CHAPTER 30

In the end, Francis came with her.

They were going to a strip club and dressing like police probably wasn't a good idea. Francis managed to get some clothes for himself and Alice to wear. He wore a purple turncoat under an unbuttoned black trench coat, but with a pair of jeans so it still looked casual enough for clubbing.

Alice had a hard time keeping her eyes off of him, or at least, without him noticing.

Francis, on the other hand, didn't even try to be bashful when it came to Alice. She wore a long, scarlet red maxi dress. It hugged her torso tightly and her bare back was covered with black lace. The dress flew loosely from the hips and stopped just before the ankles. Pearl earrings and necklace glittered in the dim light.

"It's been a long time since I've worn anything like this." Alice muttered, somewhat bitterly, looking down at the dress.

He took her hand, smiling softly. "Vous êtes belle."

Alice nearly melt. Francis' hands were so warm and soft…his indigo eyes glistened with an emotion that could only be described as breathtaking. Her breath hitched and she stared at him with wide eyes. "I-I…Thank you."

XXX

The club reeked of alcohol and sex.

Wonderful. Francis couldn't help be somewhat pissed off. The first time he finally gets to see Alice in a dress and they're surrounded with filth. Why couldn't this lead have been at, he didn't know, maybe a nice restaurant or romantic park? He sighed. No, they preferred just to get to the sex part.

Alice didn't seem to mind the surroundings, though, besides the little frown on her face. She could care less about the smell; her whole apartment was like a nightclub of its own. Alice strutted up to the giant guard that stood at the entrance. It was a funny sight really. A tiny, petite woman glaring up at a giant, bulky man.

It was even funnier when you thought about the fact that she could take him down with one glare and a sassy comment.

"Here." She handed him a card. They had found that inside the letter, hidden.

The man raised an eyebrow. "VIP? We don't have VIP here. Who gave you that card?"

"He has no name."

The man's eyes went wide with fear and he immediately started shaking in fear. "C-C-C-Come ri-right this way, ma'am."

Francis raised an eyebrow at Alice, but she just shrugged, clearly not wanting to show any information with him.

The club was dark, with music booming into their ears. Neon lights flashed, revealing loads of drunkards and…strippers. Once upon a time, Francis wouldn't mind being in a place like this. It wouldn't have met to his spoiled self's standards, but still, any club would've done for him.

Alice sashayed up to the bartender. The short, blond man smiled at her softly. "What can I do for you today, ma'am?"

She felt her eyebrow nearly rise. You didn't usually hear bartenders act so politely. "I'm looking for a man called Berwald Oxenstierna."

A flash of recognition crossed the man's pale face and he smiled. "Ah, you're looking for Berwald." The bartender, called Tino, as Alice noticed the tag on his shirt. "I'll need some sort of card and a name."

"Here," She gave Tino the VIP card. "I was given this by he who has no name." She gave him a slightly pointed look, letting him know not to say Lovino's name around Francis. Alice refused to get him mixed up in her business with the Mafia.

"Very well, ma'am." Tino said, still smiling, but there was an odd edge to it. Whatever it was, he was obviously slightly protective of Berwald. "Please come right this way."

The Finnish man called for someone to take his place before walking around the corner. He led them past the strippers and to a dimly lit hallway. "He's in room number five."

Alice gave him a short nod of appreciation, walking down the hall. As soon as Tino was gone, she turned to Francis.

"I need you to be quiet during this whole thing, all right?"

Francis raised an eyebrow at her. "Why would I do zat?"

"Just trust me." Alice waved a dismissive hand, lowering her voice to a whisper. "This place is more dangerous than other nightclubs. More than the Fox and Goblin. I can't tell you much, but I need you to trust me."

Francis looked at her skeptically for a moment. "Do you trust zis man? Ze one zat has no name?"

Alice shushed him quickly, head whipping around. "Even saying that is dangerous. And, yes, he may be a complete and utter asshole, but…" Francis raised an eyebrow at her, urging her to continue. "I've been friends with him for nearly a decade, now, and I do trust him."

That was all he needed to hear. If Alice was okay with him, then Francis could manage.

Room number five had a small radio in the corner, a coffee table and two sofas. A man sat on one of the sofas. He had short, scruffy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a dark blue uniform of sorts. He reminded Alice of a slightly taller, sterner Alfred. His piercing eyes looked up at her. "Kirkland?"

"Oxenstierna." She said, sitting down on the opposite sofa.

"Didn't say you'd be bringing luggage." He glared at Francis.

"I didn't think I would be, either." Alice shrugged, nonchalantly. "He won't be a bother. Do you speak Italian? Maybe German?"

"Parlo diciassette lingue."

Alice tried not to roll her eyes. "Immagino che hai sentito parlare dei recenti omicidi. L'assassino sta usando coltelli da Lovino."

Berwald nodded stiffly. "Rumor sulla strada è che è fantasma Romolo ', in cerca di sangue."

She did snort that time. "Un fantasma sarebbe più facile da gestire di questo. Morto di Zwingli, si è ucciso con una bottiglia di cianuro."

"L'ho sentito dire. Essa ha causato molto la scalpore nella comunità di..." Berwald said, looking frustrated. "Vergogna. Era un buon tiro."

"Era in una relazione con le prime due vittime. Trio." A look of disgust crossed the Swedish man's face for a moment after she said that. "Era il nostro unico sospettato, e senza prove per dimostrare innocente, si è ucciso. Un'altra donna è stata uccisa, pochi giorni dopo."

Berwald said nothing for a moment, and then, in English. "I suppose you'll be needing my alibi then." Alice nodded shortly. "Tino, the bartender, can vouch for me."

Translations:

Vous êtes belle. = You are beautiful.

Parlo diciassette lingue. = I speak seventeen languages.

Immagino che hai sentito parlare dei recenti omicidi. L'assassino sta usando coltelli da Lovino. = I guess you've heard of the recent murders. The murderer is using the knives Lovino has.

Rumor sulla strada è che è fantasma Romolo ', in cerca di sangue. = Rumor on the street is that it's Romulus's ghost, looking for blood.

Un fantasma sarebbe più facile da gestire di questo. Morto di Zwingli, si è ucciso con una bottiglia di cianuro. = A ghost would be easier to manage than this. Zwingli died, killed himself with a bottle of cyanide.

L'ho sentito dire. Essa ha causato molto la scalpore nella comunità di... = So I've heard. It caused quite a stir in the community...

Vergogna. Era un buon tiro. = Shame. He was a good shot.

Era in una relazione con le prime due vittime. Trio. = He was in a relationship with the first two victims. Trio.

Era il nostro unico sospettato, e senza prove per dimostrare innocente, si è ucciso. Un'altra donna è stata uccisa, pochi giorni dopo. = He was our only suspect, and no evidence to prove innocent, he killed himself. Another woman was killed a few days later.