A Man Who Stood Out
Leaning casually against the club’s entrance, Rocky kept a close watch on the crowd, but his gaze lingered on one particular patron. The man was a familiar face—always impeccably groomed, with dark, slicked-back hair and a Mediterranean complexion that drew attention wherever he went.
Normally, Rocky was content to let regulars enjoy themselves, but tonight, a nagging sense of unease made him more vigilant than usual.
A Seasoned Eye
With over a year’s experience manning the doors at Club X2, Rocky had encountered every type of guest imaginable. Yet, this one individual—Valentino—always seemed to stand out.
Charismatic and sharply dressed, he navigated the club with an air of confidence. Rocky had never questioned him before, but something about this evening felt off.
Doubts Beneath the Surface
Rocky scrutinized Valentino from head to toe. Outwardly, he seemed like a successful businessman, but Rocky knew better than to trust appearances.
Overconfidence often masks ulterior motives. Why did Valentino always command the spotlight? What was he really after?
Gathering Intel
Turning to Josh, a new waiter, Rocky asked quietly, “Did you overhear anything unusual from that guy?” Josh hesitated, clearly nervous. “It’s my first week…I don’t want to get involved,” he stammered.
Rocky, not one to be brushed off, pressed him: “If you know something, you need to tell me. This could be serious.” Reluctantly, Josh admitted, “I think I overheard him talking about some kind of attack on the phone.”
Preventing Chaos
Rocky’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t afford to take any risks. Without hesitation, he blocked Valentino’s entry, claiming the club was at capacity.
Valentino’s demeanor changed instantly—he bristled with anger, demanding to be let inside. The confrontation escalated, and Rocky’s patience wore thin.
Persistence and Excuses
Valentino wasn’t about to give up easily. He pleaded with Rocky, insisting he just needed to use the restroom. “There’s a public restroom outside. Use that one,” Rocky replied firmly.
Valentino protested, “Come on, old friend, I left something important in there last night. Just let me check.” The insistence only made Rocky more suspicious.
Keeping Watch
It was clear this man was up to something. Rocky was torn—he wanted to search the club floor but couldn’t leave his post or lose sight of Valentino.
He noticed the man repeatedly checking his jacket pocket, as if guarding something valuable. What could he be hiding?
Calling for Reinforcements
Valentino’s agitation was growing. He stepped aside to take a phone call, speaking rapidly in Italian—words Rocky couldn’t decipher.
Suddenly, Valentino shot him a piercing look and patted his jacket pocket once more. Rocky’s suspicions only deepened.
Uncovering the Real Story
Just then, Josh returned with new information. He revealed that another waiter, Clara, had nearly switched shifts the previous night.
When her replacement approached Valentino’s table, he was already gone—leaving behind a $1,500 unpaid bill.
The Puzzle Comes Together
Rocky recalled the chaos from the previous night—late-night brawls often provided cover for those trying to slip away unnoticed. It struck him as odd; Valentino appeared wealthy, dressed in a suit worth thousands.
Why would someone like that skip out on a hefty tab? Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Rocky resolved to find out what this enigmatic guest was really hiding.
Safety Check
As Valentino approached the entrance, Rocky had a nagging feeling that he couldn't shake. He had a hunch that he should check the bathroom before letting him in, but he couldn't explain why.
Maybe it was the way Valentino was acting, or maybe it was just intuition, but Rocky decided to trust his gut and headed towards the bathroom.
Just As I Suspected
As he pushed the door open, he was hit with a wave of nausea. The stench was unbearable. But he had a job to do. When he entered, everything seemed normal. There was no one in the stalls, and the sink was clean.
But as he was about to turn around and leave, he heard a faint beeping sound. His heart started racing, and he began to sweat profusely. He knew that sound all too well - it was a bomb.
Confrontation
Rocky didn't waste any time. He bolted out of the bathroom and ran straight towards Valentino. He knew he had to stop him from entering the club at all costs. "Valentino, you can't come in tonight," he said, trying to sound calm and collected.
Valentino looked surprised. "What do you mean, Rocky? I come here every night," he replied, sounding irritated.
Straight Questions
Rocky wasn't backing down. He wanted to find out more. “What did you leave in the bathroom?” he asked Valentino. The man looked stuck for words.
Rocky pulled Valentino to the side so nobody else could hear, and continued, "I have reason to believe there's a bomb in the bathroom. We need to evacuate the club right now."
Caught Out
Valentino's face turned pale, and his eyes darted towards the bathroom. Rocky could see the fear in his eyes, and he knew that he had caught him red-handed.
The amped bounder chased after Valentino but lost him in the crowd. His last glimpse was of the black duffel bag disappearing through a mass of terrified patrons.
Lost In The Crowd
As the club started to empty out, Rocky felt despondent. He knew that he had to keep him in sight, but his bulky size prevented him from slipping through the crowd.
This allowed Valentino to make a run for it. Valentino disappeared into the night and took the evidence with him. The criminal was ahead and already in the bathroom.
Run For It
Rocky's heart sank. He had let the suspect get away, and he didn't know what to do next. He knew he had to report the bomb to the police, but he also had a feeling that there was more to the story than meets the eye.
Valentino had attacked his club; he took it personally and wanted revenge. He had to get involved and find out what was going on.
Opening The Case
Rocky called the police station and reported everything he knew. The officers were impressed with his bravery and quick thinking, but they still didn't have any leads on Valentino's whereabouts.
Rocky was frustrated and worried, but he knew that he couldn't give up. He wanted to take matters into his own hands, this meant war.
Thorough Checks
He quickly went to check with the security at head office about the security footage. Rocky started combing through security footage and talking to witnesses.
He even went to Valentino's known associates to try and get some information. But nothing seemed to work. Valentino had vanished into thin air. Rocky didn’t know where to start, and the night was almost over.
The Chase Is On
Just when Rocky was about to give up, he got a call from the police. They had found a lead on Valentino's whereabouts. He was holed up in a warehouse on the outskirts of town.
Rocky knew that he had to act fast. He grabbed his gun and headed towards the warehouse, ready to take down the suspect once and for all.
Location Found
As he entered the building, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know what he would find, but he knew that he had to be prepared for anything.
Where was it? He had a feeling that he was in the right place. He looked around, his eyes scanning every inch of the room. And then, he saw it.
Bomb Detected
Rocky was hesitant at first. He had never encountered this before. This was not in his training and he had to improvise.
A black duffel bag was tucked away in the corner. Rocky's heart started racing as he approached it. He hesitated for a moment before reaching for the zipper. He could feel the sweat trickling down his back.
Quick Thinking
As he pulled the zipper down, he was met with a sight that made his stomach churn. Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock. He could hear the digital clock beeping. There were only 4 minutes left on the countdown.
Inside the bag were several wires, a timer, and a small, compact device that he couldn't identify. He knew that he had to act fast.
Suspect Locked
Suddenly, Rocky heard some rustling coming from the back of the warehouse. It was Valentino. He quickly made his way out of the warehouse, heading towards the exit. But as he stepped outside, he saw the bouncer waiting for him.
Valentino's eyes locked onto Rocky's, and he knew that his cover had been blown.
Last Moments
Rocky could see the fear in the man's eyes as he made a run for it. But he wasn't going to let him get away that easily. He ran after him.
As he turned a corner, he saw Valentino standing there, holding a gun. Rocky raised his weapon and took aim. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring each other down.
Stand Off
The tension was paramount. "Put down the gun, Valentino," Rocky said, his voice steady. Valentino didn't move. He just stood there; his eyes locked onto Rocky.
All of a sudden, Valentino fired a shot next to Rocky’s feet and ran off. Rocky took off after him, his legs pumping as fast as they could. The sound of his own heartbeat was pounding in his ears.
Foot Chase
He could see Valentino running towards a dark alley, and he knew that it was now or never. With a burst of energy, Rocky tackled the man to the ground, pinning him down with all his might.
Valentino struggled and thrashed, but Rocky held on tight. He could feel the man's hot breath on his face. As he reached for his handcuffs, he heard a sudden beeping sound coming from Valentino's pocket.
Going off
Rocky's heart dropped as he realized what was happening. He had to act fast. With one swift motion, he pulled the device from Valentino's pocket and threw it as far as he could.
And then, he braced himself for the impact. The bomb was going to go off at any second. But the explosion never came.
Massive Destruction
Rocky opened his eyes slowly, taking in his surroundings. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of white light and a tumultuous explosion. The bomb had detonated in the warehouse. He was lying on the ground, his ears ringing from the blast.
As he slowly got to his feet, he saw the man lying unconscious a few feet away. The police arrived shortly after, taking Valentino into custody.
Local Hero
Rocky's heart was still pounding as he made his way back into the club. He could not shake the feeling of what could have been. But he knew that he had done his job, and that was all that mattered. Luckily, nobody was injured and the task team was already filing the case and gathering evidence.
As he settled back into his post, he made a mental note to always trust his gut. Because sometimes, it could be a matter of life or death.