"Hi everyone. Thanks for checking in this early," David Vega announced.
"Did we have a choice?" Jade groggily answered.
"Good morning to you too, Jade," Officer Vega chuckled.
"What's going on, chief?" Andre asked.
"Remember the bank robbery we had about a week ago?"
A murmur of nods passed through the room.
"Well, that wasn't just a one time thing. Turns out these are a group of guys who are a part of a huge series of heists that's been going on for almost a year. They've been stealing money from major banks in different cities then fleeing to another state to get more."
"How many banks have they robbed?" Cat asked.
"Seven," Officer Vega shared.
"Seven?! Man they're good!" Andre replied.
"Andre!" Tori laughed, as well as everyone else.
"Yes, they certainly are. Los Angeles seems like their last stop so it's up to us to stop them," Officer Vega said.
"Where's all the money going?" Cat asked.
"In an off shore account in Canada. Apparently, they were going to flee there with changed identities and fake Canadian citizenships."
"Of course, damn Canadians," Jade scoffed.
"Babe, I'm Canadian," Beck said unaffected.
"I know," she rolled her eyes," But I still love you."
Everyone chuckled at Jade while Beck wore the most confused expression on his face.
"Anyways, the good news is that since they started, only 5 out of the 12 guys remain because they either got caught or died. So we've only got 4 suspects left since we caught Miles the other day," Officer Vega said. "And it looks like with their track record, they only stay around for a maximum of 2 months before fleeing to the next city, but like I said, where else do they have to go since we're at the edge of the Pacific Ocean? Plus, we've got tons of money. They won't leave California until they get their cash."
After the meeting, the gang had some time to spare before their actual shifts started. They were currently in Tori's office chatting about the case.
"So, it says here that the guys' ring leader, Sebastian Gaw- I don't even know how to pronounce that, was captured in their most recent heist in Texas. Now among the remainder are two relatives and two friends," Beck read from the folder.
"You guys think if we interrogate Miles enough that he'll speak? You know, since we know their plan now?" Tori asked.
"Maybe. But most likely not," Jade said while sharpening her favorite pair of scissors.
"Well, Robbie and I did manage to go through his stuff and we found some devices," Andre mentioned. Robbie dug inside his backpack for a paper bag. He spilled the contents on Tori's desk to reveal the items.
"There's no cell phone, but I'm sure since this is a case, Chief will let us touch the stuff," Robbie said.
"What were you guys gong do with it?" Beck asked.
"Throw 'em away. Boss' orders," Andre replied.
"Why would you throw away a perfectly good GPS?" Cat said, picking up a tiny cube from the pile.
"GPS?" Tori wondered. "That's just a cube."
No one believed Cat at first. After all, she may be a tough officer, but she was still pretty naïve outside of the uniform. Except this time, Cat was being serious.
"It's also a GPS," Cat explained. "Robbie, remember when we went to the spy shot on central like two months ago? The clerk said that the newest gear coming in would be-"
"GPS cubes! Oh my gosh, Cat! How could I forget?!" Robbie realized.
"So this is a GPS? Wait, should we dispose of it? They might be able to track us," Tori asked.
"No, this is a one way GPS. They can't track us, Tor. Plus, there's a memory lock in these things. Plug it in to a computer and you can find every destination they've ever inputted since they bought it," Robbie said.
"Wow," Beck was impressed by the cube. The guys plugged the cube into Robbie's laptop and shut out the entire world.
"Whoa! Manhattan, Richmond, Orlando!"
"Chicago, St Paul, Little Rock!"
"And look, San Antonio was the last place before they input Los Angeles. Deng, chief's good!"
Tori, Jade and Cat decided to get coffee at the front desk.
"Boys and gadgets. Everything is a toy to them," Jade scoffed.
"Tell me about it. Andre is obsessed with computers ever since Robbie dragged him into the van that one day."
"My brother used to buy gadgets at the spy store and see which one could sink to the bottom of our pool first," Cat said from no where. This was her regular 'Cat' personality. A little clueless, but cheery nonetheless.
"Why would he waste so much money just to break gadgets?" Tori questioned.
"I don't know, he was bored?" Cat said. "Oh look! Someone brought muffins!" Cat went bonkers on the muffins and started bouncing around, saying hello to the rest of the officers.
"I still don't understand how one minute she can go from a bouncy Cat, and the next to James Bond," Tori said.
"And yet we trust her with a gun in her hands," Jade added. The two girls nodded their heads dumbfounded. "Well, she hasn't killed the wrong person yet so I guess we're ok, right?"
The two girls laughed.
"Come on, this way, punk," An officer said as he brought someone inside the precinct. Trina came in shortly after with the paperwork.
"Hey Trina, what's up with this guy?" Jade asked.
"Drunk in Public. He was super intoxicated and thought he could take on a cop so we're putting him in a holding cell for 24 hours. He seems harmless though," she said.
The drunk stumbled in the holding cell, clearly glassy eyed and still drunk.
"Idiot," Jade and Tori said at the same time.
"Oh hey ladies, like what you see?" the drunk smirked.
"You mean a dumbass who can't control his alcohol intake? I pass," Jade said and walked away.
"What 'bout you sweet cheeks?" he winked.
"I have a boyfriend," Tori said and walked to Jade and Cat.
"The nerve of that guy," Jade said.
"Tell me about it," Tori agreed.
"What guy?" Cat asked as she ate the last bite of her muffin. They pointed to the holding cell at the drunk who was making obnoxious noises. Robbie, Andre and Beck heard the chaos and stepped outside of Tori's office to the where the girls were.
"Hey, shut up!" Beck ordered him.
"Heyyyy Shut up," he repeated with less force.
"Who is this guy?" Andre asked Tori.
"A creep who was hitting on me," she told him.
"Hey, you were hitting on my girl?! Apologize!" Andre yelled.
"Did he hit on you?" Beck asked Jade.
"Why, would you be jealous?" she raised an eyebrow. In a split second the two started making out.
"Oh I get it, these are your boyfriends," the drunk said. It was only then that the drunk noticed Cat was standing at the side. Her red hair and innocent face caught his attention.
"Hey red. Hot damn you're gorgeous," the drunk said.
Because he was standing next to him, Andre noticed from the corner of his eye that Robbie's hands had balled up into fists and he was clenching them.
Cat, taken aback, didn't know what to say.
"Um thanks? But I'm not interested," she told him.
"Why not? I'm cute, you're cute. We'll make cute babies," he spewed.
This caught Cat's attention and nerves. In an instant she went from innocent to feisty. Gotta love her split personality. She got up, walked over to the drunk and met him face to face.
"Hey there pretty lady," he breathed his intoxicated breath on her.
"Lookie here Mr. Suave. I'm not interested. And even if I were, you look so pathetic right now and I certainly don't date people with a track record," she growled. She turned around and walked toward Andre and Robbie.
"Oh, I get it. Four-eyes is your boyfriend, huh? I mean he's the only one left, which is good for him but terrible for you. You're way out of his league. Why don't you try a man instead of a boy?" he boasted.
"Alright, that's enough," Beck said to the guy.
"Quiet pretty boy, I ain't talking to you," the drunk said.
"Beck," Jade simply said.
"On it." Beck walked up to the holding cell and told the drunk to come closer. Getting as close as he could, Beck punched him in the stomach, sending him to the floor.
"Next time, learn some manners and talk to the ladies with respect. And Robbie too," he said.
The gang began to walk away.
"This ain't over, Red. I'm gonna make you fall in love with me, you'll see," the drunk coughed.
Cat rolled her eyes and walked back to Tori's office with everyone.
"Hey Robbie," she pulled him aside.
"Hey Cat," he said.
"Don't believe what that guy said, ok? He's an idiot. Any girl would be lucky to have you," she smiled.
"Thanks, Cat," he nodded. Andre walked up to Robbie once Cat walked to the desk.
"Hey man, I know what you're thinking."
"And?"
"Don't think it. I know you're agreeing with the dude that Cat's out of your league. Don't listen to him," Andre encouraged.
"It's hard not to when I believe it too."
"Come on, Rob. You'll get the girl, you'll see."
"I don't know what you're talking about Andre," Robbie pretended.
"Sure you don't. Like I didn't see what you were doing earlier."
"What was I doing earlier?"
"Gripping on to your dignity like your life depended on it," Andre chuckled. "I saw those fists, man."
"Well the guy was making fun of me. Wouldn't you be angry?"
"You were clenching them when the dude was hitting on Cat. And you lost them when he made fun of you. Care to explain that? Hmmm?" Andre raised an eyebrow.
"Ok, so what? That doesn't mean anything."
"Dude, whether you care to explain it to me or not, you've been denying your feelings and lying to yourself about a certain redhead you've got your eye on. Don't wait for the perfect moment. Someone like drunkie over there might steal it away from you."
Andre walked away to catch up with the others.
Robbie stayed there wondering where he actually stood in anyone's lives. He'd lost so much, become so invisible; did he even have a place anymore? And on top of that, as much as he wouldn't admit it, Andre was right. But who could love a guy like Robbie? Especially a great catch like Cat. Maybe he was better off just admiring her from afar.
"Hey. Pssst. Four eyes!" the drunk wrung him out of his thoughts.
Robbie grunted and rolled his eyes.
"Hey!" the drunk called out again.
Robbie didn't walk up to him, but he did turn around to face the drunk.
"What?" Robbie asked impatiently.
"You should totally hook me up with that chick. You're friend's hot," the drunk smirked, his eye contact targeted towards the redhead from across the room.
Robbie turned his head around to gaze at the very redhead. Her beauty could mesmerize anyone.
"Nah man," Robbie mumbled. "She's beautiful."
