Chapter 5: Of Parties and Promises
He’s out there, she thought. He’s waiting for us to make a move–to expose ourselves. She rubbed her face. He had them cornered.
Rain fell lightly across the pavements and over rooftops. Water cascaded down the tiles and overflowed the gutters. The sky seemed to churn and swell in the nightly wind. Each gust bringing fresher, fuller clouds which in turn wept upon the small town. A cloaked mare trotted quickly down the street to get out of the storm, her cloak billowing behind her as she was assaulted by the wind.
Pinkie watched the mare make her way to the front of Sugarcube corner before hearing the latch open as she entered through the door beside her.
“It’s awful out there,” Twilight proclaimed, shutting the door. She removed her cloak covering the floor in rainwater before slinging it on the hook on the wall. “There has been word of two visitors in town, a stallion and a mare. Apparently the mare is called Print.”
Pinkie raised an eyebrow. “It’s possible that the stallion is Detective Clock, although any stallion passing through Ponyville who is staying for a few days could be.”
Twilight walked over and sat beside Pinkie. “The mare in the inn was quite adamant that at least one of them was a detective. Apparently the mare was rambling on about being a side-kick,” she said.
Pinkie narrowed her eyes. “An odd thing to blurt out, isn’t it?” She sighed. “He may have already expected us to ask around. He could have even gotten somepony to play as ‘him’ as a lure. No, we cannot be sure.”
Twilight wrapped a hoof around Pinkies shoulder in support. “We’ll get him. He’s bound to slip up.” Pinkie smiled and broke into a small chuckle. “What?” Twilight asked scanning Pinkie’s face for a sign of what she was laughing at.
Pinkie stood letting Twilight’s hoof fall from her shoulder. “We don’t have to sneak around to find him.” She glanced down toward Twilight, a grin on her face and a look of lunacy fixed in her eyes. It was a look Twilight was starting to become all too familiar with. “We can throw him…”
* * *
“…a party!” Pinkie shouted at the stallion in the doorway of his office.
“I really don’t need a party, Ma’am,” assured the stallion. He looked back into the office to see Speckled Print stifling a laugh.
Print stood up and then leaned through the doorway. “What is the party for? And you have to answer that; I’m a detective,” she said, looking smug. The stallion scowled at her washing the look away.
“Well, it’s a super-duper, extra special welcome party!” Pinkie shouted. “You’re both new to Ponyville and that means you don’t know anyone and that makes you lonely and that made me sad, so I thought I’d throw you a great big party!” This second mentioning of ‘party’ caused an eruption of confetti from her saddlebag to shower the two standing in the doorway.
“I’m not that good with strangers. I really don’t want to meet lots of ponies,” said the stallion, trying to close the door.
Pinkie put a hoof in the doorway before it shut forcing him to open it again. “Well you’re good with me and they don’t have to be strangers. If they are your friends then they won’t be strangers. And who doesn't want to meet lots of ponies who can be super-nice to you?” Pinkie asked relentlessly.
“I don’t, I’m only here on business for a few weeks.”
“Aw, don’t be a grumpy-chumpy, or I’ll never leave you alone. I need everyone in Ponyville to be super-happy or I’m not super-happy. Please, please, please come to the party. I promise you’ll have an amazing time,” Pinkie begged. Her puppy-dog eyes and a protruding lower lip completed the full package of pleading.
“You really can’t say no to that,” Print said earnestly, fully captivated by Pinkie’s display. “Just look at her, really.”
The stallion sighed. “Fine, but I’ll only be there for one hour and I want a full list of all the guests who attend.”
Pinkie smiled emphatically. “Dealy-wheely. You will not be disappointed. It’ll be great. The best hour of your partying life!”
The stallion continued to hold a stare. “Of course it will.”
Pinkie turned to walk away. “I’m going to go tell everypony to come to the amazing welcome party of Speckled Print and…” She spun on the spot. “and?” she said staring at him.
The stallion sighed. “Clock.”
“Okie dokie lo-“
“No, no. You did it wrong!” Print interrupted. Clock looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “You have to say your name cool-like. Watch: the names Print, Speckled Print.” Clock blinked slowly trying to comprehend what he was watching. “See? Much cooler that way. It was one of the first things I learned before becoming a detective so that I didn’t look like a little rookie.”
There was a pause as they waited for Clock. “Names Pie, Pinkie Pie,” Pinkie said, joining in with the theme. A first name will seal the deal.
Clock looked between them both with an expression comparable to one of the dying stallions she had killed. He wore a look that had no emotion, just pain at their position and no hope of escape. He blinked slowly and finally spoke with a voice as cold as ice and dry as sand. “The names Clock…Silver Clock.”
* * *
Pinkie stood on the top level of the ladder and tied the banner to one side of the doorway whilst Twilight levitated the other at the opposite side.
“A classic Pinkie Pie party,” Twilight said proudly as she finished tying the knot, “the perfect way to get close to him.”
Pinkie climbed down the ladder. “Not close to him,” she said slowly looking over to Twilight. “I don’t think he’ll come. A crowded area, lots of strangers, each one potentially Red-Mane. Like walking into a game of Russian roulette. I’m hoping he stays put; he’ll be alone in his office. Easy to deal with: no witnesses.” She began packing away the boxes of decorations around the room.
“And what if he does come?” Twilight asked. “Then he won’t be alone, and in a crowd his murder would be hard to not notice.”
Pinkie stopped what she was doing. “I hadn’t considered him taking the bait. It would be too difficult for him, however equally for us. If he comes, then I’ll tail him as he leaves and disposes of him in the walk home.”
Twilight smiled for a moment but it quickly faded. “If you leave, ponies will notice. You’re the hostess of the party after all,” she said, staring at Pinkie.
Pinkie matched her gaze. “You cannot expect to do it on your own. He is a trained detective-“
“And he’ll never see me coming,” Twilight interrupted taking a step toward Pinkie.
“What if he has Print with him?”
“Then I’ll back off,” Twilight said. She paused. “Rather than taking a risk and getting caught. We know who he is now. It’ll be harder for him to hide. I’ll follow him to his apartment and make note of where he lives.”
Pinkie smiled and closed the gap between them. She wrapped a hoof around Twilights neck and pulled her closer so they were but an inch apart. She could smell Twilight’s lavender scent. “I knew you were special on day one, a keeper,” she said in a low voice. She smiled. “But I’d never have guessed you’d be such a valuable partner.” She closed her eyes and moved in to kiss. Twilight closed her eyes soon after and angled her head.
After a few moments, the two broke off and stared at each other. Pinkie wanted to do so many things at that moment, so many things she had only ever thought about doing with other mares. But she had to resist. The real party started in two hours.
* * *
Twilight pushed the kitchen door open and leaned through. The lights and loud music clambered in with her through the gap in the door. The cycle of coloured light flashed and illuminated one side of Twilight’s face.
“He hasn’t arrived yet!” Twilight said over the music. She looked back into the party-room for a second before fully entering. The music became far quieter and the kitchen was lit by only a single light. “Do you think he turn up?” she said quieter.
Pinkie looked up for the first time from her work. She was icing some cupcakes she had baked for the party. “I hope he doesn’t but I’d rather hold off for a bit longer,” she said as she looked down at her work. She stuck her tongue out in concentration as she built each small towers of icing on each yellow-dyed cake. “But if he does then that’s when you’ll come into play, although I was hoping to make the kill myself.” She looked up and gave a short shrug. “As long as he dies I don’t really care whose hoof he falls by.”
Twilight nodded and then smiled.
“What?” Pinkie asked putting the down the icing bag.
Twilight gestured to the table of cupcakes, still smiling. “I forgot that you’re also a baker, such an innocent profession.”
Pinkie matched her smile. “It is an easy life and it first introduced me to knife skills,” she said as she picked up the tray. “Let’s not forget that you’re a librarian, here. It’s far from what I’d consider a criminal profession, either.”
Twilight held the door as she walked through. “I made some really later returns, so it was sort of like stealing,” she said grinning. Pinkie rolled her eyes. Twilight leaned toward Pinkie and whispered, “He’s there, beside the drink stand.”
Pinkie swallowed hard and nodded. “It’s up to you now,” she said with a tone Twilight couldn’t quite identify.
“I’ll get him. I can’t see Print anywhere.”
Pinkie nodded and went over toward him. Happy mode: ON. “Silver! I’m so glad you could make it,” she said smiling.
Silver smiled back but it ended abruptly. “Just call me Clock from now if you don’t mind.”
“No problem Mr Clock. I baked these for you,” she said holding up the tray of baked goods.
“They’re wonderful, but I hope you don’t mind if I decline this time around, I’m on a diet you see,” he said.
Pinkie was rather taken aback. “Oh, I should have asked before. Sorry,can I get you anything else?”
He shook his head. “Nonsense, just take them to the other ponies. They certainly look delicious enough for everypony else to enjoy.”
“Will do, Clock,” she said and turned back to face the room.
The party wasn’t as large as it could have been but that was all by intention. He had said he didn’t like strangers, so that was the excuse she would give. However the real reason would be manageability, more ponies to keep an eye on, less time to see what Clock was up to and whether he had left or not. Not to mention it being less time to talk to him and find out less information. Although finding out he was dieting wasn’t exactly valuable information.
She handed out most of the cupcakes and returned to the kitchen. Before entering, she glanced back to Clock who was still beside the drinks stand although now happily conversing with Berry Punch who had likely visited the drinks stand for other reasons.
Twilight sat at the kitchen counter staring at her when she entered.
“He’s alone,” Pinkie stated. “All we have to do is wait him out until he leaves and you can follow him out.”
Twilight nodded. “Only an hour?” she asked.
“Yes, but don’t let him out of your sight. We don’t know what he’ll try. If he has already suspected that this is a trap then he may have planned anything, he may even have an escort home,” Pinkie said.
Twilight stood and looked out the window. It still hadn’t stopped raining, but the party would go on when she was out there. “I’ll go keep watch,” she said as she stood.
Pinkie hugged her tightly. “Good luck,” she said only above a whisper.
Twilight nodded and left into the main room.
* * *
It had been over an hour since Clock had left and Twilight had followed. The party was drawing to a close and ponies were starting to leave, but there were no signs of Twilight returning. Pinkie was worried, but she had to keep her composure as others were still around. The idea that Twilight might be in trouble sickened her, but she had faith that Twilight would be alright. She was a capable mare after all.
The music was turned off along with the coloured lights and groups of ponies chatted idly in different regions of the room, some drifting between groups. Occasionally ponies left in groups or just in twos. Eventually each group thanked Pinkie for the party and left soon after.
After all had left and the building fell silent, Pinkie looked up to the clock, it had been three hours since Twilight had left.
Pinkie swore to herself. She had thought Twilight competent enough to stay out of danger but for the first time she considered the possibility of one of them being caught. It was a frightening prospect. The punishment for murder in Equestria was execution. Fortunately they couldn’t punish Twilight without sufficient evidence, and such evidence was safely locked in the basement.
Pinkie didn’t have the energy to clean up the mess left from the party but did she want to sleep. She wanted to stay up and wait for Twilight’s safe return. She wanted Twilight to walk through the door and even if she hadn’t killed Clock, simply to see her would be a great gift. Having her back would be enough. They knew who Clock was, the rest could be planned, but she wanted Twilight back.
But Pinkie was alone that night and Twilight didn’t return.
* * *
“Quite smart of you really,” Clock said sucking air through his teeth in a grimace. He clutched a wound on his side below his ribs. “To use a party to get close to me, you’re unpredictable, I’ll give you that.”
Twilight scowled fiercely from her cell, a gag and set of cuffs making any communication or movement impossible. The room was a simple one with granite floors and walls. There were three cells lined up on one wall with Twilight in the middle cell. Clock sat just outside of the cell’s door on a wooden stool.
He coughed and winced as a searing pain burned at his side. Print entered the room clutching a set of bandages. Clock raised his hooves above his head as she tied them around his waist tightly enough to stop the bleeding. The dark ichor seeped through the first two layers of bandage quickly but left no trace on the additional bandages. She cut the remaining bandages and left the room.
He lowered his hooves and leant forward once she had finished. He took a sigh of relief. “You did a good number on me,” he said slowly. “But I caught you.” He looked down to the floor. “Fuck.” He shook his head and stood quickly. He slammed a hoof against the bars making a loud metallic bang.
Twilight flinched slightly at the sound but tried to control her composure.
He sat back down and took a long, deep breath. “You’re not Red-Mane, are you?” he said. “You’re just her fucking sidekick sent to do one over on me.”
Print leaned back through the door. “Everything alright?” she asked scanning the room. “I heard a bang.”
Clock snorted in laughter and gave a short smile. “Come straight away next time you hear a noise,” he said. “I could be dead right now and she’d have a weapon in that time.”
Print nodded and entered the room. “So what happens now, we’ve got her, haven’t we?”
Clock leaned sat upright on his stood and put both his hooves behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. “Nope, just the sidekick, the rookie,” he groaned and rubbed his face. “When I get her, I’ll make sure she dies. Hanging preferably, a loose rope, just enough to make her squirm die slowly.”
“She’s getting upset,” Print said staring at Twilight. Twilight was shaking with fear, anger or both, she couldn’t tell.
Clock leaned forward a smile crept to his lips and he started laughing. “Oh, you two got close, didn’t you?” he taunted. “Real nice and close.” He stood and laughed louder. “Keep an eye on her. I’ve got a call to make.”
He entered the station and went upstairs to his office receiving many worried looks from the officers at his bandages along the way. He entered his office and pulled the walkie-talkie out from the top drawer.
“Hello, Red-Mane,” he said happily.
After a few moments the voice replied. “Hello, Clock,” said Red-Mane.
“Next time you send a fucking sidekick to do your dirty work, ensure that she can handle a knife,” he said in a tone of malice.
“What have you-“
“Now listen Red-Mane, I’m going to be honest here, spare you the pain of finding out from someone less close to you. She’s dead. Gave me a great big slice down the side, mind you, but self defence allowed me to shoot her.”
“You’re lying.”
“I being serious here,” he said. His voice became slower and quieter. “I didn’t want to. I’ve never killed before. But she kept coming at me, I shot her once in the arm but she still kept coming.” He paused for a moment. “I know this is hard for you. I’ve lost someone close to me as well. An eye for an eye, I believe.”
Red-Mane’s voice went cold. “You’re still coming for me.”
“I have to.”
“Then you’d better hope you find me first.”
He snorted. “I understand…I’ll see you soon.”
The line went dead on the other end and he sat back in his office chair. He considered what he had just done: antagonized a killer in a town with a weak police force of low numbers. He smiled. It was soon about to be interesting.