Chapter 2(Bellatrix): Dead Drop
#3 of Bellatrix
Bellatrix's day job an night job are vastly different, but what kind of work is she up to?
(Another Chapter in Bellatrix's life but unfortunately this was the last one of this specific story before writers block halted my progress on this one.)
Bellatrix sprinted home after work to change out of her work clothes. She pulled on an grey uneven sweater with one sleeve and secured the four leather straps to he right arm before grabbing her green and grey collared coat. She retrieved the card from the table by the door to check the information again and glanced up at the clock. She had eight minutes. Pulling the coat collar up around her face she slipped down the stairs of her apartment building and into the dark streets.
Once around the corner from her destination, Bellatrix began scoping out the area. She was unfamiliar with the location as this wasn't her usual drop spot, which was cause for suspicion.
Glancing at numbers she found her door down an alley. The flickering light put her on edge. Looking around again to make sure she was alone, she crept to the plain metal door. Heart racing she tapped twice, the sound falling flat against the thick metal. She inhaled and held her breath as she pulled on the handle. The latch clicked open. Inside was dark but she could see there was plenty of space to step in. Checking around again she almost hoped someone would see her as she slipped in.
As her eyes adjusted to the light in the dim room she could see the outline of metal bars in front of her. Panic began welling up inside the normally fierce cabbit. She reached for the door behind her to find it was still unlocked. She relaxed a little and took a breath to calm down. She looked to her right and found a stack of small lockers. She could just barely make out the numbers on the small metal plates in the gloom. Even if she had forgotten the locker number there was only one she would have been able to open. A lone key was slotted in the lock of the locker labeled '385'.
Bellatrix reached out to turned the key and pulled the door open. Inside was a small black box. She removed it and gently closed the door. After a quick peek under the lid of the box she stashed it in her coat and immediately left out the door. Quickly sprinting down the alleyway and back into the street, she kept up a brisk pace until she was back in familiar territory. When she felt it was safe she picked a dark door step to take a closer look inside the box.
"Yes," she breathed, eyeing the clip of money. She removed the lid to take hold of the cash when a small yellow envelope fell from the lid. Her nose twitched in confusion.
"Heya, Bells," a familiar voice called. She snapped out of her thoughts to see Ryker just stepping out into the street from the restaurant behind him.
"Heey, Ryker..," Bellatrix responded her voice faltering.
Concern crossed his face. "Everything alright?"
She shook her head quickly, "Yeah, it's- I was just picking up a thing," she lifted the box up for him to see. "Was just checking if it was what I ordered," she forced a laugh.
He nodded, eyes still locked on her. It was then she noticed he wasn't alone. A small blonde fox was next to him clinging on to his arm, staring daggers at Bellatrix.
"Bells, this is Queenie," he said gesturing to her. "Queenie, this is my friend from work, Bellatrix."
"Nice ta meet ya," she said voice pitching weird.
Bellatrix internally shuddered and gave a look to Ryker with a held tilt. He gave her a small smile and half shrugged.
"Baby, let's go," Queenie interrupted, seeming to notice the exchange.
"It was nice meeting you Queenie," Bellatrix called concealing a laugh as she pulled him out of sight. "I'll see you at work tomorrow Ry-Ry."
"Sure thing Bells," he laughed throwing her a wink.
She laughed, she could tell the fox was growling the whole time.
Once back in the safety of her apartment, she slid down with her back against the door to the floor. She tossed the box of money to the side with her coat and held the yellow envelope between her paws.
"So strange," she muttered out loud. I never get an assignment with a payment, she thought.
She pulled open the flap and read the message on the small card:
Investigation Nov. 11th, Approx. 9:30pm
Delton Ave, Shipping Yard/Warehouse
Payment: $2000
Bellatrix looked over the card several times. This is what her usual assignments consisted of. But never had they come with a payment. There was plenty of time for this assignment to get to her too, being six days away and all. Looking at the payout again she was sure it had to be a mistake. Her previous payout was only $600. Why so much for such a simple job?
She flipped the card over. The only thing on the other side was a golden 'G'. No call back number, no meet up point.
"This is so strange," she repeated again. Unable to think anymore she picked up the box and set it on the coffee table with the card and flopped onto the bed, burying her face in the pillows.