Natural as he tried to act about it all it seemed like there existed speculation in the air, tangible doubt likely remained attached to the thoughts of the knights at best. In any sort of murder scene there had to be doubts of course, suspects were often gauged with guilt and in this instance Pat had to hide all of his. Pretend he had none at all, which probably wasn't going well on his end. Yet even when he'd sold the story of his brief escort home, the unexpected intrusion which Lena made nearly complicated things entirely. Upon her vouching for him she'd created an alibi yet, at the cost of her own pride and honor as a cleric. Her? With him? Would these knights even be able to deter that? Only if he didn't back it up at that moment. "It's true," He queued in with a loose grin, "I didn't wish to disrespect her business... but she did come by my place that night." How was it this easy to lie? Part of him must've liked it a bit too much, however in this moment he felt no such glee in covering his ass this time.
Because that coverage came with the word of another, which not only compromised his ethics but created liabilities. Lena didn't deserve it either since she'd been completely innocent, and now that she'd made herself only further involved he basically owed her. Part of him felt a little infuriated by this, but the deed had already been done thus he could only go with it from there. "Well then," The Knights seemed to look at each other and then back to Patrick, "Since that eliminates you as a suspect, we've no further questions for you. In the mean time please keep an eye out, especially if you decide to escort another client home." As the lead investigative knight told this to Patrick, one of the the others there eyed Lena up and down for a Bit. If she'd noticed his constant observations he'd only smile and nod to her, likely due to the reputation she'd be developing from that bit of the story.
"Yes sir," Patrick nodded with his eyes lowered to the bar, "and much thanks to your patronage. Come back for another round o' drinks sometime." He feigned another hearty smile, and waved the farewell with hopes they had luck in their investigation; now that their trail had gone cold in locating the murderer. Daveth seemed to glance between Patrick, who still had his eyes averted to the bar, and Lena who seemed vividly red from her part in vouching for him. "I got this Dav."
"Sure thing Pat." The Ithecal chuckled and slithered his way back into the office, while the bartender himself glanced at everyone else before Lena. There were stares to be sure, no doubt speculation within the minds of many others. Patrick proceeded to pour Lena another glass of water, and sat it down where she had the option to take it if she chose.
"Thanks fer that." He quipped with a fold of his arms onto the countertop, admittedly he'd proved rather sheepish now. Why? All she did was cover his ass, which meant he'd probably get away with it in time. So why did he feel weird about her involvement? Was it because he never asked her to? "I... guess I owe you one." He nearly choked when he had to say those words, the fact he owed some cleric a favor proved a bitter pill to swallow. More bitter than the times his own brother covered his ass, which really meant something since Dominek was always the one saving Pat half the time.
Because that coverage came with the word of another, which not only compromised his ethics but created liabilities. Lena didn't deserve it either since she'd been completely innocent, and now that she'd made herself only further involved he basically owed her. Part of him felt a little infuriated by this, but the deed had already been done thus he could only go with it from there. "Well then," The Knights seemed to look at each other and then back to Patrick, "Since that eliminates you as a suspect, we've no further questions for you. In the mean time please keep an eye out, especially if you decide to escort another client home." As the lead investigative knight told this to Patrick, one of the the others there eyed Lena up and down for a Bit. If she'd noticed his constant observations he'd only smile and nod to her, likely due to the reputation she'd be developing from that bit of the story.
"Yes sir," Patrick nodded with his eyes lowered to the bar, "and much thanks to your patronage. Come back for another round o' drinks sometime." He feigned another hearty smile, and waved the farewell with hopes they had luck in their investigation; now that their trail had gone cold in locating the murderer. Daveth seemed to glance between Patrick, who still had his eyes averted to the bar, and Lena who seemed vividly red from her part in vouching for him. "I got this Dav."
"Sure thing Pat." The Ithecal chuckled and slithered his way back into the office, while the bartender himself glanced at everyone else before Lena. There were stares to be sure, no doubt speculation within the minds of many others. Patrick proceeded to pour Lena another glass of water, and sat it down where she had the option to take it if she chose.
"Thanks fer that." He quipped with a fold of his arms onto the countertop, admittedly he'd proved rather sheepish now. Why? All she did was cover his ass, which meant he'd probably get away with it in time. So why did he feel weird about her involvement? Was it because he never asked her to? "I... guess I owe you one." He nearly choked when he had to say those words, the fact he owed some cleric a favor proved a bitter pill to swallow. More bitter than the times his own brother covered his ass, which really meant something since Dominek was always the one saving Pat half the time.
