CHAPTER 38

The cold wind whipped violently against her cheeks.

Alice ignored the feeling, her mind racing. Everything had fallen into place. Almost. She knew everything she needed to know, though. Someone was getting revenge for Venziano. Someone who loved him enough to murder several people emotionless. Dialing numbers on her phone while navigating her bike through the busy, angry streets of London wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do.

Nevertheless, she managed. "Yes?" One of the council member's voices crackled on the other end. There were too many of them to actually remember, especially when they weren't particularly important in her daily work.

"Code red." She hissed, simply, dodging another lamppost. Close one.

"Wha-?!" There was a tumble of papers on the other end. "Kirkland? What are you doing?! You don't work for me anymore! We don't have a code red in the first place."

"Oi, you fat pile of pudding, let's get one thing fucking straight: I never worked for you in the first damn place." She growled before she could stop herself. "And, yes, we now officially have a code red. It's fucking scarlet."

"…Since when?" Came his hesitant, tired sigh from the other end.

"Just now." Alice said. "And don't you dare sigh with me, unless you want video footage of you and your old secretary having a little bit of hanky panky broadcasted all over London."

"What – how in the world did you-!"

She cut him off. "Call all of my emergency contacts and tell them to come to the building. Nobody leaves or enters the building. Understand?"

"I understand. Code red."

"Good man." Her frigid fingers hung up and dialed the next number. Ah, another pesky lamppost.

"Che cazzo è?! Non ho tempo per la vostra merda." Lovino's voice yelled at her from the other side.

"No. You will fucking listen to me. My job would've been so much easier if you would stop with your damn secrets, but no." Alice growled. "So, unless you want a pissed, homicidal maniac and some bloke who's out for revenge on your ass, you better fucking do what I say. Yeah?"

"…Yeah." There was a slight tremble in Lovino's voice, she noticed with a smug grin.

"Good." She said, "Here's what you're going to do."

XXX

Alice crashed through the door of the Royal Justice and Crime Investigation Building of London. Literally.

Everyone stared, gaping at her in horror. All, except for one. "Alice!" Alfred crashed through the swarm of people and tackled the Brit into probably the tightest hug of her entire life. She squeezed him back with the same amount of vigor. "I missed you." He whispered, voice soft and cracking.

"Yeah," She smiled, as though there wasn't a murderer lose and ready to kill again. "I missed you too, Alfie."

"What the hell is going on?" Luka stormed to the front of the crowd, her husband trying to hold her back. Uselessly, the Brit might add. "Why are we here?" A round of angry cries agreed.

"I have to get home!"

"I don't know you people! Why the hell am I here?"

"You're not supposed to be here, anyway!"

"That's right, she's the crazy ass lady!"

Just before Alice could say something, Alfred's voice boomed through the giant halls. "Everybody shut the fuck up!" He slammed his giant, patriotic arm into Mary Sue's desk, effectively smashing it into tiny bits. "Listen to what she has to say, or else…You'll have to answer to me. Any objections?"

Not a sound was made.

"Nice." Alice nodded in approval, looking at the shattered wood chip pile. "…When's the last cup of coffee you've had?"

"Not soon enough," Alfred grumbled, pouting slightly. "So, what gives?"

"Oh, yes. I forgot about that." She turned back to the crowd. "As I'm sure you all know, there's a serial killer on the loose right now. All of you are in danger. If you don't want to be killed, stay inside." Alice stormed up to her office, ignoring the looks that followed her.

Damn. It felt good to be back.

Alfred jogged to catch up with her. "You found out something."

"A lot of somethings, actually." She muttered dryly.

"Care to enlighten me, oh wise one?" He asked.

"Oh, how I missed this." Alice grinned, almost with an evil grin in her eye.

Alfred nearly smiled. "Talking to your brother?"

"I was talking about leaving behind a trail of clueless idiots, actually." She watched his face fall slightly. "But, yes, I missed you."

The smile was back as if she hadn't said anything slightly insulting in the past few seconds. "So, what's the skinny?"

"Oh, you know." Alice shrugged before kicking her office door open. "Lifetime long grudges from my time in Europe, serial killings, underground gangs. Just the usual."

"Ah." Alfred nodded in understanding. "…Wait – What?!"

She waved a hand nonchalantly. "I'll explain later. Where's Francis?"

"What do you mean?" Alfred frowned at her.

"Francis Bonnefoy? Frog? Francey-pants?" She glared at his blank face, "The one who practically drinks wine with everything? Even with wine."

"I know who you're talking about." Alfred huffed. "I just don't understand. Isn't he with you?"

"No." She could feel something cold slither up her spine. "Where on Earth did you get that idea?"

"Alice, I haven't seen Francis 'round here since he went to deliver that letter to your apartment." Alfred's face lost all blood after her saw the horror slowly etching onto his sister's face. "We thought he was with you…"

Suddenly, the phone rang.