Chapter 45
The next day I thought about Prince lyrics. More puzzles I couldn't solve just yet. Perhaps Nick would get the solution once he had a chance to question Madame Dazzles on his own. I'd done my part, now it was time to let him do the rest. Still, I was curious why she'd chosen those lyrics. I'd listened to the song on my MP3 player a few times on lunch, but it still wasn't making sense. Madame Dazzles knew from Natalie that I had a talent for lyrics. It had to be why she'd said it. That part of the puzzle I understood. So this one was for me to solve.
After a long day at the office, video chats with Mom, phone chats with family, friends, and of course, Chloe, I was over at Monroe's, sitting on his couch wearing my bra, panties, and one dress shoe. Monroe was fully dressed except for the shoe and sock he'd lost a few minutes ago.
"You sure you wanna play this out?" Monroe chuckled as the TV went to a commercial. "I'll let you out of it if you wanna."
"No, I agreed to play strip Jeopardy and I'm in it to win it," I smirked up at him.
There was no way in hell I was going to win, but I wasn't about to give up. It'd sounded simple enough. If you got five questions right in a row, the other person lost a piece of clothing. I was wearing six items and Monroe had eight, so to make it even he'd promised to remove a sock with a shoe. We'd decided shoes could count as two items, hence the one that was still dangling on my foot.
The first round I'd managed to get three in a row, then Monroe came back and got five back-to-back. Off came my shoe. Then I got another one and Monroe scored five more. My blouse was off in an instant. I got five only because the contestants stuck with the category 'Lyrics of the Artist.' That one was a walk in the park. I lost my skirt to Monroe's stroke of luck getting a category called 'We're Cuckoo,' and I had to shake my head. He spouted out the clock related questions before Alex Trebek could even begin to read the answers.
"You're gonna look pretty good naked on my couch," Monroe taunted with a sly grin.
"Let's see what I can do in Double Jeopardy first," I protested, but I couldn't help but grin back.
The commercials ended and the second round began.
Alex announced the categories: Physics, Classical Music, Notable Names, Herbs and Spices, Movie Quotes, and finally The Course of True Love. I brightened at 'Classical Music,' but I'd have to be quick to beat Monroe on those. There was no doubt that he'd run the category on 'Herbs and Spices,' and I knew enough useless movie quotes to excel in that category. Still it wasn't looking good for me.
As the game continued, sure enough the contestants started down the row of 'Herbs and Spices.' Monroe was answering faster than I could think.
ONE TYPE OF DISH IN WHICH
FENUGREEK SEED IS USED IS
THIS RELISH FROM INDIA
"What is chutney?" Monroe said with a smug grin. How did he know this stuff? Even the contestants were stumped. So was I.
"The correct response is, 'What is chutney?'" said Alex almost as smugly when no one rang in. Alex Trebek cheated. He always had the answers in front of him. Monroe just had a sexy brain.
"That's number four," Monroe grinned with mischief dancing in his eyes. I shifted on the couch. Thank goodness I still had a shoe.
The contestant finished out the category.
THIS EUROPEAN HERB CALLED
ACONITUM LYCOCTONUM
"What is wolfsbane?" I practically yelled out before Alex finished reading the question.
"Well, look at you," said Monroe as he paused the DVR. "Although, that clue is completely inaccurate." He pointed to the screen as I read the rest of the clue aloud.
MAY BE HELPFUL DURING FULL MOONS
OR USED WITH SILVER BULLETS
I had to laugh. "By all means, Monroe, call up Jeopardy and explain the true use for wolfsbane."
"Hey, I'm just saying that it has nothing to do with the moon or, you know, warding off werewolves, which it was obviously implying there."
"I'm aware of its use," I smirked. "I read the books." Oh, those darn books. We still hadn't discussed our rendezvous in the woods since my history lesson on mating from Nick's Blutbad book.
"Yeah, umm, about those books..." Monroe began like he was reading my thoughts. "What do you remember from our talk in the car that night?" He tilted his head in my direction.
I awkwardly chuckled. "I plead the fifth of the bottle of tequila I drank from." The heat crept up my cheeks. Maybe it was best not to discuss it. "You wanna finish our game? I'm getting kinda chilly over here." I gestured at my underthings.
"Oh, dude, it's only gonna get colder," he chuckled as he hit play on the remote. Thank goodness he just let the matter slide. We could talk mating rituals later... much later.
'Movie Quotes' proved I had a talent for useless information, and I cleaned the category out as Monroe took off his other shoe and sock. He came back with three 'Physics' and two 'Notable Names,' and my other shoe dropped to the floor as I kicked it off.
Fortunately I was able to call out the next two 'Physics' questions faster than Monroe. (It also helped that the contestants were working backwards, so they were easier questions.) Then I beat Monroe by a nose on the first 'Classical Music' question. I was on a roll. The contestant went to two-thousand dollars for 'Notable Names.'
A NATIONAL HERO AND SAINT,
THIS ALEXANDER WAS GREAT
WHEN HE HELPED UNITE RUSSIA
IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY
"Who is Alexander Pushkin?" Monroe said triumphantly.
"Oh, no. Who is Alexander Nevsky?" I quickly replied.
He crossed his arms with a knowing look. "No, it's Pushkin." We waited for the contestants to be stumped, and Alex read the question after the beeps.
"Who is Alexander Nevsky?"
I smiled with jubilation. "That's four." My smile shifted into a sly grin.
"Don't celebrate yet," Monroe quipped back.
The contestant went back to 'Classical Music.'
THE TEMPO MARKING LENTO MEANS THIS
"What is slowly?" I said very quickly as I flashed him another grin. "And with that I have five!"
Monroe pressed pause and with lento he unbuttoned his brown and tan plaid shirt while I hummed some stripper music.
"You just got lucky," he chided.
"If it makes you feel better, sure." My grin widened as he removed his shirt, leaving him in his white t-shirt.
We went back and forth on the rest of the 'Classical Music' category and Monroe picked up the last two questions in 'Notable Names.' The contestants had avoided the 'Course of True Love' category and it was all that remained.
ALLITERATIVE CANINE TERM FOR A
HIGH NOTE-LOWER NOTE COMBO
SIGNIFYING MALE APPRECIATION
FOR FEMALE BEAUTY
"What is wolf whistle?" we said in unison, and then we both laughed.
"Okay, that was a tie," I said, "so it doesn't count."
Monroe paused the show. "Tie breaker to the one who can actually wolf whistle." He wiggled his eyebrows in my direction.
"Oh, so you want me to just give it to you… Is that what you're saying?" I chuckled. "Why don't we just break the tie with who can woge into a Blutbad instead?" I rolled my eyes slightly.
"Well, if you insist." Monroe had a woge for effect. His red eyes fixed on mine. God, I missed that wolf. He retracted then wolf whistled. "There, I did both."
I shook my head trying not to laugh. "Sure, sure. I'll give you the point," I smirked at him. "Show off."
"That's three." He gave me his trademark smile and pressed play.
THE LYRICS OF THIS 1964
BEATLES HIT PRECEDES,
"AND YOU KNOW THAT CAN'T BE BAD"
"She loves you," I said then looked at Monroe. Oh, how I got butterflies just by saying that. My heart wanted me to add, 'She does. She really, really does!' Instead I stammered out, "What is she loves you?" to correct myself. Okay, I was blushing for sure now. I laid my hand on my cheek and it was like a hot July day. I wasn't cold anymore. Monroe raised an eyebrow, but the next clue was up before he could say anything.
FAMOUS FIRST FIVE WORDS
OF "SONNET 43" IN
SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE
"How do I love thee?" Monroe grinned my way. I bit my lip. I couldn't help it. The butterflies were multiplying. That crazy 'L' word was being tossed around and boy did I enjoy it. I reached for the remote and paused the game.
"Shouldn't that be 'What is, How do I love thee?'" I asked.
"No, dude," Monroe shook his head. "It's already in a question form."
"Ah, so it is," I answered. I knew that already, but I just wanted to say the phrase. My heart was getting a love buzz off this category. I pressed play on the remote.
VIRGIL'S 'OMNIA VINCIT AMOR'
IS TRANSLATED AS THIS
"What is love conquers all?" Monroe's eyes were twinkling as I said the words. Maybe we would say it, maybe it was time. My tongue was already yearning to say it again.
THESE FOUR WORDS COMPLETE THE LINE,
"THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE..."
"What is never did run smooth?" I said, partially deflated. And there it was. The harsh reality of it all. The crazy 'L' word retreated back to its little box that I kept under lock and key. I forced a smile at Monroe. Our love was as smooth as broken glass, especially in our abnormal situation.
"Well, umm, neither of us are naked," Monroe gave a sigh of disappointment and gestured at us both. "So, all or nothing on Final Jeopardy?"
"I see a win either way," I grinned. "Or we could just call it a draw and you can show me that tie breaker trick of yours upstairs." I leaned into him. "Or outside," I added. I missed Mr. Wolf.
"Yeah, about that." Monroe took a breath in as he leaned back on the couch. I rested my head in his lap while his brown eyes widened and gave me a serious look. "You know, I've been going to meet with the guys at Helvetia, right?"
I nodded.
"Well, I mean, they know I'm dating a human and I kinda, umm, mentioned our runs in the woods." His voice pitched high on the word 'kinda' and I knew what that meant; he did more than mention our private encounters. Yikes!
I kept my face smooth and nodded again.
"So, yeah, well they suggested, and I mean I can see their point, that maybe I oughta back off from doing that sorta thing, since the lack of control can negatively impact what I'm trying to accomplish here, man."
"Oh," I said, trying to keep my face from showing my disappointment. "No, I think they're right."
"It's not that I don't want to. 'Cause I really, really want to..."
"I don't want you feeling out of control," I replied then pursed my lips.
"And the, umm, Mr. Wolf thing. We gotta stop that, too."
"Well, that's just a role-playing thing really."
"Yeah, but I got work on my id. You know, Freud said that your id contains your basic, instinctual drives." Monroe's eyes widened. "And, man, you know anything that involves instincts I need to keep to, like, a bare minimum. So let's just call me what I am. Blutbad. Or even better, just Monroe."
I nodded. "Okay. I can do that."
"Good, okay then. Glad that's out there," he said. "But there are still other things we can do." He wiggled his eyebrows. Ready for another Jeopardy clue?
"Sure," I smiled up at him.
"Here's one for you: Room in which you're most likely to get the best sex of your life."
"Hmm…" I put my finger to my lips teasingly in deep thought. "What is the bedroom?"
"Damn, you're good at this game."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Nick called right as I was about to get my Daily Double.
"She's gone?" I exclaimed as Nick told me that Madame Dazzles had pulled a disappearing act. I turned the phone on speaker.
Nick let out an exaggerated sigh. "Yeah, she escaped last night. We tried going through video from the holding cells, but somehow she was able to cut the feed."
"They're Waschbars," said Monroe. "What do you expect, man? They're sneaky. It's what they're known for."
"So, if she's gone, then I guess there's no way to recover everything she stole?"
"We're still holding her associates at the station," Nick explained. "They covered for her, and we know that one of them is linked to driving the van that was spotted at the Japanese art theft. The others must be involved, too. Johnna Smallwood is the one that will be easiest to break. She's terrified of me."
So all the Bookends were involved. Wow.
"Oh man. Guess I'm not getting that reward now," Monroe groaned.
"Reward?" Nick asked.
"Yeah. The museum was giving a reward for the recovery of La Bella."
"I don't think you qualified for that anyway," Nick replied.
"What? Hey, man. I called it in. You came and arrested her. That should count for something."
"Well, now she's gone, so it doesn't really matter," Nick reasoned.
"Could've bought something nice with that money," Monroe grumbled.
"Nick, am I safe?" I asked, directing the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"I don't know," Nick replied warily. "I don't think she'd be dumb enough to stick around Portland and risk getting caught again. But I thought you should know just in case."
Crap, Lydia had my address. I shuddered. Monroe didn't need to know that. He'd have me living over here until he felt the coast was clear. Maybe Madame Dazzles was off the radar in another city by now. Maybe she and the Lowen were enjoying the beach in Florida together, drinking margaritas, and swapping stories. Either way, hopefully she'd stay far away from here and far away from me.
Monroe patted me on the arm. "It might be better if she stays gone. No offense, Nick. Reward or not, I'm just done with people aiming sharp, pointy things at us."
I let out a sigh. Another Wesen was out there who knew about me. I needed to start keeping a list.
"So, I guess you never got a chance to question her then."
"No," he grumbled. "I really wish I had. The mayor and the DA are going to have our asses for this."
"Well, maybe Lydia's associates will be of use."
"That's all we have left," Nick replied. "Oh, and Lydia's real name is Ricki Toney, just in case she tries to locate you. We were able to link her prints to a foster care database. That info you gave me about her being in an orphanage really helped. We would've never looked into those kinds of records otherwise."
"Well, I'm glad I was helpful," I said with a small smile.
"Renée, you did quite a bit. So, thanks."
"You're welcome, Nick."
I smiled a bit bigger as I hung up the phone. Monroe propped his head up on his elbow as I leaned into him on the bed.
"False identities, escape artists… I tell ya, those Waschbars really like to show off."
"Swift as an arrow," I chuckled aloud at the idiom. "Maybe that's why she chose the last name Swift."
"That or maybe she's just nuts and needed a fake name."
"Don't talk to me about names, 'Just Monroe.'" I turned and gave him a knowing grin.
"Hey, if Madonna can go by a single name, so can I."
I winked at him. "Right."
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
The next night the big news story around town was the recovery of La Bella. While Nick hadn't bothered to call Monroe or me, the newscaster shared the story of the Portland detective, who had followed a hunch and was able to bring La Bella back to the museum, which was now heavily guarded around the clock until it was scheduled to be shipped back to Florence, Italy in mid April. The newscaster didn't mention anything else being found, or Madame Dazzles for that matter. I shook my head. I wasn't about to call Nick and ask. More than likely I'd get some vague response that he couldn't talk about it. Regardless, I pulled out my cell and texted him.
Congrats.
I received a reply a few moments later.
Thx.
Yeah, I figured that would be about all I'd get.
The rest of the night I tried to focus on work, Monroe, and anything else that didn't involve crazy Wesen and Nick Burkhardt. I just needed a normal day.
A/N: Monroe can even make Jeopardy sexy. LOL!
So, Madame Dazzles escaped. But at least La Bella was recovered, so the scene in 'Love Sick' can still occur. (:
Hoped you liked my little Robin Hood tale. Comment if you liked it! I don't see it being over just yet though.
Stay Tuned for more chapters soon... We're about half way done with this story. Needless to say, I'm not going to reach my goal and have it posted before Grimm starts back up, but that's fine.
Thanks for reading!