Erin didn't know what to think about this. She's been doing this job for a while now but this was different. She's used to drug dealers and murderers but a barkeeper who's connected to some bad people? What could he be useful for? They're trying to find young women, human trafficking, and she highly doubts that a barkeeper of a little country bar next to a little motel could be their key player.

She would go and check him out anyways. And now that she was assigned to him, she actually didn't have a choice. So she pretended like she didn't want to because she didn't like it when people told her how to handle things. Which is why she ended up getting this case in the first place. To fix things after 'screwing up'. At least that's how her bosses called it. In her eyes, she did the right thing. She hurt an asshole in the process but who cares? She saved a bunch of kids. Which means, for her, it's a win. And that's why she can't believe that she's actually been assigned to pretend to be a broke girl, looking for a job in a country bar.

A bar with an actual bull where drunk, grown men can embarrass themselves while they try to look tough. She'll have to let drunk truckers, that can't keep their hands to themselves, tell her what to do. She'll have to smile and get them drinks while they call her names, thinking they're cute and irresistible.

"Do everything you need to get him to trust you, Erin." her chief tells her, "Whatever it takes." She looked up at him from the chair she's sitting in. She's in her bosses office. She can't stand the guy. It's hard for her to bite her tongue after his comment but she does it anyway. He doesn't care how far she has to go to get information, even if it means for her to do the barkeeper.

"Is this really necessary, Rivers? He doesn't look like he would know anything about this. Are we really going to build a whole identity for a barkeeper?" Erin tries to convince him with raised brows. Working undercover takes a lot of preparation. She will need a new ID, license, apartment with pictures and personal belongings of the person she is pretending to be.

"He is our only lead, Lindsay. Somehow, all of this is connected to the bar he's working at. Even if he isn't responsible, he could know something or someone. These girls went missing after spending an evening in that bar. He could be a contact man or even the one who's abducting them. God knows what has happened to the girls after they went missing. So I need you to give your all, Erin. I'm counting on you." He sternly looked at her while sitting on top of his desk. He always does that when he tries to convince someone. It's easier to be intimidating when you're sitting really close to the person you're trying to convince. Erin never cared. She had worse people than the police chief trying to intimidate her.

She took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair when she finally spoke up again.

"Well, I don't really have a choice, do I?" Her boss simply shakes his head. She sighs loudly as she gets out of the chair to take the files with all the information she needed to work the case.

She's on her way out when Rivers called after her "Erin," she threw her head back and turned around to face him again.

"Weekly meetings with your partner. He's your only contact to your real life, you understand? He has everything you'll need for the next months." Erin simply nodded as she was turning around to get out of Rivers office. She doesn't even have the time to take a breath when her partner's loud voice has her jump. She hated that about him. He scared the shit out of her sometimes but she wouldn't have is any other way.

"Hey, Linds! What's that face?" Antonio seems confused by her expression.

"It's fine Antonio. I know you have everything I need for our next case. Don't pretend like the chief didn't already fill his favorite little detective in on everything." He smirked as Erin was making her way over to his desk, he was prepared. He always was. He claps his hands together which causes her to jump again.
She's been working with her partner for 7 years and she knew that he was never more excited than when he was able to build a whole new identity. Normally, she was too if it wouldn't mean that she'd have to put herself out there for drunk, disgusting old men every night. If she wanted that she'd just go back to where she grew up. Although she must admit, it was always fun to create a new character.

"Show me what you got, partner." She smiles, genuinely for the first time today. Antonio always made her smile without even trying. She leaned over his desk with both arms when he tries to find an order on how to present everything to her. He loves this and she knows he does so she gives him his time to put everything in order in his mind.

"Alright, ready?" Erin simply nods with a little smile to let him continue. "Good. So, let's start with your name. From now on you'll be Emma Johnson. Simple name, not obvious or suspicious in any way. This is your ID and this is your license." He hands her the two cards and continues, "Okay, You have a car, this," he holds up a key and hands it to her, "is your Key. It's an old car. The only car you can afford as a broke you woman, looking for a job. And here we have the key to your new apartment. Please study everything in that apartment when you get there so-"

"Antonio," she cut him off, "I've done this before. I know you get all excited and want to talk about all the details but I know what I'm doing." Erin gently pats his back and he smiles. He knows he can overheat when he's really passionate about something. In Antonio's case, it was undercover work.

He explained everything to her. Every single detail about the person she was going to be for the next few months. He told her about her relationship with her parents, their names, how she grew up, that she has a brother, him, just in case someone ever sees them when they have their weekly meetings.

He repeated everything she needed to know about the barkeeper and the bar itself. Until she was prepared for her new life as Emma Johnson.

Erin was sitting in her new car, new as far as you can call a 10-year-old car new. She was on her way to ask for a job, she was about to meet her target. The person she'll have to watch every second of every day to find out where those girls are. She didn't know a lot about him. Antonio told her that the guy is ex-military, no family, no wife or girlfriend and that his name was Jay Halstead.

Erin had already checked out her new apartment, it was small but ok for one person. There were a couple of pictures of her and Antonio which made her smile. He really was like a brother she thought, even if it wasn't by blood. They have been risking their lives for each other for over 7 years so to her, he was family. The apartment was built pretty simple. There was one big room with a bed, a couch, a TV and a little tiny kitchen in the corner and the other room was her bathroom. There was no bathtub, only a shower, and a sink, simple.

She put her car in park and took a deep breath, she'll have to be perfect the second she enters the bar in front of her. She only has one shot to get this job. She'll have to seem competent and sexy at the same time. She has to be Emma, not Erin.

Before she can think too much about it, she makes her way over and opens the door. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol immediately hitting her, she doesn't care. She had a life before and this definitely wasn't the first time she went into a bar like this. Although it seems, that women aren't in here too often. Everyone's gaze was on her, she could see and feel it. But being Emma, she didn't care, the person she pretended to be, likes the attention. She has a smirk on her face, knowing that her plan was working, there is no way she is not getting hired.

Erin made her way over to the bar and there he was, the suspect, Jay Halstead. She has to admit, he looks different than she imagined. The picture from years ago of him as a soldier didn't do him justice. His hair was a little longer, brushed to the side and he now has a beard which made him look older. He was taller than she thought, and in good shape, better than he was during his military days it seems. He was more intimidating than she figured he'd be. To Erin, nobody was really intimidating though. She had worse and bigger people use her as a punching bag.

"Hey, barkeeper." She says trying to sound somewhat flirty. Erin leaned on the bar with her elbows, slightly standing on her tiptoes to be able to lean on it. He smirks and does the same. It's amusing to him that she isn't able to reach up onto the bar.

"Hey, tiny lady." he chuckles and all of a sudden he seems a lot less intimidating, "what can I get you?"

"It's Emma," he nodded and she continues, "I talked to the owner of this place and he said you are in need of waitresses. That I should come by and you'd decide?"

Jay pushed himself up and continued to clean a whiskey glass.

"Well, did you bring your resume, Emma?" Erin looked at him confused, she didn't expect him to ask for a resume.

"I uh-"

"I'm joking. You're lucky, we actually do need someone at the moment. How about you come over at 4 pm tomorrow and show me what you got? If you do good, you have the job, deal?" Jay holds his hand out for her to shake it.

This was easier than she expected it to be, but who was she to complain. He wanted to give her the job, and she was one step closer to the missing girls one big step. Although she didn't expect him to be this nice. But who was she kidding he probably just wanted to have sex with her anyways. She didn't care, she used it to her advantage and moved to shake his hand with a smile on her face.

"Deal."

A/N: Hey it's Maddie and Laura, yay!

So this is the first chapter we ever wrote together so be gentle with your reviews lol

We were thinking of making this a 3 part story but we kind of like the storyline and are considering to turn it into a longer story with more chapters. Please let us know what you think and if you like the plot! Thanks xoxo