Wow, long time no see. Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Hobbit really claimed my attention these past few months. I hope you enjoy this long chapter! It took a while to get back my muse, but as you can see; I succeeded :)
I turned the rating into M because of language, and adult situations (nudity).
Remember! English is not my first-language, so grammar mistakes can occur.
Chapter 13: A Dog's Life
Torches mounted on natural formed pillars illuminated the body of Snow White in an eerie orange lit, throwing some sharp shadows around. The real Snow White was standing over it, a look of horror on her face. Bigby investigated the duplicate's fatal neck wound; his face serious and his eyes sharp, but with gentle hands. Ann was pacing around at the very edge of the torches' light, rubbing her arms warm despite she was wearing her thick coat.
They were at deepest underground point of the Woodlands where man-made walls had completely made way for a natural and a bit creepy cavern. Torches had their path to the altar illuminated, but beyond the light of their flames Ann couldn't see a thing. She could only wonder what was ahead in the darkness.
Did she even want to know?
Ann had given the body a glance when they arrived, but then secluded herself a bit. The sight of a dead decapitated person didn't do wonders to her stomach and her nerves. She was still a bit riled up because of Snow's sudden entrance and the accurate description of TJ how the duplicate was dumped. That boy had shook from true terror.
But the thing she was most shaken by was her reaction on the Woodsman. Ann stopped pacing and buried her face and shoulders deep in her coat, enjoying the warmth and seclusion with her eyes closed.
It had been a while since she lost her calm and actually inflicted pain on a person, despite it was merely setting her nails in his skin and dragging them over it. She had liked the tensing of his jaw muscles and the grunt coming from his lips whilst she did it. Just like she did before she fled here, promising herself a better start, a better life.
Her eyes opened and stared at the crown of the duplicates head, apathy growing on her. So much for that promise..
"What's that?" Snow's clear voice interrupted her gloomy thoughts.
"Looks like scars," Bigby murmured and squinted his eyes at the duplicate's thighs. Strange dotted scarring adorned the grey flesh.
"Those are scars from drugs," Ann said as she leaned down and ignored the sickening feeling when she touched the cold, stiff leg when she turned it a bit so that the scars became more visible to Snow and Bigby. "Injection scars. Addicts inject the drug into their thighs only when they can't do it on their arms, or don't want it to be seen. "
"I have heard of it," Bigby nodded slowly.
"How do you know this?" Snow asked a bit meekly. Ann shrugged.
"I had a friend once who was addicted. Saw it destroy her from the outside and inside, poor thing," she sighed and shook her head. "Nasty stuff, I don't suggest it despite the said rush you get from it."
"So she was an addict, but a glamour perfectly duplicates unless.." Bigby threw Snow a suggestive look, who bristled.
"I-? I don't even understand why you would even suggest that. No, I don't use drugs."
"Then the glamour is malfunctioning, or a poor one at that."
"But only the witches at the 13th floor make glamours, and theirs are top quality," Snow hastily said, her eyebrows frowned.
"Then there is no other explanation than a black market in glamours-"
"Sorry I'm late, what have you found out?" A snappy voice echoed behind them.
Crane joined their side, his little pig eyes regarding them in an almost chastising matter. Ann turned her head away as she felt a wave of irritation over her. Something about that man brushed her the wrong way, she did not like it.
"Well, we know that the glamour is poorly done; suggesting black market stuff, we found flowers in her hand, no ribbon in her mouth and this," Bigby summed it all up and pulled something made of wood out of his back pocket.
It almost looked like the puzzle from the film The Da Vinci Code with Tom Hanks, only made of wood and instead of letters it contained swirls, figures..
"What's that?" Ann asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's something I have seen before, but I'm not sure what it is. Definitely magic, though witches don't usually craft objects these days," Snow muttered and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I highly suggest not to fool around with that," Crane warned and took a step back when Bigby shook it next to his ear.
"There is something in there."
"Can you open it?" Snow asked, taking a step closer.
"I can try, it has some pictures on it." Bigby spent a small minute figuring out the thing before it opened with a small click. A lock of blue hair and a crumbled picture fell out of it. When he unfolded it, a picture of a smiling Snow beamed at them. It was torn at the end, suggesting it used to be larger and probably with someone else on it.
"That's my picture.. one of the last I had with Rose and me," Snow gasped. "How-"
A sudden bright green light then enveloped the body. It grew and grew. It's proportions changed and when the green light disappeared, something else than Snow's duplicate was lying dead on the altar.
"A troll?" Crane almost shrieked in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Yeah, she's a troll," Bigby sighed and rolled his eyes. "Can we move on?"
"Who is it?" Snow meekly asked and took a step forward, trying to recognize her hideous face. Ann followed her example and let her eyes glide over the voluptuous body. Her emerald gaze halted at her ankles, recognizing the tattoo of a lily flower.
"I guess her tattoo says it all," she said and turned to Crane, Bigby and Snow. A serious look on her face. "I think this is Holly's sister."
"You two go on ahead. I need to get home, get my mind straight, perhaps even check on TJ.."
"Are you sure?"
Ann shrugged and smiled weakly at Bigby. Her head felt like it contained little annoying leprechauns pounding and kicking away inside her skull; it throbbed painfully. "Yeah, it won't make a difference whether I'll be there or not."
Snow placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Take it easy alright? It's been a rough day." Ann had a feeling she was not only talking about her, but also about herself. Ann could see the strain in her face as if she was battling her own headache.
"Call me if you find something out alright? I hate being kept in the dark."
"Sure thing," Bigby's gravelly voice seemed to soothe that merciless headache of hers just a bit. Ann found herself react pleasantly on it, judging by how the hairs in her neck sometime stood on end. That voice meant strength and security.
Ann waved at the two when she stepped out of the yellow cab. Watching how it pull up and mingled with the traffic once more. Becoming one of many.
The sun was about to set, painting the skies above her in hues of fire, blue, purple and pink. She could stand there for ages watching at that spectacle. She sighed, a homesick feeling settling in her gut.
Her chipped green apartment door was a wonderful sight to behold and for once she didn't mind pushing away the shopping cart for what must be the hundredth time. When she locked her door, undressed and stepped beneath the almost scorching hot shower, Ann did not think. She did not think about TJ, about Faith or Lily, not even how on Earth they were going to solve this and how big this probably was.
She just enjoyed the hot shower on her back, soaking her hair and how it enveloped her with warmth. Ann stood like this for a while, eyes closed. Until she finally soaped, rinsed and dried herself, pulled on some simple clothes and had her fire red hair pulled in a tight bun.
Her bare feet skidded the wooden floor of her living room, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in her hand. Ann walked to a window facing the street and parted its curtains. People walked passed her window, every imaginable type. Cars honked and cabs pulled to up pick people up or to drop some off. Careful not to be burned, she took a tiny sip from her mug when she let the curtain fall back to its place and leaned back against it. The cold of the window seeping through the curtain and her sweater.
This was the first time she helped investigating a dead body. The first time when she saw a murdered person (not counting the 'fake' Snow White's head) and in what way.. Involuntarily Ann shuddered and pressed a hand to her mouth when she closed her eyes tight. A strangled noise coming from her throat.
'Breath calmly Ann. Up through your nose and towards your stomach.'
Taking a moment for herself Ann took a deep breath and chastised herself when briskly wiping some stray tears from the corner of her eyes. She should not sob for another person's misery, it was unprofessional and would not help her in anyway.
Forcing herself to clear her mind Ann took another sip and sat down on the couch, pulling her laptop on her lap and pressed the on button.
The next hour Ann was writing up her current events of what happened, their suspicions and so forth. She wrote up everything, every single piece of evidence and every thought she had of it. Perhaps it would come of use.. it was surely a nice way to have her mind sorted out. Before Ann knew it the clock struck 11 and a yawn escaped from her lips. Lack of sleep tended to do that.
When she closed off her laptop and was about to bring away her mug to the kitchen, someone knocked on her front door.
"Who the fuck goes knocking on fucking 11pm-" Ann grumbled to herself and went for the door, her mug still in her hand. "Yes?" She growled a bit defensive when opening the door just enough to see who was on the other side.
The sight of Snow made the scowl on her face relax a bit. "Ah.. Snow," she stammered and took a step back, further opening the door for her. "Please, come in. Can I get something for you?"
'Omg Ann, stop your blubbering. She is your partner now, not your boss that you admi- ahum,' Ann couldn't help but think. Sighing tiredly she tightly rubbed her forehead to clear her headache.
"No, I'm fine," Snow merely smiled kindly at her and regarded her with those blue eyes of her before glancing at the clock and walking towards her couch. Ann followed and invited with a gesture for the woman to sit, so she did, and Ann let herself sink down next to her. The now cold and empty mug still in her hands, twirling.
"I suppose you are here to tell me how it went.. with Holly I mean," Ann meekly guessed and leaned back in her couch, crossing her legs whilst Snow White sat upright and on the tip of her seat. A complete opposite.
"Yes, I am. I thought it only fair to share it with you because of your help with the examination of-"
"I'm sorry, but it has been a really, really long day. I wish to get the point, miss White" Ann spoke for her turn. Her tone harsher than intended but she did not want to have images of Lilith ghosting through her mind before going to bed. Not that she could probably help it, but one could try right?
Snow threw her an understanding and apologetic smile, but could not mask a small flicker of hurt in her cerulean eyes.
"I understand," Snow murmured, her words true. Then the Fable took a deep breath and explained what happened when she and Bigby had gone to tell her the news. "Holly took the news as one could expect her to; she was devastated."
Ann released her breath and nodded, the corners of her mouth turning down. She could only imagine losing a sister, the only family Holly had as far as she knew.
"Holly told us that her sister was a.." Snow seemed to struggle for the right words. "her sister performed 'services' for others. She was employed at The Pudding 'N' Pie by a man named Georgie, who was her pimp. Holly asked to take care of the body, I let her and the day after tomorrow is the funeral. She asked me if you would like to join her.. saying it would give her strength if she saw you."
Ann let her emerald gaze slip from Snow down at her cold mug in her hands. She had stopped twirling after a while. Despite she did not know Holly that great and they hadn't had a lot of contact the past week or so, Ann felt almost honoured that Holly had asked for her presence.
Biting her lip, Ann thought about it. She would be surrounded with other Fables, probably those she did not know and didn't know her. What would that prick Crane think about all this, she wasn't a Fable.. but then again she was neck deep into this world already and Holly was considered a friend.
"Of course I will go to the funeral," her voice was softer in her ears than she thought. Snow smiled at her and gently touched her hand, thumb rubbing the back of it in a comforting and soothing manner.
"Thank you, I will pick you up at 8 at that time. Alright?" Snow stood up and readjusted her coat and scarf, Ann followed and walked with the woman to the door to see her out.
"Sure. Say, how did Bigby do? I know he's not the most sensible type of guy but.." Ann let that sentence drift into the air unfinished. Snow gave her a small smile, but her blue eyes shimmered with mirth in a way that made Ann wondering.
"He was good with her and really made it easier for her and me. Goodnight Ann."
With that the Fable left and Ann was left on her doorstep dumbfounded, but also with a little flicker of pride warming up her heart.
Flashing pink neon lights, dark and dirty alleys, scarcely clothed women and unsavoury characters.
Ann looked up at the bright flashing lights of the Pudding 'N' Pie. She should have guessed it by the name that it was a strip club, but she had underestimated it; it was an entire business. Though the club was closed in the alley next to it several girls stood there awaiting their customers, each of them dressed so that their breasts and lap were concealed but their choice of clothing left nothing to the imagination. What they all did have in common was a pink ribbon around their necks. The same ribbon Faith wore.
"So this is it," Bigby noted, taking a deep drag of his cigarette before flicking it away on the pavement. "The Pudding 'N' Pie." He seemed indifferent to all the longing looks the girls gave him. He didn't even seem to acknowledge their presence.
"It seems like it," Ann replied and plucked on the hem of the sleeve of her black coat, feeling oddly overdressed and certainly uncomfortable when she noticed the girls giving Bigby lustful glances. Her jaw tensed at that and somehow the pity she once bore for the girls providing this type of service slowly shrunk.
"Oh!"
A woman coming from the alley paused in her stride as her eyes caught sight of them. She was less skimpily dressed than the other girls, but the short dress hugged her pear-shaped form tight like a second skin. Her hair was short, blond and her eyes seemed to shimmer with dark promises as she approached them.
"Sheriff! What a nice surprise, I have not seen you here before," the woman drawled. Her hips swayed with each step she took in those ridiculously high heels of hers. Finally her eyes rested on Ann, who felt uncomfortable under the woman's predatory gaze and eventually glanced at the pavement to escape it. Her cheeks warmed.
"And who is this kitten?" The woman purred. Her hand gently brushed Ann's warmed cheeks almost affectionately- but then her thumb skidded her lips. Ann startled and jerked back, at the same time Bigby spoke and pulled the woman's attention away from her.
"We have questions for Georgie. Urgent questions," Bigby said, his voice low and his eyes narrowed.
The woman had taken a step back, sensing hostility and smirked to keep the situation light-hearted. Her eyes skidded back and forth from Ann and Bigby, finally settling on the latter and cocked her head.
"You're in luck, he is in here now. I must warn you though," she said as she opened the front door with a small key. She then turned and looked at them, suddenly unsure of herself. "He hates being bothered when he's working and he's in kind of a mood right now." Her eyes flicked to the door and back at the Sheriff. "More so than usual."
"I have a way with people." Bigby smirked as he followed the woman. Ann trailed in behind him and closed the door discreetly behind her. The confidence Bigby was radiating was comforting; she hated places like this.
There was loud music, booming from another room and sounding muted through the walls of the hallway. Ann was more caught up with the nude posters and photography of the dancers and/or possible other women and men littering the interior than with Bigby trying to get anything out of the woman. Who was not only quite pretty, but also clever in her choice of words. Everything was also coated in blue, red and purple hues of light due to numerous of carefully placed lamp shades that made the place alluring, filled with toxic desires and mystery.
Ann paused when they rounded the corner and she felt the corner of her mouth twitch and her jaw clench slightly. A few meters ahead, a man sat leisurely on a couch with a large radio next to him blasting the music that seemed to resonate in one's bones. In front of him, on a stage, a woman was pole-dancing in only a thong.
The woman seemed unsure, her movements static and the man seemed displeased for he shouted; "What do you think you're doing? You look like you're taking a shit!"- at the woman, who in turn seemed to do her best. Apparently that wasn't good enough.
"I guess that's Georgie?" Ann huffed, her eyes narrowed at the tattoo littered man. He just screamed 'wrong' at her.
"Nice guy, seems like a real prince," Bigby muttered sarcastically. His brows had lowered into a frown of disdain, their escort chuckled a bit.
"So you do have a sense of humour. That's great," she smirked sultry. Her eyes slid over to Ann, who just plainly returned her gaze with a glare. "I am looking forward seeing you next time kitten, good luck." And with that their escort turned around and left.
Bigby and Ann shared a glance, she jerked her head and the Sheriff nodded. As Bigby went over to talk to Georgie Ann took a look around, glad she didn't have to talk to that creep. Her eyes settled their gaze on almost everything; the floor, jukebox, bar, fridge. She thought about talking to the big, burly blond guy who was mopping the floor, but something about his demeanour told her that he was probably not one to know the things they needed. He seemed all brawls, but no brains. If necessary, they could talk to him later.
Slowly Ann made her way back to Bigby and Georgie. The music had stopped and the girl was allowed to stop dancing, instead she stood there in the middle of the stage, half-naked for all eyes to see and trying to cover herself up a bit with her arms. Their eyes briefly met as Ann walked towards them, they were filled with embarrassment but also fear. It made Ann's blood boil.
"I got a few questions," Bigby stated and stood between Georgie and the dancer, interrupting the pimp's view which pleased Ann. Georgie rolled his eyes and tipped his hat back in order to look up at Bigby's face.
"Imagine my excitement," he drawled with humourless sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"So you're here for a little taste? Tell you what, come back after midnight and I hook you up. How does that sounds? Or.. uh.. knowing you, she is probably not your style," the pimp smirked and nodded towards the dancer. Who looked away awkwardly.
"We are not here for that, you already know that. Stop fucking around," Ann hissed and joined Bigby's side, their shoulders briefly brushed but then she leaned back against the stage and crossed her legs by the ankles.
"Well, well, look what you have here Bigby," Georgie whistled and made it no secret of that he was definitely eying her up. Ann crossed her arms over her chest and glared. "Such a pretty specimen, do you mind borrowing her for a while? You get half the share.."
Before she had to chance to tell Georgie to shove his head up his arse, Bigby had already taken a few steps and loomed over the pimp. Ann saw his broad back tense up and his hands clench into fists. The sheriff had not uttered a word, but the look he must have been given Georgie must be truly menacing for the pimp chuckled a bit and wiped some sweat from his brow.
"Okay, alright Sheriff. Just fucking with you, no hard feelings. Look I know why you are here-"
"Do you?" Ann's voice was hard and stern, just like her gaze.
"Listen, around here we can't afford to wait for you and your swanky pals to take an interest. We have to look out for each other. When shit happens, I hear about it, especially if it concerns my livelihood."
Ann snorted and looked away in disgust. He just saw them as a product.. an investment. They were living, breathing people with feelings and lives of their own. Not a.. thing!
"In that case you knew why Lily was glamoured-"
"Of course she was, you daft git. She was a troll," Georgie snapped at Bigby, obviously irritated. Bigby frowned.
"No. She was glamoured as another Fable."
"So what? People get up in all kind of things when nobody's watching. Anything to get them off," Georgie drawled. Ann shivered when his eyes shifted over to her and winked. Could she get a bucket?
"It's sick," Ann snapped. "Sick to change into a living and breathing someone, pretending that you are him or her. Plus, I won't be surprised if it's illegal." Georgie once again whistled.
"Ah, look at that. She's got some bite! That's a keeper Sheriff. You must be fucking her pretty little mundy ass quite the right way-"
A photo of Snow White was shoved right under his nose, causing him to startle and look away. His mirthful expression suddenly vanished and his jaw clenched. "Get that out of my si-"
"This was part of the glamour we found on Lily's body! Take a good, long look," Bigby growled cutting the man short. "She was impersonating Snow White, WHY?"
Georgie glared up to Bigby, his voice now much lower in a seething manner. "You've got this all wrong," his eyes flashed dangerous when Ann snorted at his words but he continued anyway. "If Lily was doing a special glamour, it wasn't for ME! For fuck's sake would I want that kind of heat?"
"For who did she do it then?"
"She had clients, Bigby. Maybe one of them was into it. There are a lot of fucked up people in Fabletown, Sheriff."
"Like who?" Bigby inquired.
"Try looking at the mirror. Anyway, nothing to do with me," Georgie smirked, clearly confident that this conversation was over he leaned back and motioned for the dancer to continue after he turned on the radio again. Slowly the dancer started to move again, clearly scared out of her wits.
Ann felt the hair in her neck rise and grinded her teeth. He was just ignoring them, thinking he was out of harm and wanted to dismiss them just like that. She stood up and turned off the radio, her emerald eyes blazing.
"We are not done here," she hissed. Georgie met her eyes and stood up, they were just about the same size but she could not pay attention to that because he was leaning towards her in a threatening manner.
"I think we are, and keep your dirty paws of my radio you cunt."
He barely managed to finish his sentence when a large hand grabbed his shirt and pulled him face to face to an angry snarling Bigby. "Tell us what we want to know, or we shut this whole place DOWN!"
"Hit me! Come on! That's what you want to do right!? Show me fucking what you are made of you filthy dog!" Georgie taunted and tore himself from Bigby's grasp. He was twice as skinny as the Sheriff, but Ann could see his biceps tense as he clenched his fists tightly.
Briefly the amber eyes of Bigby's met her own almost if he asked her permission if he should do it. Ann shook her head; this scum was not worth the effort. Before they knew it Georgie had already taken the first move and raised his arm, but with much more swung than he thought in his rage fit, causing the man to stumble back and against the radio, that toppled from the couch and slammed down on the ground with a lot of jingling noises. Instantly the music stopped.
"No!" The pimp screamed. "FUCK! YOU!" He pointed at the dancer who had stopped her movement and instantly cowered when he directed he fury towards her. "Get your sorry sad face where I can't see it! Bloody bastard, fucking shit!" The dancer did as she was ask to but with a roll of her eyes.
The big and burly guy walked towards them, for a moment she thought that he was going to fight Bigby and tensed, but he only took the radio that was thrown in his arms by Georgie with the words; 'fuck off Hans.'
"Hans is it?" Ann immediately took the snippet of information and walked towards the big guy who placed the radio on the bar carefully as if he didn't want to make it any more broken. "Care to answer some questions?"
"He does not know shit," Georgie said and followed her up the ramp to the bar with Bigby following his steps. He came closer than she liked and his voice lowered with each passing word. "'Discretion is our guarantee,' right? And the way we guarantee that is that no one knows anything they don't have to know. Including me. I cover my eyes and take my cut, end of story."
"Why not look it up?"
They all looked at Hans, a bit baffled.
"Isn't there a little book with all the stuff about the girls and all that written in it?"
Georgie seethed, "You're a fucking moron!"
"Show me."
The pimp turned to the Sheriff. "There is no fucking book. As for your communication skills, we're going to have to work on that don't we Hans?" The Fable murmured and took up a bat from beneath the counter of the bar. Ann's eyes widened, was Georgie really going to hit that guy? Her fears immediately subsided when Bigby took the bat and smashed the radio, Georgie cursed.
"I want that book Georgie," Bigby growled, his amber eyes blazing.
"Hans is confused, again."
With a grunt Bigby walked over to the TV and destroyed it utterly with a few powerful hits of the bat. Glass scattered everywhere on the ground along with wires and such. The Sheriff pulled out the device and threw it across the room without breaking a sweat. He also smashed the cigarette machine and some lights.
"Got damn it! I have got to open up in a few hours and you come here and fucking thrash the place with that fucking cu-!"
"Two women are dead. Give us the fucking book Georgie!" Ann snapped and crossed her arms over her chest.
Georgie's nostrils flared, anger blazed in his eyes like a firestorm ready to unleash his hell. But instead of giving in to his fury, the fire was suffocated and the pimp took a very, very deep breath.
"Fine!" He walked behind the bar and shifted some things, revealing a floor safe. He conjured a small key from out of his pocket and retrieved a small red book from the safe. He thrust it into Bigby's hand and growled; "Once again, don'' get your hopes up. There is nothin' in here that'll tell you anything—but a kick to the balls for me and my club, so you can be happy about that."
"See that wasn't so hard," Ann mused and tucked a red strand from behind her ear, smiling. Georgie made a disgusted noise in reply.
The next minute they were asking Georgie questions about the book and Lily's clients, but there was nothing Georgie couldn't (or wouldn't) tell right now. After writing everything important down on a small piece of paper, Ann looked up to see that dancer from the before scoot away from behind a door.. she had been watching them.
Sensing that Georgie wasn't paying much attention to her due to Bigby's constant questioning, she tucked her piece of paper in her pocket and walked towards the door she had seen the dancer disappear into. Since there was no one really paying attention to her, she opened the door slightly and slipped through it.
It appeared that it was a door towards the dressing room. Each individual dancer, stripper, hooker had a small space inside a large cabinet with their name on it. They contained personal items such as makeup, lipstick.. and a music box. Those items were in the space reserved for Faith.
Ann frowned and walked forward, seeing nothing of interest to take with it and rounded the corner to face a sole vanity, with the dancer sitting in front of it doing her make-up. Instead of naked, she now wore a mint coloured dress, which accentuated her bronze skin. The dancer looked at her via the mirror, unsurprised by her presence.
"I have never seen you around here before," she said whilst finishing up her mascara. Then the dancer shifted in her seat and turned to look at Ann who remained a bit at the back, unsure.
"I have never been around these parts and I'm new," Ann explained, not willing to part from any more information than necessary. Slowly she took a few steps forwards, letting the light of the vanity cast a shadow of her on the back wall. Briefly she shot her mirror-self a glance; it was pale and obviously tired judging by the intensity of the bags underneath her eyes.
"Well, you're here now," the dancer smiled and turned back to the mirror, grabbing a lipstick. "What's your name?"
Ann watched the dancer carefully applying a rose-coloured lipstick on her plump lips. "Ann," she finally said after a short silence. Not willing to give the woman her full name.
"Nice to meet you Ann. I'm Nerissa," the woman replied and put down her lipstick. For a moment it was silent as she further did her make-up and Ann watched, observing her. Finally Nerissa chuckled and turned to Ann in her seat.
"I see you're trying to place me."
"I wonder who you are, from which fairy-tale I mean," Ann sighed. Nerissa now fully turned and crossed her long and slim legs over one another and shot her a sweet smile, though her eyes remained sad.
"Once upon a time, I was called 'The Little Mermaid'," her smile wavered a bit due to the look of horror that flickered across the redhead's face but it survived.
"The legs are glamoured?"
Nerissa merely shrugged at her question, "Part of it at least."
It was once again silent and Nerissa turned back on her seat to perfectionize her face, not that it wasn't already 'perfect'. Ann took a few steps towards her, sticking her hands in her pockets because she had no idea what to do with them.
"You know I'm here to ask you a few questions."
The mermaid sighed. "I don't have any answers for you, you'll have to find those yourself."
Ann took out the note from her pocket, it had some simple words on them to help her remind;
Mr. Smith (no relative mind you), 207, Lily's agenda..
"Do you have any idea what 207 is? I guess that it's a room number and a certain 'Mr. Smith' a client. Am I right?" She asked anyway despite Nerissa claiming not to know anything.
"I can't talk about work-"
"This is a murder case, we are here to help," Ann said sharply, cutting the dancer off. She walked towards the vanity and sat down on her hunches to look at Nerissa who was avoiding her gaze.
"I- I'm sorry, but I really CAN'T," the mermaid choked out and softly cursed underneath her breath when a few tears escaped and smudged her make-up. "These lips are sealed, discretion is our guarantee."
"Nerissa," she whispered softly and placed a hand on the woman's bare knee, drawing the Fables' eyes towards her. They were filled with fear and sadness. "Please."
Nerissa averted her gaze again, sighing. Ann could see her mind working behind those dark brown irises that shimmered moist in the warm light of the vanity. She let her hand rest on the woman's knee, adding some to the psychological pressure in the hope the woman would concur her demons and spill everything. Finally the mermaid exhaled and grabbed a note and pen.
"Miss Ann, would you like to make an.. appointment with me?" The stripper whispered and looked at her with meaningful eyes. Those of Ann narrowed slightly and her gut knotted together. Slowly the redhead nodded.
"I would like that, Nerissa."
The mermaid wrote something on a piece of paper, Ann could see that it was her first name initials and a made-up last name. "I need a hundred-and-fifty, it's not good to be short."
Tearing out her wallet from her pocket, Ann gave the girl a two-hundred bill that somehow had managed to get a place between the leather folds. She did not recall it being there, but hey.. she could pay so why not. When the girl wanted to give her the change Ann stood up and shook her head.
"Keep it."
Smiling the girl stood up, telling her to wait for a minute. As she exited the dressing room, Bigby walked inside.
"What was that?" Bigby asked with his gruff voice and pointed with his thumb at the door that Nerissa closed behind her. Ann winked.
"Girl talk Bigby."
When the Sheriff shot her a look that torn between 'you-are-totally-shitting-me' and some mild amusement, she chuckled. "I am doing my job as your partner Mr. Wolf; talking to the right people while you keep the rest busy."
Ann closed their distance a bit and her voice lowered to a whisper. "What did you do with the book? Did you give it back to Georgie?"
"Yes, you wrote everything down right?" Bigby whispered back, curling up one heavy eyebrow. Ann nodded and took a step back the door opened and Nerissa walked back in. She said nothing and walked wordlessly to Ann, pressing something cold and metallic in her hands: it was a key and a room number.. 204.
"The Open Arms," she read softly and looked at the girl. Ann gave the key to Bigby who examined them, even sniffed at them but discovered nothing strange. It was just an ordinary key and metal label.
Nerissa hugged herself and nodded. "I hope you enjoy your stay.. and find what you are looking for." With those words she turned around and left.
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