The Honeytrap by Ann Reader

 "DC Kate Chalmers, come to the Superintendents office now" the tannoy boomed. Typical I was in the basement evidence store and with no mobile or radio. Now the whole building knew the super wanted me and would be wondering what I had done wrong.

Gasping for breath I knocked on the door of her 4th floor office and was surprised to see my DCI also sitting there.

"We have a job that we hope you will accept , but I'll say right now this is a request and if you refuse it will not affect your prospects in any way." The super nodded her agreement with this statement. He handed me a photograph.

"We believe this man controls the county lines and is responsible for most of the heroin coming onto our patch. We know he is without a girlfriend at the moment and we know he favours a particular type." He handed me a bundle of photos, " these are his last three girlfriends." I could see they were indeed similar. " We think if you were willing to dye your hair blonde, you could be made to look similar. We are not asking you to become his girlfriend but just to get close enough to him to drop a tracker into that man bag he always carries."

The minute he mentioned heroin I knew I would take the assignment. Anything that reduced the supply of the evil drug that killed my brother fitted with what I considered my mission. I quickly agreed.

"We have a plan," continued the DCI, "the force will pay for your visit to the beauty salon on Friday afternoon, you will then meet DC Chapman at the Crown, you will arrive very late and he will be angry, you will argue but go together to Katrina's night club across the road. Where our target Ricky Summer goes most Fridays. He is known to have an issue with violence towards women . He is normally ensconced in the seating area by the bar with his henchmen around him which is why we can not get close to him. You and DC Chapman will continue your argument in front of him and DC Chapman will become aggressive towards you hopefully this will be enough to get his interest. How you proceed from there I will have to leave to your initiative. I know you have a bit of that!"

So that's how I ended up walking into the Crown feeling I looked like a tart and wondering how far I could walk in these heels. Rob began playing his part straight away. 

"Where the hell have you been. We said 8.30 and it's nearly 10." 

" I'm sorry I had to work late then I had to get home and get changed. I'm here now." 

Rob downed his pint and roughly grabbed my arm, "come on then," he said, "let's get over to Katrina's there isn't time for you to have a drink here."

There was already a queue to get into the nightclub. We went up the stairs there was a crowd of people . So many there was barely room to move, people were crushed up against each other. It seemed there was a solid wall of heat and sound. Now I was able to appreciate Rob's size . He was able to forge a path through the throng.

Rob pulled me behind him until we were close to the bar and I could see Ricky Summer with two heavy looking types who must be his body guards. Rob slammed a gin and tonic into my hand and began haranguing me again accusing me of an affair with my fictitious boss. He had to shout as the disco was so loud but that helped give the impression of aggression. He began waving his arms about and almost snarling at me. I was admiring his acting skills when he suddenly pushed me and I found myself in Ricky Summers arms. 

"That's it," I extemporised. " I never want to see you again," and I turned my head into my rescuer's shoulder to hide the fact I was not actually crying. 

He wasn't wearing the bag! 

He lead me to his seat and made me sit while he ordered his henchmen to make sure Rob had left. Then he went to replace my drink that was spilt when I was pushed. I grabbed my tissues from my bag along with the tiny tracker. There beside me was his bag. I simply dropped it in. I could not believe my luck.

 Now all I had to do was get out of there.