The funeral was set to start in three hours. The energy in the Widows was buzzing. Win hadn't been invited to the funeral. She wasn't surprised but was disappointed, nonetheless. She knew she had no right to get to say goodbye to Dame Cora or Isir formally. However, she knew the power of ceremony and wondered how to grieve for someone when told she had no right to need to.
Win was cleaning the Bank, helping prepare it for after the funeral with Merro. She also wasn't invited, despite her longevity working with the Widows. They worked in silence. Usually, when Zelda wasn't around, people were in a better, more talkative mood. Win noted that almost everyone was silent. Win wondered if they were all becoming Pigeons.
The back door opened at that moment, and one of Meg's Pigeons stepped through. Win thought his name was Leopold; he looked younger than Win.
"Zelda here?" He asked, and Win and Merro both shook their head no. He looked nervous and stepped back through the door immediately. Merro raised an eye to Win.
"He spoke well." Win was about to shrug, but Merro's meaning dawned on her.
"Deaf doesn't mean mute," Win suggested in an attempt to explain.
Merro chewed her lip, seemingly dissatisfied with that reason.
"I'm sure it's none of our business, whatever it is," Merro replied. Her usual reply was when higher-up Widow's business was presented. Win took out a crate and unloaded fresh new towels to put in the closet.
"How have you been holding up? I know some of this recent activity is new to you. It can be hard." Merro called out to her. Win knew it was genuine but still felt the need to be guarded.
"Have you seen a lot of that kind of activity?" Win asked, not wanting to acknowledge her feelings yet. Merro gave a cold laugh in reply.
"Too much. It slowed down for a while, but it looks like it's picking back up again. These kinds of things go in waves. That's why I find it best to work the bar."
"Is that really the safer option?" Win asked, her voice shaking, betraying her fear.
Merro looked at Win and held her gaze.
"Yes. Working a bar, turning your head the other way, answering correctly to certain questions. There's value, and it's safer."
Win let out a breath.
"Pays less too." Win mumbled.
Merro let out an impatient scoff, putting a glass away noisily.
"You know, Win, I do not understand you. First, you whine about wanting better work; you want to make more money. Then you take off time whenever you can, bitch about the jobs you do get, and refuse to join. You want all the benefits and none of the risks. What the hell do you think this is?"
Win considered this.
"Sounds like you understand me pretty well, Merro. Isn't that what everyone wants?" Win thought Merro might throw a glass at her head.
"Grow up, Win." Merro continued cleaning, and Win knew the conversation was over. She rolled her eyes at Merro; she was also in no mood. Just because Merro has given up and thinks small doesn't mean I need to. Win thought of Merro's life. Husband, kids. She couldn't remember what her husband did.
Zelda opened the front door of the Bank and stepped through. Win and Merro were silent and continued working. Zelda went to the safe underneath the counter and began spinning the dial to the lock. Win knew it held little money. The deposits during the day were consistently being moved. Bars were an easy target for robberies, and Granny would never suffer the indignity (I am not sure this is the right word, would Granny experience shame or loss of a robbery? Or be angered?). Zelda opened the safe and took and counted the small stack of kruge that had been inside.
Feeling needled by Merro's comment, Win gave in to her curiosity.
"Hey Zelda, Leopold came in here looking for ya'." She said nonchalantly. She wanted to see Merro's expression; she was sure she could guess it.
"How do you know?" Zelda asked, counting the kruge in her hand.
"He asked for you and left when we said you weren't here."
"When?"
"Not five minutes ago," Win replied, unable to help but smirk. She wasn't sure what she was doing. Maybe all this tension is getting to me.
Zelda didn't respond, and Win couldn't help but push further.
"It's funny, Leopold asking for you. What do you have to do with the Warehouse Pigeons?" Well, now I'm asking for it. She thought. Win had had these spells with her father. Pushing limits, she knew she shouldn't. But her mother couldn't stand it.
Zelda finally looked at Win.
"What are you suggesting?" Win pushed her hair back behind her ears.
"I have no idea what I could be suggesting. I just thought it was funny." Zelda sauntered over to her, beginning to chuckle. Not good. Zelda put the Kruge in her shirt, under her bra. It made a lump in the top of her dress. Zelda pulled a razor from the front of her apron and grabbed Win by the top of her head. She put the razor to her lips, grazing them with the blade.
"You know what's funny? It would bother you more if I ran this little blade along your lips and ruined that pretty little mouth than if I ran it across your throat. Isn't that funny?" Wins eyes rolled in the back of her head in fear. She was used to being hit, but not with weapons. She could hear her heavy breathing. She knew Merro must be watching everything and, on some level enjoying it.
"Any other jokes, little one?" Win couldn't respond; she knew not to at this point. Win heard the front door open behind her. Thank whatever God exists. Zelda didn't loosen her hold.
"Oh good, Ghezen, Zelda. Let her go; what did she do, spill a drop from a bottle?" Mouse voiced as she entered the Bank. Win felt herself let out a breath of relief. Zelda held tighter.
"Think she saved ya, do you? I don't listen to you, Mouse."
"Zelda, we have a funeral in two hours. You really want to redo your makeup?"
"You think I can't handle this without smudging my makeup?" Win heard Clem laugh, and Zelda's hold loosed. Win watched her put her razor away as she put her hands to her mouth to check for blood. Instead, she found only her own spit. Merro was determinedly looking down. Win didn't miss the satisfaction on her face.
Zelda sneered in Win's direction. "With Dame Cora gone, we should finally put this one to work in Luckie's. Gold only seems to go missing here." Win's eyes widened. To be accused of stealing was as good as being shot with the Widows. Mouse only laughed.
"Zelda, we can see the Kruge in your dress. You're takin' the piss out of this girl on a day where there are two funerals, and she can't go."
"You can't save every pretty idiot, Mouse."
"Believe me, I know. We got the ugliest bunch of girls that can be found in Ketterdam. Doesn't help that half of 'em are deaf." Zelda finally laughed at this; she always enjoyed insulting the other girls. Zelda walked to the door and patted Mouse on the shoulder.
"I'll see you in a bit, Mouse." Win, still shaking, marvelled at Clem's ability to calm anyone's temper.
Mouse pulled up to the bar and took a seat.
"You see Sal in here lately?" Mouse asked.
"She was in here a few hours ago. She grabbed some bread and wine from the kitchen." Merro responded, rejoining the conversation. Mouse comedically let her head hit the bar in disappointment. Win smiled while Merro laughed.
"Yes, which means Meg has hit the bottle."
"What is she working on?" Win asked. She usually saw them passing through on their way to and from the Warehouse.
Merro sucked her teeth at her. "Didn't you just learn what asking questions does?"
"Oh, is that what pissed off Zelda? Well, that makes more sense." Win responded, sarcastically. "Though I wouldn't put anything past that woman's temper." She added.
Mouse turned to Merro.
"Merro, you mind checking on Ertha at the Study Hall and seeing if she needs help?" Merro raised her eyebrow.
"They're not opening for hours." Mouse walked over to Merro and put her arms around her shoulders.
"Merro, can you please think up a reason to go to the Study Hall so I can talk to Win for a few minutes alone?"
Merro tenderly smiled and brushed Mouse's hair.
"Whoa, watch the hair. You know this is a costly style."
"You know, lil' mouse, you can't dodge using force forever."
"Want me to try to push you there?" Mouse feigned, pushing Merro with all her strength, but Merro didn't budge. Instead, she laughed, took off her apron and put it on the table.
"Ten minutes; any longer, and I'll fall behind schedule.". Merro left through the backdoor into the hallway that led to the Study Hall. The door shut behind her, and Win looked at Mouse.
"Thanks, Mouse; I didn't mean to upset Zelda."
Mouse held up a hand. She ran back to the bar and leaned over it, grabbing a bottle of something dark and thick.
"Win, I never see you drink; do you drink?" Win looked surprised.
"You don't know? I thought you remembered everything about everyone."
Mouse gave a sly smile.
"Good eye; a glass of white then?"
"I can't afford it," Win responded as Clem rolled her eyes. She poured herself a glass from the bottle she first took and then grabbed a bottle of white wine and poured it into a wine glass. She slowly slid it to Win, who walked closer to Mouse to grab it.
"I came here for two reasons, Win. The first is after the funeral, and we will be funnelling people here, as usual. We need the mood to be festive, really festive. I need you to take the lead on it, don't let Zelda ruin the mood." Win nodded, waiting for the second.
"Second, I came so you could say a proper goodbye to Dame Cora and Isir. You didn't know them long, but you knew them long enough. Saying goodbye is important. So, let's say it." Win took a breath as Clem raised her glass, and at that moment, the door to the Bank opened again. Sol walked through.
Mouse swore, "Sol, you're early. I was about to have a moment with Win." Sol walked over to the bar and took a seat on a stool.
"I will also join in on the moment."
"Win, poured her a drink." Win reached behind the bar for the few spirits from the Shu Han they kept. Win began filling the glass when the door opened again. Fara and Sara walked through. They took seats at the table closest to the bar.
"Ah, ladies. right on time." Clem said to them. Sara nodded her greetings back. Win saw that Fara's face was red and blotchy; she had recently been crying.
"Hi, Mouse. We ran into Ertha outside. I can't believe we're not coming to the funeral. We knew Dame Cora the best. We worked under her for years. You have to speak to her." Fara said, bursting into tears again. Clem gave her a pitying face.
"We need you two back at the businesses. The best I could do is get you this short time so we can say something together."
"Talk to Granny; she listens to you," Fara said through tears and gritted teeth.
"Fara, I agree with Granny on this. We need small numbers at the funeral in case it was planned." Fara cried harder. Sol stared at them impassively, and Sara finally spoke up.
"How could it be planned? Everyone loved and respected Dame Dame Cora. She even got along well with the other gang members and their bosses. Our businesses are so small compared to theirs, and we never took their patrons." Clem didn't respond. Win glanced, her fingers twisting underneath the oversized coat she was wearing. Fara's crying slowed, and Sara didn't push the issue further. Sol turned back to Clem.
"The Mice are aware to lay low and to keep their eyes out. However, I have spotted Dal. They are making trouble." Clem groaned in response.
"What did you see?"
"They haven't been spotted as a culprit yet but are injuring other gangs. The hits seem random, but it's evidently Dal's method of attacks."
Win knew exactly what Sol was referring to. Dal's small size allowed them a signature move. They had begun making a reputation and were known for it. Dal would sneak up behind someone and be able to identify if they were wearing tall boots. If they weren't, Dal would slice the tendon on their ankle. Win had heard it was one of the most painful injuries you could endure—Dal's ability to be fast and sneak around rarely allowed them to be caught. The cut rendered the victim unable to walk and could even paralyze someone for life if it wasn't treated immediately.
If Dal saw they wore boots, they would cut them on their inner thigh. If it was not treated immediately, it was deadly.
Clem took a full sip from her glass and emptied its contents. She poured herself another and took out a jays. She lit it with her silver lighter. The room began filling up with smoke.
"I'll speak to them after we leave here. We need their eyes during the funeral, and we don't need some pissed-off random showing up and making a muck of everything."
Vran and Rudy walked in next. Vran's bruises look worse than when she first saw him after the docks attack. Win began pulling out more bottles and glasses and began filling them. Her eye was on Clem, who didn't seem surprised as they came in. Win wondered who else was due to come in.
Win ensured to only pour a small amount for Vran. He claimed to be able to handle his liquor, but Win had seen how quickly it affected his slim frame. He was already smoking jays. As a precaution, Win filled a cup with water for the ashes after cleaning the floor.
"Good idea, Win. Reduces the likelihood of fire! Maybe Granny will be more open to trying them." Clem said enthusiastically, reaching over and flicking the ash from her jays into the cup. "You feelin' more secure, Vran?" Clem asked, lifting an eyebrow at him. Vran was a jittery kid. He nodded but looked anything but secure.
Win wondered how anyone could feel comfortable when they knew Granny was livid with them.
Clem looked around the bar and raised her voice.
"Ok, now that most of us are here, let's have our own tribute to Dame Cora before the work begins." All heads turned to Clem. Win understood now. Clem wanted to ensure those who were not invited but felt emotional had a chance to have some form of goodbye. Win wasn't sure she should have been invited.
Clem held her glass up when the bar door opened again. Clem's head spun, and everyone saw Pigeon and Sal walk in. The former was clearly intoxicated.
Pigeon had few tells that she had been drinking. Win noticed the only consistent one was their unfocused eyes. Meg's dark eyes constantly looked around to see if someone was speaking to her in Hand. However, when she was drunk, she didn't bother. Instead, Meg went straight for the bar and sat on the last empty stool. Sal stood behind her dutifully.
Win grabbed what she knew was Meg's favourite wine.
Clem reached into her pocket, took out a jays and put it between Meg's lips. Pigeon accepted and waited for it to be lit. Clem did so without hesitation. She took a long haul off it and blew out a large breath of smoke. The bar was filled with it now.
The bar was quiet. No one was supposed to know what Meg had been working on, but the news had spread. Win was still trying to figure out where the leak was in the Widows. She wouldn't have been surprised if it was Mouse herself.
Mouse could only sit in the silence for so long, and Pigeon didn't look like she intended to volunteer to start. Clem gesticulated her fingers and began speaking rapidly in Hand. Win wasn't sure what was being said but could see Pigeon only following the conversation out of the corner of her eye.
"No point in hiding it; it seems everyone here knows what I was doing anyway," Pigeon shouted. Their words were slow and slurred. Win had heard Mouse explain how much work it was for Meg to communicate through speech and that it could be embarrassing. Win was sure Pigeon had been drinking for hours as she was past caring.
Pigeon tried to ash in the cup but missed. She took a long sip of the wine, her lips stained red. Her stare remained forward as she made her pronouncement.
"Dame Cora was poisoned."
Fara and Sara stood up. Win's eyes widened. Rudy and Vran looked concerned. "And it was one of ours." She finished, pointing to Sol, who was on her left. Sol's expression didn't change; she stared hard at Pigeon. Win kept her eyes trained on Mouse. She could tell that she was trying to remain well-composed and maintain control over the room's mood.
"What does that mean?" Win asked, struggling to follow.
Pigeon explained, communicating in Hand simultaneously while holding her jays.
"When Sol joined us, she brought three vials of different poisons brought from Shu Han-
Mouse interrupted, "Meg, don't; this is private and not the time to share." Pigeon persisted.
"We worked together, broke them down, got the ingredients from Shu Han, and replicated them. So now we have three unique poisons no one else in the Barrel uses. And that's what I found in Dame Cora."
Meg bowed mockingly. Fara began crying again while Sara looked enraged. One of her fists clenched, and the other reached the machete at her side.
"It means Sol or Pigeon have betrayed us." Sara declared.
Sol stood up. She had seemed uninterested during the entire conversation, but her body had become rigid. Rudy backed up toward the end of the bar to get the bat that leaned against the wall. Vran held his jays between his lips, his breath becoming so panicked that Win could hear it. Pigeon turned and looked at Sol, who was communicating rapidly in Hand. Pigeon laughed loudly.
"So, I create a poison, use it as a murder weapon, confirm it was the murder weapon, and told everyone that I made it?"
"You could have paid someone to do your work, and now you are using this clear knowledge as a tool of innocence," Sara retorted, her voice ringing with authority. Fara wiped her face and took out a revolver from her leg. She pointed it at Pigeon.
"You're a murderer!" She shouted, sounding terrified as her voice shook violently. Everyone took out weapons in response. Even Sal took out a little switchblade. Win almost fumbled for her knife but refrained due to being the least skilled.
Sol pulled out her two hollow machetes. She also kept two revolvers on her, but she once told Win that she preferred the certainty of death that came with a blade. Meg had no weapon and looked too drunk to care what was happening. She refilled her glass. Win noted that she had moved Sal behind her body by her head.
The bar continued to fill with silence and smoke. Then, finally, Mouse broke the silence.
"Sol, did you kill Dame Cora or engage in a plot to kill her?" Mouse asked, almost lazily.
"Are you calling me a traitor?"
"Please, Sol, just answer the question."
"I did not." She answered, her eyes fixated on Sara.
"Thank you. Now Meg, did you kill Dame Cora or engage in a plot to kill her?" Mouse shouted to Pigeon.
"Nope," Meg responded.
"Great, Sara, Fara. Either of you?" The two of them shouted at Mouse in unison, and Mouse raised her hand for silence. It took them another thirty seconds to stop.
"I'll take that as a no. How about you, Vran, or Rudy? Win? Sal, were you the mastermind behind this plan?" Everyone shook their head or answered "no" as Mouse asked them. "Well then, we either have had our poison robbed and taken from someone on the outside, or someone not in this room has betrayed us."
Sara and Fara looked incredulous at Mouse's words. Mouse ignored them and continued.
"Unfortunately, there are a lot of us in this room. So, it will be challenging to swear you all to secrecy. Regardless, I trust you all."
At that moment, Merro entered from the backdoor, returning from the Study Hall. Weapons had not yet been lowered, and Mouse pointed straight at the door.
"Merro. I need you not to come in yet. Guard that door, and don't let anyone enter until I say. Deal?" Merro glanced quickly and then nodded dutifully. She left and closed the door behind her. Win hoped she hadn't been listening.
"As I was saying. I trust you all. If we want justice for Dame Cora, we need to keep our eyes and ears; for those who have that ability, open." She said, winking at Pigeon. Pigeon rolled her eyes in response as Sal had remerged from behind her and translated Mouse's words.
"So that's it? You ask people, and they say no, so they're innocent?" Sara asked. Clem looked toward her, her eyes filled with sadness.
"This isn't a court. We must trust each other."
"Or we're next. Dame Cora deserves justice, and the traitor deserves to hang." Fara cried, pointing her gun back and forth between Pigeon and Sol. Win had enough experience with Sol to know when she would spring in attack and could feel it coming. Mouse must have as well, as she tried to bring the attention back to her.
"No one deserves anything until Granny has heard this news and has her say. Something is happening in the Widows; we can't look inside and outside simultaneously. Let Granny sniff out the rat; we keep our noses out of it."
Win still felt the tension. However, seemingly randomly, she began to feel slightly more at ease. Her posture changed and relaxed. She thought she saw Mouse's hands move at her side, but she was unsure.
Fara lowered her guns and Sara put her machete away. Rudy kept his eye on Win but lowered the bat back down. Vran put away his two tiny pistols. Sol remained where she was.
"Sol…" Mouse said gently. Sol did not look at her, but she slowly sat back down, putting her hollowed machetes back in their sheaths at her side. Pigeons rolled their eyes and turned around to face the bar again.
"Now, let us say a proper goodbye to Dame Cora. Who we now know was murdered, to Isir, who was also murdered. We thank them for the person they were, we honour them in the way we live going forward, and we will remember them for as long as we will be remembered. And those who did this will be forced to remember too." Granny's words, not Mouse's. Mouse was rarely formal. Win had heard those words at one of the first funerals she had attended.
They all raised their glasses. Then, in unison, everyone said, "Dame Cora. Isir." And drank. Win downed her drink. Fara burst into tears again, and Win looked to Rudy and Vran. Tears ran down Vran's cheek, and Rudy's eyes watered.
Win looked down at her empty glass. She felt her lips trembling and her throat becoming sore. Win wasn't sure if she was crying about Dame Cora or Isir or for herself.
The tears came fast. Win let all the feelings of the last few days come out. She was crying out all the fears, anxiety and mistakes she had made. She hiccoughed as more tears poured out. Rudy put an arm around her, and she leaned into his chest.
Win wondered how much more bad luck one group could have. When she finally turned away from Rudy to catch her breath, she looked around the room.
Sara and Fara were holding onto one another. Sol's eyes were closed in contemplation. Meg had pulled Sal close to them, and Mouse sat and watched them all. Mouse tossed their jays into the cup and got up. Everyone followed her cue and stood, putting out jays and having the last sips of their drinks. They exited in silence through the front door. Mouse nodded to Win, who wiped her face and went to open the back door to let Merro back through.
Mouse walked over to Sol and whispered to her. Win turned away and ignored them. Not curious about what other schemes were being created and what could go wrong.