CHAPTER 37

Alice trudged into the library, boots covered in snow and soot.

She specifically picked a time when Mira wasn't working. Alice didn't have time for chats over tea and scones. She had a mission. The detective – or was she a vigilante, now? Alfred would like that.

Anyways, Alice knew that she was close. You always knew when you were close. A little buzz would just kind of hang out in the back of your mind. Subconsciously, little pieces would fit their way into the puzzle, even when you weren't actively thinking about it.

It was about damn time, too.

Six months, two weeks, five days and three hours from the day she first went to Isabelle Blackwater's house, actually. Her father would be disappointed, probably. He never had a case go on for this long. Granted, she didn't think he ever tangled with shady Mafia members (let alone the Vargas' Mafia), a bunch of family drama, relationship problems, get shot twice or even have a serial killer who liked to gut things chase after him.

But she shouldn't be complaining. Not yet, anyway. Alice was still alive. She was still sane enough to find a psychopath, even though she could feel herself slipping away. Alice was still functioning well enough to carry out her mission. It was the only thing holding her together, now.

The Englishwoman walked past several people, heading up to the loft. Criminal Records Worldwide. She sighed, figure sagging as she gazed at the seemingly endless books, parchment rolls and newspaper articles. This would take a while.

XXX

Lovino's jaw was clenched firmly. He hung up the phone. "Lei cazzo mi ignorò."

"What do you expect, cariño? She's British. And a Kirkland." Antonio tried to console his husband, speaking softly. "As much as I hate to admit it, the bruja is stronger than steel and has an attitude of a lion. There was no way you could stop her, even if you tried."

"She could've at least tried to have been more discreet about disobeying my orders. She just plainly states that she'll just do whatever the fuck she wants!" Lovino's amber eyes burned.

Of course, they both knew that that was just how Alice was. She was bitter, like the Earl Grey that she was addicted to or the cigarettes that she smoked. Alice was depressing and cynical, she nearly only spoke the truth, with an overdose of sarcasm. She'd never do something if you asked her to do it – and certainly not properly - even if you had managed to get her to do a small task. But once she set her mind to something, there was no stopping her. Alice was an introvert, keeping to herself and simply observing, yes, but there was one thing that she had. One thing that not Lovino, or Antonio, or anyone else could ever change.

Alice had a lion's heart and a rage with flames stronger than the ones in Hell.

"Sir!" A man ran in, wearing the typical all black uniform with a red tie that Lovino had his men wear. Hey, they were bloodthirsty killers, but at least they did it in style.

"What is it?" Antonio's voice cut sharp, Spanish accent thick.

"I-I-I-It's you-your brother, S-S-S-Sir Vargas!"

Lovino ignored the glare from Antonio. Members of the Mafia still hadn't adjusted to the new title 'Carriedo', so Lovino figured it'd be easier just to keep it Vargas. "What about him?"

"…He's…He's missing."

XXX

Alice could feel her hands tremble as she stared down at the newspaper article beneath her.

This was it. This was the final clue. Alice was sure of it. Old, crinkled paper shook in her hands, black and faded ink still clear as day on the page.

Mafia War in Sicily!

…In the summer of 18X5, a gang fight broke out in Sicily. It was a usual, warm day in Italy. That all changed when gunshots rang through Palermo at exactly 12:05pm on Saturday 32, July 18X5. The shootings took place all across Palermo, but specifically in a small part of the city, at a café called Bella Italia. No one is sure why the shootings were concentrated there, but there are theories that a target was staying in Bella Italia at the time of the breakout.

There were three cases of injuries, mostly from running away in such a hurry. However, one brave woman was shot twice in her torso while jumping in front of two men, effectively saving their lives. The men are unknown, seemingly disappearing after the shooting. The brave woman's name is Alice Kirkland, a world renown violinist…

Alice felt as though all the air had jumped out of her lungs. "…Oh…"