(In Collaboration with Leidenschaft)




Javier was in the Corolla with Werner driving; his hands were both inside of his Nike tracksuit as he looked at the road ahead. The duo spotted then a black Corolla, with tinted windows fully blacked out parked on the side of the street, Javier nodded once Werner stated it outloud and proceeded on driving. However, as Javier glanced at the side mirror he spotted a motorbike, roughly say 2 cars away from them. Looked like a male on a Japanese style bike with a blue helmet his head. “6 O’clock, possible tail. Motorbike, Blue Helmet” stated Javier, eyes on the side mirror. Werner looked at his rear-view mirror before staring back at the road ahead. “Bar’s five miles out," Werner said, looking at the GPS, "We hit the next turn, if he follow’s us there then we park to the side, if not, we go in.” Werner said, making it a point to check his p320.

The Sonata made the right turn in a normal fashion, the biker momentarily slowed down before buzzing off at the last moment. Javier seemed to rub his jawline and looked at the side mirror once again. “Fucking shady isn’t it?” Javier said. 

“Yeah. Yeah, it is, my friend.” Werner replied, smiling a little, but looking at his mirrors for any other signs of a tail. At least this wasn't Baghdad or some Afghan town. Of course, it always made it easier when the bad guys popped out with ak47s. It made it obvious who was trying to kill you.

The Sonata arrived at Otis’s bar. The bar was in decent condition on the outside with a few locals around a pickup truck. The locals gave the Sonata a look before getting into the pickup truck and driving off. A few cars were outside. A jeep, a station wagon and a Honda Civic, as well as a Harley Davidson motorbike. The Sonata occupied one of the free parking spots before the duo got out. Werner locked the car and looked both ways before tossing Javier the keys. “You drive back, yeah?” Werner said, a smile on his face, but not a request. 

“Sounds good.” Javier said, tossing the keys into his tracksuit pocket. Javier took watch a few moments outside before going in with Werner. Werner proceeded towards Carla Graver and gave a introduction to her. Javier sat down beside Werner. As Javier sat down he noticed roughly in the corner of the bar across from their booth, a man in his 40s giving the occasional look to the table. The male seemed keeping a eye on the group and had a bottle of beer in his hands, slowly taking the occasional sip from it. He felt like he was being watched, though he began the questioning as he looked at Carla.

“What can you tell me about the last time you saw David Jimenez and Thomas Grant?” Werner asked, interlocking his fingers.

"Those boys getting themselves in trouble again with that shit?" She frowned.

"You could say that. Only one reason the DEA is here." He nodded to Javier, and Carla sucked her teeth at the revelation she was talking to Feds. Or, a Fed, and a CIA Officer. But no one needed to know that. He brought out his notebook and uncapped his pen, already touching the tip of the pen to the paper, waiting. "We'd like to know about the incident you responded to, with the Mason's lodge and those two."

She sighed before beginning, her eyes going to the ceiling in thought, "I was on the usual day-shift stuff, you know, patrolling. I'd only given a few tickets out, got mean-mugged by some Surenos, every day stuff. I get a call towards the end of my shift, says the Mason's lodge is getting a hard time from two guys that won't stop harassing their members. I pick these guys up, slap cuffs on them- they were cooperative, so- I put them in the back. One's got a clean record, David Jimenez." She stopped to take a sip of her beer, "The other one though, he got busted for possession of marijuana. Spent four months in jail after that."

"How long ago was this?" David asked.

"I think... Six months ago? Yeah, six." She nodded.

“What occurred once you took them in?” Javier asked

“Well, I took them into the station. Was a ok day, we had a tourist who got robbed and a stolen car request, nothing major at the time. Both men sat down at the station and we got the lodge on the phone. The lodge wasn’t interested in pressing charges or anything, they just wanted them to go away and stop bothering them. A fair request, I thought nothing more of it and roughly after 20 minutes of asking basic information and questions both men were free.” Carla replied, again having another sip of her beer.

“What did you ask?” Javier asked, looking to the male in the corner for a moment before back at Carla.

“Name, Address, both stated different addresses. David, since he was clean, I didn’t press into. However, I pressed into Thomas a bit more. He had a ounce or two when he got stopped by some cops on a DUI. Cops had probable ground and searched him, found the weed and pressed charges on him. He plead guilty and took four months to jail for the crime. After that I simply accepted the response, and called the lodge up before formally releasing the men.” Carla stated.

"Where is this lodge? Can I get an address?" Werner asked.

"Yeah, sure. You boys don't know your way around yet?" She asked.

"No, we both got put on the case after we transferred in. Anyways..." He said, tapping his pen on the paper.

"Mm, okay." She rattled off the address for the lodge and Werner scribbled it down, flipping the notebook closed and stuffing it back in the pocket it came from.

"Thank you." Werner smiled. There was still the fact that Carla was alone here and there was a man obviously watching them at the bar. A danger to them was now a danger to her, he'd seen them talk to her. "Listen, Carla. I'm not going to let you drive home after a few drinks. I'm going to let you in on a secret here- David Jimenez went missing after returning from Mexico. We have reason to believe it's cartel related. If anyone's seen you talking with us, they'll want to know what we talked about, and they might not be nice about getting that information. It'd be best if you left with us."

"Right, right." Carla chuckled. "You boys are a couple of gentleman, escorting a lady out."

"Sure we are." Werner smiled, leaning over to Javier, "You're bringing up the rear, if that guy follows us out, let him go to his vehicle. If he pulls a gun, pull yours quicker. We're only turning this into the wild west if someone else really, really wants it that way."

He nodded, Javier nodded, Carla gave a growing look of concern. They got up, Werner throwing down a twenty, and they left with Carla walking between Werner and Javier. Every step, he expected the man to get up and then having to pull his gun. The man at the bar stayed where he was and it was like crossing a finish line when they set foot past the threshold of the place. The warm night air felt like the ambient breezes of heaven. Javier got into the Sonata and cranked the engine, Werner helping Carla into the backseat and taking a seat next to her. "Let's not get too fond now, boys." Carla said. It was at this point that Werner smelled the alcohol on her breath and noticed her slurring words.

He rolled his eyes, "Keep an eye out for the Corolla and crotch-rocket. We only get out if they do, otherwise, we keep on the gas until getting back to the others." The man who was watching them got back on his Harley, the motorcycle roaring to life obnoxiously, before he sped off out of the parking lot. "Let's go." He brought out his phone and dialed Dan.