chapter word count: 657

noir heart: ninety-three

Technically, calling in a favour from Fishlegs to find Elsa Black is abuse of police resources, much like flashing his badge at the complex's concierge for the key - though the wiry man did swear his silence.

Then again, setting off the fire alarm isn't exactly playing by the rules, but as Jack waits around the corner of the T-shaped, white-wallpapered hallway, inspecting his nails with as much indifference as towards the piercing din, he notes how barren his field of fucks is, and thus he has none to give. North always said his career walked just on the right side of dismissal.

He peers around the corner just in time to see Elsa, clad in a rather attractive combo of black leggings and the very same ice-blue hooded sweater he first saw her in, close the door behind her and head to the stairs on the opposite end of the hallway, deep frustration evident in the cadence of her rapid footfalls.

Wasting little time, as he jogs over to her door his fingers dive into the pocket of his beige trench coat to retrieve the key, and with a quick glance over either shoulder, he lets himself in.

Scanning a searching eye around her apartment living room, he notes she's been a busy little bee since her appearance in his place a few days ago. But as expected, her apartment is sparse. Practically everything is brand new, with a pile of boxes in the far corner - fruits of her inheritance, undoubtedly - and some things haven't even been unwrapped. Which means that she hasn't yet found a pride of place for her trophy - so it might still be in a box.

Remembering she was left with almost nothing from the will, her possessions are probably limited to one box and, considering the rest have brand names, he reckons there's only one place it'll be if she isn't personally holding it - the box labeled Miscellaneous.

Shutting the door behind him, he strides over and kneels by the box - and apparently she'd been admiring her victory when the fire alarm went off, judging by the presence of the paper bag on top of the rest of the contents, and the dangling of a silver chain from its opening. Smirking crookedly, he pinches the chain and lifts it out to rest the ring in his right hand. It was never shown in any published photographs of Kozmotis Black, but it was nonetheless on his body - and though it's not enough to convict or even charge her...it's enough to punish her.

And that's pretty much what he wants.

The piercing noise abruptly cuts off. Jack's head shoots up - Elsa's going to be back soon. Fisting the ring and chain, he quickly rises to his feet and darts out of the apartment, heart racing with adrenaline. Taking a sharp right towards where he hid before, he hammers the up button on the elevator whilst muttering a low 'come on, come on…' - it's not that he doesn't want Elsa to see him, but it has to be the right time.

Footsteps echo in the hallway behind him. His heart thunders faster. Any second now, he'll hear "Detective Frost", and that's going to ruin the surprise.

He practically groans in relief when the doors finally open, and he slips between them just in time to see Elsa round the corner, her head bowed low as she inspects her phone, wearing a mask of concentration.

"Elsa," he calls out, just as he hits the button for the roof.

She looks up, and at first gives him that very same distracting smile from Anna's kitchen...but when he extends his right hand out, and her eyes flick down to the chain dangling from his fist?

The doors close on her expression becoming downright murderous.

uh-oh. Way to antagonise her AGAIN, Jack. Thanks all for setting my mind at rest.

special thanks to: lunasnoir, oninoko, jpbake, hornedgoddess, vrupd.1992, riverfall, deadbreath, invisible me and stefalove for the reviews!