Conticent

Don tore through the back exit, crashing into the alley with the sound of metal slamming behind him. Without hesitation, I followed. The alley was tight, with dumpsters and graffiti-covered walls on either side. The air reeked of trash and oil.

"Backup's on the way!" Jane called out from behind as I sped ahead.

Don glanced back, seeing me hot on his heels, and pushed harder. He was fast, but I had the edge. I could see the tension in his legs, the way his bulky frame strained as he forced himself through the alley. He was strong, but strength alone wouldn't help him now.

“Back off, pig!” he barked. His voice was rough, like he’d smoked one too many cheap cigars, and it was laced with fear.

"You’re not gonna outrun me, Don!” I shouted, leaping over a fallen dumpster lid and ducking under a low-hanging pipe. “Just stop!"

He grunted and turned into the main street, weaving between pedestrians and street vendors who yelled in protest as he shoved past. The neon lights from overhead ads flickered, casting shifting colors onto the cracked sidewalks. A food stall toppled as Don barreled into it, scattering noodles and sauce across the pavement.

I hurdled the mess effortlessly, my legs pumping as I gained on him. The towering buildings and neon signs felt like they were closing in, the chaos of the street becoming a blur of lights and noise. Cars honked as Don crossed the road, narrowly avoiding an oncoming taxi.

He shot me a look over his shoulder, breath labored. "You should give up, cop. I’m not going down easy!”

"Wouldn’t dream of it," I yelled back, sliding over the hood of a parked car, nearly clipping the side mirror. My adrenaline surged as the crowd thickened, but I kept my focus on him.

Don turned down another alley and suddenly, he stopped and whipped around, his hand reaching into his jacket. My eyes widened as he pulled out a gun.

"Shit!" I dove to the side just as Don fired. The bullet whizzed past my head, smashing into the brick wall behind me with a loud crack. The alley echoed with the gunshot, the sound bouncing off the narrow walls like a firecracker.

“You really wanna do this, Don?!” I yelled, crouched behind a dumpster for cover. My heart raced, but my mind stayed sharp. I heard his heavy breathing, the adrenaline likely pumping through him just as much as me. But fear was making him sloppy.

“Stay back!” he shouted, his voice cracking. “You don’t know what you’re getting into! I just sell premiums, that’s it!”

“Oh, I know exactly what I’m getting into!” I shouted back, peeking around the dumpster just in time to see him take off again, gun still in hand.

I scrambled up, darting after him. My feet pounded the pavement as I closed the distance. The neon glow of the city cast long shadows in the alley, making the world feel warped, distorted.

Don turned a corner, and I heard a crash—a metal fence, maybe? I pushed harder, rounding the corner to see him scrambling up a fire escape. The metal ladder swayed under his weight, creaking as he climbed higher. Without breaking stride, I jumped up and grabbed the bottom rung, hauling myself up after him.

“Give it up, Don! You’re not gonna shake me!” I called out, my voice steady as I pulled myself onto the platform. He was on the rooftop now, running toward the opposite edge.

“Fuck off!” he shouted, not even looking back as he shot his gun in my general direction. I could see his movements slowing, though—he was tiring.

He reached the edge of the rooftop and looked over. For a moment, I thought he might jump, but he hesitated. That moment of doubt was all I needed. I pushed harder, sprinting across the rooftop and closing the distance between us.

I launched myself at him, tackling him just as he turned to fire again. We hit the ground hard, his gun skittering across the rooftop and out of reach. He struggled beneath me, trying to push me off, but I had the upper hand.

“Give it up!” I growled, pinning his arm behind his back. “It’s over, Don.”

He groaned, still writhing beneath me, but the fight was gone. “You… you don’t understand,” he panted, his voice weak now. “I didn’t kill that whore!”

I tightened my grip, forcing his arm up just enough to make him wince. “Ah, shut up…”

Don stopped struggling, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He knew it was over. The adrenaline still coursed through my veins, but I could feel it beginning to subside as I hauled him to his feet, locking his wrists in cuffs.

“I told you, Don,” I said, catching my breath. “You weren’t getting away.”

—

I watched as they loaded Don into the back of the squad car, the doors slamming shut with a finality that echoed down the street. He glanced back at me through the window, his expression a mix of frustration and defeat. The car pulled away, its red and blue lights flashing in the fading sunlight. I took the last sip of water Jane had handed me and wiped my mouth, leaning against the nearest wall.

My chest still heaved from the chase, though it wasn’t from exertion—it was the adrenaline finally settling down. I wasn’t much of a fighter, and my aim wasn’t as sharp as Jane’s, but parkour? That was my thing. Growing up, it was my way of escaping the chaos around me. Back in middle school, when the bullies waited by the gate after class, I’d just scale the walls and leave them in the dust.

The alley was clearing out now, the police cars and vans slowly pulling away. Jane and I moved out from the shadows of the alley and made our way toward District Captain Helion, who stood nearby, the last rays of the setting sun catching the edges of his coat. The rain had eased up, and the wind had calmed, leaving a cool stillness in the air.

"Hey, C. Jane." Helion greeted us, his voice carrying the weight of another long day. "Good work today."

I gave a noncommittal grunt, still catching my breath, while Jane flashed him a brief, tired smile.

"Why did Don run?" Helion asked, his brow furrowing as he scanned the street. "Does he have something to do with Alisha’s murder?"

Jane shrugged slightly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "We’re not sure yet. We’ll know more once we get him in for questioning."

Helion crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Mmh. Well, he didn’t run for no reason. There’s something there."

I nodded, adjusting my jacket. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. Leo’s following up at Bark-Bark Street, seeing what the locals know about Alisha.”

Helion’s gaze flicked to me. "And James?"

"James was at the morgue,” I replied, running a hand through my hair, which had been dampened by the rain earlier. “Alisha’s friend showed up there, apparently.”

Helion rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Good, good. Sounds like things are moving along. You two heading back to the station?"

"Yeah," Jane answered, her voice steady but with a hint of fatigue. "We need to see what Don’s got to say once we’ve got him in the interrogation room. Then we’ll meet up at Golden Cats.”

Helion gave a short nod. "Alright. Keep me updated. And again, solid job today. You caught a big fish."

Jane nodded, her usual composed demeanor still intact. I gave a half-smirk, not out of pride but relief. Another step forward, but the puzzle still felt like it was missing a few crucial pieces.

Helion gave us a final look, then turned to deal with some of the remaining officers. I glanced over at Jane as we started toward our car. She looked as worn out as I felt, but the determination in her eyes was still there. She always had that fire, even when the day dragged on.

“Phew.” She said. “You hungry? I’m starving. Let’s eat something before we head to the station.”

“Hmm.” I grunted. “I could grab a bite.”