AN: Thanks every one for sticking with this and for your continued patience. I will finish!
Chapter 31
It was the glimmer of blonde that had caught his attention. His eyes took in the confident stride and bouncing hair.
"Is that?" Robin whispered, the shock evident in his tone.
"Emma." Killian breathed. She was stunning.
"What is she..." Graham trailed off, leaving the question just hanging in the air.
Bloody hell. Killian ripped his eyes away from her hypnotising figure and squeezed his eyes shut.
He had been so focused on the back entrance that he had failed to notice Emma slip away. He needed to stop her!
Killian let himself surge forward, "EM..."
Two sets of strong arms grabbed him from either side and tugged him backwards. Killian felt his adrenaline kick in and his muscles bunched with the tension. He pulled forward, struggling against those trying to keep him from Emma.
"Let her go." Robin's voice urged him.
"She's made her choice. We can't show our hand." Graham tried to reason with him.
Killian felt his fists bunch as the tension built. He knew that they were right but it was hard to watch Emma walk into the lion's den and not be able to do anything.
"There must be something?" His voice came out strangled and though Killian knew he sounded desperate he really didn't care!
"I think we're just going to have to wait. I'm sorry mate." Robin was very apologetic and Killian understood where his friend was coming from. These were dangerous people! If they stormed in after Emma it could cause the situation to go very pear shaped.
"Maybe not..." Graham asserted, his eyes had a mischievous twinkle.
"Well don't hold back," Killian urged, intrigued by his newest employee's potential.
"We just walk right in the front door!" Graham told the two men proudly.
Killian narrowed his eyes and glared like Graham had grown another head. Robin was also looking at him sceptically. Graham must have felt the negative vibes towards his idea and gave a small chuckle.
"I'm not crazy! You can't just name drop. The name 'Killian Jones' could get you into any where in the city with a blink of the eye but we can't alert Gold or his goons...so..."
Graham wanted them to have a guess at what his idea was but he could see the frustration oozing from Killian.
"Money!"
"What?" Robin shook his head in confusion. Killian on the other hand just smirked as he nodded his head in agreement. He'd finally caught on to what Graham wanted to do.
"Will someone enlighten me?" Robin asked, feeling a little stupid that he hadn't put all the pieces together yet.
"We are just 3 regular blokes out for a 'good time'. Killian explained as he emphasised the last two words.
"And?"
"So we just use a big wad of Killian's cash to buy our way in through the front door."
"Ohhhhh." Robin nodded. These types of places were a strictly private venue that very rich and influential men frequented. These men wanted confidentiality. What was seen or even who was seen was never spoken about outside of the walls. Any client that recognised Killian would remain intentionally oblivious and hopefully there were not that many of Gold's employee's that knew of their bosses vendetta against Killian. His face was not one that you would forget so hopefully splashing some cash around to the bouncers might buy some peace.
"Let's go find her."
The overwhelming odour of rank beer and cigarettes hit Emma's nostrils and she winced with distaste. The hallway was narrow and dimly lit but it wasn't too hard to navigate.
She kept her eyes discreetly down in order to play up a more submissive role.
Emma had played a similar role on a case several years ago so she had some experience to draw on. Worst case scenario was that someone would recognise her or that she would literally run into Neal or Gold. Improvising was something Emma was good at, so she was sure that she would be able to stay calm under pressure.
A door to her left was slightly ajar and the light seeping out made it easily identifiable as the dressing room.
Jackpot.
Emma needed something more appropriate to wear if she was going to continue to play up her role in the club. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the light and she scanned quickly for what she needed.
There were half a dozen dresser tables against the back wall. All were for a different purpose and were filled with hair products and hundreds of different cosmetics. It was a girly girls dream in here. The young women in the room took no notice of her and continued doing their hair and make-up. Time was money in a place like this.
Against the left side of the room were multiple screens for the women to get dressed behind, offering a modicum of privacy in an otherwise exposed area. Emma finally located the racks of clothing and quickly made her way across the room.
She was halfway through the second rack when she felt the presence of someone behind her.
"Who are you?" The raspy female questioned angrily.
Emma turned to face the older woman, "I am a present for Mr Cassidy. They told me I could get ready here."
The woman's beady eyes raked up and down Emma's body and shrugged her shoulders.
"He likes those blondes."
Emma giggled and ran her hands down to her hips, "He's sure to like this then."
"Mr Cassidy and the boss won't be here for another half an hour. Take your time but don't be late."
Emma gave a quick nod and continued her search for something in red leather.
Killian felt dirty for buying off the front doormen with so much cash but anything was worth it if it got him inside.
Graham had a big smile on his face as one of the scantily clad waitresses led them to a private booth. Robin had asked for a private space but one that had a clear view of entire room so they could according to him, "appreciate all of the ladies".
Killian ordered a neat rum, something to just take the edge off his nerves. He was surprised at how well the club not only operated but how friendly all of the staff were. Graham disappeared to the bar for a little recon and came back with news he had pried from the bartender.
"Gold isn't here yet!"
Killian felt relief course through his body knowing that Emma was probably relatively safe where ever she was. The stage shows continued in front of them but none of the girls were his blonde bombshell. Emma had to be backstage...hopefully poking around but staying out of the trouble that always found her.
Emma had one of the girls help her tighten a red leather corset. She needed it tight enough to emphasise her breasts but not that tight that she wouldn't be able to breathe if she needed to fight. The corset came with a matching set of hot pants that she wasn't as eager to put on.
Security was fairly lax out the back and Emma assumed they were all out on the floor where the trouble really happened. It was usually the guests overstepping their bounds with the girls that security was really needed for.
Emma found herself free to wander until given her cue to perform for Neal. She hadn't found anything out the ordinary so far. There was a lounge area for the ladies to relax in and a tea room. The private rooms were down towards the main stage and it was here that she found the locked space.
It was the only locked door that she had encountered. Emma rattled the handle a few times before letting her eyes wander to the solid door and frame. There was no way she was going to be able to use her strength to break the lock. Emma was handy with lock picking skills but she wasn't sure she would have enough time to get in without being seen.
Emma quickly headed back to the dressing area and searched for anything that could be used to pick a lock. She rummaged through the dresses and collected an assortment of nail files, hair pins and even the ink cartridge from a pen. Emma knew that time was running out and she would need to try anything she could lay her hands on.
Slipping back out in to the corridor Emma rapidly made her way towards the locked door. She quickly put her fistful of 'picks' in front of her and began systematically working through them.
A little pressure. A little twist. Clockwise. Anti-clockwise.
It was a long shot and she was starting to feel her hope fade as she unsuccessfully worked through her pile. Emma twisted one of the sturdier hair pins the left and applied some pressure. She felt the door lock give and turned it with her free hand to give herself access to the room.
The door clicked shut quietly behind her and she waited a moment for her eyes to get semi used to the darkness. Emma had shoved her phone tightly into the front of her corset and she quickly wedged it out and flicked on the torchlight.
The room was illuminated in enough light for her to search effectively. It was an office space with a desk, big bookshelf and several filing cabinets. The clock on her phone told Emma that she only had 10 minutes before Gold was scheduled to arrive. She needed to be out of here and ready for her 'performance' or the game was up.
A quick rummage through the filing cabinets was fruitless. The files contained tax returns, order forms and other paperwork related to the club. Emma hadn't expected to find anything useful in plain sight...that was not Gold's style. He preferred more underhanded methods.
Emma tapped the desk all over look for any secret compartment. Nothing. There was only the bookshelf left to search and Emma had suspicions that there would be a safe hidden in it somewhere. She really didn't have any time to break into a safe so she prayed that there was something else to find.
The books moved easily indicating that there was nothing suspicious about them but Emma ran her hand behind them just to make sure. She smiled when she found the safe midway up the bookcase. It was behind 4 very realistic books. Emma continued her search along the shelves until she was was 3/4 of the way to the top. The shelve contained half classic novels and half decanters of alcohol. She let her hand run along the right hand side of the timber closest to the wall, tapping her fingers against the surface. It felt the same as the others but something sounded slightly off. Emma moved the decanters out of the way and began playing with the timber. She tapped a little more, tried to slide it and even lift it. It wasn't until she used the weight of her fingers in the top corners did anything happen.
The wood popped out effortlessly like a sliding drawer, revealing a removable container. Emma popped the container onto the desk and began removing manila folders. Photos spilled from one file and Emma gasped as she took in the images.
Her face was plastered across many of the photos. Killian and her in Durban. Her collecting coffee around the corner from work. These were all surveillance photos.
Emma pushed the photos aside and continued to rummage through the paperwork. Employee lists.
Flight manifests.
Corsair's confidential route network. It even included dates and what ships would be docking. No doubt that all of the Corsair's information was provided courtesy of Neal. It was enough to get a team of her agents in here to search.
Emma took a few snaps with her phone and forwarded them to David. She pressed a few more buttons and placed the phone up to her ear.
"Emma?" David's masculine voice echoed through the phone.
"It's all here at the Gilded Bird." Emma breathed in relief. There was enough confidential information in this one box that would allow them to search and seize.
"I'll send a team."
"Please do."
Emma made sure to replace everything in the exact place she had found it. She had barely closed the door behind her when she heard it.
A deep voice echoed down the hall and Emma felt certain that she had been caught.
"You! You're up! 5 minutes."
"Are they here?" Emma questioned the young security officer.
"Yep. Both the boss and Junior are here."
Junior?
Shit!
TBC
