Zephaniah POV

"THERE'S ALWAYS A CLUE IN THE FAINTEST FINGERPRINT,"

"hey Zephaniah," she said behind me as I closed the front door finally facing her.

"Hi Irene," I said flashing a neutral beam.

"I won't lie, I was a little perplexed when Archie called that you wanted to go shopping with me," she said looking cynical at me.

I can't let her think something up. I thought.

"What can I say? Your fashion sense is fascinating" I lied even tho I knew the truth too well.

"Thanks for the flatter" she smirked as I relaxed a bit as she dropped the disbelieving look.

"So what taste your taste when it comes to outfits?" she inquired.

But then I reasoned and honestly, I didn't have one so I just said

"A little bit of everything"

So Irene wouldn't deem me uninteresting.

"Okay, I know the perfect retail," she said and I just glimpsed at her.

She wasn't the power-threatening woman I met at the alley or the club. At least at this point. She was a typical woman who liked shopping and other things typical women liked.

Walking into her car and started the outing to God knows where

We got to the building tagged GIRLBOSS. It wasn't huge but moderate but the shiny multi-colored lights made it more eye-catching than the rest of the neighboring retails.

As she led me inside she paused for a moment startling me in the process. She abruptly turned and held me by the shoulders gently as she looked profound into my eyes.

"We have to be careful, the HELL'S ANGELS are still lurking," she said and that's when I got bothered.

"So why do you and Archie act like they aren't?" I asked catching her off guard as she let go of me facing the building's glass door

"To protect you," she said reluctantly.

"I've had enough of people telling me they're protecting me," I said voicing my tone with nonchalance.

Irene just fell silent as she took one last look at me and walked inside the retail. I felt guilty facing my aggression on her as I trailed behind her. She wasn't the one causing the issues I had so why blame her

"My apologies," I said having the way I felt remorseful

"You don't have to apologize; you just need to talk to Archie because there are still some missing pieces he has to fill,"

"Yeah,"

So Irene picked up some clothes and gave me to try in the dressing room. After a few minutes of wearing the dress. I finally came out and Irene told me.

"That looks fabulous on you, we are getting that" It was a dress, and when I went back in the dressing room to take it off. I had issues getting the zipper down so I came out and didn't see Irene while looking for her through what seemed like an endless wardrobe of outfits of different styles.

I finally spotted her and she was on a phone call. Judging from seldom facial expression, I assumed I was important so I went closer but not so close that she could see me.

"Any leads?" she said over the phone.

"The HELL'S ANGELS really know how to cover their tracts but there's always a clue even with the faintest fingerprint," the caller ID said.

"Be quick, I'm out with Zephaniah," she said impatiently.

"My Intel tells me they have a connection with the grand incident,"

"The grand incident happened like Twenty years ago. It couldn't possibly have a connection," she said baffled.

"But Carson was involved,"

"No one knows what happened after the explosion," she said her tone grave.

"It's obvious whoever is in charge has some beef with Carson,"

"Find something more substantial and get back to me," she said cutting the call as she breathed deeply as if trying to recapture her equanimity meanwhile I sneaked back into the dresser as I thought.

It looked like Irene was after what I was after, the HELL'S ANGELS but why can't I work with her, she knew more than I could ever giving me more reason not to trust her.

"Zephaniah, I picked out more clothes for you to try," she said pitching her voice a little as a smile followed the act.

"Sure, where were you earlier? I was looking for you," I asked casually unconcerned.

"Oh, just work calls, it's nothing, so don't you just test these clothes," she said brushing it aside, changing the topic so easily but I didn't pry any further.

"I kind of feel tired," I said faking a frail look.

"Oh, but we just got here"

"Umm, I'm having cramps, serious menstrual cramps," I said holding my stomach in pain.

"Wow, do you have any painkiller here with you,"

"No, it's at home," I didn't lie at this point tho.

"Bummer, just when I was having fun,"

"Maybe next time when I'm not on my period," I said and she laughed.

"Of course, let me drive you home"

We went over to the receptionist as Irene paid for the entire outfit even when Carson sent money for shopping today. She was really serious about getting on my good side but for what reason?

Or maybe I am just overthinking it, maybe she's just very rich.

The vehicle voyage home was just cool unlike the tense one as she left earlier. She jammed the whole new Drake album, killing the lyrics with her alto voice and her body movement swaying to it as she could feel the beat emit right out of her.

I waved her goodbye carrying shopping bags full of clothes but that was not my agenda now.

What is the grand incident?

Entering into the house, I tossed the shopping bags to one corner of the house, pulled my heels, and got working on the Archie laptop.

Although I didn't feel good about it, I used Archie's logins to get into police data looking for the grand incident and surprisingly I found it. Knowing it's a twenty years old case, there was a probability that it wouldn't be there but luck was on my side, at least this once.

The report...

Attempted robbery by Carson Will and Scarlet

Then I reflected.

'Who's scarlet?'

Carson is well and alive but Scarlet has been reported missing further investigation was done but with the massive explosive by the oil tank it was concluded that Scarlet body burned in the flames to ashes and since no stolen money was reported the case was dropped afterward.

Officers on duty: Kim Gordon, Joel Stein, and Roald Dahl.

That was the end of the report and the fact that I felt it wasn't complete disturbed me or that it provided me with little information. I need more info and simply couldn't get it from Irene and not Archie.

He will suppose I'm up to something and his already stressed about the whole LORDS thing. I don't want to complicate his life anymore.

I searched about the officers on duty that night and Kim Gordon currently was in a coma in Washington as for Joel Stein, he was very much alive but the issue was that he lived in the UK. As much as I wanted to go there was no valid explanation to give to Archie for the impromptu trip.

Finally, there was Roald Dahl. Prying more into his details I found out he was in an elderly care center luckily here in Wallace but visiting hours were already over but who didn't say tomorrow wasn't another day?

Suddenly I heard a car drive into the building. Curious to know who, I peeped through the window and it was Archie.

Wow, perfect timing

Quickly, I switched off his laptop and threw in some indoor clothing as I was on the flat TV screen watching Netflix featured through my window under cold folds of blankets waiting for the door to reveal the head of THE LORDS and love of my life.

That's a wrap!!! So hey loves and bees!!! So as promised by ur truly jee-nii-bee. I brought the update by June and I'm not sure when I'll update but be hopeful and add Cold Embrace to your library to get noticed when I update next time!!!!

Love you all dearly ❤️✨🥺