As a result of what happened that night, everyone back at the station was on edge. Raymond and Albert faced the consequences of their actions, sending Selina to the hospital, detaining the unconscious Ally in the bullpen and declaring the Midnight Sun sealed due to a crime scene investigation.
The place was a stark contrast to the mayhem of the club, but the atmosphere was filled with the burden of recent events. Raymond and Albert returned weary and troubled, processing the night's events and their implications. Jonah Jameson, the Chief of Police, was pacing restlessly in his office as his two subordinates were standing at ease but still waiting for the chief to speak.
"Chief, I have something to report to you; it is about the club, Midnight Sun." Raymond first broke the silence between them and was slowly building up the conversation, hesitant to tell the chief what went down, but it was compulsory to report regardless.
Chief Jameson glared at Raymond and said, "Why do I have to put up with this s***? I told you it was a recon mission! Your mission is to gather intelligence and become familiar with the activities going on in Midnight Sun! Was it that difficult to do, Shaw?" Chief Jameson's face drew dangerously close to Raymond's, but he remained perfectly still and unflinching.
"I found the whole situation suspicious when a girl was spiking drinks at every customer she saw, so I chose to reprimand her. Sir!" Raymond justified his actions without hesitation.
"Alright, alright, what about the fact that you made out with the girl in question and were caught live on camera?" The chief's eyebrows arch as he rejects Raymond's assertion. "Live on camera! Last time I checked, that was not the definition of reconnaissance! Your alias Bruce Payne will not be useful when someone like your family members and friends can identify your s*** on social media."
"The intimacy was to keep things under wraps, Chief! I needed her to trust me so that I could gather intelligence. Therefore, this was what I had procured."
Raymond delivered five sachets of substances that looked exactly like Earl Grey tea bags. He placed them on the table.
"What is this?" Chief Jameson curiously looked at the sachets.
"These were the drugs that I had obtained from her," explained Raymond.
"And how did you obtain it from her?" questioned the chief.
"While I kissed her," answered Raymond.
"So, based on this, you apprehend her? Do you have enough proof that she was the mastermind of the club? She could be just a pawn doing her job at the bar," the chief continued to ask.
"In any case, a pawn who committed the crime of possession of controlled substances is still a crime, and sufficient eyewitness warrants her capture. Chief, the situation caught on camera was beyond my control. Many influencers and celebrities are going in and out of this club, and Paparazzi will be there. Even onlookers will whip out their phones at the sight of an interesting event. My act with the suspect will not garner the attention of the masses as much as the fallen crimson girl."
"Let's hope that you are right, and the commissioner will not come after our precinct if this entire operation goes sour. I am counting on you, Ray! Do not disappoint me again!
"Yes, sir!"
Chief Jameson then looked at Albert to his left and said, "Hawke! Report!"
"The crimson girl is still unconscious and cannot be questioned. Based on the blood test, her alcohol levels were through the roof. She must have been drinking before she stepped foot in the club. Her intoxication levels are moderate. As far as I can tell, she was doped at the club. The amount of drug in her bloodstream was significant and probably equivalent to a sachet of these substances. I am still investigating this, and hopefully, the substances in the sachets match the substances in her blood. Then we have concrete evidence to detain Ally Ludwick; she has nowhere to run."
"Are there any other suspicious events happening around the club?" So far, I have not seen many uniformed hostesses delivering drinks; I assume that they dress in casual clothes to let them blend in with the clientele. The other girls appeared to be speaking casually like usual customers, except for the girl Raymond held, who was accused of working there by another girl. I suspect a bigger operation is unfolding in the club, and the partner I was with and Raymond's previous hostess were in cahoots."
Raymond's eyes widened at Albert's report, as Albert did not mention this to him. What made him think that those girls were planning something malicious? 'If what Raymond said was true, then I screw up big time targeting the wrong suspect. I need to interrogate her fast and determine all the variables in these cases.' Raymond thought.
"Good work, Albert. Do continue to investigate this."
The chief was satisfied with Albert's report and dismissed them, but Raymond wasn't satisfied that the chief did not reprimand Albert as he did to him. When they left the chief's office, Raymond turned to look at Albert and said, "Why didn't you tell me that you suspected the first hostess I was with?"
"I did hint that you should not abandon your partner like that and continue to gauge her. Besides, she was yearning for your attention." Albert answered with a perfunctory look.
"How did you find out?"
"I spoke with Annette and the woman that you left behind. After a while, I started to notice that they were very relaxed when talking to each other. Like they are mates or subordinates. So I continued the conversation with them before heading towards the dance floor with Annette."
"What?"
"That woman was the owner of the club." Albert's new information startles Raymond.
"And her name is Anne-Rose Delavigne."
"Delavigne? One of the five most famous families in the country! So you knew her?"
"She looked familiar, but I didn't know her as I don't attend these events often. Anyway, you targeted the wrong girl, Shaw. Affection made you blind. I handled all the tedious work and the background checks on your behalf. The documents are already on your desks. If you excuse me, I need to be back at the hospital."
"Why didn't you tell this to the chief?" Raymond inquired.
"Because I am giving you a second chance to redeem your sorry a**!" Albert revealed.
Raymond stared at Albert in disbelief. His ego was bruised. Because of his carelessness, he felt extremely embarrassed and confused about what had transpired. Was there anything he consumed before he chugged the alcoholic beverages? He withdrew his fist, which was clenched up, and resolved to pry information out of Ally first. He headed back to his room to review the report that Albert had left. Albert is about to put his position as the top investigator in the precinct to the test, and if he isn't careful, he might lose it.
Afterwards, a knock came at the door, prompting its opening. A female cop slid her head in and said, "Ally Ludwick is awake. We are transferring the detainees and she will be at the interrogation room in five minutes."
"Alright." Raymond went to the interrogation room immediately after he was informed. Five minutes later, the door opened to reveal a pretty girl with dishevelled hair. Her dress was tattered, and her complexion dulled due to insufficient rest. The sweetheart's neckline was revealing her bosoms, an attire completely inappropriate in the precinct.
She recognised him and gasped.