Midnight, In the Storm [on temporary hiatus]

Five - Well that was a bad idea

Audree's breath clouded as soon as the warm air parted from her lips. The assassin had led her to the roof, claiming that the ringing echoes of the hall might as well have given them away by spooking the wildlife - she wasn't willing to follow at first. But she did, his point was fairly stated.

Now, standing without an entire atrium between them, but rather a few feet, it was all she could manage to keep her posture eased and casual.

The dropping temperatures of the bitter night nipped at her exposed ears.

She cleared her parched throat, "Let me get this straight. You work for the Cassiopeia, but it's all just a... scheme? You could've turned me over to her tonight, or killed me to get in her good graces, so she would trust you more. Why didn't you?"

"For the same reason you didn't lead the police here."

Audree's face remained impassive, unconvinced. "Nothing's keeping me from doing so now, I still can."

"Well then go ahead"

"Explain."

He angled his chin, a predator's stance.

"After you."

She snarled. "You've already heard my part countless times in your corrupt little community."

"How do you know if they weren't made up? If we were to even stand a chance against your mother we'd need to cooperate and whether you like it or not, we're going to get a up a lot more close and personal if we want information from the secluded archives of both our sides, I'll take care of the Shadow Wraith's - besides, the Inspector conveniently offered you a position in their investigation, didn't he?"

She kept silent. If he'd followed her-

Her attention snapped to the documents he held, the corner of a picture was sticking out - of a red-stained yellow raincoat.

It was a case file - of the woman's murder.

"How-"

"I may have paid the files office a little unnoticed visit just before you arrived, but there's more I couldn't find. Information only the lead detective would know. And these notes mention an audio file. You know exactly what I'm implying."

With no former warning, he threw her the folder. She had to break her composure but caught it before it fell into a gap in the floor.

"What the-"

"There's some details on the case they kept classified - other than the audio - that might be of your interest. Flip through it, meanwhile we'll settle the conditions of this alliance."

"For your arrogant ass to know, I agreed to nothing."

He merely smiled sweetly.

Ugh. Knowing what lurked under that sickening smile, Audree returned the honeyed smile with one of her own.

Close to fuming, Audree sifted through the file's contents.

The only thing keeping her from exploiting the assassin was the fact that he was working against her mother... or at least claimed to do so.

What solid proof did she have?

A particular image attached to a note seized her notice. It was an expertly taken picture, every word inked onto the woman's forearm showed clearly despite her ragged, gory state. But it wasn't the picture's stark quality that had her slipping it into her sleeve, nor the words inked onto her skin, no, but rather the minor detail on the very border of the image.