FASHION AND CRIME

ar exhaust and fried street food. She adjusted her bag over her shoulder, and looked

t," she muttered t

nks, insurance companies, and high-end businesses filled its floors. Secur

ng at the security guard stationed by

smile. "Evening, Amanda.

"As ready as

zzed with activity; workers leaving, others settling in for the night shifts. Phones rang

rs lit up with live feeds from the building's security camer

ounted for. Only a few high-ranking officials had access to t

t was Brian, one of the junior security o

he monitor. "If only. But

ah, but let's hope

screens. Everything was quiet

security monitors. The hallways were empty. The offices were q

ry low noise f

st, just a little hum from the

tiny electric sparks were

s twisting into disconnected lin

ghtened. "What

, slamming against the wall. Heavy boots s

hidden behind ski masks. Each mask wa

nder the fluor

e of them barked, his voice

lleagues froze, eyes widened, their hands trembling as they slow

ked toward Amanda's desk,

pointing his gun straight at

e knew better than to argue. With shaky hands, she reached

cond man snapped w

rembled as she pulled out the master keys. "P-please don

eys from her hand. He scoffed. "S

them with ease and turned toward the safes. He moved quickly witho

do they know? She asked herself and wondered if the mobster

tes. The mobsters worked fast, stuffing

little at first, and then lou

of the mobst

toward the door, they moved backward quickl

ou can...we

e with twitchy hands, grabbe

are you doing?"

h a flick, he set fire to a pile of pape

lowing the documents in seconds. Smoke curled

read rapidly across the room, climbing

g into the smoke-filled corridors, l

screeched to a stop outside. Officers stormed in, and th

rp eyes scanning the chaos. He spotted Amanda si

de her. "Miss, a

er mouth, but n

hat happened?" Wil

n blurry with fear. Her l

e officers. "She's in shock. Take her to

e jelly. As they led her out of the burning building, h

arly for trouble, but this was New Haven; the city that never rests. She heard people talking quietly outside, and s

was hungry. "Alright, let's get you some food," she said, patting his head as she headed t

d, and then she switched on the

t at Abibba's commercial house in downtown

time to think about it. With a little look

ed, rushing to the bath

red lipstick and she was ready to go. She grabbed her bag and patted Coco one last time before heading out. Cl

ice, sipping wine and thinking about how to expand his power in New Haven. The police

forward as the black-and-white footage showed his men moving through Abibba's corridors. They worked quickly, empt

They had sent a message; one tha

. He hired a hitman to kill Zagaff at a business gala, making it

he favor. Victor will soon k

movement as designers bent over their sketches, hands flying across pages, while models walked up an

dress catching the light, and everyo

vian's eyes lit up.

dress is made for you

y. "I couldn't help myself. It fel

area of the dress. "It sparkles

g the moment. But then, V

bout Abibba Hou

ed. "Yeah, I hea

the news this morning. T

asp broke

th. "My sister...Amanda! She

the studio

her phone. She quickly pressed the call

s no answer. She swallowed hard a

. "Come on, Ama

closer. "Try

st, her fingers tappin

you okay? Pl

ng at the phone wai

her shoulder. "The news said no o

her eyes stayed lo

tter filled the room again. But Anita wasn't listening. She d

"Is Amanda okay? She won'

Tony said. "She's a

h clenched. "T

open the safes. She's not in trouble

e had to sit down. Her legs

assured her. "She

quickly typed a me

e's at the police

She read the message an

e's okay. Let us know

, soft silk draping over the table. She ran her fingers over a rich blu