Working together

Ignatius and Luna strolled through the bustling market. The early morning sun casting a warm glow over the stalls. They stopped at various vendors, purchasing goods for Silvi's Coffee Shop. Their final stop was the flower shop. Where they planned to buy fresh flowers. To brighten the shop's interior.

As they entered the flower shop, a sweet fragrance filled the air. Rows of vibrant flowers lined the shelves, and the sound of soft music played in the background. Patricia Wood, the shop's owner, was arranging a bouquet at the counter.

"Good morning, Patricia," Luna greeted with a smile. "We're here to pick up some flowers for the coffee shop."

"Good morning, Luna. Ignatius," Patricia replied, her smile a bit strained. "Feel free to look around. I'll be with you in a moment."

As Luna and Ignatius wandered through the shop. Admiring the various flowers, they heard raised voices coming from the back of the store. Ignatius glanced at Luna, his curiosity piqued.

"Let's move closer," Luna whispered. Taking Ignatius's hand and making her way to the back of the flower shop, using the plants as cover.

Peering through the foliage, they saw Patricia berating a woman in a shop uniform. Patricia's face red with anger, and her voice sharp. "When are you going to pay me next?" Patricia demanded, her grip on the woman's blouse tightening.

The woman looked terrified, her eyes wide with fear. "I'm sorry, Patricia. I'll have the money soon, I promise."

Patricia's expression grew even more furious. "You had better pay up, or you know what will happen. The mayor always paid me on time and look what happened when he missed one payment!"

Luna turned to Ignatius with a puzzled look. "What does she mean by that?"

Ignatius frowned, his mind racing. "Could Patricia have something to do with the mayor's death?"

As they continued to watch, Luna turned, her breast bumped into a pot, causing it to clatter to the floor. The noise alerted Patricia to their presence, and she spun around, her eyes narrowing.

"What are you two doing back here?" Patricia demanded, her voice cold.

Luna composed herself. "We were looking for some specific flowers," she said, trying to sound casual.

Patricia's expression softened, but there was still suspicion in her eyes. "Well, I don't appreciate eavesdroppers. If you need something, ask."

Luna and Ignatius nodded, retreating to the front of the shop. As they selected their flowers. They couldn't shake the feeling that Patricia was hiding something. They paid for their purchases and left the shop, their minds filled with questions.

That evening, they discussed what they had heard with Elysia as they lay in bed. Elysia listened, her brow furrowing.

"We should look into her," Elysia said, her voice serious. "She could be the murderer."

Elysia moved up her hand on his chest. Luna snuggled closer to him, touching Elysia's hand.

Ignatius nodded in agreement. "Her behaviour was suspicious. We need to find out more about her connection to the mayor."

The night was young, and they enjoyed each other's company. This is what it feels like to be a married woman. Elysia said as Ignatius brushed his fingers through her hair and Luna's.

"Wonderful, isn't it, Elysia? I wish this moment would never end." Luna said as Ignatius pulled both women closer to him.

"We should sleep tomorrow; it will be a long day," Ignatius said, yawning.

"Let's talk for ten minutes, please," Luna asked.

"Where will we be going next to find clues to Silvi's murder," Elysia said, yawning.

"Luna, what do you think?" Ignatius asked. Luna, he whispered. A soft snore left her sweet lips.

Elysia also snored. He closed his eyes. Silvi, I am giving it my all. Cynthia, I miss you and still love you, sister. I hope you are living a happy, fulfilled life.

He drifted to sleep, and images of his mother and his sister popped up in his dreams.

Meanwhile, Christie went to Zarkon's room with Ayla.

************

Luna and Elysia had been trying to expose Clair for weeks. Convinced she was up to something, but every lead they followed seemed to lead to a dead end. The frustration was starting to take its toll. Determined to find some concrete evidence. "She could have an accomplice covering her tracks," Luna said.

Their latest lead had come from an unexpected source. A mutual acquaintance had mentioned a man named Marcus, who was like an eel—slippery and hard to pin down. They found out he was Clair's lawyer, and that piqued their interest.

"Luna, we need to get close to Marcus," Elysia said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "He might have the information we need."

Luna nodded in agreement. "Let's find him and see what we can uncover."

They tracked Marcus down to a high-end bar. The atmosphere is sophisticated, with soft lighting and elegant decor. Luna and Elysia entered, their presence turning heads as they made their way to the bar.

Marcus was sitting alone at a corner table, nursing a drink. He was a tall man with nerdy features and a bedhead of hair. He looked up as Luna and Elysia approached, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"Good evening, Marcus," Luna said with a charming smile. "Mind if we join you?"

Marcus raised an eyebrow but gestured to the empty seats. "Be my guest."

Luna and Elysia sat down, ordering drinks and engaging Marcus in conversation. They discovered that he was smooth and evasive. Answering their questions with a practised ease made their detective senses tingle. His eyes drank in their features like a dry sponge. Luna shifted in her chair. She had seen criminals in interrogation before. This man gave her the impression of a snake.

Elysia was less experienced with men. He talked comfortably with his eyes, drinking in every detail of her.

"We've heard a lot about you, Marcus," Elysia said, her tone light and conversational. "It seems you're quite the lawyer."

Marcus smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "I do my best."

As the evening progressed. Luna and Elysia bought Marcus drinks and food, hoping to loosen his tongue. But no matter how much they plied him, his loyalty to Clair remained unwavering.

"You seem very loyal to Clair," Luna said, trying to probe deeper. "What's your secret?"

Marcus chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Loyalty is a valuable trait in my line of work. Clair is a good client, and I always look out for my clients."

Frustration gnawed at Luna and Elysia. They had hoped to catch Marcus off guard. But his answers were always perfect, and his loyalty to Clair was unwavering.

By the end of the evening, they knew they had made little progress. Marcus was polite and charming, but he revealed nothing incriminating about Clair.

"Thank you for the company," Marcus said, standing up. "It was a pleasure meeting you both."

Luna forced a smile, her frustration concealed. "Likewise, Marcus."

As Marcus left the bar. Luna and Elysia exchanged looks of frustration and disappointment.

"He's like an eel," Elysia muttered. "Slippery and hard to pin down."

Luna nodded, her expression grim. "He knows more than he's letting on. Clair must be up to something, and Marcus is covering for her."

Luna knows the signs of men stalking their prey. She took Elysia's hand and pulled her out of the bar. "I will handle them." Zarkon's voice came from her shadow between her feet. You're looking up our skirts right now, right?" Luna sighed.

"Yes," he said as he paused for three seconds. They have interrupted my viewing time. "There are eight guys on your tail. Give me two minutes to teach them a lesson. You belong to Master." Zarkon said, his voice growing distant.

They decided to retire to Luna's room to work on a new strategy. The timepiece on the wall showed eleven. Their minds were filled with unanswered questions. Comfortable in their underwear, the hearth downstairs made the rooms warm and cosy. They spread their notes and evidence on the floor, trying to create a coherent plan.

"We need to find a new angle," Elysia said, her voice tinged with frustration. "Marcus is too good at deflecting our questions."

Luna sighed, her eyes scanning the scattered papers. "We need to find a way to catch him off guard. There has to be something we can use."

As they worked late into the night, exhaustion began to set in. Their frustration at their lack of progress weighed on them, but their determination never wavered.

Finally, they succumbed to their fatigue, falling asleep on the floor with paperwork sprawled around them. The soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the window, casting a gentle light over their sleeping forms.

Ignatius opened the door, peering in. He carried them to bed, laying them next to each other. He covered them with blankets, making sure their pillows were comfortable. Kissing each good night, he switched off the lamps, closing the door.

"They look peaceful, Master," Christie said as she held his hand.

"Good thing we were thirsty for milk," Ayla said, taking a sip from her mug and sitting on the kitchen table. Her legs wrapped around Ignatius.

************

Ignatius, Luna, and Elysia sat around the table at Silvi's Coffee Shop. Their expressions were filled with determination. They had been investigating the mayor's murder for weeks. Their latest lead pointed to Dr. Stan Morough, the mayor's rival. There had been a long-standing feud between the two. They hoped that looking into it would shed some light on the case.

"We need to be thorough," Ignatius said, his voice firm. "If Dr. Morough had anything to do with the mayor's death, we must find out."

Luna nodded, her eyes focused. "Let's start by looking into his recent activities and see if we can find any connections."

Elysia added, "We also need to talk to people who knew both the mayor and Dr. Morough."

"Someone knows something that can help us."

They spent the morning gathering information about Dr. Morough, poring over old newspapers and reviewing public records. They discovered that the feud between the mayor and Dr. Morough was well-known, with both men frequently clashing over city policies and initiatives.

Their first stop was Dr. Morough's office. The building was imposing, with tall windows and a grand entrance. They were greeted by a receptionist who led them to Dr. Morough's office.

Dr. Morough was a distinguished-looking man with a stern expression. As they entered, he looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowing. "What can I do for you?"

Ignatius stepped forward, his tone polite but firm. "We're investigating the mayor's death. We understand that you had a long-standing feud with him."

Dr. Morough's expression darkened. "Yes, we had our differences, but that doesn't mean I had anything to do with his death."

Luna added, "We need to ask you a few questions. About your relationship with the mayor and your recent activities."

Dr. Morough sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Very well. Ask your questions."

They spent the next hour questioning Dr. Morough about his interactions with the mayor. He admitted to their disagreements but insisted that their arguments had nothing to do with recent events. He also mentioned that he had been out of town during the mayor's murder, providing an alibi for his whereabouts.

"Do you have anyone who can verify your alibi?" Elysia asked, her eyes observing his reactions.

Dr. Morough nodded. "Yes, I was attending a medical conference in another city. You can check the records if you like."

Ignatius noted it. "We will. I appreciate your cooperation, Dr. Morough."

As they left the office, Luna turned to Ignatius and Elysia. "His alibi seems solid, but we need to verify it."

Elysia agreed. "Let's check the conference records and talk to some attendees."

They spent the next few days verifying Dr. Morough's alibi. They contacted the organizers of the medical conference and spoke to several attendees. Who confirmed that Dr Morough had been present at the time of the mayor's murder.

Frustration began to set in as they realized that Dr. Morough was likely not involved in the mayor's death. They had hoped to find a connection, but their lead seemed like a red herring.

One evening, as they sat at Silvi's Coffee Shop, Elysia voiced her frustration. "We're getting nowhere. Dr. Morough had a real feud with the mayor, but it looks like he had nothing to do with the murder."

Ignatius nodded, his expression grim. "We need to focus on other leads. There has to be something we've missed."

Christie brought a bottle of wine, pouring them each a glass. "Time to play, " she said, unbuttoning Elysia's blouse.

"Sounds good to me," Luna said.