Title: Paying Old Debts
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fastlane or anything in conjunction with Fastlane nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: First and foremost I wanted to thank everyone who read and reviewed my other fastlane fic. I was very touched by your responses. In this posting, I'm going for an actual storyline. I'ld love to hear what you think of it!
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Chapter 1
Club 9 was crowded with the wild, young rich of LA as Deaq and Van approached the man they had come to see, Colin Martel. "I appreciate your location for a meet" Van greeted as he and Colin shook hands amidst the club's dance floor.
Colin's smiled, "I like a little distraction while doing business," even as his eyes followed a blonde whose clothing left little to the imagination.
"I hear that," Deaq chimed in as he also shook Colin's hand.
"'Sides, my new partner's the club owner," and Colin turned around allowing Deaq and Van to see a 55 year old Italian man stroll across the club like it was his very own kingdom.
Van's heart hammered in his chest and he fought hard to stand his ground as Cade Roberts steadily approached. Roberts cold blue eyes bore into Van's and a smile flipped up Roberts' lips. "Van," he greeted but Van couldn't find his voice. It made no difference, Roberts embraced him in a tight Italian hug a moment before pulling back and resting his hand against Van's cheek.
"You look good, kid."
"Thanks," Van finally found speech possible and plastered on a smile to match Cade's. "I had no idea you owned this club," his eyes intently staring into Cade's.
"Well, it's been some years since we saw each other. But I've kept tabs on you, Van." A pause fell as Van understood the challenge and threat Cade had announced. Then Cade wrapped his arm around Van's shoulders. "Colin, I gotta take a minute or two and show the kid around. You and..." Roberts eyes rested on Van's partner, "Deaq? right?" Deaq nodded his head even as his eyes stayed worriedly on Van. "You two do the business talk. You know it bores me anyway. Van and I'll come back for the congratulatory drinks."
"Hey I wouldn't mind a tour?" Deaq, with a light tone, tried to join Van on his trip.
But it was Van that shut him down instead of Cade. "You just want a better scouting location for the hotties. Do what you do best Deaq, business. Let me handle the hotties." Cade and Colin laughed but Deaq's eyes grew dark with growing worry at Van's deflection.
Allowing a smirk to pull onto his lips, Deaq sallied back, "Dream on bother. We all know I'm the hottie magnet and you get my leftovers. You go on your little tour and I'll do business and still have two fine ladies on my arms when you get back."
Van laughed and he and Deaq knocked fists before Van let Roberts pull him in the throng of the nightclub. Deaq tried hard to keep the smile on his face as he lost sight of his partner and turned to Colin. "Business time is now, my man. Then I've got to bribe two ladies to look accommodating."
Cade leaned over close to Van's ear as they pushed through the crowds, "Where's your uniform, Officer Van Ray. Forget it back at the Candy Store."
Van's eyes shot to Cade's in alarm and he felt the last hope he had clung to disappear at Cade's cold calculating eyes. Some markers never got taken off the books.
Cade steered Van into an office that had two way mirrors overlooking the club. The office door clicked shut an instant before Van broke free from Cade's hold, pulled his gun, leveled it at Cade's head and cocked the hammer.
"You ready to die, Cade?" Van's voice was a low deadly sound. "Where do you want your body dumped? Desert or Ocean?"
But no fear showed in Cade's eyes, only amusement. "No," he chuckled and walked to the two way mirrors even as Van's gun tracked him. "The question is where do you want your partner's body dumped?" and he nodded his head toward the scene the mirrors showcased.
Van let his eyes drift from Cade's eyes to the view of the club even as his gun sight never wavered from it's initial target. From the office, Van could easily see Deaq and Colin talking in a booth across the room. What Van could also see was three well dressed Italians stationed not ten feet from the booth.
"Kill Mr. Hayes," Cade calmly said and immediately Van watched as the Italians began to pull their guns.
"No!" Van screamed and jammed the gun under Cade's jaw. "Call 'em off! Call 'em off now!"
"One minute," Cade softly said and Van watched as the Italians stood down from their orders for the time frame Cade had set.
"What the hell do you want?!" Van growled as he leaned into Cade.
A twinkle of humor sprang to Cade's eyes, "I want you first, to get that gun out of my face. Put it away now and it'll buy your friend another minute."
Hesitation reigned with Van but at the heart of it, he knew Cade Roberts. The man had no mercy. With defeat, Van stepped back from Cade, uncocked his gun and reholstered it. "Alright, now call off your dogs."
"My word and my honor are one and the same, you know that, Van. In fact, I'm going to be generous. Two minutes." And Van saw Cade's men still again, ready to wait another two minutes for action.
Van's eyes swung back to Cade's. "What the hell do you want?!"
"Information, Officer Ray. Only information."
"'Bout what?"
"What's Colin's weakness?"
"Is this a final round of Jeopordy?! How should I know? He's your partner?!"
"But he's your mark." Van's gut clenched as Roberts' intention became clearer. "You've zeroed in on a weakness even before you make him a mark. So what's my new business partner's weakness? How were you going to bring him down?"
"Police work. You know arrests, evidence, trials," Van smart mouthed back.
"Take away thirty seconds," Cade ordered his men but Van immediately shouted, "Wait!"
Cade stepped up toe to toe with Van. "I asked you a question. Answer it." At Van's silence, Cade ordered, "Take it down to 10 seconds. 10 ..9..8...7.."
"Gambling!"
"6...5..."
"We were gonna give him counterfeit chips!" Van's words rushed out of him like a scream.
"Five minutes." Cade rested his hand again on Van's cheek. "Counterfeiting? You are your father's son aren't you, Van?"
Van flinched at the touch as much as to the words but didn't step back from Cade.
"So you were going to sell him some counterfeit chips, gain access to his organization and gut him from the inside out. Nicely planned. And what evidence do you already have on Colin's organization?" At Van's hesitation Cade shook his head and slid his hand behind Van's neck, "I can take your friend out any time I want. It'ld be a shame if you get two Hayes boys killed in the line of duty."
"You know everything don't you. Except what you need me to tell you about your partner. Well, I'll be a nice guy and tell you that information when you let Deaq walk outta here."
"You always think you've got something to bargain with. I have your friend, Van. He's not leaving alive unless you tell me exactly what I want to know. You of all people know what I'm capable of."
Van's look told Cade that he had not forgotten that lesson in the eleven years since it had been taught.
"As for what I want to know about Colin, I know that his business will be mine before this club shuts down tonight. What I don't know is if your friend Deaq will be among the missing when the sun of a new day hits the ocean. Only you know that one."
Roughly Cade spun Van around and slammed him against the glass, pressing his face against the two way mirror. "Deaq's life is in your hands, Van. Whether he lives or dies tonight is up to you." Cade whispered in Van's ear, "What evidence do you have on Colin?"
The scene before Van was like some slow motion movie. The dance floor was packed, the lights were pulsing and Deaq sat in a booth laughing, unaware that his life hung on a thread. A thread Van grasped.
"Colin's brother flipped when he got caught on a murder charge. He's been leaking information to us since last year," Van gave up, his voice radiating the cost this betrayal had on his soul.
"You know transactions but you don't know the locations or the contacts." Cade interpreted. Van nodded in agreement. Cade's voice snaked into Van's ear, "You did good, Van. Your friend's gonna live to walk out of here.. long as you don't tip off Colin to our little talk here and Deaq leaves my club before times up. Three minutes."
Unexpectedly Van's body exploded in agony and a cry broke from Van's throat as Cade's famous icepick sank into his lower back. "For old times sake." Cade whispered in Van's ear before he pulled the icepick free and released his hold on the undercover cop.
Van slid down the mirror to the floor. Cade crouched down beside him and flipped him over and leaned him back against the wall. "Suck it up, Van. Like your old man used to say, 'Pros play hurt.'" Cade zipped up Van's jacket, concealing the wound from view. "Time's wasting. Save your partner or sit in here and wait to hear the bullets. It's your decision." And Cade stood up, "Thanks for playing final jeopardy." And Cade walked out of the office and shut the door behind him.
TBC
I would love to hear what you think so far!!
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fastlane or anything in conjunction with Fastlane nor am I making a profit from this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: First and foremost I wanted to thank everyone who read and reviewed my other fastlane fic. I was very touched by your responses. In this posting, I'm going for an actual storyline. I'ld love to hear what you think of it!
**********************************************
Chapter 1
Club 9 was crowded with the wild, young rich of LA as Deaq and Van approached the man they had come to see, Colin Martel. "I appreciate your location for a meet" Van greeted as he and Colin shook hands amidst the club's dance floor.
Colin's smiled, "I like a little distraction while doing business," even as his eyes followed a blonde whose clothing left little to the imagination.
"I hear that," Deaq chimed in as he also shook Colin's hand.
"'Sides, my new partner's the club owner," and Colin turned around allowing Deaq and Van to see a 55 year old Italian man stroll across the club like it was his very own kingdom.
Van's heart hammered in his chest and he fought hard to stand his ground as Cade Roberts steadily approached. Roberts cold blue eyes bore into Van's and a smile flipped up Roberts' lips. "Van," he greeted but Van couldn't find his voice. It made no difference, Roberts embraced him in a tight Italian hug a moment before pulling back and resting his hand against Van's cheek.
"You look good, kid."
"Thanks," Van finally found speech possible and plastered on a smile to match Cade's. "I had no idea you owned this club," his eyes intently staring into Cade's.
"Well, it's been some years since we saw each other. But I've kept tabs on you, Van." A pause fell as Van understood the challenge and threat Cade had announced. Then Cade wrapped his arm around Van's shoulders. "Colin, I gotta take a minute or two and show the kid around. You and..." Roberts eyes rested on Van's partner, "Deaq? right?" Deaq nodded his head even as his eyes stayed worriedly on Van. "You two do the business talk. You know it bores me anyway. Van and I'll come back for the congratulatory drinks."
"Hey I wouldn't mind a tour?" Deaq, with a light tone, tried to join Van on his trip.
But it was Van that shut him down instead of Cade. "You just want a better scouting location for the hotties. Do what you do best Deaq, business. Let me handle the hotties." Cade and Colin laughed but Deaq's eyes grew dark with growing worry at Van's deflection.
Allowing a smirk to pull onto his lips, Deaq sallied back, "Dream on bother. We all know I'm the hottie magnet and you get my leftovers. You go on your little tour and I'll do business and still have two fine ladies on my arms when you get back."
Van laughed and he and Deaq knocked fists before Van let Roberts pull him in the throng of the nightclub. Deaq tried hard to keep the smile on his face as he lost sight of his partner and turned to Colin. "Business time is now, my man. Then I've got to bribe two ladies to look accommodating."
Cade leaned over close to Van's ear as they pushed through the crowds, "Where's your uniform, Officer Van Ray. Forget it back at the Candy Store."
Van's eyes shot to Cade's in alarm and he felt the last hope he had clung to disappear at Cade's cold calculating eyes. Some markers never got taken off the books.
Cade steered Van into an office that had two way mirrors overlooking the club. The office door clicked shut an instant before Van broke free from Cade's hold, pulled his gun, leveled it at Cade's head and cocked the hammer.
"You ready to die, Cade?" Van's voice was a low deadly sound. "Where do you want your body dumped? Desert or Ocean?"
But no fear showed in Cade's eyes, only amusement. "No," he chuckled and walked to the two way mirrors even as Van's gun tracked him. "The question is where do you want your partner's body dumped?" and he nodded his head toward the scene the mirrors showcased.
Van let his eyes drift from Cade's eyes to the view of the club even as his gun sight never wavered from it's initial target. From the office, Van could easily see Deaq and Colin talking in a booth across the room. What Van could also see was three well dressed Italians stationed not ten feet from the booth.
"Kill Mr. Hayes," Cade calmly said and immediately Van watched as the Italians began to pull their guns.
"No!" Van screamed and jammed the gun under Cade's jaw. "Call 'em off! Call 'em off now!"
"One minute," Cade softly said and Van watched as the Italians stood down from their orders for the time frame Cade had set.
"What the hell do you want?!" Van growled as he leaned into Cade.
A twinkle of humor sprang to Cade's eyes, "I want you first, to get that gun out of my face. Put it away now and it'll buy your friend another minute."
Hesitation reigned with Van but at the heart of it, he knew Cade Roberts. The man had no mercy. With defeat, Van stepped back from Cade, uncocked his gun and reholstered it. "Alright, now call off your dogs."
"My word and my honor are one and the same, you know that, Van. In fact, I'm going to be generous. Two minutes." And Van saw Cade's men still again, ready to wait another two minutes for action.
Van's eyes swung back to Cade's. "What the hell do you want?!"
"Information, Officer Ray. Only information."
"'Bout what?"
"What's Colin's weakness?"
"Is this a final round of Jeopordy?! How should I know? He's your partner?!"
"But he's your mark." Van's gut clenched as Roberts' intention became clearer. "You've zeroed in on a weakness even before you make him a mark. So what's my new business partner's weakness? How were you going to bring him down?"
"Police work. You know arrests, evidence, trials," Van smart mouthed back.
"Take away thirty seconds," Cade ordered his men but Van immediately shouted, "Wait!"
Cade stepped up toe to toe with Van. "I asked you a question. Answer it." At Van's silence, Cade ordered, "Take it down to 10 seconds. 10 ..9..8...7.."
"Gambling!"
"6...5..."
"We were gonna give him counterfeit chips!" Van's words rushed out of him like a scream.
"Five minutes." Cade rested his hand again on Van's cheek. "Counterfeiting? You are your father's son aren't you, Van?"
Van flinched at the touch as much as to the words but didn't step back from Cade.
"So you were going to sell him some counterfeit chips, gain access to his organization and gut him from the inside out. Nicely planned. And what evidence do you already have on Colin's organization?" At Van's hesitation Cade shook his head and slid his hand behind Van's neck, "I can take your friend out any time I want. It'ld be a shame if you get two Hayes boys killed in the line of duty."
"You know everything don't you. Except what you need me to tell you about your partner. Well, I'll be a nice guy and tell you that information when you let Deaq walk outta here."
"You always think you've got something to bargain with. I have your friend, Van. He's not leaving alive unless you tell me exactly what I want to know. You of all people know what I'm capable of."
Van's look told Cade that he had not forgotten that lesson in the eleven years since it had been taught.
"As for what I want to know about Colin, I know that his business will be mine before this club shuts down tonight. What I don't know is if your friend Deaq will be among the missing when the sun of a new day hits the ocean. Only you know that one."
Roughly Cade spun Van around and slammed him against the glass, pressing his face against the two way mirror. "Deaq's life is in your hands, Van. Whether he lives or dies tonight is up to you." Cade whispered in Van's ear, "What evidence do you have on Colin?"
The scene before Van was like some slow motion movie. The dance floor was packed, the lights were pulsing and Deaq sat in a booth laughing, unaware that his life hung on a thread. A thread Van grasped.
"Colin's brother flipped when he got caught on a murder charge. He's been leaking information to us since last year," Van gave up, his voice radiating the cost this betrayal had on his soul.
"You know transactions but you don't know the locations or the contacts." Cade interpreted. Van nodded in agreement. Cade's voice snaked into Van's ear, "You did good, Van. Your friend's gonna live to walk out of here.. long as you don't tip off Colin to our little talk here and Deaq leaves my club before times up. Three minutes."
Unexpectedly Van's body exploded in agony and a cry broke from Van's throat as Cade's famous icepick sank into his lower back. "For old times sake." Cade whispered in Van's ear before he pulled the icepick free and released his hold on the undercover cop.
Van slid down the mirror to the floor. Cade crouched down beside him and flipped him over and leaned him back against the wall. "Suck it up, Van. Like your old man used to say, 'Pros play hurt.'" Cade zipped up Van's jacket, concealing the wound from view. "Time's wasting. Save your partner or sit in here and wait to hear the bullets. It's your decision." And Cade stood up, "Thanks for playing final jeopardy." And Cade walked out of the office and shut the door behind him.
TBC
I would love to hear what you think so far!!