ICARUS BAR: '72

4

Angel hesitated before spotting Elaine's shocked face in the crowd.

Carlin stared at her as if wondering if she was going to say yes. Now that Angel was closer she could see that his eyes were bloodshot and he looked like he had been crying.

She opened her mouth to ask why when suddenly a "yes" came out of her mouth.

It was as if she couldn't control herself. She absolutely knew it was no one controlling her because she, deep inside, wanted to say yes so badly.

She wanted to know what it would be like to be engaged with the one person that seemed to have everyone under his grasp. Angel shook to keep her thoughts in order, this man was a man who had sold a dead woman's purse. And one with no remorse.

***

It had been Angel after all.

Clearly, Carlin had her in some kind of grip. She briefly wondered if Angel would mind if she sneaked off to the place where Florence died so she could find some evidence. Angel looked currently preoccupied so she did as such.

When she snuck in she did not expect the room as it had been. The room Florence died in was a secluded room for lovers, with simple things. But it had been stripped down and it seemed as if no one ever went there. She refused to believe that there was nothing that could tie somebody, anybody to what had happened.

And she had been right. A letter in plain sight somewhere everyone would have seen.

***

Angel almost immediately regretted her decision when Carlin kissed her. It was a light kiss on the lips and Angel wished she'd never had it, because immediately after he started to grab her hand and lead her through the crowd as if showing her to the world as a wolf he had finally tamed and put on a leash.

Or has he liked to call her, a Fox.

***

Elaine desperately wanted to read it but other clues started popping up. The most prominent is Florence's wedding ring. Justin Kate, Florence's husband, said he kept this. Why would he have lied? Her eyes strayed toward the doorway, making sure there was no one still there, before escaping. She walked into the club and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been pure luck Elaine hadn't been found, and she hoped it would stay that way.

Suddenly, a glimpse of the chaotic, curly, hair Angel was infamous for made her eyes narrow. A man with golden hair stood by her, before pulling her behind him.

Elaine of course knew exactly what Carlin Mede looked like. Blond hair and blue eyes, he had been the epitome of every rumor the noble ladies gossiped about. Him and Avlyn Eros. What Elaine didn't understand was why Angel was by him.

Elaine had no time for this, she needed to get to Angel and find out why Justin would have lied bout having Florence's wedding ring. It might have been because he would have been embarrassed but there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

When it was known Florence cheated on him, it was her reputation that was harmed. And if the upper class found out about him not having the ring, they would sympathize.

Nothing Elaine knew was adding up. And so she took her chance. "Ava!"