Tom led the way down and out to the parked sedan, he held the door open for her. Valerie sat down into the car. The leather upholstery seemed to enfold her as Tom closed the Bentley's passenger door. A passing car caused his blonde hair to move a bit, and he brushed at it. He glanced at the hood, of the green car, and picked up a cigarette butt and instead of flicking it out onto the street like last night he put in a jacket pocket. The movement revealed the black leather strap of a pistol holster. Tom climbed into the car and sat down. For a second, Valerie was tempted to ask about the cigarette butt, but his cold unfeeling nature dealing with Kathy, caused her to wait.
"You said we had things to do?" Tom pulled the car away from the curb. He nodded.
"Yeah, "the car accelerated. Valerie waited. A minute passed, she glanced over at him.
"Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?" Tom chuckled. It was like a switch, one second he was cold, clinical, almost like a robot. "Just like a weapon." She thought. Then he was almost normal.
"The first thing is, I have to pick up some information, and I want you to look at where Stephanie was killed." Valerie glanced at the other cars driving alongside them.
"Why?" Tom stared straight ahead.
"You can give me a different outlook on it. I am too involved and I think I am missing something. " A little voice spoke up in Valerie's head.
"He's lying, "it whispered, she could see a woman's eyes glinting with amusement behind the internal voice. Again the smell of almonds and oranges filled the car.
"Why did Kathy kill her?" Valerie asked, what the hell was she going insane? Tom sighed.
"She didn't. She let in those who did." That seemed to be a sticking point with him. Something wasn't right.
"So why did she let in those did?" Tom slowed the car, and pulled into a parking lot.
"Because she loved her, and Stephanie picked me over her. Kathy thought they were just coming to kill me, because "Tom seemed to catch himself. "We're here." Valerie looked; they were parked in front of a store, Becki's. Valerie blinked the sun seemed really seemed bright. Tom opened the door for her. A short brown haired woman looked up from the pages of a book she was reading.
"Can I help you?" The smell of antiseptic and ozone seemed to fill the shop. Becki's, Valerie noticed seemed to be a tattoo shop. She noticed some of the shiny black chairs had arm, she glanced down, and ankle wrist restraints. The tattoo shop was brightly lit, almost garish. The girl behind the counter glanced first at Tom and then at her, a slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Valerie noticed the girl wore a black buckled collar.
"Yuri sent me." Tom produced the black card, and handed it to the girl. Her face paled even whiter than the white makeup caked on her face. Valerie noticed the girl tug on her collar as she looked at the card.
"Elise is still sleeping." The girl glanced nervously behind her.
