Chapter 8: The Gala*

Marie was calm and focused as she pulled up to Kevin's estate. The mansion loomed over her, surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens and ornate iron gates. The entire place reeked of old money. Tall, ivy-covered stone walls guarded the property, and from the outside, it looked more like a small castle than a house. Massive chandeliers illuminated the grand entryway, and luxury cars lined the driveway as guests in tuxedos and gowns made their way inside.

Marie passed her keys to the valet and spotted the Ed's waiting for her just outside the grand French style doors. Marie's heart skipped a beat when she saw Edd. He wore a sleek black suit that fit him perfectly, his usual nerves visible in the way he kept adjusting his tie. She'd never seen him so polished, so put-together. It made her feel a strange mix of nostalgia and attraction that she quickly shoved aside.

Eddy, on the other hand, was in his element. "Look at this place!" he said, grinning and pointing at people as they pulled up to the valet. "Kevin's really living it up, huh? Think he's compensating for something?"

Ed laughed. "Maybe he's compensating for not having a cool underground lair with secret tunnels and robot henchmen!"

Edd chuckled, though his gaze remained fixed on the mansion. "I'm more concerned about what Kevin might be hiding inside that house."

Marie cleared her throat and all three turned to her. Her sisters didn't lie when they said Edd's jaw would drop. A blush rose on his cheeks as he took in the dress and the elaborate dragon tattoo running down her leg. A pair of black heels brought her up to eye level with Edd. She had left her hair down, touching up the color so her black roots faded into a waterfall of blue tones.

"She cleans up pretty nice, eh?" Eddy nudged Edd to bring him back to reality.

Edd quickly shook himself, "Of course. Yes, you look… um, amazing. Should we go inside?"

Marie grinned, feeling confident and elegant. The moment they stepped inside, they were hit with the sound of classical music drifting through the massive hall. The marble floors gleamed underfoot, and everywhere they looked, people were draped in jewels, sipping champagne, and laughing too loudly. Kevin had certainly spared no expense. Ornate paintings lined the walls, and the ceilings were impossibly high, with chandeliers casting warm light over the scene.

"Stay focused," Marie murmured to Edd as they crossed the threshold. "We need to blend in until we can sneak away."

He nodded, but his gaze lingered on her a moment too long. "You, uh… you look… incredible," he said, his voice softer than usual.

Marie glanced at him, unable to hide the smile on her face as the old crush bubbled to the surface. She felt a warmth rise to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the champagne in her hand. "Thanks," she said, trying to keep her cool. "You clean up pretty well yourself, Double D."

Eddy, sensing the tension, clapped Edd on the back. "Focus, lover boy! We're on a mission, remember?"

The group moved through the crowd, mingling just enough to avoid suspicion. Everywhere they looked, the town's elite were present. The mayor stood near the grand staircase, laughing with a group of business owners. The sheriff hovered nearby, his arms crossed and his eyes scanning the room as if waiting for something to go wrong. Marie caught a glimpse of a few other familiar faces from Peach Creek's upper crust.

Kevin, of course, was the center of attention, working the room like the politician he aspired to be. He was dressed in a sharp suit, all fake smiles and smooth handshakes. But every time Marie glanced his way, she felt that gnawing unease. There was something dangerous lurking beneath that polished exterior.

The gala was soon in full swing, a swirling display of glittering gowns, polished shoes, and clinking champagne flutes. The grand hall of the mansion echoed with the hum of polite conversation and bursts of laughter as the town's elite mingled beneath the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. Marie stood near the edge of the room, scanning the crowd, her eyes sharp and watchful.

Just as she was contemplating her next move, Kevin suddenly appeared beside her, flashing one of his signature smirks. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the most beautiful woman in the room, standing all alone," he said, his eyes lingering on her dress a little too long.

Marie suppressed a groan. She knew Kevin wouldn't let the opportunity pass to swoop in. She decided to play along to avoid suspicion so she forced a smile. "Hello, Kevin. Enjoying the party?"

"Not as much as I could be," he said smoothly, stepping closer. "But that could change. How about we share a dance?"

Marie hesitated but forced herself to accept. She gave a small nod, slipping her hand into his. "Sure. One dance."

Kevin's grin widened as he led her to the dance floor. The music shifted to a slower tune, and he immediately wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer than necessary and sliding his hand down a little further than appropriate. Marie kept her expression neutral, ignoring the discomfort.

As they swayed to the music, she took the opportunity to casually ask, "You've done a great job with the gala. Your house is impressive."

Kevin seemed to puff up at the compliment. "Of course it is. Took years to build it to my exact specifications. I have the best of everything—imported marble floors, crystal chandeliers. You won't find anything like it in all of Peach Creek. You're impressed, right?"

Marie raised an eyebrow. He clearly didn't care about her opinion; he just wanted someone to stroke his ego. "It's... something," she said diplomatically.

Kevin barely heard her. He was too busy staring at his reflection in the mirrored walls, clearly pleased with himself. "This house is my pride and joy. I designed it all. I'm thinking about putting in a private spa next. Wouldn't that be nice? You could join me sometime," he added with a wink.

Marie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from rolling her eyes. "Sounds...interesting. You must have a lot of connections to get all that."

Kevin barely acknowledged her comment. "Yeah, yeah, all that's taken care of. You know, you should really spend more time with me, Marie. I could show you a thing or two about the finer things in life."

He pulled her even closer and made a point to push his pelvis against her so she was locked against him in the dance.

Across the room, Edd was watching the entire interaction from where he stood with Ed and Eddy. His jaw clenched as he saw Kevin pull Marie close. Something about the way Kevin acted around her made his blood boil. It wasn't that Edd didn't trust Marie—he knew she could handle herself—but watching Kevin put his hands on her, acting so smug and arrogant, stirred something in him.

Eddy noticed his friend's tense posture and nudged him with his elbow. "Hey, Double D, you good? You look like you're about to explode."

Ed, always oblivious but full of energy, chimed in. "Maybe Double D is mad because Kevin's dancing with Marie! Ooooh, Double D is jealous!"

Edd's face turned a light shade of red. "What? No, I'm not jealous," he protested, though the tightness in his voice said otherwise. "It's just... Kevin has no respect for boundaries, and I—"

Eddy smirked, cutting him off. "Uh-huh, sure. Look at you, all red in the face. Admit it, you've got a thing for Marie. And now that Kevin's all over her, you don't like it, do ya?"

Edd fumbled with his words, his eyes flicking back to the dance floor where Kevin was still talking about himself, while Marie looked more and more like she was going to punch him for taking liberties with her body. "It's not like that," Edd muttered. "I just... I care about her. She's been through a lot, and she doesn't deserve to be treated like... like some prize Kevin thinks he can win."

Eddy crossed his arms, his smirk growing wider. "Exactly. So you *do* like her. Man, Double D, I didn't think you had it in you."

Ed bounced on his heels, oblivious to the teasing. "Double D and Marie sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Edd's blush deepened, but he didn't deny it. Maybe he *was* jealous. Maybe this whole thing with Kevin made him realize just how much he cared about Marie, that it wasn't just some silly crush.

As Edd watched them, he made a silent vow. When Kevin was out of the picture, he was going to ask Marie for a dance—one that wasn't full of ulterior motives, one that meant something. He didn't want to sit on the sidelines any longer.

Eddy clapped him on the back, still laughing. "Don't worry, Double D. Marie could eat that guy for breakfast. She just needs to cozy up to him a bit to get him to talk."

As if on cue, Marie subtly stepped away from Kevin just as the song ended, giving him a polite but firm smile. "Thanks for the dance, Kevin. I need to check on something."

Kevin, oblivious to the brush-off, winked. "Anytime, sweetheart."

Eddy grinned. "There's your chance, Double D. Go get her."

He approached her slowly, his steps hesitant but purposeful. "Hey," he said quietly, offering a soft smile as he reached her side. "Having a good time?"

Marie turned to face him, her sharp blue eyes softening at the sight of him. "Definitely. I love dancing with egotistical men who think they are a gift to women."

Edd chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck shyly, "Might not be the best time to ask for a dance then?"

Marie blinked, surprised by the offer. She only hesitated for a moment, but then a small, mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "Alright, Double D. Let's dance."

Edd offered his hand, and she took it, letting him guide her toward the dance floor where a soft, slow waltz was playing. The music was gentle, lilting—a melody that seemed to swirl around them like the warm breeze of a summer evening. As they began to move, the world around them seemed to blur and fade, leaving just the two of them, swaying in quiet rhythm.

For a moment, Edd felt weightless, the sensation of Marie's hand in his pulling him into a space that was both familiar and entirely new. His heart began to pound softly in his chest, and he realized how natural it felt to have her this close. Her hand fit perfectly in his, her steps falling in sync with his as if they had done this a thousand times before.

He glanced down at her, his breath catching slightly. The way her hair framed her face, the way her eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn't quite place—it stirred something in him. Something he hadn't felt in years, but had never really gone away. His childhood crush, the one he thought he'd outgrown, was still very much alive. And tonight, under the soft glow of the chandeliers, with Marie in his arms, it bloomed quietly in his chest.

Marie, too, found herself drawn into the moment. She had expected to be on edge the entire evening, but here, swaying gently with Edd, she felt an unusual calm. It wasn't like the typical tension she felt when working the case, or even the playful banter they shared in recent weeks. This was different. The way Edd held her, his touch so careful and considerate, made her feel… safe. And that feeling was rare for her. She stepped closer, merging their bodies together as they moved to the rhythm of the music.

"You know," she murmured softly, her voice low enough that only he could hear, her cheek brushing his with a fleeting touch, "you're a pretty good dancer."

Edd chuckled, his voice quiet but warm. "I've had practice. I just never thought I'd get the chance to dance with you."

Marie tilted her head to meet his gaze, raising an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Well…" He looked a little embarrassed now, but the honesty spilled out before he could stop it. "You were a bit intimidating while we were kids."

Marie's smile widened, a teasing glint in her eye. "That was the point, Double D. I had to give you a hard time so you'd fall hopelessly in love with me."

Edd laughed softly, shaking his head. "I don't think that's how it works."

Marie shrugged lightly, her gaze not leaving his, "Thank Lee for making me believe that was how crushes worked."

The two fell into a comfortable silence, the music wrapping around them as they continued to move together. For the first time in a long time, neither of them was thinking about the investigation, or the danger that lurked just beneath the surface of the evening. They were just two people, dancing.

But as the song began to wind down, reality slowly crept back in. The voices of the party guests grew louder, the clinking glasses and low murmurs pulling them back to the present.

Edd slowed their steps, his hand lingering on her waist just a moment longer than necessary before he reluctantly let go. "We should probably… you know…"

"Yeah," Marie said softly, her gaze still lingering on his face before she stepped back. She could feel the heat of the moment still between them, lingering like the fading notes of the music.

Eddy nudged Ed. "Think it's time for a little distraction?"

Ed grinned, bouncing on his toes in excitement. "Distraction time! I'm on it!" Without hesitation, he bounded toward the dessert table, where an elaborate chocolate fountain stood as the centerpiece. He "accidentally" knocked over an entire tray of delicate pastries, sending them flying across the room. Guests gasped and scattered as chocolate splattered onto the pristine floor.

Eddy leapt into action, dramatically apologizing and making an even bigger scene. "Oh no! My friend's just so clumsy! He didn't mean to, I swear!"

The commotion drew the attention of most of the partygoers, including Kevin, who rushed over to see what was going on.

Marie seized the moment. She tugged on Edd's sleeve. "Now's our chance."

Edd nodded, his expression serious as they slipped away from the chaos and moved toward the grand staircase. They climbed quickly, careful to avoid the notice of the distracted guests below.

Once they reached the second floor, the music and noise from the party faded into the background, replaced by the eerie silence of the upper halls. The grandeur of the house was even more oppressive up here. Every room they passed seemed larger and more opulent than the last—rooms filled with antique furniture, thick velvet curtains, and more artwork than Marie could count.

They made their way down the hallway, searching for Kevin's office or anything that looked like it might hold some kind of clue. Marie's heart raced, her instincts on high alert. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, but every time she glanced over her shoulder, there was no one there.

After what felt like an eternity, they found a heavy, oak door at the end of the hall, slightly ajar. Marie gestured for Edd to follow her as they slipped inside. The room was dark, save for the faint light coming from the large windows overlooking the grounds.

It was clearly Kevin's office. A massive mahogany desk sat in the center of the room, cluttered with papers and files. There was a computer on one side, along with several locked drawers.

"Start looking through the desk," Marie whispered. "I'll check the shelves."

They moved quickly but carefully, rifling through papers and drawers. Edd worked on the computer, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he tried to hack into whatever files Kevin had stored.

As Marie searched the shelves, her eyes fell on a small, framed photo sitting on the desk. It was a picture of Kevin and the sheriff, smiling together at what looked like some kind of charity event. The sight of them together sent a chill down her spine. She was right—there was something deeper going on here.

Suddenly, Edd's soft voice broke the silence. "Marie, I think I've got something."

He had given up on trying to hack Kevin's computer and was rifling through the desk. He found a day planner with names, times, and locations on several dates. "Who uses a day planner anymore?" Edd pointed out. "All city council members have electronic scheduling managed by their secretary"

"Son of a bitch," Marie muttered, pulling out her phone to take pictures of the pages. "I'll look into these people and locations, see what turns up."

Before they could dig any deeper, they heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. Edd quickly put the planner back where he found it. Marie hustled to a side door, connecting the office to the next room, gesturing for Edd to follow her.

They slipped out through the side door just as the footsteps reached the office, hearts pounding in unison. They needed to get out of here, fast. Marie grabbed Edd's hand and let him back down the hallway, moving as quickly and quietly as they could.

And as they descended back into the chaos of the party, Marie stole a glance at Edd. She didn't let go of his hand as they merged back into the crowd. The tension between them—professional and personal—was palpable. They'd made it this far together, and something told her this was only the beginning.