Irish Kevin's was just the kind of place Kiba was looking forward to relaxing at. Close to the beach, lagers on tap, and a rock band that kept the party going all night. He rarely got out to Key West and sadly work brought him here more often than play. Moreover, recreation would have to wait until after occupational responsibilities.
"What's got you so quiet Shino?" Kiba, turned down the radio as they began navigating the streets towards the rendezvous point.
"It's been a long day Kiba, lots of things to think about."
"You mean the case?" Tapping the car door with his fingers, Shino shook his head.
"No, I mean about this morning. How Hinata was going to drag us out shopping with her."
"What about it? It's not like it's the first time Hinata has taken charge of planning a day with the three of us. She was kind of quiet in High School, but ever since she got back from college and got that job with the DA's office, she's been the strong and assertive young woman we always knew she was."
"Yeah, but what does that say about us? Can we really use the excuse that we're too busy with work to have the kind of lives we do?"
"You might be right about that." Kiba nodded. His sister had shown up at his apartment with groceries bought for him one too many times.
"Just something I've been thinking about… speaking of which, whatever happened to that one girl you were seeing?"
"Which one?" Kiba winced a little at the thought of ex-girlfriends, though none had gotten serious it was never a pleasant conversation.
"The librarian, the one with the glasses."
"Ah Shiho. Yeah… nice girl, didn't really click between us. To be honest, while I was dating her I couldn't help but think she was more your type."
"Clearly you don't know what 'my type' is." Shino smiled slyly.
"Here we are." The Heron House was one of the older hotels in Key West, dating back to pre-civil war times. Truth be told Kiba was feeling a little irritated by the nature of the small chat he had just shared with his partner; but problems don't solve themselves in silence either.
Inside was a private room reserved for their meeting. Once again Captain Mifune was on the phone, trying to keep from arousing any attention his presence would bring. Agent Lee was in a floral pattern shirt, white pants, and a straw hat – the clear look of a federal agent trying not to look like one. Agent Tenten was in a casual blue sundress, enjoying a cocktail while reviewing a file. Sitting in the corner was Agent Hyuuga, whose red shirt drew attention, but his presence had a way of making people divert their eyes from him.
"Okay, now that we're all here, what's the plan?" Agent Lee excitedly picked up the receiver before realizing that would cancel out the speaker phone function. "Oh, sorry."
"I called you all out here because we need to have multiple nets in place if we plan on catching this particular fish." Captain Mifune groaned a little, clearly not wanting to make the obvious fish reference. "We know Zabuza left 2 days ago. We assume he's going to pick up a delivery from the size of the boat he took out. The problem is that every other time we've attempted an arrest it's been a failure for one reason or another. We need to keep track of him from the moment he gets into port, to whatever moment we can get him with the guns or whatever else he might be smuggling."
"What resources does he have that we know of?" Agent Hyuuga cracked his knuckles.
"We've been able to identify a couple of docks that he uses for his boats, and he has a lot of them. The one in particular we need to watch out for is his custom cigarette boat, The Headsman. Fastest thing I've ever seen on water. And from what we can guess, he's got at least two other boats like it in the area."
"Our assets?" Shino took care to examine the agents as he asked the question. His thoughtful face didn't seem to be that different from his normal one, but the small changes were things Kiba had come to notice in his partner.
"Three coast guard interceptors, but depending on the day Zabuza gets back we can call in another six or so. A helicopter, faster than the boat, but it has a limited range. Finally, we have a couple of good squad cars. That's the best I can do for you out there. Key West is not the primary focus of my duties." Captain Mifune was just being honest.
"No, you're being more than helpful." Agent Tenten reassured him.
"Agent Lee." Hyuuga spoke up. "I remember reading that you've got some helicopter experience, how'd you like to be our eyes in the skies?"
"Perfect." Was Lee's enthusiastic response.
"Agent Tenten, you've been in the most high speed chases. I think you'd be best for the squad car accompaniment."
"Sounds fine. That leaves you with the boat. What about the detectives?"
"Officers, I'd like you to take this in the best way possible. I want you two to be invisible until we are in good position to make our move. Don't engage; don't interfere, until we're sure to get something. Best case scenario, the two of you won't have to do anything."
Kiba could feel his forehead twitch a little, but Shino gave him a pat on the shoulder. "All right agents, we'll play it by your rules. But we all know that this isn't going to go as cleanly as you'd like to think it will."
"Probably not, so stay sharp and stay on the radio." Pulling out a map, Neji lay it on the table and began to plot out flight routes with Lee as Tenten took out her keys and went outside with Kiba and Shino.
"We might not seem it at first, but this isn't the first time the three of us have worked together. Truth be told we've sort of gotten used to it, it's always such a pain for the departments to work together, they figured it's just for the best that we act as semi-permanent liaisons. Those two, they're hard to get along with at first, but they grow on you."
"So, uh… Tenten." Shino seemed a little flustered, "Not staying inside to learn the transport routes?"
She feigned a look of shock before breaking into a full southern belle accent, "Oh woe is little old me. I do declare I'm just a lost little lamb without those two." She continued after they all shared a little chuckle. "I'm going out to learn the roads a little better for myself. That's something you learn from driving, not from looking at maps. Catch you later boys." With a cloud of smoke, she was gone.
"Are we sure these are the same, uptight agents from this morning?" Kiba wondered aloud before starting the engine.
"Who can stay uptight in paradise?" Shino quipped as he put on his sunglasses. The radio came on and started playing "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" by Wang Chung.
"Hey Shino, can you tell me what a-" A cold glare from Shino cut Kiba off before he could finish quoting the song. "Sometimes you're no fun man."
The night club was hopping, good scene. Key West was an all right town, a favorite escape for the homosexual community.
Though it wasn't in their jurisdiction, work had taken them down here a few times. Work in the Vice Department often took them to various recreational destinations more often than residential. They'd been in more hotel rooms than he ever wanted to admit, truth be told he had a great deal of sympathy for people who had to clean up after some of the things he had seen in his time.
"Shino, the things we have to deal with… does it get to you at all sometimes?" Though he had known Shino for years, he'd never been the most open person about his feelings. He'd learned back in middle school that if he wanted to know anything he had to ask, and due to Shino's odd communication habits, he had to be very specific with his questions.
"I don't talk much about my experience about the time I applied to the Bureau, but one thing I learned was the ability to reduce things to their base components, remove personal feelings and emotions from the equation." Kiba's eyes widened at the unsolicited answer, Shino rarely talked about the time he had quit College to join the FBI. "It doesn't always work, but that's what works for me."
"I can see that. I think it helps add to your 'quiet cool' personality type. I remember on more than one occasion a dealer has mentioned they were intimidated more by you than my 'tough guy' persona."
"Makes for a good team… so what about you Kiba?" Throwing the question back was to be expected, but Kiba found it hard to find the words.
"I… well you know my mother. Being a cop was always in my blood; being a cop that specializes with working with dogs leads to one of three specialties: tracking, bombs, or drugs. Remember when I worked that summer as a grounds guard at that prison up at Lake Correctional? Tracking was good work, but not fulfilling. What we're doing now, sure it's hard, but it's easy to see the difference we're making."
"Yeah it helps the community, but…" Shino sighed and leaned his head back to look at the sunset, "Well, it does take a lot out of you."
Arriving at the club, Kiba parked the car and stopped it. "Well then, let's try to get a little back. Come on brother, first round is on me."
A small smile spread on Shino's face. "All right."
Inside a live band was playing rock and roll and trying a lot to sound like Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band under a glow of bright neon lights. Tomorrow's problems would have to wait their turn, because tonight had no intention of going out with a whimper.