Fascinating Villains

{48} - Five O'Clock

I set my bag down on the spotless ivory carpet of the sitting room I have been led into. Cheryl playfully twirls around the coffee table, and I observe the package resting on it. The glittering red cardboard box is surrounded with a silky bubblegum pink bow, laying in a scattered pile of heart-shaped confetti and red glitter.

I chuckle, inquiring, "What, um..? Is that what we're here for?"

"Maybe..." she teases. "Open it!"

She claps her hands together, watching me pull the ribbon away, anticipation dancing in her eyes. I sit on the couch to my left and promptly lift the lid of the gift box.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Tanza!" Cheryl squeals, hopping at my side onto the velvet couch. 

I gasp, half-laughing in awe and astonishment.

"What is..? I can't accept this, Cheryl..."

I pick up one of the two golden sole-shaped contraptions from their nest of magenta paper. They are clearly retractable roller skate platforms, and matching golden straps are meant to attach them even more securely to a shoe.

"But it's your gift!"

I test them, pressing the inner buttons, which are situated at the toes and heel. I admire the golden wheels as they snap and click in and out of the device, without a hitch.

"Why?" I retort, confused.

"Can't friends celebrate their love, too?"

Her mischievous grin incites me to reiterate.

/You're not being honest with me./

Hopefully, the intimacy of telepathy will convince her to speak freely.

"Well... There might be a second, less important, but really great reason for my gift!"

She takes the second roller skate sole out of the box and briskly pulls a layer of paper out of it to reveal a pair of gold wrist guards. They are perfectly smooth and cylindrical with a slight slope to be tighter around the wrist and wider across the lower arm.

"Is there something else at the bottom of the box or..?" I joke.

"Do you like them?" She taps on my shoulder, nervously excited.

"I love all of it, my suit's going to be loads more practical with these... Thank you, really." I nod at her, smiling.

"How do you feel about a Valentine's Day mission, Esperanza?"

"Do I get to use the skates?"

"I wouldn't give you something useless, would I? Now, let's get to a guest room, I've gotta show ya your costume for tonight!"

While I am putting on the new disguise in question, which is a long-sleeved suit that is very similar to mine apart from the sleeves, Foul Play presents the situation. The costume is black with gold and dark pink decorations, and she has provided me with a dark pink bandana eye mask to preserve my identity.

I need this different outfit, because in less than an hour I will be competing in an illegal roller skating race. I obviously do not condone that hundreds of hoodlums, shady people and crime bosses will be placing unauthorized bets on the participants of the clandestine contest. According to one of Cheryl's unlawful acquaintances, young girls and children will be transported during the evening inside a truck. The man who owns the truck and has been supervising the girls' containment apparently weaseled out of human trafficking charges eight times in the last fifteen years.

The wretched individual is named Sylvester Pewt and he oversees a solid network of criminals who make sure his bidding are executed without fault. Furthermore, he is often accompanied by subordinates of his perverted business associates, who closely observe his every move. Pewt is seldom distracted from his high-stakes illicit dealings, except when he attends his favorite show... Underground roller skating races.