Murder in Progress

Masks Can't Hide it All

•Detective Alexander Radley•

Badge 17726

"Mr. Radley, we really need you to wake up! This room is needed for it's next guest! We've already put your things in the lobby, just help us out and get up!" A desperate sounding woman pleaded from far away. I groaned, my head aching and sat up slowly, blinded by bright lights for a few seconds.

Squinting, I looked and saw I was on the floor in a hotel room. Everything came back to me, and I jumped up muttering, "My apologies," before racing to my room and found my satchel already packed and by the door.

Grabbing my bag I hurried and got on the motorcycle Benny had loaned me. I revved the engine and turned to leave...then realized I had no idea where to go.

Dialing Benny's number I drummed my fingers on the helmet in my lap. "Alex! I wondered when you would call, you didn't check in last night and suddenly Richard Case, or Ronaldo Castillo, is tied up in front of my door." He said, my eyes widening.

"Don't worry, he's in my basement last night blabbering about some woman who was with you." He said and hesitated before speaking again.

"Was it Katie?" He whispered and I sighed, missing her more and more with each time he mentioned her. "No, some blonde woman named Selena, she disappeared after drugging me, probably slipped something in my drink." I said and Benny laughed on the other side of the phone.

"Glad to see Katie's sending her friends to help out, I guess she's focused on the great news too! Susan Begley and Nicholas Winters have come out of hiding. Begley is Winters' right hand woman, they're going to a dinner gala tonight, dress nice Alex." Benny said before the line went dead. Guess I better go shopping.

¿Kathrine Wallace?

Pinkerton Agent, V.P.

I sighed and wrapped my hair up in a towel, actually glad to see my brown hair back to visit. Tonight it was going to be me, I had tossed the red hair and green eyes idea down the drain during my shower.

I had stopped at a little bed and breakfast two blocks away from the dinner gala tonight so I could scope out the scene and have a quick entrance and escape.

I was more than sure Alex would be there tonight, Benny was no doubt helping him, but I didn't need Alex. He just got in the way and distracted me....a ton. All he'd have to do is smile and I'd be on a one way trip to LaLa Land, home of the Lunes.

Shaking my head I plopped down on the sofa and flipped through the files Alex found. Then I remembered Nathan, the one I was in love with. The one I had spent forever thinking about. My first partner and the first guy I ever truly loved.

I had to get Alex out of my head. Just finish my job and get out of his hair, his messy, thick brown, amazing hai- "No!" I exclaimed and tossed the files on the love seat before turning the T.V. on.

~•~•~

My hair was now dry and back to its somewhat curly self. With the little experience I had, I spent thirty minutes on YouTube and finally found a hairstyle that seemed easy enough.

You simply twist and grab more hair, then twist and grab more hair over and over on both sides so it meets in the middle and most of the hair is still down.

My dress was a Tarik Ediz couture 2013 gold and white dress, ending above my knees. It wasn't one of those tight club dresses that cover less than a napkin would, it was revealing yet appropriate for an event like this.

The golden belt held onto my waist for dear life and my gold four inch sandal like heels gripped my feet like they never wanted to leave.

Taking one last glance, I took a spin, my white skirt twirling like a tutu. I smiled and grabbed my purse, making sure all it's contents were in it before I walked out to the silver Aston Martin in the parking lot.

~•~•~

I walked down the staircase into the ballroom filled with people from late twenties to early seventies, all with enough money to buy the whole building.

Walking through them I could hear conversations from 'With him in the family we'll loose everything.' to 'Isn't she a looker?'

I snickered slightly seeing as everyone was wearing a mask, so how would someone tell if a woman was pretty without seeing her fac-oh...I quickly dropped my smile and peered out through my mask at the elephant masks, swan masks, and really anything that could be made into a mask.

It was like a modern masquerade, any dress but the mask must go with it. I found it extremely strange but I wasn't here for pleasure but, pure business.

I looked around, trying to find any clues to the two targets when the orchestra started playing louder and people began to dance.

I smiled slightly, recognizing the song 'Sway' by the Pussycat Dolls. I began to hum along when someone grabbed my hand and soon I was dancing with a man in what looked like The Phantom of the Opera's mask.

He gave me a smile and pulled me close. "Nice mask." He whispered and I almost jumped when his hand moved onto my bare back. His fingers moved over one, two, three, four, five scars, which were more like indentions, before smiling and slowly lifted my mask which was a Luxury Venetian Filigree Laser Cut Half Face Phantom Mask, just saying.

He smiled at me and I studied his face before I raised an eyebrow at him. "How'd you know?" I whispered and he smiled back.

"Five scars." He said and spun me around so my back was facing him. I looked over my shoulder and saw his smile turn into a sad frown. He softly traced them with his finger, causing me to shiver, before turning me back around and hugged me tightly.

"I..." We both said and stopped letting the other speak before saying. "I missed you." I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back.

We danced together, a smile on our faces and for a brief ten minutes I forgot about my mission, I only focused on Alex and tried not to step on his feet as we danced.