Dangerous by Default

4. Janus

Mina left Ami in the bathroom. Her mind was racing, all of the possibilities laid out like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. Hiding somewhere among these pieces was the answer, and she knew she could find it, but there was so little time. She had never seen Ami looking so scared. One thing was certain. Failure wasn't an option. The sound of her executive assistant chasing after her brought her back to reality.

"M! M! Before you leave, there's some detective lady wanting to see you!"

This. Be. The. Last. Straw.

"You're joking, right?"

"I swear, I've got her waiting in your office! Do you know why she's here?

Straps. A cactus. Fire. Instruments of torture flashed through Mina's mind. All of them seemed worthy candidates.

"I think that's your job to figure out before you tell me" Mina huffed as she briskly walked back in the direction of her office. Detective lady. The words stuck out to her. Could it be? No, Ami would have told me. A thought flashed in her mind and she couldn't help but smile. Maybe it's a surprise?

The woman seated at her desk was tapping her heavy rubber boots nervously on the plush carpet floor, her messy hair sprouting above her popped plaid collar. Mina thought it best not to surprise a police officer from behind.

"Janus! Darling! Give me a hug."

"Hey beautiful! It's been a minute!" Janus shrugged her shoulders bashfully as Mina leaned in to embrace Ami's girlfriend.

"Wow, yes it's been a few months since the office party. And now you two are inseparable. Ami talks about you non-stop."

"I hope not!" Janus said awkwardly. Janus Thromgood was slightly icy and hard to talk to, which Mina took to be an occupational hazard for a detective of the SFPD. But she was also fiercely loyal, and treated Ami like a queen. Mina loved her for it.

"I didn't realize you were here, I was just with Ami a few minutes ago! She's probably in the lab." Mina pulled out her phone to call her, but Janus stopped her.

"Actually, Ami doesn't know I'm here. And, I would be happy if we kept it that way."

Mina chuckled nervously, "Ok! I hope everything's alright. What can I do to help?"

Janus opened her phone, a grainy video ready and waiting under her fingertips.

"Gotta tell you, the SFPD is loving your husband right now."

Their eyes locked and Mina cracked a smile.

"God, all those poor kids. Did someone really shoot his girlfriend?" Mina felt Janus studying her face and was starting to resent being made to feel like a perp, especially after the day she'd had. Explain how kids are recreating Caine's performance piece, context isnt super clear.

"I hear we've got them at the station, but it's happening all over the city. Plus the protestors. We've had our hands full. Actually, that's why I'm here. I came across something this morning. I -- well, I don't want to say too much. I want to show you a video and would like for you to tell me what you see."

Janus' phone fell into Mina's hand and she clicked play. The picture was shaky and dark and she squinted to make sense of the image. Horizontal lines flashed in and out of the picture which Mina assumed to be the metal floor of a fire escape. The point of view was high up, at least three or four stories. She could hear shouting - no, it was someone cat-calling. The image stabilized and Mina's mouth dropped. Crushing the pavement up the deserted alley was a Marvel Superhero of a woman, her bright pink ponytail swinging playfully in step with her hips as she walked. She looked like she owned the block, but by the sound of the video, the block was trying to own her back.