Missing Piece

Chapter 30

"Started coming here more frequently the last few months. I've always heard about this place, but always figured it was more for tourists." Kline explained and grasped at Charlotte's hand again. The glove covering it discarded from when he slipped it off her earlier. "Though, now being here I disagree... the beauties here shouldn't be just for tourists." He flirted, bringing her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. His tongue slinking out at the last moment to prick the back of her finger lightly. He pulled back suddenly, a faint blush adhering his cheeks as he tried to excuse himself. "Sorry! The kiss caught you off-guard, didn't it? Your beauty was too hypnotic, I didn't even realize what I was doing until it was too late!"

"Is she going to be alright?" One of the other mermaids commented as she swam over to the other girls gathering in the booth behind Cole's. Strangely enough, while they didn't know much of the technician, they couldn't help but feel more comfortable behind him and his constant angry stare. Almost as if it was protective. Probably due to the fact that no one dare to bother the already soured man without invoking his wrath. No one besides Charlotte, of course, not that the look did anything to the huntress.

"She took the guest from you right?" The other asked, twin tails bouncing as she turned to the mermaid who spoke first.

The other nodded. It had happened when she was about to put the drink down for the guest. Charlotte ghosted her hand over hers, blocking her hand from Kline. "Charlotte-chan said to stay away, but she looked to be in pain at the time." His hands wrapped around Charlotte's instead.

"Do you think he's the guy in Madam's vision?" The other whispered quietly and the other gasped, turning around in unison towards the table where Charlotte was at. The action far too animated and in sync to be subtle.

"It's amazing how Charlotte-chan figured out it so quickly. I mean, he looked so normal. Don't you think so?" They snapped their heads over the divider, eyes locking onto the silent male brooding in the other table.

Cole jumped at the sudden pair of eyes and intense stare. "Yeah..." He grumbled under his breath, unable to disagree. He had thought she'd be the same while on a job but he was wrong. She was more serious, hard to read, and most of all dedicated. There was nothing she couldn't do, if there were, she'll learn it with zest. Anything to get the job done. Though that begged the question, where was this focus in her hunt with Law? He sighed, pivoting. "Who's the handsy guy anyway?" He hated to admit it but if she was. They'd lose their Captain by now. His face soured at the thought.

"A recent regular. He's a scorpionfish fishmen by the name of Kline."

What the hell? Cole scoffed, blowing at non-existent hair away from his face. Hazel eyes watching the two flirting. Kline showing off by creating a doll out of thin air. The plushie looking just like the mermaid Charlotte. I thought the target was supposed to be some guy named Joval?

The night before in the backroom of Mermaid Café, Charlotte squinted at the mermaid leading them. She looked rather familiar. The woman laughed, seemingly in the same thread of thought. "I'm Camie, by the way!" She explained and Charlotte let out a 'oh' in recognition. She was the mermaid in the fishbowl.

"Madam Shyarly has been expecting you." Madam Shyarly, Baako's unrequited lover, and the fortune teller who saved them, and the real client behind this case. Camie paused by the large doors, examining Charlotte closely. "I've never heard of a mermaid drowning before."

"That's because I'm not a mermaid." Charlotte corrected easily despite her tail curled behind her. "I'm a human who traded my legs for a fish tail."

"WHATT!?!? YOU'RE A HUMAN WITH A FISH TAIL!" Cami shouted, crashing and opening the large doors as she jumped back. Her mouth opened comically wide. Charlotte simply nodded as if it was commonplace to trade legs for gills.