The Rookie

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

Chapter 21 (The First Arrest)

Unsure of what to expect, Beck studied biker bar from his vehicle. His brow was furrowed and gaze fixated on the front door. Ian was on the passenger side, going through the file that was present on Gibby.

"It's interesting," Ian remarked, "Gibby has a record for stuff like shoplifting, but it's also reported he took place in a brawl outside of a bar." Beck grunted, thinking about the times he remembered seeing Gibby on the iCarly show. He was also thinking about Sam, remembering the cheery blonde youth always seen on the show. "Hopefully we can get some decent information from him."

"I just hope the Bensons went to the Seattle PD with what they showed us." He had a chance to look up Mrs. Puckett, and Pamela definitely wasn't someone who, in his book, would win mother of the year. The woman was called on for domestic disputes multiple times with her husband, caught shoplifting, and even taken in for drunk and disorderly conduct. Hell, she even had assault on a peace officer on record.

To say Beck felt sorry for her children would be an understatement; but now he was beginning to mentally piece together just how far Sam had fallen. It was interesting how much knowing about the mothers, or even hearing what they had to say, helped paint a full picture of their daughters. Now, it was just a task of connecting the last several dots and finding out where the victims were and if they were even still alive.

"What do you predict the likelihood is that Gibson runs?"

Beck let out a sigh, turning to his new partner and shaking his head. "If he's already wrapped up in all this, seeing two suits walk into a bar asking for him by name. Yeah, I'd say it's a possibility." One that he'd rather not have to endure. "Do you think he'll lead us to Tori, Jade and Robbie?"

"If he's involved in that, he could." Ian shrugged. "I'm more wondering if he'll lead us to Sam." If Sikowitz's journal did anything, it was confirming Sam was involved in the kidnappings; but the hard part was zeroing in on a location. "Did you hear anything from the Malones yet?"

He nodded in reply. Gary and Holly were able to extract David from his home, according to a text message sent by the man. "Evidently Trina was not there, so that made it relatively easy to grab the Chief without issue."

"Interesting." Ian curled a hand under his chin and looked to the biker bar. "She wasn't at the station." Beck was fairly confident Trina might be getting close to her own endgame at this point, if she felt like they were getting closer. "Maybe she got a call?"

"Maybe. I heard at the station that a body washed up onto the coast after last night's storm." He frowned, recalling the conversation two officers were having about the body that was found. "It was Todd Williams, our missing perp from the Jacoby case." Ian's eyes widened and his hand dropped towards the arm of the door, with his fingers gripping the handle. "Apparently the guy's head was bashed in with a blunt object."

"Goddamn. He's the one that was also holding Cat?"

"I think he's involved in the group that was holding her." Thinking back to an earlier conversation he and Trina had, Beck shuddered. "I remember when we found Jacoby, Trina had a very visceral reaction. She told me if she had it her way, she'd find who'd done it and bash their brains in."

"You think?"

"I think she's well-armed and dangerous." He pushed open his door, narrowing his eyes while turning to step out. "And if she's neither with her father or at the station, and Todd's body just washed up, she's not only a step ahead of us; but we'll have to be swift and decisive."

It was hard imagining that his own mentor on the force was someone he had to chase down, and while he'd come to terms with it, he still despised it. He hated knowing he'd need to watch his own back, but he hated acknowledging Trina of all people could be responsible for this crime and had been in plain sight all this time.

"She'll probably assume I don't have the stomach to go after her. What with my track record as the rookie on the force."

Ian smirked, his chuckle drew Beck's attention to him. "A case as big as this one, and you're still a rookie trying to solve it. You're really shooting for the stars." Rolling his eyes at the comment, Beck couldn't help but muster a smile.

Stepping out of the car, he motioned to the bar. "Let's get in there. I'm done talking to the families of the victims, we need to catch ourselves a suspect. If we're lucky, Gibson will talk."

As they started forward, Ian started to pause, furrowing his brow. "Do you think we should call for backup?" Turning his head, Beck shrugged.

"It's one guy."

"One guy that's involved in a crime ring. You reckon he's the only one at this place?"

Ian had a point. They guy was a bit more seasoned than Beck was, having two or three years on the force by this point; so if Ian thought they might need backup, it was worth putting in the back of the mind. "We'll need to survey the room first, get a feel for the place."

The bar was a bit out of the way from the city, surrounded by near desert. A gas station sat nearly half a mile away, and the air was so hot that he could taste it on his lips.

Making their approach across the empty parking lot, Beck counted the cars. There was one ATV, a blue jeep and a large Ford pickup truck. "Three cars, at least one of them belongs to the barkeep."

"Four." Ian pointed to a silver Honda Accord just around the corner of the rectangular building. Beck raised an eyebrow, studying the clean vehicle.

"Out here? Seems a bit out of place."

In an instant of walking into the bar, they were met with the smell of smoke. The haze filled the room and burned their eyes. Beck had to hold his breath so he could focus on the bar itself, and to his amazement, it was damn near empty.

A woman was nearby shooting darts and a man was cleaning a spilled drink off a billiard table nearby. The long bar was front and center, and two men were seated, with only one of them drinking a beer.

A husky man with red hair was the one hunched over his beer, his face stern and gaze fixated on the drink. Beside him, a similar looking man wearing a white suit and black bowtie. He was a bit thinner than the redhead, who Beck identified from pictures given by the Bensons, as Gibby.

The husky man let out a shallow breath of air and Beck listened to the conversation, trying to see if he had reason to wait before calling out. "I don't know, Gup. You came out all this way." Narrowing his eyes on the man that looked considerably like a salesperson, he figured this was the younger brother.

Ian was studying the other two people in the room while also checking the door in case anyone entered after them. The last thing they needed was an attack from behind.

"Just think about it," Guppy said, "Gibby, I don't like not having my brother around."

"I've already told you more than I should've. If Sam…" Gibby reached up to the back of his neck, his shoulders and back rising as he drew in a deep breath of air. "Well she probably wouldn't do much, considering you're my brother. Still, you don't need to be involved."

Guppy's expression didn't match that of the chipper and happy youth the Bensons recalled; rather, he appeared deeply troubled as he pleaded with his brother. "Neither do you. I don't know what you're caught up in, or why this hole in the wall is the only place you ever visit; but bro, come home."

Gibby raised the amber colored beer towards his lips, pausing for just a second before turning his eyes sideways. It was then Beck noticed the back wall of the bar where the bottles were lined. Just underneath was a mirror. His heart sank as he uttered a curse, drawing Ian's attention to him and then the mirror.

It seemed now was as good of a time as any to make his presence known. Pulling his badge from his blazer, he spoke loud and stern. "Gibby Gibson, we're with the LAPD Homicide division. We would like to speak with you."

In an instant that drew Beck's mind back to the case aboard the yacht, Beck watched frozen as Gibby spun around on the stool and whipped the glass of beer towards him. "Shit." Sticky brown fluid covered his face and suit, soaking him and streaming down his hands.

The husky man barreled past Ian and threw open the bar door. Rolling his eyes, Beck shook his arms to shake off the beer while Ian took off after the man. "I guess we're doing this." His eyes travelled to Guppy, who was staring at him wide-eyed and distraught. "Don't go anywhere, please. We'll want a word with you."

Beck turned on his heels and bolted out the door, stopping only to survey the parking lot. Ian called out for backup over the radio and followed up with the location that Gibby was currently running, which right now seemed to be north into the desert.

"The desert?" He quipped while taking off in a sprint. "You don't take your car, but you run into the desert?" It didn't take long to catch up with the pair, since he'd always been fast on his feet.

Even still, with Gibby looking over his shoulder and breathing heavy as he was, it was amazing that the man was able to outpace them. It didn't help that he was ducking around trees and turning every few seconds.

"Stop now!" Ian shouted, dodging right to avoid a small rock Gibby picked up to throw back.

Beck clenched his fists and sped up as much as he could, overtaking Ian in a pace that he thought certainly would've impressed Trina on the force.

Seeing Gibby pick up a handful of sand and raise his hand up, Beck covered his face with his arm. The onslaught of sand hit his face full blast, sticking to the remnants of the beer and some going into his mouth. He sputtered and growled.

Just as he was closing in, he spied the Honda Accord from earlier speeding past them. To his utter shock and amazement, the car stopped directly in front of Gibby, causing the man to freeze just long enough for Beck to tackle him to the ground. Ian followed up with a pair of handcuffs, grabbing at Gibby's wrists.

Looking to the car, Beck watched as Guppy stepped out of the driver's side, tears in his eyes. Gibby was struggling like a fish caught in a net, stopping only as he threw his head up to look at his brother. "Please, Gibby. Work with them. Please. Whatever you're involved in, it's not worth it."

"You don't understand," Gibby barked back, "I have to. I have to watch over her."

"Then fucking cooperate with the cops. I won't let you throw your life away."

Groaning, Gibby dropped his head into the sand, his body going limp. The two officers pulled him to his feet just as the backup Ian called for arrived behind them. Beck rubbed his sandy eyes with his fingers and listened as Ian ordered Guppy back into the car and to head to the station.

What thoughts have you?