Chapter 11: Odds Against
The Mata Hari was a notorious strip club in a seedy stretch of the city, a neighborhood Goren was familiar with from his days in Narcotics and Eames from her work in Vice. The interior of the club was dimly lit. Red and yellow lights glowed from the stage area.
"The word on this confidential informant is that if there's anything she doesn't know, she knows how to find out," Eames commented as they made their way through the crowd.
"Is she a pro?" Goren wondered.
"I don't know. My friend in Vice implied it's better not to dig into her personal life."
They sat at the bar, where the informant was supposed to meet them.
"You the cops?"
Goren and Eames turned toward the petite blonde who'd silently taken a seat next to them. She could easily have been a teenager, and she spoke with a vaguely German accent.
"You Luosha Long?" Eames asked.
"Badges?" she countered.
The detectives inconspicuously revealed their badges. She nodded.
"You're not afraid of being seen talking to cops?" Goren wondered.
The girl shook her head. "Half the people here know I'm an informant. I have a lot more to worry about from people outside. What do you want me to find out?"
Eames handed her a photograph of Varina Ensor. "We suspect she may have been involved in illegal gambling, maybe on boxing matches."
Luosha took a look. "I've seen her around, but I don't know her. You'll want to talk to a guy named Ted. Last I heard, the matches are going on Thursday nights in a condemned warehouse just off Bruckner. If you want to check it out I suggest you try not to look like cops."
"Thanks. We'll keep that in mind."
"If there's anything else you need, you know where to find me. I have to get ready for my next dance."
Before she walked away, Goren said something to her in German.
She turned back and scoffed without smiling. "Ever heard of a sheep in wolf's clothing?" she replied before slipping into the crowd.
"What did you say to her?" Eames inquired.
"I asked her why she was here."
It was nearly midnight by the time they finished work. Eames offered Goren a ride home.
"Are you sure you wouldn't mind? It's late."
"Of course I don't mind, Bobby."
He nodded and walked out with her. They didn't talk for a few minutes. "You okay? You seem...a little nervous," Goren noted.
She'd been trying to think of the best way to ask him something. Now that he'd asked, she let it spill out. "Do you want to come home with me?"
He stared at her, blinked. "Tonight?"
"Yeah."
The truth was, he wanted to accept, but he wasn't sure that would be best. "We have a long day tomorrow."
"We don't have to do anything. It would be faster than me dropping you off at your apartment, and then we can talk about the case on our way in tomorrow morning."
"If we get in together, people will be suspicious."
"Let them be suspicious," she replied. "They can't prove anything more than that we've decided to carpool."
He bit his lip. "Eames...I think maybe you should take the promotion."
She almost slammed on the brakes. "What! Bobby, I thought..."
"Then we can be together. Without breaking department rules."
"Since when did you care about the rules? If you don't think you can both be with me and work with me just say so."
"But that's not it." He sighed. "I just...think you deserve the promotion, and the NYPD should have a captain like you."
She was struck silent for a moment, both exasperated and flattered. "It's already too late. I told Ross I wouldn't take it."
"Maybe you can see if the offer's still open."
"But what about you?"
He tried to smile. "I'll be fine...as long as I have you. But I won't...be with the department forever. And if anyone finds out about us, your career might not recover."
A laugh slipped through her stern countenance. "You want me to have my cake and eat it too?"
"If you want to think about it that way. Just...I want you to think about it."
She took his hand. "Okay," she agreed. "I'll think about it."