| Night Moves Chapter 8 |
| Saturday night, time to party. The club was packed and rocking. Casey, Christine and the guys were sitting at a corner table but conversation was at a minimum. Almost four weeks on this assignment and still nothing. The tension was high and nerves were raw. Oscar, being the senior officer of the group, looked particularly troubled as he scanned the lively crowd while expressing his concern. Oscar: Something doesn't seem right. Maybe I'm just being paranoid but I feel like we're being watched. I don't know....it's probably nothing. (standing) Time to get ready for the show. Apparently, the members of the band were not the only ones who's senses were on high alert. During the routine sound checks, Officer Grant suggested that each officer check their weapons for easy assessiblilty. The anticipation of trouble could be felt in the air. Something needed to happen concerning this case and it had to happen soon. * Captain Nash Bridges and Inspector Joe Domingeuz had just returned to the SIU with information from the Baptiste camp. Nash motioned for the inspectors and several of the uniformed officers to follow him upstairs. He waited for everyone to be seated before addressing them. Nash: "We had a meeting earlier with Boz Bishop. It seems that he has been romancing a young lady who just happens to be the girlfriend of Baptiste's number one guy. She "accidentally" let some information slip about a meeting taking place at a club called CJ's. Harvey: I know about that place! I drop by there once in a while to talk with the owner. Antwon fought to suppress his laughter as Harvey smacked him on the arm. Nash: I don't know why but that surprises me, Bubba. Anyway... Baptiste, Gonzales and Bastille are suppose to meet tonight. Harvey... I want you, Antwon and Ronnie inside the club. I'm going to have Cassidy, Rachel, and Harmon outside in the van. We may not take them down tonight, but we just might get an idea of what their plan is. Let's get on it! Harvey: On our way! Antwon snickered as he walked past Harvey who was putting on his jacket. "Drop by to talk with the owner, huh? Harvey: Yes...the owner of my heart. Harvey smiled and quietly walked towards the front entrance leaving Antwon's mind to wander. "Wait a minute, Harv...you can't just leave it at that. I need details, man." * Casey had taken a seat at the bar after the first set and was talking with the Tanners about the case. Casey: We had a meeting yesterday with the Commissioner's Aid and Chief Hunter. They're really getting antsy about this case and want it solved like, yesterday. Captain Jameson put Gonzales and Bastille under surveillance and the detectives came up with nothing. They didn't go any where or meet with anyone. There's nothing on the street either. Nobody knows anything and we keep coming to this same dead end! (raking her fingers through her hair) This is so damned frustrating. We know that something major is about to happen and we know who the key players are. What we don't have are the when, where and how it's going down. We need to make a drastic move but what....... Chuck placed a cup of coffee in front of Casey and decided to change the subject with a little teasing. He didn't like seeing her so upset and knew exactly what would change her mood. Chuck: So....have you heard from Harvey? Casey: Now what makes you think that I have heard from him? I don't exactly go around picking men up in bars, you know. Chuck: I know....but you have to admit, he's here almost every night just waiting to talk to you. Casey: Come on Chuck. He doesn't just talk to me. I've seen the two of you carrying on a conversation while the band's on stage. Chuck: That's true...but, (he leans in touching his nose to her's) he doesn't stare into my eyes when he talks to me. Casey(giggling): Oh please!! Jen: He's telling the truth, baby girl. I might add that your eyes seem to sparkle when you see him walk in. He seems to get you all flustered. Chuck mentioned that you almost slipped up and told Harvey what your real last name was. Is that true? Casey(sighing): Yes...it's true. I caught myself before I said Reed. That's why I have to get my priorities back on track and concentrate solely on this case. Harvey's a great guy but I can't take the chance of blowing my cover by fawning over him. It would be a mistake to get into a romantic situation with him...at least for now. Jen took Casey's hand and smiled. "Sugarcoat those words, sweetie. They will taste much better if you have to eat them later on." * The band had just started the last set of the night when Gonzales and Bastille made their way through the crowd to a large table in the back. Casey watched as the men passed by the stage. Was it her imagination or was Gonzales giving her a suspicious look? Surely he didn't recognize her after all this time. She had only met with him once during an interogation and that was well over a year ago. When Mario Baptiste and his gang walked in, all of the officers suddenly went on high alert. Through her headset, Casey heard Harrow confirm that they were monitoring the conversation that the men were having with no problems. It was during the last song of the set that Harvey and Antwon arrived and took a seat at the bar. When Harvey made eye contact with Casey and smiled, she almost missed her cue to begin singing. She had to force herself to look elsewhere in the room to stay focused on the matter at hand. Harvey and Antwon found a table and sat down to keep an eye on the activity in the back. They had been contacted by Ronnie who had arrived at the same time that Bastille and company had. Harvey didn't like the idea of using Casey as an excuse to be at the club but at least he could protect her if trouble began. The group finished and gathered backstage to discuss what their next move should be. Oscar contacted Captain Jameson who instructed them to stay alert and keep a low profile until further notice. They needed some concrete evidence on tape and the only thing to do now was wait. Oscar: Alright gang, we have our orders. Stand down until further notice. Keep your eyes wide open though...these guys are dangerous. Casey: I'll be out in a minute guys. I'm going to freshen up first. Christine: I'll go with you. So...I guess Harvey sort of distracted you tonight, huh? It looks like he brought a friend with him. Casey: I have to admit it...he caught me off guard when he smiled. Man...I love spending time with him but I wish that he hadn't come by tonight. This thing could get out of hand and I don't want him getting hurt. Christine(touching Casey's arm): I wouldn't worry about it too much. We have to wait anyway so why not wait with someone you really like. Casey: Christine, it's not what you think. We're...(notices that Christine has left the room)..just friends. * Harvey: Hey, you look nice tonight. Casey: Harvey! Thank you. I see you brought a friend. Harvey: "Oh...uh...yeah. When I mentioned that I was planning to drop by tonight, he wanted to tag along and check the place out. Casey: So you had PLANNED to drop by tonight?" Harvey(smiling) : Well...yeah. To be honest, I was hoping that you would join me for a bite to eat...after the show of course. Casey: I'd love to but are you sure that you don't mind waiting? Harvey: Not a problem. I'll just have a beer and talk with my buddy for a while. I'll see you later then? Casey: Absolutely! Harvey walked back to the table to join his friend leaving Casey with her thoughts. The plans that she had made concerning him had just blown up in her face. Jen walked over to ask if Casey would like something to drink. "Could you give me a glass of water? Those words I said earlier seem to be stuck in my throat. * The surveillance truck had been set up for hours on the street just across from the club parking lot. Inside Captain Jameson and Officers Patrick and Hobson were watching the video feed that was being sent from the cameras inside the club. The conversation between the three suspects was intense and Gonzales seemed especially nervous. Casey had been watching the men from the corner of the bar and was joined by Oscar and Toby. Oscar: "Man, I hate the waiting game. Any action outside the club?" Casey: "Nope... nothing! This makes me nervous. I'm sitting here looking directly at the man responsible for a murder back home and I can't touch him. Oscar and Toby acknowledged her with a nod. Nothing could be done until they had proof of a crime being committed. The only thing that they could do was wait. * Captain Jameson looked closely at the monitor and noticed another surveillance truck set up in the parking lot. Jameson: What the..I didn't order a second team to watch this place. Hobson, come with me. Patrick, contact Hart. Tell him we have a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot and we need backup. The men exited the van and with weapons drawn, made their way to the back of the second van. Oscar had received the message from Jameson and he, Toby, Casey and Christine ran outside to help. The team positioned themselves behind the truck and had weapons pointed towards the back door. Jameson jerked the door open and ordered the occupants out. Jameson: SFPD, everyone out with your hands where we can see them. The team began searching the three people who had gotten out of the van and found that each was carrying a weapon. One of the females spoke up to give an explaination. Rachel: We're cops. We're with the Special Investigations Unit. I'm Inspector Rachel McCabe, you'll find my badge in my coat pocket. Toby checked the pocket and found the badge. Jameson was beyond mad at this point and demanded an explaination. Rachel: We have it on good authority that a known hood named Mario Baptiste is meeting with a drug lord named Bastille here at this club. We have surveillance set up inside and we were setting up outside. My partners, Officer Bridges and Officer Harmon and I are only following orders. Casey had recognized Cassidy and backed away into the shadows so that she would not be seen. Even though Cassidy was a police officer, Casey couldn't take the chance of having her cover blown. She watched as the SIU officers continued to explain their presence at the club to Captain Jameson. Jameson (angry): And just who gave these orders? Rachel: Captain Nash Bridges. Jameson(hands over his cell phone): Get Bridges on the phone and tell him that Ron Jameson wants to see him....NOW! |
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