Chapter 2
52 hours earlier
Jo gathered the papers into a pile, stapled them together, tucked them into a folder and closed it with a satisfied smile. "So we can call that closed then?"
At the other end of the conference table Mac nodded. "You want me to take them over to the DA's?" he asked.
"No it's okay. I'm heading over that way to pick up my dress from the cleaners." she responded. Danny groaned, rolling his eyes.
Lindsay nudged him with her elbow. "Quit moaning!" she hissed. Danny fidgeted in his seat looking very unhappy.
"Attendance is mandatory Danny." Mac didn't even look up from the file he consulting.
"Do we all have to go?" pleaded Adam.
Mac looked up at him. "MAN..DA..TOR..Y ... Adam." he said in his sternest voice emphasizing every syllable. His voice may have been stern but his eyes told another story. He returned to his file, a small smile gracing his lips. Adam sighed. "I don't even own a tux."
"Then you had better get down to the hire shop I told you about, hadn't you?" scolded Lindsay.
"Hey, I was frog-marched down there last night." grumbled Danny earning another glare from his wife.
"Oh for heaven's sake stop moaning all of you." Jo threw her hands into the air. "Why are you all complaining so much? It'll be fun."
"Fun?" Sheldon looked at Jo as though she had gone mad. "Penguin suits, chit-chat and ..." Sheldon looked dismayed "...dancing."
"Exactly!" agreed Danny, ducking sideways before Lindsay could land another elbow to his ribs.
"Oh I'm rather partial to the odd waltz myself." mused Sid. "My first wife was quite the dancer, very light on her feet!"
"I hate dancing." moaned Adam.
"Me too." added Danny.
"Makes three of us!" added Flack as he entered the room.
"Okay okay enough already!" ordered Mac as Don joined them around the table. "You have all made excuses for the past six years. The chief made it quite clear that we are ALL to attend. In recognition of our exemplary work this year and particularly the success with the Johnson case, this team will have the honour of opening this year's Christmas Ball … whether you like it or not … so no excuses. End of discussion!"
Mac glared around the table. No one dared say anything. "Now, back to the matter at hand. The jewellery store raiders." Everyone groaned. " Need I remind you that this is top of the priority list - the chief wants this one closed by Christmas."
"Bet one of his fancy club members owns one of the stores." muttered Danny.
Mac cleared his throat as he threw an exasperated look in Danny's direction. "Don, you got anything?"
"None of my informants have heard anything. They are definitely new kids on the block. Four stores in four weeks – you would think someone would have heard something." Don huffed. "I talked to the guys over in robbery. None of their known fences are handling the stuff. Either they're sitting on it hoping to fence it at a later date or it's going out of town. Maybe we could hand it over to the feds?" he asked hopefully.
Mac sighed. "Until we can prove that this goes out of state, it's ours. There has to be something."
"Well I'm sorry Mac but there's nothing I can tell you about the victim from their last job." Sid opened a file. "He took two shots to the chest, medium range. Didn't stand a chance."
Mac glanced at Lindsay who just shook her head. "I ran the bullets; they match slugs pulled from the wall in the first raid but no hits. Definitely a revolver, probably a Smith and Wesson." She looked at Danny who picked up the relay.
"Only one guy is armed. The shooter gives the orders, the second guy uses a hammer to break the glass. The third guy grabs as much stuff as he can in one minute. They're in and out in less than three minutes. Get away is always on foot, each gang member always heads in a different direction."
"Anything from security footage?" asked Mac.
Adam shook his head. "All the jewellery stores had security cameras but our perps are all dressed alike, in black from head to toe. balaclavas, gloves, the lot. As Danny said, they're always in and out in less than three minutes. All the stores had silent alarms which were triggered in 3 out of 4 cases but they attack during the evening rush hour. They're long gone before the first responders can arrive at the scene."
"Trace?" asked Mac swivelling his chair back towards Sheldon.
"Nope. Nothing." Sheldon looked frustrated. "Some partial boot prints but that's all. No hairs, epithelials, fibres … nothing!"
Mac glanced around the table but no one had anything else to add. "Okay keep plugging away at it. Let's hope that something turns up before we get a second victim. Anything else?"
Everyone shook their heads. "Okay that's it. Don't forget to get me your end of year expense reports before Monday!" Mac rose from the table to a round of groans. "And tomorrow is …" he smiled.
"Inventory!" they chimed in unison.
Don laughed as he rose. "Glad I'm not a lab rat."
"Yeah. You might not have to suffer 'Inventory' but you're not getting out of the ball." chided Jo as she gathered up her files. "So go polish your dancing shoes." Don grimaced as Jo waltzed out of the office with a pirouette. "Reconstruction. 6pm sharp." she called over her shoulder
Mac looked confused.
"We've cleared some space. Jo and I are giving the lab waltz lessons." explained Sid. "Care to join us?"
Mac arched his eyebrow, smiled his enigmatic smile but said nothing as he gathered up his files.
"Was that a yes or a no?" called Sid as he walked out the room without another word..
"He's probably getting private lessons." Don waggled his eyebrows up and down. The others smirked.
"Bet he's an expert anyway." grumbled Adam. "He probably learnt in the Marines."
Everyone turned to stare at Adam.
"Are you serious?" asked Danny. "What … you think they give dance lessons between Hand to Hand Combat and Bomb Disposal 101?"
"Come on Danny. You must've seen those movies … guys in uniform … an officer and a gentleman .. all that?" Adam looked around the room. The four men present just stared at him in horror. "Come on guys?"
Lindsay leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Adam I don't think they'd admit to it even if they had seen it. Besides … that was the Navy not the Marine Corps!" As she reached the door she turned to face Danny. "Reconstruction. 6pm or else!" Danny looked most put out as the others laughed at his expense.
"I don't remember Richard Gere waltzing." mused Don looking at Danny.
"Me neither."
Adam glared at them. "Whoa! So you have seen it?"
"Lindsay made me watch it." whined Danny heading for the door and then, grinning, "What's your excuse?"
He only just ducked in time to miss the well-aimed balls of paper thrown at his head.
