chapter word count: 671 (woops)

noir heart: one hundred and eighteen

The phone vibrates against the passenger seat. Taking her eyes off the car nestled in the alleyway, Elsa picks it up and glances at the screen - which is when her lips tug into a mischievous smile. Ordinarily she despises predictability, but this is one occasion to give it a pass.

"Elsa Snowfield," she announces into it.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

She utters an amused chuckle. "Hello to you too, Jack. I must confess - I expected a little more gratitude."

Jack's voice is downright impatient. Oh, how satisfying to get under his skin. "Thanks. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

The heads of the two occupants in the car jostle and jerk, as though in heated conversation. "I believe I just saved your career."

Jack scoffs, bitter and furious. "No, you just put it in more danger!"

"Oh?" Elsa pouts. The driver has definitely been...what did that awful website call it? Triggered, that's it.

"Yeah, you did! Now everyone's definitely gonna think I'm hiding something! Defense attorneys don't exactly convey innocence, y'know!"

Elsa lets loose a feminine, dark snicker. "But you are hiding something, aren't you?"

"...what?"

Perfect. He didn't expect that.

The other car's passenger door opens, but the passenger hesitates. Apparently, the driver isn't finished. "Mr. St. North told me everything, Jack. I know about the White Fairy."

Now his voice is different. Wary. Uncertain. "You're lying."

"Arnulf Southernisle."

There's a ragged breath from the other end of the call. Now he knows she's not messing around.

"What do you want?"

Elsa giggles - it's almost too easy. "What I want is nothing more than a coffee, Jack. A coffee, and your time."

There's an incredulous scoff. "You set me up with the best defense attorney in the city for a coffee date?"

She bites her lip - date. "No. I called Merida because I saw you were in trouble, and I wanted to help - and I applaud your Star Wars reference, by the way. Merida owes me a favour, so thanks to me, you now can tell her all your dirty little secrets, safe in the knowledge you will be protected by attorney-client privilege. You don't have to hide who you are anymore, Jack."

"That's way too altruistic for you."

Elsa pouts. "Come now. I admit, however, I found it inconvenient you were busy being railroaded when I wanted to take you for coffee. So, maybe my intentions are partly selfish."

A deep sigh erupts from the phone, and Elsa gets the impression - enticing and arousing as it is - Jack would have her in a silent, unblinking gaze. Studying her. Assessing her. Letting his mind work wonders on her.

"One coffee doesn't make us friends."

Not yet, anyway. Elsa's smirk appears and widens - it's so gratifying to win. "That's all I want. Tomorrow? You can text me where and when - I assume you're not using your phone?"

His voice takes on another sharp bite. "Sure. After that, leave me alone."

The call clicks dead - which would have been rude had Elsa not expected it - and just as she delicately returns it to the seat, her eyes register the movement of the passenger finally exiting the car.

The grey-haired man who tried to take her statement, and who was watching Jack being interrogated - how interesting. Wearing a deep scowl, he storms away from the car and jogs up the steps into the Police Department building. Elsa's eyes track him every step of the way.

Movement from the car attracts her gaze - the driver is pulling out for a left turn. Curious, Elsa tracks him too - and as the traffic breaks enough for the car to move, her eyebrows rise in intrigue as she gets a clear view of his face.

The auburn-haired man who interrogated Jack. The cause of her protective anger. This requires some investigation.

"No promises, Jack," she murmurs.

need that Jelsa fire lighting up again. someone remind me why I fell in love with them in the first place.

Oh, and the time between 115 and 116 was quite a while, enough for Elsa to notice Jack in peril and for Merida to arrive.

special thanks to: snowfire12345, rainbowcolorw0w, hugs and puppies all around, oninoko, waguneru, lunasnoir, jpbake and hornedgoddess for the reviews!