Chapter. 7

'How long do you think this case is going to last?' Cate asked Julie teasing her as she watched Julie pack a third suitcase.

'Hey, I'm just making sure I've got what I need when I need it.' Julie answered back from the depths of her wardrobe.

'We could come back here for whatever you might need.' Cate said.

'Or you could just take those cases out to the car whilst I finish up here.' Julie came back with shooting Cate a look that was again very un-angelic. Laughing Cate picked up the first of two suitcases and headed out of Julie's apartment to her car, Cate couldn't have been more pleased that Julie lived on the ground floor. With the first case in Cate went back for the second meeting Julie halfway down her walkway struggling with the last two suitcases.

'Here let me take one of those.' Cate said taking a suitcase from Julie.

'You could have taken the other one.' Julie said using both hands to carry the case Cate left her with.

'Why?'

'It's heavier.'

'You packed it, you carry it.' Cate smiled back as they reached her car loading the cases in.

'Damien!' Jill called out as she entered back in to the condominium after being out for the majority of the day. Damien didn't answer, Jill checked in both his office and their rooms; he was obviously out, as he had said, on business. Taking the bags of shopping through to the kitchen Jill began to unload and put away the groceries. Once done she sat at the kitchen counter with a fresh apple, a knife and the paper. Turning to the back of the paper she looked for any new messages. Cutting the apple into slices she read the message.

'Message for ID 1013 from ID 117, the cat is out of the bag. The Fox is fine, back for more with the Alley Cat to enter the lion's den. Onward we must.' Jill read the passage over and over before turning to the front of the paper and beginning to read holding herself together as best she could.

'Well, where to do you think we should go tonight to get contact from Roth?' Julie asked as she and Cate finished putting away the last of her things in her 'new room' at Cate's.

'Back to D24 I suppose. It was a private scuffle between me and Roth's men and as he doesn't own the club I doubt we'll be stopped going in again.' Cate explained as she and Julie put the last of her suitcases up on top of the wardrobe they had just filled with Julie's clothes.

'Back to D24 it is then, maybe this time we could just stay at the bar?' Julie said teasing Cate. 'Try not to get into any fights this time round.'

'Fine with me.' Cate said 'But would you mind clearing that with Roth and his men, they might have a problem with it.' Cate smiled.

'So what shall we do until then?' Julie asked stood with her hands on her hips.

'What time is it?'

'A little after one.'

'I thought I was hungry, let's go get some lunch.'

'You have nothing here?'

'Probably but let's get out of here, it's a pretty nice day so why not eat out?' Cate asked.

'I've got no problem with that, you're buying.'

'I'm buying, why am I buying?'

'Let's call it a welcome to the neighbourhood lunch.' Julie smiled.

'Whatever,' Cate said rolling her eyes. 'let's just go eat.'

The two Angels sat in a small restaurant laughing and joking as they ordered the food.

'Mind if ask you something?' Julie asked Cate taking a drink from her water glass.

'Sure.' Cate simply replied.

'When did you last talk to Kelly?' Cate was a little taken aback by the question.

'I um, I'm not sure.' Cate stumbled across her words. 'I can't even remember the last conversation we had and believe me I've tried to remember but it's all kind of a blur. I can remember our last argument.' Cate smiled raising her eyebrows as she did remembering it.

'What did you argue about?' Julie asked leaning in slightly closer to Cate for the answer.

'What didn't we argue about? We would argue over the amounts of times I could be in contact whilst I was away, we'd argue over whether or not we believed either one of us was being safe in what we doing in whatever case. We argued over the shade of colour the kitchen walls should be in my place when we were decorating.'

'Who won that argument?' Julie asked being able to hear Kelly's voice and the sort of things she would be saying to her sister.

'Kelly did of course, she was usually always right about things, I just didn't always like to admit it.' Cate laughed which Julie joined in on as their food arrived. Halfway through their meal a waiter came to their table interrupting them.

'Excuse me ladies, Miss Rogers, there is a call for you, you can take it over at the front desk.' The young waiter explained smiling to them both.

'A call for me, better go see who that is then, excuse me.' Julie said as she got up to follow the waiter out to the phone leaving Cate at the table alone.

'You are quite a hard woman to find.' Damien Roth's voice said as he took Julie's seat bringing Cate straight to high alert.

'Am I now?' Cate asked arching an eyebrow as she did.

'Yes. Now let's not cause a scene I have come to make you possibly a very lucrative offer?'

'I'm not that kind of a lady.' Cate quipped.

'And I'm not that kind of a man to make that kind of an offer. You met a couple of my friends last night.' Roth began to explain.

'I did?' Cate asked coyly.

'Yes you did and left them in a bit of a state in front of my lady friend.'

'I see.' Cate answered not giving away anything more.

'Look we could go on like this for the rest of the day but I'm a very busy man with lots to do.'

'Then you had best make your offer Mr?' Cate asked.

'Roth, Damien Roth and I would like you to fight for me.'

'Excuse me?' Cate replied faking confusion.

'I'm told you were very impressive and those two are quite formidable. You managed to take them down without breaking a sweat.'

'I don't know if I would have quite put it like that.' Cate said sitting forward circling her drinking glass on the table. 'After all your lady friend did shoot me.'

'Ahh yes well, you will have to forgive her she was as you can imagine shocked and scared by the violence. She was merely protecting herself.' Roth explained a half-truth.

'I suppose. Tell me more about this fighting. You need more protection Mr Roth?' Cate asked.

'No I don't need the extra protection but I do need someone of your talents for some private matches some friends and colleagues of mine are holding. I would pay you well and more if you win.'

'I see and what makes you think I would be interested in this kind of thing at all?'

'From what my lady friend and men tell me you have quite the fire in you and from what I have found out about you quite the chequered past as well.' Charlie had been playing his part behind the scenes Cate thought to herself when Roth explained this.

'You've been looking into my past, how do you even know where and how to do that?'

'You are quite well known in parts of the underworld ring Ms. Fox, you're known to be unpredictable in a fight and yet to be beaten.' Roth explained.

'I've been beaten Mr. Roth just never defeated.' Cate clarified playing her role.

'Quite.' Roth said taking a card from his inside pocket of his sports jacket. 'Meet me here at 7pm tonight.'

'I'll have my friend with me; she's like my manager of sorts.' Roth looked at Cate and grinned.

'That's fine, bring her along.'

'Are you intending for me to fight tonight Mr. Roth?' Cate asked as she looked over the card.

'Perhaps, we shall see. I will see you and your friend at 7pm, until then Ms. Fox.' Roth got up from Julie's seat smiled and left as Julie came back to the table.

'That would explain no-one being on the phone.' Julie said as she sat down watching Roth exit the restaurant.

'We just got the golden ticket.' Cate said handing Julie the card.

'D24, 7pm. Just as well we were already planning to be there.'

'True, we could have saved him a trip today.' Cate joked as Julie handed her back the card.

'He picked up Charlie's bread crumbs then?' Julie asked finishing her lunch.

'That he did and tonight we start the real game.'

'We'd better call in with the others.' Julie said as she called for the waiter to bring the cheque.

'Yeah, let's try and do that quietly, don't want to tip our hands at all.' Julie nodded in agreement as the waiter arrived with the cheque which Julie viewed and passed to Cate with a smile.

'Thanks for lunch roomy.' Julie laughed.

'Right.' Cate replied smirking, she couldn't help but find it all amusing. She like Julie a lot, seeing exactly in her what Kelly had told her about, a young woman with a lot to offer those in need and a wicked sense of humour, someone Cate good get along with very well and she did, Kris had better watch out when this case was over.

Leaving the restaurant the two Angels headed back towards Cate's home calling the agency on the way, only two rings to the line so that the other Angels and Bosley would know to meet them there using the back entrance so to be unseen by unwanted eyes. Entering into the house Julie and Cate found the rest of the team already seated in the lounge.

'Hi there.' Tiffany said as she sat down with a cup of coffee.

'Hi, everything's been checked then?' Julie asked as she put her purse down and took off her jacket.

'All checked and all clear.' Bosley said.

'Good, free to talk then.' Cate happily replied as she flopped down into one of the arm chairs.

'What happened whilst you were both out?' Kris asked.

'Roth approached me whilst Julie was taking a supposed phone call.' Cate began to explain.

'Bogus call?' Tiffany asked looking to Julie who was sat next to Kris on the sofa.

'Just to keep me out of the way to get a quiet word with Cate.'

'You got the invite?' Kris asked eager and not eager to know.

'I did, here,' Cate explained showing Kris the card Roth had given her. 'D24 at 7pm.'

'So we're going in then, or rather you are.' Tiffany said from the armchair opposite Cate.

'That we are my friend, straight into the lion's den.' Cate said trying to make light of the situation.

'You don't have to act so happy about it.' Bosley commented.

'Oh Bos, don't worry we'll be fine.' Julie reassured squeezing Bosley's arm affectionately.

'Is Roth expecting you to fight tonight?' Kris asked getting back on track.

'Possibly, I won't know until we get there.' Cate replied shrugging her shoulders.

'What about your arm? Are you up to this tonight?' Kris continued questioning.

'I'll be fine Kris, my arm is fine it's just a graze is all, nothing that will stop me from doing what needs to be done.'

'Marcus said it was a chunk out of your arm.' Kris flatly said.

'Marcus said, when did you talk to Marcus?' Cate asked confused, she knew that Charlie would be calling Marcus but Kris too?

'He called the office a little while after you two left this morning, he was checking up on you.' Kris explained looking straight at Cate.

'Is he on side to help out?' Julie asked sensing the tension growing between Cate and Kris again.

'Yeah, he's ready to help, he doesn't like it but he'll be there.' Bosley answered as Kris and Cate had locked eyes with one another.

'Out with it Kris, what's on your mind?' Cate finally asked.

'What's on my mind? What do you think is on my mind Cate?'

'Well I'd say it was something to do with this case but that seems a little obvious so what's wrong?'

'I don't think you should be putting yourself at risk like this.'

'Well it's a bit late for that now, it's happening and it starts tonight.' Cate firmly stated.

'Why you, why is it always you?' Kris demanded.

'We've been through this already, it couldn't be anyone else.'

'We could have brought someone in.'

'Who Kris, who could we have brought in this quickly to do this? Who do we know and trust to do it?' Cate threw back to Kris who looked down at her hands not having an answer.

'I just… never mind.' Kris finished as she got up and left the room heading to the back of the house. The lounge stayed silent as Kris walked out, Cate let out a long exasperated sigh.

'She's scared Cate.' Tiffany said defending her friend.

'She has no need to be Tiff.' Cate replied.

'You're that sure of yourself?' Tiffany came back with.

'No, but I'm sure of this team and what we can all do together.' Cate smiled as she got up and headed towards the back of the house after Kris. Cate found her in the back spare room, which eventually would become an office for Cate when she could finally stop to breathe for a moment and arrange it as so. Kris stood looking out of the window that faced the back yard.

'It's just what Kris?' Cate asked softly closing the door after her as she entered the room. Kris didn't turn to face Cate as she answered.

'I don't want to lose you too.' Cate looked away from Kris to the corner of the ceiling, how can she answer this?

'Kris I really don't know what will happen in the next few days but I promise you this.'

'No, no promises Cate, I don't want promises anymore.' Kris said raising her hands to make her point.

'I promise you, you will never lose me, I will always be with you, always.'

'You can't promise that to me, we don't know what will happen.' Kris started to say as Cate came up to her putting her hands on Kris's shoulders turning Kris to face her.

'I promise, on this you can trust me.' Kris fell into Cate wrapping her arms tightly around her friend not wanting to let go ever, for this entire mess to be over and to never have happened, for Jill and Kelly to both be home safe and sound and with them all. For things to be the way they used to be.

'I can't lose anymore Cate, I won't survive it.' Cate tightly held onto Kris as she spoke.

'Everything's going to be ok short stack, you just have to trust me.' Kris couldn't help but smile a little at the nick-name Cate used for her, only Cate got away with calling Kris that, not even Jill called Kris 'short stack'.

'Don't call me that.' Kris said smiling slightly as Cate chuckled.

'It's awfully quiet back there, think we should check on them?' Tiffany asked to the remaining team members in the lounge.

'No leave them be, they'll sort out their troubles. They always do.' Bosley instructed.

'Julie are you going to be ok with Cate at the club tonight?' Tiffany asked concerned for her new friend who hadn't been long out of the hospital herself.

'I'll be fine Tiff. I'll be keeping an eye on Cate whilst watching the room, see who's keeping tabs on our girl.'

'Once we have the information on Roth that we want what then?' Tiffany asked.

'What do you mean Tiff?' Bosley asked back.

'I mean we have Roth already approaching Cate about fighting illegally when do we decide we have what we need to take him back to jail?'

'When we know for certain that he's trying to expand the fighting ring and we have concrete evidence that he murdered Kelly and almost Julie.' Cate said as she entered back into the room with Kris.

'And who he's working with, I don't believe Roth has managed to do this all alone in the short space of time he's been out.' Kris added.

'Neither do I, so once we have that all sorted we can take it all to the police.' Cate smiled. 'It all sounds so easy doesn't it?' Cate shook her head as she headed into the kitchen Kris following after her.

A few hours later Cate and Julie walked into D24 where Roth's men took them back to where Roth was waiting for them.

'Ladies. Good evening.' He said indicating to seats for them to sit in.

'So this is what's back here.' Julie said viewing the large private back room. 'Much quieter than the main bar.'

'Yes thankfully.' Roth said smiling. 'Now to business.'

Across town Tiffany and Kris continued to work the files on Roth and the time he spent in jail trying to find the missing link.

'What is it we're missing?' Kris asked Tiffany becoming more and more irritated by the minute not finding anything to help them.

'I wish I knew.' Tiffany replied closing another file and tossing it on top of the pile of files she had read through. 'I'm trying to see if there is any other connection through Duncan Bennett.'

'Anything?' Kris asked opening another file whilst looking at Tiffany.

'Not yet but I'm still holding out hope that there will be. I wonder how Cate and Julie are getting on?'

'I just hope there playing it safe, especially Cate.'

'What do you mean Kris?'

'Cate has a bit of a temper.'

'That might not be a bad thing considering.'

'You'd think but it would make her careless it's like her Achilles' heel if you like. If she loses control of her temper she loses sight of what's going on around her.' Kris warned with concern. 'I just hope she doesn't get pushed too far.'

'She'll be fine, they both will. Cate will have Julie there she'll keep her in check.'

'I hope so, I really…' Kris drifted off her sentence as she glanced over the file in her lap.

'Kris?' Tiffany looked at Kris tilting her head to the side as she did wondering what had taken Kris's attention. Kris held her hand up to Tiffany to signify she needed a moment jut to read through what she had found.

'I think I might have found our link.' Kris said with a troubled look on her face, Tiffany got up from her seat opposite Kris and sat on the arm of the sofa looking over the file Kris was holding.

'I think you have as well.' Tiffany said unhappily as she finished reading the files top sheet.

'We'd better call Charlie.' Kris quietly said as she reached for the phone they had put on the coffee table in front of them.

'You want me to enter into that ring and fight him?' Cate asked watching the short wide man in the ring bounce up and down in the air jabbing his fists into the air as he went along.

'I do.' Roth said simply walking around the ring watching the man. The ring wasn't the sort you would see in a boxing club or on TV, there was no spring mat to it or padding of any kind just a rope running round, that was the only similarity between this ring and a boxing ring. Cate looked at the man as he continued his routine then looked to Julie whose eyes hadn't left the man as he bounced around. 'I need to see with my own eyes Ms. Fox what it is you can do and Ben here has agreed to participate.'

'I see.' Cate breathed in deeply then removed her brown leather jacket handing it to Julie who took it giving Cate a steady look which, reading between the lines, Cate knew meant be careful. Winking at Julie Cate ducked under the rope into the ring with Ben who grinned at her as he continued to bounce and move around her.

'All right the two of you whenever you are ready begin.' Roth casually ordered. Circling each other neither Cate nor Ben was willing to make the first move. Cate watched Ben as he moved watching to see where his weak spots were, if he favoured any part of himself keeping it as far from reach of Cate as he possibly could. Then Cate saw it, Ben was getting bored of waiting for her to move as his weight shifted to his back foot he was about to make his first lunge and he did. Swiftly Ben came toward Cate throwing the first punch which Cate blocked pushing it away whilst the rest of Ben's body followed after him Cate pushed his back using his weight and motion against him. Ben stumbled forward towards the ropes. Quickly spinning around he brought his leg up and round with him trying to kick Cate in her stomach to which Cate again saw coming and dodged away from. Roth looked on from the side lines a sleek smile of amusement creeping across his lips, Julie saw this making her feel like she wanted to slap the look off of his face, 'maybe later' she told herself. Her attention went straight back to the ring when she heard a connecting hit. Looking at the fighters she watched Ben stumble back shaking his head as Cate brought her foot back down to the ground, she had obviously managed to kick Ben in the side of the head making him angry as he rushed Cate grabbing her around the waist and lifting her off of the floor.

'Hey!' Julie called out to Roth motioning towards Ben as he began to tighten his hold on Cate's waist.

'There are no rules here Ms. Rogers, well only one really, no weapons, other than that.' Roth smiled waving his hand in the air. Julie looked back to Cate hoping she could break the hold. Cate had her hands on Ben's shoulders trying to push her way out of the vice like hold he had of her after that didn't work and Ben continued to try and crush Cate anyway he possibly could Cate lifted her hands above her head and brought them down swiftly and forcefully to the side of Ben's head boxing his ears hard. The shock and pain caused Ben to cry out releasing Cate who fell to a crouching stance, moving quickly whilst Ben was occupied with the ringing in his ears, Cate swept his feet out from under him. Ben went sailing up into the air crashing back down to the hard floor with a thud, banging his head as he went down. Groaning he didn't move very quickly to get up again to retaliate. Cate got herself up and hovered over him waiting.

'I think you've shown me enough Ms. Fox.' Roth called out ending the fight. 'Ben get yourself together and get out of here.' He ordered Ben who crawled along the floor out of the ring. Cate stood with her hands on her hips watching Ben leave the room as she caught her breath.

'You ok?' Julie asked quietly as she stepped into the ring.

'Fine.' Cate said keeping her eyes on Roth now. Julie took Cate's arm making her pay attention to her. 'Really Julie I'm ok, nothing broken, nothing damaged.'

'You did very well.' Roth began as he walked round to the side of Cate and Julie.

'So what's next?' Cate asked leaning on the rope.

'I've entered you into the real fight tonight, 10.30.'

'You've entered me into the fights all ready, you're very sure of yourself to enter me so early aren't you?'

'I had it on good authority that you are a good fighter Ms. Fox.'

'Then why all of this?' Julie asked.

'I had to see it with my own eyes before I invested in you. Now through those doors there are the changing rooms and showers, I've made sure that there are more suitable clothes for you to wear. I suggest you get a little cleaned up and relax in the bar until later tonight.' Roth turned about to leave when Julie spoke up.

'What about money Mr. Roth? If you're going to put Cate into the ring I wanna see the green.'

'Straight to the point Ms. Rogers.'

'In this game it would seem you have to be Mr. Roth.' Julie shot back with a steely stare.

'Right you are. Have no fear I'll pay you well and should you win I'll pay you more, you'll be well taken care of.'

'Speaking of which I have a medic I want to be here for each and every fight.' Cate said standing straight and looking down on Roth her fists planted firmly on her hips.

'Very well have him here for tonight if you intend to have him with you for each engagement.' Roth promptly turned on his heel and swiftly walked out of the room.

'Well that was easy.' Cate joked as she stepped out of the ring Julie not far behind her.

'Didn't look it from where I was stood. Are you sure you're ok?' Julie asked again now they were alone.

'I really am fine Julie, that Ben had a tight grip don't get me wrong but I'm fine. He may have had some muscle but he had no sense of weight distribution.' Cate explained stretching her back.

'He certainly hit the ground hard.'

'Yeah he'll probably feel that tomorrow.' Cate remarked as she began walking towards the doors Roth had indicated to, Julie following after her shaking her head smiling.

'What do you think Charlie?' Tiffany asked speaking towards the speaker box.

'A very real and frightening possibility Angel, this could mean that Roth is actually just a small fish.'

'In a tank of sharks.' Kris filled in for him.

'Right you are Kris. I'll do some checking through my contacts Angels see what and who I can track down but if we're right and I fear we are then you may all be in danger Angels. I'll be in touch.' Charlie disconnected the call before Tiffany or Kris could respond.

'We need to tell Cate and Julie.' Tiffany spoke first.

'I know but we can't do that now, we just can't be seen around or near them at the moment, not whilst they are in the club. If only we could get through to..' Kris stopped herself from carrying on.

'Jill?' Tiffany offered placing a comforting hand on Kris's shoulder.

'It would make some things so much easier if we could but no, they had to play the cloak and dagger routine and now we're screwed with no way to get through to..' Kris stopped herself again this a thought crossing her mind.

'What is it Kris?' Tiffany asked seeing the smile starting to creep across her face as Kris reached for the phone that still sat in front of them on the coffee table.

'Marcus. He'll be there tonight, if everything went to plan, we can run messages through him to Cate and Julie.'

'Of course!' Tiffany said raising her hands in happy realisation. Kris punched in his phone number and listened for him to pick up hitting the speaker button as soon as he did.

'Marcus? Hi it's Kris Munroe with Tiffany Welles'

'Kris, hi! What's happened is everything ok? Is Cate ok?' Marcus quickly rushed out.

'As far as we know Marcus everything's fine, I guess Cate hasn't called you yet?'

'Not yet no, I thought you were her to be honest Kris.'

'Listen Marcus, Tiff and I need you to run some messages between us, Cate and Julie.'

'Well sure of course but can't you just call her yourself?'

'Not this time Marcus.' Tiffany began. 'We can't be seen with either of them, it will blow their cover, as far as we're aware Roth doesn't know who Cate or Julie are or their connection to Townsend Investigations.'

'I see, well in that case what do you need me to tell them?' Marcus asked the sound of concern flowing through his voice.

'We think we've found the connection we've been looking for and if we're right then Roth isn't as big a problem as we thought.' Kris explained.

'But that doesn't mean he's not dangerous, he may be a small part of this but he could still hurt us.' Tiffany pointed out. This caused Kris's stomach to twist with worry, Jill was still with him in the thick of things and she was lucky to hold her own when they last fought.

Jill sat at her dressing table in her bedroom at the condominium brushing her hair through finishing getting ready to be at D24 later that night. She looked at herself in the mirror thought of Kris and back to the last confrontation they had over Roth. It really had been the hardest thing she had ever done deceiving everyone to get close to this man and here she is doing it again and now her family knows she still can't be with them. She couldn't be there to explain to everyone to Kris. Kris.

'What have we done?' Jill whispered to herself as she placed her brush down onto the dressing table. A light knock at her bedroom door disrupted Jill's thoughts. 'Yes?' Jill called the door open and a tall well built man walked in.

'Miss Munroe, we need to be leaving soon.'

'I know Frankie; I'm just about ready. I'll meet you down stairs in ten minutes.' Jill said giving him as sweet a smile as she could muster.

'Very well Miss Munroe.' Frankie smiled turned and exited back out of the room. Jill turned back to the mirror and her reflection.

'All right Munroe, time to put your game face on.' Jill scolded herself.