The Silent Appeal
Charlotte
Nicky-Rose is roping Issy into her plan to blackmail Trina.
Femi
Which explains their “friendship,” but it’s curious, because surely Nicky-Rose wants to count the cash before handing over the documents.
Charlotte
If Trina sold Nicky-Rose’s house using forged documents, or even just failed to pay her what was owed, then why would she trust her now to deliver all the money in cash?
Femi
Yet she seems confident in whatever plan she has.
Charlotte
The mystery of the missing friendship bracelet is solved, and of who Issy will tell Fran’s secret to.
Femi
I’m wondering what Nicky-Rose will do with the information about Fran and Josh’s affair?
Charlotte
Hearing Issy gossip about Fran and Josh must have alerted her to the danger of Issy noticing her affair with Kevin. Still, knowledge is power. Nicky-Rose likes to know the “tea.”
Femi
I hate that expression.
Charlotte
Issy likes “tea” as much as she does iced coffee, especially when it’s about her latest obsession.
Femi
Issy’s former case lead calls it limerence. The psychological state of intense infatuation with someone out of reach. It was mentioned in a stalking case I reviewed recently.
Charlotte
Distinct from obsession?
Femi
More specific. Limerence is unrequited. In the past it might have been called a crush, but that underplays the intensity and intrusive nature of the feelings.
Femi
Limerence has a cycle: infatuation, intensification, and deterioration. Which chimes exactly with Issy’s journal when she observes that her feelings for Fran have subsided and those for Nicky-Rose are increasing.
Charlotte
What’s the worst thing a limerent will do?
Femi
From the case I reviewed: self-destructive behavior and self-harm.
Charlotte
Can it lead to murder?
Femi
Well, as we know, it can certainly lead to a false confession to murder.
To: Femi Hassan
From: Charlotte Holroyd
Date: September 10, 2025
Subject: Lockwood
Sorry to email so late. Can’t stop thinking about the Lockwood case.
The disappearance of Tiffany Ramirez from the Voyager Eclipse: How does it tie in?
There was some dark stuff going on there, but how can Nicky-Rose and Trina have been a part of it when as far as we can tell they weren’t on the ships themselves, just supplying entertainers?
On April 28, Lily Bielik says “more than one person” must have known Tiffany hadn’t returned to the ship. Was that just negligence on the part of whoever should have been keeping track of the crew as they came aboard, or is it a more sinister conspiracy?
Just what is this case really about? Let’s chat over the phone, tomorrow then draft an email to Mr. Tanner that examines the Bridgetown connection.
To: Roderick Tanner, KC
From: Charlotte Holroyd
Cc: Femi Hassan, Sharon Collins
Date: September 11, 2025
Subject: Our theories
Dear Mr. Tanner,
We’ve been considering events in Bridgetown last year and how they tie into the Lockwood case.
This is what we know: Nicky-Rose jointly ran an entertainment business for cruise ships.
It is not lost on us that a cruise ship is an excellent place to murder someone and get away with it.
Tiffany Ramirez left the Voyager Eclipse and went ashore in Bridgetown, where something occurred that meant she never returned.
However, someone altered the crew log to indicate that she did return to the ship, which meant that when her absence was noted, it appeared she’d died by suicide at sea.
Whatever happened, it appears that Nicky-Rose has brought the fallout halfway across the world to Lockwood.
Yours sincerely,
Charlotte Holroyd & Femi Hassan
Lockwood Murder Case WhatsApp group, September 11, 2025:
Roderick Tanner, KC
Send them the next folder please, Sharon.
Femi Hassan
Thank you, Sharon. How are you, Mr. Tanner?
Roderick Tanner, KC
Doctors! They know nothing.
Charlotte Holroyd
So, you’re feeling ok?
Roderick Tanner, KC
Never better.
Femi Hassan
Are you home now?
Sharon Collins
Mr. Tanner discharged himself against medical advice.
Roderick Tanner, KC
I have too much work to be ill. Now, let me catch up and we can discuss.
Roderick Tanner, KC
Sharon! Have you sent them?
Sharon Collins
YES!
Charlotte
One gigabyte.
Femi
These messages are all from play week itself. We’ve jumped forward by a month.
Charlotte
On train. No time today. We’ll have to do this tonight.