Flaming Heart: A Brothel Thief Mystery

Chapter 21. From the Clear Page

On the lakeshore, Theo cupped some water and washed his face, relishing the pleasant coolness that soothed his overheated skin. Inhaling the tantalizing scent of fresh air, he gazed out at the horizon line.

The house they had come from still burned, its billowing smoke reaching up towards the clear blue skies. From his vantage point behind the tree line, Theo observed the locals urgently summoning the fire brigade. Two individuals clad in vibrant red jackets now attempted to extinguish the flames using a combination of water and ice spells. Meanwhile, other men aided their efforts by ferrying buckets of water from the nearby pier.

Theo knew he would likely have to join them soon, assisting in filling out the necessary official reports. It was, after all, his civic duty. But before anything else, he needed to gather himself and ensure Sandra's safety.

He cast his gaze downward, his reflection appearing somberly in the rippling water. Sandra's reflection materialized behind him, her appearance refreshed and pristine, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders, concealed by his black shirt. Thankfully, he had a spare piece of cloth in his travel bag, as his shirt had been irreparably torn while he used it to clear the window frame of shattered glass.

Theo turned to face her. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged. "Okay, I suppose. Just saddened by the fate of the woman who opened the door."

"Yeah," he murmured in agreement.

Regrettably, the neighbor who had chosen to investigate the house had not survived. As Rei guided them away from the engulfed structure, they caught sight of the woman's charred remains. She had become yet another victim on Blake's ever-growing list of crimes.

Theo's hands clenched tightly. It had become a matter of honor to ensure that the criminal, Blake, faced the consequences for all he had done. It was clear that Blake had intended to eliminate them both, evident from his decision to send Theo to this particular address. But why? They had struck a 'profitable deal,' making Blake's actions seem senseless. Unless... Blake knew that their agreement was impossible to fulfill. In that case, he must have been terrified of the individuals who issued orders to him from above. Using Sandra as bait to eliminate Theo would have been a simpler solution.

"Theo, please listen," Sandra implored, her grip tightening on the edge of his oversized shirt, which draped over her slender frame like a dress. "There's something about me that I need to tell you. It might make you hate me."

"I will never hate you."

"You don't know me." Sandra waved her hand. "You can't possibly imagine who I am and what I've done."

"I don't need to imagine anything. I know about you. Cherry."

Her breath caught in her throat, and she stared at him in stunned silence.

"That's right, I discovered the truth last night."

Blushing, Sandra turned her gaze towards the lake, avoiding direct eye contact. "What now?"

"Now, you no longer have to work in a brothel," Theo replied quietly. "Unless you want to."

Sandra clutched her frail shoulders. "Who wants this?" she sad, her tone laced with bitterness. "It's all about this stupid money. My parents died from pneumonia when I was a child, and my uncle and his wife took custody of me. Jennifer, my aunt, is a kind-hearted woman who felt sorry for me... But my uncle, he wasn't decent. He was a lifelong alcoholic who raped me when I was just thirteen.

"It was years later when my Gift manifested, and I was able to hypnotize him, to push him away from me. I was so happy when he finally left us last summer. But then, in the winter, this loan appeared. We were on the verge of losing our home because of him. I couldn't let that happen." Sandra's hand covered her mouth as her body started trembling.