Mina awoke that morning from her troubled dream. She was drenched in sweat and breathing hard, but quickly calmed down when she realized where she was. It was morning and she was still in her clothes from yesterday. She reached around her neck immediately and felt the metallic shape of a butterfly. "It's still here," she said to herself. "Thank zowie."

She looked at the empty bowls of food and the television was playing the morning news. Sure enough, Todd Matinee had been taken in for questioning over his partner's demise. She was only a casual fan of Defunkt and only knew their classics like Get Funky, Once More Again and Analog Romance so admittedly it would take a lot of knowledge from someone who knew their career inside and out to help help her with this case. Trudy and Star were luckily the kind of fangirls she needed.

But, she clutched her necklace again. What on earth was the mystery of the red aura that surrounded the felons she had incarcerated? Why could she see this red smoke in the darkness. Was she having aural hallucinations or ...did the butterfly and Thrifty Thrifts have something to do with it? She always though of her EAP, her extra accessory perception as 85% intuition and 15% Mom Yoga Mysticism, but maybe there was something more at hand.

Before she went in to see Matinee and ask him more about potential suspects (other than him, obviously,) perhaps she could pay a visit to the owner of the strange little shop. It couldn't hurt, even if she had never seen the owner before.

She brushed the leftover crumbs off her body, went to brush her teeth in the bathroom and quickly left her apartment to hail a taxi.

Standing on the streets in the cold light of day, she hailed a taxi and much to her relief, just like her dream, D. Vito pulled up. He wasn't dressed too dapper, however. Just his regular scruffy tank top with tomato sauce and cheese stains. He slicked back his balding hair and grinned widely. "Just the customer I was looking for. How you been making out since dat last case with da criminal blonde?!"

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Mina climbed inside the car and spilled her guts open about everything from the success with Victoria Electra case, to Maxine Electra defrauding her, to the DeFunkt murdet to the odd peculiar dream about auras. All the while, her favorite taxi driver watched her in the mirror with his beady, but friendly eyes.

"Looks like you got a lot on your plate, kiddo!" D. Vito said, as they came to a stop light. "But you know what I say, pal, if ya gots a lot on your plate, always make room for dessert!"

"Dessert?" Mina asked, scratching her head with confusion reflecting in her eyes. "Like brownies and ice cream sundaes?"

"It's a figure of speech, kid," D. Vito grinned. "Whenever ya are overwhelmed with work and life itself, don't forget ta treat yerself to something special!"

Mina nodded and smiled sheepishly. She didn't want to mention how her takeout at Red Panda Express had led to a bizarre nightmare. "You're right, Denny," she said. "I won't. I already have another date on my mind."

"Wit da visually impaired handsome stud?" D. Vito grinned. "Now dats what I call a blind date!"

He made a 'ba-dump-tish' sound with his mouth and Mina grinned. His jokes were as cheesy as the stains on his shirt. She could always count on D. Vito to make her smile, even in the most trying of times.

Just like in her dream, the vehicle (that wasn't flying at least) pulled up beside Thrifty Thrifts. Creepy eyed cat clocks hung in the window. Their eyes darting back and forth perpetually. "Geez Louise, kid," D. Vito said, his eyes bugging out over the eyes. "Take care of yourself in there. I've seen some freaky shops but dis one takes the whole cake and then some extra cookies for da road!"

"I will..." Mina said, and she stepped outside. "I need to solve the mystery of the Aura at all costs. And I believe this is the place where I will find my answer."

"Gimme a call if ya get mugged!" D. Vito shouted. "Can't stand dat happening to my favorite customer. Especially one who helps pay my child support!"

Mina nodded. "I will."

But as D. Vito drove away, she gasped in horror. Behind the milky white window was another pair of eyes that watched her. As soon as she made eye contact, however, they vanished into the depths of store.

"My lawdy..." Mina muttered. "What have I gotten myself into..."