Sophie felt uncomfortable as she walked back into the speakeasy. Although she didn´t have much contact with Grant, she felt bad, like she was doing something that was forbidden. There was some sort of immorality in it and yet, all the dark thoughts passed away when she heard the music. It seemed like everything was the same as before. There was never a murder. It gave Sophie this feeling, that something was out of place and on the other hand, the worry that a person was worth nothing and could be replaced.
Sophie was eager about getting drunk to at least be in a better mood and ordered a cocktail before sitting down at a lonely table. She tried to think about what she should paint soon and if she should visit the museum in the coming days. But the more she tried to distract herself from the funeral and the whole situation about a murder, the more she was led back to it as if she were running up an escalator.
It was strange to think about it, there was a difference between dying of old age and getting murdered. Sophie had to order a new cocktail to get a new mood. But somehow she got distracted by Hoover.
"Begone!"
She held her bag tightly.
"You don´t get brushes from me."
Sophie tried to get the dog off her somehow, but it didn´t work. With several hisses, she thought she had won, but Hoover snuggled closer to Sophie.
"Help...?"
Her only word was so quiet that no one heard it. Sophie wanted to ask someone to help her, then she got the idea to lock Hoover somewhere in the warehouse. But then she also got the feeling that Hoover wasn´t dangerous. She didn´t notice that he suddenly sniffed her bag.
She stood up quickly, throwing the chair as she did so, to get away from Hoover. Apparently only now did other guests at the next table notice Sophie´s silent fight against Hoover. Embarrassed, she smiled over at the gentlemen.
"I´m allergic to dogs."
They didn´t seem to believe her and red-faced, Sophie made her way back to the bar to get a new drink. Hoover continued to follow her. After ordering another cocktail and finally realising that the alcohol was doing something to her head, she turned to Hoover and barked at him. Only the barman looked at her with a funny face.
"I´m the only one to bring him out of the speakeasy. A bit of help would be great!"
At that moment, Aloysius strolled through the door. After stopping by Raymond's house, Aloysius returned to his apartment. He called his brother, who was currently stationed in Pearl Harbor, at Fort Kamehameha, then worked before heading to the speakeasy. Aloysius thought it would be better to confer with the group about seeing the priest before he did so himself.
Aloysius looked around for any familiar face. He laid eyes on Sophie, who was barking like a dog and ran over to her aid. Aloysius pulled Hoover away and picked him up. Hoover struggled and nipped at Aloysius's arms, only causing Aloysius to hold him farther away from his body.
"Now, how did you get back here?" he mumbled, trying to keep the dog still in his arms. He then turned to Sophie, "Are you okay?"
"Can´t you see I´m fighting the dog?"
Sophie only realised that it was a familiar face that had spoken to her.
"Aloyloy? Was that your name?"
"Aloysius," he replied, "Not. Aloyloy."
Caroline entered the speakeasy just after Aloysius. She'd thought she'd recognized him going in, but hadn't said anything.
After the funeral, she'd eventually found her way back to the boarding house and managed a small serving of sausage and potatoes that they'd served that evening for dinner. She'd changed and gone to the speakeasy. She'd been compelled to because she didn't know what else there was to do. Sit alone. Re-read This Side of Paradise for the countless time. No, something had told her to go to the speakeasy.
When she saw Sophie and Aloysius, she walked in their direction.
"I didn't get a proper chance to say hello earlier," Caroline said. "How are the rest of you holding up?"
"Fine. A little shaken, but I talked to a friend of mine so I'm doing better," Aloysius said, "You?"
"I've been better."
***
Sophie probably only managed to sober up a little because of Aloysius and Caroline. It was hard to look for a glass of water, so Sophie was provisionally given tap water. Together at the table, it was not yet clear to her from the start what had happened. Only when Hoover was being cuddled by Aloysius did it all seem like déjà vu to her. At least when Julian joined them and the quartet was complete.
Sophie listened and at first, it seemed like a crime novel she didn't like. Aloysius told of some points that seemed suspicious to him and also explained a little note from the obituary. For Sophie, it was all too much at first. Probably also because in the first few minutes she was more busy watching Hoover so that he wouldn't start plotting some plot to get the brushes out of his pocket. He even seemed to grin at her sometimes.
When Caroline and Julian agreed to visit the priest with Aloysius, it seemed as if the discussion was coming to an end. It was now as if all eyes were on Sophie. It seemed like a turning point where Sophie had to make a decision. It was as if time stood still and even the music seemed to fall into the back of her head.
That's when the ghost came back into her mind, thinking that Grant probably couldn't rest in peace until they found out who the killer was. And only then would Sophie finally be able to fall asleep again without fear of a ghost visiting her at night.
Sophie agreed.
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