Heartbeat

Chapter 14- Clem

Shit, shit, shit. What is happening? Thought Clem as she ran hard towards the Warehouse.

Clem always used to run everywhere, one of the reasons she got her nickname Mouse. People said it looked like she was scurrying, but she had always found it more fun to run rather than walk. Her running now was panicked.

Dame Cora had been found dead that morning, and Clem was sure no one had slept in twenty-four hours. It couldn't be helped. Clem had heard the news directly from Sol, who had found her.

Clem told Granny immediately.

"Sol says Dame Cora is dead." The earlier chaos calmed her composure. Granny slammed her hand down and marched out the door to see for herself. Clem followed, and they silently made their way to the Lady Luck. Both seeing Dame Cora, appearing unharmed physically but without a heartbeat. Sol said she collapsed right after closing the till, preparing for the next shift. Guillaume saw it happen and was the only one working then.

Clem and Granny looked her over. No injuries.

"We need to get this cleaned up now. We'll put the body with the boy. The funeral at the same time. "Go get the Pigeons." Clem could sense Granny's panic. Something she rarely sensed from her. She looked at Dame Cora; she didn't yet feel the loss but knew Granny must.

"Granny...." Clem thought Granny was missing key steps.

"Just do it. We'll talk tonight."

Clem had done as Granny had asked. The Pigeons worked without question. Meg helped them this time but left Sal back at the office.

Clem was good in a crisis but hadn't dealt with two back-to-back in many years. She felt like she had helped calm things down recently. Now things were unravelling. As she appeared at The Warehouse again, Dal jumped from behind a wall.

"What the hell happened, Mouse?"

"Saints Dal, go to bed. It's been a full day now."

"Everyone knows Dame Cora is dead. Who did it? What are we going to do?"

Clem turned on Dal.

"Dal, I'm going to meet with Granny. You have two hours to get some sleep. I won't leave you out of any planning. Now, go!" Dal looked mutinous but nodded and ran off. Clem knew they likely wouldn't sleep, but they would learn to stay low, to know when to act.

Clem turned and opened the door to the Bank. It was half full, and Zelda wasn't behind the bar. Clem nodded to the workers on shift but walked past them towards the back door. She made her way to the upstairs office. The door was locked. It was an easy lock to pick; every safe inside only had around 200 Kruge. A way to deter criminals, that's all they would get—enough of a challenge that they would feel rewarded, distracting them from the actual prize held elsewhere.

Clem stepped inside, and the room was empty. She had already been running late; it was rare for Granny not to arrive first. She took a seat. Breathing becomes more unsteady in a moment's rest. Clem hoped Granny would come soon. If she stopped, then she would have to feel her feelings. Isir....Now Dame Cora. What is happening? Clem knew they had to be connected. Maybe not directly, but something was trying to eat away at the Widows. Clem wasn't sure if it was just the Razorgulls.

Granny stepped in, looking determined. She took a seat directly across from Clem.

"Sara will take over running both Luckie's and Lady Luck. We're not going to wait on our expansion. The market is right to purchase a larger building, and one should go up for rent soon. Lady Luck is the priority. Fara can help her, and we're going to pull in the Widows who are a bit older but have been taking more of a backseat." Clem nodded, Waiting for the other shoe to drop.