Authors note: Hello fan fiction readers I want to thank everyone for their kind words in regards to Bump and Road Trip. What's Next is the newest installment of the Paige and Mike story. After all the craziness these two have delt with now they have a new challenge marriage. This story will focus on what lies ahead for Graceland's coolest duo both in their personal and professional lives. This story will also bring back the rest of the Graceland crew back including Briggs. There will be comedy, action, suspense and of course romance. So I hope you all enjoy. So my fellow readers sit down and enjoy What's Next. Now that I have had some free time I have been writing more. I am currently working on chapter 14 I re-watched season 1 to give me some inspiration and I think I found some. Thank you all for your encouragement and a special thank you to Hopeful Shipper for helping me with my spelling and grammar you're amazing. Enjoy chapter 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Graceland or the characters therein
Mike came busting through the front door as the rest of the team sat in the living room, "Sorry, I'm late traffic was crazy on the 405 as usual."
Charlie walked over to Mike taking his face in her hands looked him over, "Well, you seem ok. A little sleep deprived but that's normal. So where have you been? I called HQ but you weren't there."
"Bobby called said he had something."
"Well, don't keep us in suspense, Mike, what did he have?" Briggs asked
"Nothing that we already didn't know before, but on the bright side I did get a free breakfast."
"Well, at least there's that. Did you happen to bring some for the rest of us?" Johnnie asked.
"Sorry, Johnnie."
"No sweat it man. I'll whip up some ghetto scramble later."
"And on that note let's get to it. Paige, what did you find?" Charlie asked.
"Agent Martin's body was the same as the others. The way he was killed it was like this was out of anger whoever killed Martin wanted him to suffer. Also there were no defensive wounds or bruises. Martin didn't even put up a fight."
"So we're thinking its poison?" Johnnie asked.
Jake handed the test results to Johnnie, "No, we know its poison- actually its venom."
"Dale, what are we looking at?" Paige looked over Johnnie's shoulder at the report.
"The blood you gave me had traces of venom from a Brazilian Wandering Spider aka Banana Spider. If bitten you can be paralyzed within five minutes."
"So the killer injects the victims with the venom and since they can't fight back because of the paralysis they're easier to kill. Son of a bitch." Mike said.
Briggs stood looking at everyone, "Guys, let's look at the positive here the good news is we have a lead, plus there might be a way to track how they got the venom. It's not like they're making daily trips to Rio. DJ, you think you can check don the grape vine see if anyone is buying spiders or at least the venom?"
"I'll go with you, Dale, just in case you need backup and to make sure nothing happens to you," Paige said.
"Appreciate it, Paige. That work with you, Charlie?"
"It was either her or me. We can make guys talk like none of you can." Everyone got a laugh out of that. Before they could think of their next move Johnnies phone started beeping.
"Hey, Briggs, remember Violeta?"
"Yeah, she was that cutie bartender when we were looking for clues about Jangles right?"
"Yeah, that's the one." he said with a smile
"Johnnie, I don't that this is the best time for a booty call."
"It's not like that man. She just texted saying needs to meet now. Says she has info on some murders going around maybe something." Johnnie said holding up his phone.
"Or it might be a booty call." Paige said with a smile.
"Either way a win-win for me."
"Well, don't just stand here you and Paul get moving." Charlie says flicking her hand.
"I'm starting to think it was a bad idea to make her in charge of the house," Johnnie whispered to Briggs as they started to head out.
"We can hold elections later, Johnnie, but until then get your ass moving." She yelled to them.
"I swear she has better hearing than Superman." Johnnie said.
"Superwoman, Johnnie, Superwoman." She corrected him. Johnnie waves his arms in the air and Briggs just laughs as they leave.
"So, Paige, you might want to wear something that will get a guy's attention." Jakes said.
"Dale, you're basically describing everything I have."
"Fair enough wear something similar to what that I would wear."
"So something horrible and has no fashion taste?"
"You're funny, Paige, now get going we leave in 15." Paige smirked at him before heading upstairs.
"So what are we going to do, Charlie?" Mike asked.
"Well, you have your buddy so work on that angle. Maybe the guy gets lucky and can help us and not waste our time."
"Bobby will come through, Charlie. He always does."
"I hope your right, Mike, and in the mean time let's work on a profile. We've been jumping around searching for clues. We never established a profile of what we're looking for."
"Sounds good but can we do that in a bit? I need a shower and shave."
Charlie leaned in smelled, "Yeah, you do stink."
"Ha, you're on to…." Charlie looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm just going to shut up now."
"That's a good idea" and both headed upstairs
As Mike opened his door he sees Paige going through his drawer. Paige looks up with a look of a kid with their hand caught in the cookie jar. "Sorry I just wanted to borrow one of your black under shirts." Mike closed the door behind him, "No its ok help yourself." Paige looked down at the drawer as Mike looked at the floor.
Paige grabbed a shirt holding it up to Mike, "Got it thanks" As she opened door Mike stopped her taking her hand into his. She looked up with a hint of happiness, "You and Jakes be careful. Don't pull a me alright?" She could only nod and smile as she opened the door and turned back to him, "I talked to Allie today she says hi"
"How is she and he family? How's Roadie?"
"They're all doing great. Allie wants to kill us for giving them Roadie though but at least Lindsey loves us."
"That's always a good thing" Paige nodded in agreement. She softly whispered, "We also talked about us and she made me realize some things"
"Such as?"
Paige looked into Mike's deep blue eyes, "I'm sure what I want when it comes to us and staying married or not but I do know that I love you Mike Warren and I know that might not be good enough for you and you might have some trust issues with me but I'm not going anywhere and I will do whatever it takes to earn your love back."
Mike stood there with stoned face he was going to say something but before he could, "Paige change of plans we got leave now. You ready?" Jakes yelled from down stairs
"Be right down Dale I just have to…" Before she could finish Mike pulled her in for a deep kiss. Paige soon threw her arms around Mike opening her mouth welcoming his tongue. Her hands went through his hair as he pushed her against the door frame. A soft moan escaped her lips upon impact with the frame.
"Paige we have to go let's move" Jakes yelled. Mike moved away their foreheads touching both breathing hard. "Will talk later" he said. Paige just nodded before kissing Mike on the cheek and heading downstairs. Mike leaned back against the frame and smiled before heading back in his room. What neither he nor Paige saw was Charlie who just returned to her room left her door open and heard everything. As Paige walked past her door Charlie made herself scarce she then sat on her bed trying to wrap her mind about what she just heard.
"Damn, Johnnie, this place smells worst than the last time we were here."
"It's not that, Briggs, in fact I think it has a nice view." Johnnie said as he saw Violeta. "The last time I saw her I told her I was thinking of joining the LAPD so let's go with that alright." Briggs gave him a look. "What? We're working. I'm just working on getting this girl to go out with me too."
"Do what you gotta do, Johnnie." The two sat up at the bar Johnnie tapped his fingers on the bar top over and over to calm his nerves as Violeta took care of someone else on the other end. "Johnnie, calm down. Ten seconds ago you were Mr. Joe Cool now you're sweating bullets. Dude, she's just a girl" Briggs said as he reached over placing his hand over his to stop his constant tapping. "Oh and Charlie is just a girl to you?" Johnnie asked.
"Point taken man but she did give you her number right?"
"Yeah she did but…."
"But nothing man she's into you" Just as he said that Violeta spotted Johnnie and smiled. "Game on buddy" Johnnie could do nothing but smile like goof as she walked over. "Well well Johnnie T how are you hun?"
"I'm good, Violeta, just doing my thing. What about you?"
"Just trying to keep the customer happy. You know I thought you forgot all about me."
"I could never forget about you, Girl."
"Then why didn't you ever call me? I don't give my number to anyone."
"That was my fault," Briggs interrupted. "My wife his sister was in a nasty car accident and I was away overseas working so Johnnie here took care of her."
"Really?" She asked.
"Yeah, she was in bad shape and since she took care of him for years he felt it was the right thing to do."
Violeta looked back at Johnnie, "Given the circumstances I can't be too mad at you, but next time a simple text would be nice."
"So I get a next time?"
"If you play your cards right, Hun."
Johnnie couldn't help but smile. It wasn't till Briggs elbowed him on the side that he remembered why they were there in the first place. "So besides interrogating me on my whereabouts what's going on? You message sounded like you heard something that you wish you hadn't."
Violeta leaned forward, "Meet me out back in 2 minutes and just you. " She then told the other bartender she was taking a break and walked out.
As soon as she out of ear shot Briggs said. "I'll wait here text me after she leaves." Johnnie waited another minute then headed outside. He rounded the corner seeing Violeta waiting in the shadows.
"Alright deep throat what's this all about?"
"Did you ever join the LAPD Johnnie?"
"I did I passed the physical and psych tests but I had to postpone my training after my sister got hurt."
"So you weren't lying?"
"No, I was serious about it why do you ask?" From the look on her face Johnnie knew something was up. "V, if you know something then you need to tell someone. If not me I know a few cops I can ask."
"No, Johnnie, I rather talk to you I trust you."
"Thanks V so what's up?"
"You heard about those bangers that have been butchered the past few weeks?"
"Yeah, I heard something about it. From what I heard it's some kind of gang beef. You hear something different?"
"No, but one of my regulars Danny a real class act said he saw one of the murders go down."
"He what?" Johnnie asked not trying to act too anxious
"Yeah, he came in earlier really spooked. I thought he was just on some bad shit like but he seemed really different. After I got a few shot in him he finally opened up. He said we was walking from his cousin's when he saw this tall looking dude just minding his own business when all of a sudden this person dressed in black shoved a needle in his neck . Danny hid behind the dumpster as the tall dude just fell. Danny said the person is black, drew out a knife, said something to him, and started stabbing him over and over in a rage. I tried to get more out of him but he shut down and took off soon after."
"V, it's ok you did the right thing now. Did Danny say where this happened?"
"Yeah, it was around Verona and S. Atlantic Boulevard," Johnnie's eyes grew big as he heard the street names. That was where they found Martin's body. Luckily Johnnie was a pro and knew how to play this. "V, you know that if this is legit I'm gonna have to tell someone."
"I know. That's why I called you. I knew you would do the right thing."
"Do you know Danny's last name? Do you where I can find him?"
"It's Ortiz. I don't know where he lives but I do have a picture of him." She pulled out her phone and texted Johnnie who wanted to hug her but kept his composure. "Look, I'll my friend at Metro see if he can help."
"Thanks, Johnnie, I really appreciate it."
"Anytime. Hey, I better get going. I'll call you if anything happens."
"You're just going to call me about that Johnnie?"
Johnnie smiled, "That and other things."
Violeta walked up to him pressing her chest against his. She leaned forward whispering in his ear, "You know I have 5 minutes left on my break?"
"Mmmm, V, that aint enough time for me."
"Oh, we're so going out, Johnnie."
The two shared a laugh then Johnnie leaned forward kissing her on the cheek, "I'll call you later." As soon as he was around the corner Johnnie texted Briggs to meet him at the truck. He then called Charlie.
"Johnnie, tell me you got something."
"Charlie, we got a witness!"
"What!"
"Violeta, has a regular who comes in and by chance he saw Martin get killed last night."
"Holy shit, Johnnie, that's huge! What's his name?"
"Danny Ortiz I need his address. I'm sending you his picture now."
"Give me a second, Johnnie." Just then Briggs showed up. "What's going on man?"
"V, found a witness to Martin's murder. Charlie is getting his address."
Briggs slapped Johnnie's back, "Nice work, JT."
"Johnnie, you there?" Charlie asked
"Yeah, go ahead, Girl." Johnnie replied putting the phone on speaker.
"Ortiz lives on 3026 Northside drive. I call a tact team to help you bring it in."
"Charlie, we can't scare the guy Johnnie and I can get him to talk." Briggs said.
"Briggs is right we can handle this."
"Alright but please be careful you two"
"Scouts honor, Girl, talk to you soon." Briggs looked at Johnnie, "Let's go get us a witness."