Again the feeling of the sun felt nice on my face. Clouds dappled the blue sky in patterns and shapes.
It has been decided that cleaners work immediately and get a percentage of the payment in helping with cases. Not only do we cleaners take care tying up loose ends, we also can be informants and researchers, it's a multitasking job.

So now I'm driving to our current destination, a classic, old styled pub to meet an informant Kevin knows, while researching the former target's profile on a computer installed in the car. Kevin sat in the passenger seat silently staring out the window. It appears he is distressed about something but most likely will not talk about it even if his life was leverage for it. Glancing at him from the corner of my eye his thoughtful expression seemed fairly attractive.
"A penny for your thoughts Sheriff?" I asked my eyes returning to the patterned flicker between the road and files.

"Just wondering if you're capable enough to get any useful information." He answered.

"You insult me without knowing?" I questioned. "You would be surprised how much I hear within a single hour."

Kevin sat up properly, eyeing me intrigued. "Gimme an example, Double D."

"Please no old nicknames Kevin or I'll call you by the one Eddy came up with." I requested. "And this morning during breakfast in that cafe near the garden I heard that Mr. Palmer recently got a young male lover and that his lover refuses to acknowledge the relationship."

Kevin nodded impressed, "Good, how about negotiations on getting information?" Forgetting the whole nicknames thing.

"There are reasons why cleaners carry hidden weapons in places where they do not belong. After all cleaners do the dirty work." I smirked cockily. "And I can be pretty persuasive even without weapons." I parked in front of the pub.

"Then let's put your charm to the test." Kevin declared climbing out. I followed, folding and stashing my notes in my inner coat pocket. We walked inside, men drinking and gambling, women in hooker outfits of various eras waltzed around seducing men to get any bit of cash.
"Alright, I'll lend you a few bucks for information in case your persuasion fails you." Kevin slapped a small roll of bills into my palm. "I want that back if you manage on your own."

"Oh, your not gunna pay me since I am your personal informant?" I teased.

"Hell no, you get your pay when this homework is finished." The red head concluded before walking away. I slipped the bills into my pocket and walked toward a random gambling table.
I observed the game being played with quiet obvious disinterest. A few hookers approached the table and idled up to the players giggling flirtatiously and whispering sweet little nonsense things. One slide to my side, a young woman in a short skirted western forest green gown completed with a breast boosting corset, little hat with a single over sized feather attached, and feather fan.
"Howdy, are you looking for a game sir?" She looked up at me with coy sky blue eyes.

"Please, miss, call me Vincent." I grinned down at her. "Are you looking to service me in some way or another?"

The girl latched on to my arm making it clear I'm in her market. "What kind of service are you looking for?"

I looked around to see if anyone is watching, found Kevin watching from the bar. I smirked and looked back at the girl, "How about some place private?" I suggested. She obviously got the wrong idea but led me to a private room.
It was a simple room with only a bed covered with clean white sheets and a dresser with a record player. The girl forced me to sit on the bed, she climbed on to my lap, and began undoing my tie.
"Excuse me but this isn't exactly what I had in mind." I began with a calm tone. "How about we take this slow, I don't intend on having children at a young age."
The girl looked confused and stood up. Ah... I understand now. I thought she was a bit anxious for an average hooker. I stood and fixed my tie.
"How about we start with a dance." I offered a gloved hand. She took it silently, I guided her over to the dresser and turned on the player. A classic symphony played in a gentle start.

Half an hour later I walked out of the room leaving the girl to rethink her career choice and joining my 'partner' who was talking to the bartender. I took the stool to his right and handed him back his money.
"You wanted this back, right?" I asked sarcastically.

Kevin stared at me bewildered and took the money. "How.... Never mind that, what did you find out?" He stashed the roll in his breast pocket.

"The girl knew a lot for a short time working here. Apparently the currently dead target had a lot of enemies and a lot of debts, enough to split his soul into twenty slices." I replied. "But the one thing that interests me is that none of his enemies had the motivation to get him and his debtors didn't seem interested in him at all from what I heard."

"A half hour screw and she told ya all that?" Kevin said.

"Goodness no, the girl still has her innocence and any logic to reconsider her life choices." I said suddenly exasperated. "Why on earth would you think I'd resort to such a lowly way just for easy tid bits you could find anywhere?" My face grew hot as it possibly turned red.

"Oh so you threatened her?" The cowboy raised a brow. I face planted the counter.

"No, Sheriff," I began again. "I am a gentleman and towards ladies I will remain civilized and reformed. Unlike a certain childhood brute." I glared at him.

Kevin and the bartender stared at me weird, "So.... What did you do then?" The red head asked.

I sat up and straightened my suit, "I shall take my secrets to the grave and the rest of the information to the car." Turning around I hopped off the stool and strided toward the door.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...!" Kevin shouted hurrying after me.
"There's more?" He pried as he caught up.

"Of course, anyone with half a mind would guess that." I walked out the double doors luckily shutting one in his face literally.

"Ow! Okay I deserved that." He held a hand over his nose, walking beside me to the car.

"And to think you seemed so stoic yesterday, you're honestly just a klutz." I climbed in the car.

"Says the one who shut the door on me." The red head climbed in as well followed by a glare. "So what else did you find out?"

I smirked at him, "The next destination, are you hungry?" I drove off as he considered his answer. I don't think he gets what I mean but... I'll just let him be for a bit until he gets it.

About forty minutes later I parked the car outside an classy diner. Kevin continued his ramble about whether or not what I said was some sort of code so I suppose he might actually want to eat. I'll talk and get an appointment with the supervisor and try to schedule a time with the owner.
"Kevin can you stop your ramble for a moment?" I asked and he stopped. I reached for my duffel bag in the back seat and plopped it in his lap. "Change into that before we go in." I ordered and climbed out before he could say anything else. I waited as he climbed out in a brown suit with a red dress shirt and black tie.
Eyeing him up and down, "Good, it fits." I redid his sloppy tie. "Got a gun hidden?"

I received a glare, "Oh sure the pockets are the right side for a revolver." I merely smiled and slipped my switchblade in his pocket.

"I was just checking." I led the way inside. I guess they were celebrating a new corporation built in another town, there was dancing, formalized socializing, and fizzled champagne. Which means the owner is somewhere here.
"Kevin," I began grasping his coat, keeping him close enough to whisper. "I'm going to looking around so behave and enjoy the party." I released him, took a glass from a waiter, and melded into the crowd. I hope Kevin could behave long enough for me to collect any bit of information, which conveniently enough approached me quickly. Having to be able to research the new target why Kevin rambled mainly to himself, the target's daughter came to my side.
"Aren't you flashy in a gloomy crowd." She greeted with million dollar smile, and I don't mean in a charming way, the girl wasted her daddy's money on an every two week dentist appointment to whiten her teeth.

"Just as your smile young miss." I returned with my own smile.

"Unlike the gap in yours. I can give the number of a dentist who can fix that." She offered.

"How kind, but it is my trademark of a memory that I would like to keep." I lied smoothly.

"Oh, my apologies if I offended you mr..."

"Vincent, Eddward Vincent." I introduced myself. "And you are forgiven, miss."

"Veronica is my name." She smiled again practically blinding me.

A tap on my shoulder and appeared Kevin. What did he do now?
"Ah... Veronica I would you to meet my associate, Kendrick Barnerd." I eyed him harshly to not object the name. They shook hands and exchanged formal greetings, not so much, and received a foot grind from me, on Kevin's part.

"Did you need something, Ken?" I asked calmly.

"Just a familiar face," He said sounding like he ran a mile. "I'm no good at parties or with tight crowds." I took the wine glass from his hand before he could crush it with a bare palm and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter with mine.

"I'll show you to the balcony." Veronica offered taking his hand and pulling him away. He grabbed my arm and dragged me along, the wuss.
I didn't realize how fast the time passed, the sun was setting streaking the sky with melting colors. A cool breeze blew gently cooling the ones who come out of the heated building.
Veronica led us to a couple of other girls, most likely her friends. Each as well had abnormally whitened teeth.
"These are my friends Delilah and Janessa." She introduced before turning to them and introducing us.

"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Vincent." Janessa greeted followed by Delilah's soft echo of it.

"The pleasure is mine." I smiled and gave a curt bow.
Soft music began playing from inside. Kevin better know how to dance for formal parties.
"Oh, my the dancing has started yet not an equal number of dancers." I said in a teasing dramatic way. And yet again conveniently an assist approached, Johnny.
"Well, I haven't seen you two in a while." He greeted. He wore a plain average suit like any other here, a winter hat covered his stubbled baldness, and a big grin plastered on his face. "Hello, ladies." He nodded to the girls. Why do I have a bad feeling with him around?

"Hello, Jonathon," I returned the greeting. Kevin muttered his greeting with a nod.
"I'm sorry but I overheard that you needed an extra man for a dance?" Johnny asked raising a brow.

"Yes, that is what Eddward was implying right?" Veronica started with an uncertain tone.

"Of course, can't just let such lovely ladies stand there bored while others make derogatory remarks about them." I agreed offering a hand to Veronica. "Shall we?" She accepted graciously, as we began walk to back inside I looked back a Kevin with an expectant glare. Johnny waltzing with Janessa right on the balcony.

Veronica and I took the spotlight in the center of the circle of dancers. I led her in graceful circles, occasionally twirling her alone. Her smile not once disappearing. When the music ended we finished with a bow or curtsy. Applause ruptured from the bystanders as we walked to rejoin our companions. Kevin stared at me in shock, I returned the look with a smug grin. Veronica rushed to her friends to gossip about the experience.
"And that is my secret to win a girl." I said to Kevin. An elegant dance always works as long as you make her feel how you dance.

"Geez, talk about snake charmer." Kevin replied.

"And we need to work on you formal speech for this to work." I noted looking over at him. "Can you even dance?" The cowboy shook his head. Perfect another thing to work on in my free time.

"Here he is daddy!" Veronica's voice sounded as she dragged the man we're looking for towards us. Perfect.
"Slow down Veronica." The man begged. "He won't run away."
The girl released his hand and latched on to my arm. Kevin and I shared a confused look.
The man looked down at me. "So you're the man my daughter won't stop talking about." He asked. "Edmund, right."

I cleared my throat. "Eddward, sir. With two d's. You must be Mr. Bunshil." I nudged Kevin letting him know he was the target.

"Ah, Eddward then," He began. "It seems my daughter plans on sticking to you. So what do you say about being her fiancé?"
Kevin choked on his champagne from the shock. Johnny snickered at him patting his back. My smile withered quickly.
"Pardon?" I asked hoping I heard incorrectly.

Veronica laces her fingers through mine excitedly. "Will you be my husband?" Her friends watched, staring at me expectantly. Kevin and Johnny leaning forward waiting for my answer. I racked my mind for something to stop this and be able to still talk to her father.
I unlaced our fingers and closed my hands around hers. Looking into her brown eyes I spoke, "I'm sorry but I can't." Gasps came from on lookers I which ignored. "My sincerest apologies if you feel led on. I never meant for this and I won't give petty reasons on why I can't." Mr. Bushil's eyes burned through my skull yet I persisted to at least comfort her. "But I'm sure you will find someone, you are an amazing girl. I'm sorry." I finished, letting go of her hands. Next thing I am aware of is my cheek stinging and Veronica running away followed by her friends. I turned to Mr Bushil, bowed to him, and took my leave as to not get forcefully thrown out. Kevin and Johnny followed in silence.
Outside the building and far below the party I managed to relax slightly. "Well, that was a disaster." I muttered.

"You think?" Kevin asked sarcastically. "And seriously Kendrick? That's the best you could come up with?"

"I could have called you worse, Kevin." I retorted. "Need a ride Johnny?"

"Yea," He spoke. "And we might wanna scram, like, fast."

Kevin and I stared at him before finally understanding what he meant and rushing to the car. We made it to just around the block before it exploded.
"You better have a crew working clean up for that. I only clean up after Kevin."