Chereads / Sober Hearts / Chapter 4 - 4. The Dashing Officer (2)... and friend

Chapter 4 - 4. The Dashing Officer (2)... and friend

The atmosphere at the police department was so chilly that it made the officers at the precinct freeze. On New Year's Day, a severe winter storm blasted the building situated at the heart of the city square. The snow blanketed the city streets in white, rendering the roads nearly impassable. The cold is biting and excruciating as the wind howls outside the sturdy walls of the precinct, expressing the agony of the officers working during the holiday.

Inside the precinct, the atmosphere is a stark contrast to the festive cheer that New Year's Day generally brings. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over the diligent officers, who were mostly single, working through the holiday and dealing with challenging cases in the adverse weather.

Among them is a dashing young officer known for his commitment and sharp instincts, Raymond Shaw. He had planned to spend his New Year's at a local club, trying to investigate a drug dealing case. His friend Albert Hawke, who was known for his sharp wit and resourcefulness, came up with an undercover story where the two would pose as philanthropists to blend in amongst the clubgoers. It was a high-stakes mission to infiltrate the club and gather intel on the drug dealing ring.

Raymond: "Let us go through the plan; I will be Bruce Payne, and you will go as Barack Bent."

Albert: "What lousy moniker are you bestowing upon me? Hell no! You can go with Bruce Payne, but my alias is Clark Ghent."

Raymond: "With all the hard work we have put in to penetrate the club, I do hope our aliases won't be too farfetched and give us away."

With an exasperated expression, Albert impatiently remarked, "With the name Barack Bent, that would definitely blow our cover!"

Raymond: "Alright, Clark! Let us make a move!"

Albert was sported in a British-style slim-cut black trench coat paired with an open collar shirt and slim-fit trousers to match, which made him look stylish yet casual, and Raymond was dressed in a Lizeaven Blazer with a white round collar shirt and black leather pants, which completed his casually smart outfit. Both men cloaked themselves in subterfuge and looked like they were descendants of opulent families, eager to show off their wealth, lure hens, and have the best night of their lives.

Both of them arrived at the club in an extravagant limousine. The club was crowded, and the DJ was hyping up, creating an electrifying atmosphere. It was chaotic and exotic. The women and some men in the club were vying for the male patron's gaze.

Raymond whispered, "How insecure can they be to flaunt their bodies like that?"

Albert replied, "You know most of them think that hooking up with a jackpot is their ticket out and financial freedom."

Raymond retorted, "Ridiculous effort must be made to gain success."

"Hey, if you can get rich the easy way, why not? Moreover, not all ladies here are gold diggers. Some of them are craving attention and validation to boost their self-esteem." Albert lazily responded. He knows women are complicated creatures who are multi-faceted, cunning, and treacherous.

Amidst the pulsating lights and pounding beats in the club, Albert blended effortlessly into the scene. They split up to cover more ground. Raymond and Albert navigated themselves in the crowded space. As they interacted with the ladies in the club, they maintained a careful balance of friendliness and approachability, being cautious not to arouse suspicion.

The officer kept his conversation light, often about the music of the club, while subtly steering the topic towards more relevant information. Raymond, known for his sharp investigation skills, was terrible at engaging in nuanced conversation with women, where his words and gestures often led to a dead end. He often applied the art of eliciting information without directly asking for it. His approach, which was analytical and less personal, doesn't always mesh well with a casual, emotionally charged, and often sexually driven setting. Despite his shortcomings, he remained focused on picking up nonverbal cues and indirect indicators of drug involvement.

Albert, on the other hand, is an innate flirt; he thrived in this environment thanks to his captivating charisma and irresistible appeal. From the beginning of the encounter with the ladies, he made sure they were comfortable and relaxed. The females in the club were drawn to his affability and candor. Each word he said was calming and seductive. Hence, his disarming personality allowed him to probe and inquire without feeling threatened or suspicious.

Throughout the night, they met a myriad of personalities, both men and women, who were seeking to have sex. Raymond discretely divided them into two categories: one group was solely seeking to have fun with no strings attached, while the other had ulterior motives. The key is to unravel which of them are involved in the drug network.

While the two men were there, scouring for women who might be involved in the drug dealing ring, Raymond met one of the most beautiful people in the club, wearing a Bardot midnight dress with a hint of sparkle. He was in awe of her beauty and could not believe his eyes. He murmured to himself, "She is the one!"