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Chapter 28 Under the Cover of Darkness
Three nights later Nick and Shay again found themselves in the green room of Lolita, enjoying a winding down drink with Grant as the rest of the staff locked up. They were a mere half an hour away from dawn, and the punters had started to trickle home, forming long queues outside taxi ranks, the girls holding their heels in their hands, their feet throbbing and sore from hours of dancing and partying. From behind the bar Shay had watched them all leave, noticing the way they all cringed as they walked out the door and on to the shady, blustery street, so biting was the wind on that wintry Saturday night. Shay was more than grateful to be inside away from the piercing gale that penetrated even the thickest of skins.
Nick sat with his arm around Shay's shoulders on a plush, deep red coloured velvet couch. The clothes she wore were skimpier than ever, and he wondered how her teeth were not chattering, even indoors. He admired her dedication to the assignment and had noted of late how much she had transformed herself from young cop right out of the academy into a sex on legs stunner who never failed to grab any man's attention. The transformation was nothing short of remarkable and if it weren't for the fact they were working together almost everyday, Nick would never have recognised her as the same person he had been introduced to that day in the Drug Squad headquarters.
Shay's way of dress had garnered her plenty of attention from Grant and Joel too, especially of late, and she had quickly become Grant's chosen one. She had been hired to work behind the bar but she was scarcely ever there because she and Nick were constantly schmoozing with Grant and his associates, doing deals and attending parties. All some dealers needed was a pretty girl to seal the deal - and Grant was using Shay to do just that. The thought disgusted Nick, but Euan knew it was necessary and common practise in this world. Still, Nick always made sure Shay never lowered her standards that much and let a deal be sealed that way. Requel was sought after and lavished with praise by Grant's associates and Nick knew without Shay they wouldn't be having nearly as much success as they were. Her negotiating skills and powers of persuasion were working wonders, and she and Nick felt they were finally getting somewhere.
Nick was eager – much more eager than Shay, who at times he noticed almost revelled in her character, lapping up the opportunities and loving the attention being Requel bought her, so immersed was she in being someone else – to squirrel out the crooked from the straight and wrap this operation up as soon as possible. He knew Jen disliked how long the assignment had stretched on for, and he wanted to settle down and give baby making another go as much as she did. But the undercover clock ticked at half the speed of normal clocks, Nick quickly discovered.
When a knock sounded at the door a moment later, Nick was shaken out of his reverie and looked at Shay. The look on her face was filled with excitement, eager to get her claws deeper into the underworld. Sometimes, her eagerness worried Nick, even though he often felt the same rush, and often had trouble containing it.
Grant nodded at one of his hangers on and the door was opened. The light out in the hall was practically non existant, not allowing Nick and Shay to see who stood there. But Grant welcomed them in earnestly.
Five strapping men, one of whom was Joel Christie, the rest a mixture of young and old, casually entered the room, their eyes low, their swagger obvious. Grant shook all their hands warmly, even embracing the two older men, like they were old friends. Nick and Shay watched on, wondering who they were and waited patiently to be introduced.
"Euan, Requel," Grant said after at least five minutes of exclusion. The pair got up obediently from the couch, Nick's arm sliding down Shay's back to rest on her hip, only just above where her tight black mini dress ended. He could feel her body lift up as she took a deep breath in and they greeted the group.
Their act, perfected over so many months now, was now flawless, and Nick knew they looked believable, and would be easily able to do business with this group. With each new person he met, he was introduced to their friends and their friends of friends, expanding the network infinitely. Nick knew it was only a matter of time before one of those friends of friends of Joel's or Grant's or somebody else's was a crooked cop he and Shay could get to work at nailing.
The meeting was short, but huge foundations were laid. Nick and Shay knew this would be their biggest haul yet and information was eagerly exchanged about what Nick and Shay had on offer to sell, how much the group wanted and when any deals could be done. Within ten minutes the group was gone, but Nick and Shay both noted eagerly how they exited the room with lingering looks, hungry to do business with the glamourous looking pair Grant Jost had now taken under his wing.

As they slipped out the side entrance a little while later into the first rays of morning sun, Nick grinned hard at Shay, taking her hand and shaking it. He may have wanted this operation wrapped up but he still had brief moments where he got as excited about things as Shay did.
"We're so in baby," he whispered enthusiastically to her.
Shay nodded, knowing he was right. But a peculiar, worried look had overtaken Shay's pretty features and Nick frowned at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly as they walked through the still city on the cusp of daybreak.
Shay frowned, looking into Nick's eyes with concern. "I think we're a lot deeper in than you think."
"Why?" Nick stopped on the footpath.
Troubled, Shay exhaled. "One of those guys was a cop."