The Afterparty

Wow. This is fancy.

Okay. I let my sister know we're here. Yeah.

I can't believe she's finally getting married.

And to the guy who owns all of this. Oh, my God.

I know, right? Good job, Grace.

Totally.

I mean, they haven't even known each other that long,

but I'm happy for her. I really am.

- There they are. Hi! - Oh, wow.

Your mom and dad are already here. I wasn't expecting to see them until...

Hey. I love you, and my parents are gonna love you.

I just wanna make a really good first impression.

You will. And you know what?

Maggie's with Brett the whole weekend, so all we have to do is relax and have fun.

Yes. Am I sweating? I feel like I'm sweating a lot.

Hey. Relaxing and fun.

Relaxing and fun.

Yeah!

Hey, I don't understand it. Did you just find him like this?

Were you up all night?

What? No, no, no.

He was passed out drunk the minute I got into the room,

so I... I just slept beside him.

Oh, my God. I slept beside him.

Oh, my God.

My poor boy. He died in his sleep, just like his father.

As the Hopi say, "Do not fear tears, for they are grief's mirrors."

Sounds better in Hopi. It does not rhyme.

This is not good. This is... This is bad. This is very, very bad.

- This is very, very bad. -

God, such good hair. You'll never lose it now.

Oh, oh. Ooh. I wouldn't pet the dead body.

Why?

Hey, can I talk to you in the corner real quick? No big deal.

- Yeah, we might wanna have a little... - Not you.

I think Edgar was murdered.

What?

You can't just say someone is murdered.

Look at this.

- It's dead. - Oh, my God.

I know, right?

Edgar randomly...

I mean, tragically, but also randomly dies

and his pet lizard also happens to die too?

I don't think so.

Remember how all weekend he was sharing his food and drinks with it?

I think someone poisoned Edgar,

and his lizard inadvertently got poisoned also.

Holy shit. Another murder.

You're right. My son was poisoned.

- What? - Along with his beloved lizard, Roxana.

And Grace killed them both.

- What? -

- No. No. - Take it back.

- How dare you? - I didn't...

- That's exactly what you said, Aniq. - What?

No, uh... No, I... I didn't say that.

Huh?

Grace only met my sweet boy six months ago.

Obviously, she married him for his money

and then poisoned him on their wedding night.

- You are out of line. - No, I didn't.

- I didn't, Zozo. Please. - I know.

So, this is what's going to happen. I'm going to call my dear friend,

Sheriff Reardon, Howie,

who is a capable, handsome man,

and he will know exactly what to do.

Isabel. Isabel.

No, please. I will go to jail.

I don't think that's a good idea.

- What's happening? -

I'm not sure, but historically, when rich, white people whisper,

it's never a good thing.

On second thought, while this is an unspeakable tragedy,

it's not going to become more speakable over the next few hours,

so we will have to handle some important business considerations

before notifying the authorities.

No one is to leave the grounds until that happens.

- I don't think I'd thrive in jail. - I'll take care of it.

- Hey. - I didn't do it, Zozo. I-I didn't do it.

No, I know, I know. Uh, we will figure this out.

How? Isabel's friends with the sheriff.

She hates me. She's always hated me.

Look, we have a few hours before the sheriff gets here, so we can...

we can, um, uh...

I don't know.

H-Hey...

Uh... I might have a way to help, actually.

Here's the book cover mock-up.

We're all very excited.

No, I'm excited too.

I quit the force before my pension came in,

so I really need this to work.

Totally. Um...

About that, how is the actual writing coming?

It's going good.

Oh, good.

You know, I was there, okay? I know what happened.

- Mmm. - And as I'm writing,

I'm just like, "What?"

That is fantastic. I'd love to see some pages.

- -

- One second. Hold on. I gotta get this. - Oh.

Eat my bacon. You're paying for it.

Look who decided to call.

Yeah, I, uh... I've still got your card.

So, uh, what's up? Has there been another murder?

Uh... Uh, actually...

Stop. Seriously?

I don't know exactly what I could do for you

because, uh, I quit the force.

I'm an author now.

Yeah. No, I know. I saw your, uh, Instagram post.

Lot of colorful language. A lot of profanity there.

Yeah, 'cause I'm a great fucking writer.

Absolutely.

Uh, but, see, you not being a cop is actually a good thing,

because... ...we can't involve the police.

See... See, okay. So, I-I'm at a wedding,

and-and the groom is dead.

And the number one suspect is the bride, who is, uh... who is Z-Zoë's sister.

Shit, that's bad.

But you're still with Zoë though?

Yeah. I just met her parents for the first time this weekend.

I was hoping to get their blessing, 'cause...

OMG. Are you gonna propose?

Well, yeah, that was the idea.

But, I mean, this whole weekend's been a total disaster.

Just anything that could go wrong has gone wrong.

A-And also, the murder.

You know what? Hold on a second.

I am so sorry, but I have to go.

- Oh. - There's been another murder.

Um, who are you talking to?

- Oh, my God. Another one? - Mm-hmm.

Maybe I'll write another book about it.

But you haven't written this one.

Okay, I'm on my way.

Text me your location and tell me everything.

Thank you. So, the bride's name is Grace.

And her husband, the groom, is Edgar... well, was Edgar, 'cause he's...

Wait, hold up. You know I have a process.

I need to hear the whole story.

So hit me with that Aniq rom-com sequel.

This is not a sequel.

You're at a wedding, you're meeting the parents,

and another murder happens.

Sounds like a sequel to me.

Uh, whatever.

- We got in on Friday afternoon. - Let me guess.

Last time, your story started with you driving up to the school all alone.

This time, you're driving up to the wedding,

but Zoë's in the car with you.

- Yeah. How did you... - Sequel!

Welcome, fair travelers.

Oh, my God. This place is amazing!

Right? It's like Pemberley House.

And the two of you have your own separate cottage.

Oh. It's good to see you again.

Aniq, I... I so enjoyed our double date to your escape room last time.

As did Roxana.

- Well, we should do it again sometime. - Yeah.

No, I don't think I'd enjoy it a second time,

because I'd already know all the answers. It'd be tedious.

Y... Yeah. Uh, we could do something else.

So, Zoë may have told you, I primarily deal in antiquities,

but I also do a little something I like to call "unnecessary knitting"

on the side.

So, I made this for you.

- So sweet. - Oh.

What a lovely... Obama puppet?

It's a tea cozy. It's supposed to be you.

Yeah, oh... Uh-huh. Yeah, no, I see... I see it now.

- It's amazing. - You're very polite.

Mm-hmm.

Which reminds me, uh, my mother says hello.

She wanted to be here, but she was busy with silence and alcohol.

- Okay. Um, official introductions. - Oh.

Mom and Dad, this is Aniq. Aniq, Vivian and Feng.

Please, call me the King of Bing. There is none higher!

Taiwanese shaved ice, right? Zoë was telling me all about it.

It-It's kind of like Hawaiian shaved ice, right?

No.

Taiwanese shaved ice is smooth and delicious.

Hawaiian shaved ice is sharp like knives.

I wouldn't throw Hawaiian shaved ice in the toilet.

I'm sorry.

Aniq, it's nice to meet you.

- Just so you know, we always hated Brett. - Mom.

- He's an idiot. - Dad.

Well, I can assure you, I am definitely not an idiot.

Your car is moving.

- What's that? - Oh.

Oh, no. Oh, no, no. No, no.

- No, no, no. - My truck!

No, no. No.

Oh!

You crashed your car while it was parked?

That's some funny shit, man.

I was nervous. I left it in neutral.