Go for Green

The Bloom is your goal, but the green pen...that would be something special, and really prove your worth. You know your decision before you even have pause to think about it.

The pen is, at the moment, with Holden. So you know he's one of the opposition, too. There's a couple of other suspects for the other members of his gang. The security guards are one, each with earphones in that could have concealed their protection against the strange 'fairy dance' you witnessed earlier. Ophelia Vincent is another hot candidate: one of the bridesmaids, she seemed particularly annoyed, rather than confused, when Alexandra stopped dancing. It was a strange reaction. You guess it was 'Rodney' - now 'Holden' that switched out the music, so there's no lead there. And then there's Travis, Maya's fiance. He was wearing some kind of ear buds during the dance, you think. Could he be another possibility? That might mean returning to Maya's lovely form.

"That was pretty wild, wasn't it?" A voice, strong and feminine, greets you. You turn and smile. She's an older woman, maybe in her mid-40s, with a powerful, striking face - the kind you expect to see in a boardroom. Her black hair is flecked with silver, and her bright red lipstick contrasts against the golden jewelry around her neck.

"Excuse me?" You say.

"The streakers. Thank goodness we packed the kids off to the entertainment in another tent, or to bed, to let the adults get on with the serious business. By which I mean drinking." She smiles, and raises a glass to you. "Clarissa Van Lewen. And you are?"

"Rich. Rich Breadworth. Old friend of Alexandra's."

"Oh? So the Vincents still have some old friends? There I was thinking we were the only ones."

You laugh, and so does she, a laugh that rings hollow, echoing with money. "So, are you enjoying this little get-together?"

"Definitely," you say, leaning over to a buffet table and helping yourself to one of the small finger foods. Some kind of seafood; it slips and slithers down your throat. "It's great to see Alex so happy, you know?"

"Of course," Clarissa's smile widens. "Although," she says, tracing a finger along your shirt, "it's not just for her, this wedding. Everyone is entitled to a good time. Some enjoy streaking...I... prefer to lose my clothes somewhere a little more... intimate."

You blush; it's Rich's reaction, but yours too. You're pretty sure you're being hit on. You look down at the wedding ring on her finger.

"Uh, aren't you..."

"Married? Spare me. Do you know what my husband has done today? Kept himself busy and out of the way. Constantly on the phone, making plans, talking to that gastly manager... Rod something? He even had headphones in during the reception. Headphones, I ask you. Probably listening to some sports game. Not exactly what you call attentive, is it? But you, Rich.. you, I am sure, would be very attentive. Very attentive indeed..."

She leans forward, whispering in your ear. "We can slip away, you know. You and I. You'd like that, wouldn't you... Rich?"

You think it through. Out of the corner of your eye, 'Holden' is distracted with Carma. You still have time to snag the Bloom, and you're certain that you could slip into another face at the wedding and get closer to some of your suspects;it should be easy enough to rebuff Clarissa. But Mr Van Lewen, whoever he is, sounds like one of your rivals in disguise, too. It would explain why he's been so neglectful with his wife. And you know that 'Holden' won't be making a move until the bridal suite. Perhaps you could head off with Clarissa, back to the hotel. There, you could either switch with her and grab Mr Van Lewen, or find someone Holden and ambush him as he returns to the hotel.