"What do the records tell us about Cilghal?" Hobbs huffed as he dropped the double-weighted dumbbell. "What do we have on him? Any info about his whereabouts?..and why do we have to work with a British Agent?"
"It's Agent Shaw. Hattie Shaw like you know, and besides, Cilghal's got a criminal chronicle with us. Hattie replied, slamming a document on a gym desk. " His file report on narcotics and illegal ammunition spreads all the way to Lichfield. For his whereabouts, absolutely we have no idea at the moment."
"You should know, Hobbs, that is the reason I am here." She turned to face him. Hobbs stared at her for what seemed like a passing moment, a brow raised.
"Alright, but you don't get in my way. You listen to what I tell you and we work together. Though I don't like working with recruits."
"Recruits...how about we test that, Agent Hobbs?" Hattie glowered, taking a seat.
"I'm not here for games." Hobbs neglected her statement, dabbing at his body.
"Who says I am here for one. Let's take a bet, I be the one to pin Cilghal's location, and I am in for the game." Hattie said.
She murmured. "I was in all along anyway."
Hobbs grinned. "Are you here to prove me wrong? Brits and their show-off. I will take you for your word."
Hattie stood, stretching her hands in courtesy. "We can conclude we've officially met, Big guy?"
But Hobbs scoffed, walking off. "As you said, we will see what you can do. I think it is enough with the gestures, a pleasure meeting you."
….
CUBA, DAYTIME
Agent Hattie Shaw made a drive-by to a moderate motel not far from the district of Havana. She alighted from her Range Rover as she made her way to the lobby section. She demanded a room from a lady receptionist who looked too old for her age. To her surprise, the rooms were cheap and comfy over here. Hattie had a shower, ordered some Pan con Lechón (Roast Pork Sandwich) — cost more for his pleasant taste.
After her meal, which she had stepped down with a red cocktail, she rummaged through Cilghal's report. One of the pinned files, which she had marked with a red marker, read a profile on Miguel Cabrera— Miguel Cabrera, known to be the key informant of the cartel. A fucking rich criminal with an unsatiated desire for precious things. No murder report. Overload of Narcotics and drug cases—She needed to get a hand on this guy.
Hattie burrowed through her laptop, hoping to pinpoint Cabrera's last location in Cuba. Information on him had it that he was a part-time bartender for an exotic club in Havana. If she could guess right, it was Lo Mejor de Cuba, located right at the centre of the district. She would need to scout at nightfall.
After taking a bit of a nap, Hattie got ready for her night scouting. She drove her range into the district, packing three houses away from the club. She sensed they might want to be trouble involved, so she took along with her gun, tucking at her hoodie pocket, and she made her way into the band.
On getting into the club, contemporary loud music blasted through the air, almost deafening. She searched around for a little while, nodding her head along with the music. She never made it obvious that she was looking for someone—she best won't get into trouble, right here, right now.
After some thorough lookout, she immediately cited Miguel walking from a VIP section to the bar—he had probably gone ahead to serve someone special, that was not her problem by the way. Hattie meandered her way to the bar, grabbing a stool, and ordering for some Martini shots. Miguel watched her with suspecting looks, as he served her.
"You a cop?" He was later forced to ask. "Uh?"
"Hey, easy curious guy, " Hattie replied, sidelining the question with a wave of her hand.
"What the goddamn hell is a cop doing here...and yea, you are not from around here, are you?"
"Chillax."
"Have you come here to arrest me for all my crimes? Oh, I bet you wouldn't want to do that." Miguel leaned in close. "Did Letty send you? I thought she might have been dead by now. She just doesn't die easily, that one."
"Hey be calm, who is Letty?...and what the hell are you talking about?"
"Are you trying to play ignorant now? I guess I have to call the bouncers on you." Miguel threatened, raising a walkie to his mouth. "Hey Fernando, there is a cop here—"
"Now you wouldn't do that." Hattie cut in, pointing a gun at him, through her jacket, and away from the eyes of the onlookers. "This right here goes into your heart."
Miguel scoffed, raising both hands. "You would be caught before you know it. No escape for you too."
"Now let's not conclude that yet," Hattie said, "Let's not make a mess of the situation."
Hattie nodded her head to the exit. "Let's talk outside."
But what Hattie hadn't known is that she had drawn the attention of two bouncers who were now heading her way.
"Any problem Miguel, is this the cop?" One of them said, readying his Uzi.
"I'm at harm's way Fernando or is her. Kick her out of my bar!"
"Alright Fed, walk slowly to the exit before we make it quick with you," Fernando warned, gripping her arm.
"Hey tough guy, with ease." To Hattie's dismay, Hobbs had emerged out of nowhere, standing beside her and the bouncers. "We can settle this."
"And who the hell are you?" Fernando demanded.
"Motherfuckin' Hobbs." Miguel was the one to reply, darting his way to the VIP Lounge.
"Agent Hobbs, I said I could handle it. What are you doing here stalking me?"
"Would that cut it? Are you seriously handling your job right now?" Hobbs turned to face her. "Oh, I can see that. You know you shouldn't just walk around here voluntarily as you will, recruit."
"We should turn and walk out of here, right now?" Hattie probed.
"Like you suggested." Hobbs nodded. But before he could explain anything to the bouncer, three more of them had gathered upon them.
"Where do you think you are going? No cops just walk in around here uninvited, especially if it is an outside American." Fernando said, sizing Hobbs up, "...and not important, a Brit."
Fernando raised his Uzi, but to the looks of surprise, people had begun to watch them, moving away from the scene. "Now you too, slowly walk to the VIP section before we cause any penalization for misinterpretation."
Hobbs grimaced, raising an eyebrow. He scoffed, raising both hands. "Alright gentlemen, let's not make a mess. Who are we meeting?"
"Now you don't ask questions, do as you are told."
"Touché, what a mess," Hattie said as Fernando nudged her forward. "Easy."
The four big men with Hobbs and Hattie all made their way to the VIP section—everybody staring. To Hobbs dismay, they were specifically going to meet their target; Cilghal. Cilghal was there, sitting on a long couch, with two ladies at his request, rubbing him all over. He was smoking a pipe, and standing before him was Miguel Cabrera—his head bowed.
"Wow, Agent Hobbs, what do we have here?" Cilghal unbuttoned his Vintage shirt, pouring himself a drink. Tattoos could be seen running up the length of his arms. "Care for some? Miguel, bring two glasses."
"We are doing just fine," Hobbs was quick to say, folding his arms behind his back. Fernando wanted to hit him with the gun, but Cilghal waved him off. "Nice of you to be showing up in a public setting. Don't you think?"
"Ah Yeah, living a free life again, would you care to sit then?" Cilghal chugged down his shot, as he rested both arms on the couch.
But as Cilghal said, the duo seemed to reject the idea.
"I said, sit!" Cilghal gritted. The bouncers nudged them forward, forcing them to take a seat.
"I would be lenient with you cops for now," Cilghal continued, "once I meet you again, here, you might not get home to deliver your message, especially you Hobbs, control your recruit over here. She looks charming anyway. Don't you think you are too beautiful to be putting your life on the line?"
Cilghal dragged his pipe, poking his head to Hattie. "Not speaking a word? Don't you have anything hurtful to say to me...haha."
"Permit me to speak for her, whatever your plan is, I would be rightly close on your tail. Do you know who else is looking for you? The British Government, you are wanted on their list, and I guess you can discern what that means."
Cilghal laughed. "I am an inconspicuous man, Hobbs, I would try to be careful this time, hmm?" "Now take them away, I am letting you go this time, go deliver my message to your Feds."
…
Hobbs and Hattie got outside of the club, luckily for Cilghal's self-pity—Hobbs don't know if that is what he should call it.
"We've got to make things clear, recruit. As I have said time and over again, we do this my way." He got into his Jeep, "or I am making sure I kick you out of this fieldwork."
"I don't work for you, Hobbs. And when you start to realize that, you would stop ordering me around. I told you I got this, and for the record, no one backs me out of this."
"Whatever, don't just get in the line, and I hope you don't get yourself into more trouble." Hobbs kickstarted his engine, "I hope I see you again," and he drove off, leaving Hattie to stare into the night.
That same night, Hattie got back to her motel room and slept for the night. The next day, she was on her way back. When she got back, she had to settle into her already booked lodge. She didn't get any time to settle, as the first thing she did was bring out her laptop. If she wasn't drunk the other night, she had listened to Miguel saying a thing or two about Letty. Who Letty was, she had to find out. That might be a key in stages to finally pinning Cilghal back in jail. This time, for good.
Hattie looked up her name, and it was easier to find Letty's name on heists, narcotics and drugs, and so many aspects of a crime she couldn't get but to skip.
How would someone be involved in so many crimes? Who the hell is Letty? Hatty ruminated to herself.
As she searched further, it was stated that she had worked with Cilghal for some time, before she met a guy named Toretto, who was now in a Russian prison with his other cohort. Hattie searched for other people she might have worked with or known, she found a list of names; Carlo, Mia, Han, and some list of other members in Toretto's crew—they all were on wanted lists. Hattie needed to get more information on her, she might be the key to Cighal's grave after all. But she won't be going to them as a cop this time, she would be going as a friend in disguise.