After what felt like an eternity, I managed to cut this chapter where I felt it was good. It was hard, since I felt I needed to give all this clues in one go. But finally here we are, I also want to say thanks for all the lovely people who have been subscribing for the alert and reading. You are the best.
With nothing else to say, Enjoy.
CHAPTER 14
"Stay here, seated, if that's what you want, if you are not talking you won't go anywhere." The raspy voice said and the door shut behind his back.
"Damn… he is like a tomb." Said Agent Nara as he made his way into the side unit of the interrogation room. There, Sasuke smoked patiently, and Gaara was biting his lower lip in complete concentration.
"He's not going to give us anything." Uchiha said calmly.
"You sound very sure, Sir." The redhead policeman tried to read his boss's thoughts.
"I know his type… a mug working for some high power bastards who think they control everything. I can see the smugness in his eyes… he is sure sooner or later he has to go out, or maybe some of his high power contacts will move the strings for him." the Agent spat with hate between his words. He knew that even if those two were under their power now, they haven't caught them on any actual crime, since the blood samples were destroyed, they can no longer prove they were manipulating the bodies. Sure, the weapon possession and attacking an agent will buy them time, plus the intrusion in prohibited areas, but no major crime attached to them.
Squinting his eyes, Sasuke looked to the front, watching the silent tall guy with his arms crossed against his chest.
"What is the plan now? Do you have something to make him talk?" Shikamaru knew Sasuke surely had something between hands.
"I think it's time to catch some rats." Said the detective finally, putting off his cigarette inside the empty coffee mug.
"Sir, I'll wait here as long as necessary."
"Ok, I'm missing something. Do you need more help, apart from the interrogatory? or something..." Shikamaru asked, confused.
Looking around, Sasuke turned off the recorder of the interrogation room, he knew Shikamaru was discret, but now was the pinpoint of it all. "Lock the door please, Shika."
"A-Alright..." he wavered but turned the lock on the door to block it from any surprise visitor.
"We need to ask you some important questions for us to give you important information, will you answer them truly?" Sasuke said and the agent, still at the door nodded.
"I'm asking you because I consider you a college in which I can trust." Uchiha said with a serious look on his face, and Shikamaru took a seat on the nearest chair, making his point clearer, he will cooperate.
"Alright. Do you have hobbies? Shikamaru?" Sasuke asked, fully interested.
"W-what?"
"Please, just answer..." Sasuke insisted, the room's air was chilly and the tension could be cutted with a knife. "Do you have any hobbies, or favourite places to go to distract yourself… something you might recommend?"
"Jezz… I swear you are such a weird guy. Chezz maybe, I play it oftenly." he answered and Gaara wrote it down in a notebook.
The Agent continued, "Like in a club or some sort of association?"
"No, with a friend. We go to the park, there are these stone tables with a chessboard on the imprint. I was in a tournament once. Why is this important? I don't follow..."
"Just a few more questions please. We need to know." Sasuke said, trying to speak as friendly as his icy face could manage to emote. "How about more personal affairs, I don't think I've met any of your love interests."
Shikamaru stood up, quite defensively. "That is rather personal don't you think..."
"Agent Nara, do you like some sort of kink or I don't know, some diversion you might seek in a sexual partner." Gaara boldly asked as he waited with pen in hand to write down the agent's answer.
"Sasuke please..." He said with a sight, pinching the bride of his nore with his thumbs. "Are you trying to open a tinder account for me or what?"
"You said you will answer." Gaara reminded him.
"... well I don't know, women. Tall. With character, not the shy type." the agent responded in a bad mood.
"And, have you gone to any place to seek their...company?, any place you could recommend me?" the blackhaierd policeman asked with curiosity.
"What, are you now into girls?" Shikamaru raised his eyebrows, finding it difficult to acknowledge these questions coming from Sasuke.
"I just want to know if you have some places to get all the things you desire, you know, to pamper yourself. Get the company of a lady or t-"
"Alright stop." Shikamaru interrupted the agent. "I don't do that, ok? I don't go to brothels nor use the services of … you know, that."
"He is not, Sir." Gaara said as he wrote something at the end of his notes.
"Alright… Thanks Shika. Sorry about the uneasiness." Said Sasuke as he peeked at the notes of his protegee.
"Can you tell me something that makes sense?...please?"
"What I'm about to tell you is between us three. You can not talk with anyone about these, this is completely classified, because on your secrecy depends on the success of an inquiry, alright?"
Shikamaru nodded, feeling his mouth dry as he once again took a seat on the table, facing Gaara.
"We are searching for a mole inside the police force." Sasuke said plainly, ready to analyze Shikamaru's reaction.
"You don't seem surprised at all, Agent Nara." Gaara stole Sasuke's words. It was evident that the suspect of a leak inside the police force was not something he didn't expect.
"I'm not, but it wasn't me… It's just that, I have already heard someone else inside the force who suspects the same thing as you two."
Both policemen in front of Shikamaru stood there with a white look on their eyes.
"Kakashi told me Gaara was the most sure to be it." the agent continued.
"Imposible." Gaara murmured, turning his head to see into his boss's eyes.
"That was before he followed him." Sasuke assured.
Shikamaru shrugged, "What are your conclusions then?"
"I'm sure someone helped this rat to get inside the lab and stole the blood samples of Zabuza, and I'm sure they can move again to free these bastards. " Sasuke said, pointing with his head to the man on the other side of the crystal.
Shikamaru began to connect pieces in his mind. "But wh-"
"Tsunade." The agent interrupted.
"No way… she, why? well… maybe, damn..." Shikamaru stumbled between thoughts. "Then why did you ask me all those nonesenses..."
"Gaara worked on a 'profile' or the beginning of it, we have noticed some sort of ideal of the people who might be part of the organization. We thought that maybe we can get a glimpse of it with those questions."
"So, what made me fail your profile?" Shikamaru asked, truly intrigued.
"You are absolutely closed about your sexual life or diversions." Gaara began, as he watched how Agent Nara's face tint with a red color. "You dismiss any reference to pleasure linked with yourself, mostly so that you turn defensive, evasive or aggressive when it is referenced to you, basically you are closed to it, for you it's a completely private matter."
"A-Alright… there is nothing wrong with being discreet with what I like."
"There is nothing wrong, but the people we are searching for are obsessed with it." Sasuke assured, smiling widely.
"How so?" the agent asked.
"Well, they leave almost any responsibility for it, it does not have to be sexual at all, but there is a high chance sex is involved. Can you think of anyone like that?" the black haired agent responded lightheartedly.
Nodding Shikamaru answered "Tsunade...she fits. She is obsessed with gambling, she does not hide it. But in a sexual way, never. Maybe one of Kakashi's nurses… she is very obscene sometimes, with almost everyone."
"Maybe...we'll investigate her." Sasuke said looking at his apprentice who responded with a nod and wrote it down on his notes.
"Do you think they'll try something on these two?" Shikamaru asked after a long silence.
"I can almost assure you. That's why we will make a guard here at the office. Someone should make a move at any time."
"Aaaaaand you need my help?" Shikamaru asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Can we trust you?." Sasuke asked with sincerity.
"You can." he confirmed.
"Thanks, then you and Gaara will be on watch." the black haired detective said, feeling a little less uneasiness in the air.
"How about you? You won't be here?"
"Nah. I have a party to attend tomorrow." Said Sasuke with a cocky expression.
/
"Alright, both suspects are now in the cells." Shikamaru returned to the main office shaking off some invisible dust from his hands. " I thought when you said `be on watch´ we would be like, face to face with them." Shikamaru complained as he reached the desk of the detective.
Scratching his nape, Sasuke watched him with an irnónical smile "We have to wait to see if someone is trying to move internal strings to free them. Not if they carve a whole on the walls to escape."
"...sure, sure… whatever. What are you guys doing?" he asked, looking at the known cork board full of strings.
"Trying to see what to seek at the party." Gaara answered.
Sasuke remained in silence still concentrated on the information, he had purposely omitted many names, clues and connections they had discovered through the days before.
He had all in his mind, still small hints noted on the board let him and Gaara know what they were referring to.
What's the devil page? Was the constant question roaming the detective's mind. He kind of had an idea about a cult, but then again, these people were testing drugs on people. The bioweapons were an instant concern, until he and Gaara had agreed that the supposed drug was not targeted to anyone, these people seek the substance, whatever it was.
The doctor's death and the infiltration to the hospital was the complete confirmation about the criminal's reach capability.
Still, he could not figure out the hook of it all.
"What was the name of the woman whose corpse was about to be destroyed?" Sasuke broke the silence.
"Hum… Shizune it is." Gaara answered, producing a photo taken from her ID.
"Naruto and I met her." Sasuke recalled, "At the hospital I knew I had seen her, but didn't remember fully what the conversation was about, she was the... voyeuristic kind..."
"I met her too, Sir." Gaara admitted, a red flush instantly sparked on his cheeks.
"Where?" Sasuke asked, truly surprised by the fact.
"I didn't think she would be a key factor, she was the one who told me the name of The Master, Sasori." the redhead policeman recalled. "That day I went to the Pleasure Palace…"
Shikamaru's eyebrows went up, arranging his seat on the desk, listening with awe.
"She died that same night sir… I think she had had a dose of the drug, when I met her she was very suggerent, she wanted to invite me to an orgy or something and I went with he-"
"Are you guys serious?!" Shikamaru interrupted, but was shushed by Sasuke with a light punch on his leg.
"I went with her. Don't worry agent Nara, I didn't do anything 'unethical'. But now that I recall, she told me I needed some true Pleasure."
"So she asked you for sexual favours to give you information..." Shikamaru concluded.
"No," the redhead detective was thinking deeply. "She meant it, as if it was a real think, an object called true Pleasure, I was asking for sex toys so maybe it was it or-"
"The drug," Sasuke finished his sentence and Gaara nodded. "True Pleasure is the drug they have been experimenting with, Shizune mentioned something similar when Naruto and I met her, now I can remember."
"So at the party or whatever, I'll ask around for True Pleasure." Sasuke continued on with his conclusions. "Still a devil...It still does not fit."
"Sir, look at this." Gaara interrupted, "These are the latest movements of properties of Jashin Corporation." He said as he turned his laptop around for his boss to see. "New actions on their being, public properties transferred Thursday morning."
"Can we investigate from whom they recieve or buy them?" Sasuke asked.
"We don't need to, we have the signed papers of the transaction, signed by the previous owner, before they become Jashin's property. They were with the cadaver you saved from being destroyed."
"Shizune..." Sasuke mumbled as he saw in the image a clear black ink sign authorizing the transaction for a considerable amount of money for JSH Corp.
/
The black haired detective opened his drawer with ease, after a long night of sleep he felt refreshed and ready to jump, run, or better, arrest those bastards.
"Black bowtie." He said to himself as he selected a nice shirt to go with it, black too, of course.
Naruto had told him that, according to Dan the archive director, the gala was starting to receive the attendants in an early timing, around 2 pm. Their plan was to arrive elegantly late to allow a crowd to gather and mix between the attendants.
When he made his way out of his apartment Naruto's car was parked in the second row, waiting for him inside the vehicle as the rushing cars continued their way beside.
"Parking in the second row is quite illegal, you know?" Sasuke said as he made his way inside the car.
"Well hello to you too, thanks for the compliment, I love this suit, yours is not bad at all." Naruto greeted him, while he started the car.
With a small laugh, the policeman took the safety belt around his torso. "Right… you look sharp, blondie. But not when you break the law."
"Right, so from now on you are not Mr. Cop, just Sasuke. So shut up, you look nice, I do too. Let's goooo!."
Smiling with ease, Sasuke squeezed the paramedic's leg, knowing that this could have been a nice date if it wasn't for some crazy cult experimenting on people.
"So where is this Dan guy?" the agent broke the silence as they saw from afar the immense building of Momochi Broadcast.
"It sounds as if you hate him terribly." Naruto noted.
"I do, he is an accomplice. Who do you think let that creep guy and Konan inside the hospital?" Sasuke raised his voice, "And why is he so difficult to reach."
"And why did he ask me out?" the blond paramedic added with some humor.
"That too." the agent finished, a serious look on his face.
"Calm down Sas. He didn't invite me with any intention. As I told you, he said he thought I might like it, and since he has some friends working on the showcase, he said I would have fun, he even let me invite you."
"I'm not jealous… don't do that." Sasuke almost, almost pouted.
"Do what?" Naruto smiled, enjoying the attention.
"Just...justify anything. Don't forget this might be an important breakthrough. And I really don't care if that guy is hitting on you, I know you don't like him and he is a suspect too." Sasuke juggled with his words, the blond knew he was trying to hide his distress and for some reason found it to be very very damn cute.
/
"Good afternoon, we are going to the gala," Naruto said with ease to the official at the parking entrance.
With a nood he opened the gate to let the car inside the parking lot. "Wherever you wish, the building is closed for the night."
The parking lot was quite full as they sought any space left between all types of cars.
As expected, there were no sports left near the elevators and had to walk a few rows of cars, but still they managed to find a good spot not far away.
"How's my bowtie?" Naruto asked, trying to fix his collar using the window as a mirror. Sasuke turned him around. Looking at the bulky paramedic fully dressed in an elegant navy blue suit. "Perfect." The policeman said as he unexpectedly managed to trap the blond's lips between his own, scraping softly the pink flesh, and in a flash started walking towards the lift.
"Like hell you are jealous." Naruto said to the retreating back of the policeman, rushing his feet to reach the side of the agent.
When the elevator doors opened, they made their big entrance. The smell of exotic species and fresh flowers was roaming the place. The last few floors of the big broadcasting building had been absolutely transformed and what used to be a general cafeteria once Sasuke visited, was now the full view free bar. The bright blue carpet created a royal view for the gala and the attendants.
"This place is just like the casino." Sasuke mumbled truly amazed as he made his way inside the place, feeling how his presence was absolutely obscured by the mass of TV personalities and unknown others who filled the place. Glamorous suits and long dresses filled the space, a smooth jazz on the back of the main space made a pleasant background music atmosphere that felt intoxicating once you were surrounded.
"Let's see if Dan is around." Naruto said with awe in his voice too, as they felt the atmosphere mixing with their senses. "He told me to meet him at the bar."
"I hope that guy doesn't try to sneak around again." Sasuke said, quickly searching for the so-called bar, starting to walk with long strides, until the paramedic's hand stopped him mid-walk.
"Don't try anything stupid in here." He warned him, and Sasuke looked at him with strange eyes. "Remember, tonight you are Sasuke, not Mr. Cop, OK?" Finished the paramedic winking.
"You know I'll do it if I see something crucial for the case." Sasuke whispered, smiling faintly as he walked, more calmly, arranging his collar and top buttons of his shirt. With Naruto beside him, Sasuke could not help but to be smirking all the time, he felt like teasing him just to see the pure reactions on those clear blue eyes.
"Pff...Just read the room. Be sutil." Naruto said again, smiling at the smirking agent who managed to walk around the ice sculpture that was elevated in the center of the hall.
"Right, right… I'm Just Sasuke tonight. YOUR Date." The detective made his point clearer as he prodded the blond lightly and the paramedic laughed lightly.
They both walked the remaining way to the open bar, which on a normal day will be the cafeteria, but tonight the low lighting and long tablecloths gave the place an exclusive aura, the fresh air of the outdoor space hitted his skin and the music became distant as he made his way to the bar.
"Whoa, the view is just..." Naruto exhaled, taking in the marvelous afternoon view of the city, he was sure in a few hours the night sky would leave him out of breath, his sightseeing was interrupted by a soft tug on his arm. Suddenly Naruto felt Sasuke was too tense for walking. "Are you-"
"I'm fine… just give me a sec..." He interrupted haltingly. Fucking heights, Sasuke thought as he tried to get a grip of his phobia, a fear like this was not going to control him. His steps became slower and quite erratic.
Naruto understood immediately why Sasuke had lost all the colors on his face."Let's get you something to drink, ok? I'll walk on your right, that way you won't see the balcony." He said as he practically pulled the agent to a stall on the counter. The agent nodded and walked away from the frightening view as he felt slightly better. Keeping a straight face he clenched and unclenched his fists, slowly letting the pressure on his stomach disappear.
"Two whiskeys please." He ordered the man, who nodded elegantly. By the time he had taken a seat, the agent had felt more at ease, for some reason, Naruto stood between the 'horrendous' balcony view and his spot at the bar, forcing all his attention on the blond locks in front of him.
"You? drinking whiskey?" Sasuke said, still feeling his mouth dry, but still capturing the right timing to make his commentary with the faint feeling of a smile on his lips.
"A beer felt too informal in a place like this." Naruto said, scratching the top of his head for a second.
"So you did manage to find someone to come with." A man to their right spoke.
"Oh, Dan!" Naruto greeted him, the man smiled, raising his cup to greet them. "Thanks for the invite, this place is great."
"Oh, don't even mention it. You guys will love the antiques show." The man said with a loud laugh at the end. "Hey! Hey!" he shouted to the bartender, trying to get his attention, but stumbling lightly with a chair beside him.
"He's absolutely drunk." Naruto managed to whisper slowly when he reached for his iced glass in a swift movement. " He has never spoken to me this friendly", Naruto added and Sasuke confirmed with a knowing look.
"Oh, I'm so rudee, sorry, who's your guest?" His words were a little difficult to understand with the big gulps he took between words.
"Sasuke." Said the policeman plainly, extending his hand.
"It's a PLEASURE, you guys are here." Said Dan with ease, stretching the agent's hand.
"Naruto, I know we don't know each other very well. But you seem like an open person who just likes to experience joy, that's what I thought about you when I was invited, hum..here."
"Thanks for that then… this place is amazing." Naruto answered.
"What is the occasion?" the agent interrupted, feeling a lot of questions unanswered, in his guts the impulse of arresting the guy on the spot, but a weakening sensation on his limbs stopped him from doing so.
"I mean, is there a reason for the gala or, who are we celebrating, maybe the organizers?" Sasuke asked boldly, and instantly feeling a pinching pain on his right leg, Naruto was secretly trying to shut him up, but Sasuke knew that wherever alcohol was present, the direct words and harsh sentences were lost, so he could allow himself to be a little careless with his questions.
"Well, it's an art collection gala, I thought Naruto told you… Momochi group is hosting a medieval art showcase."
"That is exiting, why art?" Sasuke asked, remembering the constant investments of the group on the cultural market, he felt there was something behind antiquary and illegal money, maybe.
"Well, we all can learn something, I heard they are searching for a disappeared mystical writing or something like that, you know...I shouldn't be talking about this but, I hope they find it, I can't wait to try it."
Said de man, followed by a pleased laugh. "After our talk I figured out you were interested in this Naruto, I should have known."
"Yeah well, one never knows right?" The paramedic tried to follow the conversation as best as he could.
"I know… I guess I will see you guys inside then ?" Dan mentioned as he raised and lowered his eyebrows in a very obscene gesture that made both Sasuke and Naruto uncomfortable enough to give their drinks a big gulp.
"Of course", Sasuke followed the conversation pulling an enchanting smile.
"I hope you have brought Sakura too, I guess I'll settle for the regulars... Well, enjoy." Said Dan more to himself than to the other two. Raising his cup to them before taking a sip and walking towards the central ice sculpture.
"I thought you guys were not close friends." Sasuke said as he turned his sight to the paramedic seated beside him, recovering his composure.
"We are not," he said with a snort, finding it as odd as Sasuke. "As I said, he has never treated me so friendly."
"Mhm… it appeared that he thought you were a regular, did you call the love line in your free time?"
Sasuke asked, more as a joke, feeling better now that his phobia was slowly retreating out of his thoughts.
"So now the interrogation is on me?" The blond answered back, following the agent on the joke.
"But seriously, why would he think that about me?" Naruto thought again deeply, "it was as if he was talking with a whole new different person".
"Because I told him." They both turned around to see the bartender in front of them.
Before their eyes, a light skinned tall man was wiping the remnants of red wine dripping from a bottle.
Light eyes and black long hair tied faintly with a lower ponytail, porcelain skin and strong hands. A well built frame and strong arms were visible below the formal suit.
"Please ignore my presence, and act as if you have ordered something else," he said with calm.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, downing the rest of his drink and giving him the empty glass for him to refill him.
"Agent Uchiha, your presence here is a fortune for me." The bartender said, as he expertly took two ice cubes and prepared another glass of whiskey.
Sasuke tensed at the moment his title was mentioned. Who was this guy? He instinctively unbuckled discreetly his gun holder , hidden on the inside of his suit, his face still unchanging, trying to avoid a full eye contact with the light eyes of the man. "Who are you?" He asked casually, lowering his voice and hiding his mouth behind his glass.
"Don't worry, I'm on your side here. This place is not safe for us to talk, please meet me in about an hour, I have information for you." Said the bartender as he placed Naruto's recently prepared drink over the counter, a white napkin holding the iced glass.
The man moved to keep taking orders of new people approaching the bar, Sasuke lowered his eyes, immediately catching the letters written on the white napkin trapped under the drink.
Exhibit room number 8, behind the armours display.
As soon as the Uchiha placed his eyes over the note on the paper, he knew who this man was. The letter patron and calligraphy revealed for the agent a loose end he had been toying with for a while.
"Come with me." Sasuke said as he took his drink and the napkin on one hand, and Naruto's hand on the other. Walking to another part that was not the bar.
Reaching the far end of the space, they found a convenient space with high tables to place drinks and apperitives, adorned with candles, no chairs around.
"I'm not following Sas, I have the feeling that something important happened." Naruto said as they made themselves comfortable on the table.
Sasuke looked into his eyes and knew that his thoughts were clear enough "A few weeks ago, my boss came to Momochi Broadcast to present condolences to Mr. Momochi for his loss. When she came back to the station she had a note in her pocket with traces of information, after that, I came to ask some other questions, when I arrived at my car and found another note like the previous one given to me, now this…" he said, producing out of his inner pocket the folded napkin the barman had just gave them "That man is the one who have been sneaking information to the police officers."
Naruto nodded in agreement to the pile of information given to him. "You don't seem very happy about it."
"I don't understand why now? Why did he reveal himself tonight?" Sasuke answered while his hands folded and unfolded the border of the napkin.
"It didn't appear that he was expecting to see you here." Naruto added, "He said it was a fortune."
"Yeah.. I guess this event was very exclusive then, all the security is private." he noted, looking around to see that the hall was now busier than before, the smoth music was barely audible due to the noise of the crowd.
"Welcome, Welcome, thanks for being here with us." a male voice was heard through the speakers of the room. The main presenter of the broadcast chain was starting the evening and Sasuke and Naruto felt that they had accidentally found the perfect spot to witness everything. A little bit secluded and on a side, their place was perfect to see the place where the man was standing and still they were not at the center of the crowd, that way they were able to see most of the attendants without trouble.
"We are opening in a few minutes this gala, I'm honoured to host and welcome you to this rare part of human history, for the first time these antiques from the XII Century are seeing the light out of their historical homes. With your generous help and interests this will be just the beginning of a cultural and historical journey to ancient medieval history. Help us bring these treasures and their knowledge to the present."
As soon as the presenter finished the last words, the long curtain that was hung at his back was raised and revealed a new aisle of the hall, showcasing a full collection of ancient pieces, paintings, artifacts, books and other curiosities.
People clapped and hauled, some making their way to the inside of the room, some other talking between them, taking their time.
"What time is it?" Sasuke asked, calculating exactly how much time they had to reunite with the bartender.
"We are still on time." Naruto assured him, "But let's start walking, we don't know how big the place is." He finished and Sasuke nodded. Taking his glass and caressing liglty Naruto's forearm more out of instinct than consciously.
"You are very teasing today." Said the blond as they walked calmly between other tables before reaching the entrance of the exhibition.
"It's your fault." Sasuke argued, smirking again with no reason when he saw the blond's confused look "That suit just fits you perfectly. You can't blame me, It's the first time you are this elegant for me."
"I guess you are right, you are always using a suit for work, somehow that killed the effect on you" Said the paramedic, laughing at the end of the sentence and winning a hateful look from the pale policeman. "Just kidding, you are handsome either way."
"You did say that today I can be just Sasuke, I'm trying to fulfill that character for you, this is me teasing you for no reason at any hour."
"Yeah… I might miss the cop for a while though." Naruto said jokingly as he approached the first pieces of the antique exhibition.
The big wooden chairs that once were part of a medieval royal bedroom were displayed behind a big glass wall, the stained faded red fabric revealed the pass of time, while on the outside of her box, the smooth jazz that filled the atmosphere began to play again, the scent of exotic fruits coming from the now opened bar inside the exhibition attracted the visitors to refill their glasses with the high class cocktails prepared in the various bars along all the rooms of the exhibition.
With curious eyes, Naruto and Sasuke walked along the first three rooms, admiring antiquery of all kinds and sizes, between wooden medieval crucifixes painted with medieval depictions of virgins and angels, crowned figures and ancient demons. Pearled glasses stained by time and old pieces of fashion that once made the best gown for a gala just like this. Green and black fabrics covered the walls as they made their way to the insides of the exposition.
Soon they found out that as they walked by, without noticing it, they had already walked 5 rooms. Each one of them had been marked with a big number over the entrance, carved in wood and painted in golden tones, to match the pieces that were shown.
They have skipped quite a few pieces from the previous rooms, and as soon as they made their way inside room 5 there were very few people roaming around.
Sasuke's analytic eyes catch the continuous presence of love seats around the place, it was common on large exhibitions to offer seats for the visitors to sit for a while and admire a specific piece just to rest for a while. But there was quite a striking similarity with the ones he remembered clearly at the love cabins. He could not have mistaken them with any other piece of furniture, he was sure, this place was discreetly increasing the number of loveseats and bars around the exhibit, and somehow, the lights have descended.
He knew his reason have started to waver, the drinks he had ingested during their walk across the exhibition, had his eyes a little blurry and his mind half blank, he was getting quite drunk, and for a second he felt stupid, because they were still in an investigation, but then again, Sasuke knew that this was an event just as the night at the casino, an investigation without any specific pourpose to acomplish more than to gather information.
Sure, there was still the case of Dan, but he was sure the man didn't even have a sign of suspicion about him being targeted by the special investigation unit.
"We are almost on 8" Said Sasuke as he walked past a beautiful collection of ancient books recovered from a XV Century abbey. The library extension was impressive and the agent was impressed by the almost perfect state of conservation of the books covers. The complicated calligraphy and dedication to every capital letter that designed more than some patterns on the old paper, crumpled by humidity and time.
"I like room 5, these books are so beautiful." said the blond as he approached the place where Sasuke was standing, just beside the exit of the room, admiring another piece of the vast collection.
Suddenly, Sasuke felt that something in his mind started to burn, that feeling of words and thoughts just running around his mind and that unmistakable gut feeling that there is something cooking in your brain, the creation of an idea.
"They are..." Sasuke said with a distant voice as he started to look around him. "Do you think...It can't be… but." he struggled to think out loud and follow the rhythm of his brain.
"Do you think that the exhibition rooms are related to the rooms of the Pleasure Palace?" he finally whispered, feeling the thought downing on him as a bucket of cold water.
Naruto opened his eyes widely. "Could they…? That would be very creepy."
"Dan said he would be with the regulars." Sasuke thought, as he felt the impending necessity of taking out his small notebook from the insides of his coat. "I can't remember what number 5 stand for… but maybe they brought a piece of that place into here, I still can't understand why." Said the agent as he watched a couple sitting on one of the loveseats in the room.
"I think the barman guy might know that." Naruto said, and Sasuke agreed on that. With a quick glance to his watch, Sasuke began to walk towards the next room beside the blond paramedic.
A few minutes later they made their way to the 8th. room, the place was almost deserted. Low lights illuminated the space which was apparently dedicated to armery. Swords, bows, knives and mallets were displayed in a fan pattern, decorated with wood and any other silver and gold motives that gave the feeling that they were inside the armory of an old castle.
At the far end the bar was attended by a woman in a beautiful and elegant suit that remarked her silhouette perfectly. The lighting from behind the bar managed to obscure the sight of her face. Behind the bar, started a long line of old armours that had been apparently enabled again just to regain the posture they once had on the aisles of a castle.
Smoothly, both men walked towards the bar, taking a seat on the near end, just before the start of the armour line.
With a charming smile, Naruto asked for some light drinks to the woman who nodded politely. Meanwhile Sasuke looked around the place, searching for the man.
"I don't see him." He mumbled as he felt his eyes slowly adapting to the low light of the place, he could see some figures roaming the expanse room. They were too those love seats that have been around the entire place, some of them already occupied, some others don't.
"Here you go." Said the woman placing the drinks on the bar, as Sasuke turned around to watch the woman he could see him clearly. From behind the last row of armors the man with a low ponytail and haunting light eyes emerged as fog. He walked all the way to the bar and sat on the stall next to Sasuke.
As a trained investigator policeman, Sasuke knew that this kind of encounter where a contact was searching for discreet meetings, the best you could do was not to make evident eye contact. He could feel in his gut how the man approaching him was trying to be as subtle as possible, which only meant something, this was not a safe situation for him.
Taking some sips from his glass, the policeman rested his weight on both of his elbows over the bar. His sight roaming around the bar as if he was curious what the woman at the front of the bar was serving.
"Alright, I'm here." He finally said, managing to obscure the sight of his lips with the glass.
"Agent Uchiha, I'm the one who has been slipping some information to you." said the man as he raised his hand lightly to attract the attention of the service for a drink.
"I know that already. My question is who are you serving? and why are you showing your face now? " Sasuke asked again, his voice serious.
"Secret Investigation Force, Sir." the stranger answered in a low voice.
He couldn't help it, Sasuke looked at him with interest failing to suppress his intrigue, immediately recognizing his carelessness, he return his sight to Naruto who had turned around to face the room, pretending to ignore the scene beside him "You are an undercover agent." he claimed, giving his drink another sip.
"Detective Hyuga Neji, at your service." the man presented himself, keeping his composure and small movements.
"It's a pleasure, detective." Sasuke admitted, smirking lightly, feeling how not even in a dream he had imagined that a special undercover agent could be in the same place as him, what were the odds?
"I must say the same, Sir." Neji added as he unbuttoned the only button his coat had. "I don't have much time until I have to return to the front bar, but to be sincere I didn't expect to see you here, I guess you are following a lead."
Sasuke nodded, still deciding if he was a reliable source since every element on the police force could be compromised, but returning his steps on that hint, since all the information this contact had given him had led to true accusations and clues.
"I have seen some things and know the management of the place. I thought that maybe my investigation could be useful for you. I have a vague knowledge of your investigation, since I have heard some rumors inside the company. And I can see my notes helped you."
"You are very observant, Detective Hyuga. I guess any information you can give me might be useful."
The man nodded with seriousness and with a slight look around the place, he started.
"So, I was sent here to keep an eye on Momochi Broadcast. Almost a year ago, there were some influential powers acting behind doors to manipulate the information on the tv reports. While investigating that case, I started to notice some other movements around the company, specifically from Mr. Momochi's son."
"Zabuza." Sasuke whispered, nodding again.
"Yeah, he had erratic actions. He was a gambler and libertine. But he then suddenly became an investor of art and antiques. Not long after that, he changed his testament and suddenly he died mysteriously. That is a resume, but I began to follow those two limpets he had always around."
"The driver and the assistant." Sasuke confirmed again.
"Yeah, they both began to make excuses for Zabuza, lying for him and even managing his contact lists. I knew they were behind something when one night I found some boxes in the dressing room of one of the shows, then another at the post production unit and the last ones inside his car, not to mention his investments and actions were quickly being moved to different markets, plus his presence on the broadcast was almost nule, but he coincidentally only appeared, with his usual company, and the boxes appeared too."
"So he was not the only one receiving these boxes inside Momochi Broadcast..." The agent concluded.
"No, it's a full market of whatever shit they are delivering inside those. I guess that's what killed Zabuza?" Neji inquired calmly, taking a sip of his drink.
"That's our closest guess."
"Then I was right." Hyuga said with serious eyes.
"And what about tonight?" Sasuke said again, feeling the engranes of his mind starting to run at full speed.
"Remember I told you Zabuza began to invest in art and culture? Well this is one of the galas he had paid for. Medieval reliques."
"But now that he died, how come this continued?, I would have thought his father might have re-invested all that money."
"Zabuza changed his testament and properties. He left them for a private organization, and they managed to continue the organization of the exhibition."
"And between the properties there was his penthouse?" The agent asked.
"Yeah, that one for starters. I heard the organization who got it has recently sold it again. They have another gala with new art pieces in mind, and I bet they use the penthouse money to pay for the next event." Neji commented discreetly, looking around him, noticing that the room was fuller.
"What about tonight? They are raising funds too."
"It's all a bluf, they are collecting money to pay for all the secret rooms they have built behind the fake walls you see." Neji said, looking around him. "They basically made a whole casino behind doors."
"I knew it." Said the detective, closing his eyes for a while, as he connected all the spots in his mind.
"If you excuse my question, how did you manage to get invited here? I heard this was a closed gala, a private invitation."
"I found a contact who apparently is connected to the organizers." The agent said coldly, finding it too difficult to explain the whole story to the detective, since not even him had the full map on his head with the new information he heard.
Neji nodded, "You are as good as everyone said." he finished, and Sasuke couldn't suppress a bubbly feeling inside his belly, nodding with a thankful smirk he took another sip.
"Do you know how to reach this secret casino?"
"For sure, at the end of every room, on the far corners the walls are overlapped, there is an entrance there, one on each room." he said as he stood up. "You must excuse me, I have to go now."
"Thanks detective." Sasuke said, as he finished his drink. "we will keep in contact."
/
"So you are saying that they brought the love cabins in here?" Naruto said in a whisper as they left behind room number eight.
"I need to order my thoughts." Sasuke said as he stopped his steps between room 8 and 7. "Let's sit here ok?" he said as he dragged Naruto to an available loveseat near a corner, far from other people roaming the exposition.
"Ok I don't have any board to attach things to order my thoughts, so I will talk everything out, alright?" Said Sasuke looking at him with serious eyes.
"Right."
"First...You heard everything he said?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, most of it, he is like James Bond. Secret spy." Naruto whispered with emotion in his eyes.
Rolling his eyes Sasuke dismissed the thought. "He's not like Bond, but you get the idea. Anyhow, Now I understand why the penthouse of Zabuza changed from my first visit, to the last. There was a sell meeting inside, Jashin Corp acquired the property from Zabuza, he was mixed with the organization, just as it seems Dan it is. He voluntarily gave them his actions, investments and properties, he then conveniently died. And they sell everything to get the money, somehow to pay for this, which I don't get why. But I can bet you that if we investigate the accounts of all of the other people that have died because of these fuckers, we might find the same history as in Zabuza. That might be the mobile of Jashin Corp."
"But then why spend all that new money on these expensive galas." Naruto questioned.
Biting his lower lip, Sasuke found himself almost in an existential crisis. Naruto was right, it didn't make sense at all. Money Washing was out of the place, since all the art exports were legally documented and they have invested the money on arts and culture pieces on the stock market, according to what Kiba said.
"I still don't get a hold of it. But… What if they are trying to re-sell art? an art black market?"
"That could be."
"Uh… I don't know. Still, I'm sure of one thing. If this gala was one of the things Jashin Corp was pushing and pushing to get done. Then that means the owners are right here at the event. And Dan can help us find them..."
/
"We don't have to separate." Sasuke complained as Naruto pushed him out of room 7.
"Yes we have, you said in here are those extravagant Casinos and Cabins, and you heard Dan, he said he would be with the usuals, which means there will happen again what we saw there. If we separate the search we will find him before he is screwing some girl, and I can not see that again, not him. So let 's hurry. The day is still young."
"It's almost night Naru." Sasuke said with a smirk.
"Whatever, I'll search just 8 and 7, you go 6, 5 and we will meet at 4 alright?"
"Fineee! don't take too long."
Sasuke walked reluctantly as he made his way to room 6, even though he was anxious to find Dan and the owners, he knew the night was way too young and alcohol would make his task easy, so he was not really in a hurry, still he was more curious to find the secret entrance to the casino and rooms in each hall.
Walking to the far away corner of room 6, he rested his back on the blue fabric covering the wall and as Neji had told him, there it was, a clear opening in the wall, covered by the overlapped wall.
Just as a dejavu, he found himself walking a corridor with low light. This time was shorter than the previous ones but still managed to create this secrecy sensation.
As he arrived at an open hall, he felt the sweet scent of citrus in the air. Poker tables, of course, loveseats and the very well known cabins occupied the space. It was just as if they had built a miniature of the Pleasure Place, just as in the other places, people were already making out on the love seats and light moans could be heard.
The delicious scent that inundated the place was starting to penetrate his pores, and his head felt suddenly very light. He had to loosen the bowtie on his neck. Resting his weight on a nearby wall he raised his eyes, feeling that the delicious scent was coming from the top of his head. He managed to see a stylish lamp who exhaled a clear almost invisible fog who filled the air.
"What..." he mumbled as he tried to figure out what it was.
"Hey handsome..." A woman near him winked an eye as she made her way back from the bar. Sasuke felt his skin began to sweat and a confused look was clear on his face, his brain could not get a grip on what the fuck was happening.
"...this is the first time huh? I'll wait until you feel the full power of it, sexy." The woman beside him told him near his ear.
But inside Sasuke's foggy mind, there was still a question that resisted to escape from his reason, he inhaled deeply and looked at the woman with half lidded eyes as he felt waves of fire running through his spine.
"What is that?..." he finally asked the woman who saw him interested.
"Oh darling, that's what is making you feel soo gooood. You just need to inhale deeply, and magic will happen." The woman said as she took a big mouthful of air. "I'll wait for you over there, settle down, let your body feel." She giggled as she walked away, martini on hand.
This is not possible, the cop thought as he closed his eyes, trying to keep a straight mind.
No needles, he randomly remembered, there were no needle marks on the bodies. And before any other sensation managed to distract his mind, he understood everything, it was an aerial drug, dispersed in the air.
Realization came on to him, as he felt how his body turned his attention to other necessities.
He felt how his heart beat began to accelerate at a dangerous speed, and his pants suddenly felt too tight. Damn.
Where was Naruto now?
/
Spicy is ahead of us, thanks for reading and I believe it wont be long before we read us again.
I hope you have enjoyed it.
Until next time,
Urban L.C.