[center][h1][color=82ca9d]"Emerald"[/color][/h1][/center]
[center][h2][color=82ca9d] Club Carousel[/color][/h2][/center]

Emerald would be lying if she said being at the club again didn’t elicit some sort of discomfort. She felt eyes on her, lots of them, like flies on a carcass, and she couldn’t tell if they were real or her imagination. She kept her own focused straight ahead, a tunnel vision to her seat, and then towards the colorful stage. What an odd sensation it was to be on the other side, on the other perspective, looking up onto the stage as opposed to looking out at the enraptured masses that filled the club.

The dancer currently up there was one she barely knew. A new girl, perhaps. Poor soul. Once you stepped into this life, you hardly ever had the chance to step back out. Ashley was quiet beside her, barely sparing her a glance as he scoured the club with his eyes, stroking his scruffed chin thoughtfully.
	
“Oh, detective.” She cooed flirtatiously, “You’ll scare off any and all suspects with that hard police glare of yours, you should really relax. Pretend you’re here on pleasure, not business.” Hypocritical, she knew. She reached up and took his hat off, setting it on the table. “You look like a real square.” The action granted her some attention as he redirected his gaze to her face, seeming to study her expression. His face softened a little and he reached out to stroke her cheek.

“You mean put on an act? Like you?” His expression deadpanned again and he dropped his hand. “That was never my specialty.”

“Clearly.” She soured. “Perhaps you’re just disappointed it isn’t me up on that stage.”

He spared a brief and disinterested glance towards the girl on stage. “Might as well be, now could you quiet yourself? I’m trying to focus.”

Ouch. Emerald would not let some moody, grizzled [i]cop[/i] define her worth as so little. The audacity was unbelievable. After slapping his hat back on his head with a scoff she stood, composing herself. “Suit yourself, I’m going for a drink.” With a huff and a swish of chiffon she spun around and stalked towards the bar. She cursed herself for being so childish, and playing such a child’s game. Perhaps she was just frustrated that she seemed to have no control over the detective at this moment. She hated that. If she was playing a game, she wanted to be in control of all of the players. Any uncertainties rendered it impossible for her to endure.

Or maybe she was simply confused. This was not how Ashley was supposed to respond to her, not how he usually responded to her. Was his eye so fickle? Had she lost his attention so quickly?

Emerald was suddenly aware of how alone she was at the bar, how she could not see the detective through the crowd, how he could not see her. Foolish. She almost forgot a murderer was on the loose and a grave sat empty with her name engraved in the stone above it. She folded her hands uncomfortably on the bar. Mickey, the bartender, appeared in front of her as if by magic or good fortune. “Ah Emerald.” His smile was a friendly one. “I’m glad to see you back, even if it’s not on the stage. Can I get you your usual? On the house.”

“You’re an angel, Mickey. I owe you a kiss for your kindness, I do.” She batted her eyelashes at him and he preened, leaning forward and presenting his cheek. She pressed a quick, crimson painted kiss to his cheek.

	“Aw shucks, anything for the leading lady. You pay my bills you know, with all the rich fools you bring in these doors.” He gave her a little mock salute before moving further down the bar to tend to the other patrons.

	“[i]You shouldn’t be here.[/i]” Her heart stopped, then began again with a quick and anxious rhythm that she felt in her fingertips and toes. She swallowed before turning around and eyeing the man that had settled himself next to her without her knowing. She recognized him, recognized the sad cow eyes that now observed her with urgency. It was the man she had spoken of, her silent watcher.

	“Why pray tell not? This is my club.” Emerald fought to keep the tremble out of her tone, keeping her eyes on the man instead of letting them flick to her table, wondering if Ashley could even see the exchange.

	“It isn’t safe, you’re not safe. If he were smart, he’d be here, if he were here, he’d kill you the moment he caught you alone.”
	
	“Who?”

	He shook his head frantically, reaching for the bodice of her dress. “You need to leave. He can’t take you, not you.” She tried to step away but his grasp was a tight one. His expression turned angry. “How could you be so foolish, coming here? I know you. I know you’re smarter than this!”

	Emerald’s heart was in her throat as she spoke. “Let me go, you ghoul! It would cost you near a fortune and then some for you to put your disgusting fingers on me, how disrespectful that you think you can do so for [i]free[/i].” 

	The commotion drew the attention of Mickey who had come back around with her drink. “Hey! Are you giving the lady here some trouble? Don’t make me come around the bar, mister. You won’t like what happens then.” 
	
	It was then that she noticed Mickey’s gaze was not the only one she and the man had attracted. Many of the patrons had stopped their indulgences and now looked on with curiosity. This was not good, attention was not good. This was not how this was supposed to go. Finally she sent a frantic glance in the direction of her table, hoping to find Ashley there. To her horror the table was vacated and Ashley was nowhere in sight. Had he truly left her here to the wolves? Bait to draw in the killer while he watched from safety?