There was a knock upon Star's door at the rupture of dawn. Mina thought she was dreaming but when it was accompanied by a stuffy voice from an overeducated Yarhard graduate, she knew her nightmare was continuing.

"Undergrad," Ashley said with haughty bemusement. "Rise and shine. I know you're in here."

"I'm not!" Mina screamed back at the door.

"Touche!" Ashley smirked and Mina slapped her own face stupidly.

She groaned and got up, heading to the door.

Star didn't allow Mina in her inner sanctum as she called it which was fair enough. It was only for her 'lovergirls' as Star called them. So Mina got sleep with all the pirate collectables.

When she opened the door, Ashley was dressed in her regular emerald pantsuit. Her orange mane was perfectly permed. She absolutely lacked any of the looseness of her appearance as Kitty Galore. It was a straightforward return to Miss Priss and Proper.

Ashley narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Sleeping in your clothes, undergrad?"

Mina wanted to chew Ashley out for that one. She knew exactly why she wasn't wearing pajamas. She had been robbed of an apartment.

Ashley held a cat glove to her chin. "I don't know why you're red and shaking, undergrad. I sleep in my clothes all the time. I go to bed dressed in business outfit and I don't move a muscle when I'm there. Then when I awake, I have created an amazing life hack. You look like you could use one for your whole life."

Mina absolutely loathed how cold and calculating this girl was. She made being perfect so unbearable to girls who stumbled over their words and random objects on the ground.

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"Why are you here so early?" Mina asked.

A quick glance over at the microwave clock said: "5:45."

"I am an early bird!" Ashley said. "Or more like an early cat! Plus, after you got a revealing peek at me at that nightclub I figured I'd return the favor!"

Mina glared at Ashley. She held up her arms showing off her baggy hoody and shot daggers from the her dark circled eyes. "Happy?! I guess I'm missing the five o'clock shadow, but luckily I waxed."

"That'll do!" Ashley giggled and waltzed in. "So let me just tell you in greater detail what I plan to do about your little mishap."

Mina was now wishing she could not just shoot daggers from her eyes but full butcher's knives too.

Ashley lounged on the couch. "So there's a very special psycho-therapist in town..."

Mina snickered. "I assume you go there for your irregular appointments?"

Ashley pursed her lips and held her hand aside. "Look undergrad. I don't have to help you..."

Mina immediately zipped her lips. "I'm sorry."

"That's better," she said. "Now let me tell you about this guy since I think he might be the lead you need. He specializes in hypnotism in order to solve repressed trauma. And he only works with high end clients. Celebrities often go to him for help with their irreproachable woes and he is said to create order and balance through is his hypnotic psychotherapy."

Even without a coffee, Mina was wide awake to hear this. Ashley pointed a cat glove at Mina. "Now undergrad. From what you've told me, your defense attorney-mentor-friend is a bit of a head case."

Mina frowned, recalling the disturbing scenes she has witnessed. "From what I'm learning. He's a head, shoulders, knees and toes case too. I didn't even know how damaged he was until I heard him shrieking when we tried to save him."

"I see," Ashley said. "And the fact he's hypnotized to be a mayor keeps him oblivious to what's going on and who he really is."

"You bet!" Mina said.

Ashley smirked. "It's actually quite obvious how you're gonna win this rather unfortunate court case, undergrad. And this is merely a testament to my genius."

"Enough gloating!" Mina exclaimed. "More GOATing!"

Ashley gave her lioness smirk. "If we figure out the key to dehypnotizing him with this hypnotist, we can create the biggest and best witness to Devillia's evil deeds. His name? Raven Lockwood, a kidnapped and brainwashed victim by the Aura organization!"

Suddenly, Mina grinned from ear to ear. Ashley may have been a catty kitty, but she had just given her the key to blowing this case wide open.

"My lawd!" Mina exclaimed. "Maybe you are a genius!"

Ashley giggled. "They don't call me top cat for nothing!"