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are cordially invited to the
Black Hearts Club.
Rooftop
55 North Terrace
Adelaide.
Tonight. 11:00 p.m. Sharp.
“Ladies, back to painting,” Ms. Silver’s sharp tone brought Vickie back to reality. She quickly folded the black paper back into a heart-shaped envelope, and slipped it into one of the pockets in her vest. Before the teacher could speak to her again, she picked up her brush and dipped it into some green paint and began working on the background.
“What are you going to do?” hissed Ruby as she got back to her painting since their easels were close to each other.
“I’m not going.” Vickie set her jaw. There was no way she was going to waste any more of her time by going to the Black Hearts Club. It was too upsetting for Ruby, and now seeing the invitation again, the questions burned for answers in her mind about George’s past lovers. This wasn’t going to end well.
Vickie glanced over to see Ruby painting quietly, her facial expression deep in thought. This wasn’t a club that was going to be good for either of them. If only Ruby hadn’t seen the invitation, then she could simply dispose of it and pretend the Black Hearts Club never existed.
But, of course, Vickie never chose the easy option. There was now a new batch of questions to get answers to. This time, George’s name was on the invitation. That meant something. But what exactly? This meant that even though she didn’t want to go, she had to. The question was would she take Ruby or go by herself? There was no way she was going to tell George about this.No way.He wouldn’t like it one bit, and she was sure if he came along, she wouldn’t get the chance to find the answers she wanted. He’d keep by her side and scare off anyone looking at her. She had to go by herself. She just needed to make sure that Ruby wasn’t about to come along. She had, after all, seen the invitation and knew all of the details.
“Did the Black Hearts live up to your expectations?” she asked Ruby.
Ruby shot her a stormy glance.
“It’s best we both forget about this club,” added Vickie.
“No.”
A sinking feeling hit Vickie’s stomach. It wasn’t going to work to convince Ruby not to come with her if she’d made up her mind to come along.
Ruby scoffed. “I want to go and have a fun night. It’s worth another shot.”
“You actually want to go back?” Vickie twirled the paintbrush in her hand as she thought about what Ruby was saying.
“We’re a team. We’ve got each other’s back.”
“This isn’t a mystery to solve,” said Vickie. Though she was beginning to think that, indeed, it was.
“Maybe, maybe not, but we need to at least go and see for ourselves.”
Vickie wasn’t so sure. She’d put Ruby’s life in danger enough times already.
Ruby sighed in frustration. “You want to take George with you?”
Vickie chuckled. Her friend had a very good point. They had survived one evening in the Black Hearts Club without their cover being discovered. They could do it again.
“On this venture, I do believe that you’re better suited than George.” There was no way she was about to confront George on his past lovers or tell him about this little escapade. One thing was certain, there was something going on here, and she wanted to find out what.
“Good, you’re going, then,” said Ruby quietly. “And I’m coming with you.”
A shiver of excitement coursed through Vickie. This was turning into a chance to solve a mystery, and it was right up her alley.
“Looks like we’re going shopping,” said Ruby, a cheeky glint in her eye.
“And the shopping is just to make you feel that bit more… better?”
“No, George needs a new outfit tonight. There’s no way he can go in public wearing that old suit. In fact, I told my maid to give it away this morning.”
