“The red dahlia, huh? Pretty and toxic.” The editor smiled as he read the front page of the paper “unexpected deaths, with traces of poison…13 men have been found death, most of them abusers” he drank some coffee “interesting” he finished. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgLxKIvopG
A knock sounded and then the door opened, a woman in her 20’s entered. Her hair was a slick black and fell in soft waves and her eyes were a beautiful chocolate brown. “Oh, Mr. Kinnison, I didn’t think you’d be here today” the girl said, Dustin smiled. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCgrkqa68F
“Brooke, good to see you. I was just going over Mr. Frost’s latest post” he said, Brooke sat down her bag and looked at the newspaper he had slid to her across the desk. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKOCP0T84f
“The Red Dahlia. I’ve actually heard rumors about her.” She said, Dustin raised an eyebrow. “I heard that she used to be abused so she learned to grow poisonous plants and started to hunt down men one by one” she said lowering her fingers as if she were counting. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57SYEIOhEa
“Almost sounds believable.” He said, she smiled and sat down. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEJliQ9xtM
“Oh, Mr. Kinnison. I’m having a dinner party tomorrow night if you’d like to come.” She said, Dustin smiled. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYgbNbo7Os
“I’ll be there.” 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXxWUWDSGx
“Perfect”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2A0hSMlJ6
“Mr. Kinnison! Please come in!” Brooke said with a bright smile, Dustin chuckled and entered her home looking at the gothic interior. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OpuRcT1A6
“Your home is beautiful “ he said, Brooke giggled and lead him to a dining room where 2 women and 3 men sat. She pulled out a seat for him and then straightened her skirt. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdf9uRpvQl
“I’ll get the tea.” She said leaving for the kitchen.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQA4S7Pnm5
Brooke hummed as she stuffed tea leaf holders with rose petals, mint, and lilac and more before pouring some cups and taking it to her guests. The women with blonde hair sniffed the sweet aromas before sighing “you always make the best tea.” She said, Brooke smiled and sat down at the head of the table. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWcyJBTCYd
“Thank you, lily” she said, Lily smiled. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYV7sjVuEf
Dustin stared at his tea suspiciously part of the scent stinging his nose while the others chatted, he looked up at Brooke who caught his eye and smiled. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLuw5EPxyH
“Restroom?” He mouthed, she pointed down the hall and he stood leaving for it, Brooke watched him disappear around the corner before returning to the conversation. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A70mH8N0o
Dustin exited the bathroom with a sigh as he looked around before his eyes stopped on a garden behind black wrought iron gates, he walked over slipping through the open crack admiring the roses, Lily’s and spider plants. He stopped staring at some of the plants he didn’t recognize, definitely not flowers. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QPzBJRVP5
“Wait-“ 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzt9RU4BmX
“I see you’ve found my garden” Brooke said entering the garden running her fingers gently down the stem of a pink carnation, Dustin turned to her as she stroked the leaf of a monstera leaf. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGzxPN6rVx
“It’s beautiful “ 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63ecBAjwg1
she smiled “I grow many things, flowers, tropical plants, trees…” she paused pulling on a glove and picking off an oleander leaf “poison.” She said. Dustin stiffened. “But of course, you already knew that. You didn’t touch the tea I gave you because you have the scent and mind of a lion” she smiled, He raised an eyebrow but nodded. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSeMRSF75t
“People usually serve wine at dinner parties…and your guests…are all abusers.” He said, she nodded walking towards him and placing a finger under his chin. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i1Lr96IYb
“But not you” 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZgz3MCcQb
A thud sounded from the kitchen.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ODBQEV6wp
“I have a feeling you’re different.” She smirked “I have a feeling you have blood on your hands as well” she finished plying off her gloves and tossing them aside, he relaxed. “So all that’s left to ask is if you’re willing to work with me.” She questioned, a tea cup shattered and he smiled, 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTUFlNqchD
“Of course” 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxduyeHFmxk
As they returned to the dining room she sighed “I liked that tea set…” he sat down and looked at the guests sprawled out on the floor, lifeless. Brooke joined him and handed him a cup of green tea, they cheers’ed and took a sip. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDrBFSEdLo
“To the Red Dhalia and the Black Assassin.” 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4IgR1cJgx
“Cheers.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeDzM31LRp
