I did it! I was able to finish this by the end of the day! I hope you like this chapter! It has lots of Steve and Danny.
And, just so you know… we are maybe two or three chapters away from the point of no return so, sit tight, because what's coming soon will totally blow your minds! Does any of you ventures to guess what could happen that is soooooooo bad as to make even me doubtful of posting? I'd love to hear your ideas!
In the mean time, here's chapter 12!
Enjoy!
Having been there the night before, finding the bar wasn't really that hard. When they entered the place they walked straight to the bartender, the owner of the place, and stood in front of him. They could see he was busy, even for a Wednesday morning, but they didn't care.
- I'm sorry gentleman but you're gonna have to wait until the morning rush hour stops – answered the bartender when they said they needed to ask him a few questions.
- We don't have time – said Steve irritably while flashing his badge. The owner had definitely recognized him as the man that had picked that girl up the night before and he could see that his anger hadn't left him at all. Danny knew his partner was way too angry right now so he suggested he went to the different stores across the street and next to the bar to ask for any security camera video. Surprisingly, he agreed.
- Do you remember this girl coming into your bar? – asked Danny, flashing a photo of Annabeth on his phone screen once Steve was gone.
- Yeah, yeah she was pretty drunk last night and your friend picked her up – Danny scowled at him.
- She wasn't drunk. She was drugged while drinking something from your bar and ended up being assaulted in the bathroom – the news seemed to actually startle the man.
- You're not actually suggesting I had anything to do with this, do you? I'm sorry for the girl but I didn't do anything to her.
- Then how could you explain her being drugged?
- How should I know?
- Maybe one of the waiters put something in her drink? – asked Danny, glancing around and noticing there were at least two people working as waiters.
- Look, they have been working for me for almost a year each and nothing like this has ever happened.
- Okay, then what can you tell me about last night? Anyone out of the ordinary? Any new client?
- By the time the girl came in it was a busy night. I know there were a lot of regular clients but also a few that came for the first time, including her. I can't say I remember anything out of place and the girl never again crossed my mind until she came stumbling out of the bathroom. I really wish I could help you but I was busy. Around 10:30 p.m. people started leaving, since it was only a Tuesday, and only a few regular clients were still here. I'm sorry, but it really was a normal night.
- Right, except for the fact that a girl got raped in your bathroom. Really normal – Danny sighed – do you have security cameras?
- Nah man, can't afford them.
- Great. Well I'm gonna need a sample of your DNA and those of your employees.
- Do you have a warrant for that? – asked the man.
- Do I need one? – retorted Danny – you said you didn't have anything to do with it and neither did your employees so it shouldn't be a problem – the man actually thought about it for a moment. He hadn't raped anyone so there was no harm right? He agreed, and Danny got a sample of saliva into a cotton tip. They had come prepared to collect DNA samples to compare them to the evidence provided by the raping kit.
After that he talked to the waiters and gathered their samples as well. He doubted either of them had anything to do with it but they weren't taking any chances and, actually, one of their statements might prove useful in the investigation.
He said he remembered a couple of guys, new clients, coming into the bar and having trouble finding a table due to all the people inside. He thought he remembered they finally sat down and he recognized Annabeth as the girl sitting in the table next to theirs.
He met up with Steve at the car and told him everything. Steve had managed to get his hands on the footage from the store right across the street but no witnesses that could place Annabeth walking on the street and maybe someone following her.
They were making their way back to the office in silence, one that was reaching the edges of uncomfortable due to the long ride they still had ahead of them.
- I know I'm the one who talks most out of the two of us, but you're unusually quiet yourself – said Danny. Steve was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and his other arm against the side window, holding his head in his hand.
- I'm not in the mood – he answered. He didn't sound angry. Danny knew he was angry but he didn't sound like it. He sounded more… heartbroken.
- We're gonna catch him you know? In case you were worried about that.
- It's not that – he glanced at his partner and saw that he was waiting for him to elaborate. He knew better than to leave him waiting. He just wasn't in the mood for Danny to be digging the information out of him with a spoon – I'm worried about her.
- We all are – responded Danny.
- I know. It's just… did you see the way she handled delivering the news to Chin and Kono? It was so professional that you almost couldn't believe she was talking about herself. It… - he trailed off trying to find the right words to express what he was feeling – unnerves me that she can do that being so young. Actually, it pains me that she does.
- I get what you mean. Sometimes she can be so sweet and funny and sometimes she gets this expressions and she acts like someone way older and more experienced than she should be; especially at work. I know she has an uncommon background but it's hard to put so many facets in just one person. A very young person.
- Exactly – answered Steve. Sometimes his partner understood him way too much – but she's eventually gonna have to break at some point. No one goes through what she's been through and bounces back so quickly.
- Actually, with her you never know. I have no doubt she'll recover from it though.
- Yeah... – after a few more minutes, Danny talked again.
- What if she wasn't drugged through her beverage?
- What do you mean? How else could the drug have gotten in her system?
- Well, she was drinking a coke right? One of the waiters said it was from a tin can that she opened herself and the glasses are supposedly picked up right from the sink after being washed. If they actually had nothing to do with it, how did the drug was put into her drink? – Steve thought very hard for a moment. He was actually raising a good point.
- The doctor mentioned a substance called Trimetrafin. We should search information about it; maybe that'll shed some light into it – he said by the time they arrived back at the palace and headed up to the offices.
Is it me or are the chapters getting longer? A little sneak peek for next chapter: some tension starts to develop in the office. Some very good hurt/comfort along the way!
Remember to review and say if you have any idea what's coming next!
Until next chapter!