Part 17
We are now in the van, waiting for the go from the cops at the suspect's home.
"Ceej, why don't you wear your wig? I'm sure we'd like to have a look. See if it fits and all." I said smirking.
"Shove it, Josh. I'll wear it when it's time." CJ responded.
Detective Riedel and the other cop, Officer Woods were setting up the monitors and microphones in the van. Officer Woods is a tall, muscular black man. He seems quite funny and easy going.
Sam and Jane are having a private conversation at the corner of the van. Well, I guess it's not so private considering we are all stuffed in a sardine can!!
Donna is sitting with CJ looking really nervous and in her own world. I wish I could comfort her but it would just make her more uncomfortable especially when everyone is within three feet from us.
This is taking some time. The cops don't see him leaving the house apparently.
"It's getting stuffy here, I'm waiting outside." CJ announced.
"Yeah, we'll come with you." Sam said as he and Jane stood up.
"Alright, but stay within a limited parameter." Detective Riedel said.
I got up from my corner and went towards Donna to have a seat next to her.
"Hey, how you doing?" I rubbed her back trying to read her but failing.
"I'm alright." I'm not convinced.
"Are you sure? Do you need or want anything?"
"No, I'm fine." God, she should know me better than that.
"Donna, talk to me." I said as I leaned and kissed her head.
"It's just that…Josh, it's past midnight. He's not going to show Josh. This was a whole waste of time and energy. Busy people spent their precious time for nothing."
"Donna, we still have time. If not today, then tomorrow or another day. Donna, don't loose hope. And for the busy people, they would not be wherever they don't want to be. Our place is here, with you, with the cops doing whatever that is within our capabilities and more. Don't you ever feel guilty about that."
Donna let out a loud sigh and looked at me.
"I know. You can't imagine how much I appreciate all of you. I just don't want all of this to be just a useless effort that's all." Donna said as she laid her head on my shoulder.
We waited rather impatiently for another two hours, each of us going in and out of the van.
"Guys, I think we're done for the night. It's 2am. He wouldn't leave this late. We've studied the time frame of all the other cases. Better luck tomorrow." Riedel said.
"Yup. Don't get bummed out guys. There's still tomorrow." Officer Woods continued as he was shutting off his equipments.
The rest of us said our goodnights and left in our respective cars.
Donna didn't say much on our ride back home. I guess I pretty much know what is going on in her mind. I wish I could put her mind at ease but that's quite unlikely considering I'm having pretty much the same fears as well.
"Come to bed Donna." I don't think she noticed me getting out of the shower and into the bed. She has been busy starring out of the window from the time she got out of the bathroom.
"Oh, alright." Donna got into the bed with me and turned off the bedside lamp.
"Donna, everything will turn out just fine." I don't even know if I believe that myself.
"What if it doesn't? What if we never catch this guy? I mean, for crying out loud, we don't even know if we're tracking the right guy."
"Donna, I can't promise you that the right guy will be caught. What I can promise is that CJ, Sam and I will try our very best to get this guy. I also can promise you that I will be here for you to get through this no matter how long and hard it will be. Every step of the way." I hug her from the back as she had her back facing me.
"Yeah….It's just so frustrating not knowing or having any control over this."
"I know honey. I know."
She finally drifted off to sleep. I'm finding it almost impossible to fall asleep before she does. I think I want to make sure she feels safe enough to fall asleep.
We went to the office late in the morning. Seems like a light day for me and Sam. Not too sure about CJ.
"Josh, Toby's here to see you." Donna said.
"Yeah, send him in." Toby entered shutting the door behind him.
"Hey, Josh. I need to go for a meeting with Congressman Turner, I think I need you there."
"Sure Toby, is it about the college incentives? I'm there."
"Yup. We'll leave about 9.30." Toby started to leave my office.
"What…Wait!" Okay, didn't expect to throw my voice as much.
"What?" Toby looks annoyed. In other words, he looks the same as he always does.
"Oh, I've got plans tonight." I hope he can deal with this without me.
"Plans? Social plans?" This is not good.
"Well, yeah."
"Josh, do you know how important this meeting is? Congressman Turner is an incredible busy man. For crying out loud, he's having a meeting on 9.30pm on a Saturday night because that's the only time his secretary could schedule me in. What could possibly more important than that? Especially not social plans." He's raising his voice by the syllable.
"Toby, this is really, really important to me. I can't make it tonight." I plead not knowing what else to say.
"Well, what is it? What is it that's so important?" He's not letting go. I should get him a pie or something.
"It's personal Toby. I know how important this meeting is and you know I would never in my sabotage it by any means. But this is just…."
"Fine, fine. I'll get Sam." Nooooooooo!!!
"No!!!" Okay, did I say that out loud? I mean REAL loud.
"What? What?" Damn, he said that just as loud as I did but with incredible annoyance in his voice.
"Look Toby, I'll make notes for you and get extra research done by today on this issue."
"Alright, but why can't I take Sam?" Of all the times for Toby to give a damn about anything, he picks this.
"He's involved with my thing."
"Okay, could you like never ever phrase a sentence like that. You're giving a very frustrated man a mental scar." I agree, that sounded bad.
"Toby, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
Toby rubbed his face and let out a long sigh.
"Fine, fine. You do whatever you have to. Make sure it doesn't interfere with things like this anymore." Yes, yes! Oh yeah!!
"I promise." I try my best not to start grinning like an idiot. God, I hope I keep this promise.
I sink back into my chair as Toby leaves. That was a close call.
"Josh? Voices were raised." That's so like Donna. State the obvious and expect a full detailed explanation.
"Yeah, Toby wanted me to come for a meeting tonight. I said I had important personal stuff to take care off. He got pissed. Wanted to take Sam. I refused saying Sam was involved as well. He finally gave up. Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about."
Doesn't look like Donna's just gonna except that. She's looking at me with some form of disappointment.
"Josh, I know how important work is. Toby's not going to ask you to come for just any meeting on Saturday night. You need to go. It's obviously important. And we'll be fine without you. Honest."
"Donna, Toby's says it's fine. It's over. I'm coming with you guys tonight. That's final. It's not a matter of national emergency or anything Donna." I hope I convinced her.
"Alright. But if he asks you again…I don't want you to get in trouble Josh."
"This is not high school, Donna. I'm not going to get in trouble." I sound a bit cocky there.
Donna is giving me 'the look'. You know the one she raises her eyebrows and places a hand on her hip and puts most of a weight on one leg. She really looks sexy like this. But we're gonna keep that to ourselves, aren't we? I don't think she'll appreciate that very much.
"Okay…I do get in trouble once in a while….Fine…all the time. Happy?"
"Yes." With that she turns around swiftly with her hair swinging and leave's my office. It's funny how she's the only person that can get the last word with me. Okay, CJ as well.
But CJ doesn't leave me feeling quite aroused. Okay buddy, back to work.
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We're back in the van. I don't want to be a pessimist and that's not who I am…but I really don't think it's going to be any different today than it was yesterday. We've been here for more than an hour. Everyone has been coming in and out of the van mainly to get some air guess. Well, everyone except me. I don't feel like moving. Apparently CJ notices that too. She's nodding her head indicating for me to go with her outside. I do as she wishes.
"Girl, you need some air. You haven't moved an inch." CJ says as we walk a few feet away from the van."
I let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I know."
"It's going to be okay Donna. I feel it's gonna happen. Soon."
"Well I hope so. But if it doesn't happen today….CJ, I don't want all of you to spend any more time on this."
"Donna, I will not give up on this even if today doesn't happen. If you expect me to, well you can just kiss my ass."
I laugh out loud. Definitely didn't expect that.
"Guys! Guys!" What the….Sam's calling us looking kinda frantic. Oh gosh…..
CJ and I look at each other. Both of us having really nervous and shocked looks.
We get in the van quickly. I notice the speakers are on, enabling us to hear the cops following McCain.
"He's driving through Northland now. Get ready guys. I have a feeling he's on the way there." We hear one of the cops through the speaker.
Officer Woods jumped into the driver's seat as CJ ties up her hair. I feel my face burning and my heart racing.
"Where is he going now, McGregor?" Detective Riedel asks.
"Palmsby….yeah….Ok….he's turning into the Patson Street….Guy's get ready. Ok, he's at the west side. I think he's looking for parking. Turn into Vulcan Lane."
"Alright." Officer Woods starts driving.
"This is it guys." The detective states.
I felt someone touch my shoulder. It was Josh. He had a blank look. I think I did too. He keeps rubbing my shoulder. I think it's making me feel a little less numb.
"Ok, you guys there? Yeah, I see you. Stay there. Ok, he's going into….into 'Midnight'. It's between Cactus and the Compaq distributers."
"Alright. I'm going in. Be safe guys. I'll be your eyes." Detective Riedel said referring to the tiny camera attached to him.
"You three come in 5 to 10 minutes." He guys us a thumbs up and leaves.
"He's definitely the one Donna." I hear CJ whispering into my ear.
"Well, I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed anyway." I say.
"No, you don't understand. He's DEFINITELY the one. 'Midnight', Donna. The letter M."
Huge grins spread over both our faces.
"Be careful CJ." I said changing my expression into dead serious.
"I will. Promise." She puts on her blond wig. Hey, she doesn't look half bad.
Oh no. CJ's gonna kill them. Sam and Josh look like they are going to regurgitate dinner. They are so gonna burst out laughing any second.
"A peep out of either of you. I'm gonna shove this wig so far up your…"
"You look fine CJ. Let's get going." Good save, Sam. Which is a whole lot more than I could say for my man who still looks like he's got a live cod in his mouth.
Josh gets it together and wishes them good luck before the three of them leave.
"Alright guys. Just the three of us now. Grab a stool and let the show begin." The officer says.
Josh and I did as he said. We could see the picture displayed on the monitor being very shaky. I think Detective Riedel is trying to spot the guy.
"Yeah..yeah. You got him detective. That's him. Yeah, with the blue shirt." Woods says.
"Yup, I got him." We hear the detective's voice merging from the speakers.
I noticed the guy wearing a blue shirt on the monitor. I see the resemblance of this guy to the mugshot. That's the man. That's the man who did this to me. Who made my life a living hell. I don't care if we technically haven't caught him on the act yet. I just know this is him.
The monitor is now showing CJ, Sam and Jane entering. The detective must have noticed them entering the club.
"He's to the right of you, far right. Sitting alone." Officer Woods says to CJ and them.
We can see CJ and Sam looking around. I think they spot him.
"Yup, got him." Sam says in a whispering voice and he quickly looks around. I think he's having fun with this whole undercover thing.
"This is…this is nerve-wrecking." I turn to see Josh rubbing his eyes with his hand.
"I know." I place my hand on his shoulder and give him a smile. I know he wishes he could do more and have some control over this. Josh is not the best 'sit back and watch' kinda person.
"Buy a lot of drinks. Make him think you are half drunk already. But don't be silly and drink it. Throw off the drinks in the plant or someplace. Don't want you all woozy now, do we?" Woods instructs CJ.
The monitor focuses back on Aaron McCain. He's just sitting there looking around. No one is with him.
He's sitting there a while now. Josh and I left the stool and sat back at the seats. We just sat there with Josh's arms around my shoulders.
"He's moving guys."
"Where's he going, officer?" Josh quickly gets up and leans behind Officer Woods.
"Let's see shall we. I think he's headed to the bar. Yup. CJ, do your 'thang' girl." I wonder what he's talking about. We weren't there when CJ received her briefing from the cops.
Detective Riedel is rather good at this considering he has to move around to get just the right frame to be displayed on the monitor.
"All right boys, just sit and watch the pro." I heard CJ's voice. I wish I'm as confident as her.
We can see CJ nearing McCain. She leans in a sexy way about two seats away from him. She continuously taps at the bar. What a way to get someone's attention. The bartender finally comes towards her.
"Yes maam. What can I get you?" We can hear the bartender I assume. We can't see him on the screen.
"Whisky, straight up." Woah.
"You sure?" The bartender asks.
"Yup. I need to get good and drunk tonight." Wow, that was a little loud. Oh my god, oh my god! McCain looks at her. He's starring at her.
"Yeah, girl. That's it." Officer Woods says.
"God, she's good!" Josh exclaims.
"I always knew that." What? I always have!
"Turn towards him but not look at him, CJ." The officer continues his instruction. She does as he says. Oh wow, the bastard still has his eyes on her.
CJ gets her drink and leaves. We can see McCain's eyes following her. Even though she's not on the monitor anymore. I'm certain he's looking at her.
"He's walking towards you guys! CJ, you know what to do. Sam, Jane this is your go too. This is going to have to be Oscar caliber. You hear me?" We can now see CJ sitting with Jane and Sam.
"Oh god, he's moving behind them. He's sitting right behind them!" I say making Josh grab my shoulder tightly. A little too tightly. I look at Josh and see him starring at the monitor like his eyes are going to pop out.
Great, my hyperventilating starts again.
TBC……….
