Wait, before you ready this, have your read ‘Picking Up A Friend‘?
โDani, itโs quitting time, letโs go!โ Mark, the man who sat across from Dani, said as he logged off his computer.
โNah, I still gotta finish this report. Go ahead, go on without me.โ Dani said, never taking her eyes off her screen.
She didnโt even need to be looking at Mark to know that he was pouting. Despite the numerous times that she told him she wasnโt interested in men, he wouldnโt leave her alone. Heโd constantly go out of his way to get her lunch and wait for her at the end of their shifts.
Jackson offered to set him straight, but Dani declined. Being a woman whose father was one of the most famous officers of the NYPD was hard enough. The last thing she wanted was the guys thinking she couldnโt fight her own battles.
Mark let out a heavy sigh before wishing her a good night and heading towards the exit with a few more of their co-workers.
As the office started to clear out, Dani opened up her search history and began looking for the web pages from the other night. Sheโd fallen down a Prince LaVine rabbit hole and ended up finding the LaVine family tree. According to some articles sheโd found, the LaVine family had been mob affiliated for centuries. Most people didnโt pick up on the family’s shady activity cause unlike most organized crime groups, the LaVine family sought out the limelight rather than shying away from it.
They hid behind fundraisers, and drug outreach programs, but Dani saw through it all. Paul might be smarter than his ancestors, but he wasnโt that smart. Like the rest of the LaVine men that came before him, his drive to be the best, the richest, and the most powerful would trip him up eventually. Either that, or heโd end up with a mole just like his dad and his dadโs dad.
Sifting through web pages and social media profiles, Dani followed a long line of bread crumbs, hoping and praying that it would lead somewhere.
Meanwhile, somewhere in downtown, Ellie Willem, leaned against the brick wall of the nightclub, with her phone pressed to her ear.
โHow do you forget your own birthday dinner?โ Ellie’s wife, Maggie said, bunching up her nose.
โGrow up with a shity dad that cares more about the city than you. Thatโs how.โ Ellie said.
Daniโs phone rang a few more times then, just when Ellie was about to hang up, Dani answered.
โHey El, whatโs up?โ Dani said casually.
โDani what the hell?! Where are you?!โ Ellie yelled into the phone.
Dani took a sharp inhale through her teeth, causing Ellie to roll her eyes.
โYou forgot, didnโt you?โ Ellie said.
Maggie shook her head, a knowing smirk plastered on her lips.
โYeah. I fell down a research rabbit hole and lost track of time. Iโm leaving the office now.โ Dani said.
Ellieโs eyes went wide as she pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at her screen.
โDani itโs almost fucking midnight! Youโre still at the office?!โ Ellie said.
Maggie threw her hands in the air.
โOf course she is.โ She said.
Dani sighed.
โI know, I know. I have a problem. Look, why donโt you two just meet me at mine and weโll order some takeout.โ Dani suggested.
Now that Dani had mentioned it, Ellie was starving. All-day she had been looking forward to celebrating her best friend.
โAlright, fine. But youโre paying for it. I donโt care if it is your birthday.โ Ellie said, causing Dani to laugh.
โLove you, I should be home soon.โ Dani said with a smile.
โTwenty minutes.โ Ellie said seriously.
โElle come on thatโs-โ
โTwenty minutes!โ Ellie said again.
Dani rolled her eyes at her friendโs stubbornness.
โElle I still have to grab dinner.โ Dani pointed out.
โMaggie and I will get it.โ Ellie said.
Dani sighed, trying to wrack her brain for an excuse. She only lived about ten minutes from the station, so twenty minutes was more than enough time.
โFine, twenty minutes.โ She repeated after a moment.
โDonโt be late and drive safe.โ Ellie said sternly.
โOkay mom.โ Dani responded.
The line went dead and Dani sighed as she dropped her phone onto her desk. After setting a five-minute timer, Dani continued working until it went off. When it did she logged off her computer and began packing up. As she shoved her iPad into her bag and went to reach for a couple of notebooks, she heard Ellie in her head. Maybe just for tonight, sheโd leave work at work. Besides, with Ellie and Maggie over, there was no way sheโd get any work done. So tucking the notebooks in her desk, she grabbed her iPad and her bag and headed out the door.
Leave a Reply