Wow! So I finally finished the rewritten first chapter of A Killer In Our Midst! Be forewarned, this is very different! Thanks to all of you that read the first version of this story, and I hope you stick to this one too!

A Killer In Our Midst Chapter 1:

Alfred...

Alfred huffed, sitting in the blue, bumpy plastic chair, the overwhelming scent of Febreeze around him. The boy next to him looked equally mad, red hair ruffled around a rough face. Alfred bit his tongue to prevent himself from saying a biting comment. When the bell above the office door chimed, Alfred sat up, spotting his older brother.

"Arthur." Alfred tried to reason with him, but Arthur just pushed past him and signed the sheet the counselor held out to him.

"I'll take care of him." Arthur smiled at the counselor, and then turned around, and with a stormy expression, grabbed Alfred's wrist and began pulling him. Alfred struggled, holding back until Arthur gave him the evil eye. He quit struggling and let himself be pulled along. When the gray car was in view, Alfred launched into explanation, but was quickly quieted by Arthur.

Alfred quickly climbed into the back as Arthur settled in the driver's seat.

"Alfred! This is the fifth time this month. I can't believe you!" Arthur frowned, turned around in the front seat of the car. He laid his hand on the wheel, but didn't start the car, relaxing slowly.

"But... I just did it to stop Jordan from bullying Matthias." Alfred gave him puppy-dog eyes. Arthur looked away, straightening the papers in the passenger seat. He began to talk again.

"Alfred, I don't care why you did it, I just know this is the fifth time this month. Quit it, or you're moving schools."

"But Matthias and Gilbert are my only friends in this area! You can't take them away from me!" Alfred huffed, glaring at Arthur, leg jumping in the seat. Arthur started the car and didn't answer his brother, who straightened his askew glasses and scowled.

Soon enough, they were pulling into the parking lot of the apartment complex, and Alfred had uncrossed his arms and was staring straight ahead.

"We're home." Arthur called into the backseat.

"I'm not blind, Arthur. I know that." Alfred rumbled at him.

"Don't talk to me like that!" Arthur's eyes narrowed in fury at his younger brother. "I may not be your mother, but I am certainly your guardian and you will listen to me!"

Alfred sighed. "I'm pretty sure I know you're not mom. You look nothing like her."

Arthur went quiet. "Just go to your room. Dinner will be ready soon."

Alfred pushed the squeaking door closed, wincing whenever it was particularly loud. He searched around. "Where is it?" He pushed aside a few pieces of paper on his desk. "Aha!" He reached down and pulled out the slim, shiny phone. "I guess I'm lucky I didn't take this to school today." He mumbled, turning it on and opening the contacts. "Matt, Matt..." He found the contact and called.

"Cous!" Alfred whispered enthusiastically. "Can you come over? Devious plans need to be made."

Matthew's curious voice rang out. "Alfred? Why are you whispering? Why are you calling me 'Cous?' I'm your nephew, not your cousin."

Alfred's mouth twisted. He shrugged, and then remembered Matt couldn't see, and continued whispering. "Oy! I know. You just feel more like a cousin. Besides, I'm not sure I should have my phone right now. Anyway, ask your mum if you can come over."

He heard Matthew sigh. "Fine."

He pumped a fist in the air and said goodbye. Hanging up, he smiled and sat down at his desk. "I wonder what we'll do tonight?"

Later that night, Alfred got a text. The soapy water coated his hands and he frowned at the dishes stacked in the sink, and then wiped his hands on a hand towel.

Matthew: She said yes. But she said she wants to come too.

Alfred: Make it a surprise! Arthur doesn't know.

Alfred: I'm still in trouble. I hope this doesn't make it worse.

Matthew: Are you sure we should do this?

Alfred: DO IT.

Matthew: OK.

"Hey, Alfred." Arthur stepped into the doorway of the room, looking around the brown-painted room. "This is so messy..." He shook his head. "Francis is stopping by tonight so we can close up the last case."

Alfred turned, hiding his expression. "Sure, Arty. I understand."

"Don't call me that." Arthur frowned. He hurried on, the carpet muffling his footsteps. Then, as soon as Alfred heard the closing of the door, he rushed to his phone.

Alfred: Dude, Francis is visiting.

Matthew: You mean Arthur's 'partner'?

Alfred: Yeah

Matthew: Should we come over? I could tell my mum not too.

Alfred: No reason not to. Come over.

Alfred smirked, putting down the phone, and putting on his headphones. Swinging the chair around, he turned on his computer. "Time for some research..." Music faintly drifted from the headphones and Alfred's smile was growing by the second. "Cool."

"ALFRED!" He heard Arthur's loud voice from the foyer. Winking to himself, he left the room.

"Yeah, bro?" Arthur's face was incredibly red, and Alfred laughed internally. "You needed something?"

"Why is my sister's car out front?" He steamed.

"Arthur, why are you asking me? She could've just decided to visit, like a good sibling!"

"She already is a good sibling. But she doesn't visit out of the blue like this!" Arthur held his head in his hands. "How am I supposed to entertain both Ettie and Francis?"

"Well, bro, technically you aren't entertaining Francis, you're just going over that case with him." Alfred smiled cheerfully before whipping the door open at the sound of the doorbell. "Hey!" He saw both Francis and Ettie, who were smiling at him, and Mattie looking awkward, standing behind them. Alfred reached around them and grabbed Mattie, pulling him through the two adults, who were pushed aside slightly, as Mattie smiled apologetically at them. His shoes squeaked on the wood floor until he slightly pitched forward as the carpet caught his shoes. "You okay?" Matthew nodded, and Alfred pushed him into his room.

"Are we really doing this?" Matthew looked apprehensive.

"Of course! Unless you've gotten cold feet?" Alfred edged forward.

"No!" Mattie waved his hands in front of him.

"Alright, then. Arthur won't know what hit him!"

Arthur motioned for Francis and Ettie to come in, noticing the faintly nostalgic look she was giving Alfred. He quickly grabbed her shoulders and whispered to her. "Ettie, just go sit on the couch for a bit and watch TV, please? I've gotta do this with Francis for a bit." She looked at him and nodded.

"Don't worry. So why did Alfred need Matthew over here? I offered to drive him over here after Alfred texted him. Then I decided, why not visit my baby brother!" She ruffled his hair, and he gave her a deadpan look. "Please, don't do that Ettie."

"Fine..." She sat down and he walked over to Francis, who had sat down at the dinner table.

"Now, what are we dealing with?" Arthur sat down in the seat next to Francis, looking over all the papers. Then his gaze landed on a picture, and his eyes widened. "What?!"