Imperatrix

chapter 25

Harry stepped out of his car and looked around. There was a long line of people waiting to be admitted into the club. He looked up at the shining blue cursive name of the club and exhaled loudly. Mark, a junior officer that he had chosen to go with him came up beside him and together they began walking to get in line.

“Oh man, this is so cool! We’re like Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Detectives under cover,” Mark gushed.

Harry grunted already regretting his decision to bring the hyperactive detective along with him. They were dressed like regular club goers hoping to get in. Harry didn’t know what made him look, but when he did, Marks badge was hanging proudly around his neck and he was flashing a grin on his face.

Harry cursed under his breath as he stopped and pulled the lapels of Marks leather jacket, so he faced him.

He slapped the head of the junior officer as he spoke in hushed tones, “What the hell man, going around flashing your badge like that. What are you playing at?! Do you want to blow our cover? No? Then tuck that shit in and make no more mistakes.”

Mark mumbled an apology and tucked the chain into his shirt. A quick glance around told him no one had witnessed their interaction, thankfully. Harry sighed as they got in line. Soon it was their turn, and they were allowed in after showing their IDs. The dim lights in the club made it hard for them to see the faces clearly.

“Blend in Mark, don’t go around flashing that thing and threatening people.”

Mark flushed and went away.
Harry looked around as he walked to the bar and ordered a drink. The guy beside him was silently drinking water. Who drank water in a club? Not his business anyway.

“Hey,” he greeted.

The guy looked at him and nodded. He produced a joint from his pocket and lit it. Harry watched as he took a puff, and an idea came to him. The guy didn’t look like someone who would tattle, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.

“I was looking to smoke some joint, you know where I can get some?” Harry asked. He didn’t smoke, didn’t like the suffocating feel of the smoke in his lungs.

The guy glared at him and Harry raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I was just asking.”

He shook his head and said, “I don’t know, ask around,” he went back to his water and stared ahead. The bartender didn’t know anything either.

Harry shrugged and leaned against the counter as his eyes roamed around the darker corners. His men were able to blend in well.

Looking up, he saw that there were booths. If Malcolm was in the club, then he would probably be up there doing what he did best; selling drugs. Pushing himself away from the counter, he was about leaving when he saw a figure leaning against the railing above observing everything. He couldn’t see the face, but he could tell it was a girl.

She oddly reminded him of the biker that had darted him sometime ago. He could only see the side of her face as she was looking away.

Taking a step forward, he was walking when suddenly two gunshots rang out. He ducked as he looked around trying to pinpoint where the sound had come from. The music abruptly stopped, and people began rushing for the exits. It was pandemonium.

There was no hope of finding the shooter, not in this crowd. And his men weren’t enough to search them as they left, not when the people were panicking. So he fought his way through to the dance floor and found a guy screaming in pain and clutching his leg. Harry quickly produced his two-way radio and called for an ambulance.

Just then his eyes caught the girls’ figure. She was staring at them like the gun shots didn’t faze her. Like she was used to seeing a guy scream in pain everyday. It was her! He knew it was her!

She lazily pushed herself away from the railing and glanced at them one last time then slowly walked back into the darkness and out of his sight. He glared at the spot she had been. It was like she was daring him to go after her. And he would.

There was no way he was letting her get away this time, not again. She looked like she knew plenty. Mark came running to meet him and he had to yell above the screaming to be heard.

“Stay with him until the ambulace gets here, there’s something I need to take care of.”

He ran up the stairs and looked around, but she was no where to be found. There was no other person, and he couldn’t find any secret exits. He yelled in frustration and ran back down the stairs and out of the club.

There were two cop cars waiting out. Suddenly the bike rider appeared on her bike and faced them revving her bike as if taunting them. He had been right; she was the same person he had seen inside.

He just wished he could see the face of the person behind the black helmet. She pulled a gun out and shot one of the tyres of the cars deflating it. Then she reversed and sped off leaving a trail of white smoke behind her.

“After her! Don’t let her get away!” he yelled as he rushed to his car. He reversed so hard there were skid marks on the road. The cop cars followed behind him, their sirens on full blast. He had his eyes trained on her.

She expertly weaved her way between vehicles almost causing head-on collisions. She jumped onto sidewalks and Harry cursed. There was no way a car could jump onto a sidewalk like a motorcycle could. He was sure her bike was running on something other than fuel because it was super fast. She was fast but he was gaining on her slowly.

Unexpectedly she swerved to the right making Harry step on his brakes hard.

“Damn it!” He yelled as he watched her speed away.

He knew where she was headed, and at this time, the freeway was sure to be congested with cars. He wasn't going to lose her. He reversed and went after her swearing under his breath.

You are not getting away this time.

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*Yawns* I think I'm gonna sleep for some days. Au revòir.

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