'Urgggggggggh,' Was all that Detective Mclaire could hear as he neared the entrance to LVMPD's homicide department. Levan was all that sprung to the tired detective's mind. Mclaire took the last breath of sanity for the day before opening the door to another twelve hours of purgatory.

'We better have some leads as I haven't got time for fuck ups and that means you Levan!' Detective Mclaire bellowed as he marched into the room dropping the numerous files he had onto Nick Levan's desk causing the hung-over detective to lift his heavy head from the table.

'Alright listen up!' Everyone flocked toward him pens and paper at the ready. 'I want a team over at the Fitch residence; I'm told that James Fitch is there now. Keep security at a maximum,' everyone murmured in acknowledgement. ' I want another team getting hold of that secretary and bring her down to the casino, maybe she can give us a bit more if she can be back in the environment. Also I want to have a look at the security tapes, I know they weren't in operation near Mr Fitch's office but who knows we might get lucky with the rest of the casino,' I wish Mclaire thought sarcastically, the last time he figured himself lucky was when he got this job and look where that got him.
Once the majority of the team had left the Detective Mclaire turned to his partner to find him snoring his drunken head off a river of drool descending from the gaping black hole that was his mouth. Give me strength he thought in despair.

'Levan!' He called but still no reply. 'Levan!' He tried a bit louder, 'Levan!' still nothing. He huffed in frustration before striding over to the desk and slamming a clench fist on the Levan's desk, only centimetres from Nick's sleepy head.

'NICK!' BANG.

'W….what?' He mumbled as he jumped out of his slumber, looking up into the angry eyes of his superior.

'Evidence?'

'What?...Oh right! Erm…' He said as he busied himself through the paper tsunami that engulfed his desk.
'AH! Here we go,' He smiled as he flicked through the wrinkled file.
'Post mortem said death was due to serve blood lost, the bullet to the aortic valve, weapon of choice looks to be an MP5 erm….,' he hummed as he flicked through more sheets, completely oblivious to Detective Mclaire's sighs of irritation.
'They said they found three sets of finger prints on the fire exit door,'

'Id?'

'Erm…..only one and they belong to the caretaker, report says that he had been up there last week fixing it, the other two came back with no trace,' Mclaire knew it was a long shot anyway.
'They spoke to the caretaker and he said that apparently the door is pressure sensitive so if it were opened the alarm would go off and security would know about it straight away, but the alarm never went off. Report says that the electrics had been rigged, and when the caretaker took a look at it he said whoever did it knew there stuff in order to rig the alarm with out it going off in the process. Not looking good boss,' He finished passing the file to him. All I fucking need Mclaire thought looking over the report, whoever these guys were they were the real deal and that made his job a million times harder.

'Right,' he breathed rubbing a one hand over his face in some stupid attempt to wipe away the exhaustion.
'Come on, your with me,' Mclaire finally said as he got up.

'Where we going?' Levan asked as he caught up.

'Airport, the other daughter Katie Fitch is flying in from Australia,'

'What the fuck is going on! Where is my sister?' Katie shouted pointed a well manicured index finger at detective Mclaire. Katie Fitch was defiantly a daughter of a tycoon, done up like she was attending the Oscars when she only just come off a fifteen hour flight, designer labels everywhere and a fiery, spoilt daddy's girl attitude to back it all up.

'Miss Fitch please, let's just calm do….'

'Calm down? Calm down! How the fuck can you tell me to calm down my father has just been killed and my sister my only sister is m…miss..' She never finished as she collapsed in a heap on the chair, tears over flowing the mascara stained cheeks.

'Miss Fitch I assure we are doing everything we can to find your sister but you need to help us,' She looked into the detective's gaze and nodded taking a tissue of off the other detective who sat next to him.
'Miss Fitch we need to ask you a few questions about your father's business?' She gave him a sour look but let him continue anyway.
'Do you know of anyone that would want to hurt your father, any enemies?' Katie scoffed.

'He own Las Vegas biggest casino, what do you think?'

'Is there anything that's happened recently that might have sparked something, a new business deal, maybe?' Katie sniffed and Levan quickly offered another tissue grinning like a cat that just got the cream when she cast him a thankful smile back. Mclaire rolled his eye, how he got this job was beyond him as if you looked at him you'd think he was speed dating.
'Miss?' Mclaire interrupted pulling her attention from his idiot of a partner.

'I don't know, I don't do anything like that, only Daddy or Emily did the business side,'

'So why were you in Australia?'

'Dad said he was looking to win a deal down there….Emily was…' She breathed heavy trying to keep the tears back.

'Emily what?'

'Emily was supposed to go but…at the last minute Dad said he needed her to stay here….Oh God,' She sighed wiping at her water filled eyes.

'You mean she wasn't supposed to be here?' Levan butted in before quickly closing his mouth and cast his boss an apologetic glance.

'No….Oh God, it's all my fault if I ha…' her tears making her words almost inaudible.

'Miss Fitch please focus,' Mclaire tried as sympathetic as possible, they were getting somewhere for God sake.
'Was this something that had happened before or was this something out of the ordinary?'

'I can't think of another time when this had happened but I didn't think much of it, I was going to Australia for a month for fuck sake,' she sighed picking at the scrunched tissue in the hand.
'I mean if I had just thought about it may….maybe she'd still…..be here,' She started to sob. Mclaire let the young woman cry and nodded to Levan to follow him out side before informing the tearful woman they were going to leave her to herself for a second.

'Jesus boss looks like we're dealing with the real deal here,' Levan breathed once the door had closed. 'They must've had someone on the inside if they new Emily was going to be there, she said herself it was pretty short notice that Emily didn't go to Australia,'

'Maybe they didn't,' Mclaire said out loud as he mulled things over in his head.

'Huh?' Levan grunted

'Maybe Emily had nothing to do with it, if this was about both Mr Fitch and Emily why didn't they kill her too?'

'Ransom?'

'Maybe, but it doesn't fit. Why kill Mr Fitch? If this was about money I'd be more inclined to take him than Emily. I can't imagine that Emily knows as much about all the money as Mr Fitch, she's only really just started working for him, she's twenty three. I don't think this about money at all, this is assassination. There was no money missing at the scene and you saw the amount of bullets, these guys had no intention of letting Mr Fitch live,' Levan nodded.

'But why take Emily? If these guys were assassinators why not just kill her too?' Mclaire shook his head because he had no idea, and that thought did not sit right with him at all.

'Cook, slow the fuck down will you,' Naomi shouted as she flicked the back of his head. This rust bucket went faster than she originally thought as Cook weaved through the heavy down town traffic. Only a little bit longer and you can finally be rid of this fucking car Naomi thought.

She didn't know had happened but as soon as she got up (not that she had much sleep anyway) the old her came back. When Cook asked her what was the plan she fired back a reply, she didn't know how she did it but it was like a light bulb being turned on which lead to a fully function, full proof plan with in the hour. Of course as soon as Naomi had told both Cook and Effy where they were going they both looked like a kid at Christmas, Emily just stayed pretty much emotionless, not that Naomi expected any different. Shock has sunk in, denial is over with and acceptance is now consuming with its best friend grief. It comes and affects everyone differently but for everyone there's no way of escaping it, something she and her two accomplices knew far too well, not that they'd ever say because to them they were untouchable.

'Here we go ladies, fucking LA,' Cook cackled as they pulled up outside the gleaming white building that hurt to look at with the sun blazing down on it, high walls with an electronic gate that would give a tank a run for its money.

'How may I help you,' a voice came from the speaker mounted on the wall next to the gate. Cook leaned out the car window,

'Alright mate we're 'ere to see Mr Stonem,'

'Sorry Sir if you don't have a pass I'm afraid I can't let you in,'

'We're friend's, tell him Effs 'ere to see him,' Cook reasoned back, Silence.
'Listen mate it don't matter if you don't let us in cause I got someone 'ere who can fuck up your shitty electronic gate, so we can do this the polite easy way or the pain in the arse way, up to you,' He said motioning to Naomi ,Silence.

'Welcome to the Stonem residence, drive up to the house and a valet will be there waiting,'

'Alright, now the party is fucking started,' Cook cackled flashing Effy a cheeky grin who in turn just smirked even though she was probably just as desperate to get in there as he was although it was more to see her brother than what was most likely on Cook's mind.

As they drove up the curved road through picture perfect gardens of every colour imaginable, ridiculously expensive water fountains, in the distant could be seen Tony Stonem's own private golf course and tennis courts. As they pulled up out side the huge house they saw men in full suits leading other people from there own cars into the house, the pounding of bass the that blasted out of the mansion like an bulldozer could be felt from inside the car.

'Man, I'm glad I know someone with planning skills like you Naomio,' Cook grinned looking like a hyperactive kid on a sugar rush.

'Sir,' Said the young man who had opened Cook's door letting him out his hand out stretched.

'Look after her for me mate, give her a wash and a wax, been a tough couple of days,' Cook said as he handed him the keys. Another suited man came around the other side of the car.

'I believe you must be Miss…,'

'Effy,' she interrupted the man that had just emerged from the house.

'Effy, my name's Daniel and as you can see Mr Stonem is having another one of his parties but he insists that you see him immediately, you and your friends of course,' He motioned to the other three. Effy nodded.
'If you all would follow me,' He said as he lead them into the house, a mass of body's dancing along to California Girls which made the entire place vibrate. Cook's eyes lit up as he watched the flow of booze, dancing, and of course all the waitresses dressed in white bikini's that were designed to leave little to the imagination.
Cook's eye's were constantly glued to their behinds and Naomi had to admit they were all very attractive girls but Naomi did keep her ogling more subtle, not that it really mattered no doubt Tony paid these girl one hell of a generous wage to be an object for a night.

They exited the house and came to a massive rectangular swimming pool, various men and women grinding with each other in the pool and one couple it was pretty obvious that they were doing more than your average aqua aerobics. Around the pool were an array of sun lounges all occupied but Daniel lead them through the mass of people to a cornered off area where a man of six foot plus stature and built like a house was standing outside, his shades a perfect accessories to give you the impression that you would not want to fuck with him. Daniel whispered something in the body guard's ear to which he nodded and stepped aside allowing them all into the VIP area.

'Mr Stonem!' A young guy surrounded by many girls all dressed a bright selection of bikinis all of which hanging on the guy's every word, laughing on queue as if it they reading his conversation from a rehearsed script, every girl giving each other sly looks of disapproval but still keeping a the plastic upbeat atmosphere as they slowly inched closer and closer to young man, eyeing him up as if he were a prise to be won.

The young man lifted his head, his turquoise eyes lighting up as he spotted them.
'Eff!' He called getting up and coming over quickly consuming her in an embrace, all the girls giving Effy looks that would have her ten feet under if it were possible. Naomi always thought it odd when she saw Effy be so loving when she was around her brother because even though she had known her for such a long time she can never recall a time where they hugged or were so open with each other, not that she complained as Naomi herself wasn't all into public displays of affection and both Cook and Effy knew what they needed to know about her, why would she keep bringing it up when it only brought everyone down?

'You look like shit,' Tony smirked as he observed Effy's dishevelled look.

'Not all of us can afford a thirty million dollar house,' Effy countered.

'Don't lie to sneaky bitch,' Tony joked before turning to Cook.
'Alright Cook?'

'Yeah but what does a guy have to do to get a drink around 'ere,' Cook complained.

'Melissa!' Tony snapped his fingers at a waitress in the corner; she turned Cook's eyes almost exploded out of his sockets when he saw her chest pretty much spilling out of her white bikini, a tray of freshly poured champagne in one hand and the other on her hip that danced from side to side like a pendulum.

'Cook, Melissa. Melissa, Cook,' Tony introduced, 'Make sure you look after him for me Melissa,' Tony whispered into her ear slipping her a few of what looked to one hundred dollar bills. She smiled at him and nodded before turning her attention to a mesmerised Cook and proceeded to drag him off with her.

'Who knew it was so easy to make people happy,' Tony grinned at Naomi, 'Although something tells me you won't be as easy to please Nai…' He suddenly stopped when he noticed the extra person stood behind Naomi's tall frame.
'And who might this be. Come on now Top Cat be polite and introduce me to the new addiction to your gang.' Naomi scowled, she never got along with Tony and this was precisely why. She couldn't deny he was good to have around due to the resources he held at his finger tips but his way of earning money wasn't that far form hers even though he liked to think that he was playing a whole different ball game.

'This is Emily, Emily….'

'Fitch,' He finished enjoying the looked of fury Naomi's eyes, toying with people was Tony's favourite past time and when it evolved ice queen Campbell it made everything so much more interesting. The problem with Naomi was that she thought she was untouchable and reading her is the equivalent of a toddler making sense of Einstein's theory of relativity, so when she was being played with she found it such a shock that people could see right through her when it couldn't be more obvious, it humoured him quite a bit if he must be honest.

Naomi was about to let her sharp tongue take control but Effy quickly defused the situation.
'Tony, Naomi would like to ask you a favour,' Tony cracked an evil grin which just fuelled the fire in Naomi's topaz eyes.

'Well in that case we better go to my office, hadn't we?'

'Come on Emily let's get drink,' Effy said leading Emily away from the two. Naomi followed them as they left and waited till they were out of range before turning back to Tony's smug expression.

'Don't fuck with me Tony,' she hissed right in his face as he continued to challenge her with that satanic smirk.

'Please Naomi, let's go to my office, that is where business is done after all,' Naomi didn't give him a reply just simply stormed off to the office that she knew far too well considering she always found herself in there every time she came here.

'We have to stop meeting like this,' Tony sneered as her closed the office door and walked over to the large drinks cupboard, 'Am I right saying its same,' He asked pulling out the familiar bottle of whiskey, 'I'm sure your familiar enough to pour your own,' He passed her the bottle before she went to different cupboard and extracted two crystal tumblers pouring a generous measure in both then handed one to Tony.

'Cheers,' He held up his glass, Naomi glowered at him before quickly knocking back the warm liquid in one and poured herself another leaving Tony with his glass still waiting, he chuckled.

'So Naomi, what is this favour you ask of me? Am I right in saying it has something to do with the odd choice of new company you're keeping,' She took another gulp before setting the drink on the grand, hand crafted, mahogany table.

'I need your plane,'

'And where would you be taking my plane?'

'Halifax,' Tony's brow slight furrowed.

'A bit close for you don't you think? No Romanian pills need picking up, or any African arms dealer in need of your money, no?' She remained silent. 'Well, if that is what you most desire ten I guess I better call my pilot. But you will stay first, I haven't seen my sister in such a long time and I'm sure you need to inform your new acquaintance of your plans?' A wicked smile played across his lips, he knew exactly where to hit her hard and she wasn't having any of it.

'Don't mess with me Tony, you know what I can do,' she spat, ready to pounce like a lion watching its prey.

'I have no doubt of your skills Naomi. You are a strong person and I don't just mean in the sense you could snap both my legs with your bare hands then take down my fine security guards out there, and finally finish off with running the London marathon in record timing, but I imagine you could really fuck with someone's mind though. The real question is, are you strong to have someone mess with your head, I do believe that Miss Fitch is doing a fine job and it's only been what? Twenty four hou…' Naomi couldn't take it anymore the fury all exploded at once and before she even could think about what she was doing she had him out of that leather office chair and pressed against the lace wallpaper with her hunting knife against his carotid artery. His breathing heavy, his Adams apple bobbing up and down as he nervously swallowed making the knife knick the skin even more yet he still had that villainous smile on his face and that made her even more infuriated, but she knew she had to control herself, she had to keep going, obstacles like this are what made the journey so much more rewarding. She eased back until eventually she let go of him and smoothly slid the knife in the holder that was wrapped around her ankle and rearranged the leg of her jean so it could not be seen anymore. Without a sound she went over to her drink and down the rest of the brown liquid before walking out the office. Grinning slightly when she heard Tony pick up his phone and say,
'Anwar have the plane ready for Halifax for a two thirty take off tomorrow afternoon.'