EPISODE FOURTEEN

'go big or go home'

LEON WOKE UP a couple more hours later.

Still foggy and hunkering the evidence of a painful hangover, I promised an explanation once we were at a far safer distance than the vaguely smiling Genevieve Rothschild who Leon met with wide eyes and a choke. Not in lieu to be spied on, I briefed him on the basic premise of what happened from his gap of memory. From the hotel abduction to being welcomed into Rothschild's apartment.

After we got much of our bearings together — and new clothes courtesy of Genevieve — she met us at the living room with four suited men. Leon immediately tensed up, shielding me with his body, while Genevieve merely rose a hand.

"I'm done with the both of you, as I'm sure Ms. Cain is done with me. Right now, my only priority is to get you to Cordelia's safe space, and that window of opportunity is a very slim one. Dom's death had made them wary, especially of those in attendance that night. They should never get wind that you and I have met. Not until the very last second at least."

Leon exhaled. He was at a lost, but he was adapting quickly. "I can't call her can I?"

Genevieve smiled. "I've already made contact, young Song. All you have to do is follow my lead to the very last detail."

"Then you'll disappear from the face of the earth, no doubt as something Dominic promised." Leon's eyes darkened. "I know this place. Dominic owns this place."

"How astute." She merely blinked. "Dominic picked the right candidate to solve his murder. I'm sure your sister and your girlfriend can help you piece together the puzzle, but right now it's better for you leave and for me to hide. That's what Dom would've wanted."

- - -

The slim window of opportunity was in Bloomsbury, specifically in front of a painting of a room in the British Museum. Cordelia was waiting for us in a pencil red skirt, a flowy white top with a red ribbon, matching gloves and heels, and a dramatic fascinator on her flowing black curls.

To say this was a dramatic reunion was one thing. But Genevieve's guards stopped us as Genevieve herself stood next Cordelia. We weren't close enough to hear or make ways with Cordelia's expression under the hat and veil, but Genevieve remained firmly smiling until she had waved us away, walking back just as we were walking to.

Just as we passed each other, she grasped my arm. Leon stilled beside me, grinding his teeth.

"Easy, young Song," she whispered. "This is for Wendy." She bent down to my ear. "You're a good one, Ms. Cain. If you can't bear to leave him be, then take him with you and leave. This society will destroy the man you adore. Take it from someone who went through it twice."

She let it me go and just like that, Genevieve Rothschild, a suspect, a lover, and a grieving widow walked away from us and was just... gone.

Leon groaned the stiffness of his posture away by melting practically on my side. "I feel ill letting her leave just like that."

Cordelia snorted. Gracefully, might I add, which was an odd description in its own, but she snapped a fan and started aggressively fanning herself. Under the net veil, we could see much of a pointed upper lip. "What do you think I felt when you suddenly disappeared from my radar? 'Leave them at a hotel', he said. 'They'll be safe', he said. That conniving little snake. I didn't know he'd rope his girlfriend into this. 'Trust me,' he said. Men."

"I mean, we're fine in the end?" I said. "All she wanted was to talk her piece." And confess to poisoning her boyfriend.

Cordelia turned with a snap of her heel. Her eyes were vivid and vicious. "But my brother was drugged!"

I shrinked. That's also another point. "I'm sorry."

Leon sighed roughly. "This isn't Wendy's fault. If you want to go off on someone, follow the damn woman who had just left."

"No use. Tailing her would be futile - whatever Dom promised her, freedom and the like, he's following through." She turned to me. "And I'm very sorry to have snapped the way I did, Ms. Cain. It's been a rough twenty hours."

I shook my head. Cordelia was obviously a woman who controlled her surroundings and and if she can't control all the things her brother does, has good knowledge on him and his whereabouts. If she was a chess piece, she would've been a Queen. At the very back, watching her soldiers go on and move. She wouldn't intervene unless forced to.

People who were used to control would snap at even the smallest thing going out of their way.

"It's fine, no worries."

Caring and worrying so desperately about a relative is something I can't personally relate to, but at least can understand.

She flipped her veil back and smiled exhaustedly. Through the prettiness of her getup and makeup, I could see the faint hints of red on her eyes from where she hadn't been sleeping, the exhausted way she held the slope of her shoulders. Her spine was still pronounced, but there was a certain burden she had been carrying, now eased off by the slightest.

"Well, it's been hard on both of you these past few days. It's better we have a chat at the car on the way back after you've both had hot baths and a better meal."

"On the way back?" Leon exhaled, running a hand through his hair. Despite clothes that Genevieve had picked out for him that actually suited his taste, Leon look rough. Bags under his eyes, a pale pallor... "I really don't think I can go back to Dom's place for now. Aren't you staying at a hotel?"

"I think you need a break," I said, finally wrestling out the words that have been on my tongue.

"I'm fine."

"You've just been drugged, Leon. And this has been... an emotional rollercoaster. It won't do you any harm to take a break."

"She's right, baby bro. I'm taking both of you to my hotel room to rest and eat, then we're driving back to that quaint little town of yours. The next flag won't be happening until the engagement party."

Leon rubbed his face, too tired to argue. "Whose engagement party?"

"Genevieve mentioned that too," I said. "She said she'll see us at the engagement party before she disappears."

Cordelia pursed her lips. "No doubt it's Dominic's orders. All of the suspects will be there. After all, two of the most prominent are the celebrants. It's Aoi Nakamura and Lorenzo Moretti. It'll happen in three days time, so you can both rest up until then."

Leon scoffed. "Dominic's not going to terrorise us for the next three days?"

Even I laughed. The last few days had been a whirlwind. "That's hard to believe."

Cordelia managed a smile. "Don't worry. The orders were already handed over my own people, and it doesn't greatly affect whatever plot he's had at stake so it's fine."

I blinked. "People?"

Leon shook his head, capturing my shoulders and steering us to the exit. "Best not to ask. My sister dabbles with the dark side of the world. You won't believe what type of people she has on speed dial..."

"Hey!" Cordelia shouted. "That's not fair!"

"Shh, big sis. We're in a museum."

"It's not a church!"

"Goodness." I pressed a hand on my lips to keep from laughing. When I looked up, Leon had a small, albeit tired, smile on his face. "Don't antagonise your sister."

"It's fine. She was snappish to you earlier, so it's a good trade."

Knotted eyebrows, I turned to his 'it's simply like that' expression. "Pettiness? I didn't know you were a petty man."

"For you, I could be."

I snorted. I felt warm, but I was also too tired. I leaned against his arm. Exhaustion could really make you care less about things. "I'm not too sure I like petty men."

"Then I'll stop."

I smiled. "Sure."

- - -

True to her promise, Cordelia dropped me off at my house. But just before I reached for the door, I hesitated.

"I can't."

Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Cain?"

"I told my dad I was with Quinn, a friend of mine. She said she was out of town, so if I -"

"Oh, Ms. Fong has said to use the excuse that you got back early due to exhaustion and maybe a retiring stomach bug. She'll be back in three days time, so until then, please don't call to disturb her."

Leon and I turned to her with twin expressions of shock.

Cordelia looked affronted. "What?"

"How do you know -"

" - What did you do to Ms. Fong, 누나?"

"Oh what accusations! I didn't violate her human rights if that's what you two are going on! How criminal!"

"If your defense has violation of human rights, it sounds far more suspicious."

Leon rubbed his forehead. "누나... "

"I simply asked for her help and she was more than happy to do it, if you must know. All I ask is that you don't disturb her work in the next few days, and I promise her wholeheartedly safety. Her enthusiasm for the fact is actually quite a very charming trait."

I sighed. "Fine. That does sound like Quinn."

Leon turned to me, expression pained. "I'm sorry about her. She does this a lot."

"I am still here, how rude."

That made me smile. I turned for the door. "Alright."

"Ms. Cain."

I turned to Cordelia.

"Are you aware of your best friend's job?"

Puzzled, I answered hesitantly. "She's a videogame developer."

"Computers."

"Yes, computers."

Cordelia smiled. Leon rolled her eyes. "Please, Ms. Cain. Don't fall for my sister's hints. 제발 그만해, 누나."

"Okay..."

I watched them leave, disappearing into the corner before I pulled out my phone and dialed Quinn's number.

Four rings, she didn't pick up. I dropped the call and returned home.

- - - 

TRANSLATIONS:

  누나 - older sister, (referred to by a younger brother)

 제발 그만해, 누나 - stop it please, older sister (older sister referred by younger brother)

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NEXT

EPISODE FIFTEEN

IN REFERENCE TO A MURDER NOVEL

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