The loud noise was hovering above the street, getting louder every time somebody opened the door. Neon lights above the door were glimmering in the dark Saturday night, reflecting in the rain puddles on the pavement. Angel was one of the clubs where the music roars and nobody would mind, the dance floor crowded with people and the air thick of cigarette smoke. Also it had nothing to do with its name; the only thing it might evoke would be shithole.

A tall, dark-haired woman was sitting at a small rounded table near the dance floor, smoking a cigarette. She was alone and paid no attention to anything but a man sitting on the opposite side of the club, at the bar. Her lips curled into a small smile. She had been watching him for some time, her eyes never shifting away.

It was definitely him... The description was precise…

A young girl serving at the bar shot him several flirty looks, obviously trying to start conversation but judging by her expression she was ignored.

The woman smiled with amusement. Amateur…

She took a sip of her white death, a ridiculously named cocktail invention of Angel barmen, and watched a woman who had been sitting next to her object of interest leaving her bar chair.

"Very well…" she muttered. She puffed on her cigarette and put it out, getting up. Smoothing her short black dress, she started walking to the bar, the clapping of her high heels unheard in the roar of music.

"If I were the girl, I would dash my drink on your head."

He turned at her with curiosity.

"I beg your pardon?"

She sat down next to him. She was a woman well aware of her attractiveness and she knew how to sell it. His eyes she felt on her were a proof it worked again.

"Yet another who tries to drink out of his misery," she continued, not paying attention to his remark.

"It's funny, don't you think? When someone wants to be alone with his pain and goes to the worst club in the city to drink overpriced cocktails served by a barman who's obviously wearing make-up."

The barman shot her a glare and she rewarded him with a benevolent wink.

"What are you doing at a place like that then?" the man asked, his voice cold but underneath it she could sense amusement.

"Entertainment," she said. "I enjoy watching the people here. Looking at all the wrecks makes me feel better about myself."

"That sounds cruel," he said.

"I am cruel," she said, pleased. She looked him in the eyes, giving him a small provocative smile. Despite he had seemed rather depressed before, he returned the smile.

I am crueller than you can imagine…

"I'm Nina."

"Sebastian."

They shook hands and Nina titled her head on side.

"I've always liked German accent. Makes English sound softer."

He smirked and ordered her a drink. Nina thanked, calculating in her mind. A handsome man with cold demeanour – so typical for a German. Attractive but withdrawn. Had it been a better timing, he would have most probably been more talkative, but considering the recent circumstances…

Well, she had never considered that a problem, you just needed to know how to play along. Nobody said she could not have some fun with him.

"I've never seen you here before," she said. "That's a shame."

"I am on my holidays," Sebastian said and Nina chuckled.

"And you surely know how to enjoy it," she remarked and he smirked bitterly, sipping his awful cocktail.

"I can show you…" she said silently, leaning forward and whispering to his ear. Trying to hide his discomfiture, he laughed briefly and gave her a look. He had soft blue eyes Nina liked.

Too bad I will have to put out their light.

"I'm sorry but I took only enough money for drinks," he said and Nina raised an eyebrow.

"What? You think I'm a whore?"

She laughed heartily at his embarrassed expression.

"And I thought I was cruel," she said and shook her head, amused.

"I apologize," he said, evidently relaxing after her light reaction. He ordered another couple of drinks, the alcohol encouraging him to speak more. Smiling inside, Nina glanced at the clock, showing a few minutes after 3 am. It was time to do the job.

"Perhaps we can go somewhere else," she suggested. "This place gets really disgusting after 3 am and I've had enough entertainment of this kind… It's time for something better…"

He was hesitating but Nina noticed his eyes hardening as he stood up and finished his drink. They walked outside where the rain had started pouring again and Sebastian called a cab. Nina got in the car, checking her handbag. She had always preferred scalpels over knives. They were smaller and sharper. The touch of the cold steel calmed her down.

I am sorry, Sebastian.


There was nothing better than waking up in the smell of eggs and bacon. Tommy rolled over in his bed and squinted at the ceiling. One of his hobbies would be sleeping long in the morning bur rarely could he do it. That Saturday morning was a pleasant exception, intensified by the singing coming from the kitchen.

He should probably start learning Italian, he thought. Never before had he liked it more than that morning. He did not hurry to get out of the bed and stayed for a couple more minutes, savouring the moment.

"Breakfast!"

Tommy grinned. He had a brief feeling that he was on a Mediterranean holiday trip, despite the gloomy greyish daylight protruding through the curtains. When he did not respond, fast steps started approaching the bedroom. Eva appeared in the door, wearing nothing but lacy panties and his unbuttoned white shirt. Unwillingly, Tommy's eyebrows went up. Deep in his mind he wondered if he had ever seen anything sexier.

"You think I'm going to serve it to your bed?" she asked. Her hair was a bit messy and Tommy adored the look.

"I was kind of hoping for it," he said. Eva pouted at him and Tommy jumped up, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her to the bed. Eva surprised him with an impressive manoeuvre and slipped under his arm, letting him fall on his back.

"Hey, that was good," he muttered and Eva rose, putting her arms on her hips.

"Never underestimate an Italian," she said in a grave tone and Tommy shook his head.

"You shouldn't underestimate an Irish," he fought back but Eva just smiled at him with amusement.

"I would beat your ass anytime," she said silently and Tommy – while admiring how sexy the word ass sounded spoken by her – stood up, stretching his arms.

"Come at me. I'm all yours."

To mark his words Tommy demonstrated a bit of provocative dancing.

"Oh…"

Right at the moment a chambermaid materialized in the opened bedroom door, her eyes wide. With a particularly unpleasant feeling Tommy realized he was wearing nothing but his dignity – and with that it was currently rather poor.

"I'm so sorry," she stuttered. "The door was open, I was calling for you and heard voices and thought you said come in, I'm so sorry…"

With that she disappeared like smoke and Tommy glared at Eva, the redhead leaning against the door in a burst of laughter.

"Revenge is mine…" Tommy muttered and Eva's laugh transformed to chuckle.

"That should teach you," she said, pointing a finger at him.

"Now to the kitchen," Eva ordered and smirking, Tommy started putting on some clothes. A little taming seemed necessary, he thought, but for now…

The table was set a bit carelessly but the breakfast definitely made up for it.

"I wanted to cook something typically English," Eva explained. "When we are in London…"

"Looks fantastic," Tommy said, sitting down, "but absolutely not English."

"I improved it a little," Eva admitted and gave him a look. "Sorry, but English cuisine is so awful."

Tommy laughed. The clash of English and Italian cuisines. The tone of her voice was speaking about the great difficulties she had with understanding how anyone could like something so awful like typical English breakfast. He looked at her with serious expression.

"I understand," he said and took the fork. He could not remember a time in the last five or more years he would feel happier. If he could watch himself from someone else's point of view, he would claim this was not him at all. Well, he believed it would pass soon but decided not to care.

After eating Eva's wonderful creation they moved back to the bedroom but Tommy closed and locked the door that time, to which Eva reacted with: "Are you going to dance again?"

Tommy ignored her, lying next to her. He frowned as he felt something under the pillow.

"Oh…"

It was his phone. He turned the volume off yesterday at night. He was on holiday, after all, and did not want anything to interfere into their first night together with Eva.

"I have three missed calls," he said with tension in his voice. "From Sebastian."

"Sebastian?"

Eva frowned as well. Right at the moment Tommy's phone started ringing again. It was not Sebastian's number though, but Hickman's. He answered it with vague feeling of threat.

"Yes?"

"This is Hickman," his boss said with stern voice. "I have bed news. There's been a murder."


OK, that was the first one, hope you liked and please comment! Thanks!