Luli did get her pie.

On the last day of the week, Farryn woke up early. She brushed her hair with a brush Iris had lent her, and then went down to the kitchens to get Luli. They didn't wait for the simple servants' breakfast. Instead, they hitched a ride with one of the deliverymen. He was so unlike the one who had brought them. He was cheerful and made Luli laugh- and they were in town before the clock struck twelve.

The slice Farryn got Luli was huge. Not lemon, unfortunately, but to Farryn's surprise she didn't complain. She just walked along placidly, occasionally letting chunks of apple dribble to the ground.

Farryn bought herself a new dress. It was grey, like the one she had stolen from the room in Serval's house, but the sleeves were embroidered with a pattern of interlocking leaves and vines, and they were also much less... humungous.

She also bought herself a pair of new undergarments, which she tucked into the little going-out bag Iris had thrown at her as she'd hurried off. "Buy something for the children!" Farryn reached for the money in the bag and listened to it jingle.

She loved having money. Serval had made her do all the shopping; with her face covered, of course, forbidden from speaking to anyone- but on those sunny Saturdays there was little she looked forward to more than the walk to the market. Fresh air, people.

"Where are we going?" Luli asked as the afternoon wore on, trying to crack a piece of hard candy Farryn had bought her. "Stop trying to chew it, or you'll break a tooth" Farryn warned her. "We're going to see the Constable, and then-"

Luli's sudden stop surprised Farryn. "I don't want to." the girl whimpered. "Luli, we'll be fine," she said. Luli's lower lip began to quiver dangerously and Farryn realized she had to get it under control. "There's no need to be scared."

But Luli was already inconsolable. "Don't make me go!" she wailed. People were beginning to stare. Watching the scene, one would think Farryn was demanding Luli let her nails be pulled out. Her wails carried, even as Farryn crouched and patted her in a vain attempt to calm her.

"Luli, please calm down." She said. She couldn't bear crying. "The Constable doesn't like us." Luli sobbed. "He's going to send us back!"

"I promise you, the Constable won't send us back anywhere," Farryn said. She couldn't fathom why Luli would be scared of a Constable, but she knew trying to coax her to join her wasn't going to work. But what could she do? She wouldn't ask her to wait outside. Not out here, not again. But she also couldn't force her to go in with her.

"Are you seeing the Constable today?" a familiar voice found Farryn, and sure enough, it was Claud. She frowned at him. "Yes." Luli's sobs quieted, and she stared up at him silently.

"Hello." Claud offered. Her response was a scowl. Farryn held in a laugh. Luli was a smart girl.

"I was going to." Farryn continued. "But Luli is scared to go in. Why don't you do it?" Claud blinked. "Me? Talk to the Constable? Are you mad?" "No. Go on. Ask him about the Mara or Marla case."

He blinked again. "You aren't serious." "You're serious about... killing her, aren't you?" It was difficult to think about killing her, but she had to use Claud for as long as possible, so she had to keep him thinking she would help him get whatever ill-conceived vengeance he had in mind.

"I am," Claud said sternly. "So you'd best go find out what they know about her."

She nodded towards the Constable's Stand, a small building with barred windows. With an annoyed sigh Claud did as he was told, crossing over and opening the heavy wooden door.

He disappeared into the building, and Farryn waited. After about five minutes, she glanced down at Luli, who was back to calmly enjoying her candy.

"Is there a reason you don't like the Constable, Luli?" she didn't want to push it, but she was curious. Even if she didn't understand why she was so afraid, the terror Luli had just felt was so close to home.

"Because the Constable doesn't help," she said simply, taking the candy out of her mouth to look at it. "Don't do that," Farryn told her, and she put it back. "They don't help?" "He told Sir that Mama and I went to see him. He got Mama in trouble."

Oh. "Your mother worked with you? In the..." "Yes," Luli said. "What are we doing?" "We're waiting for Claud." Luli considered for a moment. "I don't like him." "Me neither."

They waited for Claud for another ten minutes, and Farryn spent the time thinking about what Luli had just said. Her mother must have somehow escaped the workhouse, and taken her daughter to the Constable. It was no wonder why. Workhouses weren't exactly known for how well they treated their "workers". There was a reason their doors were locked and the children who went in came out grown, no matter their age.

The Constable must have sent them back. He had a heavy bribe in his pocket, no doubt. And the punishment for running away from a workhouse would not be light. They "had to teach servants to stay in their place" after all.

Claud finally reappeared in the doorway after what seemed like forever. He crossed the busy sidewalk to join the pair. "Well?" Farryn asked. "

"He wouldn't tell me anything," Claud said, shrugging. "Said it's none of my business. Why don't you go in? I'm sure he'd spill to a lady." Farryn glared at him and he shut up.

He was right, though. She was new to town too, so he wouldn't know who she was. She looked down at Luli.

"Will you watch him for me?" she asked her. Claud frowned. "Isn't it the other way-" "Shush." 

Luli contemplated it, and then nodded. "Stay still!" she yelled at Claud. He looked confused, but he did listen. Farryn hurried towards the Constable's Stand.

It was pretty large. A woman with silky brown hair sat at the front desk, bent over a stack of papers. She looked up when Farryn entered. "Yes?" "Good morning, ma'am. I'm curious about a case." The woman raised an eyebrow. "A young man just came in asking about a case," she said. "Really? What a coincidence." The woman smiled and turned back to her work. "So... may I-" "Speak to the Constable? I'm afraid not. He has told me not to send anyone else to him." The door opened behind and she turned to see a familiar face.

"Well hello! It's a surprise to see you here." It was Ada, from the day they had arrived in Tuckson. She smiled at the woman behind the desk. "You can guess why I'm here, Susie."

Susie sighed and rose, disappearing through a door. "You're reporting the drunk again?" Farryn asked her. Ada nodded. "You?" "I started working at the Trison estate," she admitted. "I'm looking for details on the case."

Ada wiggled her eyebrows. "Sounds interesting. Have you found out much?" "I still don't have her name." she sighed. A Peeler entered the room with Susie, and he sighed when he saw Ada. "I'm saving lives!" she protested as he handed her a paper to fill out.

He turned to Farryn. "And you're here for...?" "The Trison case. I'm very curious, pardon me." he frowned. "What do you want to know? It's classified." Farryn paused. She didn't know how to get this man to say the girl's name. "I just want to know what you know. I work there now, see. Lady Trison's grief saddens me." The man raised an eyebrow. Fair. Farryn also felt the lie was weak.

"You mean you want some gossip fodder?" he sighed, leaning on the woman's desk. She frowned at him before turning back to her work, mumbling. Farryn smiled. "Well..."

"You probably know as much as I do. The girl-" "Edward. The case is classified." the woman hissed, nudging him. He brushed her off. "Susie, the entire town already knows about it." "Who's fault is that!" he rolled his eyes, and gestured to the woman. "Can't believe I'm marrying her! Makes me want to run for the hills."

Farryn smiled again, but she was really groaning on the inside. If anyone ought to be running for the hills, it's her. The woman's eyes met Farryn's for a moment, and then she sighed and got back to work. Farryn did not like the way Edward was smiling at her. She needed to hurry and get this over with.

"Tell me what you do know," she said. "The girl killed the boy. Simple as that. Poor heartbroken lass. Eh, Susie. Would you be that heartbroken if I left? Enough to kill me?" "I'm very tempted to kill you now," Susie muttered.

"I heard there was a love letter." Farryn interrupted. Ada finished filling out the form and handed it to Edward, who made a face as she headed for the door. The second she was gone, he crumpled it in his fist and turned back to Farryn. "Not very romantic if you ask me." "Could I... see it?" Farryn asked conspiratorially. She leaned in, and Edward grinned. "If you come by tonight then-"

Susie smacked his arm. "Get back to work or I'll be reporting you to the Constable!" she hissed. Edward jumped away from the desk. "Fine," he muttered and rubbed his arm as he strode back towards the door he'd come through.

Susie glared at Farryn. "Little skank." "I-" she faltered. She really didn't know how to navigate all this. Saints above, couldn't Claud have tried a little harder? "I'm sorry." she settled on. "He's horrible." "Don't talk about my fiance." Susie snapped. "If you're done, you can leave."

"Could you at least tell me what was in the letter?" "No." "Just a little. Could you-" "Out!" Farryn frowned, and for a second she let her shoulders drop. "Please? I really need to know."

They stared at each other for a moment. Then Susie rose, and wiped her fingers clean of ink with a dirty rag. Farryn smiled at her hopefully, until she crossed the office and opened the front door.

"Out."