A mystery in St. Louis (a Lackadaisy fanfic)

Getting closer

A knock on the window woke the two friends from their nap. They turned to see it was Ivy Pepper herself in her normal attire. "Ivy why are you-"

"Freckle told me that Francis was here," she turns her attention to the green-eyed woman, "I'm glad to see you're alright," Ivy says to Francis who responds, "Is Solitaire alright? Has Bluebeard spoken to her yet?"

"She's fine, but he felt that you should talk to her?"

"Really?"

"He's busy with Jesaja and you're the only one that's followed the case," she explained. Francis nodded and followed her to visit the survivor in question.

As they got through the front desk, Francis was greeted by the sight of Solitare in bed with an IV hooked up to her. She opened her eyes and smiled at Francis. "Hey, I know you, you're the Brown girl, right?"

"How did you-"

"I saw one of your shows, and your granny helped me out once," she said.

"I see. Solitaire forgive me for being callous but can you tell me anything about what happened before we found you?" Francis asked not happy with her decorum with the injured woman. Though Solitaire didn't seem to mind she was saddened at the reminder. "I had just finished my shift.  Then I made my way to Kong's place since he was closer. It started raining so I went for a shortcut. Big mistake huh?" she said. "I felt a sharp pain in my neck and then nothing. I felt nothing."

"You weren't able to see what they looked like or their clothes?"

She shook her head, "I didn't even know my eyes were open till they told me. I wish I did so I could see the fucker that..." she paused trying to calm herself. "It was raining anyway I doubt they could find anything."

"Solitaire, do you have any idea why the killer was after you?"

"I don't know, wait you think I asked for this?" She accused defensively.

"No, Of course not! I merely want to know if this is related to the other murders."

"The others? But I'm not a horny tom or a lost one."

"True but neither was Felicity, she was a witness and..."

"I haven't seen anything sketchy, I'm a receptionist for a college dean. I don't even go out that much," she says.

"What about socially? A scorn suitor or an ex?"

"Don't pigeon hold me, I fool around but I'm not the only one so don't bother," she said.

"I'm not here to judge, I'm trying to understand why you or your... Children were targeted?" Francis said and Solitaire didn't know what to say she just turned her head. "I didn't want them in the first place. When I found out I went straight to the clinic and they said I was too far along. So adoption was the next best option."

"Did anyone else know?"

"The staff, and Father Joker. He said he could help me find a place for them," she replied.

Joker again, Francis thought. "So Kong had no idea? Or your lovers?"

"Nope. I didn't want to tell them. And tell cutie over there to stop judging me." She referred to Freckle who was uncomfortable. "Sorry, his mother's a devoted catholic, Freckle's just shy," I explained.

"Excuse noted and not needed. I'm not married and neither are my lovers okay. They saw others like I did, and knew about it."

"So no one ever got jealous, even Kong?"

"Kong likes to believe his girls are loyal to him but in reality, they are not. So he makes it hard for us to find more options," she said. Solitaire has as much love for Kong as Bluebeard. 'Maybe Kong hired someone to do it?'