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The death of Darcy Newman came as as much of a shock to the young man as it had to the entire small town of Dewsbury. Darcy had been the town's library and bookstore manager since taking the store over from her father, just a year ago, after he'd passed away from a lengthy illness. She was only 21 and was a regular customer of the town's only coffee shop, The Daily Grind. The man knew her well, he'd spoken to her almost every morning when she came to get her usual double shot vanilla latte. Occasionally she'd partake in a croissant on the side, if she wasn't running late, although that wasn't too often. It grieved him greatly to think he'd never see or talk with her again and he was sure he wasn't the only one who felt it either. However, despite who Darcy was, it was the manner of her death that had the small town talking. The police had ruled her sudden death suspicious. Rumours of murder were whispered in hushed voices and a swirl of distrust blanketed the once close-knit community.“...len, Allen.” The young man snapped from his reverie as the sound of his name finally registered with him. He turned and offered a sheepish smile to the elderly woman eyeing him from across the counter. Harriet was another of his regulars whom he'd grown fond of over his time working in the coffee shop. She was short and lean but what she lacked in stature she made up for with her personality.“So sorry. I was just-”“Thinking about Darcy?” She cut him off with a knowing and sympathetic smile. “It's just terrible it's it? Whoever would want to hurt such a wonderful young woman.” She continued, shaking her head. Allen nodded his head a little in agreement, it seemed so farfetched. “I know you two were pretty close, well you're close with everyone in this town, but try not to worry too much. You waste that pretty face of yours when you're not smiling.”“I'll try to remember that.” And as if to emphasise the point, he smiled at her, setting down the mocha he'd been making for her. She nodded with a soft noise of acceptance.“But you seem to have a nose for these things, do you really think it was murder?” Harriet asked the question in such a hushed voice Allen had to lean forward a little to hear her.“I'm not sure, the only thing we have to go off is that her death was marked as suspicious. I guess that could mean a few things.” He'd grown far too accustomed to this and similar questions. It seemed over the years, he'd become the town's free therapist and agony aunt. With Darcy’s death he'd been inundated with people trying to pick apart his thoughts on the whole situation and glean whatever snippets of insight they could from him since he rarely came up wrong and had known Darcy well. Harriet didn't seem to be too satisfied with his response but she pressed no further and instead paid for her drink and moved to settle in her usual spot by the window.Allen watched her briefly, before he turned to continue with organising the back counter, as he had been before Harriet had come in. From what he'd gathered, the circumstances around Darcy’s death had been so unusual and dark, that they were keeping it very hushed to prevent panic. For the best interests of the townsfolk, Allen kept any information he discovered to himself, that included the talk amongst officers of a hotshot homicide detective they were pulling in for Darcy's case. News of that getting out would confirm that the police considered Darcy’s death a murder. Not only would that news disrupt the peace of the town irrevocably, murders just didn't happen in Dewsbury, but if the murderer caught wind then there was a chance they could skip town before enough evidence was gathered. It made him uneasy to think that there was somebody in town capable of killing someone. Someone he knew was a killer.He lightly brushed a few loose strands of pale hair from his face, tucking them behind his ear and noting to retie his hair when he'd finished date checking and reorganising the coffee syrup bottles. He'd gotten as far as throwing two out that were now past the marked day from opening when the small bell above the door rang. Allen quickly placed the caramel syrup on the side unopened and turned to smile and greet those who'd just walked in. His eyes met with the tall man at the head of the small group. Dark hair framed his face and equally dark eyes calmly explored the entirety of the cozy space before coming back to rest on Allen. Behind him, filed in the two officers Allen had seen everyday since Darcy’s death. They laughed about something between them and they suddenly seemed so loud in stark comparison to the dark haired man, whose very presence seemed so quiet.“Welcome Sir, Officers.” He gave them a nod alongside a smile as he always did as they approached. “What can I get for you?”The curly haired officer with glasses spoke up with a small laugh. “That's Detective and Officers, Allen. Although he may not look it, this young man is Detective Kanda.” A flash of irritation crossed the man's features, pulling his brows together in a scowl. He remained silent however, glancing away from all of them.Allen tipped his head a little, “Oh, I'm sorry. Detective, Officers, what can I get you?” The detective's eyes slid back to him and instantly Allen understood why this man was so well esteemed. His gaze was penetrating and demanded nothing but truth and Allen suppressed a shiver under his scrutiny. Yet despite the intensity, there was something captivating about the depths of his gaze, something that prevented Allen from looking away. At least until he spoke.“Coffee, Black.” It took Allen a moment to register the order and the holding spell cast by the detective's gaze seemed to snap.“Ah, one black coffee and for you, officers?”Officer Tiedoll gave him an unreadable look over the top of his glasses before he spoke. “Same as always, Allen. Two teas, two sugars in each.”“Of course. I'll bring them over when they're ready.” Since Darcy’s death, the officers had been in at least once a day. For convenience Allen had opened a tab for them and he added those drinks to that as they thanked him and moved off to find a secluded table away from as many of the other customers as they could. Allen let his gaze linger on the new detective longer than he needed to, taking in the raven dark hair that hung down his back from the high ponytail. Then he slipped back into work mode and began making the ordered drinks. The process was something he didn't even need to think about and his mind drifted through various other thoughts as he worked, skipping from subject to subject like stones across a lake in his desperation to not further think about the town's current predicament.As he placed the drinks on the tray, ready to bring to the table the officers and detective were at his mind fell on Darcy. Just as Harriet had said, they'd been close. He knew of her struggles, of how hard the decision to leave her boyfriend had been, of how it had torn her apart to have hurt the man she once loved. He'd offered her his thoughts and opinions in return, shared some of his own troubles, she'd even helped him cope through the anniversary of his foster father's death. As Allen rounded the end of the bar with the tray of drink in hand and headed across the shop, the bell above the door again announced the arrival of someone new. He lifted his gaze, a welcoming smile already pulling at his features. He faltered however when he was met with a person he wasn't expecting to see despite just thinking of the very man. Harry Bueler, Darcy’s ex-boyfriend. The look on his face was thunderous as he glared at Allen.“W-welcome.” Allen spoke as he covered the rest of the distance to the table, placing each drink in front of their respective owners. As he turned to head back to the bar, Harry blocked his way. He stood taller than Allen, attractive in his own right and if things were different Allen might have found his gaze lingering on him more than it should. As it were, he knew Harry's nature through his conversations with Darcy. “Harry. I'm so sorry about-”“Don't you dare say her name.” Harry cut across him, the venom and accusation in his tone told Allen there was still more to come. “This is on you, you're the reason she's dead!”“Harry Bueler!” Harriet was on her feet behind him and Harry turned to glare at the older woman.“Don't you defend him, this is all his doing!” He snapped before rounding on Allen again. “If you hadn't convinced her, she'd still be alive because I'd have been by her side.”“I didn't convince her of anything, she had decided long before asking my advice.”“You're lying! You wanted her for yourself and because of you she died. She died all alone because of you, because she wanted you.” He spat the words so savagely and at first Allen had wanted to laugh, Harry couldn't have been further from the truth but as he continued those words struck deep, knocking any retort from his thoughts and burning against his skin almost like a brand. Darcy had died alone… because of him. Harry took a step closer, his height forcing Allen to look up at him. “You'll pay for what you've caused.” His voice was quiet, his threat hissed through gritted teeth. Allen barely heard it, he was still reeling over what he'd just said. She'd left Harry for him so if it wasn't for him, she might still be alive.Besides them a stir of movement broke the tension. “You've said your piece. Either order something and sit quiet or leave.” Somehow, the dark haired detective had positioned himself in a spot part way between them with his back to Allen. The tone he used left no room for argument or anything but what had been offered. Behind them Harriet spoke up again.“I think you'd better take the detective's advice, go home for now, Harry.” Harry glowered at both of them in turn and then without a further remark, he curtly left the shop. Once he'd gone and the door closed behind him Allen released a shaky breath and scanned the shop. It seemed the only ones left besides himself was Harriet, the two officers and the detective. He gave them a weak smile before dipping his head in a small bow.“I'm sorry for disturbing you all.” He hated how wobbly and weak his voice sounded and it was probably the reason Officer Tiedoll placed a hand on his shoulder. Behind him Officer Marie pulled up a chair and gently coaxed Allen into it.“People in grief lash out in these kinds of situations. Don't take his words to heart, Allen.” Allen nodded a little at his words before noting how his own hands shook, so he clasped them together as he fixed his gaze at a point on the floor. Despite the officer's advice he was taking it very much to heart. Was there a chance that if she'd never met him, she'd still be alive? He was so lost in his downward spiral that he didn't notice as the shop door was locked and the window blinds pulled half closed. He physically jumped as Harriet placed her hand over his. He met her gaze and she offered him a soft smile.“Close up for today, you're still grieving too.” It was only then did he realise he'd started crying at some point. He gave her a small smile before slipping a hand from under hers and brushed away the tears on his cheeks. She gave his remaining hand a gentle squeeze.“Who was he?” Allen lifted his gaze to follow the sound of the voice to see Detective Kanda standing by the window, arms folded over his chest and glancing out between the horizontal blind panels. His gaze flickered across to meet Allen's briefly, making him aware of where he was directing his question.Allen took a breath, “Harry, Harry Bueler. He was Darcy’s boyfriend for a few years until a couple of months ago. She'd… she'd fallen out of love with him.” The words felt heavy on his tongue now that he knew the implications behind it. She'd fallen out of love with Harry because she'd been falling for him.The detective's next question cut cold through his thoughts, “Did you know?” Allen thought it was obvious given how he'd just reacted, his gaze turned hard.“Know what, exactly?” He looked down as he felt a squeeze on his hand before lifting his gaze to meet Harriets's empathetic smile.“He's just doing his job, sweetie. Detectives have to ask all the questions, even the difficult ones.”Allen sighed and turned his attention back to the detective, his anger tempered, “I didn't know. I was her friend and that was all I'd ever be.” He hesitated a moment, unsure of how his next words would be received. “Women aren't my type.” A ripple of what could have been surprise passed over the detective's features for a moment before his face became impassive again as he nodded a little. Another squeeze of his hand gave him a reassuring boost.“That's why Lavi hardly left this place last summer.” Harriet chuckled gently. Allen flushed at the mention of his ex-turned-bestfriend. The separation had been mutual, they just made better friends than lovers.Across the room, Kanda latched onto the information, “Lavi?”“No. Before you think it, he wouldn't have anything to do with this. He isn't even in the country, he's in Rome with his girlfriend.” Allen didn't waste a second to jump to Lavi's defence. He knew that even if he was here, he wasn't at all the person to do something like this. Lavi was a good man and was far too attached to Lenalee to even bother with being concerned over Allen's lovelife. That didn't mean he didn't constantly hound him over it though.Allen watched the detective's gaze shift towards the officers and Tiedoll nodded confirmation of his words. “Can you think of anyone Darcy might have had trouble with or had reason to hurt her?”It was Harriet that answered, shaking her head as she spoke. “Darcy was a lovely, good girl. She was liked by everyone in town and never caused any trouble. Who would want to hurt her?”Allen dropped his gaze, a thought had occurred to him and it made him feel sick to his stomach. “What is it?” The detective's words seemed to reach him from a great distance and it took more effort than it should to lift his head. He wasn't expecting to be greeted with the full intensity of Detective Kanda's gaze and he faltered a little before reorganising his thoughts.“H-Harry didn't take the break up well. You don't think he could have…” He broke off, unable to form the words that played in his mind. He swallowed thickly, feeling like his insides were being violently shaken.Kanda sighed lightly, but held his gaze. “I think it's unhelpful to jump to conclusions without all the information. I'll find out for sure what happened.” The conviction of his tone steadied Allen and he took strength from it.“I may not be a detective, but if there's anything I can do to help, I'd like to.” For Darcy's sake, he added mentally. A soft chuckle besides him had him remembering there were more than just himself and the detective present.“Allen isn't a detective but he should have been. His talent for discerning information is quite well known in this town. I bet he already knew of your arrival long before you got here.”Harriet chimed in to follow up Officer Tiedoll's statement. “He's also very good at deciding what can be shared and what is best kept from becoming general knowledge. Like your presence, Detective.”Kanda glanced over the two of them as they spoke before he settled his attention back on Allen. He seemed to take him in properly for the first time, even if the moment was brief. He shifted in place, his attention switching towards the door as he spoke. “I'm going to the scene. I'll be back to find out what you know.” Allen made a small noise of affirmation as both Marie and Tiedoll made a move towards the door.“I'll make a stop in with Harry as well, just to make sure things are okay there.” Tiedoll added as he stepped through the door first. Allen nodded a little, it was probably best to check in on Harry, although given the way he felt right now he really couldn't bring himself to care for the man.“I'll stay here with you, Allen” Harriet smiled at him and squeezed his hand.He shook his head, “No. It's fine. I'll be fine. Please don't worry.” He offered her a smile, although the expression didn't quite reach his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Kanda stop to look back at them. He'd been about to turn and question his gaze when the detective turned and followed the officers out the door.It was a little while longer and only after some strong convincing that Allen found himself locking the door after Harriet. He stayed where he was, one hand on the lock as he listened to her footsteps recede. The moment he stopped hearing them, seemed to be the same moment his legs refused to bear his weight, and he collapsed to his knees. He gave an anguished cry, his arms curling around himself as if they could defend him from his own feelings. He'd been doing so well to keep himself together through all of this, yet all it took was a few well aimed words to shatter his strength, like daggers to his heart.He wasn't sure how long he stayed on his knees by the door, struggling against himself. But somehow, after a while, he managed to tame his grief once again. Pushing it down so deep that he couldn't quite feel the sharpness of it. He'd keep going. He pulled himself to his feet and forced himself to focus on cleaning and closing up the shop, he didn't need to think about anything more. Not Harry and what he'd said, or Darcy and what she hadn't said. They were unnecessary thoughts for what he needed to do just now.