11
They parked the blue Lincoln close enough to The Rose so that they would not have to walk too much in case it rained when they came out. The brunette cut the ignition and got out of the car first. He looked at the vehicle they had managed to borrow for the duration of this assignment, and even Hutch had displayed obvious signs of appreciation while sitting in the passenger's seat. The blonde stepped out of the car, closed the door and looked around him, trying to look important and about to meet some essential associate with a view to signing some huge contract. The brunette looked much more relaxed and was actually swinging his body a bit, like he was rehearsing some dance movement.
"Starsk, cut it out!"
"Hey... relax, Bronco... just stretching a little... before entering the lion's den."
They had requested a last-minute briefing with their captain, informing him of the way they intended to nail Fuentes and his gang, of the names they were gonna use and of the money they were gonna need. Dobey had assured his men that he would intervene so that, for once, whatever the amount involved, they would get it, because this Fuentes seemed like a big guy who would do more damage than any other drug lord who ever came to town if he decided to expand his territory. The Lincoln had been assigned to the detectives - with the specific recommendation that it be returned in the same state they had taken custody of it. Starsky had grinned when he heard the last piece of advice.
They had also called Huggy to let him know under which names they would introduce themselves to Fuentes. The Rose boss would necessarily have his men ask around for some info about these two new guys who came into town and wanted to do business with him.
They thought all details had been prepared, discussed, planned. Hutch stretched his back one last time and headed for the night club, followed by his partner.
It was 9 p.m. when they entered Fuentes establishment, they were first struck by the rather elegant design of the place. There were just enough tables and chairs to welcome a sufficient audience and not feel squeezed. The piano on stage had been granted a large area and was surrounded by long purple curtains that were undulating on the floor all around the back of the stage. Eight of the fifteen tables were occupied, less than two dozens of customers were enjoying a quiet evening, sipping their cocktails or red wine, waiting for the main attraction of the evening to begin.
Starsky immediately spotted one of the body guards heading to them. He discreetly nodded at Hutch who nodded back. The silent conversation between the detectives had been so covert that only the ones who knew them very well would have noticed.
"Good evening, gentlemen." said the tall man who was currently standing in their way and blocking the view to the interior of the club.
"Evening." Starsky started in a distinguished tone. "We've been recommended this... club and we'd love to enjoy a few refreshments, possibly at the best table." he added, slowly sliding a folded green bill from his interior pocket.
"Are you acquaintances of the proprietor?" the guard went on, ignoring the bill.
Hutch intervened. "Not yet. But I'm sure he'd love to see and talk with us. We would appreciate if you'd let him know that we would like to be introduced to Mr Fuentes."
The tall man did not blink nor move, hearing the men knew his boss's name.
"And your names are…?"
Starsky spoke before his partner could answer.
"Bob Collins and Mike Burnett," he said while absent-mindedly looking around at the customers and stage and avoiding the man's look in front of him, which gave him some sort of superior attitude.
"Collins and Burnett." The man repeated.
"Yes. You got it right. Now could you please go to your boss and tell him we'd like to share a good bottle of his best wine, as I'm sure he must hold treasures. And tell him he's our guest... Possibly tonight." Starsky added, as the man was not showing any intention to move an inch. "He'll be sorry if you don't let us in and he finds out later on that he missed one very interesting... opportunity, only because you've been too... selective on the customers. Now, turn around, head for Mr Fuentes and announce us... please."
Starsky's voice was now almost sugary, but he thought the guy in front of him would buy it and not try to attract his boss's fury only because he acted too zealously.
The body guard stepped aside and waved to Collins and Burnett to follow him. He chose a table far enough from the door and somewhat isolated. Starsky and Hutch sat in front of each other, so that the two of them could share a global view of the whole place.
"Well... so far, so good." whispered the brunette.
"Yes. Nice place indeed."
"So relax. We're in." Starsky replied, trying to sound reassuring.
A waitress, all dressed in an elegant yet simple black dress came to take their order and went back to the main counter. There was some kind of jazzy melody floating in the air. Starsky was gently tapping with the tips of his fingers on the table while Hutch was sitting still and looking around inconspicuously. The girl came back with a bottle of Saint-Emilion, filled their glasses and looked at the brunette detective for a moment. Starsky did not react and took a sip from his glass. She went away trying to contain her disappointment and attended another table.
"Starsk..." suddenly mumbled Hutch in an almost inaudible voice.
Starsky understood and very slowly paid more attention to the guy who was heading to their table. He carefully studied the man dressed in a dark grey suit and a black tie. Starsky noted the guy was way shorter than he was but, considering his stature, he also thought he surely would be tough to fight with, as his outfit let show a strong musculature and he was moving with a determined souplesse.
When he reached the table where the detectives were sitting, he stood there for a few seconds and stared at both of them, as if assessing the newcomers.
"Matt has just informed me that you are new in the neighborhood," he spoke quite low, "and that you wish to meet the proprietor. May I ask you what brings you here and what is the purpose of your visit?"
"Good evening. Are you the one in charge?" Hutch asked very calmly, identifying the short man as Ricardo Mendoza. He decided to play it safe.
"I'm Ricardo Mendoza. What can I do for you?"
"Actually we'd like Mr Fuentes to join us, only for a moment. We know he is a very busy man. It won't take long." Hutch answered, trying to taint his voice with a confident nuance which would make it clear to Ricardo they knew exactly where they were and why.
"Mr Fuentes is a very busy man, indeed. Perhaps I could fill him in with the purpose of your visit and he will contact you... that is... if he thinks he is interested."
Ricardo's voice now sounded a bit sarcastic. But Hutch did not underline the detail and went on.
"We are about to propose Mr Fuentes... let's say... some new line of business he could be interested in and he is the man we wish to talk to, face to face. He has been recommended by a friend of ours from Miami." Hutch thought that this last detail would collar the small man in front of them. "But if you think he'd rather lose that opportunity, don't worry. We'll tell our friend that you made it clear he was not ready for this."
Saying so, in an extremely slow motion, Hutch stood up, signaling his partner he wanted to put an end to the conversation.
"Let's not be hasty here." Ricardo immediately reacted. "I did not say Mr Fuentes would not be interested. I just wanted to know more about what you wanna talk to him about. Please, gentlemen, I'll notify Mr Fuentes you are here to see him."
Though he could not admit it openly, Rico felt that it was not in his best interest - not yet anyway - to take the risk of a failed transaction offered to his uncle. He decided that, for the moment, he would act as the dedicated nephew his uncle thought he was.
"Mr Fuentes is on the phone right now. I will let him know that you wish to talk to him, Mr Burnett," he calmly said, looking Hutch in the eye.
"I'm Collins. He is Burnett" Hutch replied, waving at his associate at the end of his sentence.
"Right. Mr Collins, Mr Burnett. Mr Fuentes won't be long."
And, without another word, Ricardo Mendoza turned back and headed to the counter. He opened a door marked private and quickly shut it behind him.
Hutch looked at his partner, waiting for a first reaction, but the brunette refrained from speaking about this first contact, as he saw that another big guy was standing not too far from them and could have heard.
"So, partner, I sure hope that Mr Fuentes will agree to talk to us and accept our proposal," he said loud enough so that the guy he identified as most probably being Sebastian could hear.
Hutch bought it and went on with their pretend conversation.
"Yeah. Listen, Mike, what if he is not interested?" he asked, giving his voice about the same volume to be heard by the guy standing close to the door behind which Rico had disappeared.
"We'll have to bring our little suitcase elsewhere. But I'll tell you frankly, I'd be surprised that Fuentes would refuse such a bargain."
They went on, talking in a casual tone, as if no one was listening, yet choosing their words very carefully, so that Seb could report to his boss later in case Rico did not pass the message to his uncle.
They were drinking their second glass of wine when a tall guy emerged from the "private" door and calmly walked toward their table.
S*H ~ S*H ~ S*H ~ S*H ~ S*H ~ S*H ~ S*H ~