Legacy 206: Pardon My Past Again

Part 8

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As she was taking drink orders from a group of women, Penny saw agent Reed enter the club and sit down next to Wyatt. She thought nothing of it until she walked back to the bar and saw a passionate kiss between them. She dropped her notepad, which gave her a good excuse to duck out of sight. She stayed hidden as she watched them leave the club together. She thought that she would be disappointed or angry that Reed had chosen Wyatt over her, but she wasn't. She was actually happy for her cousin and even thought that they looked good together. Their little competition was just a silly game and after everything that she had seen Phillipa go through, Penny knew she wasn't ready for a relationship. She still had some growing up to do. Love would find her when she was ready for it.

"This is quite a nice club you've got here." A familiar voice said.

Penny looked up and saw inspector Morris sitting down at the bar. He was back in a formal suit, probably having come straight from the police station. Although she liked him in a more casual outfit, she had to admit the grey suit really brought out his eyes.

"Inspector Morris." Penny said as she got behind the bar. "Thanks, I'm quite proud of it. What can I get you?"

"I'm still on the clock, so I'll just have a coffee." Morris replied.

"Of course." Penny said. "So how is Ruby doing?"

"She's doing alright." Morris replied. "She is still a little shaken, but knowing that the Russo's have disappeared has given her some peace of mind. We allowed her to go home."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it." Penny said as she handed the inspector his coffee.

"I'm still having a little trouble putting all the pieces together myself." Morris noted. "It's like the Russo family has disappeared completely."

"That's weird." Penny replied. "So what are you thinking?"

"The only logical thing I can come up with is that they were forced to leave town or taken out by a third party, a rival family perhaps." Morris reasoned.

"At least the city is safe, right?" Penny noted.

"Yeah, but I don't like loose ends." Morris replied as he looked at her intensely. "And I just can't shake the feeling that you know more."

"I was just in the right place and the right time." Penny said. "I'm just an ordinary college dropout and club owner."

"You're a lot of things, Penny, but not ordinary." Morris remarked.

"Thanks." Penny replied with a smile. "I'm glad we've moved from on from Miss Halliwell."

"Well, our families were friends once." Morris said with a shrug as he finished his coffee. "Just please don't show up in any more of my investigations anytime soon."

"I'll definitely try to stay out your way, inspector Morris." Penny replied.

"Call me DJ." Morris replied. "Thanks for the coffee."

"It's on the house." Penny said. "See you around, DJ."

DJ smiled as he got up and left the club. Penny felt a nervous flutter in her stomach as she watched him leave. Having a suspicious inspector around would cause trouble for her family, so she needed to keep DJ at arm's length. She still hadn't figured out why he was immune to her hypnosis either, which was even more reason to keep her distance. Her focus needed to be on her family and the threat that was looming over them all.

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At the Turner Mansion, the door magically swung open as Ivy entered holding various designer shopping bags. After the messy job she had just completed, she figured that she deserved to treat herself. Shopping was always a good way to distract oneself from a troubled mind. Running into Julian and Henry had not been part of her plans. She wanted to stay clear of the Halliwell family as much as possible, since they had the annoying habit of making things more complicated. At least it was amusing to see the confused look on Henry's smug, pretty face when he learned about her true identity.

As Ivy dropped the bags on the table in the hall, she suddenly became aware of a darkness in the mansion. She quickly formed an Energy Ball and circled around to find the intruder. Whoever had broken in, they were powerful enough to bypass her protective spells, which was concerning.

"No need for that, dear." A feminine voice said. "I just came to talk."

"I don't appreciate being cornered in my own home." Ivy noted. "If you want to hire me, please stop by during office hours."

"I prefer to keep my affairs private." The voice replied.

Finally locating the intruder, Ivy entered the study and found a beautiful woman with pale skin and brown hair sitting by the fireplace. She was wearing a leather jacket and black pants. A sense of darkness and power seemed to surround her. Sensing she was extremely outmatched, Ivy extinguished her Energy Ball and sat down across from the woman.

"Do you know who I am?" The woman asked.

"Based on recent rumors, I have my suspicions." Ivy admitted. "Selene, is it not?"

"You're smart, I like that." Selene replied. "I knew I had the right woman for the job."

"What could a Dark Elder possibly want from a black market dealer like myself?" Ivy asked. "You nearly wiped out the entire council of Elders."

"Just a means to an end." Selene replied. "I have my own agenda, one which does not involve the rest of the Trinity. I need something located."

"Alright, I'm listening." Ivy said.

Selene smiled and waved her hand, causing two glasses filled with drinks to appear on the table through black smoke. Sitting across from such an ancient and powerful being made Ivy nervous, but she was a good bluffer and she could not risk making an enemy out of the Trinity. She put on a fake smile as she picked up her drink. If her mother had taught her one thing, it was to always ensure your own survival.

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The End