The Missing Necklace (on editing/revision)

Prologue

Republic City, 1921

Euphoria always filled my veins whenever I was up on stage, it was always a second home to me. Expressing my feelings through enchanted symphonies and lullabies while people enjoy and drink in silence is what I adore most in the world. This is why, as I poured my melody into the mic tonight, it was odd to not be enjoying it; making me feel awful about it. I wasn't giving it my all and I could feel the disappointment from my accompanying band in the background, not to mention the one I felt for myself. The lyrics spilled beautifully from my lips, don't get me wrong, but with my mind elsewhere, and so was my stage presence on this Saturday night.

I softly sighed in content as the band hit the last note of the song and the round of applause erupted from the crowd, breaking the silence they once had before.

"Thank you, everyone. Your kindness is always appreciated." I found myself saying, gently bowing before them. "We will have a small break, and then my partner Kya will serenade you with her angelic voice for the rest of the night." I gestured to my right, where Kya met my gaze with a wink and a soft smile. "Have a good night!"

After the second round of applause died down, I made my way down to the bar that was filled with chatter and soft music, meeting a few people on the way, before sitting down in the seat always reserved for me. I know that sounds a bit entitled, but it was more of a favor my good friend did for me every night I sang. It had become somewhat of a tradition, and It'd be ungrateful on my part to not take it.

"You never disappoint, Asami" I looked up into the emerald eyes similar to my own, ones that I knew like the palm of my hand. Kuvira, my best friend, stood behind the bar slowly sliding the dry martini glass in front of me. "Though, I could feel your worry all the way back here. You haven't found your necklace?" She finished, leaning down against her arms on the table.

"No sign of it..." I sighed, slowly stirring the olive around the burning liquid in the glass. "It's as if it has vanished! I've looked everywhere. I take it off one night to accessorize my black dress with one of my other necklaces and this happens."

"It's been only a day. At least you'd know if it was being auctioned somewhere" She gave me a reassuring shoulder squeeze and sipped on her drink.

"I suppose you're right..." I breathed out and took a sip from the glass. I looked down at my hands, feeling my eyebrows dip in frustration. "It feels longer than a day. These past twenty-four hours have felt like years, Kuvira."

"I know, doll..." I felt her fingertips graze against my chin, gently lifting my face to hers. She placed a cigarette between my lips and lit it with the lighter she always had in her back pocket. Do I seem this stressed? I moved my head back slightly, took a long drag, and looked up at her; meeting a small smile from her part. She reached underneath the bar and pulled out a card with some writing on it.

"I've been asking around..." She said, while I exhaled the smoke and quickly put the cigarette out on the ashtray. She stared at me and raised her eyebrow. I obviously had interrupted her train of thought.

"That was a perfectly new and expensive cigarette, Asami" She rolled her eyes trying to salvage it from the pit of ash.

"Maybe you should have asked me if I wanted one before wasting it, love." I chuckled softly earning one of her own and turned my attention to the card placed before me. It had a small magnifying glass on top of some letters that read Private Investigator K. Smith. Below them, a phone number and working hours. "You were saying?"

"Well before you ruined my last garette..." She leaned down again. "...I was saying that I was asking around and someone told me about this P.I. in town called K. Smith. The person I asked says he is the best in the business and finds everything you ask for. He happened to have this card with them. Something about a cheating wife?" She shrugged. "Anyways, this guy gave it to me. The address is on the other side of the card." She flipped it over, revealing the lines that were written on the back, and pushed it forward so I could take it. Once I did, my eyes scanned the address and bit my lip in thought.

"This isn't even two blocks away from here..." I flipped the card and saw the hours, taking a long sip of my drink. "...and he closes his office in fifteen minutes. Do you reckon I should go see him tonight?"

"Honestly, Asami, I really do think so. The quicker you go, the quicker you find your necklace; and I'm sure you can make it on time" She straightened up, taking my now empty martini glass. "You have nothing to lose by trying."

I nodded standing up and reaching up to her. I gave her a long peck on the cheek, flashing her a warm smile. "Kuvira, what would I do without you?" I saw her smirk turn into a full grin.

"Probably be a successful but really sad engineer." We both laughed and she kissed me on the cheek. "Take care and call me if you need anything." I gave her another cheek kiss before I turned around and walked to the exit of the Club.

The cold air of Republic City hit me all at once when I stepped out, causing a shiver to run down my back. It had rained, that was for sure. The wet, busy street was filled with cars and cabs but, since the place I needed to go was so close by, I opted on walking there. My feet will certainly hurt tomorrow and I'll regret not taking a cab. Still, I couldn't help but feel hopeful about this new opportunity. Could this be the answer to finding my necklace? Kuvira was right, it's not like I lose anything by trying. Speaking with this private investigator was better than sitting around just thinking about how much I miss and need it back.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice when the sidewalk turned empty and when I had reached my destination. It looked like an old apartment complex, fire escapes all around it. I made my way to the directory and noticed that thankfully -given my sore feet, courtesy of my performance heels-, his office was on the second floor. After quickly making my way up the flight of stairs and down the hall, I was met with a wooden door with a glass window on the top half of it. I could feel the atmosphere thicken as I read the words engraved on the glass. Private Investigator: K. Smith a magnifying glass in the center The best detective, and you must deal with it. I rolled my eyes at the cockiness of this K. Smith. Then again, if he's as good as Kuvira mentioned, I suppose he's entitled to it. I brought my fist to the door and knocked louder than I intended to, wincing at myself for it. The waiting time, which was surely only two seconds, was agonizing and I couldn't help but shift on my stance because of the stress.

"Come on in, it's open!" A rather feminine voice spoke from the inside, which made me bring my eyebrows together in confusion. I slowly opened the door to meet the silhouette before me. The person was leaning back on their chair, feet up on the desk, and a fedora resting over their eyes.

My eyes began scanning the small space unconsciously, trying to take in all the details; or, at least, most of them. The desk, where her feet rested, was made of dark oak and filled with papers and the lamp that was the only light source of the room; two chairs in front of it and one behind it where the person was sitting. Behind them, there was a vertically long window, with a limited view of the city, and two bookshelves on either side of it. Those were filled with books and papers that seemed important but also very messily distributed. My eyes finally landed back on them, my head tilting in confusion and wonder. Was he a woman? The person must've noticed my stalling and surprise because they spoke again to break me from my trance.

She had stood up and was leaning against one of the bookshelves. "Are you going to stand there?" I looked up to meet the most piercing blue eyes I've ever seen. "Or are you going to tell me why did you interrupt my nap?