AN: Thanks for the reviews. It helps me to continue writing when I know that people like my story. So please review more it encourages me. The Club in this chapter was a figment of my imagination and similarities to other clubs out there are just coincidental. Well on to the story....
Chapter 9 Club Octagon
Friday Afternoon
Police Headquarters
4:30pm
"Why didn't you tell me you and Parkson were going to question Striker?" Jeffery asked. "I'm your partner and I'm part of this investigation too!"
"Relax Jeffery," Michael said, "We needed to find out what he knew."
"I just would have liked to be told. We're a team."
"I know, Jeffery," Michael said, weary of the other mans behavior. "You needed to be there for your wife. Come on I just got a call from Harm and Mac. They went to check Athena's house. When they got there they said they found it trashed. I'm taking a team to check the scene. I'll fill you in on what we found out from Striker on the way there."
They had met Harm and Mac at the house. The team of officers dispersed throughout the house for any sigh of clues. Meanwhile, Mac had pocketed the piece of paper she had found. Michael's team was still investigation the house when Harm and Mac left for the night.
Friday Night
Club Octagon (somewhere close to North Union Station)
9:00pm
Before they had headed to the club to get their proof, Harm had checked the Clubs website and it turned out that the owner was a J.S. no other that Jason Striker.
When they arrived at the club, Harm pulled his car into the packed parking lot.
"Operation club infiltration now in commence," Mac said as they walked towards the building.
Club Octagon with its two stories loomed in front of them as they stood in line with their best party clothes on. It was no more that a few seconds before Harm and Mac were usurered inside, leaving the angry murmurs of rejected clubbers outside. The first thing that hit them as they passed through the door was the blaring music that now pounded in their ears. The place was crowded with stylish party goers of all ages dancing to the beat.
Club Octagon was a popular place at night. Eight bars were spread out through the two story club which earned it the octagon name. There were three dance floors all with different lighting, a misting area, a glow in the dark spray paint wall, black light disco area, and exotic dancers in different areas of the club. For those who just wanted to relax and drink their where seats near the bars and a comfy mattress area off to the corner of the room.
'Yep,' Mac thought, 'the rumors were true. This is a wild place at night.' Mac then thought of Harm who was moving through next to her. He wouldn't let her come to the club by herself considering that this was probably the place where the smuggling ring was going on. Mac was greatful for his company and was enjoying spending this time away from work with him.
"I'll take water," Mac said, as she reached the bar.
"I'll have the same," Harm replied.
"You two sure," The pink haired bartender asked. "We have many different exotic drinks here."
"We'll stick with water," Harm said.
"Suit yourself," the woman said, filling up two glasses of water. "Any fizzy flavoring?"
"What do you have?" Mac asked.
"Strawberry, orange, grape, and lemon."
"I'll take grape," Mac said.
The bartender looked at Harm. "Strawberry," he answered.
"Ice?" She asked them.
"Sure," they answered.
Soon there drinks were ready and they went over to an unoccupied couch and sat down.
"Do you still have the camera?" Harm asked, masking his nervousness with a sip of his fizzy flavored water.
"Of course," Mac replied, as she took out her camera. "All we have to do is get proof of the smuggling operation that's going on then the police can make the arrests they need to make. How hard can that be?"
As they were drinking their drinks and surveying the crowd they spotted a man all in black with black shades walking across the outside of the dance floor. He looked strangely out of place. It was like he belonged behind a desk in a business meeting instead of the noisy atmosphere of the club. The man was carrying a heavy brief case and disappeared through a door off to the side of the club.
"Three guesses to where that door leads," Harm said as he set his drink down. "You ready to get your proof?"
"Yes," she answered, clutching the small camera.
They got up and started across the room. They were almost to the door when they were accosted.
"Hey Sexy," A very drunk man said cutting off Mac's path. "Wanna dance?"
"No thanks," was Mac's reply but the man wouldn't take no for an answer and started to pull her towards the dance floor. Luckily Harm had been there with her and intervened.
"She said no," Harm said annoyed and jabbed the guy in the face. He man stumbled but was to drunk to care and slowly slinked away through the crowd. Harm slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the door. Mac smiled at Harm's actions and put her hand up to her face to hide her amusement at what he had done.
"Did you really have to hit him?" Mac asked looking over at Harm.
"You're never going to let that go are you?" He asked raising an eye brow.
"No," she replied. "That was way too funny to forget."
They looked both ways and in seconds where through the door that the business looking man had entered through. The door opened up into a hallway. They crept down the dark hall and around the corner.
"So, if we get caught we can just say we got lost on the way to the bathroom," said Mac, as they passed a sign that said restrooms. A little further down the hall opened up into a storage area. There were a lot of boxes and crates all around the room. In the corner of the room on the right of the wall were guns and equipment of all kinds. Heavily armed men were loading equipment and boxes into large trucks. Harm and Mac hide behind one of the crates of large boxes and watched the man who had entered the club and three others were crowding around a table of to the corner of the room.
"It looks like some business deal is going down," Harm whispered, as they crouched farther out of sight.
"Oh my go- that's the man who killed Athena," Mac said, pointing to one of the men out of the group.
"How do you know?" Harm asked. "Didn't you say that the men were all in black masks?"
"I just know, ok? He has the same cold hard over confident stare."
"There's Striker," Harm said, as he spotted him greeting the man who entered carrying the brief case.
Mac snapped a few pictures of Striker and the other man while Harm turned on a mini recorder so they could tape everything that was said.
"I came alone this time," the man with the brief case said. "No need to drawing extra attention to ourselves."
"Agreed," said Striker. "Do you have the diamonds?"
The briefcase man set the case on the table. "Do you have the money?"
"Relax," said Striker, noticing the other mans nervousness.
"Johnny," Striker said, looking at Johnny who immediately handed over a gray case.
"His names Johnny," Mac said. "At least I know the name of Athena's killer." She continued to take more pictures.
"No doubt he's working for Striker," Harm said.
The guy on the other said of Striker opened up the case revealing lots of new hundred dollar bills.
"Three million as requested." Striker said. "Now let me see the diamonds."
The man with the black brief case opened it up. The brief case held beautiful, gleaming, stolen diamonds. Harm and Mac gasped. Mac took more pictures as the men switched cases.
"When will the next shipment come in?" Striker asked.
In one week, but before we continue our business dealings I need to know that this isn't compromised."
"Compromised?" asked Striker.
"Rumor has it that there was a disc about this organization. You took care of the girl but what about the disk and her friend?"
"I can assure you that the disk is back in our possession, and as for Athena's friend I have my best men out looking for her as we speak.
"How is that possible?" Mac asked Harm. "We gave Michael the disk."
"They must have somehow got it back," Harm answered.
"They don't know anything about what we have been doing," Striker continued.
"Guess again," Mac whispered to Harm. "We know exactly what you're doing."
"Just as a precaution," Striker informed the man, "we are moving out of here and into a more secure location. We'll send out the new directions to you once everything is moved in."
"This isn't good," Mac said. "Once they leave this place we won't know where they are operating out of."
"Then we better go and inform Michael of what we found out. He will sure be surprised when we hand him all the evidence he needs for this case."
Harm and Mac turned to leave when they came face to face with one of Strikers crew.
"Don't move," he said pointing a gun in their direction.
End of chapter 9
AN: I know I left somewhat of a cliffhanger. I'm evil sometimes huh..... You will just have to wait and see what's going to happen.
Reviews are greatly appreciated. So if you read this story, please take the time to hit that review button and tell me what you think. Your always welcome to review and tell me what you think is going to happen. So please review!!!!!! You know you want to.)