novelraw Chapter 156: Get A New Phone
Chapter 156: Get A New Phone
The police barged through the doors of the motels—startling the man behind the glass.
The lead officer—brown hair and same colour eyes walked up to the receptionist.
A bead of sweat already clear on the receptionist’s face. "W— What can I— I help you with, officers?"
The cop pressed a phone against the screen showing an image of Caleb and Helene—in her strange form, getting into a cab.
The receptionist squinted his eyes to see the phone through the dim lighting before the officer barked. "Don’t play games with me, where are they?"
He swallowed hard, throat dry. "I have no idea. And even if I did I couldn’t just give the information of our guests without proper paperwork."
The cop slid the phone back into his pockets, the rest waiting observantly at the back.
He swirled a finger around the space. Then turned back to another officer. "How many health and safety violations do you think this place has, John?"
John had his hands on his belt buckle. "I don’t know, Tony. But seems like quite a lot."
"Enough to get it shutdown?" Tony asked, facing the receptionist this time.
"More than." John replied, eyes fixed on the receptionist’s too. "Enough to pack a hefty lawsuit."
And that undid him. "Alright, alright! Room 103. But you didn’t hear it from me. Just get them and leave."
"Gladly." Tony added, already proceeding down the hall with force.
The guests pressed along the sides of the wall as they made way down. "Evening, officers." A lady added. They ignored.
They stopped before the door as Tony raised three fingers.
"Three." He mouthed.
"Two." The second finger fell.
"One."
BAM!
He kicked the door in, wood splintering from the handle as the lock fell the ground.
Immediately, Tony and the cops raised their guns and entered the room.
Dark so they turned on the light, but it was empty. The room. The bathroom. All empty. Even the bed was neatly made like no one had been there.
"You think the receptionist lied?" John asked as he watched Tony scour the room.
"That fat bastard wouldn’t put his business on the line for anyone." He hissed, moving to the TV.
He stretched a hand against the glass. It was hot. "They were definitely here."
He darted back out the room to the lobby. This time straight through the opening of the glass he grabbed a handful of the receptionist’s collar and dragged until his face hit the glass.
"Are you hiding them?" Tony hissed, pulling tighter. "Do you really wanna go down for this?"
"I told you all I know," He grunted against the glass. "I don’t even know them. They just wanted a room."
John stepped forward and placed a hand on Tony’s shoulder. "Relax, man. We’ll just get the security cameras."
"Tsk." Tony sighed as he let go and watched the fat man drop to the ground. "Where’s the camera room?"
The fat man struggled to get back to his feet before pointing to a room at the side. "There."
Watching the tapes were just as useless as all the other cameras they’d seen. "Completely fucking useless."
Too low quality to really make out their faces—at least his face, he’d already gotten a picture of the female. And a man they could’ve sworn they’d seen but couldn’t quite place.
But something else caught their attention.
"Is that a girl?" John asked from over his shoulder pointing at what appeared to be a second female.
A man and a woman entered into the room but two completely different females were the ones who stepped out. "How the fuck is that possible?" Tony muttered under his breath.
He remembered walking down the halls as those same two women pressed against the wall to give them space.
The same girl who fucking greeted him. ’What the hell is going on here?’
"Could they have manipulated the tapes?" John asked with a raised brow.
"There’s no way to manipulate tapes that fast, and that bastard wouldn’t lie to us twice."
"What now?" John questioned with his hands at his sides.
"Fuck!" Tony cursed, pushing his hair back with a hand, he stood up instantly. "Now, we have a chat with Mrs Moretti."
The drive back to The Glided Room was quick. Speeding was one of the benefits of being a cop.
The arrived at the club and moved for the front of the line. The hulking bouncer stepped in front of them. "Line, officers."
John pulled out his badge. "Unfortunately, we’re here for official business."
The bouncer stared at them for a moment longer than friendly before reluctantly stepping out of their way.
They entered the club as the loud music drummed against their ears. Tony turned to the others. "Find that horrible swirl called music and turn it off!"
The officers fanned out, moving through the place until the music finally came to a halt. The dancers at the centre all stopped and turned to the DJ booth.
"Sorry, y’all." John maintained a smile. "But the party’s over and I’m gonna have to ask you all to leave."
The gravelled but refused to go, before he flashed them his badge. "Unless you want to spend the night at the station."
They filed out of the dimly lit club with their heads down and avoiding eye contact.
Tony turned to a bouncer in the corner. "Get me Mrs Moretti."
"No need," Ashlynn strode down the stairs, phone in her ear like she just finished a call and dress still impeccable well into the night. "What can I help you with officers?"
"Your cameras." Tony said, stepping forward.
"And why do you need access to my private cameras?" She added with a smile so fake it looked genuine.
"A high-speed car chase started just in front of this your club," he pointed at the door. "Now, I don’t care what you do within these walls, Moretti. But once it gets outside then I have to intervene."
She sighed dramatically. Moved to sit on the couch, "and you think I’m somehow involved in it because...?"
"I don’t," he folded his arms. "I just want the cameras to see who it was. And the car was bought off someone in cash, who has a hundred thousand in cash wherever they go?"
"Unfortunately," She crossed her legs, stifling a laugh. "I cannot do that." Her eyes opened with mock sorrow. "I wish I could help you keep the streets safe and everything—"
"But," John finished for her. "You’re choosing to be stubborn."
"But..." She continued herself. "Client confidentiality. People come to my club for discretion, and once I start partnering with the police then that discretion goes down the toilet."
A silence slipped between them, before John added. "How’s your dad doing in prison, Ashlynn?"
She showed no reaction outwardly but clenched her fists at her side. "Are you threatening me?"
"I’m just asking a question," he took another stepped towards the coach she was on. "I mean it would be a shame if his daughter went to prison for the exact same crimes he did, wouldn’t it?"
"I’d implore you to choose your words carefully, officer." She leaned forward. "You might protect the streets, but in this club, I’m the queen."
She pointed a finger at the second floor as bouncers lined the rail, same for every corner. If anything happened right now, Tony and his boys wouldn’t stand a chance.
But Tony wasn’t one to give in. "Are you threatening me?" He repeated her words.
"I’m just stating facts." She answered this time with a little venom in her words. "I mean it’d be a shame if officers went mysteriously missing in my club."
Click.
He didn’t know where from but he heard the distinct sound of a gun cocking as John placed a hand on his shoulder. "I think it’s time we leave man."
Tony nodded. Turning to leave the club, just at the door he turned back and met Ashlynn’s eyes. "You’ll be seeing me around, Mrs Moretti."
Immediately they left Ashlynn’s hands moved for her phone as she dialled furiously.
Ring—
RING—
RING——
Then finally, he answered. "Why haven’t you been picking up my calls?"
Caleb answered from the other side of the phone. "Had to get a new phone." He eyed Helene beside him as they drove back to the house.
"What the fuck did you do, Monrrow?" She hissed.
"An unplanned inconvenience," he said again, looking at Helene who’s hands were still on his even as he drove. "But it’ll be handled."
"I don’t like trouble that isn’t mine," she said, standing. "Cops showing up at my front door looking for you because of a high-speed car chase, isn’t my trouble."
"And I’m trying you I’ll handle it." He said but didn’t really know how he would. Of course, Amaka and Julius were his first options but even that was not certain.
"I didn’t give them the cameras."
"I trusted you wouldn’t," His voice softened. "Thank you. I’ll deal with everything else... also, is our casino free in a few weeks?"
"Why you asking?" She arched a brow at how calm he was. "What are you planning?"
"Let’s just say business."