Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. Sorry about that. But I do own a few characters that goes along with the series. Please do not use them.
Lady of the Night Shift
By starry comet
Date: January 13-15 Year: 1933
Part II
The next morning, the guys were in the office, barely talking to each other. Trowa and Wufei were playing chess. Quatre was listening to 'As the World Turns'. Duo was reading the morning newspaper and Heero was standing near the window. Wufei looked up from the chessboard and looked at the newspaper that Duo was reading. On the cover, the Chinese boy found something that interested him. It was just what they were looking for.
"Hey Duo?" Duo folded the paper half way so Wufei can see his face.
"What is it Wu-man?"
"Did you find anything any article in there that you like?" he asked moving his king.
"Nope. Not one."
"Well, I found one."
Duo raised his eyebrow. "Oh? Where?"
Wufei got up from his chair and walked over to the chair. He snatches the newspaper out of the American's hand Duo looked up at Wufei in shock. "Hey!" Wufei folded the paper in half like it was before and slammed it down on the coffee table. Looking at the cover closely, Duo was surprise to see what was on the cover page. He scratches his head in confusion. "Well I'll be damn. Why didn't I see this before?"
"Maybe that's because you just open it, not reading the cover when you got the damn thing."
"What's the front cover about Wufei?" Trowa asked turning around in his chair.
"It's about the Night Shift."
"Night Shift?" Heero turned around to look at the rest of the guys before him.
"Yeah. See it for yourself." Wufei toss the paper onto Heero's desk. He walked towards to his desk and glanced at the newspaper. In big bold letters, the front covered said:
The Night Shift Was On The Loose Again
Below the title was a picture of the some guy looking like the Night Shift dressed in black trying to run. Heero kept on reading the article from the page. "Listen to this. 'Last night around 2 a.m., the jewelry store on Park Lane 13th Street was robbed. Then near 2:30 a.m., six thousand dollars was stolen from The National Bank on Malibu 21st Street.'"
"How do they know that it was the Night Shift?" Duo asked holding his cup of coffee.
"It said that the thief had left a not at each places."
Wufei looked puzzled. "Why would a person leave notes at the places that it robbed? That will make it easier for us to find him."
"I know." The telephone rang again. Duo picked it up and put the bell to his ear, listening to whom was on the other line.
"Hello?"
"Hey Duo. It's me Noin. I have something that might interest you. It's about the Night Shift."
"Oh really Ms. Noin? Tell me more?"
"I can't say much since the long distance rate cost too most. Listen. Meet meat the Bamboo Garden House on China Asia Moon Drive at noon, okay Duo?"
"Today at noon at the Bamboo Garden House? Okay. I'll meet you there as soon as possible."
"Good. See ya."
"Bye." Click! Duo set the telephone back down on his desk.
"What was that about?" asked Trowa.
"Something that has to do with the case. I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Who was on the phone anyway Duo? A woman you met at Kansas City?"
"No Quarte. I met her at the club last night. She knows just about everything that goes on in this town."
"Or maybe they know practically too much about each person in that club."
"I know what you mean Wu-man. But we can use their help to solve this case. When you always meet a lady, remember that they are suspects as well."
"Are you sure Duo? That those girls can be suspects with this case?"
"That's right. No matter how beautiful they are. What do you thank Heero?" Heero stood still, leaning against near the window. He was practically ignoring the conversation that was between his roommates. They stared at him for two whole minutes. "Helllooo? Earth to Heero. Are you in?"
"Uh? What were you saying Duo?"
"I'm leaving to find some clues. I'll be back shortly. Is that okay with you?" Duo said slowly using his hands for sign language.
"Sure. I don't care," Heero finally said not looking at this partner.
"Okay." Duo grabbed his jacket and coat off the coat rack. Just about to leave when he opens the door, the American boy saw a while folded piece of paper in Heero's coat pocket. "Now what's this?" Duo took it out of the pocket and unfolded it. He slowly read the paper carefully. The cobalt eyes whistle loud for everyone to hear in the room.
"What is it Duo?" asked Quatre. Duo still looked at the note.
"Heero has a girlfriend."
"What?!"
"No way!"
"Let me see the note!"
"Nobody is getting that thing but me." Heero snatch it out of Duo's hand. He held it up to his face and read the paper. Duo made a smirk on his face at the Japanese.
"No wonder you're so gloomy this morning. You're in loovvvvveeee."
"Heero slanted his eyes at the American. "What makes you get that idea?"
"Only a note like that in your coat pocket wouldn't be written by a gorgeous girl like Relena Peacecraft."
"Relena Peacecraft? You mean the singer at the Lady Night Club?"
"Where's the popcorn?"
"I think it's on the shelf in the pantry Wufei," Trowa answered.
"Look. I didn't know it was in my pocket. She might had slipped it in there before she left last night."
"You can say anything of what you what to say Yuy. For right now, all I know is that I'm late for a meeting okay?"
"Sure. But you better remember that I wasn't the one who started this."
"Noin was standing near the restaurant. Her arms were folded, looking around for Duo. 'Where in the hell is that guy?' she thought to herself. 'He should be here by now. Damn.' A cab pulled up at the curb of the sidewalk. Duo jumped out of the car and shut the door. Noin looked at the fool as was running along the sidewalk. He stopped in front of her and put his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"Sorry I'm late Noin. I had a little trouble at my office."
"It's okay. I just got here myself Duo," said Noin lying to his face. "Shall we go in?"
"Sure." Duo opens the door to the restaurant and let Noin walk in first. They found a waiter in front of them standing at the door the counter. He was already holding two menus in his hands.
"Ah Miss Lucricza Noin. Please right this way with your guest." The two followed the waiter to a table with two seats near the salad bar. Duo glance at a card on the table saying 'Reserved Table.' 'Man. Seems that Noin had already made reservations without me knowing.'
"Here you are Mister and Miss. May I take your casts?"
"Yes please," they said at the same time. Noin and Duo off their coats and gave them to the waiter. He left to put the coats away. Noin was about to take her seat when Duo rushed himself over there. He pulled out the chair for the Italian woman. She sat down and moved her chair closer to the table. The American went back to his side of the table and sat down. The waiter came back and gave them the menus he was holding earlier. Then he left again.
"This is a nice place you pick out for us Noin," complemented Duo.
"Why thank you Duo. I tried to pick a special place for us to talk secretly without anybody knowing."
Duo began to look puzzle. "What do you mean?"
"Everybody is after the Night Shift. They'll try to pay anybody to find him. It will also make me lose my job."
"I see." Duo took a sip of his glass of water. He tried to take one more look around the restaurant where he saw Noin changing her seating position.
"Why are you so interested in this in case Duo?"
"Why are so interested in this case Duo?"
"It's my mission. I usually solve cases all over the globe. What about you Noin."
"It's my job as well. If you want to know who I work for I can't tell ya."
"I can't tell you who I work for either."
"That makes us equal." They both started to laugh when the waiter came with their salad. He sat it down before them. Noin was about to dig her fork into her food when her eyes shot up from the plate. "Oh. I forgot something. I need you to go to do something for me. I need force to go to Trieze Krushrenada's house."
Duo looked up from his plate. "Why to that guy's house?" he asked with lettuce sticking out of his mouth.
"I want you to meet Lady Une and their daughter. You can get more information about them if you talk to them Duo." She pulled out a piece of paper and pen out of her purse. Noin wrote something on it that Duo had no idea what. She handed him the paper across the table. The American boy took a quick glance at the paper; then look back at Noin.
"An address?"
"To their house."
"Oh. Well why won't you go over there and ask them questions?"
" Did that and moved on. They really didn't listen to me when I asked. The reason why I'm doing this because they might listen you better."
"It seems like they want keep their engagement and wedding a secret. And also somebody is hiding something from the media."
"That's what I thought. They always quiet about their lifestyle. I guess that's the way they want it around the city." Noin chewed down on her salad and wiped the dressing off her cheek. Duo stared to chuckle about the dressing all over her mouth.
"Man Noin. You eat just like I do."
"Thank you. I try not too." They two started to laugh at the joke. Noin looked at the time on her wrist. It happens to be one thirty in the afternoon
"Well what do you. Our meeting is over."
"All ready?"
"Yeah. I have an appointment to get to." Noin picked up her purse and pushed in her chair. The waiter came over with her coat and helped put it on.
"Are you leaving any time soon?"
"No. I rather stay here and chow down a bit."
"Suit yourself. I hope you boys capture Night Shift."
"Lucricza left Duo at the restaurant and entered the air of cold. She started to walk along the sidewalk. Noin bumped into tall man that she didn't even see. When she looked up, she faced a pale blonde hair man with bright blue eyes. His hands were hidden inside his pocket. Noin smiled at him, but didn't move. "Hello Millardo."
"Noin." They there looking at each other for a minute. The people didn't stare at them at all.
"Miss Noin. I was watching you from the glass window with the kid. What's going on?"
"The kid is on a case, finding the top robber in Chicago."
"You mean the Night Shift? Why would that boy be trying to find him?"
"He told me it was his mission. Just like ours."
Millardo turned away, looking down on the ground. "I see. We better be careful now so they won't find out what our identities are." He looks up again and stares into Noin's eyes. "Do you understand me Noin?"
"Yes I do Millardo. How is your sister?" she said trying to change the subject.
The tall man looked back on the ground. "She gets weirder and weirder every time I see her. It seems like Relena something from me."
"Oh Millardo now, Relena might have a boyfriend she's afraid to tell the world. You shouldn't worry that much. Why can we go home and have a nice time together?"
Millardo raised his eyebrow from her reply. Noin showed a nice big evil smile. "Noin. I have no idea what is in that mind of yours, but I like it."
Noin put her hands on her hips. "That's is so you Millardo."
"Lucricza."
"Home remember?"
"Right."
