A/N: I am back with my next chapter of "Play Misty for me". This chapter is the crucial set up for the climax coming up soon.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon
It was a gloomy day in Vermillion City as it rained on and off all day. Ash was in his apartment with his friend Brock watching baseball. The two were hoping to try and escape the madness that has surrounded them and Misty recently.
"Man, he totally should have made that catch." said Ash, referring to the last play.
"It kind of looked like fan interference to me." replied Brock.
"Not like they'll ever call it." shrugged Ash.
"It's gone to commercial." noted Brock stretching.
"I'll grab a couple more beers." said Ash, when suddenly a knock came at the door.
"I wonder who that could be." pondered Brock.
"I'll check." said Ash who opened the door.
"Hey Ashy boy." said Gary walking in.
"First of all, you and I are not on good terms and second I didn't invite you in." noted Ash.
"Marina is dead." stated Gary.
"What happened?" asked Ash stunned.
"She was murdered. Actually, we found a tape recorder." answered Gary who played the recording:
"Actually, I heard her name."
"What is it?"
"Misty."
"Damn." said Brock.
"We don't know who the other woman was since her voice was disguised but, we believe she was the person who killed Marina." said Gary.
"There has to be another reason." said Ash.
"Oh come on. All the evidence points to her." replied Gary.
"But, who ever said that killed Marina." noted Ash.
"That is true." said Brock.
"It could have been Misty herself. Right now, we don't have any other leads." explained Gary.
"Get out right now." said Ash angrily.
"Oh come on." said Gary amazed.
"You're making up more bullshit and won't leave Misty be." replied Ash furiously.
"Dammit Ash you need to face the facts!" cried Gary.
"Brock, hold me back." said Ash seething.
"Now calm down guys. We don't need things to escalate." said Brock trying to defuse the situation.
"See you later." said Gary who stormed off.
"What a dick!" cried Ash.
"Man. I can't believe Marina is dead." said Brock.
"When the hell will Gary stop trying to pin everything in Misty?" asked Ash bitterly.
"I know have idea." answered Brock.
"Brock, we can't let Misty be blamed for this." replied Ash.
"There's nothing we can do." sighed Brock.
"Yes there is." said Ash.
"What is that?" asked Brock.
"We'll prove Misty is innocent ourselves." answered Ash.
"You're kidding." laughed Brock.
"No I am not." said Ash serious.
"That's crazy and could get us killed. Count me out." replied Brock.
"I'm a detective. I am used to this and you'll be fine." shrugged Ash.
"Fine. Just because you and Misty my friends." said Brock.
"Thanks man." said Ash warmly.
Ash and Brock began digging into the life of Marina to discover anything. Their research led them to a local gym where Marina used to workout.
"Hello you two, are you here to sign for a membership?" asked a female employee.
"We need to speak to your boss." answered Ash.
"One second." replied the woman who pressed an intercom, "Boss, someone is requesting you."
"Yeah. I'm here." said Lt. Surge walking out.
"Hello Lt. Surge, I am Detective Ash Ketchum and this is Brock Harrison. We need to talk to you about someone that used to workout here." said Ash, amazed by the man's height.
"Let's go to my office." said Surge who lead the two.
"Ash, I'm getting a strange feeling." whispered Brock.
"It's fine." replied Ash.
"Here's my office. I served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army and saw combat during the Iraq insurgency. That's where I got my Silver Star medal here." bragged Surge.
"That's really cool." said Ash.
"Cubans. There illegal back home but, damn they're the best cigars in the world." replied Surge pulling a cigar out of his desk.
"Neither of us smoke." noted Brock.
"What's you wants to talk about?" asked Surge lighting the cigar.
"A member of your gym was assassinated. Her name was Marina." answered Ash.
"Yeah I met hers once. The chick works at the Aquarium." stated Surge.
"Indeed. She was murdered the other day and it seems the murder might be related to the recent string of murders across the city." explained Ash.
"I don't know nothings about that!" snapped Surge.
"I'm not saying you do but-" began Ash.
"Look, I am not going to sit here while you accuse me of being part of a murder!" snapped Surge.
"We aren't." replied Brock.
"Get out!" cried Surge.
"Fine." said Ash leaving with Brock.
"That was odd." said Brock surprised.
"Yeah. Too odd." agreed Ash suspect.
In his office, Lt. Surge was anxiously sitting at his desk huffing his cigar. He reached over and grabbed his phone then made a call.
("Hello.") said Giovanni on the other end of the phone.
"We got a problem boss." replied Surge.
("What is it?") asked Giovanni.
"Some lousy detective named Ash Ketchum was snooping around about that Marina chick who got offed the other day." answered Surge.
("Dammit!") snapped Giovanni.
"I chucked their asses out so they go no information." noted Surge.
("Good.") replied Giovanni.
"I can sends my men on 'em." proposed Surge.
("That may be possible.") pondered Giovanni.
"If somebody figures out Team Rocket is back and offing peoples we could be screwed." stated Surge.
("Yes I know that! I brought you in!") snapped Giovanni.
"All right." said Surge.
("I have carried Team Rocket and am building it back from the dead. I refuse to let a lousy detective to ruin everything.") said Giovanni who added tom himself, "If mother were still alive she'd never let me live it down. Good riddance."
"I agree sirs." replied Surge.
("Luckily, I have a plan for to eliminate that damn Ketchum.") said Giovanni.
"What's that sir?" asked Surge.
("I've got somebody close to Ketchum and she can be used to counter him.") answered Giovanni.
"Perfect sir." said Surge.
("For now remain low and don't give away your loyalty.") ordered Giovanni who then hung up.
Ash and Brock thought about what to do but, could come up with nothing. They decided to take time off to decided what to do. Brock went back to work and was ready to close when suddenly the door opened and somebody walked in.
"Sorry, we're closing." said Brock from behind the bar counter.
"Oh, that's such a shame." said a female voice.
"Look, I wish I could help you but-" began Brock before seeing the woman wearing a low-cut top.
"Oh please. I'd love some alcohol." said the woman flirtatiously.
"I'll make an exception." replied Brock.
"Oh thank you." said the woman winking.
"Um, what do you want?" asked Brock nervous.
"I'll have a Grasshopper." answered the woman.
"Sure thing." said Brock who quickly whipped up the cocktail, "Here you go-"
"My name is Cassidy." stated the woman.
"Here you go, Cassidy." said Brock giving her the drink.
"Thanks." replied Cassidy taking a drink.
"I...haven't seen you around before." noted Brock.
"Yeah. I am from out of town." replied Cassidy.
"I'm glad you stopped by." said Brock.
"Oh, you naughty boy." laughed Cassidy.
"Hey, a guy can try." shrugged Brock.
"You are a frisky one." said Cassidy.
"Roar." replied Brock playful.
"Man, alcohol makes me so relax." sighed Cassidy.
"Oh, that's interesting to know." replied Brock.
"My, you're a cutie." said Cassidy.
"Thank you." said Brock.
"Oh, a piano." said Cassidy walking over to the piano.
"Yeah. We use it for performances." explained Brock following Cassidy.
"I have an idea." said Cassidy flirtatiously.
"What's that?" asked Brock.
"I'll try and play a song and if you guess right then I will strip naked and then I'll do whatever you want." answered Cassidy.
"Sounds great to me!" declared Brock.
"Here we go." replied Cassidy who played a few lines, "So, there it is."
"I know that!" cried Brock, "It's Misty. Our house singer of the same name uses that as her main song."
"You're right." said Cassidy standing up, "I guess I need to fulfill my end of the deal."
"Yeah." drooled Brock before suddenly being hit on the back of the head.
"Ya dumb bastard." laughed a man behind Brock.
"Don't lose focus Biff!" snapped Cassidy clearly serious.
"It's Butch! Butch! Butch!" cried Butch offended.
"Whatever. Just keep whacking this perverted idiot with the lead pipe." huffed Cassidy.
"Yeah." snorted Butch who began to beat Brock with the lead pipe.
"Cassidy...you...lied..." stammered Brock between being hit.
"No shit genius." laughed Cassidy.
"Sir? Are you still here?" asked an employee entering through front door.
"Fuck!" snapped Butch, "Let's get out of here."
"Yeah." said Cassidy as they both fled out a back door.
"Thankfully she gave us a map of this place." laughed Butch.
"Having someone on the inside helped." agreed Cassidy.
"Sir! Stay here! I'll get help!" cried the employee seeing Brock.
The employee called the ambulance and soon they came along with the police. Officer Jenny and Gary both arrived. Shortly there after Ash arrived hearing Brock was hurt from the same employee at the request of his boss.
"Brock, are you okay?" asked Ash rushing in.
"I'm fine." answered Brock sitting up with an ice pack to his head.
"Ash, this is a closed area." noted Gary.
"Brock is our friend. There's no way I wouldn't come here." replied Ash.
"Now, we need to know what happened." said Jenny.
"A woman came in and seduced me then her male companion attacked me from behind. There names were Butch and Cassidy." explained Brock.
"Those are known Team Rocket members!" exclaimed Jenny.
"It seems Team Rocket is rising from the dead." sighed Gary.
"There's one more thing; they escaped through the back saying they got the map from a woman and were glad they had someone on the inside." said Brock.
"Damn!" snapped Gary.
"Brock-" began Ash shocked.
"It's Misty." said Brock.
A/N: Things have really picked up now. Lt. Surge being aligned with Team Rocket is another nod to the Pokemon Adventures manga while the comment Giovanni made about his mother (Madame Boss) refers to their rocky relationship. Next time we have the big reveal chapter when everything comes to light. Please review.