Uh... It's been a while, the last months of the year are always busy at the agency. Still I have write down this chapter in a healthy and slow pace. A very crucial one since we are reaching the half point or even further of it all. Thanks to every reader for the patience and interest, I promise this story would not die until completed.
I apologize in advance since this chapter is more about talking than action, but it is a very necessary and interesting one to keep the plot in order.
D: Owning the plot and words
W: usual.
DEADLY PLEASURES
CHAPTER 9
Making pressure against the side of his palm, Sasuke could feel his heart pounding vigorously against his chest, a fire sensation emanating from his hand, leg and back. After all, he was still convalescent from the last wounds and escaping from a shooting was no good for his body. But still the adrenaline of all had his body slightly sedated, in the brink between pain and a state of survival.
Rage took control of his mind, this was the second time in a few weeks that someone had almost killed them. It doesn't matter if the explosion at the lab was against them or just a funny coincidence, they had been hitted, and damn, no one attempted against Uchiha Sasuke life (and his apprentice too.) and got away that easily.
He was relieved and in the bottom slightly motivated that inside the green eyes of his protegee he couldn't find fear, he saw the most pure and intense decision to make justice.
"Are you alright Sir?" Gaara asked now that they had reached the Agent desk inside the empty office, apart from some few unfortunate night watches, their floor was practically empty.
"Yeah, some scratches though…" he said raising his hand to show him how the scratch the bullet had done to his hand was minimal, and just appeared as if he had burned himself.
"I'll get you a pain killer." The redhead said with determination, walking to the resting area where a first aid kit was.
Sasuke thought of stopping him, but decided against it, since a pain killer would let him forget about the rising uncomfortness and allow his mind to focus.
Taking his black tie out of the way and his now dirty coat, he rolled up his sleeves and ruffled a little his hair, making himself more comfortable from the stiffness of the "elegant" look.
"Alright..." he mumbled to himself, taking a deep look to his investigation board "who the hell has a lot of balls to shoot against two cops and set a federal lab on fire?"
Those involved in the current investigation were displayed before his eyes, the first clue, the places, the deaths, or should he use the right name: murders? they had been murdered by someone, for their silence? for knowing too much?
Gaara returned with a coffee mug filled with water and two pills in hand
"Why would you kill someone Gaara?" the black haired agent took the pills and the water and downed it in one go.
The question took the detective by surprise but luckily he got a glimpse of the train of thought of his boss, after all, Sasuke seemed pissed during the cab ride, and if there is one thing Gaara knew for a fact was that when something was bothering his boss he would not take the finger from the line until he grab the whole thing in his hands.
"People are quite simple… murder usually has the same motives." The red head answered, taking off his bow and unbuttoning his shirt, feeling his body breath again, liberating himself from the stiffness.
"Correct, if we get the simple hints there is always a motivation of: Money, Business, Fear, Treason or Love. Taking aside any philia or obsession." The agent stated and his subordinated wrote down everything in a small note that was attached to the board.
"I see Money fitting in here and business since we are dealing with what it seems to be an enterprise."
Gaara cleared his throat, "I would also add fear, sir."
"Why?"
"They have made sure we don't get information out of the bodies, and today when I was about to peek inside the window of the love line, suddenly they shot at us. I guess they fear we get some information or uncover something." Gaara said, confident in his statement.
His boss thought about his response, folding and unfolding a piece of paper between his fingers. "...Apart from clearly grounding them from killing people, that is...Maybe Zabuza and the other's were killed because they knew too much. Does that make sense to you?"
Gaara nodded, "Could be … "
"Money is definitely a factor; because of Zabuza's property, would these people have it? I haven't stopped thinking about it, they were planning on selling it and fast. "
Sasuke finished, squinting his eyes, while reading over and over again the names on the board.
"And, what happened with the packages…? why would we be directed to them?" Gaara said, walking to his place a few desks away from his bosses own. Returning with the so-called package recovered from Zabuza's home.
"Do you still think is a fake lead?" Sasuke inquired, taking it into his hands.
"I investigated the remittent, but there is none….still, I'm not sure about this lead. I believe we have it here for something and I saw a ton of sex toys inside that place…" Gaara finished feeling a little ashamed of the statement at the end.
"Yeah… they were hundreds, but we still have to note this one is 'unique' since it is not a common brand or line, let's call them: limited edition. They can be worth millions." Sasuke interrupted the words of the other.
"So we return to money." Gaara concluded with a sight.
"What can anyone gain from Zabuza's death? for example his subordinates… they would surely lose their job, or be paid less or i don't know, be directed to another area of Momochi broadcast, whatever it is, it's not convenient for them it is?"
"Sounds like it. But thinking inside Momochi Corp. We all know how bad reputation Zabuza had, his father's fortune was being tossed during his party nights and ludicrous life."
"Do you think his father...?" Sasuke asked, quite impressed.
Gaara shrugged. " I'm just proposing scenarios…. although that would not explain the other related murders." he finished, and the agent just nodded, sinking his eyes in the board before him.
"The most plausible scenario is to target the Casino owners, which also own the Pleasure Palace and clearly the Love Line."
"Kill them for their money?" Gaara suggested again, seeing clearly the train of thought.
"Yeah, but is it profitable?...you are literally getting rid of your clients."
"I'm sticking with the thought that they knew too much, or they witnessed something they shouldn't. The coup of grace: even after death they win something from them, they took their money." Gaara pointed at the post-it labeled with Zabuza's apartment.
"That sounds right. Since whoever is giving us this hard time is taking all the measures to keep us from getting anything involving these murders." Sasuke made a pause to connect the three establishments with a red line. "Alright, let's say all these three palces are one sole big business, since one of them is a gambling house I can almost assure the properties of Zabuza are owned by them. As some sort of payment."
"So…. maybe Zabuza didn't want to pay them, so they killed him to get their money back?" Gaara said light hearted.
"...but that woman, Konan, said Zabuza always paid her debts. Maybe he wasn't in debt, or he was killed for another reason but there was still a payment pending, so they took the apartment."
"… this is so confusing…" Gaara cracked, feeling overwhelmed by all the possible scenarios, and the constant tingle of pain reaching the spot in his back he hit while jumping from that fire escape ladder.
"Just take them as separate scenarios, no need to jumble all of them together. Which of them is the most likely to you?"
Sighting, Gaara looked once again at the board, and reminded himself that if he kept pushing his mind, he would get the answer sooner or later. "I guess… the debt one. I know Konan said he always paid, but that seemed like a move a mob would do to get the money and it's a reason to kill, a very common one."
"I think that too. Plus, I don't trust that driver girl. So then… we have work in our hands. First of all, I need to know more about the sale of the apartment, in the voice message they said it was happening soon." Sasuke said, circling Zabuza's apartment lead with a red pen, Gaara noded, arranging the puzzle in his head.
"I'll search the origin of the packages…. we still have that opening. I'm thinking they could fit in a scenario where you have a membership or something, most casinos work that way with frequent patrons. Maybe the Pleasure Palace has some sort of membership delivery?"
"Good." Sasuke confirmed, placing another paper with the name "packages" written in black ink. "we were asked for a code earlier tonight. That can be... " Sasule took out his own small notes, flipping the pages in search for a certain number scribbled. " Jashin Love Line number… we left out the last two digits because if we dialed them, the call didn't connect."
"Five fours, five twos, is Jashin Love Line number. It remains two fives."
"Do you think that is a membership code?"
"Let's try it..." the black haired man said, reaching for his phone and opening the keyboard, dialing. After a couple of tones the line connected and the sultry voice of a woman came through the speaker:
Welcome to Jashin L-O-V-E line… we are here to PLEASE Y-O-U, please dial the option you are eager to connect with. Press Zero if you want to hear the menu.
Sasuke pressed the 5 button two times, and the sound on the other side stopped. A few seconds after, the line came to life again and what was clearly a pre recorded voice started talking back:
It's nice to have you back, we are still working on more fun for you. You will be notified of the place and time of our next gathering. For the time being, please join us for more fun in any other options you will surely enjoy.
The line clicked again and they were redirected to the initial message to hear the menu.
"So… whoever owns this membership code will recieve a time and place invitation. We must be there." Sasuke said, more to himself that to his apprentice."
"Maybe Naruto can help us again, he was the one who told you about the number didn't he?" Gaara said innocently, looking at his boss.
But Sasuke's features contorted for a second, he disliked the idea of getting the blond involved deeply in this mess, he certainly didn't want him to get in any trouble for his fault, and certainly not now that their lives had been in danger.
"I'll ask around Gaara, don't worry about it." he said cooly, but a cold shiver had run down his spine. Then he frowned, looking at no specific place in front of him.
"I'm sorry sir, I know you care for him...I shouldn't have proposed that idea." Gaara retreated his words, reading the corporal language of his boss.
"That's fine Gaara…now…. follow me, I have something important to talk with you." Sasuke's tone became deeper, and the redheaded policeman knew that whatever his boss was about to say was confidential between them.
They reached one of the meeting offices and closing the door behind them Sasuke looked at him with intense eyes.
"From now on, every action you do in this investigation is vital. Be careful in every lead and place you search, tonight you saw that they will not hesitate in ending us." Gaara noded, feeling the seriousness of his words.
"And the most important thing of all, whatever we are doing will be confidential between you and me. No chit chatting with other agents or detectives." Gaara nodded again, understanding that his boss was uncommonly nervous.
"What about Tsunade-sama?"
"Complete silence...I believe there is some leak of information inside the investigation unit." Sasuke saw how green eyes focused on him, not knowing what he was talking about.
"The explosion at the lab was a red flag, there are no culprits, no trails in what happened, as if all of it had been planned by someone who knew the place. Now, Tsunade is a patron at the very core of our suspected business. Something is fishy in here… we are not having a full picture of what is happening, so until then. Just between you and me." Sasuke took his hand to his back, taking out his gun.
"I know you don't have a gun permission yet. But i don't care… take this." he said, checking the safety lock and giving it to the young cop.
"But sir…." he protested, but his words died in his lips as soon as the cold metalic weight landed on his palm.
"I would not forgive myself if you found yourself in another situation like the one tonight and you are defenseless. I saw your academy scorecard, you know how to use it, and very well." Sasuke said, giving the kid a confident look, he nodded and gripped the weapon with trust. "Now, you know the rules… no shutting freely, we report every bullet that comes out that gun."
"Yes sir… thank you sir." Gaara nodded again frantically.
Sasuke then smiled lightly ruffling the red mop of hair, feeling more at ease now that he knew his apprentice was aware of the grounds they were standing on.
"Do you think they followed us?" he asked casually.
Gaara put the gun on the back of his bants, tucked between his belt. "They would be very stupid if they did so."
"Yeah…. they only wanted to keep us away from their business. The real question is, did they know we are part of the police?" Sasuke asked again, opening the door of the conference room they were at, motinioning Gaara to exit.
/
When Sasuke assured that Gaara had entered his house safely he pressed the gasoline pedal with force. Starting to feel the exhaustness on his limbs, his stomach did a turn when he remembered the past hours. Thanking internally the adrenaline in his system was present at that moment, since his blood froze immediately thinking now on that fire escape ladder they were barely standing on. Even though it was not that high, was up enough to catch his breath and think twice on every step he took.
Again, the instinctual reaction got him to the ground and luckily helped them escape from the shooter.
The night city lights were fastly passing by his window, his mind changing gears into an automatic function between driving the already learned path to his home and reviewing every fact of his old board over and over on his head.
He knew that the next step was to find two important facts that were under his responsibility. Firstly, who was selling Zabuza's place, to whom.
Second, decipher the message they got from the love line, there would be a special meeting, how many people shared the 55 option? it said it would be a gathering so there for sure were more involved. Thinking further about this, he didn't see the number 55 inside the Casino rooms. As far as he understood, every room or 'activity' stood for a philia or some sort of diversion. What does 55 stand for?
Gripping the steering wheel he drove the last few minutes in silence, trying to ignore the small and undeniable logic answer to his second dutty.
There were few ways to get the info they needed for the reunion of the 55 code members. And all the scenarios he could think in the time being, include a certain blond and that didn't make him any happy.
After parking his car and reaching his apartment, he discarded his clothes frantically, feeling all of a sudden a burden he didn't know was there. It had been long since a case had messed him up like this, mostly by the fact that any of the leads quite matched. There was still something off that didn't quite make sense for him.
Tracing again the line of thought he and Gaara had delimited, he started the shower, feeling how his back muscles relaxed with the warm contact of the vital liquid.
His leg was stinging again, as well as his hand, and under the water he felt the strange verge of pain. That in between moments were the sensation is kind of pleasurable but it is not that hard to call it pain.
As fast as his mind was working he knew his mood and feelings tended to reach the impossible limits of every emotion, and in a second he thought that it was that exactly what gave him that strong pull towards anything. He liked to be tempted to his limits, and challenged to his limits.
And then Naruto came to his mind, because he has become an expert on stretching any of his emotions to all the capable limits. When did he get under his skin?, the Agent reflected. Feeling the question quite useful, since that sole limit had been already trespassed. And that was the thing, that if it was any other person, he would never think twice on asking for help to get the information they needed. But with the blond… well, it would be lying if he said he wasn't worried for him, now that whoever was moving the strings had shown some cards.
"Damit..." he whispered as he exited the shower, making his way back to his dorm. Wishing that Naruto was there to make him stop thinking with those blue eyes that took him to his limits.
His phone, resting on the bed, lit up. One message just arrived.
FROM: NARUTO
HOW WAS THE POKER NIGHT?
He couldn't stop the small smile forming on his lips. How did he expect to keep Naruto from all these, when he had been one of the causes they got this far? Sasuke thought, finding some pijama pants and tucking himself inside his bed, unlocking his phone and typing a short answer to the blond.
He knew that he needed his help, even though his mind was still struggling with the fear of getting him in danger, or even worse, making him a target of the people behind all this mystery.
Sinking in a delicious slumber, the agent wished the warm body of the blond would be beside him to make him stop thinking.
/
"Have you seen Tsunade around?" a male voice took Sasuke out of the papers he was reading.
"I haven't seen you around either Kakashi..." The agent responded, closing the files and relaxing his back on the worn out chair.
"My lab was partially destroyed… where do you want me to hang around?" The medic took a seat over the desk, watching the pale man in front of him with annoyed eyes.
"I've heard they gave you a spot at the central hospital meanwhile, that can't be bad."
Buffing, Kakashi stood up, walking a few steps here and there "It's not bad, but I have to drive between the hospital and the Investigation unit to file the reports… it sucks."
Nodding with an amused smile, Sasuke stood up taking his empty coffee mug. "I haven't seen her around lately, she's busy between all the open cases. We suddenly have different investigations going on at the same time." he motioned the doctor to follow him for more coffee.
"Tsch… I guess I'll hang around here until I catch her." Kakashi responded half hearted, taking one of the generic Police mugs for himself, pouring half a cup of coffee for him and grimacing at the taste, and walking away leaving the agent to his thoughts.
But come to think about, he hadn't seen his blond superior for some days, after the casino incident, he decided not to tell her a word, still the next few days he had not caught a glimpse of her, still the office has been running smoothly.
Taking out his phone while sipping the hot liquid of his cup he corroborates the time and place Kiba had confirmed him to meet up for the next afternoon. As expected, it was that busy bar where he hung around.
Making his way back to his desk he saw Gaara immersed in some papers and felt relieved knowing that the kid had been making until now paperwork and inhouse investigation. For now he was sure he was not at any risk. Still Sasuke had a gut feeling that something was off, they needed to close some investigation lines and he was refusing to do what he knew he had to. He spent hours trying to circle around the topic, trying to find any other way, but the path was clear, he knew he had to stop avoiding the only contact and clue that might represent a breakthrough to all this enigma, he had to ask for Naruto's help, and he hated that.
Some hours later, and tired as hell of looking to more call records, account movements from Momochi Broadcast and, read the report the surveillance unit had made from the suspicious driver and personal from the main building of the entertainment enterprise, Sasuke rub his eyes, understanding the meaning his body was giving him, time to go.
Looking around he saw some desks were still lit and scattered around were the few officials that had still work to do or were clinging onto a clue.
"You have worked enough for today Gaara, you should go home..." the agent took the redhead's attention out of the reports he was reading, with a pencil on his right hand, the young detective wrote here and there some notes. Listening his name he snapped out and stood up, more out of habit than a conscious action.
"Sir… I still have some notes to do. I think I have something about the packages but… is not very clear still, if you want the report now, I can-"
Sasuke interrupted him "No, finish the idea, if it's not crucial I don't want to hear it unless you are convinced it is the right path to follow."
Looking to his notes the man stuttered for a bit, before nodding, regaining his voice again, he stopped the agent when he was saying his goodbyes. "Sri, I do have one thing to tell you."
"Yeah?" Sasuke said, while loosening his tie.
Lowering the volume of his voice he continued "About the supposed reunion… I guess…. it was always in front of our eyes but I never noticed until now. The last few digits of the phone number were 55 right?"
Sasuke nodded, not understanding the main idea of his apprentice.
"We started to investigate this number because it was a common factor between Zabuza and all the other victims. The number they mumbled, as far as we know, is always the same."
"Yeah that's the theory." the black haired man mumbled, thinking for a moment that the guy might have in mind drop all the construction of their case.
"So, the number is the code for this 'club'. And from what we saw inside the casino, every number stood for a type of diversion. That would mean that whoever is involved in the 55 diversion, is for sure going to die."
Sasuke's thoughts stopped, of course…. the same code was present in every mysterious death.
"That would mean that… the man who will receive the invitation to the gathering is surely going to die." the black haired man whispered under his breath, and Gaara nodded with a serious gaze.
"I know you told me you would take care of it, but… we don't know when this gathering is taking place and how many people are attending to it."
"Damit… you don't have to tell me more, is an urgent matter."
"Sorry Sir..." Gaara lowered his head, looking at the notes he had been writing a moment ago.
"Don't be… things are just like this. Good job Gaara, I'll call you as soon as I know something." exchanging looks of knowing, Sasuke exited the office.
As soon as his boss was out of sight, the young detective returned to his chair, blinking repeatedly, trying to regain the thought he had before the agent arrived.
He had been chasing the lead of the package at Zabuza's home. He had analyzed every nook and cranny of the box, the toy itself and the paper it was wrapped with. There was no remittent or clue of the sender, but Sasuke had said some interesting facts about it the day the task had been assigned to him, he said it was a weird sex toy, a collectible, and a very hard to find.
Gaara's search started at common sex shops websites, as expected there were unexistent, he had wrote in forums, blogs and live chats to have some info about collectible sex toys, but as he imagined and experiencies, he didn't find much information since some of the responders redirected him to the pages he had visited or lead him to unrelated sources, to his dismay his continuous search history had already conditioned the advertisement of his accounts and he had to live with live sex chat ads and banners 24 hours a day. Still he had exhausted all the online options he could think of.
During his visit with Sasuke to the casino they both had witnessed one of the rooms of the place where abundant sexual activities were held with sex toys, ropes and harensses involved. At the time he just thought it was hella kinky, and felt an innocent burden since he was well aware of his superior presence and he didn't want to show any reaction in front of him.
But he did notice the place, the number the couples, the dildos, the moans and the number that room was labeled. He didn't think about it and became irrelevant in his mind after the encounter with the shooter, but when they returned to the office and retrieved the package from his place. All the information he had gathered unconsciously came back. The first thought on his mind was that the room with the number 11 was completely and absolutely related to it.
The day after, he had followed that gut instinct and called Jashin Love Line, instead of dialing 55 he had pressed the number 11 on his phone. And jackpot, he was connected to a very sensual voice of a woman that between small whimpers and moans asked him what toy he was imagining she was using on her at that exact moment. It was not that he couldn't imagine it or that he had never been with a woman before, but his body paralized in that exact moment and found himself unable to respond, mostly because it was 11 AM and he was inside a very full office, at that exact moment, Hinata had walked beside his desk and smiled friendly at him.
"...do you have deliveries?" he asked, cracking the burden he felt around his body, maybe I should have waited until the office was emptier or during lunch time, he thought to himself.
The woman on the other side had responded between giggles that none can deliver her to his door, but invited him to visit the Casino or the Pleasure Palace if he was searching for more fun. Rolling his eyes at the simple minded response, he cleared his throat and asked again, clarifying he was referring to the toys, and her response:
"You have to be here to ask for it, sweetheart."
After that he hung up. So they really sent things to people? or was that too ambiguous to make any conclusions?,
He had made a list of the people he had contacted during their small expedition to the Pleasure Palace, he had asked for some phone numbers and in an instinctual urge, he messaged some of them, luckily, a couple of those numbers were given to hi, so he knew he would get response if they were still interested, although the detective only wanted information from them.
Now, late at night, he had received a few messages and suggesting photos he decided to ignore, both from men and women he had met at the Pleasure Palace, in a way he knew this outcome was part his fault since adding a question about dildos between the first few message was clearly a mood settler.
Still, he knew he had to pull more strings to get more information about the sex toys, visiting again the casino would be a mistake for now, since his face can be known by the atackers, so everything had to be done by phone… At least for now, he thought to himself, starting a new call to one of the contacts that had responded fastly and had gained some of his confidence. Remembering all the times he had accompanied Sasuke to bars to talk to contacts or just followed him to investigations and he had flirted blatantly with strangers he joined the words and memories in his head, trying to be as charming as his serious personality allowed him.
The office was almost empty, nearing 11 o'clock, a few agents were turning off their screens and personal lamps, still there were some others chatting around but on the far corners of the place, inside one of the resting areas, black eyes were casually observing the redhead's movements carefully.
/
"Sasuke! long time not seen." A cheerful Kiba approximated the table the agent was sitting on, beer on hand, he made his way to the stool next to him.
"It has been..." Sasuke answered cooly, taking another sip of his beer.
"The case has been rough huh?" Kiba asked, looking at the patched wound the pale man had in his hand.
"You know… people don't want to be imprisoned." He commented playfully and Kiba snorted.
"Alright… I have the information for you, but you owe me big time!" the man said, taking out a piece of paper from inside his wallet.
Jashin Corporation.
"That 's all?" Sasuke said, reading again the folded paper between his fingers.
"What!? I risked my ass to get you the name of the owners of the actions and properties. DO YOU know how much time I had to wait inside the ladies room for them to come in and chit chat about that meeting. HOURS!" Kiba smashed his fist over the table, knocking the plate of chestnuts.
"Are you serious?!. I thought you had learnt better tricks at the police academy."
"Nah, I'm kidding, I offered Ino to carry her notes of that meeting and peeked inside while we walked to her desk." the man said and Sasuke smiled amused while taking another glup of his takk glass.
"Still you could have told me this by phone…" the agent said.
"I know, that's why I asked you to come over here..." the man said and Sasuke just tilted his head, searching for logic in the argument.
"Bureaucratic work is making you stupid my friend." he said once Kiba didn't continue his sentence. and was watching him with a goofy smile.
"Sorry…. bad timing." Kiba said, directing his eyes to the bar in front of them, "THAT'S why I asked you to come over here..." he said again, and the agent followed Kiba's eyes direction, looking to the adjacent bar where two tall women were taking a seat in front of the bar man.
"The blond girl is assigned to the case and I did hear there would be an appointment where is required to have the presence of one of our people." Sasuke glued his eyes to the girls back, and then returned the look to his friend.
"Do I have to explain everything….?" Kiba mocked, but continued after a snort "That means that someone managing the actions and properties have to make as witness of a transaction, to be more clear, our friends of Jashin Corp. are trying to sell some big actions."
"Zabuza's apartment." Sasuke concluded, and Kiba nodded in victory.
"So… I was not able to get out of her, not even the time where the transaction will take place, but maybe you can work your official magic on her."
"You want me to seduce her or something? that 's low." The agent said with a sardonic smile.
Punching him in the arm, Kiba scrowled "Not seducing you bastard! Go flash her with your super official police badge!"
"Uh… that's no fun." Sasuke said again, feeling playful all of a sudden.
Both friends made up a simple plan that luckily would be in motion in no time, Sasuke and Kiba retreated to the entrance of the bar, faking to not know each other, the browned hair officinist would lead the way, Sasuke arrange the button of his shirt, tightened again his tie and unbuttoned his coat while walking beside Kiba, the commonly seriousness of his face on point.
"Hey Ino!, Kurenai, sorry for interrupting." he said when they reached the place of the bar where both women were seated.
"Uh… what is it? didn't you have an important appointment?" Kurenai, an attractive woman with black hair and a formal white dress asked.
"Is he the new intern?" Ino asked right away, checking out the guy behind his coworker and noticing she hadn't seen him around the office. "oh, are you showing him the usual places? we have room for two more." She said politely, directing her gaze right to the agent's face.
"That's not the case," the brown haired man said, raising his hands in front of them. "look, this man came to search for you at the office. He said he is from the police and needed to speak with you, and that it was important, and since he was in such a hurry and you were out to eat, I asked him to wait but he insisted so that's why we came here."
Ino's face lost the smile, while she stood up and Kurenai pushed away from her the martini glass she had been holding.
"Of course… in what matter can I help you Mr…?"
"Agent Uchiha." Sasuke said with a serious voice. Taking his badge expertly from his coat inside pocket.
"We'll be around if you need something," Kiba urged, motioning Kurenai to stand up and follow him, making the statement more convincing with a worried look on his eyes.
"You will excuse me… we were having a drink, since we were off early today." Ino said taking a seat in her early spot.
Dismissing the apology Sasuke looked at her eyes directly "I won't take much of your time." he started "I'm from the Investigation Unit of the police force. We have been following some strange movements of money and properties from big corporations involving some prohibited business I am not authorized to talk about."
Ino nodded, clenching her hands into fists, as they rested over her delicate legs. Her blue eyes never leave the agent's intense black eyes.
"One of our leads involves Jashin Corp. Which I know to be a client of your department."
"They are." she said without a question.
"Good. In order to continue our investigation I have been ordered to come here and ask for your relationship with their business. Have you noticed something strange about their movements, finances or even the name holders. Do you know them?"
"I… no, well, all our contact with them is mostly by phone. I personally have never met our client, since they use intermediaries to close their business and move the actions from different sources."
"I see...and In your experience, have there been some strange movements of money or properties, perhaps?" Sasuke pushed, trying to lead the woman to talk about the supposed reunion.
"Well, they are moving a lot of actions and money all the time, they are quite fond of cultural patronage, which I found odd, since their business registries are...way different territories, and..." she paused and doubted for a while to keep talking.
"I have to remind you that you are cooperating with an official investigation." which it was kind of true, Sasuke thought, using his low tone he reserved for the interrogation room.
"O-Of course, well, I don't know if this is odd, but we have an upcoming reunion with them, since they want to change the ownership of some properties." She said clearly, watching from time to time the shiny badge Sasuke had placed on the wooden bar. "We are scheduled to do it inside a casino. Which I found very unprofessional to make a sell proposition."
"JSH Gambling House?" Sasuke inquired, not being able to stop his tongue.
"Yes exactly." Ino blinked, while nodding frantically.
"And do you know when?"
"Um… I'm sorry but that is private information from our clients."
"Not when THEY are involved in an official investigation, so please, can you answer the question?" the agent pushed, feeling that this was going just too smoothly to be true.
"I-Its on friday, 7:30." Ino exhale, feeling his eyes itchy and her nails digging on her palms.
Triumphantly, Sasuke relaxed his face, taking that serious but passive attitude.
"We appreciate your help so much. Please maintain this interview as confidential since we are still working on this case. Take this..." he said, taking out from behind his badge a simple white card with his title, name and number, on the back, the police department official sign "...in case you remember something more or if something arises."
Taking the card with both hands she smiled lightly, feeling a cold shiver cross her back as she saw how the agent's menacing stand suddenly disappeared and was again faced with the serious and immutable handsome face.
She saw again into the dark eyes, they bowed slightly before Sasuke turned around and left the bar, thinking that even though the girl's eyes were a beautiful blue, Naruto's blue ones were breathtaking.
Once out of the place, and with a time, date and place burned on his memory he typed Kiba a quick "I owe you one!"
/
Starting the car slowly, he took his time to write the information he just achieved in his notes. Finally! Fucking finally he felt asi if something was coherent in this mess. And even in one turn, they had the upper hand.
The streets were busy, but not enough to make his way troublesome. Sasuke was heading to his apartment when stopping at a red light, he casually glanced to the direction sign below the traffic light, the name Central Hospital, and jumped before his eyes.
Deciding that he should not postpone the inevitable, he started the direction lights and turned left, diverting from his original route.
Once he was outside the Central Hospital, he saw the sky was starting to turn orange, was it that late? he asked himself as he glanced at his watch. While he waited for the cars to stop so he could cross to the other side of the road to the emergency entrance of the hospital.
"Hi, I'm searching for the lead supervisor?" The agent inquired to one man at the door of the emergency entrance who seemed to be some sort of security guard who just threw his head back signaling him to walk and find him by himself.
Making his way inside, he saw a wide space where some ambulances were parked one after another, uniformed paramedics chit chatting around and some of them, carrying stuff here and there.
His sight didn't find the only paramedic he wanted to see at the moment.
"Oh! Sasuke?" the agent heard from behind, when he turned around a girl with two buns was smiling at him.
"Hmm… don't tell me," Sasuke said, rubbing his forehead with his index finger "TenTen." he finished, pointing his finger in her direction.
The girl giggled and approached a few more steps to the agent."Are you ok? or what brings you to emergency?" She asked, although she had a knowing smile on her face.
"I was looking for Naruto actually. The guard let me in so easily, I thought there was some sort of information desk or somethin." He said looking around.
Of course he is searching for him… TenTen thought "He is in induction… I'll guide you."
Sasuke placed his hands inside his pant's pockets, walking beside the paramedic that a few weeks ago had cured his wounds.
They passed the ambulance parking area to arrive at a two storey building with a frontal door, crossing the lobby of the building, where Sasuke assumed was the offices and all sorts of paramedic resources they reached the far end where another door exited the building and led to a backyard.
There, in three lines were aligned men and women sporting the white shirt with red cross uniform of the first aid team, they were kneeling over a large pad on the floor where a practice human scale torso was lying in front of them.
Sasuke thought it was similar to the ones they used at the academy to shoot at, just that these people were performing first aid resuscitation, which of course, were two extreme opposites.
In front of the apprentices, Naruto talked loud and clear, he was wearing a complete white shirt that of course showed the definition of his back muscles so well Sasuke just smirked lightly, but regained composure when TenTen started talking beside him.
"He finished the induction in 5 minutes, you can wait here." She said, smiling at the well dressed man, and thought that inside a place filled with paramedics dressed in red and white, a man in a formal suit with white shirt, black tie and black coat was too striking to be seen as a common thing.
Thanking the girl, he rested his back on the near wall of the building, while watching the class. At some point TenTen excused herself and leave the policeman alone, which he couldn't care less, since his whole atention was on the blond paramedic, explaining every movement with that bright stupid smile.
Then he stood up and started walking around the lines of apprentices, watching how they performed one after another the procedure, responding to some doubts and explaining again in the sport to those who stopped him during his presence nearby. When the paramedic reached the last row and turned around, ready to make the same way back, he stopped immediately.
His blue eyes had found black orbs looking directly at him, all he could do was to appease the turn his stomach had done with a delighted half smile, while shaking his head from side to side slowly, made his way back, until the doubt of a student kneeled on the floor interrupted the connection with the detective that was looking at him with a pleased air around him.
So this is how good Naruto had felt when he showed up at the police station, Sasuke thought, feeling the urge of lighting a cigarette but refusing the idea immediately since maybe it would be rude inside a place like this.
The blond paramedic reached his spot at the front of all the trainees and clapped two times, thanked the assistans and finished the induction. The students released a thankful sight and not even glancing again at them, Naruto turned around, closing the distance with the policemen.
"Well well well… talking about impromptu visits." he started saying when he was close enough for the black haired man to hear him.
"Surprised?" Sasuke said, with an apologetic smile.
"That depends on the reason for your visit…." the paramedic admitted, and Sasuke released a small laugh.
"I'm afraid it's not what you are thinking about."
Naruto looked at him tilting his head, "Try me..."
At that exact moment the apprentices started to walk to the entrance door they were standing beside, waiting a while until the last student left and finished his goodbyes to Naruto, he spoke "I need a favor… again." frowning, he looked into the others eyes.
"You don't seem happy to ask it."
"It does NOT make me happy at all, but… this time I think I had no choice, time is crucial."
Naruto didn't say anything else, and waited for the man to keep talking.
"So the man who manages the archive… will receive a very crucial invitation."
Naruto noded.
"And we need to steal it, otherwise it is probable he walks straight to his death."
"I'll do it." Naruto didn't hesitate an inch. He had seen on one side of Sasuke's torso, a gun holder was secured under the agent's coat, and the presence of that weapon that had never been there the last occasions he had seen the policeman just indicated something to the paramedic… things were getting more and more complicated.
/
So as I said, a more informative chapter. Still I hope it keeps you on the hook of this story, it has been very very challenging, but soo far i have been loving to write it. I guess you are liking it as well. I'll update soon since finally winter holiday is around the corner.
Thanks for reading.
Until next time.
URBAN L.C.