Part 3

After the day’s work, Dylan was already in the bar. He was sipping some Chuckie while listening to his iPod. He was trying to make a set list for their gig in about an hour. Hallie came and sat beside him.

“Why so serious?” Hallie said with a smirk.

“Hey..”  Dylan said while removing his earphones. “Didn’t notice you're already here. Sorry. So, how was work?”

“Still the same, got a lot of stories to research about.”

“Oh, you need help? I’m good in researching and maybe those stories are related to our cases. I could give you some info.”

“Sure. It would really help a lot.” Hallie replied.

Rica and the gang just came in and went directly to where Dylan and Hallie are.

“Hey, hey, hey..look what we have here..” Rica said while the gang started teasing the two.

“C’mon guys, we’re just talkin..” Hallie defended.

Dylan stood up and said “Uhh, we’re on in 10 minutes. Let’s set up. Oh, and Hallie, can you sing the last song, My Immortal?”

“Uhh, ok. But I haven’t sang that in a while.”

“You’ll be fine.”  Dylan replied, winking.

“Oooooh!!! How sweet!” The gang started to tease the two. “..and cheesy!”

The guys went up the stage to prepare. Dylan was tuning his Gibson left-handed Les Paul studio electric guitar,  Mark on his right-handed Carparelli S4 black satin, Jack on a Duff McKagan P bass and Max on his Zildjian drums. That was the usual set-up but it changes for some songs.

The gig started at exactly 8pm, the bar was filled with customers every time their band, Cyan band, plays. After four songs, Hallie was called upstage. Dylan positioned himself on the keyboard and Hallie started to sing. It was a perfect song to end the night.

The band left the stage and went to their table. Dylan was looking around and saw that Chief Cruz was in the crowd with a serious-looking woman. The two caught sight of each other and the chief, with the woman, approached Dylan and his group.

“Lt. McCoy and Lt. David, this is Supt. Diane Garcia. She will be joining our department. You will be reporting directly to her.” Chief Cruz said and the four exchanged salutes.

“Good evening. You really have a good band. Do you this every night?” Supt. Garcia said.

“Yes, ma’am. Every night after work.” Dylan replied.

“How bout the busy nights?” Supt. Garcia asked.

“Except for those nights. There are other bands that play here so, we can skip those nights.”

“Ahh, so..how bout introducing me to your group?”

“But, of course. These are Hallie, Ashley, Rica and Raven, Hallie’s younger sister. The guys are Mark, uhm, Lt. David. Jack and Max, my younger brother.”

“Nice to meet you all. How old are Max and Raven? Are minors allowed in this bar?”

“Ma’am, we are both fifteen and still in High School, we’re part of the band so we are sort of exempted. But when things go rough in here, we leave.” Max replied smartly.

“Oh, I see. So, from what I observed, eight persons in a group, you must be in pairs. Am I right?”

“Well..yes, ma’am. Me and Ashley, Jack and Rica, Max and Raven. I’m not really sure about Dylan and Hallie.” Mark answered.

“It’s Lt. McCoy..” Ashley corrected.

“Oh yes, Lt. McCoy and Hallie. I’m sorry.”

Turning to Dylan and Hallie, Supt. Garcia asked, “So, why are they not sure about you two? You both look good together.”

Nobody had the courage to answer her so she said, “Dylan, since you’re now under my supervision, I’m giving you a day to ask her out. I won’t let you in the headquarters until you do that. Understood?”

“But..ma’am.” Dylan tried to reason out.

“I’m serious. Chief Cruz told me that you’ve known each other since you were young and you’ve never tried to ask her? It’s really obvious that you like each other.”

Mark and the gang were trying not to laugh and he finally said. “D, I told you. Now you really gotta follow orders. Hehe.”

“Dylan, don’t take this the wrong way, we are just trying to help, you know.” Supt. Garcia said.

“Ok, good. How bout we order some drinks? Waiter, can you give us one Whiskey on the rocks, uh..” Chief Cruz said.

“I’ll have a martini.” Ashley said. “Make that two.” Rica added.

“Boys?” Chief Cruz asked.

Mark answered, “Three beers please.”

“Just two, glass of water for me.” Dylan said.

“C’mon D. It’s Saturday.” Jack said.

Supt. Garcia asked, “You don’t drink?”

“Just occasionally, ma’am.”

“Can we have two mocha latte please?” Raven said.

“..and Diane?” the Chief asked.

“Gin and Tonic. Thank you.”

“So, I guess that’s all. Have you got them?” Chief Cruz asked the waiter.

“Yes, sir. Will serve it in a few.” and the waiter left.

“So, how bout you tell them something bout you?” Chief Cruz asked Supt. Garcia.

“Ok, basic stuff? I was from Bulacan and moved here to help out in Chief Cruz’s department. They told me they needed a hand. So, I’m here. And yes, I do have a boyfriend. I know that look on your eyes, boys.”

“We’re just wonderin..” Jack answered with a smirk.

“What’s the average age of this group? I already know Max and Raven are fifteen.” Supt. Garcia asked.

“Me and Jack are twenty-two; Ashley, Mark and Dylan are twenty-three and Rica is twenty-five.” Hallie replied.

Supt. Garcia asked, “You all work, right? And this band is a sideline?”

“Uhh, you can say that, ma’am. I’m an I.T. and also the band’s bassist.” Jack answered.

“Rica’s a fashion designer and I’m a paralegal.” Ashley added.

“Hallie?” Supt. Garcia asked.

“I’m a reporter in the Daily News.”

“Wow. Those are good jobs. So the guys are only on the band? I know McCoy and David are guitarists.”

“Well, Hallie is in the band too. She’s the occasional vocalist of the band and violinist too.” Rica replied.

“Actually, Max sings too when Dylan plays the drums. He also plays the keyboard and the sax. Only Jack and I are stuck on our instruments.” Mark explained.

“That’s really great. McCoy can you play the saxophone next time? Maybe with the violin? Those are my favorite instruments.” Supt. Garcia said.

“Sure, ma’am. Maybe tomorrow night.” Dylan replied.

“..and you play a lot of instruments. You can start a band on your own.” Supt. Garcia added. “I know lefties are very talented.”

“Uhm, I’m ambidextrous.”

“Wow! That’s even better.” Supt. Garcia replied with a sparkle in her eyes.

The conversation lasted for two more hours and the bar was empty again, lights were off. It was ready for the next day.

Part 2

The next day, at exactly 6:30 am, something made a startling sound. “Spartans! Ready your breakfast and heartily for tonight, we dine in HELL!” “Wh-at? Ohh..”, Dylan murmured. It was the alarm on his phone. He sat down on his bed for a minute then did a hundred push-ups. This was his everyday routine. At the kitchen, he saw that Max was already eating breakfast, the infamous bacon and eggs.  As for Dylan, he decided to make his very own peanut butter and honey. Max left their house earlier cause it was Monday, the flag ceremony day and he knew he had to be there.

Dylan arrived at the headquarters ten minutes before he had to punch in, almost the same time as Chief Cruz, the head of the department. He turned on his computer and played some music in his itunes to release some tension in the office. He was the “DJ” of the department since Chief Cruz asked him to be.

Mark, Dylan’s best friend and partner, came to him and said, “Hey D, are we gonna play tonight?”

“Of course, man. But we need a new set list.” replied Dylan. “Think of some songs while you’re doing that.” Pointing to a pile of papers on Mark’s desk. “You’re multi-tasking anyway.”

After a few minutes.. “How bout this? I got five songs. Maybe you should ask Hallie to sing too.”

“Sure. I'll just finish this and ask her later.”

Dylan and Mark were summoned by the Chief to his office. “I need you two to check this out. It’s related to the Kelson case.”

“Yes, sir.” the two detectives exchanged salute with the Chief and left.

Part 1

It was almost 8 o'clock, she looks around to find any familiar faces. Two ladies just got in the bar, one was calling her name. “Hallie!”. She got up from the stool moving towards them. It's been a week since she last met her girlies; Ashley and Rica. They ordered some booze while listening to the band playing on the stage. It was the Cyan band doing a cover of "Let Go" by 12 Stones. The band members were part of their peer group. They've been together since High School.

“Wow, Dylan does have some pipes! That’s why you like him dontcha?” Rica said.

“Oh c’mon Hallie, you know you can’t hide it from us. You got your eyes on him since High School.” Ashley teased.

Hallie didn’t need to say a word; she was already blushing, red as a ripe apple. The Cyan band had just finished their last song; they were heading towards the girls. Mark came to hug Ashley while Jack kissed Rica as they always do. As for Dylan and Hallie? Well as usual, the same smiling and trying to hide their affection for each other.

“Yo Bro!” yelled Max, Dylan’s younger brother.

“We..” Pointing to herself and Max. “gotta go home, we got school tomorrow.” Followed by Raven, Hallie’s younger sister.

“Hey, we just got here. Give us 15 minutes.” Ashley and Rica said in unison.

Max and Raven had no choice; they just decided to fix the instruments. Max on his drum set and Raven on the amplifiers.

Rica started, “D, I didn't knew you could sing that great. I mean you almost sounded like Paul McCoy.”

“Why, thank you. Singing in the shower does help you know.” Dylan replied with a smirk.

“So, how are things goin' on with the both of ya? Max and Raven are already dating. When are you two gonna.." asked Jack with a big grin on his face.

There was a moment of silence in the group while Ashley and Rica were trying their best not to laugh.

“So, how was your vacation to Boracay?” Hallie asked to the two girls.

“Don’t even try to change the subject.” Rica said.

“C’mon Rica, will ya give her a break? Well Hallie, it was nothing special. It’s always work-related so you know. But we got you and Raven some stuff. Oh, and also the guys. Sorry.” Ashley said while giving out some blings, shirts and caps.

“Ok, it’s really getting late and we need to be up early. You know..minors. Oh by the way, thanx for the bracelet, Ashley.” said Raven.

“You’re welcome, sweetie.” replied Ashley.

The group decided to call it a day. They’ve been doing this every night for a year now, making them a regular at Lincoln’s Bar.