Chapter 17: Fundraiser of Fists and Fear
[Morning – 99th Precinct Bullpen – Day 162]
The air in the precinct crackled with a different kind of energy: manic. It was the day of the annual 99th Precinct Charity Fundraiser, and Jake was in full-blown, event-planning mode. He pointed to a hastily-drawn map of MacLaren's, complete with action figures for security checkpoints. "Listen up, squad! This is our 'Die Hard' mission! We're protecting the donations, the patrons, and most importantly, the legacy of our precinct. Adam, you're on surveillance. I need you to tell me everything. Every twitch, every suspicious handshake, every rogue gaze."
Adam, leaning against the doorway, held a crumbled-up note in his hand. It had arrived at the precinct just minutes ago, addressed to Barney. It was simple, menacing. Enjoy the party. It's the last one you'll ever have. "Jake, I think we have a bigger problem than rogue gazes. This isn't just a charity event anymore. It's a pressure point."
Rosa, her arms crossed, looked at the note. "This is a real threat. The paper is of a specific texture, a kind used for old documents. The ink has trace amounts of a chemical used in counterfeit bills."
Amy, ever the pragmatist, had a binder full of contingency plans. "I've already coordinated with the caterers, the bartenders, and the band. We have three escape routes, a lockdown procedure, and an emergency signal. The 'I'm out of my mind' look from Captain Holt is my cue to initiate Plan B."
Charles, meanwhile, was arranging a tray of small, cube-shaped snacks that looked suspiciously like cheese. "Fundraiser snacks, everyone! My 'charity cubes' are a new recipe. A little bit of cheddar, a lot of love, and a secret ingredient that Jake can't guess. They're a metaphor for friendship." He tripped, and the tray went flying. A rogue 'charity cube' bounced off Gina's head.
Gina, without a single facial expression change, caught the cube in her mouth. "Jake, your security is as pathetic as this man's snacks. I have five different ways to sneak out of this building and a sixth that's just a distraction. A person who can't get past this security is a person I don't want to know."
[SYSTEM: Threat Assessment Elevated. The stalker's threat is legitimate and tied to the ongoing Shadow Broker case. System advises caution and strategic deployment. Host's perception is key to de-escalating the situation.]
Adam showed the note to Captain Holt. Holt's eyes narrowed, a silent confirmation of the gravity of the situation. "Stiels," he said, his voice as flat as a tabletop. "The stalker is a ghost. Find their anchor."
A ghost? That's about right. A stalker from a past life, tied to a villain I've only just met. I'm starting to think my previous life's death by pizza scooter was a mercy.
[Afternoon – MacLaren's Pub – Day 162]
MacLaren's was draped in garish red and gold streamers for the fundraiser. Ted was carefully arranging pamphlets, his heart not in it. "I just... I keep thinking about how every single stalker story ends. It's like a Greek tragedy, only with more dramatic monologues. And fewer gods. What if this is Barney's ultimate showdown? What if it's his 'How I Met Your Mother' story?"
Adam, carefully examining a broken chair leg, just shook his head. "Ted, you're thinking too much. This is a thriller, not a love story. A thriller with a very dramatic protagonist. Barney, I've got your back, but you need to sit down before you faint from pure, unadulterated fear."
Barney, on the other hand, was not sitting down. He was pacing, a crumpled note in his hand. "This is killing my vibe! My fundraising vibe! I'm supposed to be mingling with socialites, not worrying about being in a stalker's scrapbook. Adam, I need a distraction! A legendary distraction! Something that will make everyone forget about the note."
Lily and Gina were huddled over a clipboard, their conversation a rapid-fire exchange of logistics and schemes. "We need to save this fundraiser, Gina! This is for the children!" Lily said, her voice a low, commanding growl.
"Calm down, Lily. We'll save it. We'll sell enough raffle tickets to buy a third world country. But first, we need to deal with Barney's dramatic episode. It's a drag on the whole evening."
[SYSTEM: Target Acquisition. A person of interest, matching the stalker's description, has been identified at the periphery of the pub. Their gaze is fixated on the Host. This is a trap. Stay vigilant.]
Adam felt the familiar hum of the system. A subtle shift in the pub's atmosphere. He looked up, his eyes scanning the crowd, and spotted a woman in a long coat, her eyes locked onto him. Right. Not on Barney. On me. They've been watching me. Adam walked over to Ted and Lily, his voice low. "Guys, listen. The stalker is here. They're not after Barney. They're after me. This whole thing, the charity, the note, it's all a distraction. I think the note was an invitation."
Lily's face, usually so expressive, went blank. "Adam, what are you talking about? Are you in a spy movie?"
"Not a spy movie, Lily. A mystery. And I'm starting to think the villain has a thing for theatrics."
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