The Rookie

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

Chapter 23 (The Muscle)

The Nugget Café was a building with two floors, the second being an open space that was a balcony overlooking the first floor. Seated on the second floor in a matte red corner booth was Sam Puckett, tapping her fingers anxiously on the table.

"He's late," she said with a hot breath of air. Surrounding her, almost like something out of the Godfather movies, were three men and one woman. "Where is he?" She didn't want to start without him, and it was unlike him to miss these meetings. They were mandatory; but he never complained about attending. "I suppose we'll move on without, I can always fill him in later."

She looked to the four in attendance with a heavy sigh. Gibby was her right hand, essentially the only one of the group she truly felt comfortable around.

Continuing to tap the table impatiently, it was difficult to maintain her tough façade much longer. She was exhausted, and that had little to do with sleep. "So, as you know, the terms of our contract are nearing its end."

"What does that mean for us?" Asked the dark-haired woman seated across from her. Sam narrowed her eyes upon the girl, amazed she was still in her employ but not fully surprised. This was, after all, the very same woman who pulled off the iCarly kidnapping years ago.

"I think you know, Nora." She heaved a heavy sigh, giving the woman a forlorn expression. She watched as the color started to fade from Nora's face. The three men cast wary glances at one another, almost as if being able to see between the lines of what Sam was saying.

Yes, they all knew how their contract would end. Sam wasn't sure why she felt she had to carry it out, but then she realized it would be done before fulfilling Trina's last wish.

If the realization hadn't sunk in some time before, it surely was beginning to sink in now. "So, this week we need to prepare for the puppet." It was a nickname, as they were in a public place. Although there wasn't anyone on their floor, or within earshot, they still had to be careful. "The puppet will hang tomorrow, I will be carrying that out."

"Okay."

"Nora, you will continue morning watch tomorrow and Jackson will relieve you for the mid-day watch." Nora nodded her head, followed by the blonde male seated beside her.

Sam began handing out forms, detailing the weekly schedule and outline. Glancing to the side, her foot had taken up the impatient tapping. "Gibby will be with me, carrying out the Puppet's hanging. That will happen at around three p.m." She let out a heavy sigh and watched as the Asian man seated in the booth raised the sheet of paper in front of him.

The man adjusted his round glasses and ran his hand through his shaggy dark hair. "I'm on night watch most of the week?" Sam nodded his direction.

"Correct, Quincy. Actually, most of you have the same schedule throughout the week this time. Nathan, Gibby, and I will be on rotation as the second on duty." Nathan was the man standing by the booth, leaning with arms crossed against the seat.

"Something doesn't feel right," Nathan said while peering over the balcony railing. Straight ahead were large windows overlooking the parking lot. "Maybe Gibby overdid it at that bar?" Sam understood his concern, and it was nice that she wasn't the only one wondering what happened to Gibby. "Maybe we can hurry this along, I know Trina needs us back at base."

During these weekly meetings no one was at the place to guard the captives outside of Trina. She allowed them to have their meetings out at the café so they could have lunch and have some time not worrying about what they were tasked.

It seemed odd to some of them, but it was mainly Sam who pushed her to allow it. She believed space was important, and she wanted those in her employ to be able to spend some time altogether without being at work.

It was funny, she once thought herself cold and unfeeling; and for the most part she was, but when it came to Trina, she honestly felt more empathetic and caring than most would think. At the very least, she did care for those she worked with even though she was ready to send them all on their way. She hadn't figured it would take ten long years at the beginning, nor did she imagine her crew would see it's end like this.

"We'll be finished when we're finished, Nathan." Nathan unfolded his arms and pushed his hands into his pockets, his shoulders slumped and he rolled his eyes. "Maybe turn on the radio and let's see what's happening around town."

Curtesy of Trina, the crew did have a police radio so they could listen to where the cops were going or what was going on around them. "I thought you didn't like to use it during meetings?"

She didn't, mostly due to how irritatingly distracting the radio could be; but with Gibby being a no-show to the meeting, she couldn't help but feel a pit growing in her stomach. "Normal circumstances sure, but right now I'd be more comfortable with it in the background. Low volume." The man nodded and Sam turned to the others as Nathan proceeded with his task.

Still tapping her foot, Sam took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Okay, so tomorrow the puppet is to be dealt with. The Goth will be Thursday." Listening to the random chatter on the radio, Sam's lips twitched in annoyance. "We've got it set up for the electric chair. Finally, on Saturday the Princess will have an injection."

It was all planned out to every minute detail. The hard part was having to announce the end to them; and she knew there was no going back. If anyone tried to escape, Trina would take them out on the spot.

With the group looking at their schedules, they were seeing without a doubt what Sunday looked like. After all, that date was labeled in big, bold letters termination. "On Sunday at noon, all of you are expected to be present to discuss the contractual release. Evening that day, I am to send the Warden on her way…"

A silence fell over them. Sam wasn't sure how they were processing the details, nor was she truly certain if they knew what 'termination' meant. She didn't want to see it happen either, but Trina laid out in no uncertain terms that any of them would be able to easily escape their fate.

An exhale trembled from her lips and her voice started to shake. "If anyone doesn't show up on Sunday. Trina, being a cop, will orchestrate a city-wide manhunt for you. It will not be hard to find you because we all have tracking devices attached to everything we own."

She was essentially reading the warning that Trina laid out, essentially suggesting it would truly be impossible for any of them to get away. "We should've known she'd call for us to face judgement too," Nathan grumbled.

Sam pinched the bridge of her nose, struggling as she thought of how she could potentially save them; but there was nothing. She wasn't even sure of herself anymore. "What has even been the fucking point?" Nora asked while throwing her hands up into the air. "Get caught, go to prison. Don't get caught, get executed."

"Trina is a very conflicted person," Quincy said with a sigh. "Our last week."

"Now you understand why Sam has always pushed for us to have some freedoms. Evidently we're all screwed."

Nathan walked a few paces away from the table, his hands slid along the railing as he leaned over it. The man peered down, watching the people below. Sam heard him grunt and turned to look his way. "How odd. Seems like some people are trying to leave as fast as possible down there."

"What do you mean?"

"Speed walking and looking over their shoulders. Wait staff too." Sam furrowed her brow and rose from her seat. It was in that moment she heard an All Points Bulletin being called out, turning swiftly she focused her gaze on the radio and felt a chill come over her.

"Again," came the chatter over the radio, "That is an APB for Katrina Vega. She is considered armed and dangerous, approach with caution."

"What the fuck?" Sam drew her gaze away from the radio, peering at the windows of the restaurant. A crowd was amassing outside the café, and much to her surprise, she saw a detective standing with the owner of the place.

The detective was wearing a suit and an overcoat, his dark and brooding eyes seemed to fixate on her as though he saw her watching him. Taking a shaky step back, her blue eyes grew large. "It's Beck."

"The cops?" Nathan hurried to the stairwell, growling as he reached for the gun holstered at his side. "Don't tell me they're after us." Quincy and Jackson jumped to their feet while Nora remained frozen in the booth.

"Why else would they be emptying the restaurant and not take us too?" Nora's voice fell to a whimper and she buried her head in her hands. "Why did I ever agree to any of this?"

"Not like this is your first kidnapping," Jackson growled as he grabbed the rifle from his seat. "Hope they're not expecting us to go out easily." Sam jerked around, hissing at Jackson while pointing at the weapon.

"Put that down!" The last thing she needed was a gunfight, though she didn't think she'd be able to corral the hotheads in the group easily. "We've no business being seen as threatening."

Now she wasn't surprised by Gibby's lateness, the only explanation in her mind was he'd been picked up by the cops and told them where they were meeting. Cursing mentally she rushed to the railing.

"I knew I should've cut him loose," she thought. He was always fussing over her and wanting to get the group out of the situation they were in, she knew he'd never willingly go to the police but something must've made him talk. Remembering that his brother was in town, she cursed herself again. Guppy meant the world to him, and if anyone was capable of reaching him, it was his kid brother.

Looking around for an escape, she wondered if perhaps this was wasn't such a bad thing. If the cops were onto them and arrested them, it could be the one way to get her crew out of a difficult situation, especially if the cops were also looking for Trina.

"Nathan, Jackson, put the guns down." Jackson lowered the rifle a bit, looking wearily at her while Nathan positioned himself against the corner of a wall and held his gun up by his head. Sam reached her hand out, taking a stern tone. "Put it down now, that's an order." He glared at her, his nostrils flaring. "If they're looking for us, and they're looking for Trina, that means we've been found out."

Nathan shook his head, his face was beginning to turn red with anger. "I can't go back to prison, boss. I did my time for robbery, I can't do time for a crazed lunatic."

"The only crazed lunatic here is going to be you, if you start firing on the cops." Sam stood with all gazes on her, she swept her arms out at her sides, looking to each person. "Think about it, this could be the way out. Just let me talk to the lead detective."

As though on cue, the bell above the front door chimed and Beck walked in with his new partner at his side. "Samantha Puckett." His voice echoed in her ears and she turned back towards him, her hands gripped the railing and she smiled coolly at the detective below. She watched as other officers entered the establishment, weapons at the ready. "We're here to talk."

Sam raised an eyebrow, looking to the officer beside Beck. "New partner?" Her smile turned to a smirk as she eyed Beck's attire, it looked like something out of a 50's detective novel. "Nice outfit, Detective Dick." Beck looked down at his clothes, shrugged, and glanced back at her. "So, here for your blonde, are you?"

"Pretty certain that's not how it goes, but okay."

"No sexytime with the detective, then? Pity."

"I am here to place you and your crew under arrest. Nathan Frank, Jackson Rowles, Quincy Adams, and Nora Dershlit. If you would come peacefully, that would be much easier."

Sam raised her hands, expecting her crew to do the same. "We agree to come peacefully, Detective. There'll be no tricks." She looked over her shoulder at the others, placing a firmness on the last few words. Nora and Quincy raised their hands, stepping to the railing.

Jackson's head was bowed, his knuckles burning white around the haft of his rifle. Nathan still clutched his gun, glaring at Sam. "I can't go back to prison," he hissed. She hissed back.

"Put it down now, Nathan. Please!"

Beck called up to her, drawing her attention back to him. "Is everything okay up there, Miss Puckett? I'd like for you to place your hands on the back of your head and kneel."

She complied without question, preferring to think of a plan. Upon seeing her compliance, Nora and Quincy followed suit. "It will be better this way," she whispered, "Comply and we'll get shorter sentences, maybe even some plea deals. Just do what the cops are asking."

"What the fuck is this?" Jackson asked with venom lacing his breath. "The mighty executioner caves so goddamn easily?" Sam looked up at him, her eyes growing wide as she saw him lift and turn the gun her direction. "You're just going to let them take us off to prison."

"Damn it Jackson, what are you doing?"

Before she could get her final words out, she heard the dreaded sound of a cop shouting the word gun. Her eyes closed and she listened to the sound of footsteps running across the bottom floor. A gunshot rang out and glass shattered, the sound that there'd been a sniper placed on the roof of the building next to them.

Hearing Nora and Quincy scream, she opened her eyes and was aghast to see Jackson with fresh blood oozing from his chest and mouth. His trembling body sank to his knees and he peered down at the blood soaked rifle.

Cops were rushing the stairwell and now it was Nathan's turn, screaming at the top of his lungs that he refused to go back to prison as he whipped around the corner and opened fire. The cops jumped over the railing while Beck, who was leading the rush, pressed himself against the wall and barely missed taking a bullet to the head.

"Nathan please," Sam cried out, "Don't do this! Just fucking comply, damn it! I can't lose another one of you." She was still watching Jackson, who had now fallen on his side and was staring up at her with tears filling his eyes.

Downstairs she heard another officer mention this being a hostage situation now. Turning her head, she saw Beck still making an approach, maintaining eye contact with Nathan. "Come on," Beck said with softness in his tone, "You don't want to do this. Just lower the gun, if anything you'll get a deal."

Nathan scowled at Beck, his hands locked around the handle of his weapon. Tears were streaming down his face as he took a slow step back. "I don't want to go back."

"What's the alternative, Nathan?" Beck took another step, his eyes fixated on the weapon. "You don't want to go out shooting a cop, then you're definitely not getting out."

"Leave me alone."

"Why don't you let my team by. Let us get your buddy to a hospital and get your friends to safety."

"Safety?" Nathan laughed, raising the gun a bit higher and narrowing his eyes. "What fucking safety?"

Quincy called to Nathan, begging him to step down. "Do you think we're safer outside prison right now?" Quincy asked, causing Nathan to turn his head towards him. "Trina's planning to have us fucking killed on Sunday, didn't you see that on the schedule? We're going to fucking die. Please! Listen to the boss, step down!"

"He's right," Sam remarked, "Trina was never going to let any of us go." In that instance, Nathan turned his gun onto Sam. She let out a gasp when she saw the barrel pointed her direction.

"Except you," he barked, "She wants you to off her. What does she expect you to do? You get to walk away and live!" Sam held her breath, unsure of what to say for fear of angering him further.

He had a point, but what he didn't know was Trina had a contingency. Before dying herself to execution, she intended either Sam to willingly ingest poison or she'd be forced to.

Sam closed her eyes as Nathan started to prepare himself to pull the trigger, she didn't know what she was expecting to happen after this; but she welcomed it. Still, the bolt never came. Opening her eyes partially, she saw Beck reach out and grab Nathan's wrist, wrestling the gun from his grip.

Several officers rushed up the stairs as well as paramedics. Relief swept through her as she watched the officers pin Nathan to the ground and place him in handcuffs. Quincy and Nora soon followed and Sam watched as Jackson was moved onto a stretcher. The man was still breathing, but she could do nothing except pray he survived the sniper shot.

She felt a hand on hers and found herself being pulled up by the detective. Beck narrowed his eyes at her as he placed his cuffs on her wrists. "Well." She turned her head towards him, her hair flying over her shoulders.

"I promise you, I did not expect them to do that."

"Well your buddies just made it a lot harder on them." He cleared his throat and guided her towards the stairs. One hand held her cuffed wrist while the other was on her back.

"Not a bad shot from the sniper…"

Unbeknownst to her, the sniper had a clear shot of all of them save for Nathan and radioed that Jackson had a rifle. The sniper was ordered, should the situation escalate and Jackson turn his gun on anyone, that he take the shot.

"Personally, you were the one we said was supposedly armed and dangerous." Sam flashed a smile, motioning her head towards her purse.

"Who said I wasn't?"

I have the song "Watching the Detectives" by Elvis Costello stuck in my head, now I hope you'll go look it up and get it stuck in yours, haha. Well, looks like Sam and her crew have been taken in, they're closing in fast. What are your thoughts?