The Gun and the Rose

16 | Surveillance

A ping from my computer woke me from my nap. My eyes snapped open and I sat up from my reclined position in my chair, looking around the empty office room. I had calmly demanded Aerion to give me my own room at work, so I would not have to be around him constantly. He obliged, his demeanor completely changed.

I checked my inbox and found a new unread message from Officer Costa, the same email I had been waiting over a week for. Excited, I opened it, seeing several video files attached along with a small message. "Hello, Detective. I looked through lots of surveillance footage and was not able to find anything particularly incriminating but hopefully these may be able to aide you," it read.

I clicked on the first file, black and white street footage filling my screen. The time and date read Wednesday, two weeks ago at a quarter past midnight, Lucian entering a hole-in-the-wall bar, looking around before closing the door behind him. The screen then switches to him pulling his hood over his head before suspiciously walking through the oddly crowded bar, pushing through the crowd to get to the bar. Through the pixelized video, I could make out him talking to the bartender, continuously glancing around. Lucian slid something under his hand to the bartender, the other man taking it and slipping it into his pocket, handing him a drink. I narrowed my eyes, rewinding the video to watch the exchange again, but unable to clearly see what was being given. Lucian finished his drink and left the joint, climbing back into his car.

I looked through the other videos, each one having the same events of Lucian going into the same bar at the same time every two days, giving something to the bartender. I leaned back in my chair, opening up my calendar. If his appearances were scheduled as I assumed it was, he was going to be at the bar tonight. I pushed my chair back, heading out of the room and into the room next door.

"I got an email from the station," I said without greeting Aerion. My partner sat up in his seat, motioning for me to sit in the empty one in front of him. "Lucian goes to the same bar at the same time, every two days. Every night, he hands the bartender something and the cameras can't pick up on what it is."

"And I'm guessing you want to go to this bar and see what he's up to?" Aerion filled in the blanks. I nodded, unaffected by the permanent pout on his face. After finding out about his cheating lifestyle, I had told him I would be civil for the sake of my job and the baby that we still hadn't discussed.

"He's supposed to be there tonight." Aerion stood, running his hands through his hair.

"That's really dangerous, Rose. It's not a good idea," he argued, shaking his head.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to be disguised as another customer, Aerion. It's not like I was planning to storm in there with the entire police force." He sighed tiredly.

"Okay, this better work."

***

I sat in Aerion's car, looking out the driver's seat window to the bar across the street. It was almost midnight and I was a mess of nerves. I played with the hem of my short dress, glancing at Aerion who was setting up a tiny microphone in his lap.

"I need to put this somewhere he won't see it," he murmured. I nodded, pulling back the sleeve of my dress, revealing my bra strap. Aerion clipped it onto the fabric, making sure it was secure then sat back.

"I'll call you if anything goes south," I said, cracking the door open. He nodded, glancing at the bar. I shut the door behind me, crossing the road and pulling my coat tighter around me. I wore a little black dress and nothing else, instantly regretting my choice in the cold almost winter wind.

I entered the crowded bar, ten minutes before Lucian would. I made my way through the customers, sitting on the empty bar seat beside Lucian's usual spot. I asked for a coke, sipping on it delicately, tapping on the counter impatiently. And as expected, not a minute late, a tall figure entered the bar. I took another sip from my coke, gulping down the sweet liquid as Lucian sat beside me, pushing his hood down. He motioned for the bartender.