After minutes of walking, Althea finally found the place she was looking for. She was surprised at how tall and big the hotel is where she can see the big sign "Hotel Maribel". She sees some cars parked in front of the entrance. She takes a deep breath and starts heading inside. She receives a stare from the two cats in suits on each door and she shows them an invitation. They nodded and allowed her inside. Althea was amazed at how lively the party is as everyone is either sitting down talking or drinking, playing poker or 8 ball pool game, chatting or dancing, etc. She keeps looking around in awe and heads upstairs to get a better look, seeing how crowded it is.

Meanwhile, Mordecai is standing next to the cat businessman named Asa Sweet who's chatting with the men with cards in his paws.

"'...Well, do you know why you're here?' the judge asks. Cuddy wobbles and says nothing. Getting impatient, the judge shouts, 'For drinking whiskey!'" Sweet joked. "'So Cuddy stares at him in disbelief. Finally, he says, 'We'll, okay. Let's get started.' HAH!"

No one was laughing as they look deadpanned at his lame joke.

"We can tell you've got a losing hand when you start telling stories..." one of the cat said.

"It was a joke, not a story. I'm trying to cheer myself up." Sweet defended himself.

"It's only called a joke if it's funny."

"If I may intrude, what's their story?" Mordecai asked, glancing at the two cats, one male and one female as they're by the pool game.

"Who? The Savoys? Why the sudden interests?" Sweet asked.

"If I'm to be working with them long-term, perhaps it would behoove me to know something about them. I'd ask them myself, but I can scarcely decipher what they're saying." Mordecai explained.

"He-he, well, that's because we dragged them up out of the Bayous..." Sweet started their story. "They'd been prowling around, hijacking consignments coming upriver from New Orleans. More than once they showed up out of nowhere, scared the holy bejeezus out of our boys and made off with our cargo. Frustrating as hell, but damn if they weren't good at it... Well, as it turned out, they were working for some no-name backwoods operation. So rather than risk getting a bunch of people killed trying to chase them down, we set about acquiring them for ourselves. Since then, they've been putting their tricks to use sweeping paths clear for our runners, and they've made pretty efficient work of it."

As Sweet continued on, Mordecai looked over and was surprised to see Althea up the stairs as she looks around. He recognizes her with that veil that always covers her face. Althea is wearing a black sequins flapper long dress with aimimier flapper feather headpiece with black birdcage veil pearl and pearl necklace choker and pearl earrings that matched her beauty. Her brown hair was styled and curled nicely to make her hair look short.

(A/N: Pretend that her veil is a full cover and not a see through where anyone could not see her face.)

Since her veil is dark, she can still see through as people could only glimpse at her eyes and lips through the veil, much to her relief. He couldn't believe that she actually came.

"...A little cutthroat perhaps, but there aren't many parties eager to contend with us anymore for the better spirits flowing into this place. It's become difficult to keep them busy some nights, in fact, but that allows us to focus some attention on other ventures. That, my swarthy friend, is why they're doubling as your accomplishment lately." Sweet finished the story.

"I see... I'll... be back for a moment."

Sweet raised his eyebrow at his sudden urgency.

"Why?"

Without responding, Mordecai walks away towards Althea. Althea kept looking around until she saw Mordecai walking upstairs towards her. She smiled as he met her up-close.

"Althea, glad you could make it."

"Hey, Mordecai. Thanks for inviting me."

"It's no problem. You wanna get some drinks?"

"Sure."

Mordecai holds out an arm and Althea wraps her arms around it as the two walk downstairs. Sweet noticed and was surprised at this.

"Hmm... very interesting."

Mordecai takes the two glass cups from the table and pours some drinks into each before handing one to her. Althea takes it and sips her cup. She looks around as everyone are standing here chatting and laughing.

"The party is great and all, but aren't there supposed to be some dancing?"

"Not that much."

Thinking, Althea looks around and noticed the band who appeared to be bored.

"I'll be right back."

Confused, Mordecai was about to ask when she's already heading her way towards the band. She appears to be talking to them as they were nodding at her and appeared to be thrilled to hear that. Althea looks around and taps a female cat on the shoulder. She turns and Althea whispers something in her ear. She appears interested and nods and the female cat clapped her paws together loudly, catching everyone's attention, including Mordecai. The 

"Ladies and gentlemen, please make some space. A lovely woman would like to demonstrate for us, the waltz, European style." she announced, making the crowd interested and clapped.

Althea stands in the circle and nods to her before facing the crowd.

"Thank you, ma'am. The waltz, not a complicated dance, really. The lady takes her place slightly to the left of the leading gentleman. Six basic steps, and that's all." she explained, taking the candle from the night stand. "However, it is said that the true test of the perfect waltz is for it to be so swift, so delicate, and so smooth. That the candle flame will not be extinguished in hand of the lead dancer. Now, there's only one rule— pick a partner who knows what he's doing."

Althea approaches Mordecai from the crowd, surprising Sweet and the other two cats who work with Mordecai.

"Would you care to dance with me, Mr. Heller?"

Mordecai glanced around and looked at her.

"I... I don't think so. Thank you, but I'm not much of a dancer, Althea."

"Could I be the judge of that??"

She holds an hand out to him. He reaches towards it with a moment of hesitation until he eventually takes it. Althea then escorts him onto the dance floor and turns to the band and they nodded and started their music.

https://youtu.be/F2NmP7oR_0w

She gently wraps her hand around his paw as they hold onto the lit candle together, and places the other on his shoulder while he hesitantly wraps his arm around her waist. Mordecai glances around nervously.

"Why are we doing this?" he asked.

"I've always closed my eyes to things that made me uncomfortable. It makes everything easier."she said calmly.

"I don't want to close my eyes. I want to keep them open." he shook his head.

She stares at him.

"Then trust me. Let the music guide you and you follow my lead, okay?"

Mordecai stares back at her and nods and lets Althea guide him round and round as the two started dancing as they move rhythmically clockwise and counterclockwise. Their steps are formal and controlled but with a hint of gracefulness. All the while, Mordecai was surprised that he didn't make a mistake of their dancing while Althea just smiles at him enjoying this as the two stare at each other, spinning around.

"I'm guessing this is your first time?" she asked, never missing her steps.

"You could say that. I've been asked to dance when I refused because I was... studying the... ficus..." he replied, looking embarrassed.

Althea snickered at that.

"The ficus? Is that the best excuse you have?" she asked with a smirk.

"Well, it was an excellent. Makes me wish I were this ficus where I don't have to dance with anyone that I don't know." he defended, spinning her around before holding her again.

"Then why the sudden change of wanting to dance?" Althea asked curiously, feeling herself getting dipped down.

"Only because it's you that I'm comfortable with." Mordecai said with an honest smile.

Those words made her speechless and she glances away with her cheeks pink. Mordecai notices and smiles again as they kept dancing together around the circle that was made by the crowd who're watching them in amazement. The two went on and on, having a fun time. Sweet watches them with interests, curious on who Althea is behind that veil. The music ceases after the two stopped dancing holding up the candle that is still lit. The room explodes in applause. Mordecai and Althea smiled at each other and she hold up the candle for him. He then blows the flame out. Everybody is delighted. Sweet approached them, clapping his paws.

"Bravo performance, you two! Mordecai, I never take you for a dancer! Why didn't you tell me?" Sweet said.

"I was never much of a dancer. This is my first..." Mordecai said, looking away with a grumpy face.

Althea giggled while Sweet laughed before turning to her and taking her hand.

"And who might you be a friend of Mordecai, sweetheart?" he asked, kissing her hand.

"Althea. Althea Spade. Nice to meet you, Mr..." she greeted with a smile.

"I'm Asa Sweet. Please call me, Mister Sweet. Mordecai's boss. What brings a fine lady like you come into this place?"

Before Althea could explain, a cat businessman approaches Sweet and whispers something in his ear.

"Excuse me, those Rubes are still lingering about the lobby, Mr. Sweet. I figured they'd have given up by now, but they're demanding to see you before midnight." he explained.

"Why's that? Do bumpkins turn into pumpkins after midnight?" Sweet whispered back.

"I don't know, but they're starting to get rowdy. You want us to toss 'em out?"

"Nah, my friends have robbed me of all my chips anyhow. If it'll prevent a rumpus, I'll meet... what's-his-face, the angry one, in my office."

Sweet turned to Mordecai and Althea.

"Sorry to make our introduction short, but I have a meeting to attend to. Enjoy the party, Ms. Spade. Come along, Mordecai. Say goodbye to your friend."he said before walking away.

Mordecai sighed in disappointment and turned to Althea.

"Sorry about that. Love to talk with you some more, but..."

"It's alright. I'm sure it seems pretty important. I'll be fine. Besides, I had fun with you. So thanks again for inviting me."

Althea gives him a closed eye smile, not noticing him blushing before clearing his throat.

"Well, I'm glad. 'Till we meet again like always."

"See you, Mordecai."

He then disappeared into the crowd with Sweet as Althea sees some food area and walks over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Rocky and Viktor are driving in a truck after collecting crates full of bottled drinks from Captain Kehoe. Viktor is in the front seat next to Rocky who's driving and he couldn't stop talking about Mitzi he really liked and Viktor had to stop him by pulling up the tie very tight, choking him.

"You drive from inside the truck." Viktor reminded him.

"Right. sorry. Miss M.'s done a lot for me, you know?" Rocky said, fixing his tie. "I just get a little, uh, sentimental with her being in a vulnerable spot these days..."

"Vulnerable as like bear trap." Viktor commented.

"Like a bear trap?" Rocky questioned.

"Ya. Like a bear trap. In a box full of bunnies."

"In a bunny-box?? I have no idea what you're talking about, but that's pretty good alliteration."

"Vatch vere you are going."

"I bet you could have been a poet."

Viktor rolled his eyes and looked ahead. He noticed something on the sidewalk and looked out the window. A familiar figure with a veil covering their face is walking past by, holding her peacock purse. He squinted his eyes for a bit until they widened in recognition.

"Althea??"

Althea stopped and turned and was surprised to see them.

"Oh, Viktor?"

"Stop the car."

Rocky was confused at first.

"What??"

He turned and was surprised to see her and immediately stopped the car. Althea approached them.

"Vhat are you doing out in the middle of the night?" Viktor asked.

"I was having a party at the hotel. And was just finished and about to head back. What are you doing here?"

"We just got our drinks delivered for the lounge." Rocky replied.

"Get in. It's not safe here." Viktor said, opening the door for her.

"Are you sure? I don't know if it's enough room..."

"Just get in here."

Althea shrugged and carefully scoot past Viktor and sat in the middle between him and Rocky.

"So, how's the party?" Rocky asked, starting the car.

"It was great actually. I even taught my new friend how to waltz."

"Waltz, huh?" Viktor raised his eyebrow with interest.

"Oh, yeah. It's a good dance."

"I bet you're a great dancer, too." Rocky said.

"You could say that again."

What they didn't know is that they're being followed by farmers that are watching them from behind in the shadows. As soon as they parked in the garage, they started taking out the crates from the back as Rocky heads down the basement.

"I'll be back with some individuals of a less noodle constitution to help carry everything downstairs." Rocky said.

"Alright, be careful." Althea said, placing the crate down.

She looks down at the opened crate and pulls out a bottle.

"What kind of drink is this?"

"Beats me. Never tried it yet." Viktor shrugged.

Althea uncaps it and sniffs it before she quickly covers it, turning her head away in disgust.

"...Ugh... I'm going to do some taste test when we get down there."

Viktor couldn't help but chuckle when his ears twitched to hear a car sound being parked. He immediately placed the crate down with a loud thud. Althea noticed and gets worried.

"What is it?"

He approaches the metal door and looks through the window to see the farmers walking out the car with guns in their hands. Viktor immediately acts and grabs her arm before turning off the lights.

"Stay close to me." he said before the two went into hiding in the dark.

The farmers stopped by the metal door after seeing the lights went off.

"The lights just went out. You think they seen us comin'?"

"I don't care."

They readied their guns as they clicked it on.