Perhaps it took longer than I would have liked to admit to stop staring after Weiss. The subtle hint of her perfume still hung in the air. Lavender and something else, maybe jasmine. It intoxicated my senses. Half of me thought it would be a very good idea to sprint down the stairs and invent an excuse just to talk to Weiss again. That half of me didn't get out very much.

I took one last breath of her perfume and slunk back into my office. It smelt of her, but the open windows were doing their best to overpower the scent with car fumes from the road below. The pollution was preferable. It might get me high, but at least I'd be able to think about more than my crotch.

I needed to. Weiss' check still sat on my desk. I picked it up, held it to the light, rubbed it between my fingers. It didn't feel like fifteen grand. Not that I knew what that was meant to feel like. Heavier maybe?

Still, judging by my luck, I wouldn't be surprised if it bounced. If Weiss and her story was just an elaborate prank. It was too good to be true. Just when I had no options left, a beautiful woman walks into my office with a truckload of money? It just felt wrong. Surely Yang would soon send me a YouTube link with my face on the thumbnail. Still, there was the smallest chance that Weiss was on the level. That she wasn't too good to be true. And in that case, I had work to do.

Weiss' business card wasn't much help. It was farfetched to even call it such. It contained nothing more than her name and a generic email. WeissSchnee1 . Unless someone else's parents were needlessly cruel, I was willing to bet who owned WeissSchnee .

I would have liked to say that it was unusual for people not to trust me. But it wasn't. Hiring a private investigator still wasn't considered an above-board move. At least Weiss hadn't done the whole hat, scarf, and sunglasses inside routine, but she had established her boundaries, and I would respect them.

Caffeine was my friend, dirty mug or no. I needed something to counteract the whisky. Weiss might be a too good to be true enigma, but I had the most important tool in an investigator's repertoire: Google. People didn't realise how much information they put online and made publically available. Cheating husbands would upload geotagged photos of their food while they were on an illicit date. They'd leave their fitness apps logged in and connected. Hell, some people would fish for likes while doing the dirty. Here's a tip, if you're cheating on your spouse, don't friend the person you're cheating with. Or actually do. It makes my job much easier.

Weiss hadn't made those mistakes. A name unique as hers should have brought her Facebook straight up. It didn't. Either she didn't have one, or she had actually read the privacy agreement. Yeah… like that ever happened. She wasn't famous. That was something of a surprise. I would have expected someone looking like her to have had a modelling or acting career. Apparently she didn't unless she used a pseudonym. Or maybe Weiss was a pseudonym? That was possible. I still couldn't understand why two sane people would choose to call their daughter 'White Snow'. Pretty name or no. It made her sound like a Disney character.

Google had failed me. I went deeper. Most of my work was done from behind my desk. Telephone directories, business listings, as the searches continued to return nothing, the check began to seem more insubstantial. I definitely needed to cash it before I did any more work. Though then again, it wasn't like I actually had pressing things to do. Not if you didn't count sitting and playing Overwatch.

It was only when I was searching a database of NGOs did the mystery begin to unravel. A hit. Clearwater Prospects, and guess who was listed as its founder? If anything that made Weiss even more improbable. On top of everything else, she worked for a charity. Could she get any more perfect?

It was a worthwhile charity too judging by the website. The staff weren't named, and it had been founded fairly recently, but their mission—in slightly less flowery terms—was to ensure all people living in the city and eventually the world had access to safe and clean tap water. With situations like Flynt and the government still doing nothing about it, any extra pressure on the authorities was welcome. There was sure to be a giant class-action lawsuit coming up. Maybe Weiss was looking to muscle in on the action.

The name of her charity managed to unearth a few more articles. Most vague with a few mentions of good deeds. One even named Weiss, though it was from such a small local newspaper it had probably appeared on page gazillion of Google. She seemed as elegant as ever in the interview, spouting pretty words about why she had founded the charity. Maybe it was sincere, maybe not, but I filed it all away in my head.

Even with her charity, no amount of Google-fu was able to unearth the name of her sister. I'd failed Weiss' first test, but I'd found out a lot more than she had bargained for. Or, then again, maybe that had been another exercise for my skills. Trust someone like her to be that confusing.

As much as I wasn't willing to go out on a limb, Weiss seemed real, and if she was real, so was her case. I flexed my fingers, cracking them over my keyboard, resisting the urge to add a small kick to my cold coffee.

I brought up the picture of the calling card again. I still didn't recognise it at all. The blood red skull and claw marks were intimidating enough. If their goal had been to intimidate presumably—hopefully—single women after they had been robbed, they were probably successful.

No combination of claw, skull, red, and other identifiers brought up anything remotely useful. Coming up blank, I kicked back in my chair, running my hands through my hair. It needed a trim, but I had better things to spend my money on. Like food. Slightly more important, even if mom wouldn't agree.

Though it was a godsend for people like me, Google wasn't the be all and end all. Sometimes detective work required a more personal touch. All good detectives built up a network of informants, and I was no exception—though most of mine weren't in darkened alleyways. I dumped the photos onto my phone and headed out of the door.

My thumb hovered over the Uber app before I pocketed my phone. Until Weiss' check cleared, I couldn't afford to run up any unnecessary expenses. It was a nice day anyway, and a walk would fill my quota of exercise. Maybe even get Ruby and Yang to stop trying to drag me to the gym.

Even after rush hour the air was filled with honks and I had to dodge past people on the sidewalks. It was a different crowd than it would have been an hour ago. Few wore suits. Now it was cougar hour. Well, cougars and crack heads. I'm not sure which I preferred. Probably the addicts. Some of the soccer moms were bored and they let me know it. I steered well clear of them. I'd been on one side of an affair enough times to realise I didn't want to be on the other. You never knew when a pervert was going to push a camera against the window.

It took about half an hour to get to my destination. I could have got their faster, but I had to stop to pick up vital supplies. It was very unwise to enter this particular building unprepared. It always made me nervous. Mostly because I didn't always enter through the front, or have a choice in the matter. A hazard of the job really.

I pushed on the shield engraved in the glass of the door and stepped into the air-conditioned lobby. A dozen sets of eyes swivelled towards me. Most idle, bored. Waiting out here was almost as bad as waiting in the back. I recognised the set of eyes behind the desk though. Who'd have thought? Two pieces of luck in one day. Karma seemed to be having a vacation.

I sidled up to the desk. I would have liked to say the man in uniform behind it didn't narrow his eyes when he saw my expression. I couldn't. Sometimes trouble followed me around. It wasn't like it was my fault, but somehow I'd acquired a reputation.

"Hey Ren. They got you stuck on desk duty again?"

"Don't you know it? Penance for a past life I'm sure." He accepted my fist bump. Not all cops are assholes. In fact a minority are and they gave the rest a bad name. Unfortunately I knew some of them too. "What brings you here? Let me guess, you want something?"

I slapped my hand to my heart and staggered back opened mouthed. The epitome of acting, that's me. "How could you suggest such a thing? You wound me sir."

Not all cops are assholes, but most don't have a sense humour. At least not when they've been sat behind a desk dealing with people like me for seven hours. Ren just stared. I hated when he did. He was far too good at it. He could even stop Nora in her tracks from a dozen paces. Well, maybe not if she'd had some Mountain Dew.

I dropped the dramatics. "Ok, maybe this isn't just a social call."

"Who'd have guessed?" Ren rolled his eyes. "So what trouble are you in now?"

See? Reputation. Entirely unearned in my opinion.

"None actually." I shouldn't have sounded as pleased about that as I did. "Is Ruby around?"

Ren smiled. "Probably. Her shift doesn't start for another twenty minutes, but she usually gets here early." I'd known that, and he knew, I'd known. "She does have a cell you realise? You haven't lost her number again have you?"

You drop one cell phone in the toilet and you never live it down. I should never have told anyone. I could have been mugged while saving a box full of puppies. Slightly more heroic, if less believable. "I haven't, but I wanted to see her." I jostled the brown paper bag in my hand.

"Oh… so that's why you're here."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." He didn't mean 'nothing'. "Give me a few moments." Ren picked up a desk phone and dialled a few different numbers. "She's on her way down."

"Thanks. How's the D&D campaign coming along? We still on for Saturday?"

Ren might not have looked the part, and he might have been a man of few words, but put him in a cloak and he changed. Gone was the mild mannered police officer, in his place stood Xuthos the legendary Game Master. Feared and worshipped in equal measure for his dastardly creations.

Ren bowed his head, his voice growing dramatic, wiser, like a wizard's. He didn't do a half bad Gandalf impression actually. "Darkness rises in the north. Will you be there to stop it Ser Knight?"

That's me. Jaune Arc, Paladin. Bringer of justice and order. Saver of damsels and slayer of monsters. I even have the breastplate and sword. It's more fun when you can dress up.

"Of course. No evil shall stand before the light." We got some funny looks from the other people in the waiting room. Oh well. We're nerds. Sue us. We'd been playing more D&D of late. It was one of the few things that didn't cost money. My friends didn't say that was why, but I appreciated it all the same. They were good people. One and all.

"What's this?" A black head of hair with red highlights appeared at my shoulder. The hair belonged to Ruby Rose. My best friend for as long as I can remember. And before you ask like everyone else, no, we're not an item, and no, we've never been an item. We're just friends, and that's the way it's going to stay.

"Evil's afoot." I kept my voice serious.

"Evil's always afoot. I don't know why it doesn't just take the bus."

Wow. That joke was something. And not something good. It took a moment for Ruby to process what she'd said. Mortified was the right word for her expression.

"God. I didn't just say that. I'm sorry. Please don't tell Yang."

If Ruby had one downside it was her sister and her bad jokes. They somehow managed to spread by osmosis. It wouldn't be long before we were all infected with corrupted senses of humour.

"We won't." Ren nodded sagely. "As long as you bring a pack of beer on Saturday." It wasn't much of a fine. We all chipped in. Even me, when I could.

"Deal," Ruby said. Her cheeks glowed bright red. They matched her hair. She didn't look much like your average cop. Not a muscle-bound brute or overweight patrolman. She was slight, five-six tops. Most criminals would look at her and discount her as threat, gun or no.

They learnt the hard way. You didn't become a black belt in Sambo by collecting bottle caps. Ruby could kick most people's asses up one side of the street and down the other. I should know. Occasionally I'd be brave or foolish enough to accept her offer to visit the local dojo. She said she was doing it for my own good. Yeah right. Unless my own good was being slammed to the mat time and time again.

"So why are you here anyway?" Ruby stood on the balls of her feet. She always did that, even if she didn't notice. She was permanently ready for action. It was what made her such a good cop. It had always been her dream to join the force, and she had done it. The uniform suited her. "Are you in trouble?"

"Why does everyone think that?" I sighed.

"Because it's normally true." The grin didn't quite take the sting from her words. She was only teasing as a best friend could. "So spill."

"Have you got somewhere where we can talk in private?"

Ruby rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "Yeah… not in trouble." She looked around. "That room's free. Come on."

I followed her through the sea of legs. It was unfair how some people glared at her. It wasn't her fault that they were stuck in this building. She was only doing her job. Cops got a bad rap. Most people only dealt with them in times of stress. Either when they or someone they knew had been arrested, or when they'd been a victim of a crime and couldn't understand why the cops hadn't put the entire CSI:NY team on it. I'd thought about being a cop. It wasn't for me. I wasn't strong enough. Ruby was though. She was strong enough for three people.

She led me into the small room off to the side and drew the blinds as I closed the door. She leant up against the table. "Ok… what's up?"

I smiled, showing my teeth. "Have I ever told you what a wonderful person you are?"

It was a good thing I was between her and the door, otherwise she would have just walked out. Not that I could have stopped her if I'd wanted to. Barred from a quick escape, she sighed. "I have a feeling I'm about to hear it."

"Well it's true. You're the most wonderful person in the entire world. And such a wonderful person deserves gifts." I brandished my brown paper bag under her nose. "I brought your favourite."

She extracted the box of strawberries from within. As I'd mentioned, it was always wise to pick up supplies before coming to the station. A little good will never hurt anyone. The strawberries were plump and ripe. You could count that as another bit of luck. I wasn't looking forward to when I encountered the other side of Miss Fortune.

Ruby's brow furrowed as she glared at me. "You do know I could write you up for bribing a police officer?"

"Bribing? So you're accepting it."

"Absolutely not." Her stern tone was ruined by the fact it was coming from around the strawberry already in her mouth. "That would be illegal." She offered me one. We'd taken part in this game enough times to know how it would play out. The fruit practically burst in my mouth, a wave of sweetness. "So why am I not accepting a bribe?"

I swallowed. "I've got a case."

Ruby lit up. Practically literally. She seemed to glow. I hadn't been lying when I said she was wonderful person. She was happier for me than I was. "That's fantastic Jaune."

One of the perks—or downsides depending on how you look at it—of being a best friend, was the other half feels they can confide in you. Ruby was the only person who knew just how badly my business had been going. She'd tried everything to help, even offering money. I hadn't accepted it. I couldn't.

Ruby threw her arms around me. My family had been huggers, but not like hers. She had it down to an art. Even her body armour didn't detract from the hug. Sure, some macho men might have said it was for pansies, but they didn't know what they were missing. Being hugged by a friend who cared about you was one of the most special feelings in the world.

I hugged her back. The top of her head only came up to my chin. Her hair smelt like strawberries. No surprise there. We were an odd friendship. We didn't look like we would suit each other, but we did somehow, and I was eternally grateful for it.

We broke apart naturally. We understood each other's rhythms. When holding on would just become awkward.

"So tell me, what is it?" I could almost see her vibrating from her empathic joy. The best of people.

"It's a big one. Like, really big." Her eyes widened at that. She didn't mean it. It hurt just a little bit. She was surprised it wasn't just another low-level infidelity case. I couldn't blame her really. She only had previous evidence to go on.

"Well don't leave me hanging."

"Ok… so I'm sitting in my office," Not drinking of course. My recent breakfast habits were something I hadn't shared with her. I didn't need the antagonism or the judgement. "And you'll never believe who knocked on my door. Seriously, think supermodel, just without the effort." Even now I didn't know if I'd just been imagining Weiss. No one could be that perfect. 'And she had white hair, like Elsa."

"So she was hot?" Ruby asked with a grin

That was why Ruby was my best friend. I could talk to her about hot girls and it wasn't weird in the slightest.

"Yeah. She was hot." That was definitely one way of putting it. "And she was rich. I'm talking seriously rich. As in she probably spent more on her shoes than I do on my apartment. And you should have seen her eyes. They looked like contact lenses. I've never seen anyone with eyes that blue."

Ruby tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "She sounds perfect for you."

"Yeah… wait, what?"

"Did you ask her out?"

"No. God no." What was Ruby thinking? "I wouldn't have a hope in hell with someone like that. She would have laughed in my face."

Ruby bit her lower lip. "Jaune, how many times do I have to tell you? You're a better catch than you think you are. Most girls would be only too happy to call you their boyfriend."

I laughed. I couldn't help it. It was true Ruby told me that a lot, but she hadn't seen Weiss. If she had she would have joined me in laughing. Regardless, as usual Ruby was just being herself. Far too nice. If I really was such a catch, why was I always the one who had to make the first move? I wasn't some hunk who women always threw themselves at. Instead I was an awkward, slightly gangly, nerd. Not exactly prime boyfriend material.

"Come on Ruby, you know that's not true." I wished it was. I wish I had someone to go back to after a hard day's work. To listen to me complain and to offer support. Sure, Ruby did that, but it just wasn't the same. She had her own apartment, her own life. She didn't need me dragging her down twenty-four-seven.

Ruby sighed. "I know things are a bit difficult at the moment, but you need a more positive outlook. At least when it comes to yourself. Jaune, you're nice, you're funny, and I know if I ever need help you'll be there for me. You're a good guy Jaune, however you see yourself. Perhaps you should come to dojo with me on Friday. I've told you how much it would help if you got fit. I mean actually got into a routine. There's a beginner's class I'm helping teach. Why don't you just try it? You'll have fun."

For as long as I could remember Ruby had been trying to get me involved in martial arts. I'd tried. It just wasn't for me. She didn't seem to get that. That something which worked for her might not work for someone else. She didn't understand just how hard it was to find the energy to put on a robe and get beaten up after a day's work.

"Maybe." I couldn't have been very convincing judging by how her face sank. Maybe I should. Just this once. I hated upsetting her. Ruby and sadness went together like chalk and cheese. They just shouldn't mix. "Anyway, she's a client. It would have been unprofessional."

"True, but that's not the reason you didn't ask her." Just like that Ruby cut through my excuse. We both knew it. We could have argued some more, but neither of us wanted to ruin the morning. "So what's this mysterious beauty's name?"

"Weiss. Weiss Schnee."

"Weiss Schnee?" Ruby half closed her eyes. "Doesn't that mean?"

"Yep." Ruby tried not to burst out laughing. It was a close run thing, and as she normally did she managed to set me off. "White Snow."

"She sounds like a Disney character or something." See? I'd told you.

"Funny you should mention that… you know Anastasia, the animation?" Ruby nodded. "Well Weiss just happens to be related to her."

"Wow. So she's a princess?"

"I don't think so. She said distant relative. And anyway, you know what happened to the Tsar."

"But she has royal blood?"

"I guess."

"So you had a real-life princess in your office, and you didn't ask her out?" She was teasing me this time.

"You're not going to let this drop are you?"

"Nope," she said the word in the way she always did, where she refused to acknowledge the existence of an alternative. "Not until you at least ask her. You can wait until she's all grateful. What have you got to lose? The worst case scenario is she says 'no'. It's not the end of the world Jaune."

Not much to lose, apart from my dignity. That was in mere shreds as it was anyway. I could appreciate why Ruby was making an effort, even if I couldn't appreciate her making it. She was just concerned for me as usual.

"I'll think about it." I'm sure I would. No doubt Weiss would be paying a visit to my dreams at some point. She'd made that much of an impression.

"Good." I'm not sure it was possible for Ruby to look any smugger than she did in that moment. She'd won and she knew it. "So why did she hire you?"

"So Anastasia, right? You remember the music box in it? Weiss got burgled and wants me to get it back."

"The music box? That's a real thing?"

"Yep."

"Are you sure she's not a princess?"

"Fairly. But take a look." I scrolled to the photos of the box and passed my phone to Ruby.

"Damn… It's beautiful. It must be worth a fortune."

"Apparently it is. Not that I think Weiss has much of a concept of money."

Ruby paused for a moment her eyes lost in the beauty, before she spoke. "Jaune… no offense, but if it's worth that much why did she come to you? I mean, surely she should have gone to the police."

No offence. It's funny how people always say that immediately before saying something that will offend you. It's like 'I'm not racist, but…' There was always a 'but'. Ruby didn't mean to offend me—she had at least been honest in why she had said it—but it didn't stop it hurting. I forced a smile. I had asked the same question after all.

"She's gone to the police, but that's actually why I'm here. Apparently the guy who did this is rather prolific. He leaves a calling card. Just scroll over. I was hoping you'd be able to help me out."

Ruby thumbed over and her eyes widened. "It's one of these?"

"You recognise it?" This had been a long shot, but I'd taken the chance and it had paid off. I almost punched the air.

"Yeah." Ruby passed my phone back and stood up, straightening her bullet-proof jacket. "I can't help." She looked just past my ear as she spoke.

I moved back into her line of sight. "Why? You recognised it."

"I don't want anything to do with this."

"What?" Ruby had managed to create space between us without moving.

"I can't help you Jaune. I'm sorry." She sounded it.

"Why?" I crossed my arms. It wasn't like Ruby to just clam up like this. "You always have before."

"This isn't like before," she snapped at me. Actually snapped. "This is organised crime. The feds are involved. And that means I don't want to be."

The feds. I hadn't quite expected it to be this serious. Though if people like Weiss were getting burgled I shouldn't have been surprised it was getting more attention than your standard petty theft. Still, I needed something. "Come on Ruby. Just do this one thing for me."

I knew the moment I finished speaking it was the wrong thing to say. Ruby's lips drew into a thin, pale line.

"Do this one thing for you?" she growled. "After everything I've done? How many times have I risked my job running licence plates? You did realise I'd be fired if anyone found out right? I knew that, but I still did it because I wanted to help you."

"I know, but—"

Ruby cut across me, her hands clenched into fists. "Oh, but that's not enough. I told you the feds were involved and you still asked. I can't believe you. They'd arrest me the moment I stuck my head through the door. Do this one thing for you?" Her body trembled. "Tell you what Jaune, fuck you!"

She thrust her way past me, her shoulder ramming into my own. It hurt, and she'd meant it to.

"Ruby, stop!" I chased her out into the waiting room. Everyone around no doubt appreciated the drama to lift the tedium. Ruby shrugged away from my fingers. Without slowing down or even looking around, she stormed towards the nearest restricted door and slammed it right in my face.

A/N: Another chapter and more characters introduced. I hope you enjoyed. If you have any thoughts please leave them in a review. And if you don't want to miss an update follow/favourite.

I also released a special Halloween one-shot so read that if you want to find out what a zombie outbreak would be like at Beacon.

Thanks for reading.