TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF L.A.

1. STRIP CLUB DETOUR

This part took off from International Ties.

After hitting the Russian spa,Nick headed back to EOD headquarters to enquire on the case. Rosie was there at her computer, and the Chief was talking to someone. Someone else in a suit was there. Someonehe have never met.

"What's going on, Chief?"Nickasked after entering.

"Nick, this is Agent-in-Charge Masterson. The FBI is ... "

She answered part of my question, but why the hell is the FBI involved, I ask myself. From the looks of it, Masterson isn't the kind of person you'd mess around with.

"Your reputation precedes you, Kang". He said bitterly. "You're a real loose cannon and if it's up to me, you wouldn't be carrying a badge."

"Man, who peed in your coffee?"Nick asked sarcastically. This guy didn't likehim one bit.

"Look, smartass." He continued, still very bitter. You completely blew our surveillance of the spa. The bad guys are probably in Tijuana by now!"

"Maybe not," Rosie cut in. She had found a lead. "In the last two days, there're have been four bank heists around LA, targetting Cyprus deposit boxes. It looks like they're after cash ... lots of cash."

"WHOA!" Masterson replied. "Cyprus Holdings is a suspected front for the Russian mob. Who could be after Ivan's money?" (Note: In this part of the story, nobody knew Rocky's name.)

"Let me check it out, and I'll ... "Nick offered to help, but Masterson was there to shoothim down.

"You kidding me, Kang?" Masterson snapped. "You've done enough damage already." I guess he was still bitterabout thecrash tothe survelliance at the Russian Spa, and the mess they had to clean up after the shootout.

"Masterson, we had a deal, remember?" the Chief was there to help me out here on my behalf. Knowing her, she might have convinced him that I'm their only chance to solve this case.

"Ahhh, damn it!" Masterson must be regretting his decision earlier. Then he turned to me and said, "You screw up this time, and I'll have your badge, kapish?"

"Hah, sounds like a line from a bad video game". I answered sarcastically, and headed to pick up my car from the basement carpark.par "Nick ... " the Chief warned me, but that was all I heard after leaving the room.

--

On the way, Rosie filledNick in on the people behind the heists via phone.

"OK Kang. All these jobs were done by the same crew - two women." She said on the phone.

"Hey, nothing wrong with a little girl-on-girl action."Nick replied.

"Let me get to that. These women are real pros - forensics found only one print. It matched you ready?" She asked. "A stripper named Gypsy. She works at the pole at Body Fantastiq."

This was too good to be true,Nick thought. "The Russian mob getting hosed by strippers? That's too good!"par "It gets better. One witness swears he's seen her accomplice on television."

"Don't hold it against me, but I'm gonna follow the stripper lead first."

"Figures, you perv." Rosie then hung up.

Then,Nick drove back home to gethis best clothes to entertain this "Gypsy". The road to the Body Fantastiq wasn't so smooth, as Nick HAD to get myself involved in a few street crimes and the Russian mob tried to hunthim down again. Still,he managed to get to the location in Hollywood.

"Here we are. And I thought I was getting lost."Nick said to himself as he entered.

--

Inside,Nick was being entertained by a stripper with red hair tied in a ponytail for leads to this "Gypsy"..

"Hoo-aaa". You don't know how it feels to be entertained by a stripper until you try it! "You've got all the right moves."

"Is that a gun in your pocket?' She asked. She has a very sweet voice to match that figure of hers.

"Nah. I'm just happy to see you." He cheekily replied. "What's your name?"

"They call my Gypsy."Nick got my answer, as she whiskedhis wallet away.

"I can see why. You've got a quick hand for cash."He quickly took my wallet back.par "Wallets are nothing, silly. I prefer ... "

"A bank job?"Nick's police senses took over. Bad move!

"Huh?" She appeared shocked, as if I had hit the jackpot. Before I knew it, she turned around and kicked me in the nuts!

"Ooww! I must have said the magic word!" I replied softly.

Beforehe knew it, Nick got involved in a fight with Gypsy. She had some quick kicks, and her agility is pretty good, buthe knewhe was better. She may have kicked him inhis privates, buthe was still strong. Come on, what didhe train this hard for?

"Hey! Sure you wanna fight?"Nick asked. "Guess you do!" The fight was on. She kicked, buthe could easily dodge it.Nick quickly retailated with some quick punches and kicks, and eventually gave herhis signature "Leaping Tiger" spin kick. She got knocked on the ground, unconscious. However,his worries ain't over yet. The strippers ain't happyhe attacked their co-worker, and soonhe got himself involved. They weren't trained to fight, sohe easily defeated them. Not long after the last one fell, a burly man with long hair, apparently the owner of the joint, came out.Guess he ain't happyNick thrashed his place. Nickquickly tried to pull kicks and punches, but he was pretty tough.Nick tried grappling him, but he easily reversed it, and it was really painful!Nick had never faced someone like that! Still,he managed to get him and threw him with a "Whirlwind Throw" into a table nearby. He fell through, and it was over. I was the last one standing.

"YEAH!"Nick said in victory.

--

Back at the Body Fantastiq,Nick was questioning Gypsy. Yeah, she had come round, and she didn't lost her memory (if you're wondering). And by her tone of voice, guess she was telling the truth.

"Listen, officer! I swear I was just a driver for Lola Gees ... " she said.

Lola Gees, if you're wondering, is a former TV star from Hollywood who's famous for her big breasts and her role as a bank robber in a show called "Con Girls".So that's what the witness meant by saying that "seen on TV."

"Lola Gees?"Nick was surprised. "The babe from the"Con Girls" TV show? No way!" It was too good to be true.

"Yeah, after her Hollywood gig crashed, she decided to steal for real."

Sigh, another one of those fallen stars who turn to crime to get attention again.Don't they know crime don't pay, and it hurts, especially withNick in charge.

"Life imitating art, huh?"he askedhimself. Then, turning to Gypsy,and asked, "So, when's the next hit?"

"I was going to meet Lola at The Spot later tonight ... "

There'sthe answer. Now I know what to do.

"Well, Lola's reality show is about to get cancelled ... "Nick left the strip club, with Gypsy still sitting there, and the owner and strippers still down for the count.

The Spot is the name of a club nearby, and it was a close drive too. Gypsy was too kind to giveNick the address, orhe would be lost. He drove there, not to mention thathe busted some muggers and street fighters.

At The Spot, it was filled with people, especially one who's trying to imitate Jackie Chan.Nick laughed to himself, but now's not the time for jokes.He saw a woman with red hair and a buzzcut, wearing a red jacket. That must be Lola.

Heapproached and greeted, "Hi, I'm Nick. Your new driver. Gypsy threw her back out last night, so I'm filling in."

"Beat it! I don't know you." She replied with a cold voice. Man, how uncouth. Buthe must get back on the track to find about the heists.

"But I know you."he quickly answered. "Actually, I'm a big fan."Nick tries to put onhis ever "famous"charm. "I was real pissed when the show got cancelled. It was way better than VIP! Come on, you've got no choice ... "

"Who told you? Gypsy?" She answered, getting a little attention.

"Come on, I'm asking only 20 cut."

"OK, fanboy. But first, let's see you drive." With that, Lola directedNick to take her to the lockup in a suburban home in Beverly Hills. She said that she'll explain the heist in great detail later on.Guess that this case might be cracked real soon.

A/N: I admit I'm not a good writer, and I'm just trying to fill in the gaps in the original narration. Chapter 2 is about the heist itself, so stay tuned ...