Hearing through the responses from the two, Mary again felt a sudden need to laugh. She wasn’t sure why, but something was comical and a smile leaked onto her face as a result.

[color=ed145b]“Oh, took long enough.” [/color]Mary was exhausted from waiting for the pair to deliberate between themselves. She abruptly stood up from the stool, stretched out her arms and rolled her shoulders, like she had been still for weeks. She pulled her jacket onto her shoulders, fitting into it. 

[color=ed145b]“Some last details. This is taking place at Thomas’s villa by the sea. A place called Meropis, really tacky. It’s near the Federal Shelter building for the homeless, because the gods enjoy their dark humor. Here’s a picture of the place and the girl. The party is at six o’clock tomorrow.”[/color]

Mary slung her purse across her arm next, and seemed about done talking. She glanced at the pair once again, potentially the last time. Instead of her usual impish face, she looked as serious as a statue. She glanced across the room, peering over into other conversations at a distance to examine for eavesdroppers before continuing with a heavy tone. 

[color=ed145b]“Marie is going to die at around midnight. Likely from a wound she received a couple hours earlier. I am not sure when it’s inflicted. What I suggest to you both, is you find and retrieve the girl and get her as far away as the villa as possible. Yourselves included. Take her somewhere safe, and wait the night out.”[/color] She passed over a picture, a photograph originally black and white but had been painted over with by an artist.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/FEkgSNJ.jpg[/img]

[color=ed145b]“It’s the only photograph of the elusive girl. It’s from a incomplete still, her dad made her model for some fashion shoot. Only one photo left from it. I got an artist to paint over it with some careful colors, fill out some details.” Mary explained. “She’s short. Shorter than me. Just turned 18. Shy, likes to read. All I could find.” [/color]

The peddler let the two keep the photo. Adding a black and white one of the villa house, the planned location for the fundraising.

“Here’s Meropis. It’s said to be the most splendid house on the west coast, with a beautiful view of the ocean. Honestly, kinda hope it falls into the ocean if anything. I think it’s an eyesore.”

[img]https://i.ibb.co/xgLdb5h/thomas-villa.jpg[/img]

[color=ed145b]“Alright, I’m done talking. I’ve said too much here, and I think it’s time you both get prepared. Everything is set, just do your job and make sure Marie is not dead by the time the clock strikes midnight tomorrow.”[/color] Mary said, her eerie and off putting smile had returned to her face once again.

[color=ed145b]"Figure out what you're going to do. I don't really care what happens. As long as Marie isn't dead. But don't use that as an excuse to become a criminal. Best of luck, and may whatever road you take be a good one."[/color]

The black haired mystery mistress gave a final farewell before departing like a shadow fleeing the light, walking out the bar's exit.