking up the whole day, every day. But, we haven’t even considered escaping. There are no windows.. The front door isn’t an option. Has anyone checked the cops’ rooms? Me and Strawb checked, but only for exits. What about things they might have left in there? A radio? Keys?” She gushed all of her thoughts out like a waterfall. She was an introvert, Durchdenwald had picked up on that information ages ago, but Strawb was good at pushing her out of her shell. 

“The police rooms,” Durchdenwald let his eyes widen, in understanding. He’d already searched the whole area and taken what he needed, but, of course, they didn’t need to know that. 

Strawb gasped, “ I almost forgot to ask. Gila, what did Do-yun say she needed your foundation for?”

“She said she wanted to dress up, because she’s been feeling down lately. I need to ask for my makeup back later today. Maybe, I can look around her room for anything suspicious while I’m there,”

“Okay, girls,” Durchdenwald finally spoke up, he would direct them in the direction he needed, “Get the foundation back, keep an eye on Do-yun and we’ll ask everyone to show their shins to see if they have bruising,”

The girls nodded. Perfect.