Chapter 9

Fancy diner, 3:00

This place is even fancier than the opera house, some sort of fog all over the place probably because of cigarettes and incense. People who come here are obviously richer classier which makes Darcy regret letting Aaron choose place. She should've at least put some lipstick on.

She had her chin rested on her hand, thinking deeply. Aaron shoves some broccoli in his mouth and chews, noticing her staring blankly at a corner. 

He shakes his fork to get her attention and then gulps. "Did you like the food?" Her plate is empty which says it all. "What do you think." She lifts one side on plate, her cheek puffy as she rests her head against one palm. He cleans his mouth with a napkin he had folded on his lap, well at least his elegant manners match these people. "If you ask me I'd say you didn't even focus. Are you nervous about Dallas?"

"Kind of. I mean we looked everywhere. Unless his corpse is…" She holds her hand up in a questioning gesture and looks at him. He opens his mouth to say something but hesitates, thinking a few more seconds before finally doing. "I know I'm just a rookie and I might be wrong, but don't you think it's time we ask for helP-"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT You little herbivore!" She glares to a random side "You said it yourself; those who did this will return to Philadelphia. Did you know there is a train going there tomorrow?" Aaron is terrified, mostly worried about what he says. He has to persuade her but doesn't want to frustrate her either.

Darcy struggles to light a match holding a cigarette between her lips, she tries a few times but instead it snaps in halves. "You said you had friends in Las Vegas they can help us through this!" She lights another one and her cigar. "Ma'am?" He tilts head, looking for a reaction. "I heard you!" 

Her eyes turn up, frowning. Making him back off, shocked, Or maybe scared. She leans back, closing her eyes. "There are just things you don't understand…" He just stares, then clutches his jaw and locks eyes on floor.

It's the first time I see her like this.

He thinks to himself. He could see her, through lashes, that she is trying to distract herself by watching the musicians playing at the corner as she puffs on her cigar. 

She's always so short- tempered but this is… disappointment?

His heart clenches at the thought.

But in who?

His brain becomes foggy and his insides twist. He looks up at her, very slowly. It takes a few seconds for her to notice and shoves a hand in the pocket of her coat that is hanged over her chair. "You want one?" She offers him a cigarette. 

His brows are raised, not surprised but hesitates before picking it. She lights a match and lights it for him. Aaron lets out a few muffled cuffs in his fist, feeling his throat irritated after taking the first puff.

"I used to be a good cop in Las Vegas." He looks at her confused, eyes glassy due to cuffing. "Hmm?" "But I got fired. They accused me of taking part in a crime…" 

"I'm really sorry for that…" 

"Just letting you know why I'm so ambitious." She holds the cigarette between her thumb and point finger to say that. Kind of daring him to challenge her again.

Is she underestimating herself? Aaron thinks and let the words slip out of his mouth. "You don't have to prove yourself to anyone." 

Darcy smiles, her eyes widening in surprise. Before she could respond, her eyes meet the TV and her face falls. Hamilton is on TV, talking to the cops.

"H-hey; can somebody turn it up?" 

Hotel, Hamilton's room, 5:00 PM

Hamilton is sipping tea, chilling on couch wrapped up in a blanket. He hears a sound, despite water boiling in the kettle, and turns but he doesn't see anything so he leans back into the couch and cushions. He has to clear his mind of today, all of it. And maybe do some yoga…

He hasn't seen Darcy sitting next to him yet.

She is resting her elbow on sofa's arms, chin on one hand and the other hand is resting on her knee. He hears sound of breathing right next to his ear and turns, finally noticing her. He panics, the cup falling from his hand. "AH!"

"Where was he?" She asks before Hamilton could come back to senses. He clutches his heart and takes deep breathes. 

"Come on, we won't hurt you. You are not the suspect." She jokes with a pitiful tone. "H-how did you get in?" He looks around terrified, looking for a sign of breaking in.

Aaron steps out of kitchen with a cup of tea, his notebook in the crook of his arm. "Miss Palmer is a pro when it comes to lock picking." He says that like it's nothing, and sits in front of them with crossed legs. "It's a crime; and you just entered my personal… space. Without permission" He remembers that hotel room is not a personal property but it's private and he won't make no exceptions. 

"Not when it's done by detectives." Darcy tilts her head. Hamilton's eyes dart back and forth between them. "Ok, Ok!" He raises hands in surrender. "The cops said he was attacked, and then shot."

"Where was the body? How could they tell he was attacked?"

"He was half buried; looks like the killer was in a rush. And his face was covered in bruises and scratch marks." "What was he wearing? Same as morning?" "No, he was in his robe and casual pants." 

Darcy stares at a corner blankly and rubs her chin, thinking. Maybe the body was dragged on the ground.

"The poison didn't kick in." She mumbles. Aaron's eyes snap up and stops writing, his mind racing with new theories. "But it doesn't make sense. They can't forge a release form now that everyone knows he is dead." Darcy face palms in confusion. 

They fall in silence. (Almost silence cause Hamilton slurps tea.)

"Ma'am?" 

She lowers her palm as he calls her. Aaron's eyes locked on the floor. "I think, there is one robber; one murderer…" He hesitates to continue. "…And they aren't planned together." He finally dares loooking up to see their reactions.

A few more seconds of silence. Hamilton is very confused, his eyes dart between the two of them before standing up. "Ah; it's getting late." He says loudly to change the atmosphere. "How about we get some rest and start all over tomorrow?" He claps his hands and they stand up, nodding.

Hallway, doorway

"Thanks for the tea. Good evening Mr. Hamilton." Aaron says with a smile as he walks out. "Good evening Mr. Park!" Hamilton waves him. He notices Darcy leaving without saying anything and calls her. "Lady Palmer?" She stops and looks at him over shoulder, humming in question. "About what Park said earlier; are you sure he is alright?" 

Her brows knit, turning to face him. "What do you mean?" Anger and worries visible in her eyes. Hamilton gulps. He shouldn't have said that. "Just saying that; I'm not sure he could

"He is my best apprentice; he's done more cases than any detective his age. So if you have doubt in him just ask someone else to do your case." No hint of softness in her face and tone; almost deadly. He doesn't respond, doesn't dare to, and just stares in shock.

She raises a brow, daring him to continue. "Have a good night Mr. Hamilton!" Her coat swinging as she turns to leave.