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[ORP] The Crossroads Inn

Derwent
As Mal took the girl upstairs, Derwent, still in shock, made himself useful. He dragged the bodies outside. It was hard work, because both men were heavy, and the dog had no collar so he had to pull it by the front paws. He took a tablecloth from the tavern with him.

He found an empty storage shed close by, and pulled the bodies into it, covering them with the tablecloth. He made sure that the shed door closed securely, and went back to The Crossroads.


We have to report it, he said to Pascoe, but it wasn't Mal's fault. He was just defending that poor girl
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Signature by the lovely and talented Lady Patan
Mal_
The threat over, Mal relaxed and signaled for his dogs to sit. He didn't have to look to know the dogs were now sitting out of the way calmly waiting for him to get bsck to them.

Will had seen the girls reaction when the two men arrived with the big dog. He had never before seen such a look of fear and sheer terror. Millie that was the girls name had managed to get to her feet but had gotten no further when Sally had collected the other young people and took them upstairs with her. Will had made a quick try to get Millie to move. But then failing had signaled for his sister to get the other children to safty without them. He was proud of his friend who had also stayed to protect her.

Will was very impressed with how fast Mal and his dogs had taken down the two men and their vicious dog. But his attention turned quickly to his main concern Millie. Turning her to face him he watched as the combination of emotions racing through her mind caused her to breakdown and start crying with her face against his chest.

When Pascoe told Mal to take the girl upstairs to Sally. Will lead Millie upstairs with her still clinging tightly to him.

Mal took the three young people upstairs then knocked on the door to Sally's room and said.

"Sally the danger is over now I need you to take care of Millie while Pascoe, Derwent, and I take care of a few things."

After Sally opened the door and let the three young people in Mal went back downstairs to do what he could to help deal with the aftermath.
Pascoe
Pascoe had grabbed a bucket and mop, and set to cleaning the floor of the Crossroads, mulling over what had happened. He was not sad the men were dead, though he wondered what other family there was that might come looking for them. Blood feuds had a tendency to linger and he'd seen the effects they could have on a community. Letting out a sigh, he wondered if the lass would tell them if she had any other family they'd need to either be wary of, or more importantly, take care of. Crowcombe could absorb more people if needed, though he wondered what Sir Henry would say. Perhaps you should ask him he mused as the evidence gradually washed away.

Derwent came back in, saying that it needed to be reported. Pascoe looked up, hearing the sounds of someone coming back downstairs and shook his head. "What would we say? Mal killed two threatening men who were here to bring one of their daughters home?" Despite the fact he thought the two men got what they deserved, there was no law saying that beating your children was against the law. If it came to an investigation, he had doubts that the interests of justice would be served. Seeing Mal, he asked a series of questions that needed answering "Will the lass say anything? Do we know if someone else will come looking for these two?" Finally, as it had been Mal who acted "What do you think we should do?"
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Viscount Crowcombe | Researcher - Royal Museum | Constable - Devon
Mal_
Mal found another Mop and joined in the cleanup effort. As he worked he did his best to answer Pascoe's questions.

"I think Will and Sally will not have a problem convincing Millie to stay quiet about the matter. I expect she will be eager to put the bad things about her past behind her. As for anyone else coming here looking for her or the men, according to what Will told me she is now the only member of her family left. Mal took a breath then went on.

"Do whatever you and Derwent think is best."
Pascoe
Pascoe nodded at Mal's answers to his initial questions. With the girl having no family, it removed one potential complication. If the girl could be convinced to keep silent about what happened, then there was little need to report what had happened in his mind. Especially since he wouldn't be able to conduct an investigation himself as a witness. Mal's decision to leave it up to him and Derwent elicited a bit of a laugh "Well, it's your behind, cochise. I'd say its your call." Looking at Derwent, he waited to see what he had to say.
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Viscount Crowcombe | Researcher - Royal Museum | Constable - Devon
Derwent
Derwent didn't like the position, but he as pretty sure that he was right about what to do. Someone would miss the two men, questions would be asked, and, even if Millie stayed quiet (and if Will and Sally did too), there was the matter of dealing with the bodies. If they tried to hush it up, something would go wrong, and the fact of a cover-up would lead people to think that there was something to cover up.

I think we have to report it, he said. It'll come out anyway. Better we get the jump on the issue, and put the facts out as though we have nothing to hide. Which we don't. If we keep quiet, sooner or later we''ll have to admit the truth, and people will wonder why we didn't tell it sooner. Or we'll lie, and that'll make things much worse.

You're the mayor, I'm the chief marshall. Not being honest will hurt us both, not just Mal. More important, we can't expect Millie not to be able to talk about her father's death. He may have been a bastard, but he was her father. What will it do to her to have to cover up his death?

Besides, it was justifiable homicide. Mal was protecting Millie, and that's the truth. There's no one here to say different.


Derwent knew that the fallout from a failed cover up was potentially much more dangerous than the truth, even if the truth was ugly. But there were lots of people in town who knew that Millie's father beat on her. They wouldn't have too much sympathy for the dead men.

Pascoe was right about one thing though. There was a danger that other members of the family might come looking for revenge. But that danger, he thought, would have to be faced. If they cared for Millie at all, they'd understand.
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Signature by the lovely and talented Lady Patan
Mal_
Mal Listened to Derwent then Said.

"This is what I know about Millie so far. Will told me that he was telling millie about his family yesterday evening. She had opened up a little and told him about seeing her father and his friend threatening their neighbor's. Demanding things and money not owed them. And on at least 3 occasions nearly beating a neighbor to death. Its my thinking that the two men will not be missed. And that people there will just figure someone had finaly had enough and struck back and leave things at that. She had also assured Will that her father was just a farmer. Will was very certain Millie was telling him the truth."
Pascoe
Pascoe listened as Derwent and Mal went back and forth, sitting down at the bar as the adrenaline left him. Finally, he turned and looked at them both "Mal, Derwent is right. The incident needs to be reported if for no other reason than to cover our behinds." He had realized a cover up might cost him Crowcombe, if someone really wanted to push it that far, which he'd been a bit surprised to discover bothered him more because it might cause pain to Eponine than anything he might suffer. "Not only are he and I officials in town, but I have my obligations as a peer to consider." Letting out a sigh, he said tiredly "I will report the incident to the Constable in the morning and let her do whatever follow up she needs to. I would suggest that we talk to the lass tomorrow, so there aren't any surprises."
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Viscount Crowcombe | Researcher - Royal Museum | Constable - Devon
Derwent
Derwent was very relieved to hear Pascoe say tha he too was in favour of reporting the deaths. He would not have wanted to go against his friends, but he had really thought that an attempted cover-up could turn have far more seriouis consequences than the deaths themselves.

Also, he saw less danger in reporting than Mal did. If Millie was right (and Derwent believed her) that her father had threatened and beaten his neighbours, there was all the more reason for people to believe that it had been justifiablle homicide. Add to that, all of the witnesses (Pascoe, himself, Millie and Mal) would be saying the same thing, there was no one to say that there was any blame to be attached to Mal.


You don't have to do that, Pascoe, he said, Why don't you and Mal look after taking care of Millie. I have to make my regular report to the constable anyway. I'll tell her about this at the same time. She may want to talk to the two of you, and perhaps to Millie, but I'm confident it won't go beyond that.

I'll also ask her to make arrangements for the burial of the bodies.

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Signature by the lovely and talented Lady Patan
Mal_
With what to do decided. And the mess on the floor cleaned up. Mal took his dogs to the backroom put away his mop then gave each dog a quick clean up and a treat. Then the dogs followed him as he went upstairs to talk with Millie, Sally, and Will.
Pascoe
In the days following the incident, each of them had been questioned by the Constable about what had happened. Each of them had told the same story - the men had come in and acted aggressively. He, Mal and Derwent had put themselves between the men and the girl. Mal had attempted to get the men to leave, but they had drawn weapons and moved towards the group. Millie had told the Constable of her father's abusive nature, and in the end, no charges had been filed. Life at the Crossroads had returned to normal and Pascoe had done his best to put the matter behind them, hoping the girl had been truthful about not having any family left, and grateful that Lily hadn't seen what had happened. There was plenty of time for her to learn about how cold and cruel the world could be, he wanted her to remain an innocent as long as possible.
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Viscount Crowcombe | Researcher - Royal Museum | Constable - Devon
Mal_
It was a few days after the incident and the inquiry had ended as expected with no charges filed. Things at the Crossroads Inn had settled back to normal. As Mal cleaned the bartop he smiled as he watched Will and Millie sitting at their favorite table. He was pleased to see that she was already looking much better than when she had first turned up in Bridgewater. She was also dressed in a proper outfit for a young lady of her age. Mal had heard that Lali and a couple of other local women had made sure she now had everything she needed. Mal had also noted that Will and Millie had become practicly inseperable. He had also not been surprised when Sally told him that she and Will had been awakened a couple of times by Millie having a nightmare. It was nice to see Millie happy and smiling.
Lali_elthin
It was all too rare these days for Lali to be able to visit the tavern. She missed it. But this was one of those rare days and she happily stepped into the tavern for a little while.

There was her loving husband, on duty behind the bar. Lali slipped behind the bar with him, greeting him with a hug and kiss. Hi, love. How's everything going? It seems pretty quiet right now. Lali motioned her head towards Millie and Will. Millie looks like she's feeling somewhat better. And Will looks rather pleased, too. she added with a little chuckle.
Mal_
Mal smiled big and greeted his amazing wife Lali when he saw her enter the tavern. "Hello Love."

Then he poured her a drink as as she joined him behind the bar. Mal and his wife shared a hug and kiss. Then he answered her question.

"My shift has been going well Love. And the customers have been fairly we behaved lately." When Lali mentioned how much better Millie was looking and how pleased Will seemed about that. Mal chuckled and said. "Sally wants Will to make Millie her sister inlaw soon. And from the way those two look at each other and are spending so much time together. It seems like that would be a good idea."
Lali_elthin
Lali smiled at Mal, nodding her thanks for the drink. Sipping the ale, she listened and watched her wonderful husband's expressions as he told of the recent change in the tavern's atmosphere. And of how Sally is encouraging Will to marry Millie.

Kissing him quickly on his cheek, Lali giggled softly and said

Sally's heart is as big as a house, love. When we took Millie shopping, Sally was as proud and particular as if Millie were her own daughter. Lali smiled recalling the hair ribbons and stockings episode then continued Millie is in a good place now, thanks to your courageous instinct, dear husband. Surrounded by nurturing love rather than negative love, she will be able to put the past behind her.

Widening her eyes in pretend horror, with a telling grin crossing her face Lali teased, But marriage? Really?
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