Little girl thinking that Bill was racist. If anything, he’s telling the truth. This Red fella just up and came out of nowhere. Now she thinks she’s in charge of the whole damn thing? Why doesn't she just take her stupid dog and mosey on out of here?!

Just as Bill was beginning to overthink the pink detective’s reasoning for coming, Red suddenly gets up from Alyx’s body and clears her throat. “Well, my finest folk, it appears that I’ve found a lil’ somethin’ that rightly concerns me a bit.” She holds out her hands to Bill so he can peel off her gloves. Bill looks at her with downright disgust.

“Ma’am, I believe we just met, we ain’t known each other that long for me to be peelin’ yer gloves off.” He stands his ground. Why doesn't she peel off her gloves herself? After all, nowadays women talk about wanting to be on equal terms. Well, eat what you make.

As if reading his mind, Red sighs disappointedly. “And here I thought you were the most kindly of them all. Carlita, it seems as though we–”

Leo rolls her eyes and steps up, swiping the gloves and crushing them into a ball. “Ya, ¿qué viste?” Red blinks slowly and smiles, part confused and part grateful. At that, Red clears her throat.

“So, I found a similar note on Alyx’s chest. Leo mentioned finding a note. It appears that everyone in the room sans little ol’ me has received an invite. Furthermore, I found not a single wound on the good doctor’s body. The blood trickles from her throat, thus I suggest either internal bleeding or poisoning. Probably both. Third, the death was recent, not even a few hours ago. She showed no signs of stress, thus I suspect the culprit is someone she knew. Which leads me to…”

Bill gulps. The culprit being someone Alyx knew? That could be anyone here! He first turns to Blake, who is almost Alyx’s age. Weren’t they together at some point?! This is what happens when people like them fall in love! It always happens, check television! Come to think of it… it couldn’t be anyone but Blake! The other kids are too stupid to do something like this! Jake’s too emotional, he’d admit guilt on the spot. Leo’s Spanish. Bill hates Shay so she doesn’t count. Maybe… maybe it was even that pink blot Red! It was her puppy! …what was his name again?

This amount of thinking was abnormal for Bill, so he clutches his head and groans. As if going through a brain-freeze, his senses tingle, his body temperature fluctuates. “Um, you doin’ alright?” Jake slowly walks over to Bill in worry.

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Suddenly, Bill points a finger at Jake.

“You killed ‘er. Admit it.”

Jake blinks slowly. “W-well, what’s all this then? It’s still a little too early…” But then Bill hissed at Jake. Yes. Hissed.

“Stay away from me, murderer.”

Immediately, Shay steps in front of Jake protectively. “Run, now. I’ll hold him off.” Nodding, Jake runs for the exit… only to find it blocked by none other than Red.

“Now, this is an active crime scene and y’all are unfortunate witnesses. I’m afraid I need y’all’s testimony, so please stay until then?” Jake tries to sidestep Red, but the poodle snarls and gives him a pleading face.

Bill’s finger then points at Red. “You’re keepin’ us trapped?! You wanna finish us all off, don’tcha?! Get the killer, then get us! Well I won’t let you!”

Red, unafraid of the brute, sighs dramatically. “And here I thought we were all gonna have ourselves a nice lil’ barbecue. Come together for Thanksgivin’. Don’t worry, I can wait. Let it all out, big guy. All that rage ain’t good for your lil’ noggin, you know!”

Everyone else in the room is taken aback at how nonchalant Red is about a hulking football figure threatening her. It’s almost as if she were the bigger person - and in this moment, she was. She did not have the muscle, but she had the mind to ruin everyone here. Everyone came to this conclusion since the moment she sauntered in the mansion like it was nobody’s business.

After a minute, Blake claps her hands once. “Now, do as the lady says. Why don’t you take a bathroom break? Splash some water on yourself?” Bill growls at Blake, but even he can feel the time ticking away. Each minute spent is a minute that they waste. And so…

“...as you wish, ma’am.” Bill stomps toward the bathroom, leaving everyone else stunned.

“Now, as I was gonna say…” Red continues on in her cheery, peppy voice. “I’m afraid I’ll have to not only hear what y’all’s connection with Alyx is, but I’mma do a combover of the entire mansion. Oh, and maybe consider this a job interview! I am lookin’ for an assistant; my cases are growin’ too big for just poor ol’ me.” She puts a hand on her head as if she was going to faint.

No one speaks up. Or, rather, no one dares to speak up. If Red could talk a monster like Big Bill into checking his temper, she might as well have full reign of the mansion. And from the initial handiwork, she knows what she’s doing. For all anyone in the room knows, she could solve who killed Doctor Alyx by sunrise.

And so the remaining sportspeople stepped back, leaving a pathway for Red to head into the hallway. As she passed them by…

“You look like you’re good at spyin’ on lil’ things.” Red points at Shay. “Mind comin’ along for a bit?” Shay gulps before nodding, looking back at Jake once. “Y’know, pucks are easy to see ‘cause they’re black, and the ice is, y’know…”

“Honey, I didn’t even know that was its name, let alone how hockey works.”