Rose's Thorns

Fatal

Mathew Hanks could not believe he would ever be in this situation. He, the mayor of Mowrow was licking the feet of one of his citizens. It didn't count that the citizen was David orson, he is still the mayor and David a mere citizen but his brother had put him in this situation. He sometimes wondered how he got to become the chief judge with that brain of his but his conscience would always be there to remind him of his deed. He had pulled the strings and given him that position.

"Isabella had called, you didn't have to come all the way." David said once he took his seat opposite Mathew. He could see through the mask he was putting on, it hurt his pride to be here. The knowledge of that made him want to make him beg, let him feel even more miserable, maybe that will help in sending a message to the younger brother.

"I had to come, it isn't a matter that can be solved by a phone call or by the young ones."

"Well, a phone call from a young one has solved this. I'm willing to let this go after all, you have something I want." He stopped to look at the man's face and even though he had a remorseful look, his eyes said otherwise. He was enraged, wounded and David wondered why. He had not even started with any of them.

"Your daughter is your asset mayor but I am afraid her worth wouldn't be able to pay for another mishap. Inform your brother to enjoy his sleep, he is a free man."

Matthew swallowed in an effort to keep himself in check, he had to keep reminding himself just how much he needed the Orson's on his side.

"I'm very grateful for your understanding, I really don't know what came over him but I'll make sure nothing like this ever happens."

David nodded and signalled his assistant. The man took the hint and called on the waiting maids.

"Forget about all of that and let's have dinner." David said once the maids started swarming in.

**********

"Sir, the horticulturist is not in town, I'll try to get in touch with him to recommend another one." Ellis informed.

Theodore nodded his head despite wishing there was more they could do.

"How do they look now?" He asked even though Ellis had just answered that question.

Though the Chocolate Cosmos was not his ultimate favourite plant, it scent would always calm his senses and he could almost feel warmth from it. He had seen it only once before he had lost his sight but had insisted on having it and now, after years of keeping it safe, he had managed to lose it too.

"Sir," Ellis's sudden call came pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Are you okay?" He asked, scanning the area. He had almost tripped on a fairly large rock, the area had plenty of those which is why Theodore enjoyed the challenge ignoring Ellis's advice against following the path. For one, it was a rough stony path, and it was directly in front of the suspect's room.

Almost as if reading his mind, the door to the room opened and she walked out, heading directly to them.

Had she been spying on them?

"I'm fine, Ellis. I wasn't paying attention." Theodore replied continuing his walk, he was already late for office as it is, the news had come when he was about leaving and he couldn't help going to check on it himself, it didn't matter if he couldn't see them.

"I may be of help sir."

Ellis raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes scanning her for any sign of a joke or some prank.

"I heard, a flower in the garden is wilting, judging by the distress on your face you haven't found a way out, so I am offering my expert hands."

"You know something about flowers?" Theodore asked turning completely to her direction. That would be very unlikely, the streets would consider that kind of work useless knowledge that requires an unnecessary amount of effort.

"I do." She answered simply. She knew he wanted more than that but for some reason she wanted him to ask first

"How good are you?"

That is one thing about the judge that she would never understand, he would never air his doubts. It didn't matter how she had learnt it, where she had learnt it, all that matters was what concerned him, how good she is.

Turning to Ellis, she asked.

"You must have had someone dig some information about me right? Then you would have come across the brothel. The flowers around it and the ones in what is called garden of Eden, I had planted each one. It was my way of paying for the accomodation among others."

Theodore knew he shouldn't prod but the question came out before he could stop it.

"And was it enough or did you have to do other things?"

"I had mentioned it in court, I supply the rich with girls their taste, I was more of an agent, the best of them actually. It is not exactly easy for men to say no to pretty girls you know."

She may have sounded nonchalant but to a careful listener, the pain she assumed her cheerful chatter hid was evident.

"You would have made more if you agreed to be one of the girls, i heard a lot of them were falling over themselves for you." He said not even sure if he was making light if the conversation or doing the exact opposite.

She laughed at that, the sound of it raw and painful and this time even Ellis winced.

"I know right. I don't know what stupid sense of principle overrode my common sense then, all I know is that it feels almost akin to the one making me want to help you Judge. So would you allow me do it or you have an alternative?"

Theodore hesitated for a while but he knew even as he pretended to think, he would allow her do it and it wasn't because he couldn't get an alternative. No, it was simply because it sounded like something she enjoyed doing. The pride in her voice as she mentioned the garden was a stark contract to the shame when she mentioned her other hustles.

"Ellis, did you like the garden of Eden?"

Ellis looked at Theodore and back at Marina.

"I did, sir."

He watched as his response lit her face up, a bright smile lifting the corners of her lips and for the first time he didn't feel anger or pity or suspicion or disgust at the lady, this time he could almost understand why men were all over her, why they couldn't say no to her, why it was dangerous for her to be around them.