Page 108 of 5+Us Makes Seven

Cindy walked over and elbowed me in the ribs.

“Now ain't the time to act like a rabbit in the headlights!” she whispered in my ear, pushing me towards the bar where Jack was standing.

I forced a smile, looking up into his eyes.

“Sure thing, hon. What’ll you have?”

His stare locked mine intently for a second. I felt something pass between us, but I wasn’t sure what. He ordered the same as Lucas, but with a whiskey instead of a tequila, knocking the whiskey back, gasping gratefully as he did so.

“And one for you and your friend, too.”

I poured his beer out with a shaky hand. My heart sank at his words.

Why does the hottest guy I’ve ever seen walk in here, hell, one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen, have to be a damn gangster? Just my luck.

I passed him his beer. “It’s ok. I got a drink already,” I lied, giving him his change. Cindy took another drink for herself from the fridge behind us.

“Ok. Suit yourself. I’ll keep asking though, until you let me buy you one.” He winked at me as he turned to stride towards Lucas in his booth.

I felt Cindy approach me from behind, hand on my shoulder as she spoke into my ear.

“What the hell are you doing? Look at him!” She was frowning as I turned to face her, starting to go a little red in the face. “Isn’t that what you’re all dressed up for? To meet someone just like him?”

I opened my mouth to talk, not sure how to explain to Cindy that this guy was a nasty gangster.

“He’s…. He’s. Uh, he’s a friend of my ex, Conall. I think he might be involved in, you know. Dealing. Drugs. Not the sort of stuff I want to get involved in.”

Again.

Cindy laughed at me, tears welling in her eyes as she shook her head.

“What’s got into you, girl? That’s Jack. Jack Storm. He’s a cop, a detective! The best in town, so my boyfriend tells me. Doesn’t take any shit. Brought down the O’Rourkes.”

I stood, confused as my mind processed the information.

Took down the O’Rourkes? He was undercover! He took them down, got Conall away from me!

SEVEN

Jack

I was in damn good spirits as I left the precinct and made my way to the bar Lucas and I had agreed to meet at. All three samples of meth had come back within less than 0.1% of each other, which meant the cook knew what he was doing, assuming they were from different batches. Either he didn’t quite have the recipe, materials or ingredients to get the quality higher than around 79%, or the gang was stretching their resources. Either way, the three samples were from the same batch or the same cook.

Now, is this an old batch or are the O’Rourkes back in town? My gut is telling me Conall is back in business. And business is good...

I knew that we didn’t quite have the evidence yet to form any sort of probable cause, to get a warrant or to question anyone officially. My gut instinct was telling me this was real. Hell, I knew something was happening.

The Lieutenant and I both knew that it was his call if he opened a case, as he looked after the precinct’s detectives. If he wanted a case opened, and had sufficient reason to do so, the Captain wouldn’t stand in his way. Therefore, with the results coming back how I’d hoped, come Monday I would have a case.

I couldn’t wait to tell Lucas and to celebrate. I was feeling good, confident, and strong.

I took a quick look at myself in the rear-view mirror of the car, brushing my hair back and adjusting my collar.

Damn, ain’t looking half bad either, Jack.

I strode purposefully from the car, skipping up the step and half jogging to the bar’s entrance. I shrugged to adjust my trench coat over my shoulders as I walked in, one hand in the right pocket of my jeans.

My eyes scanned the drinkers in the bar, spotting a few familiar faces, old friends, and a few old adversaries I’d come across in the past. The latter all avoided my gaze. I spotted Lucas down to my right, smiling up at me.