II. A Rare Casualty

The next week quickly came and Birdie found herself with Lily and Honor; the three were outside a café, sipping iced lattes and eating pastries. Lily and Honor updated Birdie on everything that had taken place, from the blueprint that Swindle H created to set up Harley's former maid, Linda, Swindle H and her demise, Ivory at the strip club, the Red Wolves attack and how Ivory was shot in the abdomen. Birdie keenly listened, and gasped that Ivory was shot yet again.

"That's absurd," Birdie said fiercely, "I cannot believe that those men shot Ivory on accident and then tried abducting her. I wonder what it was Charm needed."

"Red is still figuring that part out," Honor said.

"Being in a gang gives me a headache," Lily sighed and shook her head. Then, she gasped. "Did you two hear about the blood in Ivory's bedroom vent?"

Honor and Birdie's faces went white. Honor fixed her jet-black hair and coughed; her tan skin reflected off the sun. Birdie looked away, crossed out about the words blood and vent in the same sentence. Lily told them what had happen the week prior, and Honor believed that Swindle H most likely did it.

"She's dead," Lily whispered. "The men are still in room thirteen; Swindle H took her last breath in front of Blue, Red, and Harley. Swindle H was all bloody and was missing limbs; she begged for her life. Harley said Swindle H was in so much pain."

"Blue is so sick and demented," Honor shook her head, "What's wrong with him?

"I bet he's a psychopath," Birdie said slowly. "Have you met his father? That man is worse than Blue."

"You know, Blue is pretty sweet with Ivory," Honor said, "So, I think he's more of a sociopath."

The women agreed and began talking about who could have placed the mysterious blood in the vents.

"It was Blue," Lily said, "He's screwed in the head."

"Where was Ivory when it happened?" Honor asked.

"From what my sister told me; Ivory was asleep for four days straights. That's what Ivory told Rover."

"So, Blue drugged Ivory for the four days after she got shot and placed the blood in her vent," Birdie shrugged, "That sounds like something he'd do."

"I hate to ask a dumb question, but why would he do that?" Honor asked.

"I think he wants to scare her," Lily said, "Ivory fears Blue, and he does it to get a rise out of her, maybe."

Birdie shook her head. "No, I think he's trying to control her." The other two turned to Birdie. "Did you hear that he shredded her high school diploma??" the women gasped. "Ivory sent it to Swindle H because she didn't want Blue finding it. Everyone else has their diplomas, but apparently, Blue was angry that Ivory went behind his back and privately finished her GED courses. Harley told Fox, and she said Blue was furious that Ivory did that. Don't you see, Blue needs her for something, and I think the less options he gives her that prove she graduated high school, the more dependent she'll be. Without her diploma and with her information off the charts, no one will find anything on her; she won't survive unless she stays affiliated."

"Are you saying that Blue wants Ivory to survive off him?" Lily asked.

Birdie nodded.

"I didn't take Blue for a misogynist," Honor began thinking.

"No, it's definitely something else," Birdie said, and turned to Lily, "Your sister seems to know a lot. What did she tell you?"

"Generally, Harley tells me everything, but she hasn't said anything. Harley's been extra secretive with me. You don't think they'll kill Ivory, do you?"

Birdie scoffed. "Kill Ivory? Ivory's sweet; she won't do anything evil on purpose."

"Harley told me that Ivory ran out of Blue's office sobbing. Ivory felt that she offended Blue and apologized to him."

"She did offend him," Honor said and shrugged, "I mean, Blue's single, isn't he?" the women nodded. "And Ivory is going on a business date with him; so maybe it's business related. Maybe he sees her as a good business partner and doesn't want her leaving. Or because Ms. Campbell could find Ivory's information; Blue wants to be extra careful."

Lily and Birdie sent each other a look as Honor sipped her coffee. The two knew that Blue was hiding something, and that his whole tantrum wasn't business related. The two women said nothing else, and began speaking about a familiar man, and how Blue and Red think this man is up to something. Leech comes and goes, but Blue wants Honor to investigate it, and so far, she has no leads. Birdie and Lily said that Leech has been acting strange, and apparently, Blue never trusted him but has him around because Leech obtained private information on Ivory.

"Blue has this unusual interest in Ivory," Birdie said, "I think if we figure out what Leech has been doing, then we'll find out why Blue's acting like such a jackass."

The other two agreed and finished their lattes and pastries.

***

Later that day, Ivory was adding the last touches to her fancy business dinner outfit. She was wearing a long, skintight magenta dress, a gold necklace, and earrings. Ivory curled her hair and put on some makeup. Ivory was far from starved and felt anxious accompanying Blue for a business dinner. She wondered what would take place, what would be said, and if Blue would be mean to her like he had been the entire year. Ivory decided that she wouldn't speak unless prompted because Blue held an unpredictable temper. Blue was professional but she didn't want him reprimanding her on the way back. Ivory placed on closed toed heels and double checked her purse to make sure she had everything needed before leaving.

Blue told her that he'd meet her in the garage, so she made her way to the elevator when she saw bright purple. She figured it was Harley but didn't see the older woman when she turned. Ivory looked above and all around the hallway, but she was the only one there. That's when Ivory saw it, a huge transparent purple bubble. She gasped in bewilderment and amazement, and grinned.

"An orb," Ivory said out loud.

That's what she was seeing; Harley wasn't spying on her; she was seeing this huge purple orb. The orb made its way to her room, went through the door, and disappeared. Ivory wondered why the orb was purple and googled it when the empty elevator opened. Ivory smiled, seeing that something was trying to send her a message. Ivory felt something in the elevator and turned and grasped onto the elevator wall. It felt like time had stopped. She saw a tall, thin man with black hair; this man resembled her. The man smiled weakly and nodded before disappearing.

Ivory looked to see that the elevator reached the basement and the doors opened. She quickly ran out, seeing that the man wasn't there anymore, and no longer did she feel his presence. She wondered who the man could be and why he was making himself known to her. She also wondered why she and him looked alike.

Ivory shrugged away her thoughts and waited for Blue.