The next morning when I woke, I'd thought the other night had been a dream. But I soon realised that it was my reality. I got out of bed and knocked on AJ's door. He opened it, he wore a black coat and black pants. He looked wickedly stunning. He still had his maps sprawled around the bed. But he was all dressed and ready to leave for something. He gestured me to come in, he seemed rattled. Like something was bothering him.

"What's wrong?" I asked.
"You look bothered."

"I can't get one thing right." He said, looking at the maps again.

"What?" I mumbled, bending to look at them too. He showed me the route they were supposed to take.

"I don't get why they'd go from here? It doesn't make sense. The best and safest route would be heavily crowded. So no crime or hijack can happen. Yet they still are taking the 5th. It's one of the most deserted routes. Plus, tomorrow is a bank holiday."

"Are you sure, they're transporting the money tomorrow?" I asked suspicious.

"Yeah, Ghost and G were sure of it."
"Then why are you second guessing them?"

He looked at me, with a given up sort of look.

"It just doesn't make sense," he said and sighed. He sat down on the bed and held back his curls.

"AJ, you are good with computers right? Could you help me with something?" I said kneeling near him, putting my hands by his.
He nodded.

"I need you to hack into the Russians phone records. And I need to know whether Ghost talked to them before he met you and when." I said.

"That'll take time. About...atleast today," he said looking uncertain.

"Do it for me. I have a theory, and if I'm right AJ. We'll take down Ghost together."

"Okay. I'll get too it, what're you doing today?" He asked.

"I need to do some tailing," I answered.

"We only have till today to prove Ghost guilty."

"I'll come with you. You can drive and I'll take the computer in the car. My work of fitting the bombs is done. I just need to send the last framework to G," he said.

"Bonnie and Clyde afterall huh?" I said with a soft smile.

He chuckled and leaned in for a sweet and soft kiss. I could never get used too. They would never get old.

I heard a ping from my computer. I'd left it in AJ's room the other night. It broke me away from our kiss. He bit his lip and I giggled.

I went to get the computer, and I was beyond suprised with what I saw. Ghost must have still secret harboured feelings for Lily.

Because I'd just gotten the password to his emails.
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It was 8 am by the time, AJ had managed to complete the entire schedule, plan and framework timed precisely for tomorrow. Then he'd pushed it beneath Jake's door, with a note. We'd left the house by 8:15 am.

At first I'd planned to locate Ghost and then tail him. But after getting access to his mails, one recently received mail, was a meeting point for Ghost and a guy named Gokor. After reaching the parking, AJ threw the key to me and I caught it, with a suprised look.

AJ looked at me with a comical stare and said, "What? I've got some hacking to do. Plus you're the one who knows this Highway cafe right? Just.....don't kill me."

"Oh you wish. But I'll try," I said chuckling.

The cafe's address was a familiar one, Sam and I used to go there earlier, when he had a crush on the waitress, and I was smitten over the milkshake and apple pie. It was a time when Sam was slowly giving up on Irene, but eventually the waitress kicked him out and heartbroken he went back to being achingly in love with Rene.

As I drove in minimal speed or so..... I thought. AJ was busy with the laptop. His fedora was missing today, and his honey curls fell free, curling near his ears and forehead. He looked younger without his trusty hat.

At one passing I could feel his eyes on me, I knew he was wondering whether it was a good idea dragging me into all this. But he'd had no choice, I was a part of this thing since the day I realised my brother didn't die of suicide.

The meeting was supposed to happen at 9 am. We reached at 9:10 am, I cursed when I saw Ghost and a man already seated at a far end of the place, but still visible. The Diner was packed on the inside and the sun was out so picnic tables were set all over the place by the roads. With big fat colour umbrellas throwing shade. The two men were sitting on a far side table. I could see Ghost's back and the man, Gokor's face.

He was a big man and was red all over probably with the heat. They both wore suits. Gokor a light gray and Ghost a nutty brown.

"Now what? It's not like we can hear them." I whined.

AJ kept his laptop at the back of the car.

"I'm done with the phone records, they're downloading, happened faster than I thought. Way faster."

"Yeah well, I really want to hear what they're saying. I'm going in," I heard myself say.

"Are you kidding Ghost will recognise you. I'll go," he said taking out his fedora from somewhere. I didn't know he had it handy.

"No wait. Listen." I said pulling at his arm, stopping him from leaving.
"Think smart AJ. Ghost will recognise you. I'm still a wild card. Cover me, I remember you. I trust you more than anyone. Only you AJ. Cover for me." I said and he sighed.

He nodded ever so reluctantly and gave me his big black coat. I opened by hair and put on some nude lipstick. I wore a baseball hat kept in the car, and I looked like a College student on drugs. Or a drunk person hiding from the sun. Perfect I thought.

As I got out of the car, AJ handed me a pocket knife. He had his fedora on and his light blue shirt was buttoned down till his upper chest. He looked like AJ. He held me and whispered, "Don't go for the attack if they find you. Be careful. I'll be right behind."

"Got it, also do you have that bug? The one G was distributing with everyone I'll try and place one near them," I said.

He handed me a tiny device, I'd seen them before, I knew how to use them.
I left towards the two men, while AJ went for the inside of the cafe.

My heart was beating all too fast, but I was determined to catch Ghost red handed.
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The sun was brilliant and bright, I put on some sunglasses and sat two tables away from Ghost and Gokor. I needed to find a way to reach the bug there. It was a tiny enough device. If I could just place it near the tissue plate by the their table or something. I saw a familiar waitress go by me, she was wearing a red vintage uniform. The look of the diner. With a cherry red tied up shirt and a striped skirt. She had short pink curly hair and as always, she had the welcoming warm smile that made Sammy fall for her in the first place.

"Diane!" I said not too loud.

She heard me thankfully, and her smile became wider as she realised who I was. I'd take off my sunglasses and looked at her gesturing her to come to where I was.

She nodded at the customer whose order she was taking and started walking in my direction.

"Oh my God, Leila! It's been so long! What are you doing here? Especially without the girls?" She asked acting as if taking down orders.

"It's a long story, but Diane? Could I have a word? It's important." I said looking at her with a look of desperation.

She looked at the diner once before nodding. Then she sat opposite me.

"Sure, but make it fast Leila. You know how the boss is..." She said with a smile.

"Thanks, now I don't have time to explain, but you know me and trust me right? I need you to do something for me..." I said thinking again whether what I was doing was smart.

She looked suspicious, but she nodded. I'd know her for quite a while now. The girls and I used to hang out here forever. And I used to come here with Sammy. Diane was almost part of the group. But then we drifted away. Especially after Sammy went for the kill, it just got too awkward. But I always helped Diane when she asked. She was still a friend.

"What do you need? As long as I'm not killing someone, I think I can do it." She said chuckling.
I smiled too.

"You see those two guys over there by the far end?" I said as she stared at them, narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah, the Russian comes here often, standard order, but the other one. He's new. What about them?"

"I need you to place this bug there. Hide it in...the napkins or the foot of the umbrella or something. I need to hear in on them. It's important." I said with pleading eyes.

"Leila, what are you getting yourself into? Should I be worried. Those guys, they don't....look alright." She said staring at them again.

"Diane, trust me. You know me, I'm doing nothing wrong. I just...I have my reasons. Will you help?" I asked.

She bit her lip, and looked confused. But eventually she nodded.

"I'll do it for you Delilah. Just because I owe you. Over this year, you've really helped. And I trust you." She said.

I slipped the bug into her hand and she looked focused. She winked at me and stalked away. She looked so red, scarlet lipstick, red clothes, red pumps. Lady in red, alright.

I turned my chair a little to look at them. Diane took a few rounds then eventually went to their table, she smiled and asked them something. Ghost nodded and waved his hands a bit. I knew what she was going to do. Hide it in whatever food she brings them. It'll be very risky. But I'd told her to do it. Then a sudden gust of wind came and blew the umbrella from their table away a little. I tensed.
She quickly reached it plugged and it back and left. She came back with a few drinks, served them and stalked off. Maybe she gave up, I thought.
But then my phone rang, a message from Diane.

"It's in."
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I sighed with relief and plugged my earphones in my phone. I turned on the hearing. It was connected.
The voices were static at first, but then I could make out Ghost talking.

"What do you mean he's losing it? I told ya man, everything is goin' smooth," he said.

The next voice had a heavy accent. Unmistakably Russian, Gokor said. "He needs money now, he don't have time. He'll blow you up."

"Man I'll tell you what you take this much right now. And give it to the boss man. Tell him there's more where this came from. Just follow the plan. Deal..." Ghost said, so money was involved.

As far as I knew all the Russians did was give Ghost information about when the Armor trucks would arrive and where.

"How are you certain they'll come tomorrow. How will they not come to know it is false. That the job was delayed?" Gokor said.

"Cause I know man. It'll happen tomorrow and they'll be no trucks just the police. They'll go in. All of em. And they're money will be ours. Yours, mine and Sergei's."

Gokor didn't say anything and if he did. I couldn't hear it. All I could here was silence and suddenly static. It whistled through my ear. I winced.

Just before I saw Ghost get up, Gokor was holding the bottom of the umbrella, fixing it again. He must be crushing the bug, I thought.

But before they left I heard Gokor say one last thing.

"It'll be fun to take from..them...fucking..takers."

And then there was only static and Gokor's laughter.
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I was so shocked and paranoid. So the trucks weren't coming tomorrow. Ghost was setting us up. Shit. Shit. Shit!
I looked back and around frantically for AJ. But instead I saw Diane, she was taking out the bug from wherever in the umbrella she'd hidden it in. She came over to me, with a bottle of apple juice.

"It's on the house, I know you love em. And what exactly should I do with this?" She asked showing me the broken bug.

"Throw it. I don't need it anymore. Listen Diane. Thanks, really. You won't believe how much this helped. I owe you one big." I got up and hugged her before heading out.

As I was about to cross the road, I saw a hint of gold hair. AJ.

Not that their weren't many blondes here, but I knew it was AJ, instantly.
I turned and made my way to the back of the diner.

"AJ..AJ?" I whispered slowly before I saw him. He was leaning by a concrete wall. And he had a key in his hands.

"You wouldn't believe what I found out. Ghost was totally setting you up. The Armor trucks aren't leaving tomorrow, he's just making it up. They got delayed-" I was saying but he cut me off.

"To a week later, I know. Jake called, I asked him to check it up one last time. And I told not to tell anyone if anything was wrong." He said.

"Do you think....uh.." I was saying but stopped, how could I put this in words?

"What? Tell me?" He said looking into my eyes.

"Do you think G is involved. I mean I know I'm totally way off here. But he's the only one to know about the trucks. He'd corroborated them. Do you think he lied?" I said carefully. I knew how much
AJ looked up to G.

AJ looked confused and slightly disheartened.
"G? I..I.. don't...No..no...he couldn't. He's like a brother. They all are. He wouldn't."

"I'm sorry AJ. I didn't mean to blame him...I just...I don't want you getting into trouble."

"Well...you don't have to be... Maybe you're right. But we'll figure it out... together." He said holding my hand. I nodded.

"What's that key for?" I asked suddenly curious.

He smiled, a wicked, crooked smile. It sent familiar shivers up my spine.

"This," he said, holding up the key proudly. "This is the key to a Russian club. See Jesse had this.....Russian girlfriend a while ago. And me and him we used to hit her place all the time. It's a...like a safe place for them, they get drunk and spill out all the beans there. If the Russians are involved in some way, I'm sure we'll get some leads there." He said finally.

"They are involved, Ghost talked about this guy, he sounded like their boss, Sergei? He talked about money. They're in this together. Something about taking from the takers." I said remembering.

"Sergei? He's the head of the gang. I've heard of him before. But I guess we'll need to talk to the others. I'll call John."
He took out his phone from his pants pocket but I stopped him.

"Wait. If you tell John everything right now, G will have space to make up stories and tell Ghost if he is infact involved. We'll tell them tonight. All of them together. That way nothing can go wrong. Plus G won't suspect a thing."

"What about Ghost. Are we going to come clean about him? I think we should just tell them that Jake was double checking and he found out this. That's the only way, we can catch G. If you know... he's in it too." AJ said with a pause.
I nodded.

"Wait so what's your plan about the club? Won't they recognise you? If you've been there before?" I enquired.
He smirked.

"Who said anything about me going in? You're the master of infiltration." He said.
I had my mouth slightly open.

"Oh really, so you're okay with me going in a bar filled with sweaty, agressive and drunk Russians? And...your old sweetheart?" I said raising my brows.

"You know well enough about kicking a guy where it hurts. And I'll be right around you. No one hits on my girl. And she was Jesse's sweet-heart." He said grinning.

"Well, I guess we'll see about that." I said grinning too.

It's quite once in a blue moon that I get to go to Russian gangster clubs and bust fellow criminals, infiltrate big deceiving groups and have someone call me theirs.

So much for experiencing everything.

So much for evanescent phenomenons.

But I'd do it all and much more. As long as AJ was by my side, giving me chills and shivers with those gold green eyes.
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