Chapter 7: A night of clubbing.
They got to the club a half-an-hour before Logan said the meeting was schedualed for. Logan had changed out of Flannel-N-Jeans and into a T-shirt, leather jacket, and dark-colored pants for the occasion.
The Cooper gang was dressed as they usually were.
Eoin was wearing a pair of dark-colored jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black dress shirt left unbuttoned.
Ronan Doyle was wearing a pair of white pants with a blue stripe going up the side, and a sleeveless dark blue shirt.
Jacob Doyle was wearing a pair of loose-fitting camoflage shorts for the occasion. Besides that, shoes and socks. He was to play the role of the club-kid among them.
"Y'really don't know what she looks like, eh?" Eoin asked as they picked a table near the stage. There was to be live entertainment tonight by volunteers.
"Not at all." Logan said, flagging down a waitress and ordering a heavy drink. The others just got water.
"Well. Might as well wait for her to make the move." Bentley said, feeling uncomfortable. "You're sure that she has NEVER seen you?" He asked Eoin.
Eoin shook his head. "Never."
"Great." Sly muttered.
While they were waiting, Logan filled them in about him. He had been working at the gifted-school as a self-defense instructor for a few years. Previous to that, he had been involved in a number of wetwork operations. He wasn't even sure if he legally existed anymore.
A few acts went on and offstage. Some were good, some weren't.
Logan told of the work he had done for Amelie. Just tracking down the Cooper gang, seeing when they made contact with the Doyle twins, and that was it. Amelie had apparently been abled to predict Bentley's bank robbery plan, and had Logan empty the vault beforehand. He had been in and out of the bank ten minutes prior to the arrival of the Lynch gang.
"Jesus." Eoin said, blinking. "You're good."
Logan just snorted. "Lotta things are easy when Y'ain't worried about bein' stealthy." Logan said. Murray nodded.
"Smashin' things is always more awesome than sneaking around!" Murray said.
Bentley hushed them all. "Amelie should be making her move soon. She's likely to ask to see Logan alone. If they go outside, Sly will follow them and keep a distance. Logan's been outfitted with a wire, so we won't need to keep too close. Sly. Just take recon photos."
"If she takes him aside somewhere in the club?" Jacob asked.
"That'll be your job. Either Jacob or Ronan will have to follow them." Bentley said. "All the staffers here are foxes, and you look enough like them to be abled to pass by without too much detection."
"Staffers? I haven't seen any bouncers..." Eoin mused.
"They're plainclothes." Bentley said. "Just follow them, and keep your eyes on Amelie. It'd be nice if you two could decide who's going to be tailing who now."
"Two up?" Ronan said, sitting up in his chair with an excited look on his face. He pulled two pennies out of his pocket, then threw them into the air and caught them.
"Two heads." Jacob said.
"I'm going to say half-an'-half." Ronan said. He opened his hand and looked. "Ha! Half-an-Half it is, mate!"
"Lemme see those fookin' pennies!"
"Fook ya!"
"C'mere, Y'cheater!"
"Fook ya dooble!"
The lights dimmed, and the stage began to fill with smoke. Another act was coming up. "Oi, meatheads. Stop slaggin' each other fer a minute." Eoin said.
He had been slouching in his chair, but he had sat up and looked at the stage. There was a techno-pumping noise coming from the speakers, and his nose caught an interesting scent.
Finally, the lights on the stage kicked in, and they could see a female silhouette. Her hips were moving to the beat, and they could hear her voice in a kind of breathy whisper.
"From Paris to Berlin,
in every disco I get in,
my heart is pumping for love,
pumping for love,
'Cause when I'm thinking of you,
and all the things we could do,
my heart is pumping for love,
you left me longing for you."
She began to sing in her full voice now, the smoke began to clear.
"From Paris to Berlin,
in every disco I get in,
my heart is pumping for love,
pumping for love,
'Cause when I'm thinking of you,
And all the things we could do,
my heart is pumping for love"
"Jesus christ." Ronan said, laughing. Eoin kicked him under the table, and he shut up.
"Patience is a game,
and every night I say your name,
Hoping that you'll answer
'cause I'm going insane.
It's quite along time ago ,
You brought me out of control,
Hungry for your lovin'
like I know what that might be "
The smoke cleared, and they could see her. She had to have been a wolfdog --A husky-wolf mix-- and not more than twenty. Her hair was white, and long. Her face was beautiful --to Eoin at least-- and a smile showed pearly-whites.
She moved to the front of the stage, clasping the microphone in her hand, and looking out at the thin crowd. Her eyes glanced over the table that Eoin was at, pausing on each member.
"From Paris to Berlin,
in every disco I get in,
my heart is pumping for love,
pumping for love,
'Cause when I'm thinking of you,
And all the things we could do,
my heart is pumping for love
you left me longing for you
you left me longing for you
you left me longing for you
you left me longing for you."
Sly glanced at Eoin, nudging Bentley and Murray and pointing. The three smiled knowingly. The singer began dancing in earnest, spinning, gesticulating, anything.
"Teasing was the thing
and now I just can't let it go
Meeting you were something
no-one else needs to know
I guess I'm thinking of you,
like I would know what to do
If and when I found you,
but I don't I've got no clue"
When she returned to the front of the stage, she shot a wink at Eoin's table. They had the most people at one table, and they might all tip her if she flirted a little. Certainly an interesting cast of characters they had assembled there.
She repeated the chorus three more times, repeating "You left me longing for You" until the music died out. She ended the song turned away from the crowd, the lights making her nothing more than a silhouette again.
When the song stopped, all Eoin could hear was his heart. "Jesus christ..." He muttered. "Did you see that?" He asked, emphasising 'that' a great deal.
"See what?" Logan asked, lighting a cigarette.
"The singer!" Eoin said. He looked at them all, and stopped on Sly. Sly was staring at him with a "I-know-what-you're-feeling" look. "Shut it, Cooper." Eoin said, crossing his arms and sliding back down into his seat.
Eoin fumed in his chair. His mind a burnt little coal that still has some glowing-orange to it. What does Cooper know! All he's done is shagged that Interpol bird! But that singer... There was a woman!
"Logan?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. When they looked up, they saw a Leopard-woman standing at the edge of the table. She wasn't alone, however. She was with the singer.
"Yeah?" Logan answered.
"I'm here for the meeting." The Leopard said. There was a tinge of a scottish accent in her voice. She was all business.
"An' you?" Logan said, looking at the Wolfdog.
She gave a calm smile, looking them over. Damn. None of them looked like they had more than forty coins on them! And they were drinking WATER, the cheap bastards! "Just came for some constructive criticism on my preformance..." She started, looking away somewhat nervously. There was an air of mischeif around this one. A scottish accent tinged her voice, too.
"Eh." Sly said, leaning back in his chair. "Could've been better."
"IN ME HOLE!" Eoin said, snapping up. "Bloody spectacular, it was!" He finished, looking at Cooper. "Yer a freakin' clod, Y'know that?"
The wolfhound laughed a bit. "Well, thank you," she said to Eoin.
The Leopardess sneered. "Logan, can we take this outside?" She asked. Logan nodded and stood up, glancing at Sly.
Sly gave a very slight nod, and waited for them to leave. "S'cuze me, I've got to check on the van." He said, grabbing his cane and stepping out.
Ronan took out a deck of cards, glancing at Bentley and Murray. "You boys ever played Mao?" He asked, looking at Jacob and winking.
"No." Murray said. "How do you play?"
"Simple." Ronan said, dealing the cards. "The first rule of Mao is that I cannot tell you the other rules. You have to learn them..."
"So..." The wolfdog began. "Did you really think my act was all that good?"
"O'course." Eoin said. "The twins here preform every now an' again, but they've got shite T'show fer it compared T'you." Eoin pushed a seat out with his Shellailagh and motioned for her to sit. She sat in the chair, flipping her hair back over her shoulder.
She was wearing a black top that showed enough for the imagination to kick in, but covered enough to be desirable. Her pants had the same effect, and her shoes were made for fast, precise movements. "What's your name, Irishman?" She asked, crossing her legs.
He smiled. Just as Bentley was dealt his twentieth penalty card, and Murray moved in to win the game, the windows to the club shattered. Bullets came through, shattering glasses, lights, everything.
The group ducked under the table. "We've got to get out of here!" Bentley said, shrinking in his chair and shell.
"Get back to the safehouse!" Eoin shouted. "All of you!"
Ronan, Jacob, Murray, and Bentley began to move. Eoin was about to get out from under the table when the Wolfdog grabbed his leg.
"What about ME?" She said, freaking out. Obviously, a situation like this was not planned for her.
"You guys go ahead!" Eoin said. "I've got to get 'Er out of here!" He shouted, then turned to her. "Follow me, an' do as I say. When we get outside, stay close. Where are you stayin'?"
"I'm at a hotel not far from here. A couple blocks, at most."
Eoin nodded, he began to crawl across the floor, things being destroyed all around him. They made it to a rear exit, and Eoin kicked the door open. He peered into the alley.
Nothing.
He stepped out, motioning for her to follow him. "Which way?"
She looked up at the sky, then pointed down the alley. "That way. Then west."
"Got it." He said, looking around.
Fire ladder.
"How's your climbing ability?"
"After a show!" She asked. "I'm drained!"
Eoin grinned. Fine with him. He walked to the ladder and took hold. "Grab on, darling."
She walked to him, wrapping her arms around his torso, and he began to ascend.
When they were on the roof, they ran to the other side. "There's the hotel." She said, pointing. A few buildings down.
It wouldn't be hard to get to.
He looked about the roof. The gap was pretty big...
There was a sign on this side of the roof. It might take him looking like an idiot, but it's better than falling and breaking his legs.
He got back, then took a running start and jumped into the sign. The supports gave way, and it bridged the gap. He stood up, head pounding a little, and motioned for her to cross.
"Jesus, kid." She said, once she was across. "Do that a couple more times, and you won't be abled to make it."
"I'm not worried." Eoin said. "The Irish have thick skulls." He said, grinning a little to reassure.
He made his way across this roof. There were shouts from the alleyway, as though the people who had shot up the club knew that no one was inside. A roar somewhere else.
Logan.
Someone pissed him off, and he was going to get them back for it.
A few improvised bridges later, and Eoin was shimmying down the pole, and the wolfdog girl following closely after.
They made their way into the hotel, Eoin quite out of breath. She unlocked the door , and ushered him inside. He flicked on the lights, leaning his Shellaillagh against the wall and glancing at her. "You okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." She said, walking to the window and pushing aside the draps. Some thugs ran by on the street. "Why'd they attack?"
"No idea." Eoin said, adjusting his shirt. "Think you'll be okay here?"
"I should be. I'm not staying long, at any rate." She said, leaning up against the wall.
"Mind if I get your name?" Eoin asked, smirking a bit. Her hair was disheveled. She had this cute "Just-survived-chaos" look to her. That thought kind of made him wonder how messed up HE looked.
"Amelie McLaughlin." She said, looking over at him. He was tense suddenly, and his eyes wide. SHE was Amelie McLaughlin? She couldn't have been! She was too... Too... Attractive! "Something wrong?" She asked. "Aren't you going to tell me your name, or am I just going to know you as Wolf-in-shining-armor?"
He swallowed hard. How was she related to Micheal? He was a Leopard! "M'name's Maxwell Silverhammer." He said. "Noice T'meetcha."
"Back at Y'Max." She said, crossing her arms across her stomach. "Thanks for the rescue, again."
"No problem. Only wish I could do more." Eoin said. By 'Do more', he was thinking 'get the hell out'.
"Well..." Amelie started, smirking. "If you liked my preformance, you could tip me. I can't sing on an empty stomach, Y'know."
Eoin blinked. What a racket! Grudgingly, the thief tossed some coin to her.
"Listen, I think I'm gonna have T'catch up with M'mates." Eoin said, grabbing his Shellailagh and stepping to the door. "Keep safe, eh?" He asked, not looking at her. Shit, she was Amelie!
"Wait." She said, starting towards him. "This is a longshot, but... Do you know a guy name Eoin Lynch?"
"Lynch?" Eoin asked, smirking a bit. "Yeah. I know him. Why?"
She frowned a little. "My sister, the Leopard you saw at the bar, has a personal thing against him. Do you know where he's living?"
"Nah." Eoin said. "Lost track O'him long ago." He paused. "Yer sister? A Leopard?"
"I'm adopted." Amelie said, shaking her head. "And... Eoin killed our father, so she's out to get revenge."
"Say..." Eoin started, turning away from the door. "You're THE Amelie McLaughlin? From the gang?"
"Yeah."
"If she's the one that wants revenge so much, why's the gang named after you?" Eoin asked, honestly confused on that subject.
She paused, then shrugged. "I won the coin toss." She said, laughing.
He snorted. "Figures. Anyway, G'luck finding this Lynch character." Eoin said, quickly opening the door and stepping out. Once the door was shut, he sighed loudly. "Christ."
He started down the hall, towards the door. He stared at the ground the whole way. Jesus, SHE'S Amelie?
Someone cleared their throat. He looked up and saw the Leopardess from the club waiting for him to move out of her way. "S'cuse me," He said, stepping side.
"You're excused." The woman said in a business-like manner. As soon as Eoin's hand touched the door, he heard her again. "Get back to your gang, Lynch."
She said his name as though it was a swear-word. He glanced back over his shoulder, but she was gone, heading towards Amelie's room.
Ah, shit.
When he made it back to the Safehouse, everyone took no notice of him. Except Logan, whose clothing was a bit ruffled from a scrape back near the pub. "Hey, Kid. Yer alive."
"Yeah." Eoin said, walking over to a chair and sitting. He smacked his forhead with the heel of his hand. "Wish I wasn't, though."
"Well? What about that girl at the club?" Sly asked.
"Tch. Pog mo thoin, Cooper. 'Least I ain't leavin' M'friends for a lady." Eoin said. "That chick at the club," He started. "It was Amelie."
Ronan spat out some of the booze that Logan had supplied him with. "Wait, what!"
"That was Amelie." Eoin said, glancing around at all of the blank faces.
"Well, lads." Eoin said, leaning forward. "What's our next move."
To Be Continued!