One Year Later...
Loud horrible music, drunken conversations, annoying laughter filled the New York bar. Cops were all around, drinking, laughing, taking a break from their stressful jobs. However, Lucas Scott sat on the corner of the bar, drinking heavily, avoiding everyone around him. To him, the bar was filled with silence, everything around him was deaf to his ears. When people spoke to him, they talking in slow motion, in a different language. This was his sign that he needed to stop drinking. But however, like most people do, he ignored the signs. He jumps, as his boss pats him on the shoulder.
"Great job today, Scott. You're a hero." The chief said, smiling down at the young cop.
Lucas shook his head, "I let him get away." He whispered.
"Yea, you did, but you also saved a life today, son. And that's what we're supposed to do, save lives." The chief shook his head. "You're always the modest one." The chief sits down, and calls for another beer. "Listen, Scott this isn't the time or place, but...I have this new proposition for you ."
Lucas looked confusingly at his chief. "Okay."
The chief looked around him, searching for someone listening. When it was clear he said to Luke about a new mission in Miami. The chief said he couldn't go into details, not here anyway, but would like Lucas to go and take charge of the case.
Lucas was shocked, "Really... wow chief. Are you sure?"
The chief smiled, "I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't fully confindent in your talent Scott. Sure, you made some mistakes this year, everybody does. You went through hell... and to tell you the truth Scott, a lot of people are unsure about you.
Lucas looked down, he knew what people thought.
"But I'm not. And this mission, if you get this son of a bitch, I promise you no one will be unsure about you in the end."
Lucas stared at his beer. This mission, as the chief said, may bring him back. Maybe even make him a detective. Detective Lucas Scott. It has a nice ring to it.
"I don't know..." Lucas started, but was interrupted.
"Look, I'll give you some time to think it over. But I need an answer by tomorrow, okay Scott." The chief got up, but then stopped.
"Have some fun tonight Scott, you deserve it."
Lucas gave hime a small smile, and watched his chief exit out of the bar. He thought about this oppurtunity, this oppurtunity of a life time. He stared at his beer once again, he needed to change. He needed to do this, to get his current life in check and move on. He was a mess, everyone knew that. And maybe this mission would bring him back. Well, he hoped.
He already made up his mind, as he walked in the chiefs office. "Okay, I'm in"
The chief smiled, "Great, Detective Marshall will give you the details about the case. Detective?
Detective Marshall, however wasn't too impressed. He stared at Lucas, looking him over. What the fuck was chief thinking? The detective thought. This kid was a fuckin mess.
"Okay" Detective Marshall sighed, "Here is your new objective. Jeff Davis" He handed Lucas a picture. "Jeff Davis, typical rich husband and father. Lives in a hugh mansion in Miami, owns several million dollar businesses, and sleeps with countless of women. However, a source inside found out a whole different side of Mr. Davis. Sources say the Davis is in control of a drug cartel in Miami. However,we have no proof of this, because Davis is a sneaky son of a bitch. So in order to arrest this bastard we need to catch him with the drugs. And thats where you come in."
Lucas looked over the photo again, and taking in all the information. "Okay, one question. How am I going to get at least 5 ft away from him, without getting shot?
"Your cover is going to be Mr Davis's new gardener. When he gets out of the house, you go in. When he goes to somewhere in the middle of the night, you follow him. You're living in a pool house at their residence, so getting in and out shouldn't be a problem.
"What about his wife and kids? How do I get around them?
"It should be no problem. His wife is usually gone most of the time, and his daughter is always at parties around town. So your best oppurtunity is probably when it's dark."
Lucas nodded, knowing how hard this was going to be. "And if he catches me..."
"You're dead. Straight and simple Mr. Scott."
"But we promise you, we will do anything we can to keep that from happening. Right Detective?" The chief asked.
"Yep." Detective Marshall smirked as he simply showed no signs of how dangerous this was going to be.
Lucas nodded, "Okay, when do I start?"
Lucas has never been to Miami before, the bright sunshine, the warm humidity, the thick air, it was a whole different world compared to New York. But from now on, he was not Officer Lucas Scott born and raised in New York. He was James Matthews (Lucas was a big Dave Matthews fan) born in North Carolina, and raised in Miami. Luke Matthews was a trained and veteran gardener that starts his new job at the Davis residence today. You couldn't see any signs of nerves from his emotionless face as he arrived in his red truck, but believe me he was petrified.
If you ever seen the Natural History Musauem, this was twice the size. Oh my fuckin god, it was like two mansions glued together. The yard was probaly the size of Lucas's childhood home, times 10. They couldn't just made him the pool guy, or something. Really, it's like mowing a park. A huge fuckin Central Park. But he signed up for this, this bastard was his responsibiliy. And he wasn't going to screw this up, he would do anything to catch this guy.
He slowly got out of the truck, and headed to the front door. Right when he raised his hand to knock, the door opened (well, practically was ripped off) as a girl stormed right into him.
The girl mumbled something like, "Watch where you're going." The girl glared at him, and was about to bend down to pick up her purse, but Lucas stopped her.
He bent down to pick up her purse and then gave it to her, adding a poilte smile.
And then at that moment there was an uncomfortable silence that went on for what seemed like an eternity. Cloudy blue eyes vs. hazel brown. Completely different colors, but they share the slight dilation of the pupil, a hint of pain and sadness. He looked down uncomfortably and shoved his hands into his pockets, with the girl just staring at him, like she was trying to figure him out.
"Who...?" The girl was about to respond, but was interrupted by another girl's voice.
"Brooke! Let's go!" A blond girl shouted in a black convertible with the radio on full blast.
Brooke looked at Lucas again, but then a older woman came down the stairs.
"Brooke, who is your friend?" The woman said with a hint of distaste in her voice. She looked down on Lucas, as he wore jeans and mudddy boots. His rough beard, and his messy blond hair. "Why was her daughter talking to this homeless man", she thought.
Brooke shrugged her shoulders, and went out to meet her friend. But not without sneaking another glance at the handsome stranger.
"Umm...James Matthews...I'm the new gardener, Miss." Lucas answered.
"Who was that?" Peyton asked smirking, as she started her car.
"Who?" Brooke asked, while fixing in her hair.
"That hot guy you were talking to. "
"Oh...I don't know. So, where this party they we had to go to?" Brooke asked, changing the topic.
Peyton smirked again, but let it go. "Well, it so happens to be at your boyfriend's house. Remember him?"
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Shut up, and can you please take us there in one piece!"
Peyton answered by speeding up, "Woo hoo!"
Brooke shook her head, this was going to be a long, long night.
"Oh, thats right. I must have forgotten..." The woman said putting on a fake smile, as she stared at the gardener with her cold eyes. "That explains it." She added while looking at his outfit once again. She let out a breath, and started talking with a completely false sincerity.
She then showed him, where he would be staying. The pool house was at least a mile away from their house, which didn't completely shock him. They probably thought that he would break in and steal something. Well, they were not completely off there, he thought.
"So you are to wake up and start at about 6:00a.m everyday, except on Sundays at 9:a.m. You can at least have two breaks and a lunch, and you get off when you finish. I have lots of parties in my backyard, and if I see any bush untrimmed, any flower dead, you're gone. No parties, no smoking, no drinking (Now thats too far, Lucas thought), and don't ever bring a girl here. You only go inside the residence from the backdoor when you want food. You either eat in the kitchen, or out here. Never, ever, interrupt me or my husband when we have guests over. Now, today I need the hedges trimmed, the lawn mowed, and I need some new flowers along the pool area. Guests are arriving at 5:00 so I should see you done before then. Got it?"
Lucas nodded, "Yes Ma'am." He quietly said, "I'll get started right now."
"Good." Mrs. Davis said briskly, and turned away. "Oh...and Mr. Matthews...if I ever you see you talking to my daughter again, I'll will have you fired. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am." Lucas said politely as he could, and walked off to the garden and started his work. When it was clear, he made his way over the far left window of the residence. He checked over his shoulder, and then tried to hatch the window open. He had to be careful because if the alarm went off, he was dead. He reached his arm inside and planted a bug in what he hoped was Mr. Davis's office. He carefully closed the window, and went off to the pool area and swiftly pretended nothing had happened.
So far, so good. But as he looked over the lawn once again, he took an agonizing deep breath.
This was going to be a long, long day. Couldn't they just make him the pool guy?
It was 5:00 on the dot, and Luke barely finished his first day of work. The intensity of the hear didn't help him that much, he missed New York.
He sighed, as he practically collapsed on the bed, well matress. He was starving, but wasn't sure if he was allowed to the kitchen when the guest were over. She didn't say anything about that, did she? He looked at the window, and saw only a few people who had just arrived. He could maybe go... wait what was he doing. Was the Lucas Scott really afraid of Victoria Davis... hell yes!
Well, this probably was his only chance, with so few people. And no sign of Victoria, so he walked the fast that he could to the kitchen. The maid smiled at him, as he introduced himself to her. She was really nice, which came to a delightful surprise. She gave him literally a 5 course meal, with chicken and rice and grilled vegtables. He looked around, and so no one in there, so he decided to join her and keep her company. It's always to have company when you eat. He missed having conversations with people, especially his brother and...his wife.
It's has been only a year, but to Luke it's like it has been five. Sure, he and his brother had a few phone conversations, but they were always brief and quick. Luke understood, he knew this was a hard time for Nathan, especially with the stress of his basketball career at a standstill. Over this past year, Lucas has never felt so alone, so sad. But his job always took his mind off of his personal life, and for that he was eternally grateful.
He learned that the maid's name was Rosa. She didn't speak English that well, but you didn't need to understand the words for her hand movements and her face expressions told the stories. She was from Mexico, and moved here about two years ago with her daughter. "I always...dreamed...of living here. In America. " She was quite funny too, with her animated storytelling about her days with Victoria and Mr. Davis. Luke found out the Mr. Davis was very involved in his work, "never has time for his...family...his daughter..." Rosa said shaking her head. "His daughter...very nice girl...troubled...very troubled...but sweet, sweet girl" Rosa then showed him pictures of her daughter, and her big family back in Mexico.
"So Mr. Davis is not here tonight?"
"No, he has been out of town. He comes back late though, maybe today."
It had to be tonight, he thought. He could sneak in while Victoria was outside with her guests, and her daughter?
"Where is their daughter? Is she here?"
"No, she is out again. She always gets home really late though," Rosa rolled her eyes,"Party girl, you know?"
Okay, so he would have to get in touch to Marshall to keep a look out with the surveillence.
"She's beautiful" Lucas smiled, pointing at her daughter. "Just like her mother."
Rosa blushed, "Well, thank you Mr. James...do you have children?"
Lucas shook his head. "Well, when you do, you show me pictures...okay?"
"Deal." Lucas smiled, but apologized as he had to get back. "See you tomorrow." The second after he left from the backdoor, Victoria Davis barged in and starting barking orders at Rosa.
After Victoria finished Rosa started cooking. It was not until Victoria was clear out of the room when Rosa mumbled, "Bitch."
"You alone?" Detective Marshall asked, clearly surprised that Scott was calling him so soon.
"Yes." Lucas said as he was pacing in the pool house. "He's not here. The maid said he was out of town." Lucas whispered briefly.
"Wife and daughter."
"His wife is throwing a party in the backyard, everyone is outside. And the daughter went out to a party."
Marshall sighed, running his hand over his newly shaven head. "Okay, Scott you go in, and come right back out. Don't stay in one room longer than the other, keep moving, and make sure to plant the bugs in lofts, offices, living room, etc. You got it?
"Yes."
"Look Scott this is your first day, it's completely understandable to wait."
"This might be our only chance. I'm going."
"Alright, I'll keep an eye out." Marshall said, looking at the surveillance in his hotel room. "Okay, when I say go you go, when I say hide you hide, and I when I say get the hell out of there..."
"Get the hell out of there. Anything else?" Lucas interrupted.
There was about a 5 second pause, then Marshall said, "Go."