Part of Marinette wished she could learn to drive already. Paris was a big city and even with her yoyo and Chat Noir's staff, it still took them a long time to travel across the city and at this point, it'd be faster to just drive to their destination. Not to mention they could talk in a car, which they couldn't easily do right now using their weapons for transportation.
The neighborhood Ladybug and Chat Noir entered was quiet and serene. A few kids were playing in the yards and a few parents sat on their patios sipping wine and watching the clouds go by. She could see a few concerned looks from the adults as she and Chat walked through. No doubt they were worried they were in danger. But this wasn't a mission to destroy an akuma. No, it was a mission to get information.
Béatrice LaRoux's home was unassuming, nearly identical to houses on either side. And the inside looked normal, albeit a little scarcely furnished.
"We're sorry to hear about Bijou, Mme. LaRoux," Chat said as he, Ladybug, and the young woman sat down at her kitchen table. She shrugged, avoiding their eyes.
"It's been twelve years since I've seen my sister. I knew she was dead the entire time," Béatrice said. "You don't go missing for twelve years and turn up alive."
"How exactly was Bijou abducted? The police report said you were there, but there wasn't much information," Ladybug asked her.
"There isn't a lot of information. My sister and I had been kidnapped and forced into a child pornography ring when we were little. One day someone came to the shoot and took Bijou away and that was the last I ever saw of her," Béatrice informed them.
"Do you remember what he or she looked like?" Chat inquired. Béatrice shook her head.
"No, I couldn't get a good look." She took a sip of her tea. "It's not uncommon for this to happen. Sometimes we get sold off to other rings or into sex slavery. If the cops hadn't busted the ring I was in, that would have been my fate once I turned eighteen. I always imagined that's what happened to her."
"Did you and your sister do modelling before you were abducted?" Ladybug asked.
"Yeah, we did a little. Our parents wanted us to be famous," Béatrice replied. "We only ever did two shoots, both with Gabriel Agreste before we were abducted." Marinette's stomach sank to the floor. The more they kept digging, the more and more scared she got for Adrien. His mother was already a victim: what if he was next on the list?
"Thank you for your time, Mme. LaRoux. We'll be in touch." Chat Noir gently grabbed Ladybug's shoulder and helped her to her feet. "At least our theory about Agreste models wasn't completely off," he said once they were out the door. "But why would the killer go searching for a model? Why wouldn't he just let her die in the porn business?"
"I don't know. Maybe he was trying to save her and she saw too much at his house and he had to kill her?" Ladybug guessed.
"That sounds too cliché. There has to be another piece we're missing," he said, fingers ruffling his blond hair.
"Well, the police report said they were walking home from a shoot when they were abducted the first time. Maybe our killer was the one that took him and put them in a child porn ring for safekeeping."
"I don't think something like that can count as safekeeping." Ladybug sighed in frustration, hands tearing at her hair.
"I don't know. This is just getting more and more complicated. Do you think the other victims has ties to the porn industry?" she mused.
"Absolutely not. Emilie Agreste would have never done porn," he said.
"But it's still something we should look into," she argued. "What if we're missing something?"
"Mrs. Agreste wouldn't do it, but okay. We can still look into it," he retorted. Ladybug frowned at his biting tone.
"I'm just trying to be thorough, Chat. Don't be a jerk," she told him. She paused. "Do you have the time?" He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
"It's almost four." She sighed and unhooked her yoyo from her waist.
"My job starts at four, I better get going," she said. "Let's regroup tonight and start doing more research."
"I can't do research tonight. My girlfriend might be coming over for dinner and movies."
"Oh." When did he start seeing someone, she thought, bewildered. "That's okay. Maybe tomorrow night we can?"
"Tomorrow works. Until then, Ladybug."
Marinette was panting as she ran to the shoot, flashing her ID to the security guards before throwing herself into the trailer to get ready.
"Girlie, are you okay?" Marie-Christine asked as Marinette collapsed in a chair.
"Yeah, I just had something to take care of before this and it ran late," she said.
"Well, I'm glad you got here on time. Jérémy is in such a bad mood it's not even funny," Marie-Christine snorted. "Okay, it's a little funny, but only because I hate him."
"Emcé, don't be rude," Jean scolded her as he pulled her hair into a ponytail.
"I'm not! I'm just saying," she defended herself, throwing her hands in the air. Jean rolled his eyes and patted her on the back.
"You're good to go. I'll take care of Marinette," he said. She pouted but left, long blonde hair swinging in her ponytail. Jean dipped a brush into a pot of blue glitter, carefully tapping off excess before applying it to her face. "Are you excited this is all over after tonight?"
"Yeah. I never realized how tiring modelling could be," Marinette chuckled, closing her eyes as he put eyeliner and eyeshadow on her. "I'm ready to leave this behind."
"It's a full production, all right. And I wouldn't be so sure this is your last shoot. I overheard Gabriel talking with Nathalie about the model roster for next season's clothes and it seriously sounds like you're going to get an invite," Jean chirped, a bright smile on his face.
"Are you serious?! But why?" she demanded. I didn't think Mr. Agreste was seriously going to put me in more shoots! I thought he was just saying that to be nice!
"You're a better model than you give yourself credit for, Marinette."
"I don't want to model, though. I want to design clothes," she reminded him.
"It may not be the best thing, but think of it like this. If you model for other designers, you're making connections, aren't you? And the more friendly you are and the more they adore a good model like you, the better you have at getting into the designing world." He had a point. This was building connections and who knew, maybe in the long run that'd get her more exposure.
"All right, here's your outfit for the shoot," Jean said, pulling a flamboyant sequin dress off of the rack along with a small ditty bag. "And lucky you, you get to wear jewelry this time." Marinette dug through the bag, heart stopping as she saw two shiny rhinestone earrings.
"Do I have to wear the earrings? I don't like taking mine off," she said, fingers nervously tapping her Miraculous.
"You have to. Personally, I'd rather not risk Gabriel's wrath, to be honest. If he puts something in your ditty bag, you have to wear it," Jean said while he cleaned his station. I'm sorry Tikki, Marinette thought before pulling her Miraculous off and putting them into her purse. "Please make sure no one takes my purse. My earrings are family heirlooms."
"Of course," he nodded. Marinette pulled her dress and the jewelry on before making her way to one of the sets. Adrien was already there, scrolling through his phone and face resting on his hand. Marie-Christine sat on his other side, eyes fixed on the action going on in front of the camera. Marinette squeezed his shoulder before sitting next to him.
"So, they have you dressed to the nines too?" she asked, looking from his sequin vest to the bright red lipstick staining his lips. He shrugged.
"I've been in worse." Adrien pocketed his phone and slung an arm over Marinette's shoulders. "So, I was thinking tonight after the shoot we can go back to my house and have pizza, some cake, watch a few movies, and cuddle to celebrate the end of the shoot. What do you say?"
"It sounds perfect," she replied, nuzzling into his neck.
"Ugh, gross! I totally just got herpes from watching you two eyefuck," Marie-Christine groaned melodramatically. Marinette giggled and snuggled closer to Adrien.
"Maybe next time you shouldn't be a voyeur," he grinned.
"That was a pretty Chat Noir thing to say." The words were out of Marinette's mouth before she could stop herself. Adrien grinned wickedly, his other arm circling her shoulders.
"Oh? And how would you know how he talks? Are you seeing him behind my back?" Adrien's lips were right up to her ear, voice silky and teasing. Color exploded on Marinette's face, voice stammering as she tried to fix the situation. It only got worse.
"N-no! Of c-course I'm not I've only seen him once!" she cried. Adrien pressed a light kiss to her ear.
"I don't believe you. I guess I'll just have to leave a mark and make sure he knows you're not his." Marinette's blood was already boiling and as Adrien peppered chaste, tickling kisses on her neck it only got hotter. She giggled profusely, hands on his chest playfully trying to push him away.
"Really, Adrien? Right now?" Adrien shrieked and pushed himself off of Marinette at the sound of Inocencio's voice, nearly falling out of his chair in the process. The photographer gave the two a critical look. Behind him, Marie-Christine made gagging gestures.
"Sorry," Adrien mumbled. His face was redder than his lipstick and his eyes were glued to the floor. Inocencio sighed.
"It's fine. I guess the subtle lipstick marks are fine. Your dad's working with Jérémy so I have free reign and I'd rather not send her back to makeup," Inocencio shrugged. "Let's get these shots done so we can go home."
The set was a rather intimate scene, a red velvet chaise in a drawing room with curtained windows behind them. They were instructed to sit and pose. Inocencio worked lightning-fast, camera always flashing as he shouted instructions. Marinette tried to process the demands as quickly as possible, but found it a struggle. Adrien, however, moved as fast as Inocencio: clearly, he was used to the Italian man's guidance in shoots. Flash after flash after flash, the shoot dragged on and finally after what felt like hours, Inocencio let them go.
"I'll get dressed and meet you by the entrance, okay?" Adrien told her.
"Yeah, sounds good!" she replied. With a quick peck they parted ways, Adrien heading in the opposite direction to get to the mens' trailer. I wonder what we'll watch tonight, Marinette mused as she made her way to the womens trailer. Something cute. Or something scary so I have an excuse to cuddle up to him. But then again, maybe watching something about serial killers isn't good when one's dropping bodies through Paris, she shuddered. A hand grasped her shoulder and she squeaked. It was Jérémy.
"Marinette, can I speak with you for a moment?" he asked.
"Sure. What is it?" she replied.
"Gabriel asked that I take a few shots with you to get a proper modelling portfolio set up for you. I have the set done and it'll take just a few minutes," he said. "Gabriel wants them done before you and Adrien leave."
"Oh! Does he want me to change for them?" she inquired.
"No. He said a few pictures in what you're wearing is fine and later at another shoot we'll take more," he said. Marinette nodded and followed him away from the dressing rooms. I hope this is fast. I really just want to go to Adrien's and have something to eat and cuddle, she thought. I can't believe Gabriel was serious, though. He really wants to keep me as a model? He must be nicer than I thought he was.
Marinette and Jérémy rounded a corner when it happened. His arms shot out to grab her, a foul-smelling rag smothering her face. Marinette struggled, muffled screams tearing her throat apart. Her limbs flailed, desperate to land a painful attack but to no avail. The pungent stench from the rag was getting stronger and stronger and her motions were becoming weaker and weaker. The ground was rushing up to meet her body. Black fog was seeping into her mind and the last thing she saw before she fell unconscious was Jérémy's Cheshire cat smile.
Whoo, we're almost to the finish line! We have two more chapters left! The next chapter shit will get really serious and dark and we'll get to see some awesome action B)
Thank you all so much for the support you've been giving me and this story! It means a lot to me and I hope you all love the next few things I've got planned for this series!