Bec stared in frustration at the half completed paragraph glaring at her from her computer screen. A hand found its way to her head to run angrily through the tangled mess that was the current state of her hair. Another deadline was going to come and go without her having anything to show for her work.
Maybe it was just the subject matter of her current undercover investigation.
"Gangland criminals; US Marines Today" she murmured to herself as she quickly scanned what she had written for the 100th time. Even the title sounded tedious she thought with a snort as she pushed herself away from her desk, spinning around in her chair to look at the wall the was covered with past articles, contacts and anything she had found interesting and amusing and collected in her twenty five years.
"Writer's block." She growled to the wall. It was times like these that she hated being a freelance investigative journalist.
With a sharp jerk she flipped open her phone and hit the speed dial for her editor.
"Rebecca, how is the article going? I need it by the end of the week." Sophie White stated without even a hello.
"Ahh, I was wondering if I could have a quick chat about that Soph?"
"I'm sorry Bec, but no more extensions. The magazine wants to run it, and you have to admit, it's the perfect opportunity. Another dead marine with suspected gang ties was found only a couple of days ago. It's a hot topic girl." Sophie plainly stated, clearly knowing the intention of her young writer's phone call.
"I am turning up with nothing. I managed to meet a couple of marines last week but they were squeaky clean when it come to what they did with their free time." Bec vented, "I have checked out every known club associated with any gangs and I have not been able to find anything more than a hushed whisper about what is going on."
"Look," Sophie said calmly, "One of my contact's let slip that a couple of marines that might be of interest for the article will be heading to Bomb tonight. I'll send you the info, go get nice and pretty."
Rebecca laughed, "I highly doubt that he 'let it slip', but alright." With a dejected sigh Bec added, "I'll have the article by the end of the week."
"That's my favourite journalist. Have fun tonight babe" was the bright reply before the phone line went dead.
The photos of two serious looking men popped up on her computer while she hurriedly got changed into one of her personally modified strapless black dresses. A rudimentary knowledge of gadgets could get a person places Bec reflected as she checked to see that the recording device that she had sewn into the dress had enough battery for the night and that the microphone was all set to go. A cursory glance in the mirror as she headed to the front door made sure that everything was in place. Strapless black number with a tulle skirt and some kicker high heels and the right accessories did a nice job of showing off her athletic, albeit slight build. She fitted the profile of the cashed up 'Yvonne' to the letter.
As Bec eased herself into the sleek red Ferrari that sat in the garage of her apartment she couldn't help but smile. While her employers technically owned the car, the beautiful beast was as good as hers.
"God I love my job." Bec sighed happily as the engine roared to life and she pulled out into the bustling LA streets.
The que to enter the nightclub was long as usual as Bec stopped the Ferrari outside the doors. Tim accepted her car keys with a smile and shy hello as she sauntered to the door, careful to keep her face tilted away from the flash of the paparazzi; one never knew when a co-worker would suddenly decide to blow an investigation just by calling out one's name. Having said that, Bec always made sure no photos of her got published alongside her articles and as a freelancer she didn't have all that much to do with the entertainment journalists out tonight.
"Yvonne, where have you been girl?" Marcus admonished as he held the small rope aside to let her into the club,
"Places to see, things to do" Bec said vaguely, "I hope you haven't been too lonely all by your lonesome while I was away?"
"I've been keeping busy, you know how it is." He replied just as vaguely, "There are some marine boys here tonight FYI though" he told her with a wink. Bec flashed him a cheeky smile. Yvonne after all could not turn down a man in uniform.
"It must be my lucky night." She called before disappearing through the door to join the throng of people drinking and gyrating to the music that was blaring through the speakers.
Bec let herself be carried along with the crowd until she ended up at the bar. Toni, a waitress that had turned out to be quite an invaluable source of information appeared at her side.
"Who are we tonight babe?" She asked quietly as Bec swiped a drink from the bartender.
"Yvonne. I don't suppose you know of any US marines in the building tonight?" Bec asked casually as she took a sip of her virgin cocktail. She passed a twenty to Matt the bartender as he scurried behind the bar to serve everyone drinks. A carefully woven story of alcoholism and rehab had seen the two establish a perfect relationship of subterfuge. Matt didn't ask questions and Bec was clear to act as drunk as she liked without loosing control of her senses and better judgement.
"Corner table, two of them tonight. They are really chummy with some gentlemen from a drug cartel." Toni explained, "Sorry babe, but I don't know which one, not my section and I'm not valued enough by the big bosses to be let in on that side of the clientele." She finished with and indignant sniff to Bec's unasked question.
"You're a god send Toni."
"I know, we'll have to catch up for coffee sometime soon. Love you and leave you babe, good luck" and Toni was gone leaving Bec to work her way onto the dance floor and start manoeuvring towards the table that the two marines were seated at.
When she got closer, Bec was satisfied that both had been among the four 'marines of interest' that had been sent to her computer earlier. The younger man was Corporal Michael Johns, the older and more serious marine sitting next to him one Staff Sergeant Adam Saunders.
Her way onto the table came not five minuets later when the Corporal stood up and started heading towards the bar. Some slight readjustment and pretend slip sent her careening into the man, 'accidentally' sloping some of her drink down the sleeve of his coat.
"Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!" She cried as he grabbed at her elbows to steady her. A glance up at him through her lashes, subtle press of her bust against his chest and she was in.
"It's fine," he hurriedly assured as she fished a tissue from between her breasts and started dabbing at his coat.
"I am really sorry, I will totally get you coat dry cleaned; it is Armani after all." She stressed as looked up again at him in earnest, while carefully storing away that little it of information. She didn't know many corporals who could afford an Armani suit with their pay; especially after they spent most of it on alcohol and women she though ruefully. "I am such a klutz tonight"
"Really, it's not a problem." He assured again as his hands caressed her arms.
"Please, at least let me buy you a drink in apology."
"I suppose that is fair." Michael agreed with a sly smile. Bec grinned.
G Callen, Sam Henna, Kensi Blye and Eric Beal all stared intently at the computer screen that was replaying footage from street cameras outside the club Bomb from the night before.
"There" Sam stated as he pointed to the screen. "The girl in the black dress leaving with Corporal Michael, no one mentioned her last night." He said as he looked over his shoulder at Callen.
"Eric, rewind and see what time she arrived." Callen directed as he moved to stand beside Sam, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Stop." Callen said, "Right there getting out of the Ferrari." Eric paused the feed to show the image of a woman in black standing next to the sleek Italian automobile.
"I'll see if I can get a better look at her face" Eric mumbled as his finger's flew over his keyboard, slowly moving the video footage forward until he found a still image the woman glancing in the direction of the camera that had been captured on film.
"Can you zoom in Eric?" Kensi chipped in.
"Can I zoom in you say?" Eric scoffed, an offended expression settling on his face as he zoomed in on the woman's face to bring up a grainy headshot of a twenty-something woman with blond hair that brushed her bare shoulders.
"It's the same girl," Sam began, "alright. So we've got a rough timeline of events. The marines entered the club at 22:15pm, the girl an hour later. The marines, the girl and the four members of the Mara Salvatrucha all left at 01:24. The marines were found dead at 06:00. What happened between the time they left the club and winding up dead"
"The ME just filed his initial report, he puts time of death at 4:30am this morning" Nate told those in the room as he strode in looking down at the pages in the manila folder that he held in front of him.
"We need to find the girl" Kensi intervened.
"Alright, Eric run her face through all the databases, I won't to know who she is within the next hour." Callen dictated, before spinning around quickly to see who had let out the sharp cough behind him. His gaze landed on Hetty who stood behind him with a sour look on her face. G always wondered how she managed to creep up on everyone.
"No need Eric," Hetty countered as she moved into the OPS room, "I know who she is, and I can tell you now the girl is in no danger. Although she may be when I get my hands on her."
The occupants shared a confused look as Hetty held out a hand to Callen.
"Phone Mr Callen if you please." G passed his iPhone to Hetty and after quickly typing in a number she gingerly held the phone to her ear. Everyone held their breath as the strained to hear the conversation as a person picked up on the other end of the line.
"Rebecca." Hetty started.
"Hetty? It is so good to hear from you!"
"You and I need to talk young lady." Hetty said frankly once initial pleasantry's were out of the way.
"You mean this wasn't just a phone call to check in on your much beloved goddaughter?"
"Both, I will pick you up from the usual coffee spot. I want all the information you gathered last night, and don't pretend that you don't know what I'm talking about."
"I'm not going to get out of this one am I?" Bec said dejectedly with a sigh.
"Not by a long shot dear, I'll see you in twenty minuets." And Hetty hung up the phone and passed it back to Callen.
"Gentlemen, lady, I will return shortly." Hetty assured before exciting the OPS room. Once she had left the team turned to look at each other,
"Did I hear the word goddaughter thrown in there?" Kensi queried to the stunned team.
A/N: So let me know what everyone thought, constructive criticism is always very much appreciated